Uruguay 1930
The first FIFA World Cup
FIFA’s plans for a world championship outside the confines of the Olympic Games came to fruition in 1930. Uruguay was chosen as the host nation in honour of its centenary celebrations and the Olympic gold medals of 1924 and 1928, but only four European nations made the journey by ship to South America. In the newly built Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay won the first World Cup by beating Argentina 4-2 in the Final.
The host is chosen
The day before the 1929 World Trade Fair in Barcelona opened, FIFA held its annual congress in the city with the 23 nations gathering to appoint the host nation for the first World Cup. Six countries had expressed a desire to host the tournament, with Spain and Italy having gathered significant support, while senior figures within FIFA were hoping that Paris would emerge as the preferred choice.
The idea that the tournament would be staged in one city, as in the Olympic football tournament, had yet to be questioned. Behind the scenes, a Uruguayan diplomat called Enrique Buero had persuaded a number of Central European nations to back Montevideo. Italy, realising it had been outmanoeuvred withdrew “in order to demonstrate its feelings of sympathy with Uruguay, where so many Italians worked and played football.”
The Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden and Spain quickly followed suite and Uruguay was appointed by acclamation. The date for the tournament was set from 15 July to 15 August 1930.
In a report sent back to Uruguay, Buero stated "I must tell you that the participation of teams from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Austria and Italy can be considered as certain. France, Belgium and Holland are probable. I think it will also be possible to include Portugal as well as the British teams.”
Over the following year Buero, who also became chairman of the World Cup organising committee, would be a very busy man trying to make that happen.
Efforts to persuade the British teams to take part
Uruguay wanted the four British nations to be in Montevideo for the World Cup, and in a letter to FIFA general-secretary CAW Hirschman, Enrique Buero suggested that "if through official channels, London were made aware of the interest that Uruguay attaches to British participation in the Montevideo Championship, perhaps the English would not be insensitive to our approach.”
The hope was that the British would even re-join FIFA as a result. An intense diplomatic effort ensued. The Anglo-Uruguayan businessmen Alfredo Las Bas made an approach to the UK government in Westminster who agreed that British participation would be a suitable way for the country to be officially represented at Uruguay’s centenary celebrations.
In the end it came down to the attitude of the British clubs who refused to release their players for such an extended time. "We have received numerous communications concerning the World Championships,” Frederick Wall, the secretary of The FA wrote. “These have been carefully considered by our Committee, who have been obliged to decide, with regret, that it is not possible to send a team to Montevideo".
The Centenario – a miraculous apparition
For Uruguay, a nation of 1.9 million inhabitants, seven million heads of cattle and 20 million sheep, 1930 promised to be the most momentous year in the history of the country. A whole week was to be dedicated to the centenary celebrations of its constitution followed by two weeks of World Cup football. The new Estadio Centenario would be the centre-piece for those celebrations. When finished Raúl Jude, the president of the Uruguay football association, referred to it as a “miraculous apparition, as if primeval forces had sprung it out from the depths of the earth.” Designed by the architects Scasso and Domato, the scale of the new stadium was impressive – Rome’s Coliseum would fit comfortably within.
The central motif is the “Torre de los Homenajes”, a 100-metre tower to celebrate the centenary of the swearing of the constitution with its nine balconies representing the nine stripes on the Uruguayan flag. It also featured representations of the wings of an aeroplane, the bow of a ship and the windows of a train carriage – the means of transport by which the teams and supporters would travel to Uruguay for the World Cup. The plane wings were perhaps a triumph of hope over expectation. Had air transport been further advanced, more European nations may well have entered, instead of being faced with a two-month round trip to South America by sea.
The Estadio Centenario
Construction of the 80,000 capacity Estadio Centenario began on 21 July 1929, 51 weeks before the start of the tournament, with the clearance of 160,000 cubic metres of earth in the Parque de los Aliados, an area that had once been a swamp.
At its most marked the Centenario was eleven metres below the original ground level and so unsurprisingly suffered drainage problems - hence the awful state of the pitch during the tournament.
Working up to three shifts a day with floodlights to enable work to continue through the night, much of it during the rainy season, the stadium was finished on 10 July 1930 having used 14,000 cubic metres of concrete in the process.
Deadline day passes and still no European entries…
The deadline for entries passed without a single European nation having signed up. A circular was sent by FIFA to all the European associations urging them to take part. “It means an absence of only two months at a time which corresponds to the summer holidays,” it stated. FIFA also noted that a group system would be used guaranteeing each team at least three games and pointed out the generous nature of the expenses Uruguay was providing each team.
The communique ended by saying “The conditions listed above are infinitely more advantageous than those agreed for participation in the Olympic Games. And it would be annoying if the World Cup did not gather a number at least equal to that of the latter tournaments. The prestige of our sport is at stake.”
The plea fell on deaf ears especially in those countries with professional leagues. In the end just four European nations made the journey to Uruguay – Belgium, Romania, France and Yugoslavia, along with seven from South America and Mexico and the USA from North America. The decision of the Dutch not to attend – purely on financial grounds - was a bitter blow for the Uruguayans given that the Uruguayan team had contributed so much to the financial success of the Amsterdam Olympics only 20 months previously.
A professional World Cup...
But where are the professionals?
$4000 dollars was offered to countries with professional leagues in an effort to boost European participation, but it wasn’t successful and by the end of February rumours had started circulating in European newspapers that the Uruguayans had abandoned the idea of a World Cup and that they would now be organising a pan-American championship.
The Italians responded by pressing for a pan-European tournament and made it known that they would not travel to Uruguay citing scheduling difficulties. Meanwhile, Spain’s professional clubs had vetoed the involvement of their national team.
Austria’s coach Hugo Meisl stated that his team would not be able to attend, saying “in the last few months a terrible crisis has broken out in Austria, leaving more than 150,000 people out of work; under these conditions, any absence, however temporary, of a worker or employee for the Montevideo Championships will cause that person to lose his job, for any vacancy is sought after.”
The only professional team at the World Cup? The USA.
Friday, 13 June 1930 All aboard!
The Mexicans were the first of the 13 teams to start their journey to the World Cup having travelled by boat from Veracruz to Hoboken, New Jersey via Havana. On the afternoon of 13 June they boarded the SS Munargo (pictured above) and were joined by the USA team. Peru had the longest journey of the South American teams, travelling by boat from Lima to Valparaiso in Chile, and then from Santiago to Buenos Aires over the Trans-Andean railway, before the final leg by boat over the River Plate to Montevideo.
The Romanian team that gathered at Bucharest’s Gara de Nord for the 8am departure to Genoa on the morning of 17 June was perhaps the least experienced of the four European teams travelling to Uruguay, but they were in good voice and kept their fellow travellers entertained with their enthusiastic singing on the 34-hour journey.
Worried about the sea journey across the Atlantic the football association had asked to take more players in case of sea sickness as none of them had been on a boat before. Awaiting them in Genoa was an ocean liner that was to become one of the most famous, if unlikely, symbols of the first World Cup – the SS Conte Verde.
This 13-day journey across the Atlantic would be the Conte Verde’s most famous taking it from Genoa to Villefranche-sur-Mer where it would pick up the French team, FIFA’s Jules Rimet and the Hungarian Maurice Fischer as well as the World Cup trophy.
Then on to Barcelona where the Belgians were waiting, to Rio de Janeiro where the Brazilians would board and then to Montevideo.
Life on the ocean and journalists where you least expect them!
The Mexican and USA teams onboard the Munargo crossed the equator on 23 June, while the event was celebrated on the Conte Verde with a party. But not everyone was prepared to enter into the festive spirit of the upcoming World Cup. FIFA President Jules Rimet tried to persuade the famous Russian opera singer Feodor Chaliapin to sing at the party. He was refused with the words, “If I were a cobbler, would you ask me to make you a pair of shoes free of charge on the pretext that we are going to cross the equator?”
