The World Cup

[voice]

Yeah, but contrast that to those in the Iranian team who despite knowing they faced prison or death if they spoke out, did anyway.

[flatandy]

Just because other players are braver doesn't mean he's a bad person.

[voice]

Certainly not.

[unclejunior]

Pele won the World Cup for Brazil in58 when he was 18…
Think about it
He also won it as part of the greatest team of all time in 1970
Stop your bleating .. he is one of the GOAT .

God Bless him xxx

[perrykneeham]

Dec 3, 2022 22:09:22 GMT flatandy said:

Oddly the attempt to tar him with the 70s dictatorships always felt like a stretch: "Did you know? Did you criticise?" stuff, to which the answer is obviously yes and no, but that's true of lots of people who aren't fellow travellers with the Pinochets and Galtieris and Thatchers of this world.

But spending his last decade flogging Subway and Viagra and Volkswagen and all kinds of other sh*t felt a bit demeaned given his demi-god status. He began to be seen more as an advertising hoarding than a footballing great. I'm not sure that's fair, but it certainly happened.

I think footballers get a pass for that sort of thing (geddit, eh!?!?!?!?!)

Lineker, crisps etc.

[perrykneeham]

Also, Pelé's career was pretty much over by the time that popular protest against it had started. In fact, his career has at its height as Brazil experienced great economic growth.

The watchwords of that regime were nationalism, economic development and anti-communism. Not too shabby, and it's not like they were that heavy-handed in their repression. Bit of a lefty fever dream, really.

[ootlg]

"...spending his last decade flogging Subway and Viagra and Volkswagen and all kinds of other sh*t"

He was probably skint.

[perrykneeham]

Also, viagra's fine. Haven't needed it myself yet, but I'm told it works.

[flatandy]

Anyway, if - like me - you sometimes forget how good he was:

[perrykneeham]

So, England v Senegal kicks off in an hour's time.

"Who are ya? Who are ya? No, really, who are ya?"

[mids]

Marlene won't be happy.

[flatandy]

Very comfortable for England. Three great goals.

[unclejunior]

Next up the cheese eating surrender monkeys..!!😉

[flatandy]

If it wasn’t for Mmm!Bop! I’d make England favourite for that match. Instead it’s probably very marginally in France’s favour

[voice]

What the fcuk are FIFA playing at, they've just banned the exiled Afghan women's team from all competitions.

www.nytimes.com/2022/12/03/sports/soccer/world-cup-soccer-afghanistan-women.html

As the World Focuses on Soccer, a Women’s Team in Exile Aches to Play
The Afghan women’s national team fled to Australia when the Taliban took over. FIFA, yielding to Afghanistan’s soccer federation, no longer recognizes the team.

They are almost as scumy as the Tories.

[bertruss2]

The Brazilians, in full samba mode, rattle in 4 goals in the first half and dawdle through the second half. Great consolation goal for Korea. 4-1 at the end.

[flatandy]

Morocco knocking out Spain is hilarious. What some wag called "The Thriller in Melilla".

[mids]

The Re-reconquista.

[voice]

It was a great match and seeing Spain only score on penalty makes England look like penalty specialists.

[flatandy]

Spain scored zero penalties. None. Morocco have so far only conceded one goal all tournament, and that was an own goal. Against Canada!