Rio’s renovated Maracana stadium, which is set to host Sunday’s friendly between Brazil and England, is a historic and iconic venue that holds mixed feelings for locals after the Selecao lost the final match of the 1950 World Cup there against Uruguay.
The Brazilian media had proudly boasted of victory as a mere formality before their South American neighbors spoiled the party with a 2-1 win in front of a shocked crowd of some 200,000.
The “Maracanazo” rout, as it became known, left an indelible mark on generations of Brazilians, including Francisco Camoes de Menezes, now 77.
On July 16 1950, the day of the final of the first World Cup staged in Brazil, Menezes was 16.
“The stadium was jam packed, with nearly 200,000 spectators. I arrived two hours ahead of kick-off to be sure of getting a seat,” he recalled.
Brazil had won both of their first two group matches convincingly, trouncing Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1 to go top of the final phase group with four points, needing just one more to lift the cup.
With three points, Uruguay were close behind in second place but had to beat Brazil in their final group match to upset the applecart.
“When (Alcides) Ghiggia (Uruguayan striker) scored the winning goal, I was on the other side of the pitch,” added Menezes.
“I remembered the scene as if it were yesterday. At the final whistle, there was a deafening silence, everybody around me was crying,” he told AFP.
In the 1960s, Menezes also watched the exploits of famed Botafogo winger Garrincha, one of the mainstays of the Brazil squad that won the 1958 and 1962 World Cups.
“King” Pele, also wrote a special page in Maracana history in November 1969 by scoring his 1000th goal before an adoring home crowd.
“I was there. I remember. Just in front of me, journalists triumphantly carried him on their shoulders for many minutes after his goal,” Menezes reminisced.
The ball with which Pele scored his 1000th goal has pride of place in the Maracana museum, the only space still open to the public during the renovation work ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“Maracana is a historical landmark. It revolutionized its era with its proportions and by the techniques used for its construction,” said museum director Carmen Dittz Chaves.
“Today, even though it is no longer the biggest stadium in the world by size (its capacity was reduced to 78,000 seats) it remains iconic because it carried so much emotion,” she added.
The refurbishment, delayed by multiple strikes, was closely monitored by world football governing body FIFA, who have repeatedly complained about the delays in the renovation of some of the stadiums slated to be used during next year’s World Cup.
The Maracana was initially set to be ready in December 2012, well ahead of the Confederations Cup, which kicks off June 15.
It was finally delivered on April 27 and work around the stadium remains unfinished.
Thursday, two weeks before the kick-off of the tournament, a dry run for the 2014 World Cup, safety concerns nearly led to the suspension of Sunday’s Brazil-England international, which will mark the official inauguration of the hallowed arena.
The Rio state government had to intervene and present official documents “proving that all safety requirements at the Maracana were met” before the suspension was lifted.
It would seem this legendary stadium continues to provide almost as many disappointments and false dawns as thrills for the local community.
Maracana: Brazil's renovated iconic stadium
