From what I've seen most media back then was rather tame and didn't go overboard with trashing players. Well except NepSport from Hungary. No ratings, but they called Sindelar a "massive fraud" (sic) after the WC34 SF which was amusing.
According to the source, Marzolini was their best player of the championship, but retroactively (many times they get this wrong) Rocha was chosen as the standout figure.
Yeah, for argentinian source El Grafico, Marzolini was #1 at CA 1967. The most cited RSSSF, is based in an uruguayan source, El Pais (the main newspaper), for them Rocha was #1 at CA 1967.
Some comments on CA 1959, according La Prensa (peruvian leading newspaper) GKs: I disagree with Taibo, as HM, since he played 4 matches, receiving nine goals in two games, both rated with 4. For La Prensa, Taibo's ratings were: 7-4-4-x (last one vs Chile) and sub JC.Leiva got 7-7. The best rated was also peruvian Asca with 7-7-9-7-9-x (missed 1-2 vs PAR). The second best rated GK was Castilho with 7-6-x-8 (? game vs Bolivia) FBs: Davoine got x-7-5-x (first X in the 3-5 loss vs Peru and 2nd X in the 0-1 loss vs Chile). So, he could be the 3rd best RB. D.Santos had a better case with a x-7-8-x (missing 4-2 win vs Bolivia and 1-1 vs Argentina) Other good case is Lombardo, with 7-6-6-6-x (missing final match vs Brazil) Peruvian Fleming had 7-8-6 (only played 3 matches) The Left Backs were poor in this tournament. CBs: Benites was the #1 CB with 10-7-6-5-4-x (loss vs Paraguay). Behind him Griffa, with 8-5-6-x (draw vs Brazil) Silveira, I think played as Fourth Back, also a strong CA with 7-7-6-x (loss vs CHI). MFs: Mouriño had a great CA with 8-8-6-x (draw vs Brazil) Formiga got probably a 6,67 in only 3 games. Also, Zito played only 3 matches with ratings 6-6-x (win vs Bolivia). Dino Sani only played the final match, so I don't count him. Cap, got 4-4-7-7-6-x (draw vs Brazil), so he could a sub for midfielders. An unknown contender is Sanabria, with ratings 5-6-7-7-6-x (win vs Peru) AMs: Pele's ratings were 8-8-x-9-8-x (missed win vs BOL and draw vs ARG) Didi's ratings were 9-5-x-6-9-x (missed win vs BOL and draw vs ARG) Loayza had 7-9-6-6-4-x (loss vs Paraguay) Demarco had 6-6-6-5-x (loss vs Chile) Pizzuti had 7-4-5-5-5-x (draw vs Brazil) Calla had 6-6-9-5-6-x (draw vs Brazil) Terry was erratic too with ratings 6-8-8-4-4 WGs: Garrincha had x-7-8-x (critized by erratic performances, so X were probably poor/mediocre ratings) Belén had 5-5-6-6-8-x (draw vs Brazil) Escalada had 5-6-7-7-x (loss vs Chile) Gómez Sánchez was erratic with ratings 7-10-5-4-3-x (loss vs Paraguay) Seminario was erratic too, with ratings 9-5-5-4-5-x (loss vs Paraguay) CFs: P.Valentim had 6-x-9-6-x (win vs Bolivia and draw vs Argentina) Joya had 7-10-6-4-6-x (loss vs Paraguay) Douksas had 6-6-6-6-4x (loss vs Chile)
El Grafico 1959 Best XI: ------------ Asca Davoine --- Benites --- Silveira --------- Cap --- Mouriño ------ Didi -------------- Pelé Garrincha --- Douksas --- Belén HM: Taibo - * - Zito, Dino Sani - Demarco, Loayza, Sasia, Pizzutti Notes: Dino played 1 match only. Zito played 3 matches. Taibo and Pizzutti had an irregular tournament. Silveira seems to have played as CB in a 2-3-5 formation or as a 4th Back in a sort of 4-2-4 system, but is placed as LB due to poor performances by real LBs. In its "Better players" comments, El Gráfico placed: Didi Pelé Mouriño Belén ... And literally says that: "... for example, in figures as Didi and Pelé, no one knows, is this order that should be placed, or the other way around or both share the first place, leaving the second place uncalled..."
Best individual ratings according peruvian La Prensa, 1959 10 Benites (Per) vs Brazil Gómez Sánchez (Per) vs Uruguay Joya (Per) vs Uruguay 9 Callá (Arg) vs Perú (not praised highly by EG) Didi (Bra) vs Perú Didi (Bra) vs Paraguay Pelé (Bra) vs Uruguay Paulo Valentim (Bra) vs Uruguay Asca (Per) vs Argentina Asca (Per) vs Bolivia Loayza (Per) vs Uruguay Seminario (Per) vs Brazil
El Gráfico 1942 Coming up mostly every match of the 1942 South American Championship held in Montevideo, Uruguay, with photos and brief comments.
The South American 1942 tournament had Argentina enter as defending champs from the previous 1941 event held in Chile, considered up to that point the most significant accomplishment in Argentina’s history, due to the degree of difficulty of conquering a title outside of Argentinian territory (although they had won before in Peru) and because the competition by 1941 was evolving and expanding with more entries. By 1942 Argentina was generally considered the premier team on the continent, with high-profile players, like Moreno, Pedernera, Garcia... But other famous names from different countries would also participate. There was the legendary goalkeeper from Chile, Livingstone. Uruguay had Obdulio Varela. Brazil had Zizinho. Uruguay and Argentina were obviously seen as the favorites, with Brazil in the conversation. This was a tournament that retroactively Obdulio Varela was chosen as the best player. We will see through the coverage of El Gráfico’s magazine if that falls in line with the views of 1942. I will give my brief comments of each match, based on the assessment of El Gráfico’s coverage at that time.
