Nandor Hidegkuti RIP

Wow. Sad news. A terrific player by all accounts, an obviously a decent chap to boot. Hungary should have won the world cup by a mile, but the team was still incredible and went unbeaten for something like 4 years until that final. Including that wonderful 6-3 game. Aaah.

Ally, according to the book I'm reading at the moment (The History of the World Cup by Brian Glanville) that world cup was won when , in the dying minutes of Germany's 8-3 defeat by the Hungarians, the big blonde German centre-half , Werner Liebrich kicked Puskas on the ankle, injuring him quite badly. "In retrospect it was the kick that won the world cup" Puskas played in the final (even having an allegedly good goal disallowed for offside) but was limited to limping round the pitch and directing the other players.

Hmm, yes, possibly true, but it was Pushkas himself who proclaimed himself fit for the match. Either he believed he was fit enough or he was simply too arrogant not to be involved. Either way, his team- mates were probably not willing to qustion him on the matter. And Hungary were 2-0 up in that game, so they practically threw it away.

Oh, and Chris, give me that book once you've finished? My favourite topic!

My Dad insists that Puskas was the greatest, even though it seems widely acknowledged that he wasn't much cop with his right foot or in the air. But then my Dad's point-of-reference is the 1960 European Cup final, watched on a neighbour's TV, and football doesn't get much better than that. Post-revolution, didn't Puskas represent Spain a few times? 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary. Blimey.

I seem to remember old Ferenc turning out for a few charity games in his 60s, still with a full head of hair and a stinging left-foot shot. Or am I thinking of Dave Hickson?

Yes to Spain and yes to Chairty games, Mike.

Or even charity. Was it Hidegkuti who was said to be he best header of the ball in the business?

Quiz question. What is the link between Puskas and Chris Waddle?

If I had a cat I'd call it Pusskas.

Is the answer to do with Marseille?

Was it Hidegkuti who was said to be he best header of the ball in the business? No, that was Dave Hickson.

Quiz question. What is the link between Puskas and Chris Waddle? They both contributed to Scottish Football Quotations, alongside Prince Albert of Monaco and Rod Stewart.

Think in more meaty terms. Pusskas. I like it.

They both worked in Sausage factories!!

From the obituary for Real Madrid Striker Ramon Grosso on the arrogant genius of Puskas:

Puskás advice It was during these two seasons that Grosso played with another Madrid star, the Hungarian Ferenc Puskás. When Grosso made it to the first team in Madrid, Puskas told him: "Listen kid, you only have to do one thing, look for the fat player, but the one wearing the white shirt of course, pass the ball to his foot and run forward without worrying about anything else." This piece of advice worked perfectly.

I have to say that this site is rather good for this kind of stuff.

Actually Puskas bought a sausage factory, but close.

It was said that one of the main reasons Puskas wanted to play in the World Cup final was because he didn't like the player who would have replaced him. That says one or two things about the man. Genius!

Do you think that's what happened to Ronaldo at France '98? "I won't let a man who gets innocent little monkeys pissed play in a world cup final!"

ah yes, in this here book his replacement is said to be non-grata with the great man, Budai his name, he had a really good semi final too.

Ally, of course I'll pass the book on, it's great, and it features some lovely little bits such as the Battles of Berne and Bordeaux, the second being less well known from France 38 where Brazil vs Czechoslovakia turned into a riot.