Taça das Nações
# Taça das Nações

The Taça das Nações (Portuguese for "Nations' Cup") or "Little World Cup" was a football tournament played in Brazil in 1964 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Brazilian Football Confederation. Three international teams were invited, Argentina, Portugal and England, for the competition which was played in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo during late May and early June.

## History

The tournament was intended to showcase the favourites for the upcoming 1966 FIFA World Cup hosted by England. The Brazilian squad – apart from Pelé – had notable players such as Gérson, Jairzinho and goalkeeper Gilmar. Argentina, coached by José María Minella, included some experienced players such as Amadeo Carrizo, José Varacka, José Ramos Delgado, Alfredo Rojas and Antonio Rattín and young footballers such as Alberto Rendo and Roberto Telch. Silvio Marzolini did not participate due to being injured. The English team included Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks while most of Portugal's players were from Benfica, that had won the European Champions' Cup twice, with Eusébio as its most notable star.

In the match between England and Brazil, Pelé devastated the England defence with skill and hard running, leaving England forward Jimmy Greaves to remark, "Pelé is on another bloody planet." The England vs. Portugal game was also notable for being marred by controversy when Portuguese player José Torres attempted to punch the referee for disallowing an offside Portuguese goal. The player was sent off, but was considered lucky not to face a lifetime ban from football. In another violent incident, a headbutt by Pelé broke the nose of the Argentine player José Agustín Messiano, who had to be replaced by Roberto Telch –who proceeded to score two goals in the game.

The Argentine team eventually won the tournament after defeating Brazil 3–0 in their game in São Paulo, with goals by Telch (2) and Ermindo Onega. Argentine goalkeeper Amadeo Carrizo stopped a penalty by Gerson.

Reportedly the Brazilian FA had already engraved the Brazilian player's names on the watches intended as prizes for the winning team.

## Results

Team details :

Brazil

Argentina

GK Gilmar;

DF Carlos Alberto

DF Brito

DF Joel Camargo

MF Rildo

MF Roberto Dias

FW Gérson

FW Julinho

FW Vavá

FW10Pelé

FW Rinaldo

Manager:

Vicente Feola

GK Amadeo Carrizo

DF4Carmelo Simeone

DF José Ramos Delgado

DF José Varacka

DF Abel Vieitez

MF Alberto Rendo

MF Antonio Rattín

MF11José Mesiano  a'

MF Ermindo Onega

FW Pedro Prospitti

FW10Alfredo Rojas

Substitutes:

MF Roberto Telch a'

Manager:

José María Minella :

Team details :

Argentina

England

GK Amadeo Carrizo

DF José Ramos Delgado

DF Miguel Angel Vidal

DF Carmelo Simeone

MF Abel Vieitez

MF Antonio Rattín

FW Ermindo Onega

FW Alberto Rendo

FW Pedro Prospitti a'

FW Alfredo Rojas

FW Roberto Telch

Substitutes:

FW Mario Chaldú a'

Manager:

José María Minella

GK Gordon Banks

DF Bobby Thompson

DF Gordon Milne

DF Ray Wilson

MF Maurice Norman

MF Bobby Moore

FW Peter Thompson

FW George Eastham

FW Bobby Charlton

FW Johnny Byrne

FW Jimmy Greaves

Manager:

Alfred Ramsey :

## Final table

| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Argentina | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 |
| Brazil | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 |
| Portugal | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 |
| England | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 |

The points system gave 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

* Taça das Nações
* Argentina First title

## Statistics

### Goalscorers

There were 19 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 3.17 goals per match.

2 goals

* Alfredo Rojas
* Roberto Telch
* Rinaldo
* Pelé
* Gérson

1 goal

* Alberto Rendo
* Ermindo Onega
* Júlio Botelho
* Roberto Dias
* Jairzinho
* Jimmy Greaves
* Roger Hunt
* Fernando Peres
* Mário Coluna
