Almost 54 years after Brazil hosted its first ever World Cup, the
country is doing it all again in 2014. We look back on the first
tournament in Brazil in 1950 - a World Cup that should have been a
crowning moment for Brazilian football, but ultimately ended in
disappointment.
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| A major obstacle
for FIFA proved to be organising the countries who would enter the
tournament. Occupied Germany and Japan were both banned, while a number
of countries from around the world pulled out of qualifying - citing
reasons including travel costs to inexperience – though 15 teams from
the Americas, Europe and Asia were eventually drawn into groups ahead of
the competition. The England team (pictured), ready to make their World
Cup debut, board a plane for Brazil. Action Images / Mirrorpix |
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| The tournament
began with hosts Brazil taking on Mexico in the opening fixture - a
comfortable 4-0 win for the Seleção. Striker Ademir scored twice, the
first of the eight goals that eventually won him the tournament’s Golden
Boot award. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images |
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| Reigning
champions Italy had never suffered defeat at the World Cup, winning the
previous two tournaments without losing a match (they did not take part
in the 1930 World Cup). However, the Azzurri – weakened by the loss of
several players in the 1939 Superga air disaster – lost 3-2 in a shock
defeat to eventual Group 3 winners Sweden in their opening fixture. AP
Photo |
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| The surprises in
Brazil would continue, as the US completed one of the most shocking
victories in World Cup history by defeating England in their second
group stage fixture. The star-studded England team had defeated Chile by
two goals in their opening encounter and were heavy favourites against a
US side containing several semi-professional players, which had had
slipped to a 3-1 to Spain four days earlier. However, the match did not
go according to form, as Joe Gaetjens – pictured being carried from the
pitch after the game – headed the winning goal for the US in the first
half to set up a victory later dubbed “The Miracle on Grass”. AP Photo |
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| The hosts had
been held to a 2-2 draw in their second match, but secured first place
in Group 1 and progression to the second group stage with a 2-0 defeat
of Yugoslavia in front of a crowd of 142,000 at the Maracanã. dpa/Corbis |
