# The 1970 Brazil World Cup Squad · Football Level 9: Master

Football · Level 9: Master · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-9/the-1970-brazil-world-cup-squad/)

The 1970 Brazil World Cup Squad in Football (Level 9: Master) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: saldanha and the qualifiers; and more.

The 1970 World Cup winners in detail: Saldanha and Zagallo, the preparation in Mexico, every match from the group to the final, and the players who made the side.

## Test 1: Saldanha and the qualifiers

- Saldanha had coached Botafogo briefly in the 1950s, but he was best known as an outspoken journalist and broadcaster. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Saldanha named his players on appointment and called them his 'feras', the beasts, a label the press took up. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil won every qualifier in August 1969, scoring 23 goals and conceding two. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The Cruzeiro forward scored ten of Brazil's 23 qualifying goals, more than Pelé. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil played each of the three home and away in August 1969; Paraguay were the closest challengers. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Saldanha is quoted as saying the president picked his ministers and he picked his team; Dario did go to Mexico under Zagallo. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Saldanha was dismissed in March 1970 after rows over selection, and Zagallo took the side to Mexico. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Saldanha was appointed in February 1969, the qualifiers ran through August 1969 and Zagallo came in in March 1970. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Feola's side went out in the 1966 group stage; Saldanha rebuilt it in 1969 and Zagallo finished the job. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Pelé scored the only goal in front of a crowd of more than 180,000, one of the largest the Maracanã has held. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 2: Zagallo's squad and the defence

- Félix played every minute of the finals; Ado and Leão were the reserves. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Félix spent the best years of his career at Fluminense in Rio. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Piazza's reading of the game and passing let Zagallo field another ball-player at the back. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brito of Flamengo was the stopper; Bellini, Djalma Santos and Orlando belonged to the 1958 and 1962 sides. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- They let in one against Czechoslovakia, two each against Romania and Peru, and one each against Uruguay and Italy. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Carlos Alberto joined Santos in 1966 and captained Brazil from right-back in Mexico. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Clodoaldo, born in 1949, was the youngest regular in the side and its most disciplined midfielder. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Gylmar won in 1958 and 1962, Félix in 1970, Taffarel in 1994 and Marcos in 2002. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Bellini lifted it in 1958, Mauro in 1962, Carlos Alberto in 1970 and Cafu in 2002. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Everaldo of Grêmio, who wore 16, played on the left of the back four. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 3: Preparing for Mexico

- Several venues sat well above sea level and games kicked off at midday, so the staff wanted time to adapt. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Feola, who had won the 1958 title, was back in charge for the defence of the trophy in England. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Defeats by Hungary and Portugal, with Pelé kicked out of the tournament, ended their defence early. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Parreira was a young fitness coach in 1970 and led Brazil to the 1994 title as head coach. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Admildo Chirol led the preparation; Captain Coutinho, an army officer, brought Kenneth Cooper's fitness testing into the squad's work. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Kenneth Cooper's test was new in the late 1960s; the beep and yo-yo tests came years later. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Mexico 1970 was the first World Cup shown live in colour, although few Brazilian homes had colour sets. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The altitude camp came first; the group, quarter-final and semi-final were then all played in Guadalajara. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Guadalajara sits at about 1,550 m, León about 1,800 m, Mexico City about 2,240 m and Toluca about 2,660 m. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil spent their first weeks in Mexico at altitude in Guanajuato before moving to Guadalajara for the group. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 4: The group in Guadalajara

- Petráš scored after 11 minutes and celebrated by crossing himself in front of the crowd. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- His left-footed free kick bent round the wall, the first of his three goals in the finals. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Rivelino, Pelé and Jairzinho with two turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 win. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Tostão worked the ball to Pelé, who laid it into Jairzinho's path on the hour. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Three wins at two points each; three points for a win arrived much later. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Astle came off the bench and shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil played five of their six matches at the Jalisco; the Azteca was in Mexico City, the Nou Camp in León. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- They were played on 3, 7 and 10 June 1970. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Pelé and Jairzinho scored inside the first half hour, Dumitrache replied, Pelé added a third and Dembrovschi made it 3-2. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Banks scrambled across from his near post to push Pelé's downward header over the bar, the save Pelé himself praised. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 5: Peru and Uruguay

- Didi, the midfielder of the 1958 and 1962 sides, had built a lively Peru team. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- An open, attacking match in Guadalajara on 14 June 1970. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Tostão's two goals were his only ones of the finals; Rivelino and Jairzinho scored the others. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Cubillas scored Peru's second goal; Alberto Gallardo got the first. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The memory of the 1950 Maracanazo hung over the tie, twenty years on. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Cubilla's mishit shot crept in after 19 minutes and Brazil trailed until just before half-time. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil stayed in Guadalajara until the final; only the final took them to the Azteca. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Quarter-final on 14 June, semi-final on 17 June, final on 21 June 1970. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Italy reached the final, Uruguay the semi-finals, Peru the quarter-finals; Romania went out in Brazil's group. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Clodoaldo ran forward from midfield to meet Tostão's pass, and Jairzinho and Rivelino added goals late on. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 6: The final against Italy

