Comme's History of the World Cup- Brazil 1950

Brazil 1950

By the time that Brazil hosted the 1950 World Cup finals 12 years had passed since Italy had won their second title in France. The Second World War had halted the initial run of World Cups but by now 5 years had passed since that conflict and FIFA felt the time was right for the World Cup to be held again.

For this World Cup there had been a radical change in the structure of the tournament. The championship moved to two group stages, with there being no single World Cup final. The decision so infuriated Henri Delaunay, one of the men so instrumental in the creation of the World Cup, that he resigned from its organising committee.

It was not the only major change from previous World Cups. The British teams had rejoined FIFA in 1947 and so were invited to taker part, FIFA even going so far as to provide them with 2 spots at the World Cup, to be decided by the Home Championship. Something that hadn’t changed (some things never do) was the pettiness of individual associations. The Scots responded to FIFA’s generosity by declaring that they would only take part if they won the Home Championship, instead they lost the deciding game at Hampden Park to England, and so refused to travel to Brazil.

They were not the only ones. Argentina, the Copa America champions of 1947 who had not taken part in 1949, repeated their decision of 1938, and did not play in 1950. Nor did Turkey who had thrashed Syria 7-0 to qualify, or France who had been offered Turkey’s place.

The result of these withdrawals was a woefully lopsided tournament which saw two groups of four, one of three and a group with just two teams. In addition due to the vast size of Brazil some of the teams were forced to travel huge distances in between games, while others had to do comparatively little travelling.

First group stage

Group one

In Group 1 the obvious favourites were hosts Brazil and they opened their campaign against Mexico in the newly built, but not entirely completed Maracana stadium in Rio. The Mexicans boasted an outstanding goalkeeper in Antonio Carbajal, but even he was no match for this Brazil side. Ademir, the Brazilian forward, opened the scoring after half an hour, but his side could not add any more goals in the first-half. After the break though the home side were rampant, Jair and Baltazar added further goals before Ademir scored his second to complete the demolition.

In the group’s other opening game Yugoslavia faced Switzerland in Belo Horizonte. The Yugoslavians were clearly the better side and won comfortably 3-0, thanks mainly to a brace from Kosta Tomašević.

Brazil’s second game was against the Swiss in Sao Paulo, a game they were expected to win comfortably. Yet despite taking the lead within 3 minutes through Alfredo, the Brazilians found the Swiss a rather tougher prospect than had been imagined. Jacky Fatton met a cross from Alfred Bickel after 17 minutes and headed home to equalise. Baltazar restored the Brazilians lead shortly before half-time with an excellent goal, but despite fresh pressure from Brazil they were unable to extend their lead. Instead it was the Swiss who caught Brazil on the break and managed to level the score with just 2 minutes remaining, thanks to Jean Tamini (though some, including FIFA, credit this to Fatton).

The Yugoslavs meanwhile took on Mexico who needed to win to keep their own hopes of progression alive. The Yugoslavs went in front mid way through the first half as forward Stefan Bobek hit the target. Zeljko Čajkovski added two more either side of half-time to give the Eastern Europeans a comfortable advantage and Tomašević added a fourth. The highpoint for the Mexicans was a penalty they were awarded a minute from time which was converted by Hector Ortiz.

In the game between Switzerland and Mexico all that was at stake was pride. Kick off was initially delayed by the similarity of the two teams’ kits and so alternatives had to be found. As it turned out the game resulted in a comfortable win for the Swiss, who scored first half goals through Rene Bader and Charles Antenen. The Mexicans again had to settle for a late consolation goal, this time coming from their captain Horacio Casarin.

So Brazil played Yugoslavia in the Maracana to decide which of the two sides would top the group and so feature in the second group stage. The Yugoslavs knew that having won their two opening games they only needed a draw to guarantee that it would be they that made it through. However, disaster struck for the away team when Rajko Mitic cut his head on a metal girder shortly before kick-off. The Welsh referee Mervyn Griffiths was unwilling to wait for him to be treated before starting the game and when Mitic did finally make his way onto the pitch he found his side a goal down as Ademir had scored for Brazil within the opening 5 minutes. Once they did have 11 players though the Yugoslavs began to show how they had come to top the group, playing some excellent football. Despite exerting pressure, the Yugoslavs simply couldn’t force a breakthrough and they instead found themselves two down with little time remaining as the fabulous Zizinho scored for Brazil. It was not the only time that a team needing just a draw would find themselves disappointed at these finals.



