I am a day out here, but in these trying times, nobody will notice...apart from you!
The 1930 World Cup Final was played on Wednesday July 30 at the Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay. Why so far away from the heart of "football" in Europe?
Well, Uruguay were Olympic Champions and were celebrating the country's centenary.
https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/1938-world-cup-covers-12-nations.html
Along with the 1966 World Cup Final, when the game was played on a Saturday, this was the only World Cup Final not to be played on a Sunday. 93,000 turned up to witness "history" nevertheless.
The Uruguayan government promised to cover all competitors costs and managed to complete a brand new stadium, but not by the first day of the tournament (13th)...it was finished for the home country's first tie against Peru, five days later.
An immediate concern was who provided the match ball! As if.....but FIFA remained political and allowed the Argentinians to use "their" ball in the first half and for Uruguay to use theirs in thre second half. It worked...Uruguay scored first after 12 minutes but were 1-2 down at half time with goals scored in 20 minutes and then 37. The second half saw a turn round with goals from Uruguay in 57, 68 and 89 minutes Hector Castro scored the last one.
To qualify for the semi-final, Uruguay topped Group 3 of 3 nations, with two wins and a goal difference of 5-0. As top of Group Two, they met Yugoslavia in the Semi-final, winning 6-1.
Argentina also earned 6 points with a difference of 10-4 in Group One. Argentina then beat the USA 6-1 in the semi-final.
John Langenus (pictured) from Belgium refereed the final.
Pedro Cea of Uruguay scored goals in both the 1924 Olympic Final in Paris and the 1930 FIFA Final and was second best in the tournament scoring with 5. Stabile of Argentina scored 8.
"Manco" Castro of Uruguay, who scored two goals in the competition, was chosen for the final and he played with only one arm. His first goal was Uruguay's first ever goal in the World Cup against Peru and then he headed the fourth goal in the final.
13 countries made the trip with the prize being a 32 cm tall trophy made of gold and sculpted by French man, Abel Lafleur. Only four countries from Europe made the journey across the Atlantic.
The Romanians had to rely on their King, Carol, who persuaded the players' employers to let their footballers have leave. King Carol picked the team!
The French were obliged to follow their World Cup initiative and many wondered why they bothered to make the trip. Much was the same for Belgium and Yugoslavia. It was a ling trip by sea.
Only two countries, as members of FIFA, played in this tournament, France and Belgium.
After the final, back in Buenos Aires, the angry Argentinian fans threw bricks through the Uruguayan Embassy windows.
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