WORLD CUP 1950 - Retconned

I finished my blog for Sweden 1950 over the weekend. I have 22 players. The squad explanation is also there.

http://soccerfootballwhatever.blogspot.hk/2018/01/sweden-1950.html

My Final 16 member team here. I brought 7 players who did not attend the real World Cup Finals in 1950. The "Gre-No-Li" joins Lennart Skoglund and the remaining Nordahl brothers for our fantasy WC Finals.

GK: Kalle Svensson
He was capped 73 times between 1949 and 1958. He played in four big tournaments, 1950 and 1958 WC Finals and 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics, finishing in the top 3 in all of them.

GK: Torsten Lindberg
Lindberg played club football with Husqvarna IF, IK Tord, Örgryte IS and IFK Norrköping. He won a Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics and went to the WC Finals in 1950.

CB/CM: Bertil Nordahl
Bertil was the eldest of Nordahl brothers. He played for Degerfors IF before the Summer Olympics in 1948 where Sweden won the gold medal. After the Olympics, he joined Atalanta in Italy, where he was banned from playing for the national team as a professional footballer.

CB: Lennart Samuelsson
Between 1950 and 1955, Samuelsson capped 36 times with Sweden. He went to the1950 FIFA World Cup, whereSweden came third and also won a bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Domestically he played for Elfsborg and in 1951 he played nine with the French club Nice. His career was cut short due to a broken leg.

LB: Erik Nilsson (captain)
He was a member of Sweden WC team in 1938, where they finished 4th. He would win the Olympic Gold medal in 1948. He also played in the WC in 1950, where he was on the All-tournament team. He spent his entire career with Malmo.

CB/CM: Knut Nordahl
Along with his brothers Bertil and Gunnar Nordahl, he helped Sweden to win the Gold Medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics. While his brothers went to Italy and turned professional, he stayed with IFK Norrköping. After the 1950 WC Finals, he joined AS Roma. He was capped 26 times for the Sweden national football team between 1945 and 1950.

CM: Sune Andersson
He was a versatile midfielder, who would take any position: left, right or center. He played 28 times for the Swedish national team, scoring four goals, and won a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics and a bronze at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. His only domestic title was the 1949 Swedish Cup with Solna. His performance at the 1950 World Cup earned him a transfer to A.S. Roma in Serie A, where he played for two seasons and scored 12 goals.

LM/CM: Ingvar Gärd
From 1941 to 1950, he played for Malmö FF, usually as the left half. After the WC Finals in 1950, he joined Sampdoria in Italy as a professional. However, he returned home after a season. He was forced to retire due to losing his amateur status.

LW: Lennart Skoglund
He is regarded as one of Sweden's greatest players. He played in Italy from 1950 to 1963. His best stint was probably with Inter Milan. He also played for Hammarby IF, Sampdoria and Palermo. He was a star in the WC in 1950, where Sweden finished 3rd and played in 1958, where they finished 2nd.

RW/FW/CM: Karl-Erik Palmér
Palmer played with Malmö FF, and in the Italian clubs Legnano and Juventus. He was capped 14 times for Sweden. He attended the WC Finals in 1950, where he was the top scorer for Sweden. His forward line was known as "Pal-Jep-Sko"(Palmer, Jeppson, Skoglund) as a tribute to "Gre-No-Li" of the 1948 team.

FW: Hasse Jeppson
Jeppson began his career with Djurgårdens IF, transferring to Charlton Athletic. He was the second Swedish player to join an English team, after Dan Ekner at Portsmouth. In 1951, he went to Italy, where he played for Atalanta, Napoli and Torino. In 1952 he was sold to Napoli for 105 million lira, a new world record transfer-fee. Capped 12 times. He went to the WC Finals in 1950.

FW: Gunnar Gren
He was part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" trio of forwards at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team during then1950's. He also played with IFK Göteborg, AC Fiorentina, Genoa CFC and Örgryte IS. He won a Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics and helped Sweden to finish second at the WC finals in 1958.

