In 1950 Britain had almost 600,000 sets, and the rest of Europe none. Even in 1960 well over half all European TV sets were in Britain.
In 1950 Britain had almost 600,000 sets, and the rest of Europe none. Even in 1960 well over half all European TV sets were in Britain.
What is he going on about? you may well ask.
In football terms this TV gulf is in direct proportion to how far England were behind the rest of the world - especially South America - at tournament World Championship level. Ironically nobody, not the public, the players, nor, of course, the FA, knew it at the time. To them, English football was football. After all they had never been beaten at home by a foreign team, and had, in the past, beaten the newly crowned World champions (famously, at the so-called Battle of Highbury, when they beat Italy 3-2 on 14 November 1934). On the other hand, the team was selected by a committee headed by Walter Winterbottom, and was not to have the facilities of a team doctor until 1966.
1950 was the first time a British team was eligible to qualify for the finals; the home nation had rejoined the fold in 1946. F.I.F.A had graciously allowed the top two teams of our very own Home International competition a guaranteed place. The Scottish FA proudly announced that they would go to Brazil only if they won the qualifying group - which of course they didn't - and no amount of persuasion would change their stubborn selfish decision.
Not that the Jocks were the only team to withdraw in this shambolically organised fiasco!
Argentina had virtually disappeared from International competition after 1945, forcing most of its best professionals to play abroad. They pulled out of their qualifying game citing differences with the Brazilian FA as their apology. The real reason was that they were still sulking about the F.I.F.A. ruling taken at the Luxembourg conference in July 1946, in favour of Brazil over their own bid to host these championships.
Bolivia and Chile thus had a walkover to the finals.
At the 1947 F.I.F.A. conference, Brazil reasoned that, for teams travelling such a long way, they deserved a league format, rather than a straight knock-out - which could see a nation leaving for home after only one match. The proposal set the theme for all later World Cups, but was to backfire spectacularly in 1950 because of the numerous withdrawals. All four Asian representatives withdrew, including, in the end, India, because they would not play in, or could not afford, boots - a not unreasonable stipulation by FIFA.
Peru, Ecuador, Austria, Belgium, and all the Iron Curtain countries, sent in letters of no thanks. Germany and Japan were barred and unforgiven for the small matter of starting the Second World War (a match which they had lost unconditionally.)
Stangely, the other Axis of Evil contingent, Italy, escaped the ban and automatically qualified - probably because they were the reigning World Champions and knew were the cup was hidden. Sadly though, their team had been decimated by the Torino air crash of May 1949, for it was Torino who had been champions of Italy for the past six seasons, and had supplied the backbone of the international team - shades of England in 1958. The squad travelled safely to Brazil by sea.
The withdrawals did not stop even after the qualification matches had been played. Turkey had a 7-0 victory over Syria, then got cold feet. France, who had lost out in qualifying to the powerful Yugoslavians, were invited to take Turkey's place, and they accepted - until they saw the punishing travel arrangements! Then they changed their minds - the squads were not zoned in the 1950 finals, and, except for Brazil, had to travel thousands of miles between games. Portugal were offered the Scotland ticket, and did the same.
The final thirteen was made up by Sweden (pillaged of players by Italian club sides), Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, and the United States (who, like England, had lots of TV sets).
The competition, now named the World Football Championship, together with the trophy, now named the Jules Rimet Cup, gathered in Brazil.
The hosts had nearly completed building the largest football stadium in the world, the Maracana - twice as big as Wembley. Their team had recently thrashed all local opposition in the 1949 South American Championships, and so, along with England, they were the hot favourites.
They were supremely confident. They were both in for a shock.
TV data from “Industry and Empire”, E J Hobsbawm p222 footnote
POOL I – BRAZIL, YUGOSLAVIA, MEXICO, SWITZERLAND
Game 1: Played Saturday 24 June 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[54]
(81,649) George Reader (ENG), George Mitchell (SCO), Benjamin Griffiths (WAL).
