Through the passage of time many a Sunday football league has staged a Consolation Cup, a subsidiary competition held primarily to sustain interest for also-rans who failed to progress beyond the formative stage of a coveted trophy.
Applying such an analogy to the international game might be overstating the case, yet in truth it is hard to escape the sense of failure and contrivance attached to the American Bicentennial Tournament of late-May 1976. While the four-strong field consisted of three countries who had won six of the ten World Cup tournaments played to date, two of the number, namely Italy and England were there more out of shame than fame – both having failed to qualify for the forthcoming final stages of the 1976 European Championships being staged in Yugoslavia.
The pair of entrants from Europe were joined by three time World Cup winners Brazil, whose star had been on the wane since their third and historic triumph of 1970, the Brazilians then with the incomparable Pele as their fulcrum, extending the possibilities of how beautifully the game could be played.
Six years on and now at the age of 35, Pele would be a star attraction of the Bicentennial football jamboree, only now playing under a flag of convenience and commerce, representing the Stars and Stripes as a member of the Team America side. This ensemble was drawn from those playing in the fledgling North American Soccer League – their ranks boosted by another former World Cup winning captain, victorious 1966 England World Cup skipper Bobby Moore, currently combining domestic English duties with second division Fulham by summer moonlighting in the colours of San Antonio Thunder.
With England, Italy and Brazil mired in varying degrees of malaise, the tournament offered little but negative connotations – victories dismissed as kickabout nonsense (literally in the case of The FA), defeats bringing more consternation. Indeed, only Team America had anything to gain, ambitions of raising the profile of soccer were coupled with belief among U.S. followers of the sport those representing the host country could beat three ailing aristocrats of world football and win the tournament.
To this end they were also expecting to have the virtuoso talents of George Best and Rodney Marsh to call upon. Two of the most gifted players seen in post-war British football they would shortly be lining up alongside Moore, although it would be five months later beside the Thames at Craven Cottage rather than in the land of milk and honey – this American dream dashed when both decided to give the initial Team America squad meeting a trademark body swerve.
Having lost a British Championship fixture in dispiriting fashion to Scotland three days before making the transatlantic flight, England, despite victories over Wales and Northern Ireland in the days prior to losing at Hampden Park, had yet to emerge from the shadow of failing to top their European Championship qualifying group – an eventuality that ruled out progress to the quarter-finals.
Unbeaten in the 11-match, 15 month reign of manager Don Revie up until the crucial October 1975 qualifier in Czechoslovakia, England had been found wanting for mental toughness and tactical acumen in suffering a 2-1 defeat. Their fate was then sealed by a floundering 1-1 draw in Portugal the following month, the Czechs topping a group England had in their own hands to win.
Following on from not making the cut at the 1974 World Cup, which had cost ’66 managerial supremo Sir Alf Ramsey his job, the appointment of Revie, who as boss of Leeds United had won every domestic honour at least once, was perceived a failsafe move to prevent any such repeat of England not being present at the finals of a major tournament.
Losing to Scotland in the Home Internationals had accentuated the deepening cracks between Revie and his Lancaster Gate paymasters, speculation already rife that both parties were covertly exploring ways to end a rocky relationship. The manager reportedly expressed his antipathy toward The FA and international football as a whole, by making the off-the-record comment of ‘I left Leeds for this?’ following the recent uninspiring victory over Wales in Cardiff.
While Revie had jettisoned redoubtable players such as Alan Ball and Emlyn Hughes (a temporary state of affairs in regard to the latter), he now found himself without experience beyond first-choice Ray Clemence in the goalkeeping department, 21-cap ‘keeper Peter Shilton (Stoke City) no longer wishing to be considered for international call-ups if it meant playing second fiddle to Clemence. In time he would go back on this decision, but for now understudy duties were delegated to uncapped pair of Jimmy Rimmer (Aston Villa) and Joe Corrigan (Manchester City).
Six years on from the 1970 Mexico World Cup when they converged on the tournament as joint favourites (Brazil/England), holders (England) and best of the rest (Italy), the three nations between them had produced two of the most memorable World Cup games in history by virtue of the most enthralling group match and greatest ever final.
