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SPAIn 1982 MEXICO 1970 WEST GERMAnY 1974

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 COnTEnTS
8 THE WORLD AWAITS… 88 SPAIN 1982

12 URUGUAY 1930 94 PAOLO ROSSI

18 ITALY 1934 96 MEXICO 1986

24 FRANCE 1938 102 DIEGO MARADONA

30 GIUSEPPE MEAZZA 104 ITALY 1990

32 BRAZIL 1950 110 DAVID PLATT

38 WALTER BAHR 112 USA 1994

40 SWITZERLAND 1954 118 FRANCE 1998

46 SWEDEN 1958 124 JAPAN & S.KOREA 2002

52 CHILE 1962 130 RONALDO

58 ENGLAND 1966 132 GERMANY 2006

64 BOBBY MOORE 138 SOUTH AFRICA 2010

66 MEXICO 1970 144 AARON MOKOENA

72 PELÉ 146 BRAZIL 2014

74 W.GERMANY 1974 152 RUSSIA 2018

80 FRANZ BECKENBAUER 158 QATAR 2022

© Getty Images

82 ARGENTINA 1978

6 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

CONTENTS 7
THE WORLD AWAITS…
AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 22ND STAGING OF THE WORLD CUP FINALS, LET’S REMEMBER HOW FAR THE TOURNAMENT
HAS COME, FROM ITS WINTRY START IN MONTEVIDEO IN 1930 TO THE SPECTACLE OF RUSSIA IN 2018.
...............................................................................................................................................................

8 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

July 15, 2018, Moscow. France celebrate
after winning their second World Cup in 20
years after defeating Croatia 4-2.

INTRODUCTION 9
 April 1, 2022, Doha. The draw for the FIFA World
Cup Qatar 2022 took place at the Doha Exhibition
Center in Doha, Qatar, and threw out some
intriguing fixtures.

The brainchild of former FIFA president Jules Today, the FIFA World Cup Finals is a From Pelé’s record-breaking three wins as
Rimet, it’s safe to say that the FIFA World competition that seems to know no boundaries a player to Franz Beckenbauer’s victories
Cup has come a long way since it began in but, that said, it has been a rocky road to as player and then coach, from Diego
Uruguay back in 1930. Then, just 13 national get to where we are. But this is a stubborn Maradona’s genius that enraptured the world
teams took part in the fledgling competition, and indefatigable beast, a competition that in 1986 to Zinedine Zidane’s incomparable
with just four European teams making the long has survived everything from catastrophic skill in 1998 and 2006, these are the kind of
and expensive trip across the Atlantic Ocean natural disasters to heavy-handed political celebrated players that the World Cup Finals
to South America, personally persuaded interference, from financial crises to two has a unique knack of producing, the kind of
by Rimet himself that this was the start of World Wars. players who always seem to rise to this most
something genuinely special. More than that, though, it has not simply lofty of occasions.
Fast forward eight decades and the survived, it has prospered, growing in stature
World Cup Finals is now the biggest sporting and popularity as the planet took the game to Qatar, an adventure about to begin
spectacle in the calendar, pulling together its heart and, in turn, the World Cup itself. With Russia hosting a memorable edition
nations from almost every country in the world in 2018, attention now turns to the Middle
to celebrate, enjoy and revel in a festival of HARDLY A SINGLE NATION ISN’T East and new hosts Qatar who are presenting
football that is both compelling and unique. TOUCHED BY THE TOURNAMENT. their first-ever Finals. In four years’ time,
meanwhile, it will be the turn of North
A true world sport America, with Mexico, Canada and the United
The numbers are simply staggering. Today, Truly, it is a sporting event unlike any other. States taking the baton.
over 200 nations around the world enter A competition without compare. Yes, the It’s proof that the enduring appeal and
the qualifying competition (more than are FIFA World Cup Finals is where heroes (and ever-increasing popularity of the event now
members of the United Nations) while, at the occasionally villains) are made and where stretches to all four corners of the globe.
World Cup Finals in South Africa in 2010, legends are created. It’s the event where a Today, moreover, no nation, anywhere, ever
around half of the world’s population, some moment of individual inspiration or a flash needs an invitation to take part either.
3.2 billion people, watched the tournament of genius can not merely transform a team’s Over the coming pages we will chart the
on television. Billions of dollars are paid to fortunes but change a player’s career and story of this unique sporting competition,
FIFA for the privilege of sponsoring the event life overnight, and a cursory examination from its humble and uncertain beginnings on
or to bag the broadcasting rights while the of some of the players who have dominated through periods of flagging interest and tit-for-
host countries can expect a sizeable fillip this tournament, etching their names into the tat boycotts and on to the golden age of the
to their economy for the four weeks that the annals of the game’s history, reads like a competition, where now hardly a single nation
World Cup takes place. Who’s Who of international football. isn’t touched by the tournament.

10 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 15, 2018, Moscow. France’s
Kylian Mbappé gets the celebrations
underway at Russia 2018.

INTRODUCTION 11
 URUGUAY 1930
FOOTBALL’S FIRST OFFICIAL WORLD CHAMPIONS, URUGUAY – ALSO GOLD MEDALLISTS AT THE 1924 AND 1928
OLYMPICS – PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH AS THE FIFA WORLD CUP WAS BORN.
...............................................................................................................................................................
It was on the snow-topped pitch of the Estadio
Pocito in Montevideo, before a modest crowd
of 3,000, that France’s Lucien Laurent volleyed
in the first ever goal in World Cup history.
Meeting a cross from winger Ernest Libérati
in the 19th minute of France’s opening game
against Mexico on July 13, 1930, the inside-
right etched his name into footballing folklore,
and celebrated with a mere handshake as he
trotted back to the restart.
Though the 22-year-old could not have
known then of the significance of his right-
footed strike, his muted celebrations were
symbolic of a time when football was a world
apart from the high-profile, professional and
commercially-driven game we know today.
In comparison, it’s easy to view the
inaugural World Cup as one of haphazard
organisation, political bickering and
incompetent officiating. But football’s historians
will instead laud the mere fact that it went
ahead and produced FIFA’s first ever official
world champions, therefore giving birth to the
quadrennial showstopper enjoyed by billions
of fans across the planet today.
The nationality of the opening scorer
proved particularly apt, given that the game’s
governing body, Fédération Internationale
de Football Association, was formed in Paris
in 1904. FIFA had declared then that they
alone had the right to stage an international
championship, but were initially satisfied
organising the football tournament held at
each Summer Olympics, at the time considered
the world championship for amateurs.
But when they clashed with the International
Olympic Committee over the status of amateur
players (a contentious topic that would
continue to plague the sport’s infant years),
football was removed from the schedule for
the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Association football was left in desperate
need for an international showpiece, and
another Frenchman, FIFA president Jules Rimet,
was the man to provide it. On May 26, 1928,
at FIFA’s Amsterdam conference, the World
Cup was conceived.

Europe or elsewhere?
Rimet’s first task was to decide on the hosts,
and he wasn’t short of contenders. Europe’s
best were keen, with Italy, Sweden, Spain,
Hungary and the Netherlands all lodging
bids, while Uruguay offered the sole option
Souvenir poster. from South America. The Uruguayans were
the reigning Olympic champions, having

12 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 30, 1930, Montevideo. The official
attendance at Estadio Centenario for the World
Cup Final was 68,346, but more likely 93,000.

defeated Argentina 2-1 in Amsterdam’s but FIFA had no such luck when it came to the Peugeot factory in which he worked if
Olympic Stadium in a replay (the first enticing their European counterparts. Austria, he agreed to forsake his pay while absent.
match finished 1-1). They also planned to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Italy boasted Sochaux, where Laurent played, were, at the
build a new £200,000, 90,000 capacity some of Europe’s finest footballing talent at time, Peugeot’s own works side.
national stadium to celebrate 100 years of the time, but could not be persuaded to make
independence and, crucially, offered to pay the long journey. With two months to go, All aboard
the expenses of all participants. a tournament that was meant to represent Despite being a daunting financial decision,
In a time before transatlantic air travel the world was looking distinctly lopsided. it proved an adventure too good to turn down
and when many countries were struggling for most of the young footballers, eager at
in the face of a global economic recession, THE WORLD CUP PROVED AN the chance to embark on a thrilling first-time
this was a bold and generous offer that their voyage across the globe.
rivals were unable to match. As the Europeans ADVENTURE TOO GOOD TO Enjoying daily training sessions on deck,
withdrew, Uruguay was chosen at a FIFA TURN DOWN FOR MOST OF THE their floating home for two weeks was the
congress in Barcelona in 1929. YOUNG FOOTBALLERS, EAGER SS Conte Verde, a Scottish-built 18,000-tonne
Qualifying was not required as each AT THE CHANCE TO EMBARK ON Italian ocean liner. The Romanians were the
FIFA-affiliated nation was invited. Despite first to board, in Genoa on June 21, 1930.
boasting professional domestic leagues in A THRILLING FIRST-TIME VOYAGE Two weeks later, having picked up the French,
Britain, invitations were not extended to ACROSS THE GLOBE. Belgians, Brazilians, three European officials
the home nations, who had rescinded their and Jules Rimet himself, the Conte Verde
membership of FIFA in yet another row over Rimet persevered, and eventually found arrived to 10,000 welcoming Uruguayans
payments to amateur players. A handful four European sides willing to test their sea in Montevideo on July 4.
of British players would nevertheless still legs. Remarkably, Romania’s newly crowned The cheering masses also got their first
manage an appearance in Uruguay, with King Carol II was so keen to send a side that glimpse of “The Goddess of Victory”, the
six American-based Brits donning the white he personally selected the squad, who only 30cm high, four-kilogram statuette brought
shirt of the USA instead, where professional agreed to go following a royal guarantee over by the FIFA president it would eventually
soccer was also being played. that they would all be re-employed on their be named after. Fifty-three years later, the
return. Similar concessions were needed Jules Rimet Trophy would be stolen from
By invitation before players from Belgium, Yugoslavia Brazil’s football headquarters in Rio and never
Alongside the United States, plenty of and France would make the trip. seen again, believed to have been melted
© Getty Images

interest was shown by other nations in the In an example of the sacrifices they were down for its gold.
Americas. Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, expected to make, France’s opening scorer, A similar dark fate befell the boat on which
Mexico, Paraguay and Peru all entered, Laurent, was only permitted time off from the trophy arrived into Montevideo.

URUGUAY 1930 13
 Thirteen years after its crucial role in the
maiden World Cup, the Conte Verde would
be scuttled by its own Italian navy in Shanghai
in 1943 to prevent seizure by the Japanese.
The occupying forces nevertheless managed to
refloat her before she was sunk again, this time
in 1945 at the hands of a US Air Force B-24
Liberator bomber. However, the ship was made
good and became a Japanese troopship.
Back in Montevideo, the Yugoslavians
arrived separately on the mail steamship
Florida, completing the 13-team line-up. Only
then did FIFA make the official draw. As top
seeds, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and USA
were kept apart as four groups were drawn,
Group 1 containing four teams and the rest
three. Two points were awarded for victory,
one for a draw, with the top side in each group
progressing to the Semi-Finals.

