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.
