Maracanã, the largest stadium of the world
Written by Stades.mythiques , 17.08.2004
The largest, the most legendary, the main stadium of the greatest nation of football. No superlative seems strong enough to qualify Maracanã, the heart of Brazil, the symbol of Flamengo's victories, the greatest stadium of the world.
Brazil confirmed its position of favorite by the time of its two first matches in the final group. Sweden was eliminated on July 9, 1950, loosing for 7-1 (four goals of Ademir, two of Chico, one of Maneca), and Spain on July 13, 6-1 (two goals of Ademir, two of Chico, one of Jair and one of Zizinho). The crowd watched in mass these two performances (139.000 and 153.000 people), with the increasingly many shouts of "O Brasil ha de gauhar!" ("Brazil will win!"). On July 16, Brazil faced Uruguay, who had, until that moment, only drawed with Spain (2-2) and won over Sweden (3-2). At the time of that true final in an unexpected competition, Cariocas were motivated by officially 173.830 spectators. Actually 200 to 220.000, that is to say almost the tenth part of the Rio population. The point of the null match would be enough for Brazil to be champion of the world. Nobody bets on Uruguay. This one was being dominated since the match begining by the brazilian team that was attacking to score. But Uruguay was resisting. By the time of the returning from the cloakrooms, the Auriverde seemed disturbed. The players didn’t have the right to lose. The whistles rise platforms on behalf of the disappointed witnesses of the virgin score.
At the beginning of the second half, the spectators went quiet, and started to doubt. But all uncertainties were suddenly eliminated: at 46 minutes, Friaça, the right winger of the Seleção, opened the score. The whole Maracanã exulted, and demonstrated its joy. "O Brasil ha de gauhar!". But this goal that came by surprise didn’t reassure Brazil. On the contrary, this one seemed nervous, while Uruguay, which didn’t have anything to lose, was playing the football which had dominated the world in the 20’s. So, it happened what seemed logical: at 65 minutes, Uruguay drawed by Juan Schiaffino. So, Brazil should hold this result which ensured the trophy. The Seleção was in a very difficult situation, driven back in its surface, and at 79 minutes Alcides Gigghia confirmed the uruguayenne domination with a deathly goal (it was told that several people succumbed of a heart attack at this same moment in all the countries, when they found out about this goal). It was finished. A few minutes later, the platforms were agitated, the war was declared. The English referee, George Reader, whistle the end of the match: the Brazilian players cried over the lawn, the anger of the crowd exploded. Jules Rimet in person had to go down on the lawn to give the trophy to the uruguayen captain, Varela. The police force evacuated under its protection the players of the two teams, and the referee, in order to avoid a disaster. The Brazilian trainer, Flavio Costa, escaped from the furious supporters.In the memories of the uruguayennes, the match got a glorious name: Maracanazo. In the memories of the Brazilian, this national catastrophe remained a throbbing bruise, even after half-century and five titles later. A strange end for the World 1950 (whereas at the same time was held the match between Sweden and Spain, in which we saw surprisingly the Scandinavian being classified in the third place thanks to a victory 3-1). Moacyr Barbosa, the Brazilian guard, lived all his life a martyrdom: in 1963, the administration of the stadium, which installed round posts, offered him, with irony, the old goals, those of the final... For some people, the best guard of the history of Brazilian football (but a victim of his condition of being black in a country of mixed race but contaminated by racism), Barbosa died in 2000, still hated by some people (like by the leader of the Brazilian federation of football, who expeled him in 1993 from a match of Seleção, to which he had been invited from a tv channel to be the comentator).
