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Poems tagged ‘Puskas’

An early history of Honved in Rhyme

bob white

Saturday, March 28th, 2020

Now there’s a once famous team who wouldn’t spring to mind
Turn your gaze East and travel back in time
Once fixed upon Hungary seek the Red and Black
Once called Kispest, the great Honved stand out from the pack

Kispest, once merely a village, certainly birthed a great team
Encompassed by Budapest, in the ’50’s one of the best seen
On the auspicious 3rd of August 1909 they were formed
From humble village beginnings a legend was born

Success though had to be put on hold
A win in the Maygar cup 1926, many more myths would be told
That beautiful ground Bozsik must have erupted in exultation
Born proper a team that would capture a nation

Our next milestone is ’43
That shining star Puskas the fans would now see
’49 esteemed coach Seale arrives
Now the cups will come, the victories, the club thrives

But Communism came along coincidentally
Only giving a model for the league which was key
All clubs nationalised; Honved captured by the army
Seale had a plan in mind, he got it right down to a tee

Military conscription meant to Honved many players came
Now decked out with the best, awaiting fame
Seale had watched the continent’s front-runners
Italy, twice world cup winners in the ’30’s, only two clubs made up their numbers

Thus Honved would be the frame for the nation
Hungary, Olympic champions in ’52, they caused a sensation
England, considered the best, were put to the sword twice
All culminating in the ’54 world cup final, but alas loss had to suffice

Back locally Honved matched the national side
4 titles in the ’50’s, they were well in their stride
During that decade came a prestigious European exhibition
England’s finest Wolves, however, were firmer in their ambition

The political stage would provide an event unsurpassed
To crush revolution the Soviets invaded, for the club the dye was cast
In Bilbao for the European cup they were
A refusal to return home proved a downward spur

A tour of the Med quickly commenced
By now FIFA had declared them outlawed in status and sense
A draw with Madrid preceded a win over Barca’
But only some would return to the might Maygars

With FIFA’s declaration of illegality some returned
Yet for the very best Hungary was spurned
Puskas cemented his legend with Madrid’s famous Whites
He would go on to provide some sublime sights

And therefore our wee historical poem is complete
We have seen the great Honved on many stages compete
Perhaps the finest Hungarians ever seen
By this the legendary Red and Blacks we mean.

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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/puskas/