Montevideo takes centre stage

After two years in the making, the teams
had arrived, the groups had been drawn
and the tournament could begin. But not
everything was ready. Heavy rain had delayed
construction on the new national stadium,
meaning that the hosts were forced to wait five
days before they could begin their campaign.
Instead, with Uruguay’s capital Montevideo
hosting the entire tournament, secondary
venues Estadio Grand Parque Central and
Estadio Pocitos shared the opening matches.
Signs that not everything was running
smoothly were evident on the pitch too. While
the French enjoyed a 4-1 opening victory, their
following match against Argentina provided
the tournament’s first real controversy. With
France 1-0 down and on the attack, Brazilian
referee Gilmedo de Almeida Rêgo blew the
full-time whistle, despite there being six minutes
left on the clock.
A partisan home crowd would not let their
fiercest rivals off so easily, and amid furious
protests from the stands, Rêgo was forced to
recall the players to the pitch, some of whom
were already in the bath. An understandably
befuddled French side were unable to grab an
equaliser upon their return, and Luis Monti’s
81st minute goal proved the winner.
France may have played two games in
the tournament’s first three days, but
many of the other sides had yet to begin.
Alongside them in Group 1, Chile registered
a comfortable 3-0 win over Mexico courtesy
of two goals from forward Carlos Vidal and
an own goal from Manuel Rosas. Although
Mexico would complete a thoroughly miserable
campaign with a 6-3 loss to Argentina, Rosas
was able to make a more positive mark on
the tournament by scoring the World Cup’s
first ever penalty. The spot kick was awarded
by Bolivian ref Ulises Saucedo, who combined
his role as referee at the tournament with the
small matter of managing his national side.
Argentina had been too strong for the
Mexicans, with striker Guillermo Stábille in
© Getty Images

particular catching the eye with a fine hat-trick.

The 25-year-old Hurácan striker wasn’t picked July 30, 1930, Montevideo. Members of the Uruguayan team
celebrate at the Estadio Centenario after winning the first World
Cup competition, coming from behind to beat rivals Argentina 4-2.
14 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY
URUGUAY 1930 15
 them into the Final. A last minute consolation
strike from Kilmarnock-born Jim Brown would
be the USA’s last significant mark on the first
World Cup.
The following day, 79,000 turned up to
watch a plucky Yugoslavian team face up
to the confident hosts. Six years earlier at the
1924 Olympics, Uruguay had been ruthless
in a 7-0 First Round demolishing of the same
opponents in Paris.
The visitors must have thought revenge
was on the cards when they took a shock
fourth-minute lead through Dorde Vujadinovic.
Instead, it only inspired the home side to
another rout. Three goals before half time –
including a contentious second said to have
been “assisted” by a policeman returning the
ball into play – put the tournament favourites
in control, before three more in the second
half, including a hat-trick from Pedro Cea,
finished the job emphatically: 6-1.

The finest teams in the world

Despite the controversies and at times bungling
organisation, there was little doubt that the
tournament’s two best sides had made it
to the Final. Just as at the Olympic Final in
Amsterdam two years earlier, Argentina would
play Uruguay. Argentina had scored 16 goals
from their four games; Uruguay had notched
A cable message dated 31 July, 1930 from the US Soccer Federation to the Uruguayan FA, sending 11 from just three. FIFA and Jules Rimet were
congratulations after Uruguay became the first world champions. The US finished third. hoping for a spectacle, and these free-scoring
sides were not likely to disappoint.
With the now-traditional Third-Place Play-
for the opening victory over France and only victory, the Bolivians at least ensured they Off not established until 1934, there would
received his call up to the first XI when skipper would be remembered for reasons other than be a three-day break before the Final,
Manuel Ferreira opted to return home to take their footballing skills when they wore shirts allowing plenty of time for an estimated
a law exam. emblazoned with single letters that spelt “Viva 30,000 Argentinians to make the short
After Chile’s 1-0 victory over France, Uruguay” as the players lined up before their crossing over the River Plate.
qualification went to the wire between opening game. Endearing as their savvy A scarcity of available boats meant not
Group 1’s two South American sides. Once public relations stunt was, sadly for their all would make kick-off. Chants of “Victoria
again Stábille was troubling the scoresheet, referee-cum-coach the hearts of the locals o muerte” could be heard from those that did
bagging a brace inside 15 minutes as the was all they would win as Bolivia recorded make it across, as tensions ran high between
increasingly impressive Argentinians prevailed two 4-0 losses before crashing out. the South American neighbours. Supporters
3-1. The game was played in the new In Group 3, Peru fared little better. Not were even searched for firearms upon entry,
Estadio Centenario, five days after hosting only did they lose both games, to Romania and the ground was heaving with 93,000
its inaugural match, when Uruguay defeated and group winners Uruguay, but in Plácido spectators three hours before kick-off.
Peru in front of 70,000 people. It may have Galindo they had the first player to be sent
been five days late in finishing, but Uruguayan off at a World Cup. A CONTENTIOUS SECOND
architect Juan Antonio Scasso had delivered
the largest stadium outside the British Isles, all Knockout stuff GOAL WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN
built in under a year. It was a phenomenal feat In the first Semi-Final, between Argentina and “ASSISTED” BY A POLICEMAN.
of construction and the iconic stadium remains USA, torrential rain matched tempestuous
the proud home of La Celeste – as the Uruguay feelings on the pitch, as the Americans lost Death threats had been received by
national side is known – to this day. midfielder Raphael Tracey to a broken leg Argentina’s Luis Monti, but the in-form
It was by no means a vintage opening after just ten minutes (he played on till half midfielder insisted on playing. Meanwhile,
performance from the hosts, with Héctor time). In a World Cup slowly becoming Belgian referee John Langenus, one of the
Castro’s 65th minute goal the only difference famous for farce, the oncoming US physio officials to arrive on the SS Conte Verde,
between the sides, but it was enough to tripped, breaking his bottle of chloroform in only agreed to take charge of the game on
entice 10,000 extra fans to see a much the process. The resulting fumes knocked him the assurance that a boat would be waiting
more emphatic 4-0 victory over Romania unconscious and he was carried off the field for him at the harbour should he need to
to confirm a Semi-Final spot. by the bemused players. make a quick post-match exit.
Despite only trailing by a single Luis Monti His first task was to settle a pre-match
Upsets and gestures goal at half time, the depleted Americans were disagreement over the match ball, as both
The first shock of the World Cup came in unable to withstand the power and pace of the teams insisted on using their own. Eventually,
Group 2, when the unfancied Yugoslavians Argentinian forward line in the second half, as FIFA intervened with a compromise – the
© Getty Images

defeated seeded Brazil 2-1 in their opening two each for River Plate winger Carlos Peucelle Argentinians’ ball would be used for the
game before seeing off Bolivia to progress. and the ever-potent Stábile, after Alejandro first half, while Uruguay would get their turn
Having never recorded an international Scopelli had doubled Argentina’s lead, saw after the interval. Whether psychological or

16 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

otherwise, the decision appeared to influence finishing touch was added by an unlikely Jules Rimet to became the first captain to lift
the outcome. Despite taking a 12th minute hero. Despite having scored three goals in football’s most prestigious prize.
lead through Pablo Dorado, the Uruguayans the tournament, including two in the Semi- Uruguay president Juan Campisteguy
went in at half time 2-1 down, following Final, striker Juan Anselmo had been declared the following day – July 31,
Peucelle’s 20th minute equaliser and another left out of the team in favour of Héctor 1930 – a national holiday, while contrasting
strike from eight-goal Golden Boot winner Castro, the Nacional forward who had earlier scenes in Buenos Aires saw the Uruguayan
Stábile just before the break. in the tournament scored the first ever goal consulate pelted with stones by disgruntled
at the new stadium. Nicknamed “El Manco” Albiceleste fans.
Lucky ball (“one-armed”) due to a childhood accident Meanwhile, Jules Rimet prepared for the
A change of ball saw a change of fortunes for that robbed him of his right forearm, his 89th long trip home, satisfied at seeing his two
the home side. Monti missed a crucial chance minute strike justified his inclusion and sealed years of hard, often frustrating, work come to
to silence his tormentors early in the second the victory as the jubilant Estadio Centenario fruition. The world was hooked, and he was
half, and when Cea equalised just moments crowd celebrated wildly. already looking to 1934. But, beginning with
later in the 57th minute, the fanatical crowd It wasn’t just the fans showing emotion. an unfinished stadium and ending with a one-
sensed a momentum shift. The players shed tears while skipper José armed match winner, whatever was to happen
Left winger Santos Iriarte, an ever-present Nasazzi, who had superbly marshalled a in the following years, he must surely have
throughout for Uruguay, scored his second of defence that had conceded only three goals, known that there would never be a World Cup
the tournament ten minutes later, before the gratefully received the World Cup trophy from quite like the first.

July 30, 1930, Montevideo. Jules Rimet (left), president of FIFA,

presents the World Cup trophy (known from 1946 as the Jules Rimet
Trophy) to Paul Jude, president of the Uruguay Football Association.

URUGUAY 1930 17
 ITALY 1934
AS THE BLACK CLOUDS OF FASCISM GATHERED OVER EUROPE, FOR ITALIAN DICTATOR BENITO MUSSOLINI
HOSTING – AND WINNING – THE WORLD CUP WOULD PRESENT HIS GRAND VISION ON A GLOBAL STAGE.
...............................................................................................................................................................
As the Italian players emerged from the tunnel,
a flag bearer held high il Tricolore, waving it
in front of 50,000 expectant fans in Rome’s
Stadio Nazionale PNF – the ground of Italy’s
National Fascist Party. With kick-off minutes
away, Italy’s players faced the main stand
and raised their right arms to salute their
leader, Benito Mussolini. The hosts, superbly
organised under disciplinarian coach Vittorio
Pozzo, had reached the World Cup Final and
Il Duce was 90 minutes away from seeing his
political masterplan realised.
From the moment that Italy were named
as hosts of the second FIFA World Cup Finals,
Mussolini had set his sights on using the
tournament as a platform to promote
his fascist regime. He knew the eyes of
the world would be on his nation, and an
Italian win would send the perfect message
reverberating around the world. Indeed, it
was deemed such an effective propaganda
tool that Adolf Hitler would also employ the
same methods two years later when Berlin
hosted the Olympic Games.

MUSSOLINI HAD SET HIS

SIGHTS ON USING THE
TOURNAMENT AS A PLATFORM TO
PROMOTE HIS FASCIST REGIME.

Following the success of the first World Cup

in Uruguay, Italy had pulled out all the stops
to ensure the tournament would arrive on
their soil. FIFA had already favoured a change
of continent, with president Jules Rimet
keen to persuade more European sides to
take part, especially as only four had
endeavoured to make the 7,000-mile sea
journey to Montevideo, with the Italians one
of the many heavyweight nations deciding
to give the competition a wide berth.

Large-scale thinking
Sweden were Italy’s only rival bidders, and
they soon withdrew once they realised the
grand scale and ambitious nature of the
Italian proposal. Like Uruguay four years
earlier, Italy had offered to cover all of the
expenses of the teams taking part and rather
than hosting the tournament in one city,
Italy’s World Cup would be a more expansive
affair, encompassing eight host cities, from
© Getty Images

Turin to Naples, Rome to Trieste.

It would be an idea and template that Official poster.
would endure long beyond 1934.

18 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 The commentary box.

