WFI‘s Adam Brandon counts down to Russia 2018 with 90 World Cup goals in 90 days, scored in the minute corresponding to the day in the countdown.
Context
Once the World Cup was awarded to Brazil in 1946, the pressure and expectation placed upon the squad of the 1950 World Cup slowly grew.
Their form had been impressive in the lead up to the tournament and they had organised a two month long training camp to prepare for the games ahead.
The Maracana had just been built in-time (although some parts weren’t finished) too and it was the biggest stadium in the world – the stage was surely set for Brazil to celebrate.
Crowds in the Maracana during the tournament ranged from 82,000 in the first game to eventually 200,000 for the final match.
On their way to that fateful meeting with Uruguay they comfortably beat Mexico, Yugoslavia, Spain and Sweden.
Their only poor performance came away from Rio when they drew 2-2 with Switzerland in Sao Paulo.
This World Cup didn’t have any knockout games, instead another final group was formed to decide the winner. The results left Brazil just needing a draw to win the World Cup for the first time.
Their opponents in the final match of the tournament were 1930 champions, Uruguay, who had played two less games than Brazil as France had pulled out of Group C leaving just Uruguay and Bolivia.
La Celeste beat the Bolivians 8-0 and went on to battle out a 2-2 draw with Spain before getting a hard earned 3-2 win against Sweden.
They headed to the Maracana knowing nothing other than a win would see them claim their second Jules Rimet trophy.
The newly built Maracana was bursting at the seams as the teams entered the field of play. Yet the first half passed off with little incident – Brazil attacked as expected, but couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Uruguayan defence.
Just after half time, the stadium erupted with relief and joy as Brazil took the lead. La Celeste players protested the goal for minutes, claiming it was offside. This was a tactic to try and knock Brazil out of their stride — it worked.
Uruguay began to get back in to the game and the Brazilian defence crumbled. Juan Alberto Schiaffino levelled in the 66th minute and suddenly the Brazilians on and off the pitch got very nervous.
The Goal
Just 11 minutes remained for Brazil to hold on when Uruguayan winger Alcides Ghiggia burst in to the box…
What Happened Next?
Uruguay held on for a 2-1 win and Brazil was in mourning for a long time after this. It is still seen as one of the most shocking events in Brazilian social history, let alone their sporting one.
It’s also one of the greatest surprises in the history of the World Cup. FIFA had prepared everything for a Brazil win that day, and Uruguay weren’t even presented with the trophy properly after the match.
Meanwhile, a few hundred kilometres away, a young Brazilian named Edson Arantes do Nascimento saw his father cry for the first time that day. He told his father that he would win the World Cup for him. Pele went onto to do it three times in twelve years.
Meanwhile, Uruguay would finally lose a World Cup match four years later, but not without a fight.
Alcides Ghiggia went to Italy and impressed in Serie A with Roma for eight seasons, a few years after this World Cup.
He also appeared and scored for the Italian national team. He remains a hero in his homeland. He passed away on the 16th July 2015 – exactly 65 years to the day of his finest moment.
Extras
Famous commercial before the 2014 World Cup – The ghost of 1950 – Advert!
Celebration of the goal in Uruguay’s national stadium 63 years later…
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