Football World Cup 1950

The onset of World War II meant that the Football World Cup experienced a break since 1938, it also meant that most of Europe lay in ruins after the ravaging effects of War. As a result the honour of hosting the World Cup fell to Brazil, who happened to be the only country that applied.

This was the first year that the World Cup itself would be referred to as the Jules Rimet Cup (subsequently changed to the Jules Rimet trophy) in order to mark the 25th anniversary of his Presidency of FIFA.

The group stages of this years tournament took a a strange form, with some groups containing four teams, some containing three teams, and others just two teams. This was due to the fact that some nations qualified for the tournament and then withdraw. For example India withdraw after qualification due to the fact that FIFA would not allow them to play barefoot.

The British nations were able to take part having rejoined FIFA four years earlier, after 17 years of self-imposed exile. England and Scotland qualified, but the Scots then said they would only go if they became British champions. In the end they refused to attend after finishing runners-up in the British Championship to England, who beat them 1-0 at Hampden Park in April.

The quality and professionalism of British football was widely considered to be superior to their European and South-American[?] counterparts. A combined Great Britain team had recently beaten the rest of Europe 6-1 in an exhibition match and England went into the competition as one of the hot favourites. However it was not to be, as England went crashing out in a shock defeat by U.S.A. 1-0 and a 1-0 defeat by Spain who topped the group and went through to the 'Final Pool'.

The Final Pool took the form of a final group stage, involving all teams who won their group stage. The overall winner of the World Cup in this year would be the team that managed to finish on top of this final pool group.

The teams that topped their group, and so continued onto the Final Pool were:

 Brazil
 Spain
 Sweden
 Uruguay

While the rest were knocked out:

 Yugoslavia
 Switzerland
 Mexico
 England
 Chile
 U.S.A.
 Italy
 Paraguay
 Bolivia

In this Final Pool Brazil outscored everyone with a 7-0 thrashing of Sweden and 6-1 routing of Spain.

It is the only Football World Cup that never had a Final. There was however a decisive match, Brazil were sitting on top of the Final Pool and had one game left to play – Uruguay who lay just behind in second and only a point behind.

On July 16th in the Estadio Maracana, the host nation had only to draw against Uruguay and the Jules Rimet trophy would be theirs, and after such crushing victories over Spain and Sweden it looked certain they would take the title. Especially as the home nation went ahead in the second minute of the second half, thanks to a goal from Fraica. Uruguay equalised and then with just over 11 minutes left to play, went ahead 2-1 and Uruguay were crowned World Cup Winners[?] for a second time.

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