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Poems tagged ‘Eusebio’

My Life As A Football Fan

Steven Taylor

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

We used to sing that Charlton (Bobby) was better than Pele.

We knew he wasn’t, objectively, but we hoped the song
Would inspire him to play better. Also, it was a measure
Of our faith. In the team, in our players. The Red Devils. Their

Collective and individual qualities. An expression of solidarity
Our willingness to stand beside them, even as the firing squad

In Goya’s great painting, ‘Third of May 1808’
Took aim and waited the command to fire. Fearless.

We were inspired and defiant. Bobby was the man
In the white shirt with his arms spread. Christ-like.
Front and centre. More than eight feet by eleven feet.
Colossal. Taller than a goal post if not (quite) as wide.

When Goya began his masterpiece he was already
In poor health and profoundly deaf. Aged 68. Me.

He wouldn’t have heard our song even if he had been stood
With us in the middle of the Stretford End. It describes Pele,
A Brazilian (and Eusebio, who played for Benfica, Portugal)

As ‘no good bums’, which somewhat diminishes Charlton’s
Status. If they were so rubbish, what kind of achievement
Was it to be better? Surely it would have made more sense
For the song to have elevated them? His contemporaries.

Football fans are an irrational bunch.

Goya’s painting transformed war art, breaking with
The European tradition of depicting kings and generals
And showing us the greater (almost divine) heroism
Of the common man. As luck would have it, United

Had become the first English football team to win
The European Cup in May 1968, defeating Eusebio
And Benfica at Wembley by four goals to one. Bobby
Charlton scored twice. A glancing header followed
By a beautiful flick with his right foot. I can’t remember

If the song came before or after.

 

Bobby was diagnosed with Dementia and died  aged 86 after an accidental fall in Macclesfield General Hospital on 21 October 2023.

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World Cup History

Sharon Jones

Monday, June 4th, 2018

In 1930 the World Cup was born
And its birth pangs sang its joy
Jules Rimet the midwife and nurse
The victors Uruguay

The strength of Meazza and Monti shone free
1934 in the glory that was Rome
Zamora and Langara jewels for Spain
But it was the squadra azzurra who took the cup home

1938 and the playing fields of France
Before truth and justice began to die
Italy the victors Mussolini smiled
But it was Leonidas who caught the world’s eye

1950 broke the heart of all Brasil
Whilst the English in their debut fell to ground
Chico and Zizinho flew from heaven it is said
But Ghiggia with his guns shot them down

1954 and the miracle of Puskas
The Major his Magyars the kings
But the crafty Germans just ripped up the script
And galloped away with the win

1958 Didi magician with Pele and Vava
Against Kopa and Fonataine they shone
Without one defeat the world at their feet
Brasil brought the spirit of football home

1962 Decca turned down The Beatles
Guitar groups are on their way out
Elvis retired but then changed his mind and
The Boys from Brasil kept their crown

1966 Charlton and Beckenbauer duel
A disputed goal a hat trick for Hurst
Eusebio shone his boots of fire
An England victory a blessing or curse?

1970 burst in colour onto the screen
As football glimpsed its very soul
Brasil served up a football dream
The Carlos Alberto screaming goal

1974 the reincarnation of Van Gogh
His swirling colours on a canvas of grass
Cruyff and Neeskens and Krol picked up the brushes
But Beckenbauer and Muller made them put them back

1978 and the legend Mario Kempes
His boots ringing with those goals
Blew right through defences
And tore up the dreams of the Dutch Soul

1982 Rossi would find forgiveness
And bring his country joy
In the final fired his cannons
And German defences all destroyed

1986 and Maradona
Beat Shilton with his left hand
But the second such a miracle
God screamed “GOAL!” from the stands!

1990 Germany defends
And Klinsmann takes the prize
Maradona’s boots still full of tricks but
Crocodile tears fall from his eyes

1994 Romario smiles but
It’s deep despair for Baggio
Brasil gained its fourth World cup
By selling the beauty of its soul

1998 and Les Bleus once again
Multi-racial colours blend
Zinedine Zidane commanding all
Are you watching Le Pen?

2002 and Brasil burns back
Ronaldo finds his golden boots
The kings are slain by Senegal
The swordsman? El Hadji Douf

2006 and Materazzi the villain
ZiZou left the field in disgrace
Klose scored 5 for the golden boot
England as per off the pace

2010 and world cup history is made
South African grass for football is laid
Spain took the prize with Iniesta’s lone goal
The Dutch broken hearted taking silver not gold

2014 and Brasil was the host
But they couldn’t vanquish that old 1950 ghost
The Germans took honours and Merkel she danced
Gotz got the goal, Messi missed his chance!

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Source: https://footballpoets.org/news/poem-tags/eusebio/