I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this! What a fantastic footballer he was, and how much better could he have been without all the baggage? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16017071.stm
I'm surprised too Canary-dave. I thought the 1986 Brazil team that contained some true greats such as Socrates, Falcao and Zico was probably the best Brazil team that I have seen in my lifetime. It was a tragedy that Brazil succumbed to a penalty shoot out defeat to France in the quarter finals. Had they beaten France I reckon they would have gone all the way. Socrates was a fantastic player, so graceful for such a big man. A sad day for football. RIP Socrates.
The 1986 Brazil team did contain many of the great players from the 1982 team but they were of course all a bit older by then. Overall, the 1982 team was probably a better side and the goals they scored in this tournament were sublime. I remember the goal that Socrates scored against the USSR, an absolute beauty.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZxvYy5-ekI
The 82 side were even better as they were all in their prime. How they lost to Italy i'll never know.
Praps it's cos they play in yellow and green shirts? Or praps it's cos they play the beautiful game? Either way, once England are knocked out of The World Cup it's Braaa-sil all the way for me. I'm old enough to remember that great 1970 team with Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Tostao, Carlos Alberto et al. However, that 1982 side would have given them a run for their money. That '82 team was the best ever NOT to win a World Cup. That's my opinion anyway. Socrates was a great player no doubt about that. I think I'm right in saying that he smoked 40 ***s a day too and that was when he was playing !
