If Argentina sent to this team to the WC Finals 1958
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| Argentina South American Champion 1957 |
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
This is my alternative team for Argentina at the 1958 WC Finals. The team only has 22 members because it was the official number of players in 1958.
Background
Argentina had a disastrous World Cup Finals in 1958. A year earlier, they dominated and won the South American championship in 1957. They beat second-place Brazil 3-0 and third place Uruguay 4-0. However, shortly afterward, the three offensive stars of that team, Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo and Humberto Mashio, left Argentina to play in the Serie A, and goalkeeper Rogelio Dominguez also join Real Madrid. In the 1950's, most countries banned overseas-based players from their national teams. Please do not forget that the best player in the world in the late 1950's was Alfredo Di Stéfano. This policy barred all of them from playing in the 1958 World Cup. If Argentina was able to reinforce with their European-based players, they would have a run for the money.
Tournament
The host Sweden banned professional players from its national team prior to the World Cup Finals, but decided to lift the professional ban for the Finals. The professional players made the difference and Sweden reached the Final, but most of them had passed their prime. The tournament was weakened by various events in the world. England suffered from the Munich Air Disaster 4 months before the start of the tournament. Hungary was also disbanded after the Soviet invasion of 1956. Many of its players were in exiles. That left Brazil of Pele, Garrincha and Didi as the only true force at the WC Finals.
Please see the blog WC 1958 Finals Missing Players.
GK: Amadeo Carrizo
Amadeo Carrizo was the young goalkeeper for River Plate's "La Máquina" in 1940's. He won five Championship trophies in 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957. He was considered one of the greatest keeper from South America. Despite his greatness, Argentina constantly refused to select him. He only earned 20 caps. He went to the WC Finals in 1958.
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| Amadeo Carrizo |
GK: Rogelio Dominguez (not on the original team)
He played around the same time as Carrizo. He earned 59 caps. He missed the 1958 World Cup Finals because he moved to Real Madrid in 1957 and Argentina did not select overseas players. With Real Madrid, he won two European Cups. Before Real Madrid, he played for Racing Club.
RB: Francisco Lombardo
Lombardo started his career with Newell's Old Boys in 1952 he joined Boca Juniors where he played 196 games. In 1960 Lombardo left Boca on a free transfer to join their hated rivals River Plate, but he only made 9 appearances for the club before retiring later that year. Lombardo made 37 appearances for Argentina. He played in 4 Copa Américas; 1955, 1956, and 2 in 1959. He also played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
RB: David Acevedo
Acevedo played for Independientehe and was a member of the 1958 World Cup. He also participated in the Copa America of 1967, where he played all five matches.
CB: Pedro Dellacha
Dellacha joined Quilmes Atlético Club in 1945. In 1952, Dellacha joined Racing Club where he went on to make 184 appearances and help the club to win the 1958 league championship. Dellacha played 35 times for Argentina. He played in three editions of the Copa América winning the tournament twice in 1955 and 1957. In 1957 he was the captain of the team and was awarded the Olimpia de Oro for his role in leading them to victory. He also played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
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| Pedro Dellacha |
Born in Argentina of the Cape Verdean ancestry, he started his playing career in 1956 with Lanús. He soon earned a move to River Plate where he played 172 games in seven seasons with the club. After a short spell with Banfield, he moved to Brazil to play for Santos, where he played alongside Pelé, Coutinho and Pepe in the club's golden years. He continued playing for Santos until the age of 38, making a total of 324 appearances and scoring one goal. capped 25 times. He went to the 1958 and 1962 WC Finals.
CB: Federico Edwards
Edwards started with Union of Santa Fe, only played two seasons. He was transferred to Boca Juniors in 1951. In 1960 he continued his career in Independiente de Avellaneda. He also played for Temuco Sports Club from 1961 to 1963 in Chile.
Perez came to the River Plate in 1951 from Rosario Central, and remained there until 1960. With River Plate, he won 5 League titles and played 196 games without scoring goals. He went to the WC Finals in 1958.
LB: Federico Vairo
Vairo started his career at Rosario Central in 1947, he played for the club for 8 seasons before moving to River Plate. River won three consecutive league titles between 1955 and 1957. Vairo played for the Argentine National team at the World Cup held in Sweden in 1958. At onetime he was the player with the most games played for the national team. His record was not broken until the 1990s.
DM: Nestor Rossi
One of Argentina's greatest defensive midfielders. Nicknamed "Pipo", he started his career at River Plate, playing from 1945 to 1949, and then again from 1955 to 1958, winning a total of 5 Argentine leagues. He also won 6 more with Millonarios in Colombia. He played in the 1958 World Cup Finals and was a part of their 1957 Copa America winning team.
