FIFA 1950 World Cup

The first staged in 12 years due to World War II. Brazil was chosen as the host country by FIFA in July 1946.The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup, It was also the first tournament that the trophy itself would be referred to as the Jules Rimet Cup, to mark the 25th anniversary of Rimet's presidency of FIFA. It was won by Uruguay, who had won the inaugural competition in 1930, clinching the cup by beating the hosts Brazil 2–1 in the deciding match of the four-team final group (this was the only tournament not decided by a one-match final).

1950 FIFA World Cup Teams

• England (ENG)
• Italy (ITA)
• Spain (ESP)
• Sweden (SWE)
• Switzerland (SUI)
• Yugoslavia (YUG)
• Mexico (MEX)
• USA (USA)
• Bolivia (BOL)
• Brazil (BRA)
• Chile (CHI)
• Paraguay (PAR)
• Uruguay (URU)

Venues
Six cities hosted the tournament:

• Belo Horizonte
• Curitiba
• Porto Alegre
• Recife
• Rio de Janeiro
• São Paulo

The World Coup 1950 Tournament summary

Teams : 13
When : 24 June 1950 to 16 July 1950
Final : 16 July 1950
Matches : 22
Goals Scored: 88 (average 4.0 per match)
Attendance: 1043500 (average 47431)


* Winner : Uruguay
* Runners-Up : Brazil
* Third : Sweden
* Fourth : Spain

Golden Shoe: ADEMIR (BRA)


Top Goals

Team Goals
Brazil -22
Uruguay -15
Sweden- 11
Spain - 10
Yugoslavia- 7
Chile -5
Italy- 4
Switzerland - 4
USA -4
England -2
Paraguay -2
Mexico 2
Bolivia 0

FIFA World Cup 1950 Summary

Because of World War II, the World Cup had not been staged since 1938; the planned World Cups of 1942 and 1946 were both cancelled. After the war, FIFA were keen to resurrect the competition as soon as possible,
and they began making plans for a World Cup tournament to take place. In the aftermath of the war, much of Europe lay in ruins. As a result, FIFA had some difficulties finding a country interested in hosting the event, since many governments believed that the world scenario did not favour a sportive celebration, and also (more importantly) that the resources that would have to be put into organizing the World Cup could not be diverted from other more urgent fronts. For some time, the World Cup was at risk of not being held for sheer lack of interest from the international community, until Brazil presented a bid at the 1946 FIFA Congress, offering to host the event on condition that the tournament take place in 1950 (it was originally planned to take place in 1949). Brazil and Germany had been the leading bidders to host the cancelled 1942 World Cup; since both the 1934 and 1938 tournaments had been held in Europe, football historians generally agree that the 1942 event would most likely have been awarded to a South American host country. Brazil's new bid was very similar to the mooted 1942 bid and was quickly accepted.

FIFA 1930 World Cup

The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural edition of the world championship for international associationfootball teams – the FIFA World Cup. It was played in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July.

Thirteen teams, seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America entered the tournament. Few European teams chose to participate due to the duration andcost of travel. The teams were divided into four groups, with the winner of each group progressing to the semi-finals. The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously,and were won by France and the USA, who defeated Mexico 4–1 and Belgium 3–0, respectively.

In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic football tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event at the next three Olympiads: from 1920 to 1928. In the 1908 Olympic Games and the 1912 Olympic Games the football competitions had been organised by The Football Association and the Swedish Football Association respectively.

• Host country : Uruguay
• Dates : 13 July – 30 July
• Teams : 13
• Venue(s) : 3 (in 1 host city)

Final positions

• Champions : Uruguay (1st title)
• Runner-up : Argentina
• Third place : United States
• Fourth place : Yugoslavia
• Golden Shoe : Guillermo STABILE (ARG)

Tournament statistics

• Matches played : 18
• Goals scored : 70 (3.89 per match)
• Attendance : 434,500 (24,139 per match)
• Top scorer(s) : Argentina Guillermo Stábile (8 goals)

July 30, 1930-The first World Cup Final (half time scores in brackets)

Uruguay - Argentina 4:2 (1:2)

Teams:

Uruguay : Ballesteros, Nasazzi, Mascheroni, Andrade, Fernandez, Gestido, Dorado, Scarone, Castro, Cea, Iriarte.