In Rio, the Brazilian team boarded the Conte Verde, along with a number of other passengers, many of whom turned out to be reporters and photographers from Uruguay. They were hoping to be the first to file reports and interviews with the European teams and as a well-known Belgian referee, John Langenus was sought out. “I was the first victim. And one interview is not enough! I had hardly sat down at the table when another sports journalist came along. Several hours before our arrival in Montevideo, the Conte Verde was approached by motor yachts which snatched up packages of articles and photographs that had been lowered down the hull, and immediately headed back to port.”
The World Cup trophy makes its debut
The French football association wished their team bon voyage with a lunch before their departure and it was at this lunch that Abel Lafleur’s World Cup trophy made its first public appearance. Lafleur was a relatively unknown artist but had provided the French football association with medals for many years. His design for the World Cup trophy took its inspiration from the Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre. Made of ‘Or Massif’ a mixture of 75% 18-carat gold along with 12.5% sterling silver and 12.5% copper to give it strength, the trophy measured 30 centimetres high, weighed four kilos and stood on a base of semi-precious lapis lazuli.
Lafleur had also been commissioned to create a gift for the Uruguayan football association in the form of a plaque as well as 12 ‘golden’ medals to be presented to the winners and the referee, 11 ‘silveren’ medals to the runners-up and 50 other silveren medals to be presented as souvenirs. Lafleur was unable to deliver the medals until early July. They finally found their way to Uruguay in November!
On 1 July the Munargo docked in Montevideo in what was described by the USA delegation head Wilfred Cummings “as a heavy downpour, it being the 92nd consecutive day of rain.” He was delighted by the welcome the Americans and Mexicans were given. “Notwithstanding the rain, a very large and enthusiastic crowd cheered our arrival from the docks and packed our lane of auto travel along the streets to the Florida hotel, a battery of cameramen, cartoonists and sportswriters dogging each and every individual of our party seeking first-hand information.”
Three days after the Americans and Mexicans had arrived, the SS Conte Verde docked in Montevideo and another huge welcoming party gathered at the docks to welcome the European teams although there was considerable anger in Uruguay against those Europeans who had not made the journey.
Anger in Uruguay
The four European teams had been given a warm welcome, but there was considerable anger in Uruguay towards Europe as a whole. Three days before the tournament kicked-off an open letter written by Raúl Jude was published, in which he criticised the European nations for treating Uruguay in a disrespectful manner.
“The great event will allow us to assess our sporting values, but at the same time it will allow us through this great spectacle to show everyone, once again, by our chivalry and culture, how insidious and unethical were those who were motivated by purely financial motives, and who wanted to represent us in the lands of Europe, as if were are irredeemable prisoners of purely indigenous instincts.”
The World Cup trophy makes its debut
The French football association wished their team bon voyage with a lunch before their departure and it was at this lunch that Abel Lafleur’s World Cup trophy made its first public appearance. Lafleur was a relatively unknown artist but had provided the French football association with medals for many years. His design for the World Cup trophy took its inspiration from the Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre. Made of ‘Or Massif’ a mixture of 75% 18-carat gold along with 12.5% sterling silver and 12.5% copper to give it strength, the trophy measured 30 centimetres high, weighed four kilos and stood on a base of semi-precious lapis lazuli.
Lafleur had also been commissioned to create a gift for the Uruguayan football association in the form of a plaque as well as 12 ‘golden’ medals to be presented to the winners and the referee, 11 ‘silveren’ medals to the runners-up and 50 other silveren medals to be presented as souvenirs. Lafleur was unable to deliver the medals until early July. They finally found their way to Uruguay in November!
The tournament begins
The draw for the tournament was made at a meeting of the organising committee on Monday 7 July. In the same meeting the dates for the matches were fixed. Originally scheduled to take place from 15 July to 15 August, as recorded on the official poster, the tournament was slimmed down to just 17 days and 18 matches, kicking off on the following Sunday, 13 July.
The odd number of teams meant that there were three groups of three teams and one of four, with the winners qualifying for the semi-finals. Teams were seeded – the source of much debate - with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay avoiding each other to “maintain the sporting interest” according to Rimet, while no decision could be made between Paraguay and the USA, so they were both selected as seeds in group 4. The European teams didn’t get a look in! They were, however, kept apart with one in each group.
Label
Überschrift
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The group stage
Group 1
Standings
| Team | MP |
W | D | L | Goals | Points |
| Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:4 | 6 |
| Chile | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 4 |
| France | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:3 | 2 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:13 | 0 |
Matches
| 13 July | FRA | 4 - 1 | MEX | Summary |
| 15 July | ARG | 1 - 0 | FRA | Summary |
| 16 July | CHI | 3 - 0 | MEX | Summary |
| 19 July | CHI | 1 - 0 | FRA | Summary |
| 19 July | ARG | 6 - 3 | MEX | Summary |
| 22 July | ARG | 3 - 1 | CHI | Summary |
France 4 - 1 Mexico
Snowfall as the World Cup gets underway!
A light snow shower greeted the teams in the first two World Cup matches ever. Group 1 match France – Mexico as well as Group 4 match USA Belgium kicked off at the same time.
Just 4,444 watched the first goal in World Cup history at Peñarol’s Pocitos Stadium. It was scored by Lucien Laurent for France after 19 minutes. Later in the same game, André Maschinot became the first player to score twice as the French ran out 4-1 winners.
Argentina 1 - 0 France
The full Monti
France were given just a day's rest before making their second appearance. They lost 1-0 to Argentina in a match in which the Brazilian referee blew for full time six minutes early!
The Uruguayan crowd were vocal in their support of France much to the annoyance of the Argentina delegation who made an official complaint. After the support given by Argentina to Uruguay in securing the hosting of the World Cup, it was back to business as usual and the fierce rivalry between the two nations when it came to the football itself.
Argentina were seen as the only real rivals who could stop Uruguay claiming the title, but they were held at bay by a French team who played with only nine fit players for 70 minutes of the game after an early challenge by Luis Monti on Lucien Laurent left him hobbling for the rest of the match, while goalkeeper Alex Thepot’s injury sustained in the first match flared up again. Monti scored the only goal of the game direct from a free-kick.
Chile 3 - 0 Mexico
A calamity!
Chile made their entrance and beat Mexico 3-0 in a match that saw the first World Cup own goal.
The Uruguayan press were not impressed by the game. The weekly magazine Deportes described it in very disparaging terms. “Little technique, on the one hand; none on the other. Enthusiasm on both sides. Bumps and falls, raised to the power of Infinity, everywhere. Players, more time on their backs on the ground, than on their feet. And a referee, M. Christophe, who was a calamity, with the boots of a boxer and the abdomen of a bourgeois. That was the match between Mexico and Chile.”
Chile 1 - 0 France
Eliminated despite saved penalty
French goalkeeper Alex Thépot saved a penalty from Carlos Vidal but couldn't stop Chile beating France 1-0. The result eliminated France and set up a winner takes all match between Chile and Argentina for a place in the semi-finals.
Argentina 6 - 3 Mexico
Hey referee… Penalty!
There seems to have been no penalty spot marked out on the Centenario pitch because legend has it that the Bolivian referee Ulises Saucedo had them taken at 16 paces from the goal line. Perhaps unsurprisingly two of the three penalties awarded in the Argentina - Mexico match were saved! Manuel Rosas scored one for Mexico but his second was saved by Ángel Bossio although he did score from the rebound.
Argentina had been awarded the first of the three penalties but according to El Dia it was a questionable decision. “Paternoster went forward to take the penalty, leaving us with the personal impression that he did not try to make his shot change the score. The ball, aimed at medium height, without violence, was effortlessly saved by Bonfiglio.” Argentina still won 6-3, Guillermo Stábile scoring three goals on his international debut.
Argentina 3 - 1 Chile
The first World Cup brawl
A boxing match was how referee Jean Langenus described the fight that broke out in the Argentina match against Chile. A foul by Luis Monti (who else?) was the spark. “I saw the Chilean who had been kicked by Monti walk peacefully towards his opponent, grab his head and stroke it! How kind they are I thought! But at the same moment, the Chilean clutched Monti's head between his fingers and with the hand that was still free, punched his opponent violently.”
