JOGOS DAS LAGRIMAS

Late afternoon and talkSPORT again but as you know there is usually something that grabs my attention. This afternoon the presenters are asking punters to phone in with their football memorabilia.
Matt Holland was playing against Ruud van Nistelrooy. At the end of the game Rudd came up to him and asked him for his shirt. Matt was knocked back and suddenly realised that "he had arrived"; playing against a top team with their "top man asking him for his shirt!"
As he left the pitch with Ruud's shirt, it dawned on him that his name was on the back of the shirt HOLLAND! here are his best goals-Ruud's for Man Utd-not Matt's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRcOvw5sKsg

My favourite memorabilia may include the 1966 World Cup programme, something that in the end did not include Eusebio, Portugal's talisman. Remember him?
Well it is his birthday today (b. 1942), sadly Eusebio da Silva Ferreira died on 5th January 2014 aged 71. He helped Portugal to third place in the tournament, with England seeing them off in a brilliant semi-final at Wembley, when Eusebio scored a goal from a penalty, though England won 2-1 (B. Charlton 2). This goal broke a record that the English defence held of 7 consecutive international games without conceding-Banks of course was in goal. As Eusebio left the field..........it became-
Jogos das Lagrimas- the Game of Tears-Eusebio was unconsolable.

Born in Portuguese Mozambique, he played for local teams and then moved to  Portugal when he was 18 years old, winning international caps 64 times between 1961-73, scoring 41 goals.
He spent over 300 games (317 goals) playing for Benfica, when they were a force in Europe (EC final 1963/65/68) of course,  you may remember the 1968 European Cup Final at Wembley v Matt Busby's boys?

Eusebio was a true gent and if you ever are able to view the 1966 World Cup or the 1968 E.C. Final then you will get the drift, especially when you see his remarkable reaction to Nobby Stiles, detailed to man mark him on both occasions!
He was sportsmanlike enough to congratulate the United keeper on a save!

On another note, have a look at the story of the Portuguese quarter-final in the WC v North Korea (who?). I was playing in an U15 county cricket schools' tournament at Hove County ground, when the news of this game flooded onto the pitch. It was steamingly hot day in Sussex and NK were 3-0 UP! Eusebio produced a hat trick+1 either side of half time and the Portuguese recovered and won 5-3. They then met England.

I could list Eusebio's adornments but I have to get my tea!