Result: BRAZIL 4 - MEXICO 0 (1:0)
1:0 Ademir 31, 2:0 Jair 65, 3:0 Baltazar 71 , 4:0 Ademir 79.
BRZ: Moacyr Nascimento Paulo BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO De Costa (c), JUVENAL Amariljo, ELI Do Amparo, - Alvim Faria DANILO, João Ferreira ("BIGODE"), - Manuel Marinho Alves ("MANECA"), ADEMIR Marques De Menezes, Oswaldo da Silva BALTAZAR, JAIR da Rosa Pinto, Albino Cardoso FRIAÇA.
MEX: Antonio Carbajal, - Felipe Zetter, Alfonso Montemayor (c), Rorigo Ruiz, - Mario Ochoa, Jose, Antonio Roca, - Carlos Septien, Hector Ortiz, Horacio Casarin, Mario Placentia Perez, Juan Guadalupe 'Lupe' Velázquez.
NOTE: Match preceded by the World Cup opening ceremony.
Game 2: Played Sunday 25 June 1950 (18.00) Estadio Sete de Setembro, Belo Horizonte.[58]
(7,336) Giovanni Galeati (ITA), Generoso Dattilo (ITA), Ivan Eklind (SWE).
Result: YUGOSLAVIA 3 - SWITZERLAND 0 (2:0)
1:0 Mitic 58, 2:0 Tomaševic 78, 3:0 Ognjanov 84
YUG: Srdjan Mrkušic, – Ivan Horvat, Branislav Stankovic, Zlatko Cajkovski, – Miodrag Jovanovic, Pedrag Djajic, – Tihomir Ognjanov, Rajko Mitic (c), Kosta Tomaševic, Stjepan Bobek, Bernard Vukas.
SUI: Georges Stuber, – Andre Neury, Roger Bocquet, Gerhard Lusenti, – Oliver Eggimann, Roger Quinche, – Alfred Bickel (c), Charles Antenen, Jean Tamini, Rene Bader, Jacques Fatton.
Note: This is the first World Cup finals match in which floodlights were used.
Game 3: Played Wednesday 28 June 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[59]
(42,032) Ramon Rosa Azon (ESP), Cayetano De Nicola (PAR), Sergio Bustamante (CHI).
Result: BRAZIL 2 - SWITZERLAND 2 (2:1)
1:0 Alfredo 3, 1:1 Patton 17, 2:1 Baltazar 32, 2:2 Patton 88.
BRZ: BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO De Costa (c), JUVENAL, - Jose Carlos BAUER, RUI Campos, Alfredo Eduardo NORONHA, - MANECA, ADEMIR, BALTAZAR, ALFREDO dos Santos, FRIAÇA.
SUI: Georges Stuber, – Andre Neury, Roger Bocquet, Gerhard Lusenti, – Oliver Eggimann, Roger Quinche, – Fred Bickel (c), Hans Peter Friedländer, Jean Tamini, Rene Bader, Jacky Fatton.
Game 4: Played Thursday 29 June 1950 (18.15) Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre.[63]
(11,078) Reginald Leafe (ENG), Karel Van Der Meer (HOL), Mario Ruben Heyen (PAR).
Result: YUGOSLAVIA 4 - MEXICO 1 (2:0)
1:0 Bobek 20, 2:0 Cajkovski 23, 3:0 Cajkovski 51, 4:0 Tomaševic 80, 4:1 Ortiz 87 pen.
YUG: Srjdjan Mrkušic, – Ivan Horvat (c), Branislav Stankovic, Zlatko Cajkovski, – Miodrag Jovanovic, Perdrag Dajic, – Prvoslav Mihajlovic, Rajko Mitic, Kosta Tomaševic, Stjepan Bobek, Željko Cajkovski.