- He climbed above his marker to head in a cross from the left. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- A careless back-heel in midfield let Italy in, and Boninsegna rounded Félix to make it 1-1 before half-time. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Gérson's drive in the 66th minute broke Italy's resistance; two more goals followed. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Italy's coach alternated Rivera and Mazzola in the knockouts and sent Rivera on only in the 84th minute. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Valcareggi had won Euro 1968; Bearzot won the 1982 World Cup and Pozzo those of 1934 and 1938. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Glöckner remains the only referee from East Germany to have handled a World Cup final. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The official attendance was 107,412. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Pelé rolled the ball without looking into the path of his captain, who struck it first time in the 86th minute. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Italy won 4-1 in Toluca, 4-3 in the Azteca semi-final and lost 4-1 in the final. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Clodoaldo beat four men deep in his own half, then the ball went left to Rivelino and on to Jairzinho. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 7: Jairzinho, a goal in every match

- Six matches, six games with a goal, including the final. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Two in the opener and one in each of the other five matches. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Müller scored ten for West Germany, including hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- 'Furacão da Copa' described his power down the right; the other names belonged to Garrincha, Pelé and Zico. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He came through at Botafogo in Rio and stayed there into the mid-1970s. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Jairzinho grew up as Garrincha's understudy on Botafogo's right and inherited the role. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Jairzinho coached the teenage Ronaldo at São Cristóvão and recommended him to Cruzeiro. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Vavá scored in 1958 (and 1962), Amarildo in 1962, Jairzinho in 1970 and Ronaldo twice in 2002. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Müller scored ten, Jairzinho seven, Cubillas five and Pelé four. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil's first match, on 3 June, was the 4-1 win over Czechoslovakia. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 8: Pelé's 1970

- One against Czechoslovakia, two against Romania and the opener in the final. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Burgnich's admission is one of the best-known lines about the final; Pelé beat him in the air for the opening goal. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Pelé spotted Viktor far off his line and shot from the halfway line; the ball went just wide. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He played in 1958, 1962 (injured in the second match), 1966 and 1970, and declined to play in 1974. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Rivelino's looping ball from the left found Pelé, who hung in the air above his marker. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Fouled out of the tournament in England, he vowed not to play again, and changed his mind for Mexico. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- It came against Vasco da Gama on 19 November 1969, the count including friendlies and exhibition matches. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He scored six in 1958 as a 17-year-old, four in 1970 and one in 1966. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Czechoslovakia on 3 June, Romania on 10 June and Italy on 21 June. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- In the semi-final Pelé let Tostão's pass run past the Uruguay keeper, collected it on the other side and shot just wide. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 9: Tostão, Gérson and Rivelino

- He was hit in the eye by a clearance in 1969 and needed surgery abroad to save his sight. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He studied medicine and practised, and later became a respected newspaper columnist. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Born in January 1947, he stopped playing in 1973 after further trouble with the same eye. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He had played for Flamengo and Botafogo before; he finished his career at Fluminense. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- His long passes with the left foot set the tempo for Brazil; the atomic kick was Rivelino's nickname. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Rivelino picked the move up from Sérgio Echigo at Corinthians and made it his trademark. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Rivelino spent a decade at Corinthians before moving to Fluminense in 1975. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Rivelino scored three, Tostão two and Gérson one, in the final. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The Taça Brasil win over Pelé's Santos made his name; the injury came in 1969 and retirement in 1973. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- He was operated on in Houston and recovered in time to play every match in Mexico. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

## Test 10: Legacy and the Jules Rimet Trophy

- The first nation to win three titles was promised the trophy outright, and Brazil got there first. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Thieves took it from the Brazilian federation's headquarters; it is widely believed to have been melted down. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Kodak produced a gold replica, which the Brazilian federation keeps in place of the lost original. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Barassi, FIFA's vice-president, took it from a bank in Rome and kept it in a shoebox under his bed. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- 1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970; the war cancelled 1942 and 1946. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Uruguay won in 1930 and 1950, Italy in 1934 and 1938; the 1970 final was a race to three. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The march 'Forward, Brazil' was written for the tournament and used by the regime to share in the triumph. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- Brazil's third came in 1970, Italy's in 1982 and West Germany's in 1990. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- The war years came first, the third Brazilian title in 1970 and the theft in 1983. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)
- It vanished from an exhibition in Westminster months before the finals, and a dog called Pickles found it in a garden. (Source: FIFA World Cup 1970 official records; contemporary match reports; histories of the Brazil 1970 side)

Sources: FIFA and UEFA official records / club records / contemporary match reports / published histories and biographies / audited club accounts

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