AM: Nils Liedholm
In Italy, he was known as Il Barone (The Baron). He is probably one of both Sweden and AC Milan's greatest players. He was part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" line for both club and country. He won a Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics and helped Sweden to finish second at the WC finals in 1958.

ST: Gunnar Andersson
He started his career in Sweden, before playing for Danish side Kjøbenhavns Boldklub before being transferred to Olympique de Marseille in 1950. With l'OM he was also Division 1 top goalscorer in 1951–1952 and 1952–1953 and runner-up in the Coupe de France 1953–1954. He was their all-time leading scorer. He also played for other French teams such as FC Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Aix.

CF: Henry Carlsson
In 1939, he made his debut with AIK. After winning the Olympic Gold medal in 1948, he moved to play for Stade Français as an amateur. In 1949, he started his professional career with Atletico Madrid. He stayed there until 1953. He was capped 26 times.

ST: Gunnar Nordahl
He is probably one of both Sweden and AC Milan's greatest players. He played with Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm to form the renowned Gre-No-Li line at AC Milan. He was Serie A top scorer 5 times. He is the all-time leading scorer at Milan. He won the Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympics, but was not selected for the WC in 1950. He played two years with Roma before retiring. His brother Bertil and Knut also played for Sweden.

 

I did not make any chance to the original World Cup team.

GK: Ignacio Eizaguirre
Started his career after the Spanish Civil War with Real Sociedad. He played one season and moved to Valencia in 1940. he won three La Liga and two Ricardo Zamora trophies for being the best goalkeeper of the season. He was the starting keeper at the WC finals in 1950.

GK: Antoni Ramallets
He was the starting keepers of Barcelona in the 1950's. He played with Laszio Kubalal and Luis Suarez. He won 6 La liga titles in an era that was known to be dominated by Alfred Di Stefano's Real Madrid.

SW: José Parra
Parra's spent most of his career with RCD Español where he signed with the club in 1947 from neighbouring Terrassa FC, going on to compete with the former in 12 La Liga seasons. Parra earned seven caps for Spain and he was a part of the World Cup team in 1950.

CB: Gabriel Alonso
Alonso played for three clubs in La Liga, Celta de Vigo, Real Madrid and CD Málaga, over the course of nine seasons. Alonso won 12 caps for Spain, during four years.

CB/CM: José Gonzalvo
Gonzalvo He made his La Liga debut with CD Sabadell on 26 September 1943 in a 5-2 defeat to Sevilla CF. After just one season he signed for FC Barcelona. During six seasons with the club he played 198 games and scored 5 goals games in all competitions. Together with a team that included, among others Antoni Ramallets, Velasco, Josep Escolà, Joan Segarra, Estanislao Basora, César, Ladislao Kubala and his younger brother, Marià, he helped Barcelona win three La Liga titles. He finished his playing career with one season at Real Zaragoza.

LB/LW: Vicente Asensi
He spent all his career at Valencia CF where he played 308 games and scored 33 goals. Together with Epi, Amadeo, Mundo and Gorostiza they made up one of the best attacks in the 1940s. He played as left winger during most of his career but was moved further back as he grew older and ended up playing as a defender. At international level, he also gained six caps with the Spain national football team between 1945 and 1950.

CB: Francisco Antúnez
He took part in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He won the Spanish League in 1946 with Sevilla FC, the only one in its history. He also played for Malaga.

DM: Antonio Puchades
From 1949 to 1958, he played for Valencia, his only club. He received 23 caps and went to the 1950 WC Finals, starting every game.

CM: Mariano Gonzalvo
Gozalvo was a member of Barcelona's team in the 1950's, in an era before the emerge Alfred Di Stefano's Real Madrid. He won 5 league titles. For the national team, he was capped 16 times.

CM: José Luis Panizo
During 16 professional seasons he would play in 325 La Liga matches, scoring 136 goals (seven years in double digits). In the 1942–43 campaign, as Athletic Bilbao won the double, he netted 12 in 24 games.