MEX: Antonio Carbajal,- Manuel Gutierrez, Samuel Cuburu, Gregorio Alvarez Gomez, - Jose Antonio Roca, Hector Ortiz, - Carlos Septien, Jose Naranjo, Horacio Casarin (c), Mario Placentia Perez, Lupe Velázquez.
Game 5: Played Saturday 1 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[64]
(142,429) Benjamin Griffiths (WAL), Alois Beranek (AUT), Jose Da Costa Vieira (POR).
Result: BRAZIL 2 - YUGOSLAVIA 0 (1:0)
1:0 Ademir 4, 2:0 Zizinho 69.
BRZ: BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO (c), JUVENAL, - BAUER, DANILO, BIGODE, - MANECA, ADEMIR, JAIR, Thomas Soares da Silva ("ZIZINHO"), Francisco Aramburu ("CHICO").
YUG: Srdjan Mrkušic, – Ivan Horvat, Branislav Stankovic, Zlatko Cajkovski (c), – Miodrag Jovanovic, Pedrag Dajic, – Bernard Vukas, Rajko Mitic, Kosta Tomaševic, Stjepan Bobek, Željko Cajkovski.
Game 6: Played Sunday 2 July 1950 (15.40) Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre.[65=]
(3,580) Ivan Eklind (SWE), Sergio Bustamante (CHI), Gunnar Dahlner (SWE).
Result: SWITZERLAND 2 - MEXICO 1 (2:0)
1:0 Bader 10, 2:0 Antenen 44, 2:1 Casarin 89.
SUI: Adolphe Hug, – Andre Neury, Roger Bocquet (c), Gerhard Lusenti, – Oliver Eggimann, Roger Quinche, – Charly Antenen, Hans Peter Friedländer, Jean Tamini, Rene Bader, Jacky Fatton.
MEX: Antonio Carbajal, – Manuel Gutiérrez, Mario Ochoa Gregorio Alvarez Gomez, - Hector Ortiz, Jose Antonio Roca, - Antonio Flores, Jose Naranjo, Horacio Casarin (c), Jose Luis Borbolla, Lupe Velázquez.
Note: Match delayed by 25 minutes due to a colour clash and the replacement shirts had to be found.
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
| Yugoslavia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
POOL II - CHILE, ENGLAND, SPAIN, USA
Game 1: Played Sunday 25 June 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[55=]
(29,703) Karel Van Der Meer (HOL), Mario Gardelli (BRZ), Gunnar Dahlner (SWE).
Result: ENGLAND 2 - CHILE 0 (1:0)
1:0 Mortensen 39, 2:0 Mannion 51.
ENG: Bert Frederick Williams, – Alfred Ernest Ramsey, John Aston, William Ambrose Wright (c), – Lawrence Hughes, (debut), James William Dickinson, – Thomas Finney, Wilfred James Mannion, Roy Thomas Frank Bentley, Stanley Hardin Mortensen, James Mullen.
CHI: Sergio Roberto Livingstone (c), - Arturo Ferias, Fernando Roldán, Manuel Alvarez, - Miguel Busquets, Hernan Castro Carvallo, – Luis Lindorfo Mayanes, Atilio Cremaschi, George Oliver Robledo, Manuel Muñoz, Guillermo Diaz-Zambrano.
Game 2: Played Sunday 25 June 1950 (15.30) Estadio Brito, Curitiba.[57]
(9,511) Mario Goncalves Vianna (BRZ), Jose Da Costa Vieira (POR), Charles De La Salle (FRA).
Result: SPAIN 3 - USA 1 (0:1)
0:1 Pariani 17, 1:1 Igoa 54, 2:1 Basora 56, 3:1 Zarra 63.
ESP: Ignacio Eizaguirre (c), - Gabriel Alonzo, Francisco Antunez, Jose Gonzalvo, - Mariano Gonzalvo, Antonio Puchades, - Estanislao Basora, Rosendo Hernandez, Telmo Zarraonandia 'Zarra', Silestre Igoa, Agustin 'Piru' Gainza.