During the time since they had each experienced thwarted ambitions, unfilled potential and diminishing returns. After 200 years of history the United States was asking itself as a nation, ‘How did we arrive here?’ and ‘Where do we go now?’ – such questions just as applicable to their Bicentennial footballing guests.
The 1976 Bicentennial Tournament:
Sunday 23 May 1976:
BRAZIL 1 ENGLAND 0 – LA Memorial Colliseum, Los Angeles, (32,495):
BRAZIL: Leão (Palmeiras); Lelé (América), Marco Antonio (Vasco/sub Marinho (Botafogo 52), Beto Fuscão (Gremio), Miguel (Fluminense), Falcão (Internacional), Zico (Flamengo), Rivellino (Fluminense), Gil (Fluminense), Neca (Gremio/sub Roberto 46 Vasco), Lula (Internacional);
ENGLAND: Clemence (Liverpool); Todd (Derby), Doyle (Man City), Thompson (Liverpool), Mills (Ipswich), Francis (QPR), Cherry (Leeds), Brooking (West Ham), Channon (Southampton), Pearson (Man Utd), Keegan (Liverpool);
Meeting for the first time since their epic group encounter in the searing heat of Guadalajara at Mexico ’70, both sides were clearly reduced in terms of the world class talent they were able to field on that momentous occasion – although at the final whistle there was familiarity in the mood of English frustration.
Faced by a defence whose indifference towards marking opposition forwards would have exasperated any manager in the English professional game, England were unable to convert good chances that came way of strikers Mike Channon (twice) and Stuart Pearson – Brazilian goalkeeper Leão looking indecisive in slapping away a Trevor Brooking cross, then somewhat fortunate not to be facing a penalty after Kevin Keegan was bundled over by opposing full-back Pereira.
In attack the best of what Brazil mustered featured an emerging talent named Zico. Making his third appearance in the national team since scoring on his debut against Uruguay four months before, England receive a scare when a low drive from the 23-year-old is saved impressively by Clemence, whose uncharacteristic error in the 2-1 defeat to Scotland eight days before had resulted in the deciding goal.
After the break England continued to enjoy a greater share of possession, but chances that fall to Channon and Keegan are allowed to go begging – the best opening of all then presenting itself to Keegan who finding himself through on goal fires straight at Leão, the Liverpool man failing to finish from a position where he would normally score at club level.
Aside from the enterprise of Zico and a dipping effort from Marinho, Brazil, managed by Osvaldo Brandão – who like Revie had been in post almost two years – offer nothing England cannot repel. Throughout proceedings Rivellino, the sole survivor (on either side) from the Mexico meeting of 1970, has been a peripheral figure, yet once again he is destined to finish on the winning side.
Only 90 seconds remain when Brazil win a corner on the left and with the contest seemingly destined to be drawn, initially there is no immediate danger from the flag-kick. But a misplaced header, followed by a lapse in concentration allows Gil to deliver a centre into the danger zone, whereupon substitute Roberto slots home from close range.
Afterward boss Revie commented, ‘I am sure that any neutral observer would say that England deserved at least a draw,’ although in truth neutrals and with them an increasing number of disenchanted England followers, could hardly have cared less.
TEAM AMERICA 0 ITALY 4 – RFK Stadium, Washington (33,455):
TEAM AMERICA: Rigby (NY Cosmos); Smith (NY Cosmos), Moore (San Antonio Thunder), Jump (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Chandler (Hartford Bicentennials), Clements (NY Cosmos), Eddy (NY Cosmos), Scullion (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Mifflin (NY Cosmos/sub 46 Skotarek (Chicago Sting), Chinaglia (NY Cosmos), Pelé (NY Cosmos), Kowalik (Chicago Sting/sub 67 David (Miami Toros);
ITALY: Zoff (Juventus); Tardelli (Juventus), Rocca (Roma), Bellugi (Bologna), Facchetti (Inter); Causio (Juventus/sub 67 Sala (Torino), Capello (Juventus), Benetti (Milan), Antognoni (Fiorentina/sub 70 Zaccarelli (Torino), Graziani (Torino), Pulici (Torino/sub 71 Bettega (Juventus);
On the day England succumbed to a frustrating defeat, their former captain Moore was on the receiving end of a comprehensive caning.