The grandeur of Italy’s pitch appealed. In In total, 12 European teams would qualify, Champions stay at home
stark contrast to 1930, when FIFA struggled to including Belgium, France and Romania – In South America, meanwhile, withdrawals
scrape 13 teams together, 32 nations applied three of the four sides who had braved the from Peru and Chile meant that Argentina
to be a part of this burgeoning football two-week transatlantic journey four years and Brazil qualified automatically, though
spectacle. Only 16 places had been allocated earlier. The fourth side to join them in Uruguay both would send weakened sides. In one
for the Finals, forcing FIFA to devise the first would not be adding a second notch to their of football’s greatest ever sulks, reigning
ever preliminary qualifying rounds. World Cup history, however, as the surprise champions Uruguay refused to send any
Semi-Finalist from 1930, Yugoslavia, propped of their players, second string or otherwise.
JUST AS IN 1930, THE BRITISH up their group behind the Romanians and Continuing to hold a grudge against the
NATIONS DECLINED TO newcomers Switzerland. European nations who had failed to make
Other notable debutants in 1934 included the effort to appear at their inaugural
PARTICIPATE, SUGGESTING the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany and the World Cup, the champions had chosen to
THAT THEIR OWN HOME much-fancied Austrian and Czechoslovakian stay at home in protest.
CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE OF sides. Austria in particular were seen among But there remained an air of stubbornness
FAR MORE IMPORTANCE. the pre-tournament favourites for the title. closer to home, too. Just as in 1930, the
Under coach Hugo Meisl, they had enjoyed British nations declined to participate,
Though future tournaments would include an a 14-match unbeaten run in the early continuing their self-imposed exile from
automatic place for the host nation, Italy were 1930s, defeating most of their big European FIFA. Unwilling to allow their professional
not afforded such a luxury this time around. rivals along the way and becoming the first players to compete alongside amateur
In that respect, they remain the only World European side to beat Scotland as well. counterparts, the respective football
Cup hosts in history required to actually In captain Matthias Sindelar, nicknamed associations also demonstrated an incredible
qualify for their own tournament. Not that it “Der Papierene” (“the Paper Man”) for his lack of foresight in suggesting that their
proved anything like a problem for Pozzo’s waif-like build and agility, they boasted own Home Championship to be of far more
men. Their 4-0 victory over Greece at the San one of the continent’s finest dribblers. Only importance than the World Cup.
Siro was so comprehensive that the Greeks three months before the World Cup, they The Irish Free State team were keen to
decided to withdraw before the second leg, sent out the strongest possible message by participate, but were edged out in qualifying
saving the Azzurri a trip to Athens. defeating the Italians 4-2 in Turin. on goal average, with Belgium having

ITALY 1934 19
 conceded one goal less against group winners Orsi was one of several oriundi – Argentinian- 56 years for their next Finals appearance,
the Netherlands. Notably, Aberdeen’s Paddy born but of Italian ancestry – who had opted coinciding with the World Cup’s return to Italy
Moore scored four for the Irish Free State in a to switch their national allegiances. Another in 1990.
4-4 draw in Dublin against Belgium. was the man who captained Argentina in the
1930 World Cup Final, the robust centre-half European strength
Mexico good-bye wave Luis Monti. In fact, the majority of Argentina’s Elsewhere, Germany began their campaign
Africa would also have its first representative, stars from Uruguay had made the move to with an impressive 5-2 win over Belgium,
as Egypt saw off Mandatory Palestine – a Europe, including their top scorer Guillermo Czechoslovakia recovered from going 1-0
Jewish team – over two legs, while Mexico Stábile, meaning that coach Felipe Pascucci down in the 11th minute to beat Romania 2-1,
had seemed certain to complete the line-up was not able to name a single 1930 Finalist in while two goals from Leopold Keilholz inspired
after beating Cuba before a late entry from his squad. Despite being seeded, the depleted Switzerland to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands.
USA left them requiring a play-off against Albiceleste were also First Round victims, as In arguably the match of the round, Austria’s
the 1930 Semi-Finalists. Peculiarly, despite Sweden twice came from behind to win 3-2, much-lauded “Wunderteam” needed extra
sharing a border, the two nations would play thanks to two goals from Sven Jonasson and time in Turin to defeat France 3-2.
their qualifier in Rome only three days before a 79th minute winner from Knut Kroon. For the only time in World Cup history,
the tournament began. The US prevailed 4-2, Completing a miserable tournament for Europe boasted all eight sides in the Quarter-
leaving the Mexicans facing the prospect of a the Americas, fellow seeds Brazil were also Finals, and all after only one day’s play.
tortuous 30-day return journey without having shocked, as Spain scored three times in the Way before television scheduling and myriad
even played a single World Cup Finals match. opening half hour in a 3-1 win. Although they commercial concerns preoccupied organising
Not that it would take their neighbouring too would exit, Egypt were far from disgraced committees, all eight First Round matches had
conquerors long to join them. FIFA’s decision in a 4-2 loss to a strong Hungarian side. Two kicked off on the same day, at exactly the
to scrap the group stages from 1930 in favour goals down down within the first half hour, same time; 4.30pm on Sunday, May 27.
of a ruthless knockout format left nothing to two strikes from Abdulrahman Fawzi brought Following their commanding opening
chance. The US must have sensed their luck the Africans level at the break and Fawzi was win against the States, the Italians found
was running out when they drew Italy, and controversially denied a hat-trick following a the Spanish a much more difficult proposition
a 7-1 rout confirmed the mismatch. Bologna dubious offside call by Italian referee Rinaldo in Florence. In a bruising encounter typified
© Getty Images

forward Angelo Schiavio scored Italy’s Barlassina, before the Hungarians struck by Monti’s crunching tackles in defence,
opening goal before completing a hat-trick, twice again. Despite a promising debut, the the Spanish held the hosts to a 1-1 draw
while Raimundo “Mumo” Orsi scored two. Egyptians would be forced to wait another after extra time. A replay was required,

The Argentina players make

a spectacle while training.

20 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

taking place the very next day. A Spain side
now missing key players through injury,
including their unflappable keeper Ricardo
Zamora, were eventually defeated by
a solitary goal from Giuseppe Meazza, the
Internazionale hero so revered in Milan that
46 years later they would rename the San Siro
in his honour. The Italians had progressed, but
not for the first time in the tournament, neutrals
were muttering about some questionable
refereeing in favour of the home side.

No love lost
Fifty miles north in Bologna’s Stadio Littoriale,
25,000 watched as Austria progressed at the
expense of old rivals Hungary, though the 2-1
scoreline suggested a much tighter affair than
the 5-2 demolishing Meisl’s side had handed
out only the previous month in a friendly
in Vienna. The Hungarians had attempted
to upset their opponents’ famous passing
game with robust tactics that eventually saw
the sending off of Hungary’s Imre Markos
following a mass brawl.
Preparing his side for their third game in
four days, Italian coach Vittorio Pozzo took
inspiration from the Hungarians’ display and
sought to similarly shackle the Austrians in
a Semi-Final head-to-head that many saw as
the Final in all but name.
It was no surprise when Monti was given
the job of keeping Matthias Sindelar quiet,
while the heavy conditions on a sodden
San Siro pitch did no favours for the skilful
Austrians. Sixty thousand would brave the rain
to see Italy squeeze out another 1-0 victory,
thanks to another of Pozzo’s oriundi, inside-
forward Enrique Guaita. For all their brute
force, the Italians’ fitness levels were a credit
to their manager’s strict and exacting regime.
Nicknamed “Il Vecchio Maestro”, the Old
Master had cleverly steered Italy into the final.

Czechs march on
Back in the national stadium, Czechoslovakia
took on the Germans. In the Quarter-Finals,
two goals in three second-half minutes for
German striker Karl Hohmann had ended
Sweden’s commendable run, while Sparta
Prague’s Oldrich Nejedly proved to be the
match winner for the Czechoslovakians,
scoring with just eight minutes to go as
the Swiss finished on the wrong end of an
entertaining five-goal thriller.
In the Semi-Finals, Nejedly, who would be
named in FIFA’s team of the tournament, was
again the hero for Karel Petru’s side. Opening
the scoring on 19 minutes, he added two more
to his tally in the last 20 minutes to complete
a hat-trick, settling his side’s nerves after
Germany had hit back through Rudolf Noack.
As the referee blew the full-time whistle
with the score at 3-1, the FIFA World Cup had
its first all-European final and Czechoslovakia
would be the side tasked with ruining
Mussolini’s party. June 10, 1934, Rome.
Both teams would have a week to recover The Stadio Nazionale PNF
and prepare. First, though, FIFA debuted a on World Cup Final day.

ITALY 1934 21
The front page of the Italian sports
newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport
celebrates Italy’s historic victory

22 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

Third/Fourth Place Play-Off between defeated fine form throughout their respective with nine minutes remaining, Pozzo had
Semi-Finalists Germany and Austria with the campaigns, and were rated alongside Spain’s his Argentinians to thank. Guaita found
World Cup’s first bronze medal going to Otto Zamora as Europe’s best. Orsi, whose wonderful feint dummied three
Nerz’s side, who showed no signs of a Semi- But defensive sturdiness was not the sole defenders, before planting the ball high into
Final hangover as the impressive outside-right pre-match focus. The Czechoslovakians the roof of the net.
Ernst Lehner put the Germans 1-0 ahead favoured Austria’s Danubian style of short The Italians had forced extra-time, and
inside the first minute. Another from Lehner passing, and in Semi-Final hat-trick hero once again they knew it would be to their
meant Germany went in to the break with a Nejedly and the man who would go on to be advantage. In the 95th minute, Guaita
3-1 lead, with Meisl’s Austrian side only able their record international goalscorer, Antonin was again the provider. This time he found
to grab one back in the second half in Naples. Puc, they posed a formidable and potent Schiavio, the man who had scored his
attacking threat. country’s opening goal two weeks earlier,
Just as they had done against Austria and who completed the circle by beating
CARRIED OFF THE PITCH BY Spain, the Italians would adopt a physical, a defender and applying a delightfully
HIS PLAYERS, VITTORIO POZZO high-pressure approach, in the hope that their composed finish.
WAS HAILED AS ONE OF superior fitness levels would again overcome Italy would hold on, and Monti was able
finer opposition. to add a winners’ medal to his silver he had
THE INTERNATIONAL GAME’S Although he would finish as the earned four years earlier with Argentina.
MASTER TACTICIANS. tournament’s top scorer, Nejedly was kept Carried off the pitch by his players, Vittorio
quiet by the ever-stout Monti. But Pozzo’s Pozzo was hailed as one of the international
Three days later came Italy’s, and their leader’s, defence failed to do the same with Puc. game’s master tacticians, and, bolstered by
big day. Such was the importance that When the man from Slavia Prague beat his success, would go on to lead his team in
Mussolini had placed on a home win that he Combi with 14 minutes to go, spinning France four years later.
had even commissioned a trophy of his own, superbly on his right to fire in a crisp left- There remained only one thing left to do
the Coppa del Duce, to hand out alongside foot drive from just inside the area, the home that afternoon in Rome. The tournament’s three
FIFA’s golden statuette. Not surprisingly, it crowd watched in stunned silence. best sides lined up on the pitch to see their
dwarfed FIFA’s version. country’s respective flags hoisted high above
Argentinians to the rescue the Stadio Nazionale.
Clash of the keepers As the Italians searched for an equaliser, they As the Italian national anthem belted
In a scenario that would not be repeated were left vulnerable on the break. Frantisek out from the loudspeakers, Benito Mussolini

© Getty Images
for another 48 years, both finalists were Svoboda struck the post and Jiri Sobotka was watched on as Il Tricolore was raised, high
captained by their goalkeepers. Giampiero denied by Combi as boss Petru, nervously above the rest.
Combi and Frantisek Plánicka had been in pacing the touchline, sensed a shock. Instead, His masterplan had worked.