LW: Agustin Gainza
He spent his entire career with Athletic Bilbao, winning 10 major titles. He won 33 caps and was the captain of Spain in the WC 1950, where they finished 4th.

FW: Luis Molowny
During his 11-year stint in Madrid, Molowny appeared in 198 games all competitions comprised, netting 107 times.[6] He conquered five titles with his main club, including two national championships and the 1955–56 edition of the European Cup, even though he did not take part in the final of the latter tournament itself

FW: Estanislau Basora
Most of his 15-year career was spent at FC Barcelona for which he appeared in more than 300 official games, surpassing the 100-goal mark and winning 14 major titles. He was part of a legendary offensive line which also included César, László Kubala, Eduardo Manchón, Mariano Martín and Moreno. For Spain, he was capped 22 times.

FW: Silvestre Igoa
Capped 10 times with 7 goals. He played for Spain in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal. He played for Valencia CF from 1941 to 1950.

FW: Rosendo Hernández
At the end of the Spanish Civil War he joined Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, followed by a move to Atlético Madrid which he never represented officially. From 1950 to 1952, Hernández competed almost exclusively in La Liga , representing RCD Español and Real Zaragoza and amassing totals of 143 games and 62 goals.

ST: Telmo Zarra
Athletic Bilbao's greatest player. He won the Pichichi award 6 times. He owned many scoring records in Spain. He was capped 20 times and scored 20 goals for Spain.

 

Following prolonged lobbying from both Scottish and English players, the Scottish FA has gone back on its decision not to enter the World Cup unless Scotland retained the Home International crown secured in 1948-49. FIFA had generously stipulated that the top two nations from the 1949-50 competition would qualify for the tournament in Brazil. Scotland finished runners-up behind England after a single goal defeat at Hampden Park in April.

This has been the Scots' sole loss in ten matches during the past two years. Among continental European opponents, France have been beaten twice, Switzerland once, and the Portuguese held to a 2-2 draw in Lisbon.

The unlikely combination of Bill Struth and Jimmy McGrory have been appointed joint managers in Brazil, but the SFA has held onto responsibilty for selection.

The following First XI has been chosen. Formation is WM (3-2-2-3).


---------------------------------Jimmy Cowan (Greenock Morton)-------------------------

George Young-----------------Willie Woodburn-----------Sammy Cox (All Rangers)

----------------Bobby Evans (Celtic)--------------Alex Forbes (Arsenal)----------------

------------- Allan Brown (East Fife)--------------Billy Steel (Derby)--------------------

Willie Waddell (Rangers)-----Lawrie Reilly (Hibernian)-----Billy Liddell (Liverpool)


The five substitutes are half-backs George Aitken (East Fife) and Ian McColl (Rangers); John McPhail (Celtic), who has recently been converted from right-half into a centre-forward; striker Willie Bauld (Hearts), and an uncapped midfielder Bobby Collins of Celtic.

The formidable Rangers defence will be hard to crack, with burly skipper Young in his now-familiar right-back position in order to accommodate the abrasive Woodburn at centre-half. In front of them are the highly competitive redhead Bobby Evans, who will probably be the only player in Brazil wearing his shirt outside his shorts, and Alex Forbes, fresh from marking Billy Liddell out of the FA Cup Final. Liddell was so badly bruised that he was unable to put on his jacket next day, but the pair have made up.

Liddell will be fully fit for the World Cup, having just turned down the offer of a contract in the pirate Colombian league. The news was welcomed more enthusiastically by FIFA than by Scotland's opponents, who will be wary of the combination of Liddell with the brilliant Derby man, Billy Steel, now thought to be angling for another record transfer back to a Scottish club. Steel is likely to be the key player for Scotland at the World Cup, if not the most popular with his teammates.

The mobile Reilly, sometimes found on the left wing, will be preferred to Bauld at centre-forward despite the latter scoring twice in his three matches to date and rattling the English crossbar at Hampden. Waddell is another distinguished member of the all-conquering post-war Rangers team. East Fife's Allan Brown has scored in his last three matches for Scotland, including the winner in Paris. Rumours are that he may soon be joining Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen at Blackpool.