USA: Frank Borghi, - Harry Keough (c), Joseph Maca, Eddie McIlvenny, – Charlie Colombo, Walter Bahr, – Adam Wolanin, John Souza, Joseph Gaetjens, Virginio 'Gino' Pariani, Frank Valicenti 'Wallace'.
Game 3: Played Thursday 29 June 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[60]
(19,790) Alberto Da Gama Malcher (BRZ), Esteban Marino (URU), Alfredo Alvarez (BOL).
Result: SPAIN 2 - CHILE 0 (2:0)
1:0 Basora 17, 2:0 Zarra 30
ESP: Antonio Ramallets, – Gabriel Alonzo, Jose Parra, Jose Gonzalvo, - Mariano Gonzalvo, Antonio Puchades, - Estanislao Basora, Jose Luis Panizo, 'Zarra', Silvestre Igoa, Agustin Gainza c).
CHI: Sergio Livingstone (c), - Arturo Ferias, Fernando Roldan, Manuel Alvarez, - Miguel Busquets, Hernan Carvallo, – Andres Prieto, Atilio Cremaschi, George Robledo, Manuel Muñoz, Guillermo Diaz-Zambrano.
Game 4: Played Thursday 29 June 1950 (18.00) Estadio Independencia, Belo Horizonte.[62]
(10,151 swelled to 40,000 by full-time) Generoso Dattilo (ITA), Giovanni Galeati (ITA), Charles De La Salle (FRA).
Result: USA 1 - ENGLAND 0 (1:0)
1:0 Gaetjens 38.
USA: Frank Borghi, - Harry Keough, Joe Maca, Ed McIlvenny (c), - Charlie Colombo, Walter Bahr, – Frank Wallace, John Souza, Joe Gaetjens, Gino Pariani, Edward Souza.
ENG: Bert Williams – Alf Ramsey, John Aston, Billy Wright (c) – Laurie Hughes, Jimmy Dickinson – Tom Finney, Wilf Mannion, Roy Bentley, Stan Mortensen, Jimmy Mullen.
Note: Contrary to a popular myth at the time, only three of the US team were not American-born, Maca (Belgian), McIlvenny (Scottish) and the goalscorer Gaetjens a New Yorker born in Haiti.
Billy Wright with Ed McIlvenny(?) before the game
Also see: Extract from 'Soccer America', by Harry Keough (right-back USA).
Game 5: Played Sunday 2 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[65=]
(74,462) Giovanni Galeati (ITA), Jean Lutz (SUI), Generosa Dattilo (ITA)
Result: SPAIN 1 - ENGLAND 0 (0:0)
1:0 Zarra 49
ESP: Antonio Ramallets, - Gabriel Alonzo, Jose Parra, Jose Gonzalvo, - Mariano Gonzalvo, Antonio Puchades, - Estanislao Basora, Jose Luis Panizo, 'Zarra', Silvestre Igoa, Agustin Gainza (c).
ENG: Bert Williams, – Alf Ramsey, William Eckersley (debut), Billy Wright (c), – Laurie Hughes, Jimmy Dickinson, – Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen, John Edward Thompson Milburn, Edward Francis Baily (debut), Tom Finney.
Game 6: Played Sunday 2 July 1950 (18.00) Estadio Ilha do Retiro, Recife.[69]
(8,501) Mario Gardelli (BRZ), Alfredo Alvarez (PAR), Mario Ruben Heyen (MEX).
Result: CHILE 5 - USA 2 (2:0)
1:0 Robledo 16, 2:0 Cremaschi 33, 2:1 Wallace 46, 2:2 Maca 49 pen, 3:2 Prieto 54, 4:2 Cremaschi
60, 5:2 Cremaschi 63.
CHI: Sergio Livingstone (c), - Arturo Ferias, Manuel Machuca-Berrios, Manuel Alvarez, - Miguel Busquets, Carlos Rodolfo Rojas, - Andres Prieto, Atilio Cremaschi, George Robledo, Fernando Riera, Carlos Ibánez.