June, 10 1934, Rome. The victorious Italian

team carry their coach Vittorio Pozzo after
the final whistle. The temperature was 39°C.

ITALY 1934 23
 FRANCE 1938
DESPITE FASCIST POSTURING, VITTORIO POZZO’S ITALIANS DOMINATED TO RECORD THEIR SECOND
SUCCESSIVE WORLD CUP WIN. MEANWHILE, BRAZIL ANNOUNCED THEIR ARRIVAL IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.
...............................................................................................................................................................

With Europe on the brink of war, the third president and proud Frenchman Jules Rimet, their superb win in the 1930 event. They
World Cup took place against an uneasy and was deemed suitably neutral, with Nazi weren’t the only ones. Unwilling to risk such
uncertain political backdrop. Four years after Germany’s bid rebuffed. a gruelling voyage in these times of
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had used the uncertainty, and perhaps still smarting from
competition as a mouthpiece to broadcast South American slight a 7-1 hammering from Italy four years
his fascist message to the world, FIFA were In a twist of irony, the choice of host also previously, the USA opted out for the first
determined to avoid any kind of repeat. strained relations across the Atlantic. time. Withdrawals also came from Colombia,
It would prove a difficult task. Under the Argentina had expected to be awarded Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Mexico,
masterful leadership of coach Vittorio Pozzo, the tournament, believing in an unwritten presenting Cuba with an automatic route
the Azzurri remained a formidable footballing promise of rotation that would have seen into the World Cup for the first time in their
outfit, not to mention willing propaganda the Finals return to South America following history. When Japan also failed to enter
pawns. And in an effort to portray harmony an eight-year absence. Disgruntled with the the qualifying process, the Dutch East Indies
on the continent, the controversial decision snub, Argentina refused to enter. Uruguay, found themselves enjoying the same fate,
was made to keep the tournament on too, would remain at home for the second as the tournament line-up began to take on
European soil. France, championed by FIFA tournament running, yet to return following an unfamiliar look and feel.

June 10, 1938, Paris. The great Italian football

team with coach Vittorio Pozzo line up before
kick-off at the World Cup Final against Hungary
at the Stade Olympique de Colombes.

24 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

There were debutants in Europe too, as test of time, France qualified automatically. nation flying the flag for South America was
Poland and Norway qualified at the expense Moreover, they had also taken Italy’s lead a scintillating Brazil. Its reputation for jaw-
of Yugoslavia and the Irish Free State from four years earlier and designed the dropping football began here.
respectively, but once again much of the focus schedule so that the tournament could tour FIFA continued with the straight knockout
was on those who wouldn’t be making an the country, with ten cities acting as hosts. format that they had begun in 1934, having
appearance. The ongoing Spanish Civil War Though Lyon would ultimately miss out found success in its neat tendency to produce
prevented the 1934 Quarter-Finalists from following Austria’s withdrawal, matches were 90 minutes of thrilling action, with the
building on their undoubted potential. And still played as far north as Lille, to all the way potential promise of extra-time and replays
despite qualifying ahead of Latvia, Austria’s down south in Marseille and even across to if the teams couldn’t be separated.
annexation into the Third Reich saw them the German border in Strasbourg, the idea To their delight, they found the same
drop out, with some of the much-vaunted being to encourage a greater number of occurred from the very start in France too.
“Wunderteam” joining the German squad foreign visitors from neighbouring European Five of the opening seven games would
that had finished top of their qualifying group cities to come to France to see the matches. require extra-time, and two of these then went
with three wins from three. on to a replay, contested on the following day.
The Latvians weren’t given the chance to The world stays away
plug the gap, with an attempt made to offer Holders Italy had also been spared the hassle Brazil turn on the style
England an olive branch instead, as the of playing any of the preliminary rounds but The Brazilians, keen to ensure they would
Football Association continued their stubborn with only three non-Europeans taking part, not again return home at the first opportunity,
exile from FIFA. Yet to make an appearance and just the one making the trip from South sent their strongest side and contributed
in the World Cup Finals, England once more America, FIFA had once again encountered to perhaps one of the greatest First Round
declined, and the decision was made to press a now familiar dilemma. Worryingly, FIFA’s games ever played in the history of the
ahead with a tournament that would only World Cup was proving to be anything but World Cup. Today, of course, tournament
feature 15 nations. a fair representation of world football. The openers have a marked tendency to be
advent of long-distance commercial air travel cagey and circumspect but in France in 1938,

© Getty Images
Venues far and wide after World War II would eventually help it was anything but.
As the host nation and as a beneficiary of to solve that issue, of course, but for now Poland would provide the opposition, and
one of FIFA’s few policies that has stood the the organisers would be thankful that the Józef Kaluza’s new boys would play their part

FRANCE 1938 25
 Extra-time loomed, and although Wilimowski
became the first player to score four goals
France ’38 poster.
in a World Cup match, he still, somewhat
incredibly, ended up on the losing side. Instead
it would be Leônidas, himself completing
a hat-trick with two goals in extra-time, who
proved to be the match winner as a breathless
encounter finished 6-5 in favour of the South
Americans. The match ensured that the French
crowd took an immediate liking to the fearless
young Brazilian side. Leônidas’ trademark
bicycle kicks were a particular highlight, and
his shining displays earned him the nickname
“Black Diamond”. Having scored his side’s
only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Spain at the
last World Cup, the Flamengo striker was
determined to hang around longer this time.

ALTHOUGH POLAND’S ERNEST

WILIMOWSKI BECAME THE FIRST
PLAYER TO SCORE FOUR GOALS
IN A WORLD CUP MATCH,
HE STILL ENDED UP ON THE
LOSING SIDE.

France were also desperate to improve on

their World Cup record. Memories of their
crushing extra time loss to Austria in Turin
four years earlier were still with fans and
players alike when they were drawn against
neighbours Belgium. But when Emile Veinante
scored inside the first minute before Jean
Nicolas got the first of his two goals to make
it 2-0 after just 16 minutes, the nerves had
gone. Les Bleus won 3-1, and the national
mood was one of confidence that Gaston
Barreau’s side could continue the trend of
World Cup-winning hosts.
Hungary, meanwhile, were merciless
in a 6-0 win over Dutch East Indies, who
seemed happy enough to be involved,
while Norway took the mighty Italians to
extra-time in Marseille.

Unpopular champions
FIFA’s hope that the political undercurrent
would not bubble over was looking forlorn
when the Italians gave fascist salutes in
the pre-match line-ups. The 19,000 Stade
Vélodome crowd were not impressed, booing
and jeering every Azzurri touch. Unfortunately
for them, and the Norwegians, the defending
champions revelled in their role as tournament
villains. Despite conceding an equaliser
seven minutes from time, Lazio’s Silvio Piola
scored the decider four minutes into extra-
in an 11-goal thriller in Strasbourg. Striker continent. Trailing 3-1 at half-time, the time. Captained by their 1934 hero Giuseppe
Leônidas opened the scoring on 18 minutes Poles hit back superbly after the break. Meazza, the Italians were the team to beat.
as Brazil wowed the 13,000-strong crowd Ernest Wilimowski was the man in form, Not all debutants would be heading home
with a flamboyance and freedom the likes of netting a splendid hat-trick as the 90 minutes early, as Cuba provided one of the shocks of
which simply hadn’t been seen before on the finished at four goals apiece. the tournament. Perhaps in an effort to ensure

26 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 5, 1938, Strasbourg. Brazilian
forward Leônidas (L) stars in one of
the greatest ever World Cup games
– a 6-5 victory over a dogged Poland.

that they would not be making the long return by defeating Germany 4-2 in a replay. The a stir before a ball had been kicked. Following
journey home after just one game – as all Germans, with their white kits now comprising a blue kit clash, the Italians were asked to
non-European sides had been forced to do in a red collar to reflect the Nazi flag, were given wear their away shirt, traditionally white. Ever
Italy – FIFA had generously seeded the Cubans a rough ride by a hostile Parisian crowd, some the political opportunist, Mussolini ordered
along with Brazil, Germany, France, Hungary of whom even threw broken bottles. the team to don black shirts, symbolising the
and 1934 Finalists Italy and Czechoslovakia. Coach Sepp Herberger had been instructed much-feared Italian fascist paramilitaries.
The Cubans had nevertheless drawn a tough to include five of the newly-integrated Austrian It was an inflammatory gesture that enraged
tie, against an experienced Romanian team players in his first team and it was no surprise the crowd but nevertheless inspired the
making their third World Cup appearance. to see the blame directed at them. Herberger Italians. Piola was again on the scoresheet
Only 7,000 turned up in Toulouse but those would still be in charge when Germany won as the holders proved superior on the pitch,
who stayed at home missed another classic. their first title in 1954, but this time they were winning 3-1 and breaking the hearts of the
With the game poised at 1-1 and only three heading home. 58,000 in attendance. For the first time, the
minutes to go, Tomás Fernández grabbed The Brazilian bandwagon arrived in World Cup would not be won by the hosts.
what seemed to be a Cuban winner before Bordeaux for their Quarter-Final match Hungary, courtesy of a hard-fought 2-0 win
Romania equalised almost from the restart, with Czechoslovakia, who had seen off the over Switzerland, would complete the Semi-
sending the match into extra-time. This time, Dutch 3-0 in the First Round. Once again Final line-up having scored eight goals and
another Cuban goal three minutes before time Leônidas was the toast of the town, scoring yet to concede. Their opponents, Sweden, had
sealed a replay after they had fallen behind to two goals in two hotly-disputed games. Famed
an identical record, the difference being that
Stefan Dobay’s 105th minute strike. Four days Czechoslovakian keeper Frantisek Planicka
Hungarian coach József Nagy’s Swedish side
later, thousands more attended to see Cuba suffered a broken arm and star striker Oldrich
were yet to be severely tested having played
come from behind to win 2-1 and record their Nejedlý a broken leg – after equalising
only the one game against Cuba.
first, and so far only, World Cup win. Their joy Leônidas’ opener – in a game that would
would be short-lived. Sweden, benefiting from become known as the ‘Battle of Bordeaux’. The difference would be Hungary’s greater
a First Round bye following Austria’s no-show, Both sides were forced to field a number of preparation. Gyula Zsengellér, their 22-year-
would end the Cuban fairy tale with a brutal reserves in the replay, but without Planicka old striker, scored his fourth and fifth goals of
8-0 victory in the Quarter-Final. and Nejedlý – the Golden Boot winner in Italy a prolific campaign in a convincing 5-1 win
– Czechoslovakia struggled and lost 2-1. at Parc des Princes in Paris. Hungary would
Their struggle advance to their first Final at the expense of
© Getty Images

At the Parc des Princes, Switzerland ensured Mussolini’s political game Sweden and their Budapest-born manager
that France’s anti-fascist demonstrators The tie of the round saw the hosts face Italy Nagy, who would go down as the first coach
would have only one team to rally against in Paris. Once again, the Italians caused to face his native country.