After a miserable showing in their European Championship qualifying group, The Azzurri winning just two of their six fixtures, Enzo Bearzot had recently replaced Fulvio Bernadini as coach. His task in reviving flagging fortunes was not helped when prolific Lazio striker Giorgio Chinaglia left Italian football at both club and international level to sign a lucrative contract in becoming a team-mate of Pele at New York Cosmos – Chinaglia named, along with Moore and Pele, in the team to face his countrymen in the U.S capital.
Selecting a side containing nine players from the Turin clubs of Juventus and Torino, Bearzot quickly saw his charges gain the upper hand. After 14 minutes future England manager Fabio Capello made the breakthrough, their lead extended from the penalty spot by Paolo Pulici before the midway point of the half.
On the occasion of full-back and captain Giancinto Facchetti, a veteran of the 1966, 1970 and 1974 World Cup tournaments, becoming the most capped Italian footballer in making his 85th appearance for the national team, there are no further goals until Francesco Graziani netted in the 79th minute. The was scoring was completed six minutes from time by Francesco Rocca – Moore, in losing his first match for Team America, beaten by the same opposition against whom he made the last of 108 appearances for England in November 1973.
Friday 28 May 1976:
ITALY 2 ENGLAND 3 – Yankee Stadium, New York, (40,650):
ITALY: Zoff (Juventus); Roggi (Fiorentina/sub 57 Maldera (Milan), Rocca (Roma), Bellugi (Bologna), Facchetti (Inter); Causio (Juventus/sub 57 Sala (Torino), Capello (Juventus), Benetti (Milan/sub 57 Zaccarelli (Torino), Antognoni (Fiorentina), Graziani (Torino), Pulici (Torino)
ENGLAND: Rimmer (Arsenal/sub Corrigan 46 (Man City); Clement (QPR), Doyle (Man City), Thompson (Liverpool), Neal (Liverpool/sub Mills 46 (Ipswich), Towers (Sunderland), Wilkins (Chelsea), Brooking (West Ham); Channon (Southampton), Royle (Man City), Hill (Man Utd)
From California England flew east to face Italy in the Yankee Stadium. The scuffed, uneven pitch bore all the traits of staging a Major League baseball fixture the previous day, the pitching area at one end of the field little more than dirt, (neither side scoring in this goal through 90 minutes of football), the rest comprising of lush grass that constituted the outfield.
Serving as a forerunner to a pair of World Cup meetings between the two nations, in a qualifying group from which only one team would advance to the 1978 finals in Argentina, Revie made seven changes to the team beaten by Brazil, Channon made captain from the four (Doyle, Thompson and Todd the others) who were retained.
Of those coming into the team there were debuts for goalkeeper Rimmer, Manchester United winger Gordon Hill and 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins. While there was no doubting the potential of a young player who had performed well through the season for a middling second division side, his remained a curious selection given the outstanding form of Stan Bowles. The non-inclusion of a gifted performer who had been instrumental in taking QPR to within a whisker of the league title, in truth said more about the standpoint of the manager than undoubted talents of a mercurial player.
Despite fielding a much changed and unfamiliar line-up England made an encouraging start, but in the 15th minute the positive portents are undone by a combination of poor pitch and precise Italian finishing. Following an unkind bounce off the rutted surface Doyle was dispossessed by Pulici, the ball moved on to Graziani who fired home from eight yards.
Five minutes latter things became worse for England when Italy counter-attacked down the right flank, a cross to the far post by Capello finding Graziani whose timid effort was still enough to beat Rimmer.
Years later Joe Royle remembered the Aston Villa goalkeeper bearing the brunt of stern half-time criticism of his team by the manager – who for the second half introduced Corrigan in goal, also replacing Phil Neal, played out of the position at left-back, with Mick Mills.
Retaking the field with tactical changes to implement and a Revie rebuke ringing in their ears, England quickly produced some urgency and within 60 seconds reduced the arrears, skipper Channon on hand to score after Zoff had blocked an effort from Royle.
