Another story of Portuguese football disappointed by Rui Miguel Tovar.

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The World Championship has been held every four years without interruption since 1950. In Asia, he was only once, in 2002. This is the World Cup to be forgotten. I mean from the Portuguese team. After an unbeaten qualifier with seven wins and three draws, an indescribable group stage without heads or tails, and a premature farewell on the night when Argentine referee Angel Sanchez was punched in the stomach by João Vieira Pinto on the occasion of a red card, straight to the Portuguese fantast. against South Korea.

This World Cup belongs to Brazil Scolari, who has seven victories in seven games. In the final encore Ronaldo and 2:0 against Germany in Yokohama, where Porto will become world champion in two years. For the third and fourth places, Turkey celebrates its golden generation and knocks out the hosts from South Korea. Now, 20 years later, here is another FIFA World Cup in Asia, now in Qatar, in the middle of the sports season, in November and December.

Pocket question: who is the national champion at the 2002 World Cup? Oh yes, Sporting. And the beginning does not predict the end. In the third round, the Romanian team of Böleni scores only three points, guaranteed in the first round, against Porto, the work of compatriot Niculae. Since then, Sporting lost heavily to Restelo 3-0 (Niculae missed a 0-0 penalty) and got a valiant disappointment midway through José Alvalade vs Alverca (0-1) in the middle of José Alvalade in the afternoon. when Rui Jorge and João Vieira Pinto see a direct red card from Braga’s João Vilas Boas already heading to the dressing room. The confusion is significant.

To avoid another boring season, President Dias da Cunha removes Jardel from Galatasaray and the Brazilian continues the tradition of scoring goals in Portugal, as he did during Porto’s days from 1996 to 2000. Super Mario adapts to João Vieira Pinto and always scores in the first five games to 0-0 against Santa Clara on José Alvalada. Then another 11 goals in seven rounds to prove their good form. To the title of winter champion, Sporting adds the most important thing – the title of national champion – the way to the end.

After the formalities completed in the farewell to the 1st division, with a 2-1 scoreline against Beira Mar (and another encore from Jardel), only the Portuguese Cup remains. Leishoynes from 2nd B is a worthy opponent and only loses with another goal that you-well-know. With a double in his pocket, the first since 1982, JuveLeo has the right to attack the national record with his songs. They know because they don’t sit at home.

Tales of the lesser-known side of the Portuguese player. Rui Miguel Tovar.

So what’s up with the competition? Believe me, the most competent opponent is Boavista Jaime Pacheco, the champion of the country in 2001, five points behind Sporting. We insist on the question, with other contours: are the rest large? In the third and fourth. Let’s start from the beginning, anyway. Octavio Machado, Porto’s historic player (national champion in 1978) and Artur Jorge’s assistant (three-time national and European champion), returns to the club, now as a coach. Stunning start: National Super Cup title won against Boavista in Vila do Conde by a goal by center Jorge Andrade.

Reaching the second group stage of the Champions League guarantees (another) financial success and serves as a change of coaches. In January 2002, then in fifth place, Octavio slammed a door shrouded in endless problems, the most acute of which was the captaincy of Jorge Costa, meanwhile loaned to Charlton (England) to be able to go to this World Cup in Asia.

Without Octavio, Porto turns into coach U. Leiria, unexpectedly taking fourth place. He is young, he speaks on time, and his name is Mourinho, José Mourinho. January 21, the day Jorge Jesus was sacked from penultimate club Vitoria.

At the first press conference, Mourinho promises a national title in the 2002-03 season. With him comes a striker from South Africa who is good with the ball. He’s young, plays for hours, and his name is McCarthy, Benny McCarthy – he’s scored 12 goals in 11 First Division games. The successful duo secured third place and subsequent qualification for the UEFA Cup, which the following year beat Celtic in Seville with pomp and circumstance (3-2 after extra time).

Summary of this article: Sporting CP 75, Boavista 70, Porto 68. No podium, Benfica 63. Wow, 12 points behind Sporting. Surprisingly, no one would have said. The summer of 2001 is busy in Loush with the arrival of Sokota, Simao, Zakhovich, Drulovich, Mantorras, Algiers and Caneira. There are raw materials. Sorry. On top of that, Benfica have kept Toni on the bench since the start of the season, for the first time since 1993-94, in a 6-3 win against José Alvalade. And still blames the lack of European pressure after a disastrous sixth place in the 2000-01 season.

The start is even, the unbeaten streak continues until the 13th round, seven wins and six draws. Nothing special, that’s a fact. Then the train derails. The defeat at Pacos de Ferreira, a draw at home against Sporting in the last five minutes with a Jardel double (2:2) and a relegation in the Portuguese Cup against Maritimo put Toni out of work. Manuel Vilariño’s leadership elects assistant Jesualdo Ferreira, who will keep the team until May. And nothing changes.

Anniversaries and funny football stories from journalist Rui Miguel Tovar.

Benfica is left without a threshing floor and has won only ten victories in 19 games to the end. As a result, fourth place and another year outside of Europe, something unthinkable for a club the size of Benfica. Ironically, it is Benfica that guarantees the Sporting title.

In the penultimate round and the next day after the 2:2 between Vitoria and Sporting no Bonfim, Boavista goes to Luz in an attempt to put the squeeze on the leader. In vain Mantorras is isolated, William is mistaken, and Benfica fixes the score 2:1. Sporting become champions at the hotel, and Benfica’s Algiers receive a thank you call from compatriot Jardel, drunk on champagne and goals (Silver Ball and Golden Ball, thanks to 42 goals).

(The author writes according to the old spelling.)

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