Taça das Nações

The Taça das Nações (Portuguese for Nations' Cup) was a football tournament played in Brazil in 1964 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Brazilian Football Confederation. Three international teams were invited, Argentina, Portugal and England, for the competition which was played in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo during late May and early June.

The tournament was intended to showcase the favourites for the upcoming 1966 FIFA World Cup hosted by England, but in the match between England and Brazil, Pelé devastated the England defence with skill and hard running, leaving England forward Jimmy Greaves to remark "Pelé is on another bloody planet". The England vs. Portugal game was also notable for being marred by controversy when Portuguese player José Torres attempted to punch the referee for disallowing an off-side Portuguese goal. The player was sent off, but was considered lucky not to face a lifetime ban from football. The Argentinian team eventually won the tournament after defeating Brazil in their game in São Paulo. Reportedly the Brazilian FA had already engraved the Brazilian player's names onto the watches intended as prizes for the winning team.

Table

The points system gave 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Results

footballbox
date = May 30, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|BRA
score = 5–1
team2 = fb|ENG
goals1 = Rinaldo 2, Pelé, Julinho, Roberto Dias
goals2 = Jimmy Greaves
stadium = Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro----footballbox
date = May 31, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|ARG
score = 2–0
team2 = fb|POR
goals1 = Alfredo Rojas, Alberto Rendo
goals2 =
stadium = Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro----footballbox
date = June 3, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|BRA
score = 0–3
team2 = fb|ARG
goals1 =
goals2 = Roberto Telch 2, Ermindo Onega
stadium = Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo----footballbox
date = June 4, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|ENG
score = 1–1
team2 = fb|POR
goals1 = Roger Hunt
goals2 = Fernando Peres
stadium = Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo----footballbox
date = June 6, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|ARG
score = 1–0
team2 = fb|ENG
goals1 = Alfredo Rojas
goals2 =
stadium = Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro----footballbox
date = June 7, 1964
team1 = fb-rt|BRA
score = 4–1
team2 = fb|POR
goals1 = Jairzinho 2, Pelé, Gérson
goals2 = Mário Coluna
stadium = Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

References

* [http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpT/CmpT1964.html Taça das Nações (Nations’ Cup) Tournament, Brazil, 1964]
* [http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/SumsGiller1960-65.html England matches 1960-65]
* [http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7689056 Player profile: Antonio Ubaldo Rattin]