|
"BRAZIL
RHYTHM IS SHATTERED BY STAN"
Daily Mirror |
Officials
from France |
England Party |
FIFA ruling on substitutes |
Brazil Party |
Referee
(black)
Maurice Alexandre Guige
43 (4 August 1912), Arles announced 16
April |
Teams were presented to the Guest of Honour, His Grace, The Duke of Norfolk, KG, GCVO.
|
flame flag
Linesmen
orange flag |
Robert Sautel |
Marcel Lequesne
45 (31 January 1911), Oissel |
|
|
England
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating 7th to 6th |
Colours |
The 1954 Umbro
home uniform -
White v-necked short-sleeved continental jerseys, blue shorts, red
socks with white tops. |
P 11th of 43, W 6 - D 2 - L 3 - F 30 - A 16. |
Captain |
Billy Wright |
Manager |
Walter Winterbottom, 43 (31 March 1913), appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946; |
record 59th of 90, W 34 - D 11 - L 14 - F 148 - A 91. |
Trainer: Jimmy Trotter (Charlton Athletic FC) |
P 77th of 139, W 47 - D 15 - L 15 - F 222 -
A 112, one abandoned. |
|
³ |
|
Team chosen by Selection Committee,
headed by Joe Mears, on Friday, 27 April. |
England
Lineup |
|
four changes
to the previous match
(Dickinson, Finney, Lofthouse & Perry out) |
league position
(27 April) |
|
1 |
Matthews, Reginald D. |
23 141 days |
20 December 1932 |
G |
Coventry City FC
(FL3S 7th) |
2 |
3ᵍᵃ |
2 |
Hall, Jeffrey J. |
26
245 days |
7 September 1929 |
RB |
Birmingham
City FC (FL 4th) |
6 |
0 |
3 |
Byrne, Roger W. |
26
244 days |
8 September 1929
|
LB
|
Manchester United FC
(FL CHAMPIONS) |
19
|
¹
¹ |
|
the twelfth own goal conceded by England |
|
14th penalty missed
(31st taken overall) |
|
|
|
4 |
Clayton, Ronald |
21
278 days |
5 August 1934 |
RHB |
Blackburn Rovers FC
(FL2 8th) |
3 |
0 |
5 |
Wright, William A. |
32
93 days |
6 February 1924 |
CHB |
Wolverhampton
Wanderers FC (FL 3rd) |
74 |
3 |
most apps
1952-56 |
6 |
Edwards, Duncan |
19
221 days |
1 October 1936 |
LHB |
Manchester United FC
(FL CHAMPIONS) |
6 |
0 |
7
|
Matthews, Stanley |
41
98 days |
1 February 1915 |
OR |
Blackpool FC
(FL RU) |
47 |
9 |
oldest outfield player |
8 |
Atyeo,
P. John W. |
24
92 days |
7 February 1932 |
IR |
Bristol
City FC (FL2 7th) |
2 |
1
¹ |
|
13th penalty missed
(30th taken overall) |
|
|
|
9
|
Taylor, Thomas |
24
101 days |
29 January 1932 |
CF |
Manchester United FC
(FL CHAMPIONS) |
7 |
4 |
the
180th (47th post-war)
brace scored |
10
|
Haynes, John N. |
21
205 days |
17 October 1934 |
IL |
Fulham FC
(FL2 10th) |
5 |
2 |
755 |
11
|
Grainger,
Colin |
22
334 days |
10 June 1933 |
OL |
Sheffield
United FC (FL 22nd bottom) |
1 |
2 |
the
181st (48th post-war)
brace |
the 29th United player to represent England |
|
|
|
unused
substitutes: |
Ray Wood
and
Johnny Berry
(both Manchester United FC (FL CHAMPIONS)),
Tommy Cummings (Burnley FC
(FL 9th)),
Gordon Astall (Birmingham City FC (FL
4th)),
Nat
Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL
8th)) and
Dennis Wilshaw
(Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 3rd)). Then
Johnny Wheeler (Bolton Wanderers FC
(FL 8th)) |
team changes: |
Ron
Clayton, originally a reserve, replaced
Jimmy Dickinson,
the original named right-half, withdrew injured. Wheeler replaced
Clayton as a reserve. |
team notes: |
Billy Wright extends his
record appearance tally, in his record 39th consecutive match.
