 Eduard Streltsov was named the “Russian Pele” when he returned to the national team in 1965. He didn't play in the 1958 world cup for the USSR as he was in prison. But, lets start at the beginning; in 1954, in this year as a cockey 16 year old he became the youngest Soviet League Scorer, scoring for Torpedo. He received a call up that year to the national team. He then silenced the critics after scoring a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win. In 1956 Streltsov carried the team in the Olympic Semi's and scored but was left out of the final. In 1958 while Pele was wowing crowds in the World Cup, Streltsov was in a prison camp. He was accused of rape, though this was massively covered up by the authorirties. Leading some people to think that it was a conspiracy after Streltsov had insulted the daughter of a Communist Party big-wig. A mass cover up that Streltsov ever happened was starting. The gold medal he won in 1956 was expunged and his goals scored for Torpedo in 1958 were listed as “scored by other players.” Streltsov; still in prison was beaten by fellow prisoners with either an iron bar or a heel of a shoe (no body knows). But Streltsov survived. Streltsov was moved and life became a bit easier. There were rumours almost certainly untrue that he was excused from labour to entertain guards with his ball skills. Streltsov was released after serving 5 years of a 12 year sentence and started playing for a factory side. He was put in the Torpedo first team after fans started shouting “Streltsov to the field” to save a revolt. He was taken to away games and at 1 league match the seat he sat in was drawn round with chalk to mark the occasion. He returned to the national team and scored 25 goals in 38 games. He won 2 Soviet Player Of The Year Awards in 67' and 68'. It just left the question; What would Pele or Maradona look like if they had eaten the prison gruel from Streltsov's plate, or if they had been imprisoned for half or even a third of his term? What he did was beyond imagination. |