Within moments all 22 players were involved in a fistfight. The police came onto the field as did a swarm of photographers. Chaos! “According to the rules of the game, all the players should have been sent-off,” wrote Langenus, “and the game should have ended. But other countries, other customs!”
Order was restored and Argentina went on to beat Chile 3-1 in the winner takes all match which saw the Argentines complete the semi-final line up. The draw for those semi-finals were made that evening with the organisers hopes fulfilled that Uruguay and Argentina be kept apart. The dates for the matches were changed to the 26th and 27th, while the Final was rescheduled for the 30th.
The squad
Argentina
Ángel Bossio, 5-05-1905, Goalkeeper, Talleres Buenos Aires
Juan Bottaso, 23-10-1908, Goalkeeper, Argentino Quilmes
Roberto Cherro, 23-02-1907, Inside left, Boca Juniors
Alberto Chividini, 23-02-1907, Right half, Central Norte
Attilio Demaría, 19-03-1909, Inside left, Estudiantil Porteño
José Della Torre, 23-03-1906, Right back, Racing Club
Juan Evaristo, 20-06-1902, Right half, Sportivo Palermo
Marino Evaristo, 10-12-1908, Left wing, Boca Juniors
Manuel Ferreira (c), 22-10-1905, Centre forward, Estadiantes La Plata
Luis Monti, 15-05-1901, Centre half, San Lorenzo
Ramón Muttis, 12-03-1899, Left back, Boca Juniors
Rodolfo Orlandini, 1-01-1905, Left half, Sportivo Buenos Aires
Fernando Paternoster, 24-05-1903, Left back, Racing Club
Natalio Perinetti, 28-12-1900, Right wing, Racing Club
Carlos Peucelle, 13-09-1908, Right wing, Sportivo Buenos Aires
Alejandro Scopelli, 12-05-1908, Inside right, Estudiantes La Plata
Carlos Spadaro, 5-02-1902, Left wing, Lanús
Guillermo Stábile, 17-01-1905, Inside right, Huracán
Arico Suárez, 5-06-1908, Left half, Boca Juniors
Francisco Varallo, 5-02-19010, Inside right, Gimnasia y Esgrima LP
Adolfo Zumelzú, 5-02-1902, Centre half, Sportivo Palermo
Non-playing squad member
Edmundo Piaggio, 3-10-1905, Defender, Lanús
The squad
Chile
Ernesto Chaparro, 4-01-1901, Right back, Colo Colo
Roberto Cortés, 2-02-1905, Goalkeeper, Colo Colo
Humberto Elgueta, 10-09-1904, Right half, Deportivo Naval
César Espinoza, 28-09-1900, Goalkeeper, CD Santiago
Víctor Morales, 10-05-1905, Left back, Colo Colo
Tomás Ojeda, 20-04-1910, Left wing, Boca Antofagasta
Ulises Poirier, 2-02-1897, Right back, La Cruz
Guillermos Riveros, 10-02-1902, Left back, La Cruz
Guillermo Saavedra, 5-11-1903, Centre half, Colo Colo
Carlos Schneeberger (c), 21-06-1902, Right wing, Colo Colo
Guillermo Subiabre, 25-02-1902, Inside left, Colo Colo
Arturo Torres, 20-10-1906, Right/Left half, Colo Colo
Casimiro Torres, 1-01-1906, Left half, Everton
Carlos Vidal, 24-02-1902, Inside right, Federico Schwager
Eberardo Villalobos, 1-04-1908, Centre forward, Rangers
Non-playing squad member
Juan Aguilera, 23-10-1903, Forward, Audax Italiano
Guillermo Arellano, 21-08-1908, Forward, Colo Colo
Arturo Coddou, 14-01-1905, Midfield, Lord Cochrane
Horacio Muñoz, 1-01-1900, Forward, Fernandez Vial
The squad
France
Marcel Capelle, 11-12-1904, Left back, Racing Club
Augustin Chantrel, 11-11-1906, Right half, CASG
Edmond Delfour, 1-11-1907, Left half, Racing Club
Célestin Delmer, 15-02-1907, Right wing, Amiens
Marcel Langiller, 2-06-1908, Left wing, Excelsior Roubaix
Lucien Laurent, 10-12-1907, Inside right, Sochaux
Ernest Libérati, 22-03-1906, Inside left, Amiens
André Maschinot, 28-06-1903, Centre forward, Sochaux
Étienne Mattler, 25-12-1905, Right back, Sochaux
Marcel Pinel, 8-07-1908, Right wing, Red Star
Alex Thépot, 30-07-1906, Goalkeeper, Red Star
Émile Veinante, 12-06-1907, Inside left, Racing Club
Alexandre Villaplane (c), 12-09-1905, Centre half, Racing Club
Non-playing squad members
Numa Andoire, 19-03-1908, Defender, Olympique Antibes
Jean Laurent, 30-12-1906, Defender, Sochaux
André Tassin, 23-02-1902, Goalkeeper, Racing Club
The squad
Mexico
Efraín Amézcua, 3-08-1907, Right half, Atlante
Oscar Bonfiglio, 5-10-1905, Goalkeeper, Marte
Juan Carreño, 14-08-1907, Inside left, Atlante
Rafael Garza Gutiérrez (c), 13-12-1896, Right/Left back, América
Francisco Garza Gutiérrez, 14-03-1904, Right back, América
Roberto Gayón, 1-01-1905, Centre forward, América
Hilario López, 18-11-1907, Right wing, Marte
Dionisio Mejía, 6-01-1907, Centre forward, Atlante
Felipe Olivares, 18-11-1907, Right wing, Atlante
Luis Pérez, 1-01-1907, Left wing, Necaxa
Raymundo Rodríguez, 15-04-1905, Right half, Marte
Felipe Rosas, 5-02-1910, Left half, Atlante
Manuel Rosas, 17-12-1912, Left back, Atlante
José Ruíz, 1-01-1904, Inside right, Necaxa
Alfredo Sánchez, 24-05-1908, Centre half, América
Isidoro Sota, 4-02-1902, Goalkeeper, América
Non-playing squad member
Jesús Castro, 1-01-1900, Forward, Deportivo Mexico
Sunday, 13-07-1930, 14:45 - Pocitos, Montevideo
France 4 - 1 Mexico
4,444 spectators
Goals: Laurent 19, Langiller 40, Maschinot (2) 42 87; Carreño 70
Referees: Domingo Lombardi URU
Henri Cristophe BEL & Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo BRA
France • Caudron (Coach)
Thépot
Mattler, Capelle
Chantrel, Villaplane (c), Delfour
Pinel, Laurent, Maschinot, Libérati, Langiller
Pérez, Carreño, Mejía, Ruiz, López
F Rosas, Sánchez, Amezcua
M Rosas, R Garza Gutiérrez (c)
Bonfiglio
Mexico • Serralonga ESP (Coach)
Tuesday, 15-07-1930, 16:00 - Parque Central, Montevideo
Argentina 1 - 0 France
23,409 spectators
Goal: Monti 81
Referees: Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo BRA
Ulises Saucedo BOL & Constantin Radulesco ROU
Argentina • Tramutola & Olazar (Coaches)
Bossio
Della Torre, Muttis
J Evaristo, Monti, Suárez
Perinetti, Varallo, Ferreira (c), Cerro, M Evaristo
Langiller, Maschinot, Libérati, Laurent, Pinel
Delfour, Villaplane (c), Chantrel
Capelle, Mattler
Thépot
France • Caudron (Coach)
Wednesday, 16-07-1930, 14:45 - Parque Central, Montevideo
Chile 3 - 0 Mexico
9,249 spectators
Goals: Vidal (2) 4 86, M Rosas OG 51
Referees: Henri Christophe BEL
Martín Aphesteguy URU & John Langenus BEL
Chile • Orth HUN (Coach)
Cortés
Poirier, Morales
Elgueta, Saavedra, A Torres
Schneeberger (c), Vidal, Villalobos, Subiabre, Ojeda
Pérez, Carreño, Gayón, Ruiz, López
F Rosas, Sánchez, Amezcua
M Rosas, R Gutiérrez (c)
Sota
Mexico • Serralonga ESP (Coach)
Saturday, 19-07-1930, 12:50 - Centenario, Montevideo
Chile 1 - 0 France
42,100 spectators
Goal: Subiabre 64 (Vidal penalty saved 35)
Referees: Aníbal Tejada URU
Domingo Lombardi URU & Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo BRA
