Hosts: Brazil
Winners: Uruguay
Competing teams: 17
Where were England? In Brazil making their World Cup debut, but probably wishing they weren’t
After a break of 12 years, the World Cup finally returned and, for the first time, England were involved. However, it was hardly the debut they were hoping for.
One of the favourites for the trophy, England began well enough with a win against Chile. But then came the United States in Belo Horizonte and a Haitian-born striker called Joe Gaetjens. The 1-0 defeat England suffered that day is still one of the greatest ever World Cup shocks and put paid to England’s chances.
Hosts Brazil eased through their opening group and were joined in a final pool by Sweden, Spain and Uruguay.
Brazil scored 13 goals in their two matches against European opposition and entered the final game against Uruguay needing only a draw to lift the trophy. However, in front of an expectant crowd of close to 200,000, they somehow threw away a one-goal lead as Uruguay won 2-1 to lift the trophy for the second time.
Did you know? Despite qualifying, India refused to travel to Brazil after they were refused permission to play in bare feet.
