The Haitian hero who humiliated England in Brazil’50

faced with FIFA For many years, the English federation agreed to participate Brazil’50 and he suffered one of the worst disappointments in the history of world football. A Haitian, in the range of USAhe scored their first goal in a World Cup in the group stage, it was a defeat and, after losing to Spain of Zara (1-0), stay in the next round. An absolute shame.

Chosen at the last minute

Joseph Edouard Gaetjens (March/19/1924) came from a wealthy family of German descent from an affluent area in port au prince. In 1947, at the age of 23, he got a scholarship from the government of Haiti study accounting in Columbia University in New York. Like other immigrants, he must supplement the scholarship with a job, and he takes care of the dishwasher at the restaurant Rudy’s Cafe. Power of Eugene ‘Rudy’ Diazalso a team owner, the BrookhattanHe is tired of scoring goals. This fact does not go unnoticed by the North American soccer federation, which is desperately looking for players to participate in Brazil World Cup 1950.

Even Gaetjens He played two friendly matches Haiti, the promise that he will become an American citizen after the appointment is the only validity the Federation needs to place a player on the list. The team already includes two players who were acquired at the last moment: Joseph Macaborn in Belgium Y ed mclvenny, Scottish. A selection of rookies included in group 2 along with England, chilli Y Spain.

‘The Miracle Match’

USA debuted in Brazil’50 on June 25 before Spain. Although they lost 3-1, they dominated the scoring from the 17th minute with a goal from Pariani and the Spaniards did not come back until 81 with a goal from name. Then came many Trash Y Zara. For their part, the English faced chilli win 2-0. There is a record after the second world war of 23 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, England Arrived at Brazil with results as convincing as 4-0 against the Italians and a 10-0 against the Portuguese.

June 29 USA jump onto the stadium pitch Independence of Belo Horizonte with the conviction of accepting as few goals as possible. The stalking that England put in the goal of Frank Borghi within the first half hour of the game it gets boring. As many as six times the English shots rejected the sticks. But the 38th minute came and a high shot from Walter Bahr made to bert williams of the bow but did not rely on it Gaetjens he will rise up with his hands and lightly squeeze the ball to send it into the back of the net.

In the second half, England proceeded to torpedo, without success, the purpose of Borghesewho is actually a baseball player from Missouri, who doesn’t know how to play with his feet, but unhinged the Englishman with his saves. The match ended 1-0 and was called ‘The Miracle Match’.

A newspaper error

English, aware of the difficulties the North American federation went through to put together a decent team that included players of other nationalities, did not give credit. They jokingly argued that the players were taken directly from Ellis Islandthe gateway for immigrants from New York. English fans, the next morning, had a hard time seeing the result. They read 1-0 in the newspapers and word spread that it was a typographical error, that they finished 10-0 (with an English victory, of course). On the same day, the English cricket team was defeated for the first time by East Indies. A black day for English sport.

england in navy blue

Disarmed by such a humiliating defeat, he lost again, again Spainin the next game on Maracana ending his first World Cup appearance. England the match was played against USA in navy blue. A uniform they wore in 1930 and wore again in 1959 in a loss against Peru. Blue has been put off as the first kit forever.

The talented Joe, meanwhile, made a short stint in the French league but an injury kept him off the pitch.

He returned to Haiti where he opened several businesses and trained children, but in 1964, several members of the dictator’s paramilitary group. ‘Dad Doc’ DuvalierThe ‘Uncle Macouote’, they locked him up Fort Sunday where he never came from and his body was never found.