FRANCE 1938 27
 June 19, 1938, Paris. Italy, in blue
rather than black shirts, defeated
Hungary 4-2 in the World Cup Final.

The much-anticipated second Semi-Final took World Cup bronze, while Leônidas deservedly men had added an element of artistry and
place at the Stade Vélodrome. Could the finished top scorer, with seven goals. dynamism to their play. By winning in France,
pure, free-flowing Brazilians overcome the however, they would prove the latter theory
superbly organised, and seemingly unbeatable Pozzo panache wrong too.
Italians? The French had their hopes pinned Unusually, Paris’ Stade Olympique de
on the acrobatic forward Leônidas. But when Colombe was not quite full for the Final on Captain fantastic
the teams were announced, shock registered June 19. Attendances had already begun to At their heart was Internazionale’s Meazza,
on the faces of the attending Marseillais – the dwindle once France had been eliminated, just 5’6”, who had created all three of Italy’s
Black Diamond had been left out of the team. but around 45,000 still packed the stands to goals as they went in to the break 3-1 up.
In an extraordinary show of arrogance see if Alfréd Schaffer could be the first World The player of the tournament Piola found the
and complacency, Brazil manager Adhemar Cup manager to outfox Vittorio Pozzo. Of top right corner of Antal Szabó’s goal for their
Pimenta had hoped to keep Leônidas rested Pozzo’s chosen XI, only two – captain Meazza second, while Colaussi had added another
and refreshed for the World Cup Final. and Giovanni Ferrari – had featured in his from close range.
The two taxing Quarter-Final ties against 1934 squad. Incredibly, though, the Old Cheered on by the French, the Magyars
Czechoslovakia had taken a toll on the striker, Master had managed to cultivate two almost pulled one back on 70 minutes through the
but it would prove to be one of the costliest completely different World Cup sides and get 6’1” striker György Sárosi, but Piola ended
managerial mistakes in World Cup history. both to the Final. all hopes of a nervy finish with the goal of
Following captain Meazza’s second-half Having received a pre-match telegram the game on 81 minutes, striking the ball
penalty that put his side into a commanding from Mussolini, the Italians were in no doubt with the outside of his left boot past Szabó’s
2-0 lead with an hour gone, Italy saw out the as to the importance of the occasion. The despairing dive.
game, wobbling only once when Romeu pulled game started off at a frenetic pace. Gino Remarkably, Pozzo had done it again.
one back with three minutes to go. Colaussi fired in after only six minutes, but Regardless of their black-shirted political
Pimenta was left to rue his decision to Hungary hit back only two minutes later, with posturings, his Azzurri side were deserved
drop Leônidas, particular when he returned Pál Titkos beating Aldo Olivieri from a tight winners, and the first side to successfully
to the side for the Third/Fourth Place Play- angle with a left-foot strike. defend their title. But they would hold on to
Off against Sweden and scored two in a 4-2 But the Italians were not to be denied. Hurt the trophy for longer than anticipated. A year
© Getty Images

Brazilian victory – the Brazilians having been at suggestions that their maiden World Cup later, the world’s best players would be called
2-0 down within 38 minutes. The Brazilians win was one that had been built on brute force to arms, and the FIFA World Cup would not
were nonetheless delighted to secure their first and the cushion of home advantage, Pozzo’s return for another 12 years.

28 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

FRANCE 1938 29
 WORLD CUP ICONS

GIUSEPPE
MEAZZA
Arguably football’s first ever genuine
superstar, Giuseppe “Peppino” Meazza
was the heartbeat of Italy’s World Cup
winning sides of 1934 and 1938.
Agile, creative and always elegant,
Meazza’s attacking prowess and adept
dribbling made him the scourge of
opposition teams. Often, it was as much
as defenders could do just to hack him
down, assuming, of course, they could get
anywhere near him in the first place.
His striking good looks, meanwhile,
coupled with his astonishing goalscoring
rate made him a marketeer’s dream
and he landed lucrative endorsements
advertising everything from toothpaste to
haircare products.
But while Meazza walked the walk, he
certainly talked the talk as well, both for
his clubs and his country. At Inter Milan he
plundered 242 goals in 365 games and
also chalked up 33 goals in 53 caps for
Italy too.
By the time he retired in 1947 he
had won two World Cup titles and a
© Getty Images

hat-trick of Scudettos with his beloved

Internazionale. But more than that. He
had won Italy’s heart.

Italy captain Giuseppe Meazza was

a vital part of Italy’s World Cup
winning sides of 1934 and 1938.

30 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

GIUSEPPE MEAZZA 31
 BRAZIL 1950
FOLLOWING THE END OF WORLD WAR II, BRAZIL REVIVED THE WORLD CUP WITH A THREE-WEEK CARNIVAL,
BUT CLOSE RIVALS URUGUAY WOULD SPOIL THE MARACANA PARTY WITH SOME TACTICAL BRILLIANCE.
...............................................................................................................................................................
With much of Europe lying in ruins, it was secured third place in Italy in 1938, the into the hands of occupying Nazi troops.
Brazil who came to FIFA’s rescue and offered football-obsessed nation was convinced that Along with their world-class stadium, Brazil’s
to pick up the World Cup baton after a 12- their beloved A Seleção would go the whole proposal included a significant format change.
year hiatus brought on by the Second World way this time around, and lift the World Cup
War. In true Brazilian fashion, the South trophy for the first time. Return of the group stage
Americans were determined to put on the The now famous golden statuette had Keen to recoup some of the expense they had
most flamboyant footballing spectacle ever been officially renamed the Jules Rimet Cup, spent on new facilities and infrastructure,
witnessed and to do this, they needed to build to celebrate the return of FIFA’s prestigious the organisers intended to revert to an initial
the world’s greatest sporting arena. tournament and also mark the 25th group stage, as favoured in Uruguay in
And that they did. The Estádio do anniversary of Jules Rimet’s presidency. 1930. Following this, the four group winners
Maracanã, designed by a team of seven That the trophy was still around to be won would advance to a final pool, where each
Brazilian architects, was the largest football was thanks in no small part to Dr Ottorino team would play each other once. The nation
stadium ever constructed. It would stage Barassi of the Italian Football Federation. leading the table following the final game
© Getty Images

the host’s first match and, according to a Barassi had secretly removed it from a bank would be crowned champions. Despite
pre-tournament script written by 52 million in Rome and hidden it in a shoebox under his initial resistance from FIFA, Brazil’s insistence
Brazilians, their eventual triumph. Having bed throughout the war, saving it from falling eventually paid off. Group games meant more

July 2, 1950, Belo Horizonte. Uruguay’s

Julio Pérez is thwarted by Bolivia’s Eduardo
Guttiérrez. Uruguay still scored eight.

32 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 3, 1950, Belo Horizonte. England’s
goalkeeper Bert Williams is beaten by USA’s
Joe Gaetjens in the World Cup’s biggest shock.

matches and more gate receipts. It would miles apart. The 1938 Quarter-Finalists felt otherwise, a stubborn Graham withdrew the
also guarantee each side at least three the travel required between games was an Scots. Even more peculiar circumstances saw
games, ridding the potential for elimination unfair burden in addition to the initial journey India also drop out at the last minute. Having
after only one game. over from Europe. only made it due to the withdrawal of Burma,
FIFA hoped that this would attract more There were plenty of positive additions, The Philippines and Indonesia, they had been
European interest and solve an issue that had though. The 1930 champions Uruguay would drawn in Group 3 to face Paraguay, Sweden
plagued the first three World Cups. Only four finally make a second World Cup appearance, and defending champions Italy. Like France,
European teams made the trip to Uruguay in while this would be the first World Cup with a they cited travel costs as the main concern,
1930, while South American sides proved healthy mix of European and South American though FIFA’s ruling preventing teams from
just as reluctant to cross the Atlantic when the sides, as six teams from Europe arrived playing barefoot, as India had done at the
competition was hosted on European soil. An following successful qualification. Excitingly, 1948 Olympics, was said to be a factor.
added issue for the game’s governing body England were one of these, after the Home
was that the world football map had changed Nations had ended their exile from FIFA Brazilians return in style
considerably following the war. Occupied and decided to use the 1950 British Home In Group 1, the hosts opened proceedings in
Germany and Japan were banned, while most Championship as the qualification process. typically scintillating style. Relatively untouched
of the Eastern European sides behind the Iron by the war, Brazil were brimming with
Curtain chose not to enter. Scotland qualify... and refuse to go confidence and feeding off the palpable buzz
England had finished top and would be in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital, ahead of
Disagreements continue making their first ever Finals appearance, the Maracanã’s opening game.
The new format required 16 teams, and 34 while runners-up Scotland had also qualified. The previous year, Brazil had won the
nations entered qualifying. But by the time In a bizarre stance, however, Scottish FA South American Football Championship on
kick-off approached, only 13 sides had made chairman George Graham stood by bold home soil in commanding fashion. They’d
the trip, as FIFA once again struggled with comments he’d made before qualifying, when won six of their seven games in a league
recruitment. High-profile withdrawals included he insisted Scotland would only head to Brazil format, scoring a phenomenal 39 goals and
Argentina, following a disagreement with the as British champions. Despite the best attempts conceding only seven. Paraguay finished
Brazilians, and France, who refused to travel of England and Scotland captains Billy second with an inferior goal difference. With
when the draw threw up group games 2,000 Wright and George Young to persuade him seven goals in that tournament, Vasco da

BRAZIL 1950 33
 Gama striker Ademir was now a familiar
face to the South American audience. And it
wouldn’t be long before Brazil’s number nine
(this was the first World Cup to introduce shirt
numbers), with his prominent underbite, would
announce himself to the world, with two goals
as Brazil crushed Mexico 4-0.
But the first signs that not everything would
go the Brazilians’ way occurred in São Paulo
four days later. The Swiss, recovering well
from an opening 3-0 defeat to Yugoslavia,
held the hosts 2-2, courtesy of two goals from
Jacky Fatton. With the Yugoslavians defeating
Mexico 4-1 only hours later in Porto Alegre,
Brazil’s first real test of nerves would occur in
a group decider in Rio.
A draw would suffice for Milorad
Arsenijevic’s Yugoslavia side, who had a real
chance to break the hearts of the 142,000
packed inside the Maracanã. They weren’t
afforded any favours, as forward Rajko Mitic
banged his head off a metal girder on his
way out of the tunnel. Suffering a heavy gash,
he was forced to miss the first 20 minutes to
receive medical attention, and wasn’t even
aware that Ademir had given the Brazilians
the lead in the third minute until told so at half-
time by his teammates.
Mitic wasn’t able to inspire his side after
the break and Brazil went 2-0 up through
Flamengo’s attacking midfielder Zizinho.
Despite an admirable effort, the Yugoslavians
were heading home, and Brazil, to
everybody’s relief, were through.