Scorers: Dorado, Cea, Iriarte, Castro.

Argentina : Botasso, Della Torre, Paternoster, J. Evaristo, Monti, Suarez, Peucelle, Varallo, Stabile, Ferreira, M. Evaristo.

Scorers: Peucelle, Stabile.

The First World Cup Uruguay win by 4:2 Goal.

Tournament summary

The games were played in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and the USA were seeded, and were kept apart in the draw, which took place in Montevideo once all the teams arrived.Since there were no qualifying games, the opening two matches of the tournament were the first World Cup games ever played, taking place simultaneously on 13 July 1930; France's Lucien Laurent was the scorer of the first World Cup goal.

FIFA 1930 World Cup

 The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural edition of the world championship for international associationfootball teams – the FIFA World Cup. It was played in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July.

Thirteen teams, seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America entered the tournament. Few European teams chose to participate due to the duration andcost of travel. The teams were divided into four groups, with the winner of each group progressing to the semi-finals. The first two World Cup matches took place simultaneously,and were won by France and the USA, who defeated Mexico 4–1 and Belgium 3–0, respectively.

 In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic football tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event at the next three Olympiads: from 1920 to 1928. In the 1908 Olympic Games and the 1912 Olympic Games the football competitions had been organised by The Football Association and the Swedish Football Association respectively.

 Tournament details

Host country     : Uruguay
       Dates    : 13 July – 30 July
     Teams               : 13
                                 Venue(s)           : 3 (in 1 host city)

Final positions
Champions           : Uruguay (1st title)
 Runner-up            : Argentina
             Third place           : United States
                Fourth place         : Yugoslavia
                                                  Golden Shoe           : Guillermo STABILE (ARG)

Tournament statistics

Matches played  : 18
Goals scored      : 70 (3.89 per match)
Attendance         : 434,500 (24,139 per match)
Top scorer(s)     : Argentina Guillermo Stábile
(8 goals)

July 30, 1930-The first World Cup Final (half time scores in brackets)

Uruguay - Argentina 4:2 (1:2)

Teams:

Uruguay : Ballesteros, Nasazzi, Mascheroni, Andrade, Fernandez, Gestido, Dorado, Scarone, Castro, Cea, Iriarte.

Scorers: Dorado, Cea, Iriarte, Castro.

Argentina : Botasso, Della Torre, Paternoster, J. Evaristo, Monti, Suarez, Peucelle, Varallo, Stabile,
Ferreira, M. Evaristo.

Scorers: Peucelle, Stabile.

The First World Cup Uruguay win by 4:2 Goal.

Tournament summary 

The games were played in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and the USA were seeded, and were kept apart in the draw, which took place in Montevideo once all the teams arrived.Since there were no qualifying games, the opening two matches of the tournament were the first World Cup games ever played, taking place simultaneously on 13 July 1930;  France's Lucien Laurent was the scorer of the first World Cup goal.

FIFA 1938 World Cup

The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. France was chosen as hosts by FIFA in August 1936. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.

Tournament details:

Host country    :  France
Dates               : 4 June – 19 June
Teams              :15 (from 4 confederations)
Venue(s)          :10 (in 10 host cities)

Final positions:

Champions       Italy (2nd title)
Runner-up        Hungary
Third place       Brazil
Fourth place     Sweden

Tournament statistics:

Matches played     18
Goals scored     84 (4.67 per match)
Attendance     483,000 (26,833 per match)
Top scorer(s)     Brazil Leônidas (7 goals)

Venues:

Ten cities hosted the tournament:

    *     Antibes, Stade du Fort Carré.
    *     Bordeaux, Parc Lescure.
    *     Le Havre, Stade Cavée Verte.
    *     Lille, Stade Victor Boucquey.
    *     Lyon, Stade Gerland (the only match there was cancelled).
    *     Marseille, Stade Vélodrome.
    *     Paris, Parc des Princes and Stade Olympique de Colombes.
    *     Reims, Vélodrome Municipal.
    *     Strasbourg, Stade de la Meinau.
    *    Toulouse, Stade Chapou.