There have been a few rumblings about the SFA favouring Rangers players again, but most people seem reasonably happy with the selection. The team has a tough, confident look about it, and balances well. It also boasts a longer history than any potential opponents.

 

Currently choosing my 5 forwards and 2 attacking substitutes.

(In loving memory of Torino)


#7
Ermes Muccinelli - Juventus (22 y.o) 13 goals (1949-50 season) - Right Outside Forward
Renzo Burini - Milan (22 y.o) 22 goals - Right Outside Forward
Giancarlo Vitali - Padova (23 y.o) 19 goals - Outside Forward

#8
Giampiero Boniperti - Juventus (21 y.o) 21 goals - Inside Forward / Centre Forward
Adriano Bassetto - Sampdoria (24 y.o) 20 goals - Inside Forward
Egisto Pandolfini - Fiorentina (24 y.o) 14 goals - Inside Forward / Outside Forward

#9
Amedeo Amadei - Internazionale (28 y.o) 20 goals - Centreforward
Benito Lorenzi - Internazionale (24 y.o) 15 goals - Centreforward / Inside Forward

#10
Gino Cappello - Bologna (30 y.o) 10 goals - Inside Forward
Rinaldo Martino - Juventus (28 y.o) 18 goals - Inside Forward
Aldo Campatelli - Internazionale (31 y.o) 3 goals - Inside Forward

#11
Riccardo Carapellese - Torino (27 y.o) 14 goals - Left Outside Forward
Emilio Caprile - Atalanta (21 y.o) 14 goals - Left Outside Forward

 

Austria's participation has also been in doubt. Late in the day, manager Walter Nausch made a plea to his bosses on the grounds of unfinished business from the 1934 World Cup, which many Austrians believe they should have won.

The national team also seems to be running into form at the right time, defeating Italy and Hungary after losing to both opponents last year.

The following side has been selected. It will play the old Viennese version of the pyramid system.

GK: Walter Zeman (Rapid Vienna)
RB: Rudolph Rockl (Wiener Sport-Club)
LB: Ernst Happel (Rapid Vienna)
RH: Gerhardt Hanappi (S.C. Wacker)
CH: Ernst Ocwirk (F.K. Austria)
LH: Leopold Gernhardt (Rapid Vienna)
OR: Ernst Melchior (F.K. Austria)
IR: Karl Decker (First Vienna)
CF: Turl Wagner (S.C. Wacker)
IL: Ernst Stojaspal (F.K. Austria)
OL: Lukas Aurednik (F.K. Austria)

Substitutes

Full-Back: Karl Stotz (F.C. Vienna),
Half-Back: Siegfried Joksch ( F.K. Austria)
Forwards: Robert Dienst (Rapid Vienna), Erich Habitzl (S.K. Admira), Dolfi Haber (F.K. Austria)

Manager

Walter Nausch

This is a strong group of players, most of whom are in their physical prime. Ocwirk and Hanappi are among the leading half-backs in Europe. Many believe Ocwirk to be the best centre-half in the world. For a 24 year-old, Happel's reading of the game is remarkable, while Walter Zeman will be as highly rated a goalkeeper as any at the World Cup.

The legendary Bimbo Binder has gone, but there is still plenty of firepower up front. Karl Decker is a proven goalscorer who will captain the side. Stojaspal's unerring left foot in front of goal has frequently been in evidence, not least when finishing leading scorer in the Austrian league three seasons in succession.

Wingers Melchior and Aurednik provide experience and guile, and will feed another natural predator in Wagner. If needed there are plenty more goals on the bench.

After believing his international career was over, the veteran Siegfried Joksch has been recalled as cover for Ocwirk, but is unlikely to play.

 

Good news for Italy and his Torino's players.

No change needed for Argentina.

 

Young Sandro will get to see his father play one more time

 

Going to give myself a new deadline of Saturday night, sorry for the delay.

