Where is the ball?
That June 17 th of 1970 was an extremely warm day in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ladislao – nicknamed “Chiquito” (tiny) – Mazurkiewitz, was about to experience the most memorable moment in his long and successful football career. And, in that historical moment, him, probably the best South American goalie of all times, would play a secondary role. “It is really frustrating; we were up 1-0 and I just received the 1-3. Our dream to get to the final is gone… Why are these Brazilians still hungry? Didn’t they get enough? Oh no! Another loss in the mid-field… Jairzinho gets the ball and tries to dribble, then passes to Tostão. Danger!” Uruguay was playing Brazil in the semi-finals of the Mexico 70 World Cup. For Brazil this was a chance for catharsis. The country was suffocating under a cruel dictatorship and the memory of the “Maracanaço” was, despite 20 years old, still vivid in the Brazilians hearts and minds. That had been the darkest moment in Brazil’s football history. Uruguay’s victory...