Brazilians turn to Pele and Co’s iconic 1970 World Cup triumph to cope with coronavirus lockdown

OVER six consecutive nights last week, Brazil could sit down and enjoy Pele and his magnificent supporting cast win all of their matches in style on the way to triumph in the 1970 World Cup.

The matches featured Gerson directing operations from midfield, Clodoaldo alongside him winning the ball and driving the team forward, Carlos Alberto ready to come up like a train from right back.

Then there was Rivelino with the subtlety and power of his extraordinary left foot, Tostao bright and busy as Pele’s foil up front, and Jairzinho, such pace and power down the right, not only scoring in every game, but tipping the balance time and time again.

They truly were a great side – but so were the England team who went down 1-0 to them in the second group game.

Peru were attractive opposition in the quarter final, and gave Brazil a brief fright when they pulled back to 3-2. But there was no doubt which was the better team.

Uruguay took the lead in the semi final, and had a late chance to draw level at 2-2 before conceding the clinching goal, but the game was essentially attack against defence.

And the final against Italy was an even match in the first half – but one way traffic after the interval.

The contest with England, though, was an even struggle from start to finish, an epic clash in which both teams won the respect of the other.

I have had the chance to discuss it with Brazil’s coach Mario Zagallo and a number of the players. They have usually stressed two points; England could have won, and that was the decisive moment on the way to lifting the trophy.

Beating England meant they topped the group and had an easier path to the final, while the Europeans tired themselves out in the other half of the draw.

Watching the Brazil vs England game in context makes it clear that the reigning champions went to Mexico with an exceptional team.

Even today debate rages, not least among the players, over whether England were better in 1970 than they had been in 1966. To compare results is cruel. England, of course, were on home ground in 66.

Four years later they had to adapt their game to the fierce afternoon sun of Mexico.

They were clearly a more confident, consolidated side, not least because the likes of Alan Ball, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst were closer to their prime.

The collective idea had also been refined. Coach Sir Alf Ramsey had taken further strides with his idea of attacking full backs. Keith Newton scampered down the right – injured for the Brazil game and replaced by Tommy Wright – while Terry Cooper did likewise on the left.

This enabled the team to pack midfield, where they formed a compact block – difficult to break down, and amazingly proficient at keeping hold of the ball.

Alan Mullery had replaced Nobby Stiles as the defensive midfielder, and had more to offer, carrying out an impressive marking job on Pele while also capable of being constructive.

Bobby Moore was at his imperious best at sweeper – he almost defined defensive greatness in this game.

Some would argue that Jack Charlton was a better foil for Moore at stopper centre half than his replacement Brian Labone – but that proved to be more of an issue in the quarter final, when England lost a two-goal lead and went out to West Germany.

The more technical Labone was the safer bet against Brazil. Franny Lee had emerged as a tricky support striker, and there was, of course, the immaculate Gordon Banks between the posts.

But there was one aspect in which the team may have moved backwards. The 4-4-2 system was designed to give a platform for Bobby Charlton. But at 32 he may have lost some of his nip. The statistics tell a story.

In the 1967-68 season he scored five England goals in seven games. Thereafter in 19 matches he could only manage three, none of them against top-class opposition. He was clearly presenting less of a threat to the opposing goal.

Brazil, meanwhile, had the outstanding talent which ended up making the difference.

But England had more of the ball and at least as many clear chances – Peters headed over, Lee crashed a close range volley into the keeper, Ball clipped the bar and, most famously of all, substitute Jeff Astle rolled wide with the goal at his mercy.

England went down 1-0 to a Jairzinho goal. But there was no shame in losing to the Brazil side of 50 years ago – and pushing them so hard in the Mexican heat should be a source of pride to all involved.