World Cup 2006

Devastated by six years of war, Europe was not in a position to organize the World Cup, that had not been played for 12 years. Only Brazil proposed itself as candidate. Big dreams started once the country was selected to host the tournament, and the world’s largest stadium, the Maracana was built and opened to house 200,000 spectators a few weeks before the beginning of World Cup.

That World Cup final is still remembered as a tragedy by Brazilians who would have been winners with a tie in the match against Uruguay, but Brazil was defeated 2-1 and the whole country was overcome by sadness.

Desertions were another feature of the competition. Only 13 countries took part in the event. In the playfield, the 1950 World Cup was a feast full of goals. People was thrilled by Brazil’s victory margins: 7-1 over Sweden, and 6-1 over Spain.

Three days later, joy turned into sadness; Brazil was lost when Uruguay turned round the match score. On the day of the final encounter, Rio de Janeiro’s newspaper headings read: "Champion Brazil", which made the Uruguayan captain Obdulio Varela, buy several copies and cover the hotel walls to boost his teammates’ morale.

After the match, the Uruguayan hero of that title was impressed about the national shock filling the streets of Rio. He went into a pub and, unnoticed, had some drinks next to the fans who he himself had helped to make unkappy.