Maracanazo

Maracanazo (in Portuguese, Maracanaço) is the name given to the victory of the Uruguayan soccer team in the last match of the World Cup of Soccer of 1950, in front of the selection of soccer of Brazil. Against all odds, Uruguay won 2-1 at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. By extension, the term has been generalized to define that victory of a team or athlete, preferably in a final, in someone else's field and having all the factors against it.

Background

Meetings played between the national teams of Brazil and Uruguay during the five years prior to the Maracanazo.

Summary

Previous

Positions to the second date

Pos.	Equipment	Points	PG	PE	P	DG	GF
1	BRABrazil	4	2	0	0	+11	13
2	URUUruguay	3	1	1	0	+1	5
3	ESPSpain	1	0	1	1	−5	3
4	SWESweden	0	0	0	2	−7	3

Although the championship was decided by a four-team final round (playing round-robin), the last game became a "de facto" final. It was played on July 16, 1950 at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in front of some 200,000 spectators, the largest number of spectators ever gathered to watch a soccer match. The favorite team after an undefeated campaign and The top scorer was Brazil, which arrived with 4 points as a result of its victories (at that time, a match won awarded two points while a draw awarded one) by defeating Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1, while Uruguay arrived having obtained 3 points against the same rivals (a 2-2 draw against Spain and a narrow 3-2 victory against Sweden).

It is worth mentioning that, although the favorite was Brazil, the Uruguayan team was at that time one of the most successful on the planet, with a World Cup, eight Copa Américas and two Olympic titles, and that their game had several decades provoking the admiration of all the fans in the world, for which reason the Uruguayan squad could hardly be considered a "weak rival".^{[citation required]}

The Uruguayan team had even played three soccer matches in the Rio Branco Cup against its equivalent in Brazil a few months before in the World Cup, which had resulted in two Brazilian victories (2-1 and 1-0) and one Uruguayan (4-3). In the South American Championship held the previous year, Brazil won 5-1. Thus, the difference in quality between the two teams was not excessive, although the superiority of the Brazilian attack was recognizable. In the final, the Brazilian team only needed a draw to get first place in the last group and thereby proclaim themselves world champion, which increased the confidence of the local fans; On the other hand, the Brazilian press dismissed the Uruguayan options.

The main newspapers in Rio de Janeiro already had front pages in print celebrating the triumph of the local team in advance: the "Diario de Río" headlined "O Brazil will win - A Copa will be nossa", while the newspaper "O Mundo" placed on its cover "Brazil Campeão Mundial de Futebol 1950". There were many ornate floats already prepared in Rio de Janeiro to lead a veritable carnival of festivities and more than 500,000 T-shirts had already been sold with the inscription: “"Brasil Campeão 1950" ”; the Maracana stadium itself (recently inaugurated) was decorated with banners in Portuguese that read “Tribute to the World Champions”.^{[citation required]}

In addition, the Brazilian political authorities had minted commemorative coins with the names of the soccer players of the local team. The score of the Uruguayan anthem was not delivered as it was considered unnecessary. The band had also prepared a triumphant march, titled "Brasil Campeão" composed for the occasion.

The venue's favoritism had even reached the Uruguayan authorities. A few hours after the match began, the Uruguayan soccer team received a visit from members of the embassy's diplomatic corps, asking them to suffer "a dignified defeat," that is, without a win. ^{[citation required]}

Even the FIFA president himself, the Frenchman Jules Rimet, was convinced of the local victory due to the triumphant atmosphere expressed by the Brazilian fans. Rimet carried a speech in the right pocket of his jacket, in homage to the Brazilian champions, written in Portuguese.^{[citation needed]} Despite Since the Brazilian and Uruguayan teams were at a similar level of quality of play, the Brazilian press and fans had created an atmosphere of excessive triumphalism days before the decisive match, where a home victory seemed inevitable, while an away victory was assumed as impossible.^{[citation required]}

The party

Uruguayan team, world champion of 1950.

Brazilian Selection, 1950. National Archive of Brazil.

Before the match began, the Uruguayan soccer players were aware of the enormous favoritism enjoyed by the Brazilian squad. The coach of that team, Juan López Fontana, wanted to avoid a humiliating defeat, and asked his players to play defensively; When López retired, the Uruguayan captain Obdulio Varela told his teammates: "Juancito is a good man, but now he is wrong. If we play to defend ourselves, the same thing that happened to Sweden or Spain will happen to us", referring to the heavy defeats of these teams against Brazil (7:1 and 6:1 respectively). The men of the Uruguayan squad thus understood that playing defensively against the Brazilian team would result in a defeat by a landslide. Shortly before entering the field of play, the Uruguayans perceived with great intensity the roar of the local fans in the stands of the Maracana. Varela encouraged his companions by saying: "Boys, those outside are made of wood." The game started at 3:00 p.m.

