Trivia and Facts-Part 17

1-After Eric Cantona’s departure from French Football in early 1992, he tried out for Sheffield Wednesday by playing in an indoor tournament.

Before giving him a contract, Sheffield manager Trevor Francis wanted to see him play on grass, he therefore wanted to extend the trial period to an extra week.

Cantona refused and left and signed for Leeds United and won the League title at the end of the season.

Photo from:  Goal, November 1995

(Eric Cantona in a Sheffield Wednesday jersey)

2- During much of the 1960s and 70s, Italy’s stars were AC Milan’s Gianni Rivera and Inter’s Sandro Mazzola.

For the 1970 World Cup, they were both vying for the same position in the team.

So good were they both, that it was unthinkable to eliminate one at the expense of the other. While at the same time the other positions could not be disrupted.

Italy Manager Ferrucio Valcareggi came up with a compromise of sorts. Each player would play one half. Mazzola would play the first half and Rivera would replace him for the second half.

This policy came to be known as ‘La Staffetta’ (The Relay).

Photo from: 100 Anni del Campionato del Calcio

(Gianni Rivera and Sandro Mazzola)

3- In early 1992, Diego Maradona was still serving his ban for failing a drugs test the previous season with his club Napoli.

He played a charity match to raise funds for the family of recently deceased footballer, Juan Gilberto Funes (ex-River Plate).

Some at FIFA suggested that he was violating his ban by playing.
There was such an outcry from Argentines that FIFA had to drop the matter and stated there would be no violation, since it was only a charity match.

Photo from : World Soccer, April 1993

(Diego Maradona pursued by Branco, February 18, 1993, Argentina 1-Brazil 1)

4- Before the match between Poland and Brazil during the 1978 World Cup (June 21^st) , Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski took medicine for his cold and running nose. It turned out that the medication might have contained banned substances. He was dropped in favor of Zygmunt Kukla.

Photo from:  World Cup 78, Author Phil Soar

(Poland goalkeeper JanTomaszewski, June 10, 1978, World Cup, Poland 3-Mexico 1)

5- In the late 1970s Italy’s lineup mostly consisted of players from the two most in-form teams of the time, Juventus and Torino.

Prior to Italy’s match vs. Belgium on January 26, 1977 (2-1 Italy win), Italian manager Enzo Bearzot was under presuure by authorities to include AS Roma or Lazio players in his lineup to attract the Roman crowd.

Undeterred, Bearzot replied “I’m paid to look after the Football team, not the bank account”

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(Paolino Pulici of Torino in action vs. Belgium, January 26, 1977, Italy 2-Belgium 1)