World Cup 1950: Brazil’s greatest national disaster
On the 29th March Brazil play Uruguay in a South America World Cup Qualifier. Both these teams have lifted the World Cup but there’s one meeting between the two sides that has never been forgotten. This is the story of Brazil’s 1950 World Cup.
On the 29th March Brazil play Uruguay in a South America World Cup Qualifier. Both these teams have lifted the World Cup but there’s one meeting between the two sides that has never been forgotten. This is the story of Brazil’s 1950 World Cup.Brazil was seen as the perfect location for the first post war World Cup. Untouched by war, financially capable and 3rd place in the last tournament (1938) secured them the finals.
Most South American countries had supported the allies during WW2. But in the only continent untouched by the war, life and football had continued as normal. All of the European leagues had been suspended at the out break of war. But the Brazilian game continued and during the 1940’s it developed, improving tactically and technically. Football in Europe would take a long time to get itself back into.
The Brazilian national authorities decided to build in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, a monument dedicated to football and what would be the largest stadium in the world (200,000 capacity), Estádio Mario Filho (named after a Brazilian journalist) or the Maracaná as it is better known. The first stone was laid on August 2nd, 1948 and was the project completed two years later, just in time for the finals.
The European teams from countries most affected by the war - among others the Polish team - didn't enter the qualifiers and the silver medallists of the previous championships, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Argentina didn't participate either. But for the first time teams from England and Scotland entered the competition and Uruguay, first world champion’s of 1930, entered after a 20 year absence.
For the Brazilian’s, the C.B.D (now C.B.F) made it very clear they expected the team to win the tournament. They tried to organized everything to help the team and picked a Coach who could form a solid team and win them their first World cup.
It was Flávio Rodrigues da Costa who was given the task of Coaching the team. Falvio was spoilt for choice for players with in particular two world class forwards, Ademir of Vasco de Gama (who eventually finished the ‘Golden Boot’ of the tournament) and Friaça from São Paulo.
There were no play-offs in the tournament with all the games played in groups. Most surprisingly, favoured England lost to USA and Spain (both games 0:1), which eliminated the pretender to the cup in the preliminary phase of the games.
It was on 24th June Brazil began its extraordinary run of games by winning 4 - 0 against Mexico in the Maracanã, with Ademir scoring twice and Jair and Baltazar adding the other two.
The second game followed on June 28 in Pacaembu de São Paulo against Switzerland. Flavio Da Costa made the decision to replace the midfield with three São Paulo players - a common practice at the time to please local fans. The result - a 2-2 draw - was seen as an embarrassing wobble and meant that Brazil had to beat Yugoslavia in Rio to qualify for the final group.
Brazil were helped in the game when Yugoslavia’s best player, Rajko Mitic, injured himself on the stairs walking on to the pitch and his head was wrapped in bandages throughout the game, Brazil won 2-0. Now the Brazilian public truly believed that their team could be crowned world champions.
Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay all joined Brazil in the final stage.
After one week of rest, the Seleção players entered the Maracanã in front of 139000 spectators and the fan’s would not be disappointed. Brazil controlled the game from start to finish, cruising to a 7 - 1 victory against Sweden. Four goals from Ademir gave him the World Cup record for most goals in a single match.
Next it was Spain’s turn to lose heavily 6 - 1, with another double by Ademir. Nothing looked like it could stop Brazil been crowned champions in their country.