Colin Grainger becomes the 140th player
to score on his debut, and the
first since
Dennis
Wilshaw in 1953 to score twice - now the youngest so far to score
a double at the stadium. Reg Matthews and Atyeo become the eightieth
players to make a second appearance under Winterbottom. |
records: |
England win a record sixth match in a row at Wembley, extending their
tally. It also equals a record sequence of six matches unbeaten at the
stadium. |
|
2-3-5 |
R.Matthews -
Hall, Byrne -
Clayton, Wright, Edwards -
S.Matthews, Atyeo, Taylor, Haynes, Grainger. |
Averages: |
Age |
25 years 320
days |
Appearances/Goals |
15.6 |
1.5 |
|
|
Brazil
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating 3rd |
Colours |
Yellow
jerseys with lime green collars/cuffs, light blue shorts
with white side
stripe, white socks with two narrow yellow and lime green stripes
at top. |
"DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER
"The Brazilian footballers, who meet England at Wembley on Wednesday, are
keeping a sharp watch for changes of temperature. On the thermometer will
depend the colours they will wear for the game. If the weather is warm,
the Brazilians will turn out in short-sleeved yellow shirts made of
cotton. If the weather becomes chilly, they will wear long-sleeved blue
jerseys of wool." - Belfast
Telegraph, Monday, 7 May 1956 |
Captain |
Nílton Santos |
Manager |
Flávio
Rodrigues da
Costa, 49
(14 September 1906), appointed 1955. |
47th match |
Brazil
Lineup |
For full names,
please see the Party page |
|
1 |
Gilmar |
25
261 days |
22 August 1930 |
G |
SC
Corinthians Paulisto |
15 |
20ᵍᵃ |
4 |
Djalma Santos |
27
72 days |
27 February 1929 |
RB |
Associaçã o Portuguesa de Desportos |
31 |
1 |
3 |
Nílton Santos |
30
359 days |
16 May 1925 |
LB |
Botafogo
FR |
32 |
1 |
5 |
Zózimo |
23
325 days |
19 June 1932 |
RHB |
Bangu
AC |
8 |
1 |
2 |
Pavão |
26
35 days |
4 April 1930 |
CHB |
CR
Flamengo |
4 |
0 |
6 |
Dequinha |
28
51 days |
19 March 1928 |
LHB |
CR
Flamengo |
7 |
0 |
7 |
Paulinho |
24
24 days |
15 April 1932 |
OR |
CR
Flamengo |
6 |
0 |
8 |
Álvaro |
24
228 days |
24 September 1931 |
IR |
Santos FC |
9 |
2 |
9 |
Gino |
26
249 days |
3 September 1929 |
CF |
São
Paulo FC |
6 |
3 |
10
|
Didi |
27
214 days |
8 October 1928 |
IL |
Botafogo
FR |
26 |
5 |
11 |
Canhoteiro |
23
228 days |
24 September 1932 |
OL |
São
Paulo FC |
10 |
1 |
unused
substitutes: |
De Sordi, Escurinho, Evaristo
de Macedo, Larry, Roberto Belangero,
Sabará,
Walter Marciano. |
notes: |
These 'reserve' players
participated in other matches on the tour. They may or may not
have been able to play against England. There may yet be other players
who were on the tour that did not play in any games.
The South Americans also had a different numbering system to the
Europeans, thus it is correct to say that Djalma Santos was playing
right-back at number four. |
team notes: |
Gino was taken to hospital with a fractured cheekbone
after a collision with Billy Wright, who suffered a two-inch gash over
his right eye. |
|
2-3-5 |
Gylmar -
Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos -
Zózimo, Pavão,
Dequinha
-
Canhoteiro, Didi, Gino,
Álvaro,
Paulinho. |
Averages: |
Age |
26 years 87
days |
Appearances/Goals |
14.0 |
1.2 |
The Brazil
team presented Stanley Matthews with a Silver Cup at a post-match banquet. |
|
|
Match Report
by Mike Payne |
This
international had just about everything and the 100,000 people who
were privileged to be present enjoyed every minute of an occasion
that was pulsating from first whistle to last. Two early goals
gave England a tremendous start and the exciting incidents came one
after the other. Superlatives are frequent in this report and
that just about sums up a superb game.
