The deaths of Jeff Astle and the Brazilian striker Vava have been announced.

Those of you who saw the titanic struggle between England and Brazil in 1970 in the Mexico WC will recall Astle's famous miss, which haunted him for the rest of his career and beyond. The moment his name was mentioned the miss against Brazil would immediately come to everyone's mind. It was a fantastic game, the genius of the free flowing Brazilians playing The Beautiful Game, against the disciplined English marshalled by the brilliant Bobby Moore who broke up so many Brazilian attacks. Had Astle scored it would have been 1-1 which would have been a just result. Pele made straight for Moore at the end and exchanged shirts. Two gladiators - it was a great sporting moment. (The game was also famous for the unbelievable save by Banks from a Pele header.)

I can recall Jeff Astle scoring for WBA against Leeds at Elland Road when Leeds were in the process of chucking away one of several league titles they contrived to lose. It was an extraordinary refeering decision as when Astle received the ball he was so far offside everybody just stopped playing except Astle and the Ref.

Vava (real name - Edvaldo Izidio Neto) is apparently one of only 3 players who have scored in 2 World Cup finals (for Brazil in 1958 and 1962). The others are Pele (1958/1970) and Germany's Paul Breitner (1974/1982).

So Astle is going in good company. RIP both.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Answers

I'm a bit young to remember much about Jeff Astle as a player (though of course I've seen the miss a thousand times), but he was a hoot on Fantasy Football with Baddiel & Skinner. His singing was somewhat reminiscent of Les Dawson playing the piano.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

when i was a lad and we knocked around in the local field you had to pick a goalie and a player that you were going to be, I was always John Osborn and Jeff Astle

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Very sad news indeed. The minute silence before match against Walsall at the Hawthorns today on telly was one of the quietest I've ever heard.

Incidentally Jonno - I've got MOTD The Seventies video. There was nowt wrong with that goal against Leeds - Astle came from behind the ball. I've watched it several times in the past and couldn't understand why Revie got so steamed up. He was such a cheating git though I thought the whole thing was hugely funny!!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I think he was upset cos he had a set of players who weren't dirty, never cheated and somehow were still disliked

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Apparently there used to be graffiti in "West Brom" saying "Astle for England", that had been there since the 60s. In the 90s the council eventually got it removed.

It was back afresh, the next day.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002