World Soccer - UK (2021-03)

GREATEST GAMES

1950

July16

Uruguay 2-1 Brazil

The“Maracanazo”(Agony of Maracana) left a deep and

lasting wound on Brazilian football that has arguably never

healed. The hosts needed only to avoid defeat to be

crowned world champions, but lost 2-1 to goals fromJuan

Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia. The defeat led to a

period of national mourning in Brazil, with goalkeeper

Moacir Barbosa cast as a villain for the next 50 years.

2014

July13

Germany1-0 Argentina (AET)

Germany became the first European country to win a

World Cup in South America, as an extra-time strike from

Mario Gotze saw them defeat Argentina in the 2014 final.

It was Germany’s first World Cup triumph since they beat

the same opponents in Rome 24 years earlier.

2016

August 20

Brazil1 (P)1-1 Germany

Two years after Brazil were humiliated 7-1 by Germany at

the 2014 World Cup, they got their revenge by beating

them 5-4 on penalties at the Maracana to win their first

men’s Olympic football gold medal. The match ended1-1

after extra-time, as Neymar’s 25-yard free-kick was

cancelled out by Max Meyer’s strike.

O

riginally built for the1950

World Cup, one of the

world’s most iconic stadiums

was back in the spotlight at

the end ofJanuary as it hosted the

all-Brazilian 2020 Copa Libertadores

final between Palmeiras and Santos.

Situated in the middle-class

neighbourhood of Maracana, Rio, the

largest stadium in Brazil is now officially

named EstadioJornalista Mario Filho in

Location:Rio deJaneiro, Brazil

Team:Flamengo and Fluminense

Built: 1950

Capacity:78,838

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MARACANA STADIUM

STADIUMS

Maracana...Inside the

stadium during the 2014

World Cup Final

Champions...Germany celebrate

winning the 2014 World Cup

Iconic...an

aerial view of

theChristThe

Redeemer statue

and the stadium

honour of one of the country’s pioneers

of sports journalism. Filho played a key

role in campaigning for the stadium’s

construction ahead of hosting the first

post-war World Cup. At the time it was

the world’s largest stadium, with

199,854 supporters cramming in to

watch Brazil lose 2-1 to Uruguay in the

final.

From 2010 to 2013, the stadium was

renovated at a cost of over $500m in

preparation for the 2014 World Cup,

as well as the 2016 Olympics and

Paralympics.

In addition to hosting the national

team, the Maracana is also home to

Flamengo and Fluminense, while

Botafogo and Vasco da Gama have

made use of the arena too.

Stunning...

an aerial

view of the

stadium