Brazil 1950: The loudest silence in football history

It was the year when the first color televisions appeared, and computers could already perform a thousand operations per second. Marilyn Monroe knocked on the door of Hollywood when the world's best national teams, after a 12-year break due to World War II, gathered in Brazil to play their fourth World Cup.

Only six teams arrived from Europe, which was still covered in wartime ruins. FIFA banned Germany from participating, while England, the cradle of football, made its first appearance at the World Cup. The English had previously considered such events unworthy of their attention, but in Brazil they suffered a severe blow from the United States (0:1).

"The winning goal for the Americans was not the work of a general George Washington, but a black forward midfielder of Haitian origin named Gaetjens Run", the journalists wrote ironically, making jokes about the English.

The final was between Brazil and Uruguay. According to many, it was one of the greatest matches in the history of football. 200.000 fans gathered at the “Marakana”, the largest stadium in the world, and everything was ready for the celebration of the hosts.

"When Uruguay's second goal was scored, the silence in the 'Maracana' was broken, it was the loudest silence in the history of football," wrote Uruguayan journalist and writer Eduardo Galeano.

"Brazilian players, who had sent all their opponents off with a flurry of goals, were given gold watches the day before the final that read 'world champions'. The front pages of Brazilian newspapers were printed in advance, and huge carriages were already ready to lead the celebratory procession," the media described the atmosphere ahead of the final.

But Uruguay won, with a score of 2:1. The Brazilians took the lead through Friase, while the Uruguayans turned the tables with goals Skiing in Đide.

"When Uruguay's second goal was scored, the silence in the 'Maracana' was broken, it was the loudest silence in the history of football," wrote the Uruguayan journalist and author. Eduardo galeano.

It was the famous "Marakanaco" - the Maracana flood.

Local journalists declared this defeat as the biggest tragedy in the history of Brazil, although a similar "silence" was heard 64 years later, in Belo Horizonte, when the Germans outclassed the Brazilians 2014:7 in the semi-finals of the World Cup 1, at the "Mineirao" stadium.

The final match in Rio 1950 will be remembered for numerous anecdotes - for example, how a journalist Ari Baroso left the commentator position forever, or how the FIFA president Lived in Rome He wandered around the field lost because he already had a speech ready in his pocket in celebration of Brazil's victory.

"I was alone, with the cup in my hands, not knowing what to do. Finally I found the Uruguayan Obdulia Varelu and almost surreptitiously handed him the cup. I held out my hand to him, without saying a word,” Gilles Rimet described many years later.

It was Varela who was declared a national hero in Uruguay. Legend has it that that night after the great triumph, he wandered the streets of Rio de Janeiro alone, going from bar to bar and drinking beer in the arms of the defeated. The whole of Brazil was in tears, but no one recognized him. The next day, in Montevideo, where a magnificent reception was held, Obdulio escaped the crowd by disguising himself as Humphrey Bogart, with his hat tilted over his head and the collar of his coat turned up. The World Cup in Brazil will also be remembered for the tragic fate of the home goalkeeper barbose, who was a hero before the finale, and an enemy of the state after it.

"In Brazil, the maximum sentence prescribed by law is 30 years in prison. And I've been paying for 40 years for a crime I didn't commit," Barbosa described.

Third place at the World Cup was taken by Sweden, fourth was Spain.

Yugoslavia played in a group with Brazil and took second place - only the first position then meant placement in the final round.

"Blues" are in the group, with goals Rajko Mitić, Koste Tomašević i Tihomira-Bate Ognjanova beat Switzerland 3-0, then they were convincing against Mexico 4-1 (two goals Zeljko Tchaikovsky, one by one Stjepan Bobek and Tomašević), but in the decisive match for qualification, in front of almost 150 thousand spectators at the “Marakana” in Rio, they lost 2:0 to Brazil. Goals decided the game. Ademira i They are dogs..