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The 1950 British Home Championship was one of the most important editions of the British Home Championship football tournament to be held, because for the first time the Home Nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were competing in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, for which the Home Championship was intended to be a qualifying round from which the top two teams would qualify for the finals. The Home Nations had up until this point refused to become involved in the growing politics of world football, considering themselves a class above foreign teams and international competition. As the inventors of the game and reputedly the best in the world England were the favourites to lift the tournament before they had even qualified.
The Championship went as expected, with England comfortably coming in first and Scotland second, Ireland in particular receiving heavy defeats from both neighbours in the process. However, when the English beat the Scots and thus clinched first place, the Scottish FA refused the opportunity to attend the finals in Brazil, claiming that it was a consolation spot and thus below their dignity. The French were offered their position at the tournament but turned it down at the last minute after a scheduling mix-up, meaning that Engand travelled to Brazil alone. There they suffered defeats to Spain and amazingly the United States, returing to a shocked nation.
The points system worked as follows:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
[edit] Results
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
