Brazil never fails to entertain the footballing world, but you might be surprised to know there was a period of 2 years when Brazil went into a football coma.
The 1950 World Cup happened after 12 years because of World War 2
The 1950 World Cup happened after 12 years because of World War 2 and everybody was sure that the host nation, Brazil, would be the eventual winners of the biggest stage of football.
The stadium named Estadio do Marcana was built for the World Cup Final to witness Brazil win their 1st ever world cup, A stadium of capacity over 200k.
Football became Brazil’s national pastime, almost a religion, and Brazilian soccer players created a style of play distinctively Brazilian and different from other styles of play around the world. As a result, Brazil was proud to be chosen by FIFA as the host of the World Cup in 1950, only 56 years after the first Brazilian football match took place.
In the final round, Brazil overcame Sweden 7-1 and defeated Spain 6-1.
Before the World Cup final, a picture of the Brazilian team with the title “World Champions” was published in the Brazilian newspaper O Mundo. Both the players and the country were full of hope.
Politicians were getting ready to speak at events like With a tribute to Costa’s first team, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro entered first: “You, players, who in a matter of hours will be celebrated as champions by millions of your countrymen! You have no competitors in the whole hemisphere! You are the one who will defeat every rival! I already salute you as the victor!
Brazil would have been recognized winners for finishing first in their group, even if they had drawn with Uruguay in the World Cup final. Since most Uruguayans knew Brazil would win easily, very few went to attend the match.
As anticipated, Brazil opened the scoring in the first few minutes of the second half, and with the crowd erupting in celebration and everyone waiting for the final whistle, it was difficult to hear the referee’s whistle.
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Despite Uruguay’s 66th-minute equalizer, they needed another goal if they wanted to lift the World cup.
But to Brazilian fan’s disbelief, they witnessed the winner in the final twelve minutes of the game. Uruguay won the 1950 World Cup after scoring another goal.
Brazil 2-1 Uruguay
It was so quiet that nobody in the stadium could believe it.
Uruguay did not have a ceremony, post-match presentation, or title-giving speech since, even in a nightmare, no one was psychologically ready for it. That day is still remembered as the saddest day in Brazilian football history because Brazil did not play a single game at the national level for the next two years.
