3.3.16

Taça Brasil de Seleções 1907




Football can play a significant role in  the development of a sense of national identity. In 1907 the president of Brazil, Snr Afonso Pena, donated a trophy to be awarded to ' National Champions'. 

The first Rio de Janeiro championship had been decided in 1906 (Fluminense)  whilst the São Paulo championship had been in place since 1901 (Germania were the 1906 champions).
The governing bodies of football in the 2 principal cities (Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball (founded 1901) and Liga Metropolitana de Sports Athleticos (founded 1905)) decided against a championship playoff between the 2 champion clubs, and instead opted for a match between 2 league representative teams.
This overlooked the fact that a Bahia state championship had been played since 1905 (Clube de Natação e Regatas São Salvador were the reigning champions).
The 2 representative sides met first on 25.08.07 at São Paulo's Campo do Velódromo. 
The line ups were:


Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball
Tutu
Paulistano
Tommy
Paulistano
Walter Jeffery
Paulistano
Thiele
Germânia
Argemiro
Internacional
Gerhardt
Germânia
Einfurher
Internacional
Leônidas Bellegardes
Internacional
Aquino
Americano
Oscar de Andrade
Americano
Colston
Internacional


Distrito Federal
Waterman
Fluminense
Riether
Fluminense
Pullen
Paysandu
Mutzembecker
Internacional
A. Werneck
Paysandu
Wood
Fluminense
Oswaldo Gomes
Fluminense
Wilding
Internacional
Oscar Cox
Fluminense
E. Etchegaray
Fluminense
Waymar
Paysandu

São Paulo took a firm hold by winning the home tie by 4-1. The São Paulo goalscorers were Leônidas Bellegardes, Oscar de Andrade, Aquino and Colston. Oswaldo Gomes scored for the visitors. 
The return fixture was played  7 weeks later on 12.10.07 at Paysandu's ground.   


 Distrito Federal
Waterman
Fluminense
Robinson
Paysandu
Victor  Etchegaray
Paysandu
Mutzembecker
Internacional
Pullen
Paysandu
João Leal
Fluminense
Rob
Paysandu
Oswaldo Gomes
Fluminense
Oscar Cox
Fluminense
Emile Etchegaray
Fluminense
Felix Frias
Fluminense

Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball
Tutu
Paulistano
I. Rittscher
Germânia
Walter Jeffery
Paulistano
Thiele
Germânia
Argemiro
Internacional
Gerhardt
Germânia
Einfurher
Internacional
Leônidas Bellegardes
Internacional
Aquino
Americano
Oscar de Andrade
Americano
H. Ruffin
Americano


São Paulo won this leg by 1-0 with a goal from Leônidas Bellegardes.

The Carioca Paulista theme was revived in a club competition in 1910.