USA: Frank Borghi, - Harry Keough, Joe Maca, Ed McIlvenny, - Charlie Colombo, Walter Bahr (c), - Frank Wallace, John Souza, Joe Gaetjens, Gino Pariani, Ed Souza.
Note: Some sources award the last goal to Riera.
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Chile | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| USA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
England's homecoming
POOL III - ITALY, PARAGUAY, SWEDEN, (INDIA withdrew).
Game 1: Played Sunday 25 June 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[55=]
(56,502) Jean Lutz (SUI), Alois Beranek (AUT), Carlos Tejada (MEX).
Result: SWEDEN 3 - ITALY 2 (2:1)
0:1 Carapallese 7, 1:1 Jeppson 25, 2:1 Andersson 34, 3:1 Jeppson 69, 3:2 Muccinelli 78
SWE: Karl Svensson, - Lennart Samuelsson, Erik Nilsson (c), Sune Andersson, - Knut Nordahl, Ingvar Gärd, - Stig Sundqvist, Karl-Erik Palmer, Hans Jeppson, Lennart 'Nacka' Skoglund, Stellan Nilsson.
ITA: Lucidio Sentimenti IV, - Attilio Giovannini, Zeffiro Furiassi, Carlo Annovazzi, - Carlo Parola, Augusto Magli, - Hermes Muccinelli, Gianpiero Boniperti, Gino Cappello, Aldo Campatelli, Riccardo Carapellese (c).
Game 2: Played Thursday 29 June 1950 (15.30) Estadio Brito, Curitiba.[61]
(7,903) George Mitchell (SCO), Leo Lamešic (YUG), Prudencio Garcia (USA).
Result: SWEDEN 2 - PARAGUAY 2 (2:1)
1:0 Sundqvist 17, 2:0 Palmer 25, 2:1 López Fretes 34, 2:2 López 74.
SWE: Karl Svensson, - Lennart Samuelsson, Erik Nilsson (c), Sune Andersson, - Knut Nordahl, Ingvar Gärd, - Stig Sundqvist, Karl-Erik Palmer, Hans Jeppson, Nacka Skoglund, Egon Jönsson.
PAR: Marcelino Vargas, - Alberto Gonzalez 'Gonzalito', Casiano Cespedes, Manuel Gavilan, - Victoriano Lequizamon, Castor Sixto Cantero - Enrique Avalos, Atilio Sosa López, Dario Saguier Jara, Cesar López Fretes (c), Leongino Unzain.
Game 3: Played Sunday 2 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[65=]
(25,811) Arthur Ellis (ENG), Charles De La Salle (FRA), Pruencio Garcia (USA).
Result: ITALY 2 - PARAGUAY 0 (1:0)
1:0 Carapallese 13, 2:0 Pandolfini 63.
ITA: Guiseppe 'Bepi' Moro, - Ivano Blason, Osvaldo Fattori, Zeffiro Furiassi, - Leandro Remondini, Giacomo Mari, - Egisto Pandolfini, Hermes Muccinelli, Gino Cappello, Amedeo Amadei, Riccardo Carapellese (c).
PAR: Marcelino Vargas, - 'Gonzalito', Casiano Cespedes, Manuel Gavilan, - Victoriano Lequizamon, Sixto Cantero, - Enrique Avalos, Atilio Lopez, Dario Jara, Cesar Fretes López (c), Leongino Unzain.
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Sweden | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Paraguay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
POOL IV - BOLIVIA URUGUAY (SCOTLAND and TURKEY and then FRANCE forfeited).
Game 1: Played Sunday 2 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Independencia, Belo Horizonte.[65=]
(5,284) George Reader (ENG), Mario Goncalvez Viana (BRZ), Leo Lamešic (YUG).