02-JUL-50 PORTO ALEGRE Switzerland:Mexico
2:1 (2:0) Beira Rio
01-JUL-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil:Yugoslavia
2:0 (1:0) Maracana
28-JUN-50 PORTO ALEGRE Yugoslavia:Mexico
4:1 (2:0) Beira Rio
28-JUN-50 SAO PAULO Brazil:Switzerland
2:2 (2:1) Pacaembu
25-JUN-50 BELO HORIZONTE Yugoslavia:Switzerland
3:0 (0:0) Sete de Setembro
24-JUN-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil:Mexico
4:0 (1:0) Maracana


Group two

Many people’s favourites in group 2 were England who were taking part in their first World Cup. They had brought with them a stellar squad including Stanley Matthews, now 35 and arguably past his very best, Tom Finney, a man happy at any of the forward positions, Billy Wright, Wolves’ exceptional defender, as well as Wilf Mannion, Jackie Milburn and Stan Mortensen.

The game between England and Chile proved a comfortable victory for the Europeans, despite some difficulty adapting to the unfamiliar climes. Stan Mortensen opened the scoring and Wilf Mannion extended their lead shortly after the break.

The USA had made the semi-finals in 1930, but had been comprehensively outclassed both times they came up against top rate opposition. When they played Spain they shocked their more experienced opponents as John Souza broke the deadlock after 17 minutes. The Spaniards though showed their resilience and in a spell of 9 minutes early in the second-half they scored 3 times to wrap the game up.

England’s match with the USA in Belo Horizonte has gone down as probably the greatest shock in the history of World Cup football. England were perceived (at least at home) as being close to invincible, the USA as no-hopers, captained by a Scot who had previously been playing for Wrexham. There were suggestions that England perhaps were not taking the game as seriously as they might, changing at their hotel, and arriving at the ground just minutes before kick-off. However, England started strongly and even hit the post, but they could not make the vital breakthrough. Instead it was remarkably America who took the lead shortly before half-time as Larry Gaetjens nipped in to score with a header. The English were stunned but continued to press earnestly until the end without being able to score the goals, despite their formidable front-line. So convinced were the English media by the result that when the score-line reached Britain it was assumed to be an error and so England were in some cases credited with a 10-1 victory. The editor of the New York Times refused to print the result, believing it to be a hoax such was the level of shock. As a sad after note, goal scorer Gaetjens, who was of Haitian origin, was shot dead by the regime of Papa Doc Duvalier in 1964.

Against Chile, Spain found some of their rhythm and found themselves two goals to the good with half an hour, scored by Estanislao Basora and their superb centre-forward Telmo Zarra. The second half proved largely uneventful and Spain were happy enough to settle for a comfortable victory.

In their final group game England knew that they had to win in order to have any chance of progression and to that end they recalled Stanley Matthews of Stoke and Jackie Milburn, the Newcastle United forward, who had been absent from their first two games. In the early stages of the game Milburn believed he had given England the lead, jumping well to power a header past Antonio Ramallets after a good cross from Tom Finney, but the goal was wrongly disallowed for offside. The Spaniards were able to weather that storm and after the break scored a goal through Zarra after Basora had crossed and England’s participation at the World Cup was incredibly over.

In the group’s final game Chile finally clicked into some form as they defeated the USA 5-2. Atilio Cremaschi scored twice for the Chileans who had endured a miserable tournament until then, but at least they restored some pride.