Chile • Orth HUN (Coach)
Cortés
Chaparro, Riveros
A Torres, Saavedra, C Torres
Schneeberger (c), Vidal, Villalobos, Subiabre, Ojeda
Langiller, Veinante, Libérati, Pinel, Delmer
Delfour, Villaplane (c), Chantrel
Capelle, Mattler
Thépot
France • Caudron (Coach)
Saturday, 19-07-1930, 15:00 - Centenario, Montevideo
Argentina 6 - 3 Mexico
42,100 spectators
Goals: Stábile (3) 8 17 80, Zumelzú (2) 10 55, Varallo 53; M Rosas (2) 37p 72, Gayón 78 (Paternoster penalty saved 23; M Rosas penalty saved 72)
Referees: Ulises Saucedo BOL
Gualberto Alonso URU & Constantin Radulescu ROU
Argentina • Tramutola & Olazar (Coaches)
Bossio (c)
Della Torre, Paternóster
Chividini, Zumelzú, Orlandini
Peucelle, Stábile, Varallo, Demaría, Spadaro
F Rosas, López, Gayón, Carreño, Olivares
M Rosas, Sánchez, Rodríguez
R Garza Gutiérrez (c), F Garza Gutiérrez
Bonfiglio
Mexico • Serralonga ESP (Coach)
Tuesday, 22-07-1930, 14:45 - Centenario, Montevideo
Argentina 3 - 1 Chile
41,459 spectators
Goals: Stábile (2) 12 14, M Evaristo 51; Arellano 15
Referees: John Langenus BEL
Henri Cristophe BEL & Ulises Saucedo BOL
Argentina • Tramutola & Olazar (Coaches)
Bossio
Della Torre, Paternóster
J Evaristo, Monti, Orlandini
Peucelle, Varallo, Stábile, Ferreira (c), M Evaristo
Arellano, Subiabre (c), Villalobos, Vidal, Aguilera
C Torres, Saavedra, A Torres
Morales, Chaparro
Cortés
Chile • Orth HUN (Coach)
Group 2
The squad
Yugoslavia
Milorad Arsenijević, 6-06-1906, Right half, BSK Beograd
Ivica Bek, 29-10-1909, Centre forward, FC Sète (FRA)
Momčilo Đokić, 27-02-1911, Left half, Jugoslavija Beograd
Milutin Ivković (c), 3-03-1906, Right back, Soko
Milovan Jakšić, 21-09-1909, Goalkeeper, Soko
Blagoje Marjanović, 9-09-1907, Inside right, BSK Beograd
Dragan Mihajlović, 13-12-1906, Left back, BSK Beograd
Dragutin Najdanović, 15-04-1908, Left wing, BSK Beograd
Brane Sekulić, 29-10-1906, Left wing, Club Français (FRA)
Ljubiša Stefanović, 4-01-1910, Centre half, FC Sete (FRA)
Aleksandar Tirnanić, 15-07-1911, Right wing, BSK Beograd
Đorde Vujadinović, 6-12-1909, Inside left, BSK Beograd
Non-playing squad members
Branislav Hrnjiček, 5-06-1908, Jugoslavija Beograd
Božidar Marković, 1-01-1900, Vojvodina
Teofilo Spasojević, 21-01-1909, Jugoslavija Beograd
Milan Stojanović, 28-12-1911, BSK Beograd
Dragomir Tošić, 8-11-1909, BSK Beograd
The squad
Brazil
Araken Patusca, 17-07-1905, Centre forward, Flamengo
Benedicto de Moraes Menezes, 30-10-1906, Right wing, Botafogo
Alfredo Brilhante da Costa, 5-11-1904, Right back, Vasco da Gama
Carlos Antonio Dobbert de Carvalho Leite, 25-06-1912, Centre forward, Botafogo
Fausto dos Santos, 28-01-1905, Centre half, Vasco da Gama
Fernando Rubens Pasi Giudicelli, 1-03-1906, Left half, Fluminense
Hermógenes Valente Fonseca, 4-11-1908, Right half, América RJ
Luis Gervazzoni 'Itália’, 22-05-1907, Left back, Vasco da Gama
Joel de Oliveira Montero, 1-05-1904, Goalkeeper, América RJ
Moderato Wisintainer, 14-07-1902, Left wing, Flamengo
Nilo Murtinho Braga, 3-04-1903, Inside right, Botafogo
Polycarpo Ribeiro de Oliveira, 26-01-1909, Right wing, Americano
João Coelho Netto 'Preguinho’ (c), 8-02-1905, Inside left, Fluminense
Moacyr Siqueira de Queiroz 'Russinho’, 18-12-1902, Inside right, Vasco da Gama
Theóphilo Bettencourt Pereira, 11-04-1900, Left wing
Osvaldo de Barros Velloso, 25-09-1908, Goalkeeper, Fluminense
José Luiz de Oliveira 'Zé Luiz', 16-11-1904, Right back, São Cristóvão
Non-playing squad members
Agostinho Fortes Filho, 9-09-1901, Centre half, Fluminense
Ivan Mariz, 16-01-1910, Centre half, Fluminense
Manoelzinho, Manoel de Aguiar Fagundes, 22-08-1907, Forward, Goytacaz
Oscarino Costa da Silva, 17-01-1907, Centre half, Ypiranga
Pamplona, Estanislau Figueiredo ‘Pamplona’ Pamplona
The squad
Bolivia
Mario Alborta, 19-09-1910, Inside left, Bolívar
Juan Argote, 25-11-1906, Right half, Bolívar
Jesús Bermúdez, 24-01-1902, Goalkeeper, Oruro Royal
José Bustamente, 1-01-1907, Inside right, Litoral
Casiano Chavarría, 3-08-1901, Left back, Calavera
Segundo Durandal, 17-03-1912, Right back, San José
René Fernández, 1-01-1906, Left wing, Alianza Oruro
Gumercindo Gómez, 21-01-1907, Right wing, Oruro Royal
Diógenes Lara, 6-04-1903, Centre half, Bolívar
Rafael Méndez (c), 1-01-1904, Centre forward, Universitario La Paz
Eduardo Reyes, 1-01-1907, Right wing, The Strongest
Renato Sáinz, 14-12-1899, Right half, The Strongest
Jorge Luis Valderrama, 12-12-1906, Left half, Oruro Royal
Non-playing squad members
Miguel Brito, 13-06-1901, Midfield, Oruro Royal
Miguel Murillo, 24-03-1898, Goalkeeper, Bolívar
Constantino Noya, Midfield, Oruro Royal
Luis Reyes Peñaranda, 5-06-1911, Defender, Universitario La Paz
Monday, 14-07-1930, 14:45 - Parque Central, Montevideo
Yugoslavia 2 - 1 Brazil
24,059 spectators
Goals: Tirnanić 21, Bek 30; Preguinho 62
Referees: Aníbal Tejada URU
Ricardo Vallarino URU & Thomas Balway FRA
Yugoslavia • Simonović (Coach)
Jakšić
Ivković (c), Mihajlović
Arsenijević, Stefanović, Đokić
Tirnanić, Marjanović, Bek, Vujadinović, Sekulić
Theóphilo, Preguinho (c), Araken, Nilo, Poly
Fernando Giudicelli, Fausto, Hermógenes
Itália, Brilhante
Joel
Brazil • Píndaro (Coach)
Thursday, 17-07-1930, 12:45 - Parque Central, Montevideo
Yugoslavia 4 - 0 Bolivia
18,306 spectatotors
Goals: Bek (2) 60 67, Marjanović 65, Vujadinović 85
Referees: Francisco Matteucci URU
Domingo Lombardi URU & Alberto Warnken CHI
Yugoslavia • Simonović (Coach)
Jakšić
Ivković (c), Mihajlović
Arsenijević, Stefanović, Đokić
Tirnanić, Marjanović, Bek, Vujadinović, Najdanović
Fernández, Alborta, Méndez (c), Bustamante, Gómez,
Valderrama, Lara, Argote
Chavarría, Durandal
Bermúdez
Bolivia • Saucedo (Coach)
Sunday, 20-07-1930, 13:00 - Centenario, Montevideo
Brazil 4 - 0 Bolivia
25,466 spectators
Goals: Moderato (2) 27 73, Preguinho (2) 57 83 (Sáinz penalty saved at 0-0)
Referees: Thomas Balway FRA
Francisco Matteucci URU & Gaspar Vallejo MEX
Brazil • Píndaro (Coach)
Velloso
Zé Luiz, Itália
Hermógenes, Fausto, Fernando Giudicelli
Benedicto, Russinho, Carvalho Leite, Preguinho (c), Moderato
Fernández, Alborta, Méndez (c), Bustamante, Reyes
Valderrama, Lara, Sáinz
Chavarría, Durandal
Bermúdez
Bolivia • Saucedo (Coach)
Yugoslavia 2 - 1 Brazil
A team of youngsters beat Brazil
Brazil, the most successful country in World Cup history, made their debut in the competition. And lost! Yugoslavia, who beat them 2-1, fielded the youngest team in any World Cup, with an average age of just 21.
