Clodoaldo: “Pelé deserves to be honored everywhere. Let’s pray for his health.”

Whoever does not know any saint prays to him. In Mexico 1970, when Peru played its first World Cup on its own merit, Clodoaldo was the bulwark of the Brazilian midfield, in charge of a clean start, the bridge between defense and attack. In a team where five stars such as Gerson, Jairzinho, Pelé, Tostao and Rivelino shone, Clodoaldo was the indispensable piece: he shone less, but was worth the same.

He started the afternoon of June 14, 1970, when the Blanquirroja faced that ‘Scratch’, at the Jalisco stadium, in Guadalajara, for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. A very hard-fought game from beginning to end in which Peru sold its defeat dearly and fell by a remembered 4-2, with goals from Alberto Gallardo and Teófilo Cubillas.

If Brazil had Clodoaldo and Gerson in midfield, Peru had Roberto Chale and Ramón Mifflin. In those times, the midfield was a place of rapid transit, favoring the game in the areas. The tactical scheme that was in fashion was 4-4-2. From Brazil, Clodoaldo gave us a brief telephone call to tell us his impressions of the World Cup that the ‘Canarinha’ has been doing.

“Brazil is one of the best teams in the World Cup in Qatar and neymar He is the best player in the World Cup. I think that if Neymar is physically fit, he will be the leader we need.”categorically said the flyer that gave his career to the powerful Santos between the sixties and seventies.

Likewise, we asked him about the work of Tite, the former coach who these days has been criticized for daring to dance with his players at one of the ‘Verdeamarela’ festivities. According to Clodoaldo, Tite is the right captain to achieve the six-time championship they have been hoping to win for twenty years. “He is a great coach and I am fully confident that he can lead us towards the ‘hexa'”holds.

Clodoaldo gave his opinion on the delicate state of his great friend Pelé, a companion in so many battles and so many pleasant moments. It was then that his tone of voice changed: “Pele is a wonderful person, he deserves to be honored everywhere. Pray for his health. It is what I ask of football fans“. It is the sincere invocation for the friend who is not doing so well.

In a few hours, Brazil will perhaps face a rival as tough as Peru was in Mexico 70: the Croatia of Luka Modric, the Real Madrid midfielder and, like Clodoaldo, the team’s customs. Let’s see if Neymar’s wand works against the European fence, but above all the conditions of the match will give Tite the chance to dance again.