Investigating this further, I looked at events that were occurring in 1899 in Portugal and noted the following births:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1899_in_Portugal

  • 6 February - Jaime Gonçalves, footballer (deceased)
  • 25 February - António Pinho, footballer (deceased)
  • 21 April - José Ramos, footballer (deceased)
  • 30 April - Fernando António, footballer (deceased)
  • 10 May - Artur Paredes, guitar player (died 1980)
  • 21 August - António Leite, fencer (died 1958)
  • 26 August - Francisco Vieira, footballer (deceased)
  • 24 October - João Francisco Maia, footballer (deceased)
  • 8 November - Manuel António Vassalo e Silva, Governor-General of Portuguese India (died 1985)
  • 19 December - Fernando Santos Costa, army officer (died 1982)
  • 30 December - José Pimenta, footballer (deceased)
  • Armando Machado, fadista, guitarist, “viola” player (died 1974)
  • Jesus Muñoz Crespo, footballer (died 1979)
  • Sarmento Rodrigues, naval officer, colonist, professor (died 1979)

Coincidence? I think not. I reckon Queen Victoria new exactly how shot our chances would be in any subsequent World Cups against Portugal, and sought to minimize the damage.