Within a minute of scoring their first goal in the tournament England then had another to celebrate. From the right a corner by Hill was met firmly by the head of Thompson, the Liverpool centre-back netting for the only time in his six year, 42-cap international career.
Having the seized the initiative, a remarkable turnaround was completed when Channon swept England ahead from a Trevor Brooking cross, three goals in the first eight minutes of the second half giving the match and tournament from an English outlook a new perspective.
As the match drew to a close England went close to extending their advantage through Hill and Channon, but there was also a late scare to endure when Italy had a Fachettti goal ruled out, Capello being adjudged to have fouled Corrigan seconds before the ball was forced over the line – celebrations at a dogged yet deserved victory not dampened by accusations of England players being spat at by the Italian bench, Leeds defender Trevor Cherry for one going on the record in stating his disgust.
In terms of a mood enhancing triumph, for England it could not have been more timely, a notable victory, achieved without a contribution from talisman Keegan, providing a psychological boost before the autumn World Cup visit to Rome.
BRAZIL 2 TEAM AMERICA 0 – Kingdome, Seattle (20, 245):
BRAZIL: Leão (Palmeiras); Lelé (América), Marinho (Botafogo/sub 46 Getúlio (Atlético Mineiro), Beto Fuscão (Gremio) [Amaral (Guarani)], Miguel (Fluminense), Falcão (Internacional/sub 46 Givanildo (Santa Cruz), Zico (Flamengo), Rivellino (Fluminense); Gil (Fluminense), Neca (Gremio/sub 46 Roberto (Vasco), Lula (Internacional);
TEAM AMERICA: Martin (Washington Diplomats); Smith R (NY Cosmos), Moore (San Antonio Thunder), England (Seattle Sounders), Jump (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Smith T (Tampa Bay Rowdies) Clements (NY Cosmos), Eddy (NY Cosmos), Scullion (Tampa Bay Rowdies/sub 64/ Chandler (Hartford Bicentennials), Chinaglia (NY Cosmos), Kowalik (Chicago Sting/sub 50 Veee (San Jose Earthquakes);
While in a few days time there would be the barely conceivable sight of Bobby Moore playing against England, no such prior anomaly occurred in Pele taking the field against Brazil – the most revered footballer on the planet making himself unavailable when time came for his homeland and adopted country to play each other.
That said, even at his most majestic he may not have been able to affect the outcome of a hopelessly one-sided encounter.
Making two changes from the team who defeated England, goalscoring matchwinner Roberto was rewarded with his first start, the efforts of fellow substitute Marinho also recognised with a place in the starting XI.
After dominating possession from the first whistle Brazil finally went ahead in the 29th minute, striker Gil scoring with a sweetly struck 20-yard drive. The first goal he would score in international football, it is unlikely to have been bettered by the dozen more he subsequently scored for his country through a career that would include the 1978 World Cup.
With the host team offering little by way of attacking threat the game developed an exhibition dimension on the part of Brazil and while their artistry came with an elment of over-indulgence, they mustered sufficient conviction late on to score again through Gil (89), the Brazilians now only needing a point against Italy to win the tournament.
Monday 31 May 1976:
TEAM AMERICA 1 ENGLAND 3 – JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, (16,239):
TEAM AMERICA: Rigby (NY Cosmos); Smith R (NY Cosmos), Moore (San Antonio Thunder), England (Seattle Sounders/sub 78 Kowalik (Chicago Sting), Jump (Tampa Bay Rowdies); Clements (NY Cosmos/sub 50 Chandler (Hartford Bicentennials), Eddy (NY Cosmos), Smith T (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Veee (San Jose Earthquakes/sub 46 Scullion (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Chinaglia (NY Cosmos), Pelé (NY Cosmos);
ENGLAND: Clemence (Liverpool); Todd (Derby/sub 82 Doyle (Man City), Greenhoff (Man Utd), Thompson (Liverpool), Mills (Ipswich), Francis (QPR), Cherry (Leeds), Brooking (West Ham), Channon (Southampton), Pearson (Man Utd), Keegan (Liverpool/sub 83 Taylor (Crystal Palace);
Having last crossed swords as opposing managers when in respective charge of Sheffield United and Leeds United for a West Yorkshire derby in April 1974, Revie and Team America boss, Durham-born Ken Furphy, could never imagined their paths would next cross again in the City of Brotherly Love. Not that much affection had been evident at Bramall Lane two years earlier when three players from each side were booked, Revie guiding his side to a comfortable two goal margin of victory (2-0) much as he would do here.
