WFI‘s Adam Brandon counts down to Russia 2018 with 90 World Cup goals in 90 days, scored in the minute corresponding to the day in the countdown.
Context
Following the national trauma of losing the 1950 World Cup final on home soil and a brutal exit to Hungary four years later, it left Brazil still searching for the formula to win football’s greatest prize.
In 1958 they travelled to Sweden with their biggest backroom staff to date, including a dentist, nutritionist and psychologist. They were also given strict orders to follow.
It worked – although they luckily ignored the advice of the psychologist who said to drop Garrincha.
They made it to the final against hosts Sweden and found themselves one goal down after just four minutes.
The Goal
Vava pulled it level five minutes later:
What Happened Next?
Vava scored again as did a certain Pele and Brazil won 5-2. It was to be the first of five successful tournaments and they are one of the favourites to make it six in Russia 2018.
Vava scored again in the World Cup final four years later to become the first man to score in two different World Cup finals.
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