Posted on 06/28/2008 11:34:35 AM PDT by WesternCulture
Brazil honoured the great Pele on Thursday and the other eight surviving players from its maiden FIFA World Cup™ triumph in 1958, a victory that put the nation on the football map and paved the way for four more titles.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gave the nine men medals of honour at a banquet dedicated to their 5-2 final victory over hosts Sweden 50 years ago.
"You helped us understand...we could make Brazil a winner," Lula told the players at the ceremony.
Brazil, the most successful football nation with five FIFA World Cup titles, is now in a footballing trough with coach Dunga's men fifth in regional qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Dunga was jeered after the team stuttered to a 0-0 draw with Argentina last week and he has come under pressure to resign following a run of poor results.
Keen on remembering better days, television and newspapers have been running specials on the anniversary celebrations.
Long obsessed with the 'beautiful game', Brazilians can also now boast about being a major emerging market with growing diplomatic clout.
But before securing its first FIFA World Cup, Brazil was a sleeping giant.
Players recalled how the Brazilian flag was the only one of the 16 competing nations not to have been raised as they arrived in Sweden.
"In the 1950s Brazil was little known abroad, many thought Buenos Aires was our capital. After the Cup everything changed, we won international respect," said Djalma Santos, a defender who played in four FIFA World Cups.
Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, was 17 when he burst on to the world stage with six goals in four games in Sweden.
He enchanted the crowds and helped clinch the first FIFA World Cup for a country outside its own continent.
With other big names such as Garrincha, Zagalo, Didi and Vava, Brazil's 1958 squad are considered by many to have been the best ever.
"These gentlemen taught us how to play as a team with technique and beauty," said Bengt Agren, who represented the Swedish football federation at Thursday's ceremony and organised the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
In a special session on Wednesday, Congress also honoured its soccer heroes.
The 1958 team "turned Brazil's most popular sport into an art recognised by the entire world", said Senator Sergio Zambiasi.
An exhibition entitled "Heroes of 58, Shoes of the Homeland" in Brasilia's modernist presidential palace recalls how Brazil eliminated Wales in the quarter-finals and thrashed France 5-2 in the semi-finals.
Amid the celebrations, Pele offered a word of caution on the prospects of winning a sixth FIFA World Cup.
"Brazilians have got used to winning a lot and now they need to have patience," he said.
I feel like there was a level of excitement about the NASL that’s missing from the MLS. But, that may just be the result of being older and the fact that I can get top shelf soccer from the EPL on television, which makes the MLS look like high school.
Plus, the Cosmos (#@$$#@$ NY) were possibly the best team in the world.
Still, there’s nothing like international competition involving European teams with something on the line. Tomorrow’s match should be great.
I agree that Germany is the prototype for team play. The German side is much stronger as a team than a group of individuals.
And yet, this Spanish team doesn’t play like the typical Latin team. Torres may be their greatest raw individual talent (though he hasn’t been especially productive during the Euro), but he seems to be a team player. For example, against Italy I think) I saw him center a ball when he had a chance for a goal to the near post (bad angle, though). While I prefer strikers to drive the ball whenever they get a glimmer of space, Torres made a “team” move, not a “me” move.
Since I don’t watch La Liga, I haven’t seen Villa before. He looks like a pure striker. Impressive play. However, the Fox Soccer Channel just reported that Villa won’t play. This means Torres needs to step up and Güiza will probably get more time.
Anyway, I thought the Spanish side showed a lot of controlled passing, coupled with individual brilliance. Add their speed advantage over Germany and that’s a dangerous formula. Spain also showed a lot of disciplined defense.
BTW, I just saw a report that Ljungberg is retiring from international play, though he’ll keep playing for West Ham.
It still amazes me everytime I watch it.
- Very true - and in this department many teams fail. Especially teams blessed with tons of individual quality. Germany does not, despite their obvious resources of talent player wise and therefore they are dangerous like hell.
On the other hand, Spain is not to be underestimated. This time round, we've seen a different Spain. Like you put it:
“And yet, this Spanish team doesn’t play like the typical Latin team.”
No they don't. I see much more of structure, dogged determination and team effort than Spain usually manifest.
“BTW, I just saw a report that Ljungberg is retiring from international play, though he’ll keep playing for West Ham.”
- Nice to find out people outside of Sweden notice these kind of things. Anyhow, a mature decision I'd say. Ljungberg is a true fighter, but after having been viciously attacked on the left flank for ages, it's perfectly understandable that he now agrees to do so only in Premier League.
In any case, both Germany and Spain deserves to win. I'm convinced this match will be one worth watching.
Summer greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden!
Yep. The guy’s feet have fingers.
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