England began with devastating
burst and in the opening seconds Tommy Taylor found himself clean
through, only to shoot just too high with the crowd already
celebrating a goal. They did not have to wait much longer,
though, as after two minutes Taylor had redeemed himself with a
lovely goal. A fine move began with a pass from Duncan Edwards
to Stanley Matthews. The 41-year old genius put a lovely
square pass inside to Johnny Haynes who, in turn, pushed the ball
forward. Taylor was on to it like a flash and crashed the ball
into the roof of the Brazilian net.
Amazingly, within three
minutes of that goal England went 2-0 up. Stan Matthews was
again heavily involved, picking the ball up near the corner-flag at
England's end, he cheekily flicked it between Canhoteiro's legs to
find Jeff Hall. The full-back's long, raking pass forward
found Taylor again beating Pavão, and, after Haynes had
got a touch, Colin Grainger was there to slam home number two.
Incidents galore followed,
notably when Canhoteiro struck a shot against an England post, but
the home side held on to their lead although realising only too well
that Brazil were far from out of the game.
The first half had been
superb, surely the second half could not live up to that standard?
It did! And not only that the entertainment surpassed the
first 45 minutes. Within ten minutes of the restart Brazil had
suddenly pulled level. With the wind now behind them and with
the rain now falling they began the half with a renewed appetite.
Nilton Santos, a superb
player, made a break down the left. His cross found Paulinho
on the right. The winger seemingly had nowhere to go but
suddenly unleashed a shot with struck Roger Byrne and deflected up
and over Reg Matthews to spin wickedly over the line. Two
minutes later, Brazil were level. A rare mistake by Billy
Wright gave Didi possession. The wonderfully gifted player
then surprised England's goalkeeper with a vicious 20-yard shot
which Matthews could only help into the net.
With Brazil now having their
tails well and truly up they proceeded to push the ball around
Wembley's lush turf confidently and with great skill. It was
now, though, that their South American temperament came into the
story. On the hour, the Brazilian tendency for over excitement
gave England a penalty when a defender inexplicably handled the ball
following Hayne's free-kick.
The referee unhesitatingly
gave the spot-kick but in so doing sent the Brazilians wild with
rage. For a while the French referee struggled to regain
control of a volatile situation but eventually the kick could be
taken. Somewhat surprisingly the responsibility was given to
John Atyeo, who had not had a particularly inspired game. The crowd
groaned as Atyeo's kick was saved by Gilmar. However it was not long
before those groans turned to cheers.
Stan Matthews took a lovely
pass from Haynes and centred Atyeo to head the ball back for Taylor
to head England back into the lead. Soon afterwards, in this
breathless match, England were awarded another penalty for handball.
Again there was pandemonium in the Brazilian ranks and again England
missed the kick. This time Bryne's shot was saved by Gilmar.
But, with ten minutes to go,
England, with Stan Matthews again to the fore, scored their fourth
and most decisive goal. Hall found the Blackpool winger and
once again the maestro served up a perfect centre for Grainger to
celebrate a fine debut by heading past Gilmar in style.
The teams left the arena to
tremendous and deserved applause, it had all been wonderful
entertainment.
|
Match Report
by Norman Giller |
It was billed as
the 'Old World meets the New' and Brazil arrived with many of the players
who two years later were to win the World Cup in such dazzling fashion.
