P. J. Szule
20 Aug 2002, 07:53 PM
What a lovely gesture by Spain to visit Budapest to pay homage to Ferenc (Ocsi / Pancho) Puskas.
Puskas, one of the all time greats with that legendary left foot captained the Magical Magyars in the 1950s. Every Hungarian's beloved Ocsi (Buddy, sort of) was instrumental in Hungary's five year undefeated record, in breaking England's home record (first loss on English soil) then in beating England 7 : 1 the following year in Budapest.
At the 1954 World Cup, he lead Hungary through the preliminaries with nearly double digit scores (most memorably versus West Germany, 8 : 3) then defeating Uruguay and Brazil to get to the final to then, with a hobbled Puskas, lose to W. Germany 3 : 2 (after having led 2 : 0 !) in the Final. His post 1956 Hungarian Uprising career at Real Madrid, partnering Di Stefano and Gento, is stuff of legends. Pancho also played for Spain, notably in the World Cup in Chile.
Happy 75th, Ocsi, gracias Pancho !
May you live to be 100 and see Hungary rise again and see Spain do better at a World Cup.
Puskas, one of the all time greats with that legendary left foot captained the Magical Magyars in the 1950s. Every Hungarian's beloved Ocsi (Buddy, sort of) was instrumental in Hungary's five year undefeated record, in breaking England's home record (first loss on English soil) then in beating England 7 : 1 the following year in Budapest.
At the 1954 World Cup, he lead Hungary through the preliminaries with nearly double digit scores (most memorably versus West Germany, 8 : 3) then defeating Uruguay and Brazil to get to the final to then, with a hobbled Puskas, lose to W. Germany 3 : 2 (after having led 2 : 0 !) in the Final. His post 1956 Hungarian Uprising career at Real Madrid, partnering Di Stefano and Gento, is stuff of legends. Pancho also played for Spain, notably in the World Cup in Chile.
Happy 75th, Ocsi, gracias Pancho !
May you live to be 100 and see Hungary rise again and see Spain do better at a World Cup.