The initial Brazil squad had contained 15 players from São Paulo, including the famous Artur Friedenreich, and only eight from Rio. The São Paulo federation therefore demanded the inclusion of coach Jorge Caldeira but this was rebuked by the Rio-based Brazilian football association.
On 12 June the São Paulo based players were withdrawn by their federation and Brazil travelled to Montevideo with a team of Rio based players, many of whom had never played for the national team. Their one genuine star-player, the multi-talented Preguinho, scored Brazil’s only goal against the Yugoslavs.
Yugoslavia 4 - 0 Bolivia
The first team to reach the semi-final
Just four days into the tournament and before opening ceremony had taken place Bolivia and Brazil saw their World Cup hopes ended while Yugoslavia booked their place in the semi-finals.
To achieve that Yugoslavia beat Bolivia 4-0. The Bolivians were perhaps the weakest team in the tournament, but were warmly welcomed by the Uruguay public, with one newspaper noting that “after deciding to take part at the last moment, with little training as a team and having to lament the absence of some of their best players, as well as the fact that Bolivia is a country where football is a new sport, they fought hard and managed to even up the fight, so much so that the first half ended without any score.”
The Yugoslavs, however, then proceeded to score three goals in seven minutes in the second as the Bolivians visibly tired.
Brazil 4 - 0 Bolivia
A worthless win for Brazil
The Centenario saw the first-ever World Cup win for Brazil as they beat fellow South Americans Bolivia 4-0. But there was nothing at stake apart from avoiding finishing bottom of the group.
Group 3
Romania 3 - 1 Peru
The lowest attendace in World Cup history
On a bitterly cold day which suited the European team, just 2,549 turned up to the Pocitos to watch Romania score in the first minute on the way to beating Peru 3-1.
It was the lowest attendance for a match at a World Cup finals and persuaded the organisers to abandon using the Pocitos in favour of double-headers at Nacional’s Parque Central.
This is also one of the rare occasions where no pictures from the match are available.
Uruguay 1-0 Peru
Enter the hosts at last
100 years to the day after Uruguay became an independent nation the Estadio Centenario was officially opened prior to the Uruguay match against Peru. All of the teams joined in the opening ceremony at the Centenario stadium, despite the fact that five of the 13 countries had already been eliminated: Belgium, Bolivia, Mexico, Paraguay, and Brazil.
“May we learn to honour the temple we have created,” Raúl Jude said in a speech at the opening ceremony. “This testimony to our respect and veneration of the founders of our fatherland is also a sign of our faith in the future of the Republic. This Torre del Homenage will fly with pride and emotion the flag of any country of the world that finishes as champions, though we hope it will be the flag of Uruguay.”
The Uruguayan press weren’t quite so sure that it would be the Uruguayan flag hoisted above the tower after the final, following a less than impressive performance in the 1-0 victory over Peru. The only goal of the game came in the second half and was scored by Hector Castro. It was an historic goal… the first ever in the history of the stadium and Uruguay’s first in a World Cup.
Uruguay 4 - 0 Romania
King Carol and the Romanians in Montevideo
Uruguay changed their forward line, bringing in Pablo Dorado, Héctor Scarone and Peregrino Anselmo for Santos Urdinarán, Héctor Castro and Pedro Petrone. It worked as they put in an outstanding first half performance in their winner-takes-all match against Romania to win 4-0 in what was effectively a quarter-final.
One of the most enduring myths surrounding the first World Cup is the role King Carol played with regard to the Romanian team. In his Histoire Merveilleux de la Coupe du Monde FIFA president Jules Rimet writes “I soon learned that King Carol himself had put together player after player in the team that was going to represent his country. Several of the players he had chosen were employees of an English oil company, and they had been refused the leave necessary to come to Montevideo. ‘Let them resign, if they want to play sport!’
The king had phoned the big boss personally and they had bowed to the royal wish!” But is it true? Carol had come to the throne just 11 days before the Romanian team departed for Montevideo in a Coup d’Etat. Did he really have the time or the inclination to deal with football matters? But then again he had been President of the Romanian football association in the mid-1920s so it was a game he liked.
