Brazil 1970

The hardest thing to watch in football has to be watching your talented side get drubbed. And that is exactly what happened to Italy in the 1970 World Cup final. I am happy that I was only 3 years old at the time, and my passion for the game and the Italian National team were still a few years from sprouting…

To begin with, this team had the world’s best player (ever, mind you) in Pele. Not the 16 year old, supremely talented but wide eyed youth who dropped jaws at the 1962 World Cup. No, this was a supremely confident, more mature artist who had learned to use his mind and take full advantage of the enormous talent Brazil had managed to assemble around him. This man was now so remarkably unstoppable that a strong Italian defense would bow to his greatness. But back to that “talent players surround him” thing…

The names Jairzinho, Rivelino, Gerson, Carlos Alberto and Tostao garner regular mentions in the “best player” or “best player at this position ever” discussions you hear at bars and coffee houses around the world. Along with Pele, they formed the nucleus of what many consider the best national team side in the history of the game. At the very least, they were the best attacking side of all those to have participated in a World Cup.

This team had won all 6 of their qualifiers before the tournament began. They then proceeded to win the first 6 games of the tournament itself. But the next test would be tough, because the team they were to face was like to kryptonite to Superman. It was a solid, talented, DEFENSIVE side. Surely Italy could slow down this squads’ assault on opponent’s goals, no? No.

Reading about that World Cup is like doing research on Brazilian football. Italy’s high points in the match are rarely mentioned. Brazil’s are highlighted. Both are deserved. In a 4-1 final, Pele opened the scoring and assisted on 2 other goals to cement his place as a big game superstar and a player without peer, even 40 years later. But the 1970 World Cup was not about a single player, but of a nation which loved football with a passion and played it beautifully. And efficiently. Ask any Italian (or at least those a few years older than yours truly).

Enjoy the Games!

Jerrito

Brazil 1970

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