England got off to a flying start under the Wembley Stadium floodlights
with Tommy Taylor and Colin Grainger scoring inside the first five
minutes. The Brazilians fought back to 2-2, and then John Atyeo and Roger
Byrne each had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Gylmar. The penalty misses
sandwiched a second goal by Taylor, made for him by a Stanley Matthews at
his magical best against one of the all-time great left-backs, Nilton
Santos. Matthews had been recalled by England at the age of forty-one, and
he played like a twenty-one-year-old. There was a farcical second-half
hold up following a dispute over a quickly taken free-kick by Johnny
Haynes. The ball was caught by Nilton Santos and the Brazilians staged a
walk-off protest when the referee awarded a penalty. By the time peace was
restored it was no wonder that Atyeo failed with the spot-kick. Colin
Grainger crowned a memorable debut with a second goal five minutes from
the end of an extraordinary match. Cool and commanding at all times, Billy
Wright kept his head when all about were losing theirs. He acted as a
peacemaker when the talented but temperamental Brazilians threatened to
walk off. It was a real captain's performance, a mix
of diplomacy and
sportsmanship. It was not only newcomers who were affected by nerves. Johnny
Haynes asked Stanley Matthews for his autograph in the dressing-room before
this match against Brazil. The Maestro's hands were shaking so much that he
could not hold the pen properly, and he asked Johnny to wait until after the
game! Stanley was really wound up for this one because the Brazilians had
stressed in the pre-match build-up that there was not a player in the world
who could get the better of the great Nilton Santos. But as good a player as
Santos was, he could not get near Stanley who was in untouchable form. At the
end of the game Nilton was sporting enough to say, "Mister Matthews, you are
the king."
|
Match Report
by Glen Isherwood |
This was the first
meeting between the two countries. Like England, Brazil had reached the
World Cup quarter-finals in 1954. They had won the South American
Championship in 1949 and had finished runners-up to Uruguay in the
1950 World Cup in Brazil.
England were
two up in just five
minutes. Matthews set up the first with Haynes knocking the ball on for
Tommy Taylor, who beat Pavao before running on and shooting past Gilmar.
Then Colin Grainger raced in and slotted home number two, also from a
Haynes pass.
Just after half-time Brazil suddenly sprang to
life. A cross from Nilton
Santos was reached by Paulinho, whose shot spun off Byrne and over
Matthews. Two minutes later, Didi collected a clearance from Wright and
deceived Matthews from the edge of the box with a spinning shot to bring
Brazil level. After an hour's play, England were given an opportunity to
regain the lead when a Haynes free-kick was handled by Zozimo in the area.
After a long delay, during which Alvaro walked away with the ball, Atyeo's kick
was saved by Gilmar. Atyeo soon made amends,
however,
when he headed on Matthews cross for Taylor to head his second and put
England back in front. England were then awarded another penalty, when a
move involving Taylor and Atyeo was stopped by another Zozimo handling
offence. Incredibly, Byrne shot wide. It was left to the ever-reliable 41
year old, Stan Matthews to make sure of victory with yet another accurate
centre for Grainger to net his second.
England next met Brazil in a
goalless draw in the 1958 World Cup in Gothenburg. England were the only
team to prevent them from scoring but Brazil went on to mesmerize Europe
by winning the World Cup, scoring five in both the semi-final and final.
They then beat England twice before returning to Wembley in 1963.
|
Match Report
as appears in the F.A. Yearbook 1956-57 pages 30-31 |
Even though the sides were level at
2-2 after ten minutes of the second half, England won this match at
Wembley on May 9th much more easily than the
score would suggest. England started off in the grand manner. In the
opening seconds Taylor shot hard over the bar. After three minutes' play
Stanley Matthews gave Haynes a perfect pass; a swivel and a push to Taylor
and we were one up. After five minutes Hall found Taylor with a long pass;
a flick to Haynes, and there was Grainger unmarked to give England the
tremendous advantage of an early two-goal lead. Soon after the interval,
however, Brazil scored two rather lucky goals, and it needed a couple of
pin-point centres from Matthews for Taylor and Grainger to clinch the
issue with two well-headed shots. Our advantage should have been increased
when England were awarded two penalties for deliberate hands but, partly
due to the uproar caused by the disputing Brazilians, both these were
missed. In spite of the extraordinary happenings, England coasted home to
a comfortable and most encouraging win.
|
In
Other News....
It was on 9 May 1956 that an x-ray at Manchester Royal
Infirmary revealed that Manchester City's German goalkeeper
and Footballer of the Year (the first 'keeper to win the
award), Bert Trautmann had suffered a fracture of the
cervical vertebrae, with four others dislocated in helping
his club to win the FA Cup at Wembley, four days earlier. It
was another seven months before he played again. |
|
Source Notes |
TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports Official matchday programme
The Complete Book of the British Charts
Times Online André do Nascimento Pereira,
Geoff Mills and
Robert Pedley |
|
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record
Norman Giller, Football Author Glen
Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record Drew Herbertson, Scottish FA historian
British Pathé |
|
cg/py |