Medal ceremony for the 1948 Olympic football tournament ©
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The captains of the three medal-winning teams on the podium for the national anthem of the champions, Sweden. Yugoslavia came second with Denmark third. The gold medal team was coached by George Gaynor, an Englishman, and included three brothers, Knut, Bertil and Gunnar Nordahl. The latter was involved in one of the most bizarre goals of all time in their semi-final against Denmark.

Gunnar, the centre-forward, who had stayed up-field as the Danes made an attack, realised that he was going to be made offside as his team counter-attacked. Showing quick wits, he leapt into the Danish goal to remove himself from the field, and, with the goalkeeper out of position, caught the scoring header of his teammate.

Great Britain was fourth in this tournament, its best placing since winning gold in 1912, not having taken part in 1924 and 1928. Returning to Olympic competition in 1936, after a number of poor results, the Great Britain team withdrew again after 1972 and has not competed since. There are serious discussions taking place now between the four home countries with a view to providing a team for the 2012 Games in London.

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