MARACANAZO

On 16th July 1950, Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1, in the World Cup Final, at the Estadio do Maracaña, in Rio de Janeiro. The paid attendance was 173,850, but many reports place the actual attendance closer to 200,000. 

The 1950 tournament was Uruguay's first since winning the inaugural 1930 World Cup tournament and it was the first World Cup to be held since 1938, as the tournaments scheduled for 1942 and 1946 were cancelled due to World War 2. A number of countries, such as Japan and the newly-divided Germany, were unable to compete, leaving only 13 teams to participate. 

As a result, FIFA changed the format so that the winner was determined by a four-team round-robin as opposed to a knockout stage. 

In Pool One Brazil topped it over Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Mexico, who played three and lost 3.

England played in Pool Two with Chile (won 2-0), USA (bunch of amateurs) lost 0-1 (don't ask) and Spain 0-1, qualifying to go further but only in second place behind Spain. 

Sweden, Italy and Paraguay each played two games ,and finished in that order in Pool Three. 

Pool Four included Uruguay 8 v Bolivia 0...only. Peru and Ecuador had withdrawn This chaos was due to countries suddenly declining the invite to join the Finals in Brazil, namely India and the French didn't fancy the journey!

Along with the winners of other "Pools" there was a Final Pool of Brazil, Sweden, Spain and winners Uruguay. Brazil had scored 14 goals in three ties but conceded 4, losing 2-1 to Uruguay at the Maracana. Attendance 199,854 (counted!). 

There was a "Final Pool", with Brazil, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay. Each played each other. The final pool saw the Brazilians as heavy favourites, with overwhelming victories against Sweden (7-1) a match refereed by Arthur Ellis, who later adjudicated in "Its a Knockout on BBC. Brazil beat Spain (6-1) in their next match of the round-robin. Uruguay, on the other hand, had drawn with Spain (2-2) and had come from behind against Sweden with an 84th-minute match winner (3-2). 

Reportedly, FIFA President Jules Rimet was so confident in a Brazil victory that he had already prepared a post-match speech in Portuguese to congratulate them. Similarly, the Brazilian Football Confederation had prepared winners' medals for each of the Brazilian players.

Refereed by another referee from England, George Reader, Brazil was one point ahead of Uruguay in the standings, which meant that the hosts would claim the trophy with either a win or a draw. 

The Uruguayans were unwilling to play the role of sacrifical lamb, however. Disregarding the defensive strategy devised by their manager, Juan López, the Uruguayan side attacked the favourites, a decision that appeared unwise when Brazilian forward Friaça gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute. But Uruguay's attacks paid off as they equalized in the 66th minute with a goal from forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino, then took the lead 2-1 with a strike from winger Alcides Ghiggia, who was Schiaffino's teammate at Uruguayan club Peñarol. Captain, Obdulio Varela, lifted the trophy.  There's a bit of "timber" on some of these Uruguayans!!

According to Jules Rimet, Ghiggia's goal had a dramatic effect on the crowd, saying "the silence was morbid, sometimes too difficult to bear." And, in fact, two Brazilian supporters in attendance were shaken so badly by the loss that they committed suicide by jumping off the stands.

After the match, the Brazilian team, determined that their white and blue kit was jinxed, changed to the yellow, green, and blue kits which they wear today.