The squad
Uruguay
José Leandro Andrade, 22-11-1901, Right half, Nacional
Peregrino Anselmo, 30-04-1902, Centre forward, Peñarol
Enrique Ballestrero, 18-01-1905, Goalkeeper, Rampla Juniors
Héctor Castro, 29-11-1904, Centre-forward, Nacional
Pedro Cea, 1-09-1900, Inside-left, Nacional
Pablo Dorado, 22-06-1908, Right wing, Bella Vista
Lorenzo Fernández, 20-05-1900, Centre-half, Peñarol
Álvaro Gestido, 17-05-1907, Left half, Peñarol
Santos Iriarte, 2-11-1902, Left wing, Racing Club Montevideo
Ernesto Mascheroni, 21-11-1907, Left back, Olimpia Montevideo
José Nasazzi, 24-03-1901, Right back, Bella Vista
Pedro Petrone, 11-05-1905, Centre forward, Nacional
Héctor Scarone, 26-11-1898, Inside-right, Nacional
Domingo Tejera, 22-07-1899, Left back, Montevideo Wanderers
Santos Urdinarán, 30-03-1900, Right wing, Nacional
Non playing squad members
Juan Carlos Calvo, 26-06-1906, Forward, Miramar Misiones
Miguel Capuccini, 5-01-1904, Goalkeeper, Peñarol
Ángel Melogno, 22-03-1905, Half back, Bella Vista
Conduelo Píriz, 17-06-1905, Inside right, Nacional
Emilio Recoba, 03-11-1904, Left back, Nacional
Carlos Riolfo Secco, 5-11-1905, Right half, Peñarol
Zoilo Saldombide, 23-03-1906, Left wing, Nacional
The squad
Romania
Ştefan Barbu, 2-03-1908, Left wing, Gloria Arad
Rudolf Bürger, 31-10-1908, Left back, Chinezul Timișoara
Iosif Czako, 11-06-1906, Right back, UDR Reișița
Adalbert Deșu, 24-03-1909, Inside right, UDR Reișița
Alfred Eisenbeisser, 7-04-1908, Centre half, Dragoş Vodă Cernăuţi
Nicolae Kovács, 23-12-1911, Right wing, Banatul Timișoara
Ion Lăpuşneanu, 8-12-1908, Goalkeeper, Sportul Studențesc
Ladislau Raffinsky, 23-04-1905, Right half, Juventus Bucuresti
Corneliu Robe, 23-05-1908, Right half, Olympia Bucuresti
Constantin Stanciu, 5-03-1911, Inside left, Venus Bucuresti
Adalbert Steiner, 24-01-1907, Right back, Chinezul Timișoara
Emerich Vogl, 12-08-1905, Left half, Juventus Bucuresti
Rudolf Wetzer (c), 17-03-1901, Centre forward, Juventus Bucuresti
Non-playing squad members
Ilie Subăşeanu, 1-01-1906, Olympia Bucuresti
Samuel Zauber, 10-11-1900, Maccabi Bucuresti
The squad
Peru
Eduardo Astengo, 15-08-1905, Left half, Universitario
Mario de las Casas, 31-01-1901, Right back, Lawn Tennis
Alberto Denegri, Right back, Universitario
Plácido Galindo, 9-03-1906, Centre half, Universitario
Domingo García, 1904, Left half, Alianza
José María Lavalle, 5-06-1911, Right wing, Alianza
Julio Lores, 15-09-1908, Inside right, Necaxa (MEX)
Antonio Maquilón, 29-11-1902, Left back, Tarapacá Ferroviario
Demetrio Neyra, 15-12-1908, Inside left, Alianza
Jorge Pardon, 19-12-1909, Goalkeeper, Sporting Tabaco
Alberto Soria, 10-03-1906, Left back, Alianza
Luis Souza Ferreira, 30-06-1904, Left wing, Universitario
Juan Valdivieso, 6-05-1910, Goalkeeper, Alianza
Alejandro Villanueva, 4-06-1908, Centre forward, Alianza
Non-playing squad members
Carlos Cillóniz, 1-07-1910, Universitario
Arturo Fernández, 10-04-1910, Universitario
Pablo Pacheco, Universitario
Julio Quintana, 13-07-1904, Alianza
Lizardo Rodríguez Nue, 30-08-1910, Sport Progreso
Jorge Sarmiento, 2-11-1900, Alianza
Monday, 14-07-1930, 14:50 - Pocitos, Montevideo
Romania 3 - 1 Peru
2,549 spectators
Goals: Deşu 1 (50 secs), Stanciu 74, Kovács 85; Souza Ferreira 63
Referees: Alberto Warnken CHI
Jean Langenus BEL & Francisco Matteucci URU
Romania • Rădulescu with Luchide (Coach)
Lăpuşneanu
Steiner, Bürger
Raffinsky, Eisenbeisser, Vogl
Kovács, Deşu, Wetzer (c), Stanciu, Barbu
Souza Ferreira, Neyra, Villanueva, Lores, Lavalle
García, Galindo (c)•70, Denegri
Soria, de las Casas
Valdivieso
Peru • Brú ESP (Coach)
Friday, 18-07-1930, 14:30 - Centenario, Montevideo
Uruguay 1-0 Peru
57,735 spectators
Goal: Castro 60
Referees: John Langenus BEL
Thomas Balway FRA & Henri Cristophe BEL
Uruguay • Suppici (Coach)
Ballestrero
Nasazzi (c), Tejera
Andrade, Fernández, Gestido
Urdinarán, Castro, Petrone, Cea, Iriarte
Souza Ferreira, Neyra, Villanueva, Lores, Lavalle
Astengo, Galindo, Denegri
Maquilón (c), de las Casas
Pardón
Peru • Brú ESP (Coach)
Monday, 21-07-1930, 14:50 - Centenario, Montevideo
Uruguay 4 - 0 Romania
70,022 spectators
Goals: Dorado 7, Scarone 16, Anselmo 30, Cea 35
Referees: Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo BRA
Alberto Warnken CHI & Ulises Saucedo BOL
Uruguay • Suppici (Coach)
Ballestrero
Nasazzi (c), Mascheroni
Andrade, Fernández, Gestido
Dorado, Scarone, Anselmo, Cea, Iriarte
Barbu, Raffinsky, Wetzer (c), Deşu, Kovács
Vogl, Eisenbeisser, Robe
Bürger, Czako
Lăpuşneanu
Romania • Rădulescu with Luchide (Coache)
Group 4
United States 3 - 0 Belgium
A strong performance secures the first win for the United States
The Centenario was unfinished, so Nacional’s Parque Central was host to the USA and Belgium.
20,000 spectators witnessed a strong performance by the Americans who beat the Belgians 3-0 to secure their first win in World Cup history.
United States 3 - 0 Paraguay
The first World Cup hat-trick
The second match in Group 4 saw the first World Cup hat-trick. Bert Patenaude scored all three goals in the USA's 3-0 win over Paraguay.
With the USA claiming four points from their first two games, the Americans became the second team to qualify for the semi-finals. All before Uruguay had even kicked a single ball! The team from the United States simply overpowered the Paraguayans with their physicality and long passing game.
In the evening following the match the centre-piece of the Uruguayan centenary celebrations was held, a huge parade which all the teams participating in the World Cup witnessed.
Paraguay 1 - 0 Belgium
Dead rubbers
With groups of three teams the possibility that the third and final match will be a dead rubber is always present and that was the case with the game between Paraguay and Belgium. A goal by captain Luis Vargas Peña ensured that it was Belgium who finished without a point and returned home without even scoring a goal.
The squad
United States
Andrew ‘Andy’ Auld, 26-01-1900, Right wing, Providence FC
James ‘Jim’ Brown, 31-12-1908, Inside right, New York Giants
James ‘Jimmy’ Douglas, 12-01-1898, Goalkeeper, New York Nationals
Thomas ‘Tom’ Florie (c), 6-09-1897, Inside left, New Bedford Whalers
James ‘Jimmy’ Gallagher, 7-06-1901, Right half, New York Nationals
William ‘Billy’ Gonsalves, 10-09-1908, Left half, Fall River Marksmen
Bart McGhee, 30-04-1899, Left wing, New York Nationals
George Moorhouse, 4-05-1901, Left back, New York Giants
Bert Patenaude, 4-11-1909, Centre forward, Fall River Marksmen
Raphael Tracey, 6-02-1904, Centre half, Ben Miller FC
Alexander Wood, 12-06-1907, Right back, Detroit Holley Carburetors
Non-playing squad members
Michael ‘Mike’ Bookie, 12-09-1904, Cleveland Slavia
James Gentle, 21-07-1904, Philadelphia Cricket Club
Arnold ‘Arnie’ Oliver, 22-05-1907, Providence FC
Philip Slone, 20-01-1907, New York Giants
Frank Vaughn, 18-02-1902, Ben Miller FC
The squad
Paraguay
Francisco Aguirre, 1908, Left half, Olimpia
Pedro Benítez, 1901, Goalkeeper, Libertad
Santiago Benítez, 1906, Right half, Olimpia
Delfín Benítez Cáceres, 1910, Inside left, Libertad
Modesto Denis, 1901, Goalkeeper, Nacional
Eusebio Díaz, 1901, Centre half, Guaraní
Diógenes Domínguez, 1902, Inside right, Sportivo Luquño
Romildo Etcheverry, 1907, Right half, Olimpia
Salvador Flores, 1906, Left back, Cerro Porteño
Tranquilino Garcete, 1907, Left half, Libertad
Aurelio González, 1905, Centre forward, Olimpia
José Miracca, 1903, Left back, Nacional
Lino Nessi, 1904, Right wing, Libertad
Quiterio Olmedo, 1907, Right back, Nacional
Gerardo Romero, 1906, Inside right, Libertad
Luis Vargas Peña (c), 1907, Left wing, Olimpia
