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World Cup History: Brazil 1950

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Football world cup 1950: the fourth edition of the football world league was played from 23 June to 16 July 1950.

The post-war period and the competition’s organization

The competition was played again after twelve years from the previous edition held in France, given that the 2nd World War had prevented the regular taking place of the world matches in the last eight years.

In that time frame, the trophy, won by Italy in the 1938 edition, was jealously kept by Ottorino Brassi, at that time president of the Italian Soccer Association and FIFA vice-president.

The Second World War, with its atrocities and unnumbered victims, had permanently marked the worldwide economy and the socio-politic equilibrium: there were whole countries to rebuild and an economy to set on foot. Despite of problems, the football regained power everywhere in the world, also in order to forget the tragedy just passed.

In this atmosphere, the only place suitable for hosting the event was Brasil. The nomination was positively accepted also because, after two consecutive world cup (1934 and 1938) held in Europe, it could now be played in USA

Partecipants

As in the two previous editions, after a preliminary step, the partecipant to the final competition were:

Uruguay
Brazil
Italy
England
Sweden
Spain
United States
Chile
Yugoslavia
Paraguay
Mexico
Switzerland
Bolivia

Only 13 Countries took part in the world cup, an odd number for a tournament with elimination. The final list was determined more by the political and economic post-war conditions of the countries rather than the results of the qualification matches.

Many european countries could not take part in the event because of the high costs required, while Germany and Japan were not invited because mainly considered responsible of the worldwide conflict.

Interesting the presence of the british teams, for the first time in the history. Given the worldwide aspect of the competition, they put an end to the quarrel with FIFA. The traditional British Home Championship (played by the British national teams) of 1949-50, was used as step of qualification to the world cup and was won by England. Although Scotland had the right to participate to the event, because arrived in the second place in the inner Championship, it refused the invitation.

Also India and Turkey, even though qualified, didn’t take part in the final step of the competition. The first was disqualified few days before the beginning of the world cup, for its striking request of playing barefoot, while the second voluntarily decided to reject the invite.

The (short) presence of Italy

Brazil and Italy had the right to partecipate to the final step because respectively the host country and the winning team in office.

Italy risked to miss the event until some days before it, both for the restricted economic conditions of the country and because the team had lost 9 players, belonging to the Torino Team, died in the terrible plane accident close to Superga.

This sad moment, so keenly present in the italian players’ mind, created a kind of psychosis in the team. The players indeed wanted to reach Brazil only travelling by sea.

FIFA payed everything for the italian team. The travel lasted two weeks and the players stood to the the event tired and demotivated. In spite of the training in the boat deck, it is told that after few days all the footballs fell in the sea, letting the team without the right physical training. Italy was defeated by Sweden for 3-2.

Neither England succeeded in the world cup’s qualification. It was defeated by The United States. The day after the english citizens believed it was a false news or an error in the local newspapers. To this days that result is remembered as one of the darkest moment of the english sport

For the first time in the history of the world cups, there were no matches with a direct exclusion and neither a final match. The winning team of the second step was crowned as the champion of the world cup.

Brazil, the host country, was qualified with Uruguay, Sweden and Spain the second step.

Brazil was the favorite

The most memorable match of the world cup’s history, Brazil – Uruguay, was competed the 16th July 1950. Brazil, which had won against Sweden and Spain with two strong results, 7-1 and 6-1, would be qualified also with a draw. While Uruguay had won against Sweden for 3-2 and it had drawn with Spain, with a final result of 2 -2

Brazil was, without any doubts, the favourite for the title, its course was incomparable in the world cup of 1950. The power of the team and the warmth of fans were the perfect formula for a certain victory.

The brazil team and the whole country lived the day of the match with a great palpitation, everybody believed that in few hours Brazil should have been the winner of the competition.

Along the streets of the Capital we could meet groups of joyful fans and there was also a beautiful parade as in the famous brazilian carnival. At the same time, lots of people attacked ticket-booths of Maracana stadium to buy tickets. Many hours before the match, fixed for 3 pm, the tickets were sold out. The stadium was packed of people and all the preparations to celebrate the victory were arranged. Before the final result of the match, the soccer confederation had printed thousands of memorial postcards and conied 22 golden medal to thank its players.

Final match. Brazil vs. Uruguay: the greatest silente of football history

The first half recorded the absolute supremacy of Brazil, but Uruguay managed to keep the draw. Two minutes after the second half Brazil managed to hit up with a goal of Friaça, which animated the stadium. Uruguay kept on with its tidy play , illuminated by the great player Schiaffino. At the 66’ minute, Ghiggia jumped over the brazilian Bigode and passed the so called “el Pepe” Schiaffino, who scored. Although the draw still privileged the brazilian team, the Uruguayan goal was a cold shower for the Seleçao, which was demotivated and players gave up playing. At the 79’, only eleven minutes before the end, a miracle happened: Ghiggia scored the second goal for Uruguay. In that moment there was “the greatest silence of the football history”, a deep silence, almost surreal in a stadium full of fans. Brazil tried to come from behind to win the game, but without success.

The Uruguay, against any expectation, became the winner of the World Cup

At the end of the match, the atmosphere of Maracanà stadium was surreal. Lots of fans were suddenly taken ill in the terraces and the ambulance’s sirens melted with the cries and shouts of the defeated players.

Nobody was worried about the prize-giving ceremony, neither Jules Rimet, the president of the FIFA. He had prepared a prize discussion in portuguese sure of Brazil’s victory, instead he sadly gave the trophy to Uruguay, obliged to leave soon the stadium. In spite of this, Ghiggia was attacked after the match. The player was seriously injured, he came back in Uruguay with crutches and he stayed without playing for the net whole year. It was the only time in the world cup’s history that the national anthem of the winning team was not played.

For Brazil football’s history, 16 July 1950 was a terrible day. It was considered a national mourning day: many people committed suicides because they had bet all their properties and money on Brazil as winner, while others died hit by strokes.

After that tragic day, remembered as “O Maracanazo”, the brazilian soccer confederation decided to change players’ uniform. During those years players wore a white t-shirt with blue collar and white shorts and knee socks. The uniform was changed with a blue t-shirt and white shorts and knee socks, for some years. In 1954, the uniform changed again and it was as in our days: golden t-shirt with green collar, blue shorts and white knee socks. From this colours the Brazil team was called “the green-golden national”.