England disaster
Meanwhile in Group 2, one of the biggest
shocks in world football was taking place.
As the tournament’s only debutants, much was
expected of Walter Winterbottom’s England
side. Boasting the great names of Tom Finney,
Stanley Matthews and Billy Wright, they were
ranked among the favourites for the title.
No one believed that more so than the English,
who had long considered themselves the
best side in the world despite their stubborn
resistance to prove it officially.
Their campaign began with relative ease,
with a 2-0 win over Chile in Rio thanks to
goals from Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen and
Middlesbrough’s Wilf Mannion.
At the same time in Curitiba, Spain were
beating a part-time USA side 3-1. The US
were managed by Scotsman Bill Jeffrey,
who did his best to instil organisation and
discipline into his hastily-assembled squad
in the face of superior talent. It had so nearly
worked, leading 1-0 with ten minutes to go
before three goals in eight minutes saw the
Spanish take the victory.
Led by their forward Telmo Zarra, Spain
were the only group side expected to cause
England any problems, though the side
labelled the “Kings of Football” were still
overwhelming favourites to reach the Final
July 9, 1950, Rio de Janeiro. In-form Brazilian forward
Pool without too much concern. So it was Ademir watches the ball fly into the net as he scores his first
© Getty Images

maybe with one eye on a potential group of four goals past Sweden’s Kalle Svensson at the Maracanã
decider that prompted what happened in stadium. Brazil beat Sweden 7-1 in front of 138,886.
Belo Horizonte on June 29.

34 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

BRAZIL 1950 35
 With Matthews, England’s best player, Golden Boot winner Ademir racked up
watching from the bench, Jeffrey’s part-timers four more goals, Chico two and Maneco
were under the cosh from the off as the array marked his only goal of the tournament as
of English attacking talent besieged keeper the Maracanã witnessed its biggest win yet,
Frank Borghi’s goal. a 7-1 demolition of Sweden. When they
Before the game, Jeffrey had admitted his followed this result four days later with a
players were sheep ready for the slaughter, Zizinho-inspired 6-1 victory over Spain, it was
while the English newspapers joked that easy to see why a host nation bubbling with
the opposition should be given a three-goal excitement and fervour was already declaring
headstart. As it turned out, they were given Brazil as winners with one game to go.
one. Just as they had done against the But their South American rivals were
Spanish, the Americans took a shock first-half clinging on. After a 2-2 draw with Spain,
lead, Haitian Joe Gaetjens diverting a long- Uruguay found themselves trailing Sweden
range Walter Bahr effort past Bert Williams 2-1 with 13 minutes to go in São Paulo’s
in the 38th minute. Estádio do Pacaembu. Following his hat-trick
Somehow, the US held on to their lead until in their opener against Bolivia, Miguez chose
half-time. As news spread from the Estádio the perfect time to add two further goals
Independência, the crowd of 10,000 had to his tournament tally, scoring the winner
visibly swelled by the time the second-half in the 85th minute. It all meant that, with
kicked off. Those who turned up witnessed Brazil topping the groups on four points and
sporting history, later dubbed the “miracle on
grass” in the States. As Borghi, a hearse driver
from Missouri, made save after save, it would THE WORLD’S LARGEST CROWD
be the English who would feel as though they FELL COMPLETELY SILENT, AS
were at their own funeral. DISBELIEF SWEPT THE NATION.
In the final minutes, with Winterbottom’s BRAZIL’S GREAT DAY HAD
side throwing everything at the US, the
Americans even came close to doubling their FINISHED IN IMPOSSIBLE DESPAIR.
lead. Only a goal-line clearance from future
England manager Alf Ramsey prevented Azzurri. Understandably shaken, the reigning Uruguay second on three, the first and only
Frank Wallace from making it 2-0. It mattered champions took some persuading to enter the World Cup to not have an official Final would
not, as the US held on to record a famous 1950 World Cup. Eventually they agreed to have one in all but name.
victory. With England stunned and humiliated, take part, but unlike their European rivals, they On July 16, 1950, the world witnessed the
goalscorer Gaetjens was carried off the pitch would not be making the trip by air, opting largest crowd in football history, as 200,000
by the home crowd. instead for voyage by sea. people piled into the Maracanã (stadium
The result was so unexpected that when Despite a valiant effort from a squad construction would not be fully complete until
the news reached England, many had now featuring only two Torino players, they 15 years later) expecting nothing less than a
presumed the 0-1 scoreline to be a newspaper succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Sweden in famous Brazilian victory. The home side only
misprint, and that the match must have their opening game. Coached by Barnsley- needed a point, but the expectant masses knew
finished 10-1.There was no confusion three born George Raynor, the Swedes had proved that there was no way a team who had scored
days later though, as the English were their burgeoning talent two years earlier 22 goals in just six matches were going to settle
heading home. Zarra was on the mark again when claiming the gold medal at the 1948 for a draw, particularly against a Uruguay
as the Spanish progressed at their expense Olympics in London. side who had scraped their way past the same
with a 1-0 win in Rio, to conclude a humbling Needing only a point to qualify, the Swedes opposition, and who’d been brushed aside
experience for England’s overly-confident drew 2-2 with Paraguay, leaving the final 5-1 by Brazil in their South American Football
and underprepared side. group game a dead rubber. Italy nevertheless Championship success the year before.
defeated the Paraguayans 2-0 to leave Brazil
Crown slips with their heads held high, but Italy’s 16-year Brazil expects
In Group 3, Italy failed to defend their crown reign as World Cup holders was over. The streets of Rio buzzed with anticipation,
for a third time. This was no longer the all- as fans waved flags and held banners
conquering Italian juggernaut of the Thirties, Goals abound proclaiming their team the winners. Morning
having been robbed of a generation of talent Returning Uruguay completed the Final Pool newspapers printed Brazil’s team photograph
through a tragedy that would rock Italian following a straightforward 8-0 win over under the heading “World champions”.
football a year before. their sole Group 4 rivals Bolivia. Due to The country’s fans, media and politicians
The Superga air disaster on May 4, 1949 the incomplete nature of the Finals line-up, were not prepared to wait a mere 90 minutes
saw each member of Torino’s title-winning Uruguay’s favourable draw could have proved to celebrate their maiden World Cup win.
squad perish when their Italian Airlines flight to be a disadvantage. Not only were Bolivia Unfortunately for them, they had greatly
from Lisbon, following a friendly with Benfica, one of the weaker sides in the tournament, underestimated Uruguay’s garra. Literally
crashed on return to Turin into an embankment but La Celeste were forced to wait a week to translated as “claw”, it would become a
by the Basilica of Superga – a hilltop, begin their campaign. word synonymous with this Uruguayan side,
domed church. All 31 people on board died, Unlike their rivals, they lacked serious symbolising their grit, guts and determination
including team management, airline crew match practice. Nonetheless, they progressed against the odds. No one embodied this spirit
and accompanying journalists. in a style akin to their hosts, including a hat- quite like their captain Obdulio Varela. Having
Italian football was in mourning, and trick from Oscar Miguez. seen the presumptuous newspaper headlines on
their national team was severely depleted. With the four best sides in place, the the morning of the Final, he bought every copy
© Getty Images

The Il Grande Torino side of the Forties had tournament stepped up a notch in its final the hotel owned and proceeded to lay them out
been dominant, winning five consecutive week. Goals were in abundance, especially on his bathroom floor. He then encouraged his
Serie A titles and forming the spine of the from the boys in white, Brazil. Eventual teammates to urinate over them.

36 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

Given the shape and dimensions of the the decision to award the goal. Whether George Reader’s whistle. The world’s largest
Maracanã, the Finalists must have felt like he genuinely believed Friaça to be offside crowd fell completely silent, as disbelief swept
they were playing inside a goldfish bowl, mattered not; Máspoli’s intention was to the nation. Brazil’s great day had finished in
unable to escape the crazed carnival wait until the crowd had calmed and the unimagined, impossible despair.
atmosphere surrounding them on all sides. din had quietened before his side could A national celebration had become
But if the Brazilians were nervous, they offer their reply. a national tragedy. Even FIFA president
failed to show any signs in the opening And reply they did. Driven on by their Jules Rimet had been taken aback by the
minutes as they launched a number of attacks inspirational skipper Varela, Uruguay refused outcome, his congratulatory speech having
through their familiar avenues, Ademir, to buckle. Right winger Alcides Ghiggia been written in Portuguese. Instead he stood
Chico and player of the tournament, Zizinho. outstripped his opposite number Bigode alone on the pitch with the trophy, all post-
(“moustache” in Portuguese) and fired in match ceremonies having been abandoned.
Master tactician a cross for Juan Schiaffino to equalise in the Eventually Varela appeared to collect the
Uruguay coach Juan López had been 66th minute. The Maracanã grew nervous, trophy, Uruguay’s second title, maintaining
inspired by Switzerland’s tactics earlier in the and their restlessness transferred to the pitch. a 100 per cent World Cup record.
tournament. The only side to claim a point
from Brazil had done so by dropping deep Ghiggia’s heartbreaker National embarrassment
when without the ball. López instructed his Uruguay sensed Brazilian unease and pressed For Brazil, the result would live long in
side to do the same and the tactic worked, on for a dramatic winner. With 11 minutes the memory. Many of the shamed players
frustrating the home crowd as the sides went left, they got it. Once again it was Ghiggia, disappeared into retirement, while Brazil’s
in goalless at the break. beating beleaguered left back Bigode for white jersey, labelled unpatriotic and cursed,
The deadlock was broken soon after the the second time, only this time he opted to was scrapped in favour of the now famous
restart. Ademir found Friaça free inside shoot rather than cross. The power generated yellow. The term Maracanazo, coined
the box, who made little mistake in firing past from such a tight angle surprised goalkeeper following the loss, remains a byword in South
Roque Máspoli. The Uruguayan keeper kept Barbosa, who, expecting another centre, was America for a victory for the underdog.
his head, however, and in a classic example beaten at his near post. Even a footballing nation that would go on
of gamesmanship delayed the restart by Ten minutes later, the unthinkable was to be the most successful World Cup team ever
deliberately arguing with the referee about confirmed with the sound of English referee would never forget this one afternoon in Rio.

July 16, 1950, Rio de Janeiro. Uruguay’s

Alcides Ghiggia powers in the winning
goal in the 1950 World Cup Final.

BRAZIL 1950 37
 INTERVIEW

WALTER BAHR
WHEN THE UNITED STATES BEAT THE MIGHTY ENGLAND 1-0 IN BELO HORIZONTE IN 1950, IT WAS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST, IF NOT THE BIGGEST UPSET IN THIS HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP FINALS. HERE, A KEY MEMBER
OF THAT VICTORIOUS SIDE, MIDFIELDER WALTER BAHR, RECALLS HIS TEAM’S DAY IN THE BRAZILIAN SUN…
...............................................................................................................................................................