1938 World cup Match Details

The first round scores were (half time scores in brackets):

Switzerland 1 (1) - Germany 1 (1) after extra time.
Switzerland 4 (1) - Germany 2 (2) replay
Cuba 3 (1) - Rumania 3 (1) after extra time.
Cuba 2 (0) - Rumania 1 (1) replay
Hungary 6 (4) - Dutch East Indies 0 (0)
France 3 (2) - Belgium 1 (1)
Czechoslovakia 3 (0) - Netherlands 0 (0)
Brazil 6 (3) - Poland 5 (1)
Italy 2 (1) - Norway 1 (0)

The second round scores were (half time scores in brackets):

Sweden 8 (4) - Cuba 0 (0)
Hungary 2(1)- Switzerland 0 (0)
Italy 3(1) - France 1(1)
Brazil 1 (1) - Czechoslovakia 1 (0) after extra time.
Brazil 2 (0) - Czechoslovakia 1 (1) replay


The semi-final scores were (half time scores in brackets):

Italy 2(0) - Brazil 1 (0)
Hungary 5 (3) - Sweden 1 (1)

The final scores:

World Cup final, played on 19 June 1938 in Paris.

Italy 4 (3) - Hungary 2 (1)

Finalist Players:

Italy       : Olivieri, Foni, Rava, Serantoni, Andreoli, Locatelli, Biavati, Meazza, Piola, Ferrari, Colaussi.

Hungary  : Szabo, Polgar, Biro, Szaly, Szucs, Lazar, Saz, Vincze, Sarosi, Zsengeller, Titkos.

Final Scorers:
Italy : Colaussi (2), Piola (2).
Hungary: Titkos (1), Sarosi (1).
Italy Champion World Cup 1934

Notes:
Leading goalscorers:
Total goals scored 84
Number of matches 18
An average of 4.67 goals per game.

Summary of 1938 World Cup: 





A total of 37 teams entered the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. For the first time the title holders and the host country were given automatic qualification. Therefore, France, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

FIFA WORLD CUP 1934

The 1934 FIFA World Cup, or the World's Cup as it was known then, was the second football World Cup staged, and hosted by Italy from 27 May to 10 June. Italy was chosen as hosts by FIFA at the Stockholm congress of October 1932. It was the first World Cup for which teams would have to qualify in order to take part. 32 nations entered the competition, and after qualification, 16 teams participated in the finals tournament. Italy became the second World Cup champions, beating Czechoslovakia in the final, 2–1.

Tournament details

* Host country  :Italy

*Teams            :16 (from 4 confederations) 

* When            : 27 May 1934 to 10 June 1934

*Venue(s)        :8 (in 8 host cities)

 

 Final positions

          # Winner             : Italy
          # Runners-Up     : Czechoslovakia
          # Third                : Germany
          # Fourth              : Austria

          # Golden Shoe     : Oldrich NEJEDLY (TCH)

           

Tournament statistics

Matches played :17
Goals scored     :70 (4.12 per match)
Attendance       :358,000 (21,059 per match)
Top scorer(s)    :Czechoslovakia Oldřich Nejedlý (5 goals) 

The Stadium of the National Fascist Party was the venue for the final. With 70 minutes played, the Czechoslovakians were ahead 1-0. The Italians managed to score before the final whistle, and then added another goal in extra time to be crowned World Cup Winners.

Woods chooses the safe route for return

Tiger Woods announced Tuesday he will end his self-imposed, adultery-inspired hiatus from golf by returning to play in the Masters.

“After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta,” Tiger Woods said in a statement.


Tiger Woods will seek a more genteel gallery, tighter media control and the calm grounds of Augusta National from April 8-11 over the potentially more rambunctious and unpredictable Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks prior.

Tiger Woods, 34, has twice returned from long layoffs to play in major championships. Following the death of his father, Earl, in 2006, Tiger took nine weeks away from the PGA Tour, returned to the U.S. Open at New York’s Winged Foot and struggled mightily. Woods missed the cut at a major for the first time since 1996, when he was just 20.

In 2008, he sat out two months due to a knee injury before the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger  won a dramatic 91-hole victory, outdueling Rocco Mediate in one of Tiger’ most memorable triumphs. Woods had knee surgery soon after and missed the final two majors of the season.

