Is there an era in which either Europe or S-A was truly dominant ?

Varela is a 40's player. Perhaps Néstor Rossi would be a more suitable candidate for the DM position.

 

That's a phenomenon that has become a pattern, at the very top level about individualities South America usually has the advantage, but to extend the range Europe balances the equation.

 

Or they get more hype. For example: for many Didi is a top 20 player of all-time, but what separates him from Xavi? The difference isn't that big, surely. Neither of them were complete players too, and needed a certain role to excel (Didi couldn't full-fill his potential as traditional inside-forward - they are really similar here in the way that they thrived in a 'limited' role).

 

Some numbers for the 1950s and 1960s:

South America vs. Europe

1950-1959

60 games in total
35 games won by South Americans
16 games won by Europeans
9 games undecided

125 goals for S. America
85 goals for Europe

Individual countries’ record (of S.American vs. European)

Argentina
14 games: 9 won, 1 draw, 4 defeats (20:17 goals)

Bolivia
no games

Brazil
29 games: 20 won, 5 draws, 4 defeats (71:29 goals)

Chile
5 games: 1 won, 4 defeats (5:8 goals)

Colombia
no games

Ecuador
no games

Paraguay
5 games: 1 won, 2 draws, 2 defeats (11:16 goals)

Peru
1 game: 1 won (4:1)

Uruguay
6 games: 3 won, 1 draw, 2 defeats (14:14 goals)

Venezuela
no games


1960-1969

118 games in total
49 games won by South Americans
45 games won by Europeans
24 games undecided

172 goals for S. America
189 goals for Europe


Individual countries’ record

Argentina
22 games: 8 won, 8 draw, 6 defeats (23:22 goals)

Bolivia
no games

Brazil
44 games: 28 won, 8 draws, 8 defeats (96:59 goals)

Chile
25 games: 10 won, 2 draws, 13 defeats (30:46 goals)

Colombia
2 games: 1 draw, 1 defeat (4:9 goals)

Ecuador
no games

Paraguay
no games

Peru
2 gamew: 2 defeats (1:7)

Uruguay
23 games: 3 won, 5 draws, 15 defeats (18:46 goals)

Venezuela
no games

 

I once created a thread called "South America vs. Europe - Statistical Overview":

https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/south-america-vs-europe-statistical-overview.158741/

World Cup only.

 

Didi is far greater than Xavi as an individual player and whose contributions at the WC are easily on a higher level. Didi's peers are Charlton, Gerson and Falcao.

I rank Schiaffino and Didi as top 25 of all time, not just by position. Bozkik, Kopa, Gento are all great players but not considered at such high ranking (certainly top 100 though). And the 17-year-old Pele was able to have a great WC in Sweden, he has three superb years during that decade: 57, 58 and 59.

 

Define 'era'. If by 'era' you mean a series of ten years which have the first three digits in common, then no, neither continent has dominated the other. But more accurately that's called a decade. Eras are generally bookended by two significant events and I'm not sure what you classify as a significant event in football.

In terms of a shorter period I'd suggest the early-mid 70s, say about 72-76 as the biggest differential, in Europe's favour. But it's hardly fair to call that dominant.

I suppose it's almost bookended by the international careers of Pele and Maradona, so it kind of works out neatly in that respect.

 

On what basis do you rank Schiaffino and Didi that much ahead of Bokzik and Kopa ?

 

I can agree with Bozik ... but Kopa was often "underrated" by many ...
Blame on his less successful WC58 (only if Pele was not there?) and blame on Di Stefano/Puskas to have taken all fame for Real ....

 

Yeah I'm learning that on this forum opinions are valued a lot more than results.



[]__[]

 

To be fair, I think Pelé was already a world-class players as teenager at late 50's. It's one of the characteristics that makes his career so extraordinary.

 

Personally, I'd say Zizinho is also a 40's player. The best South American inside-forward apart of Pelé and Schiaffino at 50's was probably Sívori.

 

LOL so Germany won but in your mind they couldnt do it again. Once again we are back to assumptions and opinions.



[]__[]

 

Well, I think that South America also produced an exciting generation at 60's. I imagine a team like: Mazurkiewicz (Carrizo); Djalma Santos (Carlos Alberto), Perfumo (Figueroa), Sacchi (Albrecht), Marzolini; Rattín (Gonçalves), Gérson (Ademir); Garrincha (Cubilla, Jairzinho), Spencer (Artime, Sanfilippo, Coutinho), Pelé (Tostao, Sívori, Rocha), Pepe (Joya, L. Sánchez), and I couldn't notice any obvious advantage at overall.

 

On the basis that they don't belong in a top 25 by anyone's ranking, whereas Schiaffino and Didi have at least a very strong argument for it.

Gento, Kopa and Bozsik are among the best ever at their positions, but still not top 25 of all time. Didi and Schiaffino have certainly strong claims for it, thus they are the greater players.

 

One could forever pit names against each other or one could look at actual results.

I would give more weight to the latter.

 

You're right. Pele was an "uncrowned best player" from 58 to 61 and easily among the very top worldclass players
Until 1962 where he showed great performance in libertadore and intercontinental cup he became "undisputed best player" of the 60's