Career
He was the second Swedish national manager ever, and managed to qualify the Swedish national football team for the in Mexico 1970, after having beaten France (among others) in the qualifications. The 1970 World Cup was the first one in 12 years, and it was also the first time in 20 years that had qualified for a World Cup. In Mexico, had to face the becoming runners-up, Italy, in their first game, and lost 0–1.
The Italian squad included Roberto Boninsegna, Gianni Rivera, Luigi Riva, Giacinto Facchetti and Dino Zoff.
In the second game, Israel did not seem too difficult to beat. But got a 1–1 draw. Then needed to beat Uruguay in the last group game with at least two goals.
Orvar Bergmark"s squad only scored a single goal (in the last minute), and it all was over. Some of Orvar Bergmark"s key players were Ove Grahn, Ove Kindvall, Hasse Selander, Tommy Svensson (who 24 years later would keep Orvars Bergmark"s office, and led to a surprising bronze medal in the 1994 World Cup in the United States), Bosse Larsson and Roland Grip.
During the tournament, had a goal-keeping problem.
Bergmark used the young Ronnie Hellström in the opening game against Italy, and was displeased with Hellström"s performance when Italy scored. The little less talented, but far more experienced Sven-Gunnar Larsson guarded the Swedish goal during the last two matches instead. Orvar Bergmar left his office soon after the World Cup and was replaced by Georg "Åby" Ericson.