Result: URUGUAY 8 – BOLIVIA 0 (4:0)
1:0 Miguez 12, 2:0 Vidal 18, 3:0 Schiaffino 20, 4:0 Miguez 37, 5:0 Miguez 51, 6:0 Schiaffino 54, 7:0 Pérez 78, 8:0 Ghiggia 83.
URU: Roque Gaston Máspoli, - Matias Gonzáles, Eusebio Ramon Tejera, Juan Carlos Gonzáles, - Obdulio Varela (c), Victor Rodriguez Andrade, - Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, Julio Peréz, Omar Oscar Ornar Miguez, Juan Alberto Schiaffino, Ernesto Jose Vidal.
BOL: Eduardo Gutierrez, - Alberto de Achá, Jose Bustamente (c), Antonio Grecco, - Antonio Valencia, Leonardo Ferrel, – Victor Celestino Algaranaz, Victor Agustin Ugarte, Roberto Caparelli, Benigno Gutierrez, Benjamino Maldonado.
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Bolivia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
FINAL POOL - BRAZIL, SPAIN, SWEDEN, URUGUAY
Game 1: Played Sunday 9 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[70=]
(138,886) Arthur Ellis (ENG), Charles De La Salle (FRA), Prudencio Garcia (USA).
Result: BRAZIL 7 - SWEDEN 1 (3:0)
1:0 Ademir 17, 2:0 Ademir 37, 3:0 Chico 39, 4:0 Ademir 51, 5:0 Ademir 59, 5:1 Andersson 57 pen, 6:1 Maneca 65, 7:1 Chico 87.
BRZ: BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO (c), JUVENAL, BAUER, - DANILO, BIGODE, - MANECA, ZIZINHO, ADEMIR, JAIR, CHICO.
SWE: Karl Sensson, - Lennart Samuelsson, Erik Nilsson (c), Sune Andersson, - Knut Nordahl, Ingvar Gärd -Stig Sundqvist, Karl Erik Palmer, Hans Jeppson, Nacka Skoglund, Stellan Nilsson.
Game 2: Played Sunday 9 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[70=]
(44,802) Benjamin Griffiths (WAL), Alfredo Alvarez (BOL), Generoso Dattilo (ITA).
Result: SPAIN 2 - URUGUAY 2 (2:1)
0:1 Ghiggia 29, 1:1 Basora 39, 2:1 Basora 41, 2:2 Varela 72.
ESP: Antonio Ramallets, - Gabriiel Alonzo, Jose Parra, Jose Gonzalvo, - Mariano Gonzalvo, Antonio Puchades - Estanislao Basora, Silvestre Igoa, 'Zarra', Luis Molowny, Agustin Gainza (c).
URU: Roque Máspoli, - Matias Gonzáles, Eusebio Tejera, Juan Carlos Gonzáles, - Obdulio Varela (c), Victor Andrade, - Alcides Ghiggia, Julio Peréz, Omar Miguez, Juan Schiaffino, Ernesto Vidal.
Game 3: Played Thursday 13 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[72=]
(152,772) Reginald Leafe (ENG), Jose Da Costa Vieira (POR), George Mitchell (SCO).
Result: BRAZIL 6 - SPAIN 1 (3:0)
1:0 Parra (o.g.)15, 2:0 Jair 21, 3:0 Chico 29, 4:0 Chico 55, 5:0 Ademir 57, 6:0 Zizinho 61, 6:1 Igoa 70.
BRZ: BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO (c), JUVENAL, BAUER, - DANILO, BIGODE, - FRIAÇA, ZIZINHO, ADEMIR, JAIR, CHICO.
ESP: Antonio Ramallets, - Gabriiel Alonzo, Jose Parra, Jose Gonzalvo, - Mariano Gonzalvo, Antonio Puchades, - Estanislao Basora, Silvestre Igoa, 'Zarra', Jose Luis Panizo, Agustin Gainza (c).
