tactical soccer slotted ball runs into the box

He also neglected Rivellino and Médici’s personal favourite striker, Dario.

Most controversially and to much of Brazil’s dismay, Saldanha saw no logic in starting both of Brazil’s deadliest attackers, Pelé and Tostão (humorously nicknamed the ‘White Pelé’). They had won all their games in the qualifying rounds despite the manager, João Saldanha, failing to accommodate all the star names in his line-up. With the 1970 World Cup mere months away, Brazil were looking promising. Although the propaganda effectively screened his regime’s atrocities, there was a tad bit more resistance than Médici had grown used to. High on personal pride, Médici continued to interfere directly with the sport, commandeering team selection at Flamengo before attempting to do the same with the Seleção. He sanctioned the building of numerous new stadiums throughout the nation. It was a means of controlling the discontent mob, but his heavy involvement in football was rather forced nor welcome. Médici wanted his government to be seen in tandem with the national team – footballing success would mean political success. To many others, it means much, much more.

Brazilians, however, revere the national team. No political regime is wholly supported by its populace. To quell the masses, Médici found his alternative bread and circuses: football. To say there was social unease under Médici’s dictatorship would be the kindest way to phrase it. Journalists were heavily censored and dissidents, falsely accused or not, were imprisoned without trial. Under his tenure, repression and torture ran rampant. Following years of rising inflation, slow economic growth, and social unrest, Médici sought to change the climate however he deemed fit. Read | How Brazil turned Pelé into a national treasureĪssuming office in 1969, Médici wholeheartedly embraced the Brazilian military regime’s slogan, “Brasil: ame-o ou deixe-o” (Brazil: love it or leave it). Unable to serve out the rest of his term due to his health, Costa e Silva was replaced by General Emílio Garrastazú Médici. Branco’s successor, General Artur da Costa e Silva, signed in a new act that effectively dissolved Congress, enforced censorship, and further increased the president’s powers to equate to those of a dictator. Any incumbent could now change the constitution to his or her liking and fire any political figure. Castelo Branco greatly expanded the power of the presidency. The coup ousted Goulart and his contentious reforms to much of Brazil’s favour, yet plunged them into even deeper political turmoil. Ten days hence, the Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Army, Marshal Castelo Branco, was elected president by Congress. On 1 April 1964, with rebel troops already in Rio de Janeiro, Goulart thought to spare the trouble of a civil war and fled to Uruguay. Influencers dubbed him a communist and began the call for a coup d’état. Fearing that the reforms were the initial steps to join the Communist Bloc, many Brazilians and the parliament alike withdrew their support. Goulart wanted to nationalise certain industries to build a stronger domestic economy and diminish the economic rift between Brazil and the USA. His subsequent reforms greatly polarised the public. He had previously been the vice president but when the incumbent leader, Jânio Quadros, resigned from the presidency, Goulart was promoted to lead the country. In 1961, amidst much confusion, João Goulart assumed the office of president in Brazil. The festivals on the streets had surrendered to the grimmer realities of the time. The celebrations did not retire for days and star men Garrincha and Pelé, despite the latter missing most of the tournament through injury, were now heralded as national icons. Whether it be a dummy, an elastico, or a goal from the centre circle, these nigh-fantasy heroics seldom fail to astonish.īut as fans continue to drape their idols in superlatives otherwise fitting for royalty, if not the gods themselves, there is a precedent that humbles any such footballing mogul: the legendary Brazilian side of 1970.Įight years prior, at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, Brazil celebrated its second successive World Cup after defeating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final. Phenomenal teams have packed stadiums throughout history, leaving masses numbering in the thousands (and the millions tuning in) in sheer awe of their ability. There have been phenomenal players, phenomenal tricks, goals, passes, plays – we have seen it all.

Tactical soccer slotted ball runs into the box