Soccer Nostalgia: Stanley Rous Cup-Part 3 (1987)

Starting from the Third Edition of the Rous Cup in 1987, the organizers decided to make the annual England-Scotland match-up even more interesting by adding a guest.

For the Final three editions of this Tournament a South American guest would be invited to take part.

For this 1987 edition, Brazil became the first ever guests. Brazil had been inactive since the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

Tele Santana had departed from his post and the era of Zico, Socrates and Falcao was over.

Brazil had appointed a new Manager on March 9^th 1987, Carlos Alberto Silva. His task was to build a younger side to compete in the following year’s Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Carlos Alberto Silva would select a younger squad with this in mind and also out of necessity. Some European teams were reluctant to release their Brazilian players for this Tour, while even some Brazilian clubs followed suit as they had commitments of their own.

From C.A. Silva’s initial call –ups, up to nine players were withdrawn within days.

Flamengo, Guarani and Sao Paulo announced they would not release their players. Ze Carlos, Jorginho, Bebeto (all three from Flamengo), Ricardo Rocha, Joao Paulo (both from Guarani) and Careca, Luis Muller, Silas, Nelsinho (all four from Sao Paulo) were all held back with their clubs.

For the Napoli-bound Sao Paulo striker Careca, his reason to drop out was given as fatigue.

After negotiations, the Brazil management were to able to obtain the release of Guarani and Sao Paulo players (except Careca), but Flamengo still refused to release its players.

Scotland had appointed Andy Roxburgh as Manager following the 1986 World Cup. However, the team was struggling especially in finding the net.

The team was more or less eliminated from its UEFA European Championship Group.

In contrast, England were flying high in their qualifying Group with Gary Lineker picking up where he had left off in the previous year’s World Cup and scoring goals consistently.

Bobby Robson had built up a solid team and to many believed England were already one of the favorites for the following year’s Euros to be held in West Germany.

The Tournament kicked off at Wembley on May 19^th, 1987, with England hosting the new-look Brazil.

For Brazil seven players were making their International debuts: Geraldao, Ricardo Rocha, Nelsinho, Douglas, Edu Marangon, Mirandhina and Valdo.

In addition, near the end two future Brazilian Captains would also make their debuts: Carlos Dunga and Rai (the younger brother of Socrates).

Josimar, Silas and Muller had made their debuts for Brazil the previous year but were still relatively young and inexperienced in the International arena.

Josimar had been one of the discoveries of the 1986 World Cup and had scored against Northern Ireland and Poland in the World Cup.

The only veteran in Brazil’s side was goalkeeper Carlos (holdout from 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups).

For the English, Bobby Robson handed a debut to Nottingham Forest defender Stuart Pearce, who would be a mainstay of the National Team set up into the next decade.

The English were good in the early going with Peter Reid in midfield and Peter Beardsley impressive in attack.

They took the lead in the 35^th minute. Bryan Robson released Beardsley on the left side. His cross was met by Gary Lineker who scored with a diving header into an empty net.

Just a minute later, Brazil tied the match. A long cross from the middle reached Luis Muller on right side. When he crossed, England goalkeeper Peter Shilton was stretched beyond and could only touch the ball and Mirandhina tapped it in.

Brazil were better and more enterprising in second half as they grew in confidence.

The match ended satisfactorily in a tie (1-1) for both sides.

Most Observers marveled at Brazil’s technical display and predicted a bright future with this Group.

Afterwards it would be discovered that Josimar had broken curfew and gone out at night in London, the day prior this match. He would be reprimanded for his action. (This was a sign of things to come as he would lose out a place in the 1990 World Cup side and axed from the Brazil squad for continuous non-discipline off the field).

Brazil’s Mirandhina would cash in on his goalscoring debut and join English Club Newcastle United after the Tournament.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Chile, 1989

(Gary Lineker scoring with a header, May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Forever England, A History of the National Side, Authors Mark Shaoul, Tony Williamson

(Gary Lineker celebrating, May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Brazil, 1990

(May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Placar, Issue 887, June 1, 1987

(Mirandhina celebrating, May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1990

(Peter Beardsley, May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Brazil, 1990

(May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Brazil, 1990

(May 19, 1987, Rous Cup, England 1-Brazil 1)

Four days later on May 23^rd, the annual England-Scotland took place at Glasgow.

On the same day Brazil took on Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Dublin (and lost 0-1).

For Scotland, the Dundee United contingent were missing as they had been involved in the Second-Leg Final of the UEFA Cup vs. Sweden’s IFK Gothenburg just days earlier.

Andy Roxburgh handed a debut to Leicester City’s Ian Wilson.

England made some changes from the Brazil match. Shilton, Adams, Reid, Barnes and Lineker were rested.

In their place Bobby Robson selected Chris Woods (in goal), Mark Wright, Steve Hodge, Glenn Hoddle and Mark Hateley.

It would a match such poor quality that the crowd jeered the players at halftime. The teams appeared drained after a long season and the match was riddled with series of misplaced passes.

The quality somewhat increased in the second half but not enough and the spectacle remained unimpressive.

The closet either team came to scoring was when Scottish substitute Charlie Nicholas struck the bar.

This marked only the third time that an England and Scotland match had ended scoreless. The only other times had been the first ever match in History in 1872 between the two nations and also in 1970.

Photo From: Scotland, the complete international Football Record, Author Richard Keir

(Team Captains Bryan Robson and Roy Aitken, May 23, 1987, Rous Cup, Scotland 0-England 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Scotland, 1988

(Paul McStay and Bryan Robson, May 23, 1987, Rous Cup, Scotland 0-England 0)