The name Socrates rings a bell in the Greek history, but to the Brazilians, he was a player who carved a niche for himself in his professional career.
Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira was a football hero in Brazil’s rich history at the World Cup especially in the 1982 edition staged in Spain.
The defensive midfielder had a bachelor’s degree in medicine and his flair for politics in his country’s politics earned him the name, Socrates.
Socrates’ first appearance at the World Cup was in Spain 82’ where he captained his country and the squad which had Zico, Falcao and Eder was considered as one of the greatest Brazilian national team ever because of their attacking prowess.
Socrates. Photo: BBC
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The former Botafogo player who was easily recognized with his trademark beard and armband led the team in Group 5 which comprises USSR, Scotland and New Zealand in the first round.
The Selecao scrapped through the Russians in the first game courtesy of a late 20-yard strike from Eder two minutes from time to win the match by 2-1.
Brazil tore apart Scotland by 4-1 in the second match after the British side went ahead in the 18th minute but Zico, Oscar, Eder and Falcao responded with four unreplied goals.
Everyone thought the glory days of the 1970 World Cup triumph with Pele and crew are back with Socrates 12 years on as they defeated New Zealand by 4-0 in their last group match with the captain getting one of the goals.
Brazil were grouped alongside Italy and Argentina in the second round as the Paolo Rossi stole the show in the blockbuster match that knocked the Socrates-led team out of the World Cup.
The match is still regarded as one of the toughest and most entertaining encounters in a World Cup tournament as Rossi scored his first goal in the competition in five minutes after heading home from a Gabrini’s cross.
Socrates responded with a goal of the highest quality after combining with Zico who returned a pass that took out three Italian defenders into the 18-yard-box giving the captain space and time to pick his spot at the near corner.
Rossi scored again as one of the weakness of the Brazilian team was the fallible defensive line as they let a pass into the path of Italian talisman who finished in style restoring the Azzuri’s lead at half time.
With 20 minutes left to play Faclcao leveled the scores again with a shot from his left foot as Brazil only needed a draw to progress into the semi finals.
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However the Italians had other ideas as seven minutes later Rossi struck again. The Brazilian defence failed to clear a corner properly as the ball fell kindly for Rossi who completed his hat-trick as the Italy held on to win 3-2.
The beautiful show of display from the Brazilians could not take them to the semi finals as Socrates and his men were shell-shocked.
At the 1986 edition in Mexico, the lengendary Socrates scored the winning goal for Brazil’s in their opening match against Spain then got another in a 4-0 win versus Poland in the last group match.
Their dreams got shattered as France knocked out the yellow and blue team after a pulsating encounter that ended in penalty shootouts.
Socrates active playing years in football started in 1974 and ended in 1989 but started with the national team in 1979 as he won the South American Player of the Year in 1983.
Socrates won 60 caps and scored 22 goals for Brazil but never lifted the World Cup.
His brother Rai, was a member of the Brazilian national team that won the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
The late defensive midfielder started his club career with Botafogo and Corinthians. He then moved to Italy to play with Serie A side Fiorentina before heading back to Brazil to complete his playing spells with Flamengo, Santos and Botafogo.
As a midfielder, he did not fail to score goals for both club and country with an impressive 22 goals wearing the national colours and 292 times in his club career that spanned for almost a decade.
Socrates managed Botafogo, LDU Quito and Cabofriense in 1994, 1996 and 1999 respectively. In 2004, the 50-year-old signed a month deal with an English non-league side Garforth Town as coach-player.
He made just one appearance for his team coming on as a second half substitute with 12 minutes left to play against Tadcaster Albion.
Apart from Socrates expertise on the field of play, the Medicine graduate was economically and politically inclined as he used his fame to protest against the ills of the society.
There was a time Socrates and his teammates protested the treatment of football players and also showed his support for democratization of Brazil from their colonial masters by wearing shirts inscribed Democracia in games.
In 1984, Socrates campaigned for free and fair elections in his native country and threatened if the election results were not accepted by the military regime, he would facilitate a move out of Brazil to play in Italy.
After retirement, the playmaker exercised his intellectual abilities in sports and political writing and appearing on TV programs discussing issues that concerns the common man.
In 2011, Socrates died of health complications because of his heavy drinking and smoking habits but he was honoured by president Dilma Rousseff and a host of other footballers including Pele and Ronaldo de Lima.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 21 December 2017