At the start of the game, the Brazilian team started their usual pressure with the forwards, looking for the goal to be able to settle the game comfortably and in the shortest possible time. It should be noted that Brazil's previous victories in the tournament had been by a large margin, which is why the local fans almost demanded they repeat similar goals. The Uruguayan goalkeeper Roque Gastón Máspoli managed to contain the Brazilian attacks successfully, and thus ended the first half of regulation time, with both teams retiring to the locker room tying without annotations and the annoyance in the stands due to lack of goals.

Initial training of equipment

Despite this disappointment, optimism continued among the local public, as the tie gave the Canarinha the world championship. Early in the second half (minute 2), the Brazilian Friaça scored the first goal of the afternoon. A huge celebration began to fill the stadium, including some firecrackers. The hubbub was short-lived, as Varela went to claim an advanced position from the referee, with the intention of reducing the tension in the match; Years later, the footballer recognized that, if he continued playing amid the hullabaloo of the Brazilian public, the drive of the local footballers would have precipitated a win against Uruguay. The fact is that the "black boss", aware that Brazil was in a position to overwhelm the charrúa team in the effervescence of the match, decided to discuss an alleged offside with the English referee. It should be noted that Varela did not speak English nor did the referee speak Spanish, which led to an absurd discussion between the deaf. Not even the Uruguayans themselves understood what their captain was looking for; but the truth is that Varela knew that provoking such a discussion would end up "cooling off the game."

Gol of Brazil in the World Cup of 1950. National Archive of Brazil.

After the tension among the public and the teams had eased, the game resumed and, in the 21st minute, Ghiggia escaped to the right and, after pretending that he would finish off the goal, opted for a pass to the middle of the area, where the entry without Juan Alberto Schiaffino's marks allowed him to equalize the score of the match. Even with this 1-1 result, Brazil would have become the winner of the World Cup. Despite this, the Brazilian fans claimed victory and this was understood by their team, who desperately launched themselves to get a second goal. For the press and the fans of the time, Brazil could not be champion simply by drawing. However, the Uruguayan players continued to defend well and even launched attacks on the Brazilian box.

The Maracanã stadium had a record attendance of 199 854 spectators.

Finally, in minute 34 of the second half another Uruguayan attack was articulated where Obdulio Varela threw a pass towards Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, who handed the ball to Julio Pérez, who returned it short to Ghiggia, who passed the Brazilian defender Bigode, and pretended, as in the first goal, to launch a cross against the local goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa. Barbosa made the mistake that would mark the rest of his life: he took a step forward, surely the scene of the first goal would be repeated, and delivered an opportunity at his near post. Ghiggia seized the opportunity and kicked a violent shot between the goalkeeper and the post. Thus he scored the second goal for Uruguay and the stadium was completely silent. Even the Uruguayan soccer players were impressed by the sudden silence in the venue, where the euphoria of the fans had reigned minutes before.

At the end of the game, Brazil attacked with all its might, but it was impossible to reverse the result. At the end of the official time, at 4:45 p.m., the English referee George Reader whistled the end of the match, with which the joy of the Uruguayan players exploded. At the end of the game, most of the public left the venue in silence or crying; the Brazilian soccer players openly showed their regret and the local press made sad and incredulous comments in the face of a totally unexpected defeat; the music band brought in for the occasion did not play any piece, not noticing the ceremony for the delivery of the Jules Rimet Cup to Uruguay.

Result

Brazil 1 - 2 Uruguay 16 July 1950 15:00 (UTC -3) Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro — 200,000 spectators 1950 World Cup Final. 1 BY Barbosa 2 DEF Augusto 3 DEF Youth 6 DEF Bigode 4 MED Bauer 5 MED Danilo 8 MED Zizinho 10 MED Jair 7 OF THE Friaça 9 OF THE Ademir 11 OF THE Boy D. T. Moderato Wisintainer 1 BY Roque Gastón Máspoli 2 DEF Matías González 3 DEF Eusebio Tejera 4 MED Schubert Gambetta 5 MED Obdulio Varela 6 MED Víctor Rodríguez Andrade 7 OF THE Alcides Ghiggia 8 OF THE Julio Pérez 9 OF THE Best Oscar 10 OF THE Juan Alberto Schiaffino 11 OF THE Ruben Morán D. T. Juan López Goles 47' Friaça 1:0 66' 79' Schiaffino Ghiggia 1:1 1:2 Arbitration equipment Principal George Reader Assistants Moroslov Wredie George Mitchell. Report

