The English last won the WC in 1966. Bobby Moore’s side beat W.Germany, 4-2. Since then it has been an exercise in futlity for the English. On the other hand, Brazil have won the WC five times and is the reigning champion having won the 2002 WC. In the last WC showdown in 2002, Brazil beat England and David Beckham 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Brazil have won 60 matches in the World Cup, the most by any country.
But the country that was instrumental in bringing soccer to Brazil was England. Surely, they must be rueing the day they did.
A certain Charles Miller, an Englishman born in Brazil in 1874, educated in England and played for Southampton, brought shirts, balls and boots back to Brazil with him when he returned there in 1894. The first official soccer match was played in São Paulo at the Várzea do Carmo in 1894. It was an immediate success. On the 18th August 1898 the first official club team was formed by the Associação Atlética of Mackenzie College in São Paulo. After this, enthusiasm spread like wildfire and soccer was soon being played all over Brazil. Only three years later, in 1901, the São Paulo league was formed. The first British team to play in Brazil were a group of Oxford and Cambridge players, the Corinthians XI, in 1910 which inspired the formation of what is one of the most popular teams in Brazil, the Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
I think England sports a really strong side in this World Cup with fresh talent like Wayne Rooney, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, and some seasoned campaigners like David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Sol Campbell who will probably carry their side far but they will still lose to Brazil notwithstanding this optimistic prediction.
Semi-Final 2 Wednesday 5th July 2000 hrs in Munich – England v Brazil
A repeat of 4 years ago, however this time around Sven’s men would have done their homework. It will be an epic encounter, however with European climate on England’s side, and with key players being more experienced now, England will reach the Final, to face Holland.
Right! Dream on England!
Read more on the origin of soccer in Brazil
One comment on “The soccer story: Brazil prospers, England languishes”
Of course the British always talk a lot, and then fail on the field. Just look at Beckham – disgraceful.