This Football World Cup seems we're reserving a few surprises. Yesterday, for example, Spain, the defending champion, in the last four years he had earned the reputation of invincibility, has capitulated against Chile and is ready for them the plane that will take them back home. In addition, the home team, which yesterday brought home a broken draw against Mexico, does not seem to be up to the 'legend' that wants them always the masters of the 'football show'. It is curious at this point to recall the previous edition of the World Cup played in Brazil in 1950, when neither I nor most of you were not born yet, that the world is remembered as the 'world of surprises'. The previous world championship was played in 1938, ie 12 years before, in France and was won by Italy, so that he repeated the feat of four years ago. But 12 years had passed, there was the Second World War and only a year before the plane that brought home the Torino team had crashed into the hill of Superga, eliminating nine of the eleven holders of the Italian team. The shock of that tragedy had turned into psychosis when the team refused to take the plane to travel to Brazil and preferred flight across the ocean to a grueling journey by boat from Naples to St. Paul, long three weeks. The players arrived in South America untrained, since the balloons were all ended up in the sea after a few days. Italy lost its opening match with Sweden by 3 to 2, and since his group was three and only one team would have access to the knockout stage was not possible to recover and the team will re-embark for the return trip.
The elimination of Italy, however, was not to be the only surprise. Still in the preliminary phase of the 'masters of football' of England, after the victorious debut against Chile, incredibly lost against the United States: a 1-0 in which many British fans, reading the newspapers the next day, they would not believe imagining a misprint, and that many believe still one of the most shocking moments in sports history Anglo-Saxon (the game has been described in a novel by Geoffrey Douglas, which was then drawn in 2005, the film 'In the field victory ', staring Gerard Butler in the role of U.S. goalkeeper Frank Borghi). The British also lost 1-0 against Spain and were thus eliminated.
Took part in the final round then Sweden, Spain, Uruguay (who had beaten Bolivia 8-0 in the only small tournament two), and the hosts of Brazil, widely favored. After two days, Brazil was leading the standings in the group with 4 points, the result of two resounding victories (13 goals scored and two conceded) against two European. Chasing a Uruguay that, in the first two games of the final round, he struggled more than expected, but that was now the only one who can remove the host team, which would be enough for a tie, the joy of the first title. That which was basically a final was held July 16, 1950 in front of over 170,000 people (but unofficial estimates speak of at least 200,000) to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The hosts took the lead with Friaça start the second half, but when the game seemed to be made, Uruguay equalized with his first star, Schiaffino, and then even went ahead with Ghiggia, giving rise to what in around the world is remembered as the 'Maracanazo'. It was a tragedy for the whole country was proclaimed a national mourning and a lot of people who had staked all his possessions on the victory of Brazil ended in ruin. The Brazilian national team left even the old color of the shirts to switch to a green and gold uniform incorporating the colors of the national flag, keeping only the socks of the original color as a reminder of what happened. Moreover, since at that time the goalkeeper was carioca color, since in Brazil this is considered a 'brings bad luck'. The Uruguay instead celebrated his second victory in two appearances.
Many well! ... We just have to see what other surprises will take us this second edition of the World Cup in Brazil! (Happy)...
Kind regards
$\chi$ $\sigma$