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| Nestor Rossi vs West Germany, World Cup Finals 1958 |
DM: Eliseo Mouriño
He began his career at Club Atlético Banfield before moving to join Boca Juniors with whom he won an Argentine league title in 1954. He played as a holding midfielder for the early part of his career before converting to centre-back and was part of the Argentina squad at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He died in a plane crash in 1961.
RW: Omar Oreste Corbatta
Dubbed Arlequín and El dueño de la raya (The chairman of the sideline), Corbatta was known as one of Argentina's greatest right wingers. He played for five teams in his country – six in total – mainly Racing Club and Boca Juniors, winning four major titles and scoring 86 official goals with both teams combined. Unfortunately, he lost the Copa Libertadores to Pele's Santos in 1963. Capped over 40 times. He was part of the Copa América-winning team in 1957 and 1959. Corbatta also played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, contributing with three goals in three games in an eventual group stage exit.
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| Omar Oreste Corbatta |
AM: Miguel Montuorl (not on the original team)
Regarded as one of Foirentina's greatest footballers. Started his career in Chile. He joined Fiorentina in 1955, winning one scudetto, and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1961. Born in Argentna, he played for Italy and he was the first non-Italian born player to captain Italy.
AM: José SanFilippo
During his club career he played for San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors and Banfield in Argentina, Nacional in Uruguay, and Bangu and SC Bahia in Brazil. He is the 5th highest scoring player in Argentine football. At the international level, Sanfilippo played for the Argentina in the 1958 and 1962 World Cup Finals. He was also part of the Argentina squads that won the 1955 Pan American Games and the 1957 South American Championship.
CM/AM/FW: Alfredo Di Stefano (not on the original team)
The best player in the world before the emerge of Pele and Maradona. He was one of the younger member of the great River Plate in the 1940's. In 1949, he moved to play in Colombia before moving to Europe in 1953. He won 5 straight European Cups with Real Madrid. He was credited in turning Real Madrid into a legendary club. His international career was limited to the fact that Argentina did not select overseas players. He played for Argentina, Colombia and Spain.
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| Alfredo Di Stefano |
FW: Ernesto Grillo (not on the original team)
Grillo started with Indpendiente before moving to play in Italy. He played three seasons with AC Milan, winning 1958-1958 Serie A title. He returned to Argentina in 1960 to play for Boca Juniors, where he played 101 matches and scored 11 goals in all competitions and won three league titles in 1962, 1964 and 1965. Capped 21 times. The highlight of Grillo's career came on 14 May 1953 in a match versus England, when he scored a legendary goal for Argentina. He also helped Argentina winning the 1955 South American Championship(Copa America).
SS/FW: Omar Sivori (not on the original team)
Sivori is remembered one of the greatest ever player from Argentina. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1961. After Argentina won the Copa America in 1957, he joined Juventus where he enjoyed 8 successful years. He was credited with the resurgence of the club. With John Charles and Giampiero Boniperti, he formed "the Magical Trio" with the club. In Argentina, he played for River Plate. After Juventus, he joined Napoli.
LW: Osvaldo Héctor Cruz
Cruz was a former Argentine footballer who played in clubs in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Capped 21 times. He went to the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden.
CF: Antonio Angelillo (not on the original team)
He was a member of the "Angeles With Dirty Faces" with Sivori and Maschio. He moved in 1957 to Italy after Argentina won the Copa America in 1957. He scored 31 goals in 31 matches for Inter Milan in the 1958-59 season, the second highest record at the time. He was considered to be one of Inter Milan's greatest players. He also had a successful career with Roma an another stint with Genoa, Lecce and AC Milan. He was with AC Milan when they won the European Cup, but he did not play. He earned 2 caps for Italy.
ST: Ricardo Infante
He was the 2nd highest scoring player in the history of Estudiantes de La Plata and the 6th highest scoring player in the professional era of the Primera División Argentina. In 1958 Infante was part of the Argentina squad that played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
FW: Humberto Maschio (not on the original team)
With Omar Sivori and Antonio Angelillo, Maschio earned the nickname "Angels with Dirty faces" collectively as a group. In 1957, he moved to Italy to play for Bologna after Argentina won the 1957 Copa America. However, it was in Atalanta where he became a star and earned a bigger move to Inter Milan. For Argentina, he scored 12 goals in 12 games. Later he played twice for Italy.