In opposition to an England side where Clemence, Keegan, Pearson and skipper Gerry Francis were among the returnees, Team America fielded a line-up with international experience beside that of Pele, Chinaglia and Moore. Manager Furphy was able to call upon 44-cap Welshman and former Spurs defender Mike England (Seattle Sounders), ex-Coventry, Sheffield Wednesday and Everton midfielder Dave Clements (New York Cosmos), who had faced England at Wembley three weeks before in winning his 47th Northern Ireland cap – this contingent also including Tommy Smith (Tampa Bay Rowdies) whose long Liverpool career included a sole England cap won against Wales in 1971.
While there was Anfield home-from-home resonance with Smith facing Clemence, Thompson and Keegan, this gathering beyond the Mersey did not extend to midfield man Ray Kennedy. Instrumental in Liverpool ending the season as league champions and UEFA Cup winners, the former Arsenal double-winner was the only member of the 22-strong squad selected by Revie not to muddy his boots through the tournament.
This nonsensical move by the manager made the imminent public outburst from the player inevitable and from a situation of his own making, Revie would overlook a player in peak form as England floundered through the months ahead – not selecting Kennedy again until the following spring when his tenure as boss was almost over.
Had Kennedy been selected he would not have added to his four cap tally. The FA decided not to recognize the fixture against Team America as a bona fide international match, bestowing instead the status of ‘training game’ for which caps would not be awarded. Doing so must have endeared them no end to their hosts – particularly when the teams came out in a stadium where 50,000 of the seats remained empty.
To the credit of those in a yellow-shirted change strip, opposed to the cackhandedness of the governing body, England resisted merely going through the motions, quickly moving the ball around with purpose and intent.
Despite giving the hosts defence a couple of anxious moments (a back four that included Crystal Palace/Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Stewart Jump), Team America went closest to scoring first, Clemence called upon to make a diving stop when Pele dispatched a 20-yard free-kick. Yet from similar distance in the 23rd minute Keegan shoots England ahead, successfully converting a free-kick touched to him by Brooking.
Asserting full command of the game England score again on the half-hour, Keegan netting his second by finishing well after running onto a fine pass from Channon.
While Clemence is twice more called into action in denying long-range Pele efforts, the visitors carry far more threat in their attacking moves, a third goal arriving in the 54th minute when captain Francis, on being put through by Channon, rounds goalkeeper Bob Rigby to score at close range.
With victory assured England introduce an off-the-cuff dimension to their forward play and although it almost brings reward for Brooking and Channon, extravagance is taken too far by Francis, the ball snatched off his toes by Rigby with an empty net awaiting.
At the other end Chinaglia displays his undoubted talents in twice forcing Clemence to save well, Team America receiving late reward for their persistence when a move involving the Italian and Keith Eddy (New York Cosmos and Sheffield United player on the Bramall Lane occasion of April 1974), creates an opening for Watford winger Stewart Scullion (Tampa Bay Rowdies and another ex-Blade).
He advances to beat Clemence with a low drive – a Scotsman, scoring for America against England in Philadelphia, a somewhat fitting way to end an altogether perplexing episode in international football.
