Roca Cup
Encyclopedia
The Roca Cup was a football
competition contested between Argentina
and Brazil
from 1914 to 1976 on irregular basis.
, general Julio Roca in 1913. A football enthusiast, Roca was at the time the Argentinian ambassador in Brazil
and felt matches between both countries would create a healthy rivalry and help the sport
to develop. The Cup would be played each year in a different country, a fact that was actually kept in spite of the many changes to the Cup's format.
Julio Roca donated a trophy to the Argentine Football Federation and it was agreed that the competition would be played for three consecutive years in a single-leg format and the country with two wins would conquer the trophy forever. But in 1915 the Argentine Football Federation merged with Argentine Football Association
, and the following matches were not played. In 1922, the Brazilian Sports Confederation agreed to dispute the competition again, which Brazil won for the second time, and thus claimed the Roca Cup ownership, even though Argentina beat them the following year.
In 1938, both football associations accepted to play the competition once again. The format was changed and the trophy would be kept by the most recent winner. In case the first two matches finished in draws or each team had a win, then a third leg had to be played. In January 1939, Argentina got a 5-1 victory in Rio de Janeiro
. The following game was packed with incidents and the visiting team left the pitch enraged after the referee awarded a penalty to Brazil. However the home side went on to score a third goal when the Argentine team had already left the field in protest. A third and fourth match were played in São Paulo
, giving the victory to Argentina. The 1940 edition was played in Argentina, where Argentina won two matches (6-1 and 5-1) and Brazil only one (2-3).
In 1957's match, at Maracanã
, Pelé
made his debut in Brazilian National Team, drafted by coach Silvio Pirilo, where he scored the first of many goals with the brazilian jersey.
From 1940 on, Brazil managed to win every edition, except for the 1971 Cup, when with two draws, the Cup was also declared tied.
aet = after extratime
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competition contested between Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
from 1914 to 1976 on irregular basis.
History
The competition was created by former president of ArgentinaPresident of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
, general Julio Roca in 1913. A football enthusiast, Roca was at the time the Argentinian ambassador in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and felt matches between both countries would create a healthy rivalry and help the sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
to develop. The Cup would be played each year in a different country, a fact that was actually kept in spite of the many changes to the Cup's format.
Julio Roca donated a trophy to the Argentine Football Federation and it was agreed that the competition would be played for three consecutive years in a single-leg format and the country with two wins would conquer the trophy forever. But in 1915 the Argentine Football Federation merged with Argentine Football Association
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
, and the following matches were not played. In 1922, the Brazilian Sports Confederation agreed to dispute the competition again, which Brazil won for the second time, and thus claimed the Roca Cup ownership, even though Argentina beat them the following year.
In 1938, both football associations accepted to play the competition once again. The format was changed and the trophy would be kept by the most recent winner. In case the first two matches finished in draws or each team had a win, then a third leg had to be played. In January 1939, Argentina got a 5-1 victory in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. The following game was packed with incidents and the visiting team left the pitch enraged after the referee awarded a penalty to Brazil. However the home side went on to score a third goal when the Argentine team had already left the field in protest. A third and fourth match were played in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, giving the victory to Argentina. The 1940 edition was played in Argentina, where Argentina won two matches (6-1 and 5-1) and Brazil only one (2-3).
In 1957's match, at Maracanã
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
, Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
made his debut in Brazilian National Team, drafted by coach Silvio Pirilo, where he scored the first of many goals with the brazilian jersey.
From 1940 on, Brazil managed to win every edition, except for the 1971 Cup, when with two draws, the Cup was also declared tied.
The matches
| 1914 |  Brazil |
27/09/1914 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 0-1 |
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| 1922 | Brazil |
22/10/1922 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 2-1 |
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| 1923 |  Argentina |
09/12/1923 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 2-0 |
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| 1939/40 | Argentina |
15/01/1939 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 1-5 |
| 22/01/1939 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 3-2 | ||
| 18/02/1940 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 2-2 aet | ||
| 25/02/1940 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 0-3 | ||
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| 1940 | Argentina |
05/03/1940 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 6-1 |
| 10/03/1940 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 2-3 | ||
| 17/03/1940 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 5-1 | ||
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| 1945 | Brazil |
16/12/1945 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 3-4 |
| 20/12/1945 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 6-2 | ||
| 23/12/1945 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 3-1 | ||
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| 1957 | Brazil |
07/07/1957 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 1-2 |
| 10/07/1957 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 2-0 aet | ||
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| 1960 | Brazil |
26/05/1960 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 4-2 |
| 29/05/1960 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 1-4 aet | ||
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| 1963 | Brazil |
13/04/1963 | São Paulo | Brazil - Argentina 2-3 |
| 16/04/1963 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 5-2 aet | ||
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| 1971 | Brazil + Argentina |
28/07/1971 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 1-1 |
| 31/07/1971 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 2-2 aet | ||
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| 1976 | Brazil |
27/02/1976 | Buenos Aires | Argentina - Brazil 2-1 |
| 19/05/1976 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil - Argentina 2-0 | ||
aet = after extratime
External links
- Copa Julio Roca at RSSSFRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...
- Information (Portuguese)