Winning his 12th cap that afternoon was Newcastle United inside-forward Ivor Broadis, who would go on to score twice for Walter Winterbottom’s England side in what turned out to be an incredible 4-4 draw.
London-born Broadis, who had only won his first England cap two years earlier when 29, is Newcastle United’s oldest living player at 95 and, not surprisingly, the only surviving player from that Three Lions side.
Lining up alongside legendary England greats like Billy Wright, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney, playing with such luminaries of the game, was an honour for the United man.
"These were truly great players," Broadis said, speaking to nufc.co.uk from his Carlisle home.
England are led out by captain Billy Wright in Basel in 1954
"I was in such esteemed company but I include everyone in this by saying representing your country at the World Cup was the absolute pinnacle of your career; the be all and end all.
"I had the greatest admiration for all my teammates – but especially Stanley Matthews, who was such an outstanding player and a real gentleman too."
England’s starting XI v Belgium, 1954: Gilbert Merrick, Ron Staniforth, Roger Byrne, Billy Wright (c), Syd Owen, Jimmy Dickinson, Stanley Matthews, Ivor Broadis, Nat Lofthouse, Tommy Taylor, Tom Finney.
Broadis recalls the Belgium game fondly as he and his teammates propelled their country into the quarter-finals.
"Belgium scored early on but I’d equalised before Nat put us ahead," he recalls.
"I made it 3-1 and we thought that would be enough but they got it back to 3-3 before two injury time goals, one for each side, made it 4-4. A quite remarkable game really.
Broadis during his playing days
"We then beat Switzerland 2-0 three days later which took us through to the quarter-finals where we would be up against holders Uruguay.
"It was a topsy-turvy game but they beat us 4-2 and I have to say it was a pretty physical encounter.
"I knew that Jackie Milburn and George Robledo had played in the World Cup in Brazil in 1950 and Jackie told me what an amazing experience it had been.
"I didn’t play with George but I met him and his brother Ted when I was in Uruguay with England and the Chileans were there too.
"George had scored four years earlier in the Finals and so to become only the second United player to achieve that feat was a great moment for me.
"That Uruguay game turned out to be my last cap for England. I was 31 and had enjoyed a good career which continued for one more season on Tyneside before I moved on to Carlisle United."
Broadis is now United's oldest living player
Broadis will be watching on from home as England meet the Belgians again this evening and he is hoping the current squad produces happy memories for a new generation.
"I hope the team does well in Russia," he adds. “It will be fantastic if they can go all the way but we’ll just have to wait and see.
"And certainly, watching the game tonight will just bring back a few happy World Cup memories of my own."