Non-playing squad members
Cayetano Cerreras, Sportivo Luqueño
Eustacio Chamorro, Presidente Hayes
Diego Florentín, River Plate Asunción
Amadeo Ortega, River Plate Asuncion
Bernabé Rivera, Sportivo Luqueño
Jacinto Villalba, Cerro Porteño
The squad
Belgium
Ferdinand 'Cassis' Adams, Centre forward, Anderlecht
Arnold Badjou, 26-06-1909, Goalkeeper, Daring Club
Pierre Braine (c), 26-10-1900, Right half, Beerschot
Jean De Clercq, 17-05-1905, Left half, Royal Antwerp
Henri 'Rik' De Deken, 3-08-1907, Left back, Royal Antwerp
Gérard Delbeke, 1-09-1903, Inside right, Club Brugge
Jan Diddens, 14-09-1906, Left wing, KRC Mechelen
August Hellemans, 21-06-1907, Centre half, FC Malinois
Nik Hoydonckx, 29-12-1900, Left back, Excelsior Hasselt
Jacques Moeschal, 9-03-1900, Inside left, Racing Club Brussels
Théodoor Nouwens, 17-02-1908, Right back, FC Malinois
Louis Versijp, 5-12-1908, Right wing, Club Brugge
Bernard Voorhoof, 10-05-1910, Inside right, Lierse SK
Non-playing squad members
Alexis Chantraine, 16-03-1901, Right wing, RFC Liegeois
Jean De Bie, 9-05-1892, Goalkeeper, Racing Club Brussels
André Saeys, 20-02-1911, Forward, Cercle Brugge
Sunday, 13-07-1930, 14:45 - Parque Central, Montevideo
United States 3 - 0 Belgium
18,436 spectators
Goals: McGhee 41, Florie 44, Patenaude 88
Referees: José Macías ARG
Francisco Mateucci URU & Alberto Warnken CHI
USA • Cummings with coach Millar
Douglas
Wood, Moorhouse
Gallagher, Tracy, Gonsalves
Auld, Brown, Patenaude, Florie (c), McGhee
Diddens, Moeschal, Adams, Voorhoof, Versijp
De Clercq, Hellemans, Braine (c)
Hoydonckx, Nouwens
Badjou
Belgium • Goetinck (Coach)
Thursday, 17-07-1930, 14:45 - Parque Central, Montevideo
United States 3 - 0 Paraguay
18,306 spectators
Goals: Patenaude (3) 10 15 49
Referees: José Macías ARG
Martín Aphesteguy URU & Aníbal Tejada URU
USA • Cummings with coach Millar
Douglas
Wood, Moorhouse
Gallagher, Tracey, Gonsalves
Auld, Brown, Patenaude, Florie (c), McGhee
Vargas Peña (c), Benítez Cáceres, González, Domínguez, Nessi
Aguirre, Díaz, Etcheverry
Miracca, Olmedo
Denis
Paraguay • Laguna ARG (Coach)
Sunday, 20-07-1930, 15:00 - Centenario, Montevideo
Paraguay 1 - 0 Belgium
25,466 spectators
Goal: Vargas Peña 40
Referees: Ricardo Vallarino URU
José Macias & Domingo Lombardi URU
Paraguay • Laguna ARG (Coach)
P Benítez
Olmedo, Flores
S Benítez, Díaz, Garcete
Nessi, Romero, González, Benítez Cáceres, Vargas Peña (c)
Diddens, Adams, Nouwens, Delbeke, Versijp
Moeschal, Hellemans, Braine (c)
De Deken, Hoydonckx
Badjou
Belgium • Goetinck (Coach)
Semi-finals South American domination
Argentina's Guillermo Stabile beating USA's goalkeeper Jim Douglas to score Argentina's sixth goal in the 87th minute. Two minutes later James ‘Jim’ Brown scored the only goal for the US team in the semi-final.
Saturday 26 July 1930
Agentina 6 - 1 United States
Broken bones and a bottle of chloroform
After their comprehensive wins over Paraguay and Belgium, the professionals of the USA were being touted as potential winners, not just over Argentina in the semi-final, but of the tournament as a whole. The 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Argentines would seem to have made a mockery of that, but it wasn’t quite so clear cut.
According to the head of the US delegation Wilfred Cummings in his report of the tournament, the crowd for the semi-final numbered 112,000, with everyone, fans and players alike frisked for knives and guns on entry. A military escort had ensured the teams could get through the thronging crowd outside the stadium and as usual the Americans made their way onto the pitch singing the Stein Song.
Saturday, 26-07-1930, 14:45 - Centenario, Montevideo
Argentina 6 - 1 USA
72,886 spectators
Goals: Monti 20, Scopelli 56, Stábile (2) 69 87, Peucelle (2) 80 85; Brown 89
Referees: John Langenus BEL
Gaspar Vallejo MEX & Alberto Warnken CHI
Argentina • Tramutola & Olazar (Coaches)
Bottaso
Della Torre, Paternóster
J Evaristo, Monti, Orlandini
Peucelle, Scopelli, Stábile, Ferreira (c), M Evaristo
McGhee, Florie (c), Patenaude, Brown, Auld
Gonsalves, Tracy, Gallagher
Moorhouse, Wood
Douglas
USA • Cummings (Coach) with coach Millar
Sunday 27 July 1930
Uruguay 6 - 1 Yugoslavia
Uruguay into their stride
As with the semi-final the previous day, the match between Uruguay and Yugoslavia was not as clear cut as the 6-1 scoreline suggests.
The biggest crowd of the whole tournament crammed into the Centenario but were shocked into silence when Yugoslavia took an early lead. Uruguay fought back and were soon ahead, but the Yugoslavs had a goal disallowed which would have levelled the scores and they then complained bitterly that the ball had crossed the line (kicked back into touch by a policeman said some) before Peregrino Anselmo scored Uruguay’s third.
From then on it was plain sailing. All six Uruguayan goals came from crosses with Pedro Cea adding two more to the equaliser he had scored, the first of only three players to score a hat trick in a World Cup semi-final. After their timid opening game, the Uruguayans were now into their stride.
Sunday, 27-07-1930 - Centenario, Montevideo
Uruguay 6 - 1 Yugoslavia
79,867 spectators
Goals: Cea (3) 18 67 72, Anselmo (2) 20 31, Iriarte 61; Vujadinović 4
Referees: Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo BRA
Ulises Saucedo BOL & Thomas Balway FRA
Uruguay • Suppici (Coach)
Ballestrero
Nasazzi (c), Mascheroni
Andrade, Fernández, Gestido
Dorado, Scarone, Anselmo, Cea, Iriarte
Sekulić, Vujadinović, Bek, Marjanović, Tirnanić
Đokić, Stefanović, Arsenijević
Mihajlović, Ivković (c)
Jakšić
Yugoslavia • Simonović (Coach)
The Final
Champions of the world!
The first World Cup Final was the 97th meeting between Uruguay and Argentina. No two teams were more familiar with each other and few rivalries were more intense. Unlike in the semi-finals, however, there were considerable gaps in the stands. The fog enshrouding the River Plate had stayed stubbornly put during the night and most of the boats crossing had been forced to halt their journey and drop anchor. The boat carrying the Final referee John Langenus back from his excursion in Argentina was one of the lucky ones that managed to get through and dock in Montevideo on schedule in the morning.
Crossing the River Plate
A mass exodus from Buenos Aires to Montevideo started as Argentina fans booked up every available berth on boats crossing the River Plate, including on ten specially laid on boats. Among them was John Langenus who had made an excursion to Argentina in the days between the semi-final he had refereed and the Final which he was about to take charge of.
“What a bustle in the huge square in front of the docks!” he wrote. “There must have been a crowd of over a hundred thousand people. Any overestimate had a chance of being accurate. And this crowd was shouting without interruption ‘Argentina, si! Uruguay, no!’ There was no way to get on board without a ticket. Of course, there was no lack of chancers. I kept an eye on one in particular. He had managed to get on board, but the police took him off. A second time he managed to get on deck; a second time he was brought back to the quay. As the ship left the quay and was already a metre or two away from it, we saw him jump to the rail in the hope of not being caught again. But he jumped badly and fell into the cold water.” That evening a fog descended on the River Plate.
Wednesday 30 July 1930
Uruguay 4 - 2 Argentina
The atmosphere before the game was tense. Luis Monti received a death threat and spectators were once again closely searched before they entered the ground.