BRAZIL 4 ITALY 1 – Yale Bowl Stadium, New Haven (36,096):
BRAZIL: Leão (Palmeiras); Lelé (América/sub 46 Getúlio (Atlético Mineiro), Miguel (Fluminense), Amaral (Guarani), Marco Antonio (Vasco/sub 46 Beto Fuscão (Gremio), Falcão (Internacional/sub 80 Givanildo (Santa Cruz), Zico (Flamengo), Rivellino (Fluminense), Gil (Fluminense), Neca (Gremio/sub 50 Roberto (Vasco), Lula (Internacional)
ITALY: Zoff (Juventus); Tardelli (Juventus), Rocca (Roma), Bellugi (Bologna/sub 46 Roggi (Fiorentina), Facchetti (Inter), Causio (Juventus), Capello (Juventus), Pecci (Torino/sub 62 Sala (Torino), Benetti (Milan), Antognoni (Fiorentina), Graziani (Torino), Pulici (Torino/sub 46 Bettega (Juventus);
Meeting for only the second time since their era-defining 1970 World Cup Final contest in Mexico City (a June 1973 Rome encounter that Italy won through goals from Riva and Capello), the passing years had brought a mood of inertia to both teams – each with issues to resolve before the Argentina World Cup could be viewed with any certainty.
For Brazil there was the ongoing dilemma of how to balance panache with pragmatism, now it was evident the all-conquering ’70 team had contained at least half-a-dozen once in a generation wonder talents. The issue facing Italy meanwhile could be seen as one of mentality, in other words bringing the same level of conviction when mounting attacks as they did to defending – this encounter, in producing the same score line as their monumental match in Mexico, prompting as many questions as answers.
If Brazil had serious ambitions of being world champions again in 1978, defensive lapses that gave Italy a second minute lead needed to be eradicated – ‘keeper Leão misjudging the flight of a Causio free-kick in gifting Capello a chance he could not fail to take.
But if Brazil had defending issues to contemplate, Italy were not short of deficiencies themselves, one through ball from Rivellino in the 28th minute taking out the entire defence as Gil broke clear to level.
Whether the apparent animosity was of on the day origin or rooted in historical dislike is hard to say, but the latest in a series of spiteful challenges resulted in Lula being sent off in the 43rd minute for a foul on Pecci, the half-time score, if not scenario, the same as in Mexico six years before.
Despite being reduced in number Brazil struck first after the break, Gil shrugging off Rocca and Facchetti in scoring his second four minutes into the second half – Italy level, at least in terms of personnel, when Bettaga was ordered off in the 66th minute for an ugly tackle on Antonio.
There is further evidence that Zico might be the coming man for Brazil when he coolly clips a shot past Zoff to establish a 3-1 lead in the 73rd minute – the Brazilians repeating their 4-1 triumph of 1970 when Roberto (78) is on hand to complete the scoring, victory on that occasion bringing permanent possession of the Jules Rimet trophy on becoming the first nation to win the World Cup three times.
Here, however, it merely prompts more Italian ire, Causio given his marching orders on 83 minutes for kicking out at Rivellino – Italy, despite spending the last half hour in ill-disciplined disarray, in the charge of a manager who in six years time and with four of these players (Zoff, Graziani, Causio, Tardellli) would bring Italy World Cup glory.
For the moment, in winning the competition, Brazil, with Zico, Gil and Falcão as the core, appeared to be moving steadily toward next global gathering in two years time, although Italy meanwhile remained somewhere between something definitive and the drawing board. Ultimately however, the Bicentennial tournament did not prove a catalyst for any great expansion in the game across North America, in fact the NASL (North American Professional Soccer League) fell by the wayside in the mid-80s, coming back on a much stronger footing after the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup.
As for England, Revie told a gathering of English football writers journalists after the Team America match, ‘We’ve molded together as a side’ and expressed optimism ahead of an opening World Cup qualifier against Finland that was now just two weeks away.
Yet for the game against one of the group minnows (the section comprising of England, Italy, Finland and Luxembourg), he would select three players out of position and recalled 31-year-old Leeds utility player Paul Madeley, who had not featured since the Lisbon draw against Portugal seven months before.
In the event England, despite fielding a team lacking balance, were still too strong for limited opposition, running out 4-1 winners after at one stage being pegged back to 1-1. The first in a sequence of fixtures where the team had no discernable shape, opposition further down the line were not so accommodating, four defeats and a draw in the next eight games were chastening for Revie, while at the same time hastening his departure in the summer of 1977.
Indeed, for all the lofty aspirations when Revie became manager, the 1976 Bicentennial tournament would be the only overseas competition to feature England through the era – hardly an outcome The FA envisaged when they appointed him in July 1974.
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