Two years later, he was a key part of the Czech side who finished third in the inaugural European Nations Cup in France, losing to eventual winners, the Soviet Union, in the Semi-final, before beating the hosts in Marseilles. Masopust was selected by UEFA, as was legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, in the Team of the tournament.
The following year, he captained Czechoslovakia in World Cup qualifying matches against Scotland and Ireland, coming up against a young Billy McNeill in Bratislava, as the hosts won 4-0, then again at Hampden, as the Scots won 3-2, Pat Crerand joining Cesar for that one. There were home and away wins over the Irish, with Masopust scoring in the 7-1 victory in Prague, mentioned earlier, before the Czechs broke Scottish hearts and dreams of a third consecutive World Cup Finals appearance, with a 4-2 extra-time victory in the Heysel Play-off, Crerand the lone Celt on duty in Brussels that evening.
Ladislav Novak
So it was the Czech Lion who roared in Chile instead, and roar it most certainly did. Masopust was one of seven Dukla players in the 22-man squad, beside his long-time club colleague and captain, Ladislav Novak, a veteran of the 1954 campaign. Both would later go on to manage the club. Czechoslovakia were drawn against holders Brazil, featuring the star of the previous World Cup, 21-year-old Pele, Spain, managed by Herrera and including his Internazionale general, Suarez, as well as the naturalised Real pairing of Puskas and Di Stefano, and Mexico, captained by another legendary goalkeeper, Antonio Carbajal, the first man to play in five Finals tournaments.
It was a tough ask but the Czechs responded well, beating Spain, then drawing with Brazil, meaning that defeat in the last game against Mexico did not prevent progress. Knock-out victories over Eastern European rivals, Hungary, featuring our old friend Karoly Sandor, and Yugoslavia, set up a re-match with Brazil in the Final. Despite Masopust opening the scoring in Santiago, the South Americans, now minus the injured Pele, hit back to win 3-1, thanks to goals from Amarildo, Zito and Vava, becoming only the second side to retain the Jules Rimet Trophy, following the Italians of 1938. Curiously, there would be Scottish representation at the Final, our old friend R H Davidson of Airdrie, running the line!
Josef would later receive some consolation for the disappointment of losing that Final, voted European Player of the Year for 1962, joining the legends Matthews, Di Stefano, Kopa, Sivori and Suarez, as early recipients of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Soon the names of Yashin, Law, Eusebio, Charlton and Best, would be added to that list but sadly not Jimmy Johnstone’s, ‘Jinky’ finishing third in 1966/67.
In the autumn of 1964, Masopust and Dukla commenced a fourth consecutive European Cup campaign with a re-run of the previous season’s clash with Gornik. A 4-1 home victory for the Czechs, with both Masopust and Lubanski scoring for their respective clubs, was followed by a 3-0 loss in Chorzow, the tie then decided by a Play-off, with away goals not yet counting double in the premier tournament. The third match, in neutral Duisburg, finished goalless, so it was left to the lottery of a coin toss, Dukla guessing correctly, to eliminate the Poles again.