 

Hungary confirm the squad, and like the English continue to assume that a 2nd goalkeeper won't be necessary or could be called up as a replacement. There is a change of mind on Deak though, so Kovacs will just spectate now:

1 - Gyula Grosics
2 - Jeno Buzanszky
3 - Gyula Lorant
4 - Mihaly Lantos
5 - Jozsef Bozsik
6 - Jozsef Zakarias
7 - Istvan Nyers
8 - Sandor Kocsis
9 - Peter Palotas
10 - Ferenc Puskas
11 - Zoltan Czibor
12 - Lazslo Kubala
13 - Ferenc Deak
14 - Ferenc Szusza
15 - Lazslo Budai
16 - Nandor Hidegkuti

The opening line-up seems to have been leaked to the press too. It's not been confirmed or denied, but Hungarian sources say they will let it be known before kick-off vs Spain if the source of the leak got anything wrong (ie msioux this will be the starting line-up unless revealed otherwise).

-----------------------------Grosics----------------------------

Buzanszky------------Lorant-------------------Lantos
-----------------------------------Zakarias------------------
--------------------Bozsik---------------------------------

---Kubala---------------------Puskas-------------Czibor
----------------------Kocsis-------Szusza--------------

 

Meanwhile England confirm the squad too, committing to the 'push and run' game by bringing in Eddie Bailey of Tottenham, and so Sewell doesn't get a surprise early start to his International career after all, but apparently him and Nat Lofthouse may be invited to train with the squad:
1 - Bert Williams
2 - Alf Ramsey
3 - Bill Eckersley
4 - Neil Franklin
5 - Billy Wright
6 - Bill Nicholson
7 - Stanley Matthews
8 - Wilf Mannion
9 - Stan Mortensen
10 - Len Shackleton
11 - Tom Finney
12 - Tommy Lawton
13 - Eddie Bailey
14 - Jack Froggatt
15 - Joe Mercer
16 - Jackie Milburn

An in an apparent act of naivety or arrogance, the starting XI for the Uruguayan game is named at the same time, although not officially handed in (msioux - if there are changes you will be informed before kick-off too!):

-------------------------------------Williams---------------------------

Ramsey---------------------Franklin--------------------Eckersley
-------------------------------------------Wright----------------------
----------------------------Nicholson-------------------------------
------------------------------------------------Bailey---------------
Matthews-------------Mortensen--------------------Finney--
--------------------------------------Milburn---------------------

Helpful references:
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRsl1946.html
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1946-60/1949-50/M0254Por1950.html
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1946-60/1949-50/M0250Wal1949.html
http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1946-60/1949-50/M0258Esp1950.html
http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRsl1950.html

 

URUGUAY


Starting XI
GK: Roque Maspoli
DF: Matias González
DF: Eusebio Tejera
HB: Víctor Rodríguez Andrade
HB: Schubert Gambetta
HB: Obdulio Varela
FW: Juan Alberto Schiaffino
FW: Júlio Perez
FW: Ruben Moran
FW: Alcides Ghiggia
FW: Óscar Miguez

Substitution List
GK: Anibal Paz
DF: Juan Carlos González
FW: Ernesto Vidal
FW: Walter Gómez
FW: Nicolás Falero


Formation: 2-3-2-3
​

 

England have finalised the line-up for the Uruguay game now. Nicholson is expected to be the one trying to limit the time and space Schiaffino enjoys, but also a smooth cog in helping initiate moves with prompt and accurate passes. With Schiaffino ear-marked as a danger, Wright will also keep an eye on him and close him down if and when he feels he needs to and if he won't be leaving free players in dangerous positions. Finney, as the arrow indicates, will look to help out with Ghiggia when he can, but he and Matthews will mainly be trying to get in behind the Uruguayan wing-halves and set up the M&M strikeforce (or Finney may look to go for goal himself after a dribble at times).

Tactics will be a short and crisp passing game, but with big use of the wingers. Billy Wright is given the captaincy, while Mortensen is the penalty taker.


