As defending champions Brazil prepared to play their Group 3 matches at Goodison Park during the 1966 World Cup, excitement swept through Merseyside. Residents decorated Claudia Street, off Walton Lane, with flags and flowers to welcome Pele and his teammates. However, the on-field samba failed to deliver a third consecutive title, despite an opening 2-0 victory over Bulgaria.
Local Preparations and Cultural Advice
Robert Watson, a Wirral missionary who had lived in Brazil's Mato Grosso region for five years, told the ECHO: “The Mato Grosso is a large tract of unexplored and underdeveloped country. But this is one of the rapidly growing areas of Brazil and the people there are just football mad like the rest.” Recalling the 1962 World Cup, he added: “The moment a goal was scored they rushed out of their homes and set off giant fire crackers.”
Meanwhile, Spellow Lane Church prepared to offer refreshments to Brazilian fans. Their former vicar, the Rev. Mervyn Bufton, who had moved to São Paulo, wrote with a crucial warning: “Don’t offer them coffee because you can't possibly make it the way they like it! Merely to try would, in their eyes, be like insulting their coffee. Offer them weak tea instead. They love it.”
Brazil's Opening Victory at Goodison
On July 12, Brazil defeated Bulgaria 2-0 with goals from Pele and Garrincha. ECHO reporter Michael Charters wrote: “Brazil moved smoothly through the opening defence of their world title at Goodison Park last night and showed in their 2-0 victory over Bulgaria that it will take a highly talented team indeed to prevent them from going on to a hat-trick of World Cup successes.” He praised the quality of play, noting it “makes all the effort of staging the World Cup here worthwhile.”
Both goals came from free-kicks. Pele scored first around the 15th minute after being fouled by Zhechev, curling a low shot past the wall and goalkeeper Naidenov, who was unsighted as the ball deflected off his arm into the net. Garrincha sealed the win on 63 minutes with “an incredible shot from 20 yards past the Bulgars’ line-up and Naidenov was airborne when the ball was in the top corner.”
Star Performers and Cultural Contrasts
Charters observed: “Pele’s artistry was there for all to see. For long periods he was out of the game but he moves like lightning when the crucial moment arrives. His chipped passes with either foot, his deft and deadly passing through a wall of defenders opened the way for Alcindo and others.” Of Garrincha, he wrote: “The ‘Little Bird’ of great fame, quickly delighted the crowd with his intricate dribbling, not all of which succeeded but still showed the sort of high individual skill which makes spectating a pleasure.”
Charters also noted the cultural contrast in the press box: “It was rather strange to be surrounded by Brazilian Press men who cheered every move of their own side!”
Brazil's Ultimate Disappointment
Despite the promising start, Brazil failed to advance past the group stage, losing to Hungary and Portugal. The carnival atmosphere at Goodison ultimately ended in disappointment for the defending champions.