Champion Uruguay

Second title

Reactions

For Brazilian fans, the Uruguayan victory was a tragedy, commented as the country's worst sporting defeat until then. Preparations for a celebration that was obvious to many were cancelled.^{[citation needed]} Since then, the word Maracanazo has remained as an expression of defeat or unforeseen disaster for Brazilians.^{[citation needed]}

In stark contrast, the celebration and ecstasy were immense for Uruguayans. The unexpected victory reached the ears of that country thanks to the unforgettable story of Carlos Solé. People poured into the streets to celebrate what, at first, seemed like an unattainable dream.^{[citation needed]} The confusion was such after the Uruguayan victory that everyone the Brazilian fans were completely and surprisingly silent as soon as the match ended, where the Uruguayan crowd was barely a hundred people, to the point that the only sounds that could be heard were those of the celestial team.< sup>[citation required]

There was also an anecdote involving the then FIFA president, Jules Rimet. When the match was tied 1-1, Rimet went to the locker room to prepare his congratulatory speech for Brazil, but when he returned to the field of play (after the match was over) he was surprised not to see any celebration, since Uruguay he had accomplished the feat. So baffled was Rimet that even the official ceremony of awarding the cup to Uruguay did not take place; he was barely able to get close to the Uruguayan captain on the edge of the pitch to give him a brief handshake and hand him over, almost secretly, the trophy.

Years later, Rimet recalled:

Everything was planned, except Uruguay's triumph. At the end of the game, I had to deliver the cup to the captain of the champion team. An eye-catching guard would form from the tunnel to the center of the playing field, where the captain of the winning team would be waiting for me (naturally Brazil). I prepared my speech and went to the locker room a few minutes before the end of the game (they were tied 1 to 1 and the tie dictated champion to the local team). But when he walked down the halls, at the moment, the infernal shouting broke. At the exit of the tunnel, a desolating silence dominated the stadium. No guard of honor, no national anthem, no speech, no solemn surrender. I found myself, with the cup in my arms and without knowing what to do. In the tumult I ended up discovering the Uruguayan captain, Obdulio Varela, and almost hidden I handed him the golden statuette, stretching his hand and I retired without being able to tell him a single word of congratulation for his team.

From then on, the national team began to wear the traditional yellow-green shirt with blue shorts and white socks, although it was not immediately, since in some friendly matches and officers still kept the white kit.

Years later, Ghiggia, visiting Brazil, pronounced a phrase that reflects the repercussions of the Maracanazo both for Brazil and for world football: "Only three people were able to silence the Maracana; Pope John Paul II, Frank Sinatra and me". A few years later, the one who was captain of the Uruguayan team that day, Obdulio Varela, was honest and said: "The truth is that if we played that game another 99 times, we would lose them all, but that day we got the match 100".

However, seen in retrospect, according to Uruguayan coach Óscar Washington Tabárez, that game had a negative impact on posterity for the Uruguayan team, since "for later generations, the subliminal message arrived that the champions they were those and not the ones of today".

Despite the popular belief that after the Maracanazo Brazil never wore its white jersey again, it did wear it again in some matches (official and friendly). He used it again in the 1952 Pan-American Soccer Championship (all matches) in which he would be champion, in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games (all matches) where he would be eliminated in the quarterfinals, in the South American Championship 1953 (all games) in which he would be runner-up, he also used it in a friendly against Italy in 1956 where the Italians won 3-0, in the 1957 South American Championship (only one game —against Chile, which ended with a Brazilian victory 4 to 2—) in which they would be runner-up, in the 1962 World Cup in Chile, Brazil played all their matches with their yellow jersey and wore their blue jersey as their alternate uniform and their white jersey as their third uniform —however, they did not even use the alternate jersey nor the third shirt— in which he was champion, and in a friendly against France in 2004 —only in the first half— which ended 0-0. In the 2019 Copa América, Brazil once again wore his shirt white (but only once and it was in the opening match against Bolivia that ended 3-0 with a Brazilian victory), to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their first Copa América won in 1919, which was organized by Brazil.

In the voice of Solé

Since there were not too many Uruguayans present in the stadium stands, one of the communication channels of the match for the charrúas was the story of Carlos Solé (one of the three Uruguayan reporters who attended). The stories of both goals remained in the memory of the Uruguayans.