Uniting Mercer with his admirer Shackleton and/or his former team-mate Lawton, was considered but it may be it happens vs Yugoslavia - some changes are expected for that game whatever the opening result anyway.
http://spartacus-educational.com/EVERmercer.htm

 

Italy Squad

1) Valerio Bacigalupo (Torino) - 26 y.o
2) Aldo Ballarin (Torino) - 28
3) Virgilio Maroso (Torino) - 25
4) Carlo Annovazzi (Milan) - 25
5) Mario Rigamonti (Torino) - 27
6) Eusebio Castigliano (Torino) - 29
7) Romeo Menti (Torino) - 30
8) Giampiero Boniperti (Juventus) - 21
9) Amedeo Amadei (Internazionale) - 28
10) Valentino Mazzola (Torino) - 31 (c)
11) Renzo Burini (Milan) - 22
12) Lucidio Sentimenti (Lazio) - 29
13) Carlo Parola (Juventus) - 28
14) Ezio Loik (Torino) - 30
15) Gino Cappello (Bologna) - 30
16) Riccardo Carapellese (Torino) - 27

Reserves
Leandro Remondini ( Lazio)
Zeffiro Furiassi (Lazio)
Giacomo Mari (Juventus)
Ermes Muccinelli (Juventus)
Rinaldo Martino (Juventus)
Benito Lorenzi (Internazionale)

Squad write-up and starting formation/tactics to be submitted.

 

YUGOSLAVIA Squad

1) Srđan Mrkušić - 34 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) GK
2) Ivica Horvat (c) - 23 y.o (Dinamo Zagreb) RFB/CH
3) Branko Stanković - 28 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) FB
4) Zlatko Čajkovski - 27 y.o (Partizan Belgrade) RH
5) Miodrag Jovanović - 28 y.o (Partizan Belgrade) CH
6) Predrag Đajić - 28 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) LH
7) Bernard Vukas - 23 y.o (Hajduk Split) OF/IF
8) Rajko Mitić - 26 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) RIF
9) Kosta Tomašević - 26 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) CF
10) Stjepan Bobek - 26 y.o (Partizan Belgrade) LIF/CF
11) Željko Čajkovski - 25 y.o (Dinamo Zagreb) LOF
12) Vladimir Beara - 21 y.o (Hajduk Split) GK
13) Božo Broketa - 28 y.o (Hajduk Split) LFB/CH
14) Tihomir Ognjanov - 23 y.o (Red Star Belgrade) ROF
15) Prvoslav Mihajlović - 29 y.o (Partizan Belgrade) ROF
16) Branko Zebec - 21 y.o (Borac Zagreb) IF/LOF

 

Day vs the host Brazil.
We just play our game. We put lot on the pair from Atletico Bilboa: Telmo Zarra and Agustin Gainza.

 

The Hungarians are watching the Brazil vs Spain game with interest, but go ahead and confirm the leaked XI for their game vs Spain was correct, although the 'deep lying centre-forward' tactic has been given some practice time in training and it's possible both Palotas and Hidegkuti will play against Brazil even, while Nyers is rumoured to be being considered in a wide role for that game too, after he has had time to get used to his team-mates games and vice versa.

Against Spain, Puskas is to play from a slightly withdrawn position, but the gameplan is to use a triple inside-forward attack, with Kocsis moving into position to connect with pinpoint crosses. Spain will be studied but although their line-up may vary, Hungary will not concern themselves with that too much and will come out and play their precision passing game, in attacking mode anyway. The focus is believed to be on stopping the Gainza/Zarra combination indeed, in so far as specific defensive awareness is concerned, so Bozsik will be on alert to help out, especially with Gainza, while Zakarias will often be found slotted into the back 4 to help cut out passes and challenge for crosses when Spain are attacking.

Hungary offer to let Spain play in red:

 

I will send PM votes for day 1 games in about 24 hours (well a few hours more possibly but I hope that is ok - I need to see Peru FC's Argentina line-up so will try to vote on both games tomorrow evening UK time).