Will Brazil finally beat Hungary ?

Can Brazil, now one-half century after the first Brazil-Hungary encounter in 1954, manage to beat Hungary ? Yes, it is true; they have never been able to do it. While that first match-up in the 1954 World Cup was between one of the great national elevens of all time and a more than capable Brazilian side, next week’s game is between FIFA’s number one and number seventy-second ranking. Admittedly, Hungary has not qualified for a World Cup since 1986 and, therefore, the potential of these two historic soccer nations meeting was reduced. Nevertheless, this is the record. In four encounters spanning from 1954 to 1986: Hungary three wins and one tie.

The Hungarian FA, undoubtedly with new manager Lothar Matteus’ interceding and clout was able to land a deal to bring Brazil to Hungary. Such an invitation is not for the budget conscious and the FA declared it a gift to Hungary celebrating its accession to the European Union on May 1st. In effect, the soccer commemoration and the Brazil-festival in Hungary will start on the 25th when Japan, lead by Zico, will take on Hungary at Zalaegerszeg. If Japan again displays the attractive attacking approach it showed during last year’s Confederation Cup, that game might be the better one than the star attraction on the 28th of April. Yet it is the old games that fascinate: the memory of those decades, the resonance of the names and the flashing of the (mostly black and white) images, on both sides.

The fifty-four game in Bern is widely recounted in numerous World Cup histories. The Magical Magyars, fresh from breaking England’s home record in 1953 and having stretched their unbeaten streak to more that five years, faced a Brazil of Castilho - Djalma Santos, Pinheiro, Nílton Santos - Brandãozinho, Bauer - Julinho, Didi, Índio, Humberto and Maurinho. Hungary opened ferociously and was up two-nothing in nine minutes ( ! ). Brazil made it 2:1 before the half, Hungarian winger M. Toth went down with a serious injury effectively reducing Hungary to ten men and the stage was set for a dramatic second half. It was 3:2 Hungary when Bozsik and Nilton Santos were sent off, legendary center forward Hidegkuti dropped back to right midfield and, with nine players and Toth painfully limping along on either side of the midfield line, Hungary scored again (by tournament scoring champion Kocsis) and won 4:2.

Nerves gave out on both sides as a brawl ensued with the final whistle that continued into the tunnel and dressing rooms. Hence the “Battle of Bern” sobriquet for Brazil-Hungary, 1954. Many felt this quarterfinal game was in affect the final game of the tournament in that the winner would surely take the Rimet Cup itself. Alas, it was not to be. But that is another tale.

Twelve years later, in 1966, another Brazil-Hungary World Cup match-up, now at Goodison Park in Liverpool. Hungary, having found the next generation of great Hungarian footballers (wonderful rather than Magical) faced the selecao of Gilmar - Djalma Santos, Bellini, Altair, Paulo Henrique - Lima, Gérson - Garrincha, Alcindo, Tostão and Jairzinho. Pele, chopped down cynically by Bulgaria previously (as was Puskas by Liebrich of W. Germany in 1954; oh the painful memories of the pre-yellow-card+red-card era) did not play. Nevertheless, the English press felt that this was the game of the tournament and that the performance of the tournament also happened here but from Hungary and not Brazil.

Bene scored for Hungary in the third minute as not much was learned by Brazil in twelve years in starting with a tight defense against Hungary. Tostao tied it for Brazil but then Hungary, lead by center-forward Florian Albert in superb form, thoroughly dominated in the second half. A brilliant Albert-Bene combination concluded with a devastating Farkas volley (older English fans still say it was the finest goal they have ever seen) made it 2:1 and then a penalty for Hungary closed it out at 3:1. Brazil faced elimination and a must win game against Eusebio-led Portugal but that, again, is another tale.

The third Brazil-Hungary was a friendly in Rio de Janiero on July 22, 1971. Clearly a post season bonus-tour for Hungary which was not a small perk for any squad hailing from the socialist-block. Astonishingly, Brazil played five games at home and two in Argentina between the 11th and the 31st of July, in this order: Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Paraguay and Argentina, twice. The goalless draw with Hungary was achieved by a Brazil of Félix - Zé Maria, Brito, Piazza, Everaldo – Clodoaldo, Gérson - Zequinha, Vaguinho, Tostão and Rivelino.

The fourth and last meeting was also a friendly, now in Budapest on March 16, 1986. Brazil played with a line-up of Leão - Édson Boaro, Oscar, Mozer, Dida - Elzo, Alemão, Silas - Renato Gaúcho, Casagrande and Sidney (Müller). Brazil played West Germany three days earlier in Frankfurt with Marinho, Falcao, Socrates and Careca in the line-up yet loosing 2:0. These players were rested at Budapest and a very good Hungarian side led by Tibor Nyilasi won 3:0 with Detari, K. Kovacs and Esterhazy scoring. This eighty-six Hungarian team was Hungary’s last top flight team. Illustratively, six months earlier they beat Holland in Rotterdam 2:1 with Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten to qualify for the Mondiale in Mexico, 1986.

Falcao and Careca of course conjure up the great Roma and Napoli sides of the eighties while Esterhazy, well, the great Haydn symphonies commissioned by Prince Miklos Esterhazy of the seventeenth century. Yes, Marton Esterhazy, striker of Honved Budapest in those years, is of that family. How fortunes can change in a couple of centuries but that is also, another tale.

The fifth Brazil-Hungary encounter of this Wednesday will likely produce the selecao’s first victory against Hungary. Yet in the hopes of this fan, pulling for the Magyars from afar and counting on Matteus-led Hungary being inspired by first beating Zico-led Japan, might just pull out a draw.
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[ P.S. - I could not locate the line-ups of Hungary in the matches of 1971 and 1986. Would love to read them if some would take the time to find them. Many thanks. ]

 

A nice try.

The Brazilian Federation lists Brazil as having played more than 1,000 international games. This amount far exceeds the number of games major European soccer nations played becouse only truly first string, full, adult internationals against like oponents are considered. By illustration, England has yet to reach six hundred internationals, Germany and Italy are approaching six-hundred and fifty.

Brazil, and I believe Argentina as well as Uruguay, count B-Team, Olympic team and national team vs. club team exhibitions as full internationals. While a touring Hungary in 1965 did play a sort of Brazil (Hungarian statistics list the game as Budapest Select vs. Brazil B-Team) in Sao Paolo and did lose the game 5:3, on the same day, there was a Brazil (A-Team) vs. Soviet Union game in Rio. Vincente Feola's line-up in Rio clearly had Brazil's better, first string, international players. The score there was 2:2.

Truth be told, the humble designation of the Hungarian squad as the select team of its capital does not reflect the fact that it indeed was Hungary's first, top level, national team. In fact, the attacking trio of Bene, Albert and Farkas, who were to take Brazil apart the following year in the World Cup, did play that day in Sao Paolo.

Still, with the European view of what constitutes an "international", this game was not. Desculpe.