ST/FW: Ángel Labruna
He is the second top scorer of the Argentine First Division with 293 goals. Labruna was also part of the celebrated River Plate offense, nicknamed La Máquina (The Machine), and he was considered one of the best South-American footballers of his generation. He played 37 matches for Argentina, scoring 17 goals. He also won two South American Championships (1946 and 1955) and as a nearly 40-year-old he played in the final phase of 1958 FIFA World Cup held in Sweden.
Players Pool
Antonio Roma, Jorge Griffa, Norberto Boggio, Julio Musimessi, Eliseo Prado, Norberto Menéndez, Alfredo Rojas, Ludovico Avio,
Grillo started with Indpendiente before moving to play in Italy. He played three seasons with AC Milan, winning 1958-1958 Serie A title. He returned to Argentina in 1960 to play for Boca Juniors, where he played 101 matches and scored 11 goals in all competitions and won three league titles in 1962, 1964 and 1965. Capped 21 times. The highlight of Grillo's career came on 14 May 1953 in a match versus England, when he scored a legendary goal for Argentina. He also helped Argentina winning the 1955 South American Championship(Copa America).
SS/FW: Omar Sivori (not on the original team)
Sivori is remembered one of the greatest ever player from Argentina. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1961. After Argentina won the Copa America in 1957, he joined Juventus where he enjoyed 8 successful years. He was credited with the resurgence of the club. With John Charles and Giampiero Boniperti, he formed "the Magical Trio" with the club. In Argentina, he played for River Plate. After Juventus, he joined Napoli.
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| Omar Sivori (R) |
Cruz was a former Argentine footballer who played in clubs in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Capped 21 times. He went to the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden.
CF: Antonio Angelillo (not on the original team)
He was a member of the "Angeles With Dirty Faces" with Sivori and Maschio. He moved in 1957 to Italy after Argentina won the Copa America in 1957. He scored 31 goals in 31 matches for Inter Milan in the 1958-59 season, the second highest record at the time. He was considered to be one of Inter Milan's greatest players. He also had a successful career with Roma an another stint with Genoa, Lecce and AC Milan. He was with AC Milan when they won the European Cup, but he did not play. He earned 2 caps for Italy.
ST: Ricardo Infante
He was the 2nd highest scoring player in the history of Estudiantes de La Plata and the 6th highest scoring player in the professional era of the Primera División Argentina. In 1958 Infante was part of the Argentina squad that played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
FW: Humberto Maschio (not on the original team)
With Omar Sivori and Antonio Angelillo, Maschio earned the nickname "Angels with Dirty faces" collectively as a group. In 1957, he moved to Italy to play for Bologna after Argentina won the 1957 Copa America. However, it was in Atalanta where he became a star and earned a bigger move to Inter Milan. For Argentina, he scored 12 goals in 12 games. Later he played twice for Italy.
ST/FW: Ángel Labruna
He is the second top scorer of the Argentine First Division with 293 goals. Labruna was also part of the celebrated River Plate offense, nicknamed La Máquina (The Machine), and he was considered one of the best South-American footballers of his generation. He played 37 matches for Argentina, scoring 17 goals. He also won two South American Championships (1946 and 1955) and as a nearly 40-year-old he played in the final phase of 1958 FIFA World Cup held in Sweden.
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| Ángel Labruna |
Players Pool
Antonio Roma, Jorge Griffa, Norberto Boggio, Julio Musimessi, Eliseo Prado, Norberto Menéndez, Alfredo Rojas, Ludovico Avio,
José Varacka, Santiago Vernazza, Héctor Rial, Bruno Pesaola, Francisco Lojacono, Ernesto Cucchiaroni.
Squad Explanation
-- In 1958, only 22 players were on the World Cup squad.
-- I add seven European-based players to the 1958 squad, namely Alfredo Di Stéfano, Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo, Humberto Mashi, Rogelio Domínguez, Ernesto Grillo and Miguel Montuori.
-- I drop 7 players from the original team: José Varacka, Norberto Boggio, Julio Musimessi, Eliseo Prado, Norberto Menéndez, Alfredo Rojas, Ludovico Avio.
-- When Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo and Humberto Mashio arrived in Italy, they quickly earned the nickname "The Angels with Dirty Faces" or "Il Trio del la Muerte"(the deadly Trio) for their South American flair, their fearless playing style and clinical finishing.
-- Juventus paid a world record transfer fee for Omar Sivori in 1957. He immediately established a formidable partnership with John Charles. In his first year with the club, he brought the scudetto back to Turin.
