Pele Names His 125 Greatest Living Players (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Espectro
- Start date
Id be more surprised if Riva was there to be honest.
Riva is widely unknown outside of italy.
In those days there was very little tv coverage of other leagues, jus the world cup and the european cup, even the euro championships were hardly seen outside of europe(and indeed not much of that even)
So he played very little in europe due to his commitment to cagliari, and as such wasnt seen outside italy
His great euro champs was not seen by many outside europe
He was dropped before the 66 world cup.
He had an on off 70 world cup, Having bad effects from the high altitude he suffered miserably through the opening rounds, before a rally in the qtrs and semis.. then a dissapointing outing in the final against the brazilians.
He then broke his leg.. again
Then he had an awful 74 world cup which finnished his international career
So, although a magnificent player he didnt shine at the right times to be a world renowned star... His choice of club and long injury layoffs didnt help either
Riva is widely unknown outside of italy.
In those days there was very little tv coverage of other leagues, jus the world cup and the european cup, even the euro championships were hardly seen outside of europe(and indeed not much of that even)
So he played very little in europe due to his commitment to cagliari, and as such wasnt seen outside italy
His great euro champs was not seen by many outside europe
He was dropped before the 66 world cup.
He had an on off 70 world cup, Having bad effects from the high altitude he suffered miserably through the opening rounds, before a rally in the qtrs and semis.. then a dissapointing outing in the final against the brazilians.
He then broke his leg.. again
Then he had an awful 74 world cup which finnished his international career
So, although a magnificent player he didnt shine at the right times to be a world renowned star... His choice of club and long injury layoffs didnt help either
His scoring record is phenominal. No matter how you rate the EPL, that deserves respect. He's a fantastic classical centre-forward: tall, strong, with a bullet header, a lightning shot, and the instinct of a poacher.
He's also very ready with the elbows, a boring sod to listen to, wass the "England Captain" for a few years (usually enough to annoy me because of the British media's fawning over them), and I've heard that he's a real asshole to work with. Anyone who can get on the wrong side of Sir Uncle Bobby Robson is really deserving of contempt.
He's also very ready with the elbows, a boring sod to listen to, wass the "England Captain" for a few years (usually enough to annoy me because of the British media's fawning over them), and I've heard that he's a real asshole to work with. Anyone who can get on the wrong side of Sir Uncle Bobby Robson is really deserving of contempt.