Note: The 15th minute goal has recently been credited by FIFA to Ademir, but other contemporaneous sources give it as an own goal. Definitive Brazilian sources confirm the o.g. (See Freddi).
Game 4: Played Thursday 13 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[72=]
(-8,000) Giovanni Galeati (ITA), Alois Beranek (AUT), Cayetano De Nicola (PAR).
Result: URUGUAY 3 - SWEDEN 2 (1:2)
0:1 Palmer 4, 1:1 Ghiggia 39, 1:2 Sandqvist 40, 2:2 Miguez 77, 3:2 Miguez 84.
URU: Anibal Luis Paz, - Matias Gonzáles, Eusebio Ramon Tejera, Schubert Gambetta, - Obdulio Varela (c), Victor ndrade, - Alcides Ghiggia, Julio Peréz, Omar Oscar Miguez, Juan Albrto Schiaffino, Ernesto Vidal.
SWE: Karl Sensson, - Lennart Samuelsson, Erik Nilsson (c), Sune Andersson, - Gunnar Johansson, Ingvar Gärd, - Stig Sundqvist, Karl Erik Palmer, Bror Mellberg, Lennart Skoglund, Egon Jönsson.
Game 5: Played Sunday 16 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Pacaembu, São Paulo.[74=]
(11,227) Karel Van Der Meer (HOL), Prudencio Garcia (USA), Jean Lutz (SUI).
Result: SWEDEN 3 - SPAIN 1 (2:0)
1:0 Sundqvist 15, 2:0 Mellberg 34, 3:0 Palmer 79, 3:1 Zarra 82.
SWE: Karl Sensson, - Lennart Samuelsson, Erik Nilsson (c), Sune Andersson, - Gunnar Johansson, Ingvar Gärd, - Stig Sundqvist, Karl Erik Palmer, Bror Mellberg, Ingvar Rydell, Egon Jönsson.
ESP: Ignacio Eizaguirre 'INAKI',- Vicente Asensi, Jose Parra, Gabriiel Alonzo, - Alfonso Silva, Antonio Puchades, - Estanislao Basora, Rosendo Hernandez, 'Zarra' (c), Jose Luis Panizo, Jose Juncosa.
NOTE: Some sources award Sundqvist's goal to Jönsson
Game 6: Played Sunday 16 July 1950 (15.00) Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro.[74=]
(205,000) George Reader (ENG), Arthur Ellis (ENG), George Mitchell (SCO).
Result: URUGUAY 2 - BRAZIL 1 (0:0)
0:1 Friaça 46, 1:1 Schiaffino 66, 2:1 Ghiggia 79.
URU: Roque Máspoli, - Matias Gonzáles, Eusebio Tejera, Schubert Gambetta, - Obdulio Varela (c), Victor Andrade, - Alcides Ghiggia, Julio Peréz, Omar Miguez, Juan Schiaffino, Ruben Morán.
BRZ: BARBOSA, - AUGUSTO (c), JUVENAL, BAUER, - DANILO, BIGODE, - FRIAÇA, ZIZINHO, ADEMIR, JAIR, CHICO.
The crowd at this game given as 199,589 by The Guinness Book of Records.
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Uruguay | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 4 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| Spain | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| Goals | Player(s) |
| 8 | Ademir (BRZ) (b. Recife 8 Nov 1922 - d. Rio de Janeiro 11 May 1996 |
| 6 | Miguez (URU) |
| 4 | Chico (BRZ), Basora, Zarra (ESP), Ghiggia (URU) |
| 3 | Cremaschi (CHI), Palmer, Sundqvist (SWE), Schiaffino (URU) |
| 2 | Baltazar, Zizinho, Jair (BRZ), Igoa (ESP), Carapallese (ITA), Cajkovski (YUG), Fatton (SUI), Andersson, Jepsson (SWE) |
Alfred Bickel (SUI) and Erik Nilsson (SWE) are the only two men to have played in the final stages of the World Cup before and after WWII (1938 & 1950).
