Soccer in Sun and Shadow

Goal by Meazza

It was at the 1938 World Cup. In the semifinal, Italy and Brazil were risking their necks for all or nothing.

Italian striker Piola suddenly collapsed as if he’d been shot, and with the last flutter of life in his finger he pointed at Brazilian defender Domingos da Guia. The referee believed him and blew his whistle: penalty. While the Brazilians screamed to high heaven and Piola got up and dusted himself off, Giuseppe Meazza placed the ball on the firing point.

Meazza was the dandy of the picture. A short, handsome Latin lover and an elegant artilleryman of penalties, he lifted his chin to the goalkeeper like a matador before the final charge. His feet, as soft and knowing as hands, never missed. But Walter, the Brazilian keeper, was good at blocking penalty kicks and felt confident.

Meazza began his run-up and, just when he was about to execute the kick, he dropped his shorts. The crowd was stupefied and the referee nearly swallowed his whistle. But Meazza, never pausing, grabbed his pants with one hand and sent the goalkeeper, disarmed by laughter, down to defeat.

That was the goal that put Italy in the final.