The Twelve of England twelve, with a more nationalist tone, apparently inspired by his research into Camões and Garrett, but also possibly motivated by the 1890 British Ultimatum, which had provoked a strong anti-British feeling in republican-nationalist circles in Portugal at that time. The legend took a new life when the Portugal national football team made their debut at the 1966 FIFA World Cup hosted in England. Led by eventual top-scorer Eusébio, they reached third place in the tournament. The Portuguese newspaper press gave the fabled team the nickname "Os Magriços", in reference to the "Twelve of England". Although the legend was familiar to
João da Silva (Portuguese footballer) João da Silva (Portuguese footballer) João da Silva is a Portuguese footballer who played as a half-back. Silva arrived at Benfica in 1943, making his debut at the hands of Janos Biri on 28 November, against Vitória de Setúbal. With Alcobia, Albino and Francisco Ferreira as competition, he was seen as back-up, playing only 15 games between league and cup in 1943–44. Nonetheless, he played all seven games in the campaign winning run in the Portuguese Cup, which included a 8–0 trashing of Estoril in the final. With the breakthrough of Moreira in 1944–45, Silva dropped further in the pecking