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World Cup 1950




Qualifying rounds

GROUP A
Brazil
Mexico
Switzerland
Yugoslavia

GROUP B
England
Chile
United States
Spain

GROUP C
Sweden
Italy
Paraguay

GROUP D
Uruguay
Bolivia
 

FINAL POOL
Uruguay
Brazil
Sweden
Spain


DECISIVE MATCH
2
1
Uruguay
Brazil

 
 
 

 

FINAL




Rio de Janeiro, July 16th - Estadio Maracana
2 (0) URUGUAY
Schiaffino 66
Ghiggia 79
Maspoli, M.Gonzales, Tejera, Gambetta, Varela, Andrade, Ghiggia, Perez, Miguez, Schiaffino, Moran.

1 (0) BRAZIL
Friaca 47
Barbosa, Augusto, Juvenal, Bauer, Danilo, Bigode, Friaca, Zizinho, Ademir, Jair, Chico.

Referee: George Reader (England)
Attendance: 199.854
 

     A world record crowd greeted the teams and, despite efforts to restrict the capacity to 150.000, the official attendance was just short of 200.000, although the actual paying attendance was 172.772. There were very few in the overcrowded stadium who expected anything but a Brazilian success. Even the many Uruguayan fans present must have given their team little chance.

     Brazil came to what was effectively the World Cup final having scored 13 goals in their two final pool matches. Uruguay had scored a mere five against the same opposition and had struggled on both occasions. Brazil were 1/10 on favourites to win and stood to collect mammoth bonuses of around £10.000 if they lifted the trophy.

     Needing only a draw to win the title, Brazil could not resist the temptation to attack, but the Uruguayans defended solidly and kept Ademir and company at bay. After a goalless first half, Ademir slipped the ball to Friaca, who put the hosts in front two minutes into the second half. Then came a tactical error. Coach Flavio Costa gave instructions for Jair to drop back into defence. The instructions never reached him and Brazil continued to play in their usual way. Being one goal in front and only needing a draw, Brazil were in a good position.

     Uruguay's 34 year old captain Obdulio Varela refused to give up and kept driving his team forward. Right winger Ghiggia was a dangerman and the Brazilian left-half, Bigode, gave him too much room in the second half. After one such lapse, the winger gathered a pass from his skipper Varela, beat his man and crossed for Schiaffino to head home the equallizer after 66 minutes.

     Despite allowing Uruguay to level the scores, Brazil still attacked but their efforts failed to produce any more goals. By now, Uruguay were attacking more and more and wing-half Victor Andrade, whose uncle was in the 1930 winning team, set up many attacking moves. With 11 minutes remaining, Ghiggia got round Bigode once more and this time, when the defence was expecting another centre, he ran for the goal and slotted the ball in between the near post and goalkeeper Barbosa.

     A little more than 10 minutes later, the referee blew his whistle for full time. The improbable and "impossible" had happened. Brazil had lost and Uruguay joined Italy as two-times winners of the World Cup. The Brazilian fans openly wept in the Maracana and in the streets of Rio. Despite their anguish, the Brazilian fans inside the giant stadium nevertheless found time to warmly applaude the victors as they paraded the trophy. It brought an end to a three-week Brazilian carnival. The final result may not have been what the home fans wanted, but it signalled the rebirth of the World Cup after a 12-year absence.
 
 
 
 

NATION      P   W   D   L    Gls   Pts
Uruguay     3   2   1   0    7-5     5
Brazil      3   2   0   1   14-4     4
Sweden      3   1   0   2    6-11    2
Spain       3   0   1   2    4-11    1
Uruguay became champions, Brazil silvermedalists and Sweden
took the bronze.

 

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Juan Schiaffino - was one of the best players in the world in the 1950s and was instrumental as Uruguay against all odds managed to beat Brazil and win the World Cup. 



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