First goal for Brazil

The ball goes with violence towards the debutant Morán. Salta Morán and player Augusto. Return the Augusto ball, find it in the direction of Friaça, subtract less Ademir the load, take Zizinho, Zizinho to Ademir. Ademir advances, crosses Friaça, loses the ball with Andrade, shoots... Gol, Brazilian gool, tiró Friaça, and managed to score the first of Brazil, at 2 minutes of play, the right pointer of the Brazilian team.

Uruguay's first goal

Quita Míguez to support Schiaffino; in front of him Bigode defends himself. Remains it to the center of the court where Gambetta will take. You run Gambetta. Cross the ball towards Julio Pérez. Julio Perez, take it from Danilo. Take the Perez ball. He's got the Danilo ball. All right, take it back to Perez. It folds. Elude to Bauer. Support Obdulio Varela. Varela to the Ghiggia pointer. Advance Ghiggia persecuted by Bigode. It cancels Ghiggia to Bigode. It runs to the arch. Place the center. Take Schiaffino. Pull. Goool, goool, Uruguayan gol. Gol de Schiaffino. Schiaffino at 21 minutes. Ghiggia got away from Bigode. He placed the center and the player Juan Alberto Schiaffino took it half back. He put on a violent high auction leaving Barbosa completely without a chance at 21 minutes. Schiaffino author of so much. Uruguay 1-Brazil 1.

Second goal for Uruguay

The one for Minimum and support Julio Pérez. Perez goes ahead with the ball waiting for him to cross Ghiggia. Julio Pérez is still attacking. Perez to Ghiggia. Ghiggia to Perez. Perez advances, crosses the ball to Ghiggia. Ghiggia escapes Bigode. Advance the Uruguayan right pointer. Ghiggia's gonna throw, shoot... goool, goool, Uruguayan gol. Ghiggia threw violently and the ball escaped Barbosa's counter-lord. At 34 minutes, noting the second for the Uruguayan team. We already said that the great right pointer of the eastern group was resulting in the best figure of the Uruguayans. He escaped from the Brazilian defense. He threw in violent action. The raging ball to the pole escaped Barbosa's counter-lor and scored at 34 minutes Ghiggia the second for Uruguay. Uruguay 2 Brazil 1. Author of both Ghiggia at 34 minutes.

Last minutes of the game

One minute with 50 to get to regulatory time and discounts. It's gonna get cash. outball by player Rodriguez Andrade, Rodriguez Andrade delivers the ball, attention to Morán, casts it for córner, of course the arbitro indicates that the ball is executed outball by player Bauer for Brazil. Bauer to Zizinho, remove the ball Schiaffino, Schiaffino to Míguez, take Miguez and Ghiggia out of distance goals. Take the ball to the top of the court and take it Bauer, move the player Danilo, Danilo to Zizinho, Zizinho... removes Gambetta, returns it Gambetta to Schiaffino, half a minute to the regulatory time, Schiaffino to Míguez, will be free shot for the Brazilian team. I repeat that there are 20 seconds left to reach the end of the match term, then they will have to start playing the discounts that the referee has estimated until the end. The ball comes to the free shot on the head, it will take Ademir, Ademir to Friaça. He takes the ball back Matías González, on the time of the end of the party, between the discounts, the touch, stop to... this... well, Friaça falls, will get it Eusebio Tejera, he goes the ball to the córner against Uruguay and, he comes for Tejera, I repeat that we are, about the time!, of the end of the party. Additional minutes for discounts enter to play. You can get the córner from Friaça. Uruguay 2 Brazil 1. The córner's coming... jumps... ended the game! Just finished the game in Rio de Janeiro! Uruguay, ladies and gentlemen, listeners of Radio Sarandí, champion for the fourth time! You cannot imagine emotion, joy, that something is indescribable, comes from the chest to the throat. That it shines, and that it does not allow thought to flow, clearly and definitively, so that it will deal with the pressure, it will also be made ladies and gentlemen listeners, in understanding, and I believe you will know how to apologise. I imagine the enormous joy, the enoorme enthusiasm, and the incessant caravans that in our Montevideo and throughout the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, in the first hills and blades, in the streets tend our fertile campaign, will have to celebrate the title won by Uruguay. Uruguay 2, Brazil 1. [...] Compatriots, I don't have to deny it, that I'm falling tears of emotion, to tell them excited, that we are world champions, but world champions legitimately, honorably.