You can learn a lot from playing sport but to score in the first 20 minutes. They hit said that we should have beaten England by
what I learned from beating England in 1950 the woodwork a couple of times and our three goals. And he meant it. Charlie was one
was that the best team doesn’t always win. goalkeeper Frank Borghi had an exceptional of those players who wouldn’t walk on the field
You know, sometimes the underdog walks day. It’s not like he had a lot of shots to save if he didn’t think he could win. He didn’t care
away as a winner and you don’t really know that were directly at him, rather that he just who he was playing. His attitude was, “We
how it actually happened. controlled his area really well, taking all the can beat these bums.”
crosses and cutting off a lot of balls that may
Personally, I think we were a little bit better have given the English a chance. To us, though, it didn’t really feel like a great
than most people gave us credit for. As a team upset at the time but it’s become more of a
we never really had the luxury of any training We got a lucky goal, though. I took a shot story as time has gone on. I know they still
time together before the World Cup started but from maybe 25 yards out but as Bert Williams hate to talk about that game in England but
we knew each other well and we had enough in the English goal moved to his right to get it, then that’s the beauty of sport, right? You never
strong combinations across the pitch – two Joe Gaetjens got enough of his head on the know what might happen. I mean, what’s the
players here, two there, and so on – that ball to change its direction and deflect into the point of playing a game if you already know
helped to make us a much better team. other side of the goal. It wasn’t a great goal who’s going to win?
but it was an important goal. They all count.
When we got knocked out after losing 5-2
We had Ed Souza and John Souza who
Don’t get me wrong, England still had most to Chile in our third game, they got rid of us
weren’t related but had a real understanding
of the play but I don’t recall them having as quickly as possible, sending us all home
on the left side. On the right we had Frank any great chances to score and it wasn’t like on whatever flights they could find seats on
Wallace and Gino Pariani from St Louis who we were hanging on at the end. Looking because money was always tight.
had played together as kids and knew each back, they had a better team and better
other’s games inside out, and in midfield there opportunities but I guess we just had a lot of When I got back to the airport in New York,
was me and Ed McIlvenny and we had played good bounces that went our way. there was no crowd waiting there to greet
together in Philadelphia. It was those little me. There was just my wife who had driven
combinations that gave us a foundation. But then everybody looks at games differently. up from Pittsburgh to meet me. I’m not sure
Our centre-back Charlie Colombo, for anybody knew what we had done, really.
Then we had Joe Gaetjens upfront. Joe was example, was a real tough guy and he always They do now, though.
from Haiti – one of three foreigners on the side
who were going to become US citizens – and
he was one of those forwards who was very
acrobatic. Sometimes he would score goals
and you would just wonder how he did it.
You see a lot of centre-forwards who don’t
seem to be that good but always seem to find
the net. Joe was a bit like that.

Our first game in 1950 was against Spain

and I actually thought that was the best of our
three games in Brazil. We led that game 1-0
with just eight minutes to go but then there was
a controversial call that led to their first goal.
But back then, you didn’t play for a tie or to
run the clock down, you played for the win,
so we went and attacked again and it
backfired and we lost 3-1.

But the game against England in Belo

© Getty Images

Horizonte was different. There’s no question

that they were the favourites to win that
game but they had most of their opportunities

38 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 29, 1950, Belo Horizonte.
England’s Tom Finney challenges
USA’s Charlie Colombo (left) and
Walter Bahr (right).

WALTER BAHR 39
 SWITZERLAND 1954
IN 1954, ONE TEAM WAS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST, WHILE ANOTHER WENT ON TO ACTUALLY
BECOME WORLD CHAMPIONS. SWITZERLAND HAD IT ALL – GOALS, CONTROVERSY AND SCREW-IN BOOTS.
...............................................................................................................................................................

Here’s a statistic for you. At the 1954 FIFA 1950 event had been given to Brazil, it was shape as Switzerland would, eventually, turn
World Cup Finals in Switzerland there were a sound and sensible decision to have the a tidy profit on staging the tournament.
140 goals scored in just 26 games. That, for World Cup Finals in Switzerland, not least Thirty-eight nations would enter the
those without immediate access to a calculator, because as a neutral nation, the country qualification process, all chasing 14 places,
equates to an average of 5.38 goals in each had been spared any of the destruction that with Switzerland as hosts and Uruguay as
and every game. Contrast that with the 2010 most other nations in Europe had suffered holders gaining automatic places at the
FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa where in the Second World War and had less to tournament. And while there would also be
there was actually five more goals scored but do to make itself ready for the competition. debut appearances for South Korea, Scotland
across 64 games at an average of just 2.27 Of course, it also helped that FIFA’s HQ was and Turkey, the third and fourth place teams
goals per match. based in Switzerland too. from the previous World Cup in Brazil –
Yes, while the standard of football in the Sweden and Spain – failed to make it through
last 60 years or so has evolved to become Turning a profit to the Finals.
faster, stronger and undeniably more dynamic, Switzerland in 1954 would be a World Cup
the fundamental appeal of the game remains Finals that broke new ground. For the first Matthews and Mortensen
its ability to deliver goals and in Switzerland time, television coverage would help bring Though England had won the British Home
© Getty Images

in 1954, there was a record-breaking feast matches to a much greater audience while the Championship in 1954, which, once again,
on offer. Awarded the World Cup at FIFA’s idea that the World Cup could actually be had been used by FIFA as a qualifying
congress in 1946 at the same time that the a genuine money-spinner also began to take group for the Finals, the sheen of invincibility

June 20, 1954, Basle. Hungary and a weakened

West Germany line-up before their group game.

40 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 26, 1954, Basle. England forward
Nat Lofthouse challenges Uruguay’s Juan
Schiaffino in the World Cup Quarter-Final.

SWITZERLAND 1954 41
 June 23, 1954, Zürich. West Germany beat
Turkey 7-2 in a Group 2 play-off after the two
finished on the same number of points.

the team had once possessed had long since Brazil side and West Germany, back in the for nought as the two sides went into a play-off
evaporated, not just because of the humiliating international fold for the first time since the end to decide who would go through to the Quarter-
defeat at the hands of the United States in of the Second World War. Finals alongside Hungary. When the teams met
Belo Horizonte in 1950 but because their Today, of course, it’s very fashionable for once more, three days later, the West German
style of football had also been exposed by people to bash FIFA but sometimes, though, side was restored to its full glory and cantered
the radical and frankly awesome power of it’s like they are actually seeking criticism. to a 7-2 win over Turkey, booking their spot in
Hungary. In November 1953, Hungary had Take the format for the 1954 World Cup the knockout stages.
travelled to London to play England at Wembley Finals. With 16 teams eventually qualifying
and inflicted a stunning 6-3 defeat on an for the Finals, it was decided that eight of the Goals galore
England team that featured household names teams would be awarded seeding status and While the five games of Group 2 had yielded
like Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen and while having four groups of four teams made an improbable 41 goals, the other groups
Billy Wright. perfect sense, now each team would only be would also boast some fine matches, full of
While it was England’s first ever home defeat required to play two games each rather than goals and open, attractive and attacking
to foreign opposition, there was worse to follow. a round-robin, with the two seeded sides, football. In Group 1, Brazil and Yugoslavia
When the two sides met in Budapest in May who had been selected before the qualifying progressed, the former thanks to a 5-0
1954, just a month or so before the World Cup competition even began, not required to face thumping of Mexico, the latter courtesy of
Finals began, Hungary ran out 7-1 winners. each other. a 1-0 win over France and a 1-1 draw with
How big was the gulf between the two? Well, The confusion didn’t end there. If two teams the Brazilians.
England’s Syd Owen said that playing them that were level on points at the end of the group Uruguay were also joining in the fun
day “was like playing men from outer space”. stage, an additional play-off game would now in Group 3 with a 7-0 win over Scotland,
The result remains England’s heaviest ever be played to determine which side should go including a hat-trick by Carlos Borges, and
defeat in an international match. through, irrespective of how many goals a side a 2-0 win over Czechoslovakia that saw
Technically and tactically, England had been had scored or conceded in their two games. them through as group winners. The South
so far adrift of Hungary that it had brought While the prospect of a possible additional Americans would be joined by Austria, who
into sharp focus not just how Hungary and, game didn’t sit well with the team’s coaching also won both their games, confirming their
for that matter, the rest of the world were now staff, it was a system that was now open to Quarter-Final place with a resounding 5-0
progressing, but also how much England had to manipulation and one that the likes of West victory over Czechoslovakia.
learn to try and bridge what was a surprisingly Germany used to their full advantage.
large gap. Drawn in Group 2 with the favourites England – Quarter-Finals as usual
Hungary and second seeds Turkey and South Group 4 saw England, still smarting from those
The Golden Team Korea, they had opened their campaign with defeats to Hungary, struggling again as they
For their part, Hungary, were already reigning a comfortable 4-1 win over Turkey, at the same drew 4-4 after extra-time against Belgium,
Olympic champions, winners of the Central time as Hungary had obliterated South Korea a team they were expecting to beat – and beat
European International Cup and were now 9-0 in Zürich. As West Germany expected to comfortably. It was a game characterised by
heading into the World Cup Finals as the lose to the all-conquering Hungarians in their some uncharacteristically sloppy defending
favourites and on the back of a 25-game second game (and for Turkey to beat the South from England and included a late own-goal
unbeaten run. Theirs was a side littered with Koreans), they deliberately fielded what was, by Portsmouth’s Jimmy Dickinson that gifted
names that would, in time, become legends; in effect, a reserve team for the match against the Belgians a point.
Sándor Kocsis, Nándor Hidegkuti, József Bozsik Hungary, banking on another victory over the Order of sorts would be restored three days
and, of course, the “Galloping Major” himself, Turks in a play-off to secure their progress. later, though, when a workmanlike 2-0 victory,
Ferenc Puskás. Sure enough, West Germany’s second-string achieved without the injured Nat Lofthouse
But while Hungary arrived with their side went down 8-3 to Hungary in Basle, while and Stanley Matthews, over the host nation
© Getty Images

reputation preceding them, there would be Turkey, as expected, defeated South Korea at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium carried them
other strong contenders in the chasing pack, 7-0. So while Turkey’s goal difference was through to a Quarter-Final berth. To the relief
including the holders Uruguay, a potent significantly better than the Germans, it counted of the host nation, they would be joined there

42 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

by the Swiss who battled past Italy in a Erich Probst on 76 minutes, however, would some enterprising build-up play by Matthews
play-off to determine second spot, winning bring this most incredible of games to to level matters on 16 minutes.
4-1 in Basle. a conclusion and finally end Switzerland’s Though their industry was admirable,
run in their own World Cup. Indeed, the only England would struggle against the greater
Twelve-goal thriller surprise was that the game was goalless for creativity and guile of the Uruguayans, who
Even without the supposedly lesser teams the last 15 minutes. took the lead again on 39 minutes when
still involved, the goals continued to flow At the same time, England would meet the a 20-yard shot from captain Obdulio Varela
in the Quarter-Finals, where the line-up of holders Uruguay in Basle in what would be beat the despairing dive of Gil Merrick.
teams looked and felt more like a world- just the second time the two nations had met Matters got worse for England straight
class competition. Take the first Quarter-Final in international football. If the pre-tournament after the break too, when the man bound for
between Austria and Switzerland and one of matches against Hungary had exposed AC Milan, Juan Schiaffino, added a third.
the most remarkable matches ever played in hitherto unknown weaknesses in the England While Tom Finney prodded home a second
the World Cup Finals. team, then so too would a match against the goal for England after a goalmouth scramble,
Officiated by possibly the greatest-named reigning world champions. Not that England England’s exit was confirmed 12 minutes from
referee in football history, Scotland’s Charlie were embarrassed, far from it. Indeed, by time when a low-angled drive from Javier
Faultless, it was a maddeningly breathless playing to their strengths rather than focusing Ambrois found the corner of the net.
game, especially in the first half where the on their new-found weaknesses, they more
hosts found themselves three goals to the than gave Uruguay a run for their money, and Ref put to the test
good after just 19 minutes, only to see their this despite going behind after just five minutes A day later in Geneva, West Germany
opponents storm back and score five in nine to an opportunistic Carlos Borges strike. completed an uneventful 2-0 win over
minutes to take a two-goal lead. But with Stanley Matthews and Nat Yugoslavia, while in Berne, Hungary and
While Switzerland would pull another Lofthouse restored to the side after injury, Brazil were contesting a game that was
goal back before half-time to make it 5-4 at England now had the kind of firepower anything but uneventful. With Hungary ahead
the interval, Austria restored their two-goal that could trouble any side, irrespective of 2-1, the game exploded into life as Hungary
advantage eight minutes into the second half. their credentials. As it was, it transpired that added a third from a controversial penalty on
Still, though, the Swiss came back, stealing Matthews and Lofthouse would combine to the hour mark. From that moment on, it was all
another goal through Seppe Hügi on the hour bring England back into the match, Lofthouse that the English referee Arthur Ellis could do to
to give them hope. A final Austrian goal from firing home left-footed from 12 yards after maintain some semblance of order. Bozsik and

June 27, 1954, Bern. A fan invades the pitch

during the bad-tempered Quarter-Final between
Brazil and Hungary at the Wankdorf Stadium.