Argentina had used more players than any other team during the finals – 21 of their 22 with only defender Edmundo Piaggio missing out – and they made two changes for the Final, Arico Suárez in for Rodolfo Orlandini and young Francisco Varallo back in the side instead of Alejandro Scopelli.
Uruguay made just one change. Peregrino Anselmo excused himself with an injury – or was it nerves – so in came ‘Manco’ Castro. The first dispute Langenus had to deal with was the ball for the game with both sides preferring their own. Both had a half each.
Uruguay took an early lead with the honour of scoring the first-ever World Cup Final goal falling to Pablo Dorado. But by half-time Argentina were 2-1 up, the equaliser came from Peucelle while the second goal was scored by Guillermo Stabile, his eighth of the tournament, though Uruguay claimed offside.
In the second half Uruguay switched tactics. The short passing and clever patterns weaved in the first half were replaced by a more direct game in the second. Once again Cea scored an important equaliser while Santos Iriarte scored the winner from preposterously long range.
Varallo, who would go on to be the longest lived of all the players at the first World Cup, hit a post before Castro scored in the last minute to make sure for the hosts.
From the newspaper El Dia
12' 1-0 The goal of Dorado
The Uruguayan team had started the match brilliantly, dominating the Argentine defence, which was struggling in the last positions of their half. The crowd was anxiously awaiting the first goal for the sky-blue team, which was expected to come.
It was the 13th minute when Castro led one of the many charges that had already threatened Botazzo. Blocked by De la Torre, he gave the ball to Scarone: the latter tried a shot at goal, but Paternoster deflected the ball to the feet of Dorado, who was on the run. The Uruguayan striker's powerful shot was not long in coming and the net was rattled behind Botazzo.
The Centenario Stadium was shaken by a seismic phenomenon.
From the newspaper El Dia
20' 1-1 The goal of Peucelle
The Uruguayan goal provoked a reaction from the Argentine attack which went in search of an equaliser with fast and harmonious action. A foul committed by Fernandez in the centre of the field led to a scrimmage near the Uruguayan goal, and Ferreyra took advantage of it to bring Evaristo into play, who Andrade had left unguarded; the Argentine’s cross was not long in coming; Stabile headed it on to Peucelle, who with an unguarded sky blue goal executed a shot that Ballesteros could not stop because he was badly positioned.
From the newspaper El Dia
37' 1-2 Stabile. A goal that should have been disallowed
The equaliser brought about an equilibrium in the actions of both teams, although the Argentines were the greedier and lighter on their feet. A quick Albiceleste breakthrough caught our defence off guard, Monti took advantage of it to serve a long forward pass which Ferreyra (sic) collected and beat Ballesteros with a powerful overhead kick.
The Uruguayan captain complained to the referee that Ferreyra and Stabile were in an illegal position, but Mr. Langenus, in consultation with the linesman Cristofe, confirmed the decision. Everyone was convinced that Stabile and Ferreyra were behind the backs when the ball was served to them.
From the newspaper El Dia
57' 2-2 Cea. The equaliser
The end of the first half with Argentina in the lead had brought the nervous tension of the crowd to its peak. Our champions restarted the fight ready to regain the advantage. Their attacks, carried out with a somewhat closed tactic, were countered by the Porteño defenders with a great deal of pressure.
However, after thirteen minutes, Gestido put Castro in possession of the ball; the little man advanced resolutely exerting pressure on the Argentine defence, and as he saw Scarone in a good position he served him a measured pass: Héctor in one of his moments of inspiration beat the opposing defenders and when he had them on top of him with a quick step and a lofted pass that left Cea in front of the goal and without any opponents in front.
El Vasquito finished it off with an accurate shot that left Botazzo motionless.
From the newspaper El Dia
68' 3-2 Iriarte. Going in for the kill
Having drawn level, the Uruguayan attacking quintet deployed a monumental, unstoppable union that offered the surest promise of victory. An attempt by the Argentinian centre-backs was thwarted by Mascheroni, who, with no one in front, advanced into the opposition half and, seeing Iriarte in an excellent position, served him the ball with a long, measured pass.
The Basque striker threatened the cross, which opened up the Albiceleste defence, and taking advantage of the trick headed towards goal, finishing off the move with a furious shot that Botazzo reached but could not stop, as the violence of the shot bent his hands.
From the newspaper El Dia
89' 4-2 Castro. The knockout
The third goal strengthened Uruguay's position, but the crowd was not entirely reassured, as the Argentines desperately pressed forward in search of the equaliser, causing Ballesteros to go through some difficult moments. The losing team fought on and not lacking in energy and courage, dominated for a quarter of an hour.
But then the eleven captained by Nassazi regained their composure. Hector Scarone was in those moments the formidable champion who does not bear comparison; he was virtually directing his side's attacking play, delaying to pick up the ball and advancing with overwhelming impetus to trap the entire Argentine defence in their area.
The final whistle was very close, when Scarone started one of his many attacks, getting around Monti to put Dorado in excellent position to gain an advantage. The winger ran towards the opponent's goal line and on the run served a measured cross that was disputed by De la Torre, Paternoster and Castro, with the triumph of the little man, who with a powerful header put the ball in the net leaving Botazzo on the ground.
The stadium burst into a formidable ovation. The Uruguayans were World Champions.
Wednesday, 30-07-1930, 14:15 - Centenario, Montevideo
Uruguay 4 - 2 Argentina
68,346 spectators
Goals: Dorado 12, Cea 57, Iriarte 68, Castro 89; Peucelle 20, Stábile 37
Referees: John Langenus BEL
Ulises Saucedo BOL & Henri Cristophe BEL
Uruguay - Suppici (Coach)
Ballestrero
Nasazzi (c), Mascheroni
Andrade, Fernández, Gestido
Dorado, Scarone, Castro, Cea, Iriarte
M Evaristo, Ferreira (c), Stábile, Varallo, Peucelle
Suárez, Monti, J Evaristo
Paternóster, Della Torre
Bottaso
Argentina - Tramutola with Olazar (Coach)
Scenes from in and around Estadio Centenario on the day of the Final
Thursday 31 July 1930
The Duillio sets sail
“My dear President. The 'World Cup' tournament ends in apotheosis. My thoughts at this hour evoke the day in 1924, at Colombes which are similar to the ones we have just experienced, and where, for the first time, the Uruguayan team was crowned world champion.
As today, an unexpected sunshine dominated the party as the flag of the Oriental Republic was hoisted to the top of the Olympic flagpole amidst the applause of an equally joyful and enthusiastic crowd. The continuation of the success has made the history of your national team a true epic: it authorises you to engrave on your emblems the three names - Colombes, Amsterdam and Montevideo - as the names of the great victories.”
Early in the morning some of the teams set off for home although the Belgian, French and Romanian players were kept waiting on the quay as the SS Duillio arrived a day late full of disappointed Argentine fans who had missed the game due to the fog.
If Jules Rimet had hoped that the medals made by Abel Lafleur would reach Montevideo before the end of the tournament, he was to be disappointed. Indeed, it wasn’t until three and a half months later that Enrique Buero brought them in person from Paris to Montevideo.
They were finally presented to the players at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Uruguayan football association on 11 November. It was the final act as the curtain came down on the first World Cup.
The legacy of Jules Rimet
It hadn’t been the easiest of births and it certainly hadn’t been a financial bonanza – that would come later. But the 1930 World Cup was a significant turning point in the history of association football. First and foremost, it proved that a world championship could be staged outside of the confines of the Olympic Games. Football was the first to try and it didn’t break FIFA as many thought it might.
Just as importantly it set in motion the process of breaking down the barriers between the different classes of players – amateurs, professionals and those in-between. There were no professionals at the 1930 World Cup apart from the Americans, but that was not the point. The dogma that was to divide sport for decades to come, no longer defined football. There were to be no barriers to entry at the World Cup, something that the devoutly amateur IOC would not fully confront at the Olympics for another half century.
And that, in short, was the genius - and the legacy - of Jules Rimet.
1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay™