-- Antonio Angelillo's second year(1958-59) in Italy would be his best season. He scored 33 goals in 33 matches. No one managed to match his goal total ever since.
-- Humberto Mashio had a 100% scoring rate with Argentina. He scored 12 goals in 12 appearances. He was top scorer at the 1957 Copa America.
-- Before he moved to Europe, Rogelio Domínguez was voted as the best goalkeeper in South American in 1956 and 1957. In Europe, he established himself as the starting goalkeeper for Real Madrid, where he won two European Cups. However, the 1958 team would not be missing him too much. The starting keeper in 1958 was none other than the great Amadeo Carrizo.
-- Alfredo Di Stéfano needed no introduction. In 1958, he was at the peak of his career. He just won his third European Cups and also the top scorer in that edition. He was the reigning Ballon d'or winner at the time of the World Cup Finals. He would have arrived in Sweden at the top of his game.
-- Both Ernesto Grillo and Miguel Montuori were making impacts in Serie A in 1958.
-- -- Nestor Rossi was known as Argentina's greatest defensive midfielder, and Oreste Corbatta the greatest right wing. At 22 years of age in 1958, Corbatta was at the prime of his career. He was the star of the team. Angel Labruna at age 39 probably had passed his prime.
-- In 1958, there were also several other Argentine of note playing their trade in Europe, namely Ernesto Cucchiaroni, Eduardo Ricagni, Bruno Pesaola, Santiago Vernazza, Héctor Rial and Francisco Lojacono. They were not selected to my team.
-- Antonio Roma was on the 1957 team, but did not make it to the actual 1958 World Cup Finals. The backup keeper at the WC Finals was Julio Musimessi. Jorge Griffa was not considered on the 1958 team even through he was playing at home that year.
Formation
This lineup is unrealistic. I just put the best eleven players on the field.
Squad Explanation
-- In 1958, only 22 players were on the World Cup squad.
-- I add seven European-based players to the 1958 squad, namely Alfredo Di Stéfano, Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo, Humberto Mashi, Rogelio Domínguez, Ernesto Grillo and Miguel Montuori.
-- I drop 7 players from the original team: José Varacka, Norberto Boggio, Julio Musimessi, Eliseo Prado, Norberto Menéndez, Alfredo Rojas, Ludovico Avio.
-- When Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo and Humberto Mashio arrived in Italy, they quickly earned the nickname "The Angels with Dirty Faces" or "Il Trio del la Muerte"(the deadly Trio) for their South American flair, their fearless playing style and clinical finishing.
-- Juventus paid a world record transfer fee for Omar Sivori in 1957. He immediately established a formidable partnership with John Charles. In his first year with the club, he brought the scudetto back to Turin.
-- Antonio Angelillo's second year(1958-59) in Italy would be his best season. He scored 33 goals in 33 matches. No one managed to match his goal total ever since.
-- Humberto Mashio had a 100% scoring rate with Argentina. He scored 12 goals in 12 appearances. He was top scorer at the 1957 Copa America.
-- Before he moved to Europe, Rogelio Domínguez was voted as the best goalkeeper in South American in 1956 and 1957. In Europe, he established himself as the starting goalkeeper for Real Madrid, where he won two European Cups. However, the 1958 team would not be missing him too much. The starting keeper in 1958 was none other than the great Amadeo Carrizo.
-- Alfredo Di Stéfano needed no introduction. In 1958, he was at the peak of his career. He just won his third European Cups and also the top scorer in that edition. He was the reigning Ballon d'or winner at the time of the World Cup Finals. He would have arrived in Sweden at the top of his game.
-- Both Ernesto Grillo and Miguel Montuori were making impacts in Serie A in 1958.
-- -- Nestor Rossi was known as Argentina's greatest defensive midfielder, and Oreste Corbatta the greatest right wing. At 22 years of age in 1958, Corbatta was at the prime of his career. He was the star of the team. Angel Labruna at age 39 probably had passed his prime.
-- In 1958, there were also several other Argentine of note playing their trade in Europe, namely Ernesto Cucchiaroni, Eduardo Ricagni, Bruno Pesaola, Santiago Vernazza, Héctor Rial and Francisco Lojacono. They were not selected to my team.
-- Antonio Roma was on the 1957 team, but did not make it to the actual 1958 World Cup Finals. The backup keeper at the WC Finals was Julio Musimessi. Jorge Griffa was not considered on the 1958 team even through he was playing at home that year.
Formation
This lineup is unrealistic. I just put the best eleven players on the field.
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