BOL: Mario Pretto (ITA) | Alberto Aparicio, Duberto Aráoz, Vicente Arraya (GK), Victor Brown, Rene Carrera, Benedivto Godoy-Veizaga, Juan Guerra, Mario Mena, Humberto Saavedra-Araujo.
BRZ: Flavio Costa, | 'NENA'- Olavo Rodrigues Barbosa, Carlos Joao Jose CASTILHO (GK), 'ADÃOSINHO'- Adao Nunes Dornelles, Francisco RODRIGUEZ, NILTON SANTOS dos Reis.
CHI: Arturo Buccicardi, | Fernando Campos, Miguel Flores, Raymundo Infante-Bencolet, Rene Quitral-Encina (GK), Osvaldo Saez-Alvárez, Francisco Urres-Martinez (GK).
ENG: Walter Winterbottom | Edwin George Ditchburn (GK), Lawrence Scott (RB), Henry Cockburn (LH), William ‘Bill’ Edward Nicholson (RB), James Guy Taylor (CB), William Watson (LB). (Note: only 21 players)
ESP: Guillermo Eisaguirre with Benito Diaz | Juan Acuña (GK), Luis Molowny, 'Nando' – Fernando Gonzalez, Rafael Lesmes II, Cesar Rodriguez.
ITA: Ferruccio Novo | Emilio Caprile, Guiseppe Cesari (GK), Benito Lorensi, OmeroTognon.
MEX: Octavio Vial | Raul Córdoba-Alcala, Francisco Hernandez, Carlos Guevara, Jose Leonardo Navarro-Galindez, Prieto M. Sánchez.
PAR: Manuel Fleitas Solich | Marcial Avalos, Melanio Báez, Angel Berni, Antonio Cabrera, Lorenzo Calonga, Juan Leon Cañete, Pablo Centurión, Armando González, Hilarion Osorio, Elioro Peredez, Francisco Soza.
SUI: Franco Andreoli, | Beerli, Eugen Corrodi (GK), Rudi Gyger,, Willy Kernen, Kurt Rey, Walter Schneiter, Hans Siegenthaler, Willy Steffen, Felice Soldini.
SWE: George Raynor (ENG) | Ole Ahlund, Ivan Bodin, Torsten Lindberg (GK), Curt Svensson, Tore Svensson (GK), Boerje Tapper.
URU: Juan López | Julio Cesar Britos, Juan Burgueño, William Pablo Martinez, Washington Ortuño, Rodolfo Pini, Luis Alberto Rijo, Carlos Romero, Hector Vilchez.
USA: Walter Geisler, Bill Jeffrey (SCO, Coach) | Bob Annis, Geoff Coombes, Bob Craddock, Nick Di Orio, Gino Gardasanich, Benjamin McLaughlin.
YUG: Milorad Arsenijevic, with Ljubisa Brocic | Aleksander Atanackovic, Vladimir Beara (GK), Bozo Broketa, Ratko Colic, Vladimir Firm, Ervin Katnic, Bela Palfi, Ivo Radovnikovic, Sinisa Zlatkovic.
| Youngest | Oldest | |||
| Player | Ibánez (CHI) | 18y 224d | Matthews (ENG) | 35y 151d |
| Goalkeeper | Carbajal (MEX) | 21y 17d | Mrkušic (YUG) | 35y 36d |
| Scorer | Antenen (SUI) | 20y 241d | Varela (URU) | 32y 292d |
| Champion | Morán (URU) | 19y 344d | Varela (URU) | 32y 299d |
| Finalist | Morán (URU) | 19y 344d | Nilsson (SWE) | 33y 344d |
| Captain | Keough (USA) | 22y 222d | Nilsson (SWE) | 33y 344d |
| Coach | Vial (MEX) | 31y 210d | Jeffrey (USA) | 58y 48d |
| Referee | Leafe (ENG) | 35y 210d | Reader (ENG) | 53y 236d |