02-JUL-50 RECIFE Chile:USA
5:2 (2:0) Ilha do Retiro
02-JUL-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Spain:England
1:0 (0:0) Maracana
29-JUN-50 BELO HORIZONTE USA:England
1:0 (1:0) Mineirao
29-JUN-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Spain:Chile
2:0 (2:0) Maracana
25-JUN-50 CURITIBA Spain:USA
3:1 (0:1) Durival de Brito
25-JUN-50 RIO DE JANEIRO England:Chile
2:0 (1:0) Maracana

Group three

Group 3 was left with just 3 teams after the surprise withdrawal of India. The Indians had themselves qualified for the finals when Burma, Indonesia and the Phillipines withdrew from the qualifying competition. Their reasons for withdrawal have sadly been lost in the mists of time, yet India’s remarkable story has ensured. Despite competing at the 1948 London Olympics barefoot the Indians were denied the opportunity by FIFA and so did not travel to S America. The small matter of finances may also have played a minor part.

In India’s absence Italy, the defending champions, were the biggest name in group 3, but they were a shadow of the side that had won the previous two World Cups. The previous year they had tragically lost the majority of their first team in the Superga air disaster which had killed the entire Torino team, including Valentino Mazzola their captain and inspiration. The new team possessed few players of that calibre, the most notable, Giampiero Boniperti, was yet to develop into the player that later became Juventus’ record goalscorer.

Sweden were the Italians’ main rivals to win group, despite having lost many of their leading players, including the Gre-No-Li forward line, to Italian clubs, and the two teams faced each other in Sao Paulo in the opening game. Ricardo Carapallese, the Italian captain, put them ahead after just 7 minutes but then the Swedes began to impose themselves on the match. Hans Jeppson and Sune Andersson put the Swedes ahead before half-time and Jeppson added another after the break to provide Sweden with a secure lead. Ermes Muccinelli pulled one back for Italy with 12 minutes remaining but it was not enough, and Sweden took all the points.

Sweden entered their game against Paraguay then knowing that just a draw could be enough to ensure that they took up a place in the last group stage. The chances of that were greatly advanced when they found themselves two up thanks to Stig Sundqvist and Karl-Erik Palmer midway through the first half. López Fretes, the Paraguyan captain, pulled one back after 34 minutes, and Cesar Lopez levelled with 15 minutes to go, but the Swedes held on for the draw.

The match between Italy and Paraguay proved to be largely academic, Italy had no chance of qualification while Paraguay had to win and hope. Paraguay’s slim chances lessened still when Carapallese put the Italians ahead and Egisto Pandolfini secured the victory. It was a tame exit for the champions, but given the disastrous loss of life that had caused it, few were surprised.


02-JUL-50 SAO PAULO Italyaraguay
2:0 (1:0) Pacaembu
29-JUN-50 CURITIBA Swedenaraguay
2:2 (2:1) Durival de Brito
25-JUN-50 SAO PAULO Sweden:Italy
3:2 (2:1) Pacaembu


Group four

Sadly group 4 proved to be something of a farce due to the disappointing withdrawals of both Scotland and Turkey. As it was only one game was played, one between Uruguay and Bolivia, and it proved to be as ridiculously lop-sided as the draw of groups.

Uruguay were participating in only their second World Cup and they had won at their only previous attempt. The Uruguayans proved themselves to be in a superior class to their South American cousins and destroyed them 8-0, thanks to a fabulous master-class from Juan ‘Pep’ Schiaffino, their majestic inside-left. Few teams can ever have had an easier route to the latter stages.

02-JUL-50 BELO HORIZONTE Uruguay:Bolivia
8:0 (4:0) Mineirao



The final group

The final group started with Brazil taking on Sweden and the home side’s attacking intentions were plain from the start. Ademir netted twice in the opening half and Chico added a third as the Brazilians gave a wonderful lesson in the art of creative play. Ademir scored two more shortly after the break before Sune Andersson was finally able to restore some pride for Sweden via the penalty spot. Yet it was not to be the start of a fight-back for Sweden, instead Maneca and Chico completed the rout to give Brazil the ideal start to the group stage.

