Last 16 Now Ready For World Cup Finals

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 17

Last 16 Now Ready For World Cup Finals

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON. The World Cup finals —the climax of two year’s competition between the world’s soccer-playing nations—begins in England on Monday.

And surely there is not a man, woman, or child in Britain who is unaware of it.

It has been described as England’s biggest sporting extravaganza. That it may be, but it has become a bonanza for the tourist industry and commerce.

Tourist posters, stickers, souvenirs of practically every kind, and replicas of the English mascot, “World Cup Willie”—an optimistic-look-ing lion—abound. Thousands of overseas visitors have poured into the country for soccer’s greatest festival. England has made a determined bid to make the 1966 World Cup the most successful since the four-yearly competition began in 1930, and the elaborate preparations easily surpass those for the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

will watch the 16 finalists in action. In all, 32 international matches will be played on eight of Englands biggest soccer grounds. Tickets for the final at Wembley on Saturday, July 30, have been sold out for five months.

Many more millions will watch the games on television, which will be relayed direct to Europe and by delayed telefilm to other countries, including New Zealand and Australia.

40,000 From Overseas An estimated 40,000 spectators will come from abroad. More than 11,000 season tickets have been bought by two countries, Brazil, which is trying to win the World Cup for the third successive time, and West Germany, the last European winner, in 1954.

The most distant travellers will be a group of New Zealanders, including a New Zealand Football Association delegation and the national coach, Mr L. Brocic. Brazil and England have been widely tipped as first and second favourites, respectively, and they are grouped so that they could meet in the final. But both will have long, difficult roads to travel to reach that stage, and the competition is wide open to half-a-dozen of the 16 finalists. The latest betting prices are: Brazil, 6-4; England, 4-1; Italy and Argentina, 9-1; Russia 11-1; West Germany, 12-1; Portugal, 22-1; Spain, 25-1; France and Hungary, 28-1; Uruguay 40-1; Bulgaria and Chile, 66-1; North Korea, 10-1; Switzerland, 150-1; Mexico, 200-1. The draw is:—

Group Oso.— July ll: England v. Uruguay. July 13: France v. Mexico. July 15: France v. Uruguay. July 16: England v. Mexico. July 19: Mexico v. Uruguay. July 20: England v. France.

Croup Two.— July 12: Switzerland v. West Germany. July 13; Argentina v. Spain. July 15: Spain v. Switzerland. July 16: Argentina v. West Germany. July 19: Argentina v. Switzerland. July 20; Spain v. West Germany.

Group Throe.— July 12: Brazil v. Bulgaria. July 13: Hungary v. Portugal. July 15: Brazil

v, Hungary. July 16: Bulgaria v. Portugal. July 19: Brazil v. Portugal. July 20: Bulgaria v. Hungary. Group Four.— July 12: North Korea v. U.S.S.R. July 13: Chile v. Italy. July 15: Chile v. North Korea. July 16: Italy v. U.S.S.R. July 19: Italy v. North Korea. July 20: Chile v. U.S.S.R.

Quarter-finals.— Match A: July 23: Group one winner v. Group two runner-up.

Match B: Group two winner v. Group one runner-up. Match C: Group three winner v. Group four runner-up. Match D: Group four winner v. Group three runner-up.

. Semi-finals.— July 25, 26: win ners Match A v. Match C; Winners Match B V. Match D. Finals.— July 28: Third place. July 30: First place (replay August 2 if necessary).

In 20 days from next Monday until the final on July 30 an estimated 2,500,000 people