South American Championship 1942 Uruguay 6-1 Chile Uruguay made their debut demolishing Chile, but their performance was not considered to have reached a top display. Chile employed a man to man tactic, attempting to emulate the European defensive schemes at that time, but evidently Chile were not Europeans and this tactic backfired. The right winger, Castro for Uruguay, was viewed as the most attractive player on the pitch, evidently pointing to the man of the match for El Gráfico. The center-half, Obdulio Varela was considered the second best performer. However, the article also mentioned that the Uruguayan newspaper of “El Diario”, would have inverted the positions, with Obdulio Varela as the man of the match. In addition, the newspaper of “La Razón”, chose Castro as the most brilliant on the pitch, while to level things, another newspaper, “La Plata”, chose Obdulio Varela. Although Castro was a forward that attracted the crowds, Varela as centre-half, had to use precision to sustain a defense and distribute with clarity in order for the team to spring forward into attack. Furthermore, he shut down Chile’s attacker Dominguez. Chile disappointed and it was said they regressed in comparison to previous years. They were not viewed as a true test to the home side. It must be stated that goalkeeper Livingstone was absent. For many of the neutrals or foreigners, Uruguay were viewed as the favorites but Argentina still had to be stopped.
South American Championship 1942 Argentina 4-3 Paraguay One of the joint-favorites with Uruguay, neighbors Argentina struggled but finally beat an always combative Paraguayan side. The players that stood out was the Argentinian right winger, Tassoni, considered one of the best that produced the most danger on his flank. Enrique “el chueco” Garcia, the famous left winger for Argentina, was decisive and considered with José Moreno the best players for Argentina. Moreno it was said was the great star on the field. In general Argentina’s attack played well, but their defense would be an issue. Paraguay, it was said, did an admirable job, considering the level of opposition they were confronting.
These pictures made it look like the games were played in pitch dark nights! Great stuff as always dude.
South American Championship 1942 Brazil 6-1 Chile The other favorite, Brazil destroyed a very “flojo” (means weak or disappointing) Chilean side. Chile, again was missing goalkeeper Livingstone, his replacement, Fernandez was considered “weak” and contributed to their heavy defeat. It was said that Brazil didn’t shine as expected and that Chile continued to tactically execute poorly in this competition. Not much is mentioned about the standout players, but Dino for Brazil is considered the star of the match and a revelation in his country.
South American Championship 1942 Peru 1-1 Paraguay Peru officially were considered the defending champions of South America. The 1941 winners, Argentina, had won in an unofficial extra tournament held in Chile. Peru and Paraguay are viewed as pretty much equal in terms of strengths, both superior than Chile and Ecuador in the competition. Both sides produced an entertaining encounter. Peru was considered a technically better side while Paraguay a more dangerous team. Peru’s goalkeeper shined but it was Magallanes getting most of the praise for the Limeño team. For Paraguay, Ortega as conductor played well, but they were not considered a side that possessed standout figures.
South American Championship 1942 Uruguay 7-0 Ecuador Uruguay thrashed the weakest side in the competition. Ecuador was viewed as an amateur team still learning and the match was more like a training session for the home side. Obdulio Varela once again was praised for his performance, but against the weakest side not much could be properly assessed yet. Things had to be judged in better light against the main contenders of Argentina and Brazil.
Some front cover images of the famous players of the 1942 competition. Goalkeeper Sergio Livingston was considered one of the stars of the championship.
South American Championship 1942 Argentina 2-1 Brazil Crucial match between the two favorites. The best attack (Argentina) vs the best defense (Brazil) — (Yes, Brasil were regarded to have the best defense in the competition). The match itself was the best of the tournament so far. Argentina had deserved the win, but were lucky that Brazil’s team had a contrasting side of an average attack compared to their defense and midfield. This time neither Garcia or Moreno would shine for Argentina. In the first half El chueco was canceled out and Moreno was “flojo” (weak or disappointing). In the second period they came close to scoring but evidently not much of an impact they made. With those players shut down, the responsibility laid on Pedernera and Heredia to conduct play, but they too had no impact. The defense of Argentina had staved off the Brazilians, a surprise considering that Argentina boasted a vulnerable backline. For Brazil, Brandao, Dino and Alfonsinho had shined in the first half. In addition, Tim, Domingos and Cajú were the best for Brazil. Argentina had defeated a very difficult side, which possessed a solid midfield and defense. But the defeat for Brazil virtually had eliminated them from winning the tournament. Argentina had things to correct but this win had elevated their optimism going forward.
It seems the defense held it together with captain Salomón (until he retired injured) and then Perucca and Montañez (although played briefly) received certain praise. But overall no one in particular stood out.
South American Championship 1942 Argentina 12-0 Ecuador Details of the match are overlooked, just an emphasis that some press voices accused Argentina of mocking their opponents. However, it was refuted by El Gráfico that stated the players took the game seriously by scoring a record amount of goals in the history of this competition. José Moreno scored 5 goals in this match, but against a naive and amateurish side, it was easy to dismiss this performance as it obviously seemed like a training session. The real test had been against Brazil and Uruguay would be the last real hurdle for Argentina.