The game between Uruguay and Spain turned out to be a rough and tumble affair, perhaps not unexpected given that Obduilo Varela was on the pitch. The Uruguyans took the lead in the 29th minute via Alcides Ghiggia, yet by half-time they found themselves 2-1 down. Basora had been able to net twice for the Spaniards to turn the game on its head. Varela though was at his imperious best in the second half, and with time running out he equalised for Uruguay, and the game finished 2-2.

Spain were back in action only a few days later and they were the next to face the awesome force of Brazil. Brazil were rampant and found themselves 3 goals up at the half time. The game continued in the same vein after half time, and before long Zizinho was adding Brazil’s sixth goal. Silvestre Igoa was able to score for Spain in the 70th minute to add some respectability to the proceedings but it was the final goal of the game. Brazil’s procession continued.

Uruguay took on Sweden in Sao Paulo knowing that they had to win to keep their slim hopes of winning the World Cup alive. They got off to the worst possible start as Kalle Palmer put Sweden ahead inside 4 minutes. Ghiggia put Uruguay back on level terms but within a minute Stig Sundqvist had put the Swedes back in front just before half-time. After the break though the Uruguayans began to edge more into control of the game and Miguez was able to equalise after 77 minutes before putting his side in front shortly after. It was enough for Uruguay as they hung on for a 3-2 victory.

The game between Sweden and Spain on the final matchday proved to be something of an irrelevance as it clashed with the game between Brazil and Uruguay. However, it turned out as an excellent win for Sweden, who led 3-0 before Zarra scored his fourth goal of the tournament.

Although the game between Uruguay and Brazil was not officially the final, it has often been seen as one, given that it was played between the two teams who still had a chance to end up as champions. The game was played in front of a record crowd of 199,000 and it was an expectant one. Brazil needed just a draw to become world champions and given their thrashings of Spain and Sweden (teams Uruguay had struggled against) the home crowd anticipated another easy victory. Indeed so confident were the Brazilians that the governor of Rio gave a long speech before the game praising the team as victors before a ball had even been kicked.

When the game did get underway Brazil began to do what they did best: attack. The awesome trio of Jair, Zizinho and Ademir were all to the fore as they attempted to break down a resilient Uruguyan defence which held firm until half-time. Yet almost immediately after the restart Friaça broke the deadlock after clever work from Zizinho and Ademir. The Uruguyans were shell-shocked, but Obdulio Varela stayed calm. He grabbed the ball and refused to restart the game until a cacophony of boos and cat-calls erupted from the home crowd. The atmosphere turned from one of euphoria to one of anger, just as Varela had wanted. His gamesmanship had achieved its desired effect and twenty minutes later Schiaffino scored to equalise from Ghiggia’s cross. Then with just ten minutes Ghiggia burst forward and netted from close range to put Uruguay into a decisive lead. Jules Rimet had been making his way pitch-side in preparation for the presentation of the trophy that bore his name whilst the goal was scored, when he got there he was greeted with silence. The home crowd was stunned and when the final whistle went the Brazilian crowd could still not fully believe they had lost. Such was the level of shock that some fans even went so far as to commit suicide, foreshadowing Bill Shankly’s famous quotation. The Uruguyans though were understandably overjoyed, in just their second World Cup they had won back the trophy they first gained at home in Montevideo twenty years earlier.



16-JUL-50 SAO PAULO Sweden:Spain
3:1 (2:0) Pacaembu
16-JUL-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Uruguay:Brazil
2:1 (0:0) Maracana
13-JUL-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil:Spain
6:1 (3:0) Maracana
13-JUL-50 SAO PAULO Uruguay:Sweden
3:2 (1:2) Pacaembu
09-JUL-50 SAO PAULO Uruguay:Spain
2:2 (1:2) Pacaembu
09-JUL-50 RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil:Sweden
7:1 (3:0) Maracana


FIFA’s Official Page

Full line-ups, goal scorers and much more

 

Another possible mistake is the manner in which Gaetjens scored his goal.

I was just looking on the Times Digital Library, and in their brief match report they suggest that Gaetjens had scored with "a fine shot from twenty yards into the corner of the net", just slightly different from a header.

Anyone out there have any reports either way?