Throwback Thursday: The First FIFA World Cup Final

This article originally appeared on VICE Sports UK

In 1966, the Uruguay coach Ondino Viera opined: "Other countries have their history. Uruguay has its football." This small South American nation is not the only one to make such a statement, but there is reason to believe they have the firmest claim to it. As the sociologist David Goldblatt explains, "It is difficult to underestimate the degree to which [Uruguay's] national identity and pride became tied to the fate of the national team."

In this young nation, football success was more than just a badge of honour to pin to a grander tapestry of historical triumphs. It was proof that Uruguay existed, that it had a significant role to play in the modern world. Brazil and Argentina had identifiable histories that allowed them to shape distinct forms of nationalism in the 20th century; in Uruguay, football played this role.

On this day in 1930, one of the most important chapters in that history was written: Uruguay won the first ever FIFA World Cup, on home soil in Montevideo, with a 4-2 victory over neighbours Argentina. 85 years on La Celeste remain a power in global football, and could perhaps be described as the best pound-for-pound side in the world (their population is still just 3.3 million).

By 1930 Uruguay were already acclaimed as a great footballing nation — they had won gold at the 1924 and '28 Olympic Games — but this was conclusive proof that they were the best of the best. That they beat their neighbours Argentina to clinch the trophy made it all the sweeter.

During the early years of the 20th century, Uruguay had been the first country to field black players on the national team. José Leandro Andrade, the son of a former slave and the first black footballer in the Olympic games, had been the star of their 1928 victory, and was also part of the World Cup squad.

Both countries had simple routes to the final, aided by the fact that several powerhouse European nations had refused to travel to South America for the tournament. Uruguay won their three-team group with two wins, beating Peru 1-0, and then trouncing Romania 4-0. Their semi-final was an even more one-sided affair, with the hosts putting six past Yugoslavia (the European side had taken the lead on four minutes, but a Pedro Cea hat-trick, two from Peregrino Anselmo and one from Santos Iriarte, made for a comfortable result).

Argentina were equally impressive on their way to the final. Having lost out to Uruguay in the '28 Olympic final — it took a replay, and then a narrow 2-1 win for La Celeste — they were no doubt keen to put their tiny, upstart neighbours back in their place.

Their semi-final was played against the United States, whose squad featured a liberal smattering of Scottish players (though it was Massachusetts-born Bert Patenaude who made history by scoring the first ever World Cup hat-trick). Whatever the makeup of the team, Argentina had far too much for the U.S. side, matching Uruguay by running out 6-1 winners. Three of the Argentina goals, as well as the U.S. consolation strike, came within the last 10 minutes.

That set up a dream final, with huge excitement generated on both sides. 10 packed boats were chartered to take fans across the River Plate from Buenos Aries to Montevideo, with a huge crowd waving them goodbye and fireworks set off to mark the departure.

Kick-off was scheduled for 2pm on the afternoon of July 30th, with the gates to the Estadio Centenario opened at 8am. The stadium was full by midday, with in excess of 90,000 fans ready to witness the first edition of the most important match in world football.

The Argentina squad arrived with a mounted police escort. There was an argument over which ball to use, with both demanding one of native manufacture. The referee tossed a coin, and Argentina won. It would not be the good omen they had hoped.

Writing in The Story of the World Cup, Brain Glanville called the final an 'exciting and surprisingly good tempered game.' Uruguay led on 12 minutes thanks to Pablo Dorado, but Argentina quickly pulled level through Carlos Peucelle and, 10 minutes from half-time, went in front via Guillermo Stábile. Uruguay captain José Nasazzi strongly believed the goal to have been offside, but the referee — Belgium's John Langenus — was unmoved. Any notions of favouritism for the home side were extinguished.

The second half was a more one-sided affair. 10 minutes in Cea struck to level the scores, before Iriarte put the hosts in front on 68 minutes. Uruguay now played with greater freedom and added a final goal in the 89th minute, with Héctor Castro putting the game to bed.

The next day was declared a national holiday in Uruguay, while in Buenos Aries the Uruguayan consulate was stoned by an angry mob.

But this would be Uruguay's last World Cup involvement for 20 years. They declined to participate at the 1934 tournament in Italy, angry that several European nations had refused to travel to their country for the inaugural tournament. As such, they are the only side not to defend the World Cup. They reused to enter again in 1938, when France hosted, but returned for Brazil 1950 and won perhaps the most famous game in their history, beating the hosts 2-1 in the final.

Argentina's wait would be far longer: it was 1978 before they won the tournament, and this came in contentious circumstances with their victory on home soil allegedly aided by the ruling military junta. Eight years later they won it again, this time aided by the brilliance of Diego Maradona.

The last surviving player from the inaugural final died on August 30, 2010. Francisco Varallo of Argentina was just 20 years of age at the first World Cup, and the youngest man on the pitch that day in Montevideo. In an interview with FIFA ahead of his 100th birthday, Varallo confessed that the defeat still haunted him eight decades on.

"With all due respect for my teammates, we weren't gutsy enough," recalled Varallo.

"How I cried that day. Even now when I look back, it still makes me angry."

The global importance of the game has increased exponentially since 1930. But, even at the World Cup's first outing, the difference between winning and losing meant the same to those on the pitch — it meant the world.