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| They could have been teammates in 1966 and 1970. |
Brazil, Portugal,
Sweden World Cup1950, Argentina World Cup 1958, Scotland World Cup 1970
United Kingdom World Cup 1970, England World Cup 1974
United Kingdom World Cup1982, Yugoslavia World Cup 1994
Germany World Cup 2002
Netherlands World Cup 2002, USA World Cup 2010
Brazil 1982 with Careca, Reinaldo etc
Ghana World Cup 2022
In 1960, Eusebio was discovered by Brazil international footballer Bauer who wanted him to join Sao Paulo, but Sao Paulo did not want to buy him. What if he went to Brazil? Again, I do not know Brazilian immigration law in 1960. According to the modern Brazilian law, he could become a Brazilian citizen in 4 years. He would have been eligible to play for Brazil by 1964.
Note: Mozambique did not play its first game until 1975 when it became independence.
Question marks?
-- I don't know if Brazil would cap a foreign-born player in 1964. Portuguese-born Casemiro do Amaral played 6 times for Brazil between 1916 and 1917 while Sidney Pullen who was born in England played for Brazil around the same time. Then, Italian-born Francisco Police played for Brazil in 1918. Russo "Adolpho Milman" played once for Brazil in 1942. His birthplace is still a question mark, but he was definitely not born in Brazil. Finally, Andreas Pereira was capped by Brazil in 2018.
Eusebio with Brazil in 1966
-- But imagine Brazil with Garrincha, Pele, Eusebio?
-- Can Brazil win the World Cup in 1966 with Eusebio? Portugal and Brazil fought an epic march in the 1966 World Cup Finals. Eusebio had a legendary performance. Pele was injured during the march and the two-time defending champion Brazil was eliminated. Portugal later advanced all the way to the semi-final before being eliminated by England. While Brazil was talented in 1966, I actually believed Portugal had a better supporting cast for Eusebio in 1966. Pele was injured on the first game while playing against Bulgaria. He did not play against Hungary, in which Brazil also lost. Garrincha was 32 years old in 1966. DJ Santos was 37. Meanwhile, Portugal also featured Mario Coluna, António Simões, Germano, Jose Torres and Jose Augusto. Eusebio probably would have a better team with Portugal.
How about Eusebio in 1970?
-- Portugal failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals. In fact, they finished last in their Qualifying group behind Romania, Greece and Switzerland.
-- Brazil of the 1970 World Cup team is known as one of the greatest teams in World Cup history. They played the most beautiful football ever. It was a team full of playmakers. Eusebio would have replaced Tostão on the line-up. Tostão was playing the number 9 position. In actuality, he was a "false 9". Brazil's winning formula in 1970 was about him moving around so that Pele and Jairzinho could score. Without Tostão, the team probably would lose an important element.
Formation
I doubt that Eusebio would be effective as a false 9. So he is playing a classic 9 with Pele playing as a support striker.
What if Eusebio became Italian?
How about Eusebio playing for Italy? In 1957, Juventus discovered Eusebio when he was 15 years. Eusebio's mother did not want his son to move to Italy. What if he headed over to Italy?
Question marks?
-- I don't know the Italian law in 1957. He was not an Italian so he could not become an "oriundo". Let's assume that he became an Italian citizen around 1962. What would happen?
-- Serie A banned foreign players by 1964. What would happen to Eusebio?
In 1960, Eusebio was discovered by Brazil international footballer Bauer who wanted him to join Sao Paulo, but Sao Paulo did not want to buy him. What if he went to Brazil? Again, I do not know Brazilian immigration law in 1960. According to the modern Brazilian law, he could become a Brazilian citizen in 4 years. He would have been eligible to play for Brazil by 1964.
Note: Mozambique did not play its first game until 1975 when it became independence.
Question marks?
-- I don't know if Brazil would cap a foreign-born player in 1964. Portuguese-born Casemiro do Amaral played 6 times for Brazil between 1916 and 1917 while Sidney Pullen who was born in England played for Brazil around the same time. Then, Italian-born Francisco Police played for Brazil in 1918. Russo "Adolpho Milman" played once for Brazil in 1942. His birthplace is still a question mark, but he was definitely not born in Brazil. Finally, Andreas Pereira was capped by Brazil in 2018.
Eusebio with Brazil in 1966
-- But imagine Brazil with Garrincha, Pele, Eusebio?
-- Can Brazil win the World Cup in 1966 with Eusebio? Portugal and Brazil fought an epic march in the 1966 World Cup Finals. Eusebio had a legendary performance. Pele was injured during the march and the two-time defending champion Brazil was eliminated. Portugal later advanced all the way to the semi-final before being eliminated by England. While Brazil was talented in 1966, I actually believed Portugal had a better supporting cast for Eusebio in 1966. Pele was injured on the first game while playing against Bulgaria. He did not play against Hungary, in which Brazil also lost. Garrincha was 32 years old in 1966. DJ Santos was 37. Meanwhile, Portugal also featured Mario Coluna, António Simões, Germano, Jose Torres and Jose Augusto. Eusebio probably would have a better team with Portugal.
How about Eusebio in 1970?
-- Portugal failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals. In fact, they finished last in their Qualifying group behind Romania, Greece and Switzerland.
-- Brazil of the 1970 World Cup team is known as one of the greatest teams in World Cup history. They played the most beautiful football ever. It was a team full of playmakers. Eusebio would have replaced Tostão on the line-up. Tostão was playing the number 9 position. In actuality, he was a "false 9". Brazil's winning formula in 1970 was about him moving around so that Pele and Jairzinho could score. Without Tostão, the team probably would lose an important element.
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| Brazil 1970 |
Formation
I doubt that Eusebio would be effective as a false 9. So he is playing a classic 9 with Pele playing as a support striker.
What if Eusebio became Italian?
How about Eusebio playing for Italy? In 1957, Juventus discovered Eusebio when he was 15 years. Eusebio's mother did not want his son to move to Italy. What if he headed over to Italy?
Question marks?
-- I don't know the Italian law in 1957. He was not an Italian so he could not become an "oriundo". Let's assume that he became an Italian citizen around 1962. What would happen?
-- Would the Italians select a Black player to their national team in 1960's? Italy did not cap a Black player until 2001.
-- Imagine Italy with Riveria, Mozzola, Facchetti, Zoff, Riva and Eusebio throughout the 1960's?-- Serie A banned foreign players by 1964. What would happen to Eusebio?
Thanks for sharing this articles.
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