This return isn’t like either of those. While the time off to mourn his father’s death was his own choice, his return garnered mass sympathy and support from fans. Tiger will no doubt have fans among the patrons of Augusta, but he is also stepping back into the spotlight after starring in one of the all-time tabloid scandals.

His mental state in dealing with that spotlight is the question. Whatever kinks Tiger needs to work on his game will be less of a concern, although still a factor. Augusta is unforgiving in the best of times.

Tiger was free to return to golf at any point. Woods knows he will have to deal with uncertainty, taunts and just sheer discomfort.


“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play,” Tiger Woods said.

David Beckham arrives in Finland for surgery on injured Achilles' tendon

TURKU, Finland — David Beckham checked into a Finnish hospital Monday for surgery on David Beckham torn left Achilles tendon, hoping for a "swift and full recovery" from an injury that is expected to keep him out of the World Cup.

"I am upset but (want) to thank everyone for their messages of support," Beckham said in a statement posted on his personal website before his arrival. "I hope to make a swift and full recovery."

The 34-year-old former England captain was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday.

With his hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups shattered and his future in international soccer in doubt, Beckham was scheduled to be operated on either later Monday or Tuesday morning by specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.

"It was the player's decision," Gandini told The Associated Press on Monday. "It's the player who decides for his own health, and the player's decision was to go to Finland where there is a surgeon who specializes in these injuries."

Gandini added that no post-surgery plans had been made, but that Beckham's career is not at risk.

Federer Advances at Indian Wells

Top-ranked Roger Federer had to work a little harder than expected before beating Victor Hanescu of Romania, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Hanescu won a set from Federer for the first time in their five meetings, but his hopes were dashed quickly in the final set.
Straight Sets

New York Times bloggers follow every serve and volley down under at the 2010 Australian Open.








Federer, who was playing his first match since winning the Australian Open on Jan. 31, will face 27th-seeded Marcos Baghdatis in the third round.

Els tops countryman to end long drought

They call him the Big Easy because of a graceful swing that looks as if it requires so little effort.

Yet Ernie Els worked harder than ever Sunday to win the CA Championship in Doral, Fla.

Two years without a victory - the longest drought of  Yet Ernie career - and playing with all the pressure against a South African protege whom he helped groom for such a stage, Els played the final 23 holes without a bogey on the Blue Monster and closed with a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory over Charl Schwartzel.

Els looked every bit like his nickname as he sauntered toward the 18th green, raising his cap to the crowd with an easy smile. It was as much relief as it was satisfaction.

"I'm 40 years old. I've had a tough run," Els said. "Whew! The hairs are standing up. It's just great."

Els returned to among the elite in golf at No. 8 in the world and became only the fifth player to win multiple times in the World Golf Championships, joining Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, Geoff Ogilvy and Phil Mickelson.

It didn't come easily.

Els worked on his swing until twilight in the days leading up to Doral, then put it to the test in a final round that was far closer than the margin suggested.

Schwartzel, a 25-year-old who took part in Els' junior program in South Africa and was his mentor's houseguest the last two weeks, never backed down.

"I didn't think it was ever going to happen again," Els said. "But I felt all week that the work that I did, that I finally had to trust it at some stage, and there's no better day to really test yourself.

"I just wanted to prove to myself for once. Charl came at me all day. I had to come up with the goods."

Els was clinging to a one-shot lead when he stood over a 25-foot par putt on the 14th hole, relieved to see it fall on the final turn. It was the pivotal moment in the tournament, the kind that Els had been missing since 2008.

Els finished at 18-under 270 for his 61st win worldwide and 17th on the PGA Tour.

Rudy Gay scored 28 points as the Grizzlies picked up

Memphis 111, at Boston 91: Rudy Gay scored 28 points as the Grizzlies picked up their franchise-record seventh straight road win.

at San Antonio 97, New York 87: Manu Ginobili scored 28 points in the Spurs' win over the Knicks, who are assured of a team-record ninth straight losing season.

at Oklahoma City 98, New Orleans 83: Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Russell Westbrook added 17 points and came up just shy of a triple-double for the Thunder.




at Oklahoma City 98, New Orleans 83: Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Russell Westbrook added 17 points and came up just shy of a triple-double for the Thunder.

Utah 115, at Detroit 104: Deron Williams had 18 points and 12 assists for the Jazz,
which posted its 10th straight victory over the Pistons.