SWITZERLAND 1954 43
 July 7, 1954, Bern. The West Germans celebrate
after winning the World Cup Final, although
Hungary were denied by a Welsh linesman.

Santos were ordered from the field for fighting as the teams tired, so Hungary found a new of neighbours Austria in the Semi-Final
as was Santos’ teammate Humberto and the sense of purpose. After 109 minutes, the being a case in point. After the group
ill-feeling continued long after the final whistle. prolific Sándor Kocsis rose beautifully to head game in which Hungary had easily
Not that Hungary really cared – they would Hungary into the lead and then, seven minutes beaten West Germany, Hungary would
go on to win 4-2 and book a Semi-Final match later, ended the tie with another exquisite begin the Final as overwhelming favourites.
against the holders Uruguay. headed goal. The difference for this re-match, of course,
The game against Uruguay in Lausanne Uruguay, the two-time champions and was that this time West Germany would
would be the biggest test that the Hungarians holder of the Jules Rimet Trophy, had suffered be fielding their strongest side and not one
had faced in international football, not least their first defeat at the World Cup Finals and deliberately weakened so as to rest some
because the South Americans had never lost Hungary, the Magnificent Magyars, had of their key personnel.
a game in the World Cup Finals. But it would reached their first Final. Moreover, the Germans would also be
be a test that Gusztáv Sebes’ men would pass wearing new footwear. Designed and made
with flying colours. by Adidas, these revolutionary boots featured
Having taken a two-goal lead and THE GERMANS WOULD ALSO exchangeable screw-in studs that were ideal
apparently heading for the Final with few BE WEARING NEW FOOTWEAR. for the wet conditions.
problems, Hungary, minus the injured DESIGNED AND MADE BY ADIDAS, Hungary too would be able to count on
Puskás, found themselves pegged back by a returning star, as Ferenc Puskás declared
a proud Uruguayan side clearly reluctant to THESE REVOLUTIONARY BOOTS himself fit to play in the Final, not that anything
surrender their title without a fight and when FEATURED EXCHANGEABLE would have stopped him from appearing in
Juan Hohberg rounded Gyula Grosics in the SCREW-IN STUDS. his country’s biggest ever game. For a team
Hungarian goal to equalise with four minutes that had already scored 25 goals in just
© Getty Images

left on the clock – his second goal of the game four games in the tournament, it was hardly
– the game headed inexorably into extra-time. Their opponents in that Final would be West surprising that the Hungarians started the Final
As the rain teemed down, the first half of Germany, a team that seemed to be hitting itself in electrifying style. Within eight minutes
extra time passed with no further score but form at just the right time, their 6-1 demolition they were already two goals to the good – one

44 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

from Puskás and one from the right-winger a low, skidding shot past the right hand of onside in the build-up to the goal. Moments
Zoltán Czibor and already the question Grosics and into the corner for what seemed later, the English referee William Ling blew for
seemed to be not if they were going to win to be the unlikeliest of winners. full-time and West Germany, against all the
the World Cup but rather by how many odds, had won the World Cup.
goals they were going to do it.
NOT ONLY HAD GERMANY Unlikely champions
German engineering WON THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP, It had been a remarkable turnaround. Having
But this wasn’t the German side that THEY HAD DONE SO BY BEATING A been banned from competing in 1950 in the
capitulated so meekly in the group stages. TEAM THOUGHT BY SO MANY AS wake of the Second World War, the Germans
No, by the 18th minute they were back on had returned to international football in the
level terms as goals by Max Morlock and
BEING VIRTUALLY UNBEATABLE. most incredible fashion imaginable. Not
Helmut Rahn, capitalising on a mistake by only had they won their first World Cup,
Gyula Grosics, drew them level. With time running out, Puskás, who it later they had done so by beating a team thought
After the break, Hungary returned to transpired had a hairline fracture of his by so many in the game as being virtually
the fray seemingly reinvigorated and were ankle, latched on to a through ball in the unbeatable. Today, Germans often refer to
desperately unlucky not to score again. inside-left channel and as he bore down on the game as “Das Wunder von Bern” (or
Hidegkuti struck a post, Kocsis crashed one off Toni Turek’s goal he slid the ball past the “The Miracle of Bern”) and while we’ll never
the bar and another shot was cleared off the West German keeper for what had seemed know whether there was any intervention
line by Werner Kohlmeyer. Try as they might, to be a fantastic equaliser. from on high on that soggy, sodden day
Hungary couldn’t break down the German’s But no. As the Hungarians celebrated, the in Switzerland, it’s clear that someone,
rearguard action and with just five minutes left, Welsh linesman Mervyn Griffiths flagged for somewhere was on the West Germans’ side.
Germany got their own reward for weathering offside and Puskás’ “goal” was disallowed. But as time would tell, it wouldn’t be the
the storm as the tireless Helmut Rahn broke It was a big call to make, especially as film last time that the Germans would figure
into the Hungarian penalty area and whipped footage suggests that Puskás was actually prominently in the World Cup Finals.

July 7, 1954, Bern. Jules Rimet hands the trophy

to West Germany captain Fritz Walter. Walter had
narrowly escaped being sent to a gulag in 1945,
after being recognised by a benevolent guard.

SWITZERLAND 1954 45
 SWEDEN 1958
ALL OF THE HOME NATIONS QUALIFIED, WHILE FORMER CHAMPIONS ITALY AND URUGUAY WERE ABSENT.
BRAZIL ARRIVED EARLY TO ACCLIMATISE, BUT WITH VAVÁ, DIDI AND PELÉ, HAD THE SKILL TO SCORE AT WILL.
...............................................................................................................................................................
Every now and then, a sporting event will at the Finals too, with Wales taking their place each team now played each other in their
produce a talent so prodigious, so utterly as the winner of a hastily arranged play-off group games, rather than just playing two
sublime, that the whole world sits up and takes between a second-placed UEFA team from the games, the idea that play-offs would be used
notice. All too often, though, that magical and qualification process (Wales) and Israel, the to settle any drawn groups was the source of
memorable moment in the limelight comes to winner of the African and Asian play-off, the some consternation for the teams, not least
nothing but at the 1958 World Cup Finals in result of a convoluted and confusing process because for some, it meant playing a strength-
Sweden it was different – and wonderfully that had been beset by withdrawals. sapping three games in five days.
so. It was here that a 17-year-old Brazilian What made Wales’ qualification all the Complaints were lodged and consideration
striker – Pelé – made his World Cup bow more remarkable was that they had already duly given to changing the rules so that goal
and not only announced himself as one of the been eliminated, having finished second to average would become the determining
most gifted players on show at the tournament Czechoslovakia in their qualifying group but factor but, ultimately, it was decided by the
but gave the watching world a glimpse of had then been reinstated as the rash of teams World Cup organising committee that it would
a rare and unique talent that would come to pulling out threatened to put an almighty be unfair to change the rules mid-tournament.
dominate the game for the next two decades. spanner in FIFA’s plans for the tournament. Put simply, the teams were stuck with the
much-disliked play-offs.
South America overlooked THE LOSS OF DUNCAN EDWARDS Indeed, play-offs would also decide
Yet it was perhaps a source of irritation to WAS UNQUANTIFIABLE. HERE WAS Quarter-Final places in Groups 1 and 2
South American nations that Pelé’s first real but this time there would be greater success
foray onto the global football stage would
A PLAYER BLESSED WITH TALENT, for the home nations. In Group 1, Northern
have to be in Europe. With the World Cup WHO WALTER WINTERBOTTOM Ireland, buoyed by a 1-0 win over
Finals having been held in Switzerland four HAD COME TO RELY ON. Czechoslovakia and a draw with the reigning
years earlier, it had seemed, quite reasonably, champions and eventual group winners
that the Finals might be taken back once Having qualified with ease, however, West Germany, found themselves faced with
more across the Atlantic but while the likes of England’s preparations for the Finals had a second game against the Czechs who had
Mexico, Chile and Argentina all expressed been curtailed by the devastating impact of also won one, lost one and drawn one, to
an interest in staging the competition, none the Munich air crash on February 6, 1958, determine who would progress.
could compete with the bid of Sweden, whose an accident that had taken the lives of Again, though, it would be the Irish who
nomination was ratified on June 23, 1950. 23 people, including eight players from edged this evenly-matched encounter, coming
Though there may have been some Manchester United, one of which was Duncan from a goal down in Malmö, with two goals
residual resentment from the South American Edwards, England’s 21-year-old wunderkind. from Aston Villa striker Peter McParland,
nations as to the choice of host, there could The loss of Edwards was unquantifiable. including the sweetest of winners in extra-time.
be no denying that Sweden appeared to Here was a player blessed with a rare and
have everything going for its bid, from talismanic talent, a gifted midfielder who Dragons on fire
spacious stadiums and facilities to an excellent the England manager Walter Winterbottom Wales, too, would also advance via a play-off,
infrastructure. Certainly, the number of had come to rely on increasingly in his team. this time against Hungary, the team that had
national federations applying to take part Certainly, his absence from the England squad held everybody spellbound four years earlier.
– a record 53 countries, up from 38 in was apparent in Sweden where, despite Though the host nation Sweden had won the
1954 – suggested that the competition had remaining undefeated in their group with group with comparative ease, Wales and
never been more popular, with 29 European Brazil, USSR and Austria, three draws left Hungary had finished level on three points
nations, nine from South America, nine from them facing a play-off against the USSR in and, as goal difference (as opposed to goal
Asia and Africa and another six nations Gothenburg for a place in the Quarter-Finals. average) was yet to be introduced as a means
from North and Central America. It would prove to be a game too far for of separating teams – if it had, Wales would
Winterbottom and England, however, as have been out – it meant another play-off.
Italy’s failure a single goal from Anatoli Ilyin saw the Despite starting the game as clear
The 1958 World Cup in Sweden would also Soviet Union, in their first appearance in underdogs, Wales rose to the challenge and
be that rarest of World Cup Finals where the FIFA World Cup Finals, eke through at even a first-half opener from Hungary’s Lajos
two-time champions Italy not only failed to England’s expense. Tichy didn’t seem to throw them off their stride.
qualify for the first time in their history – Instead, they just came back stronger in the
© Getty Images

falling at the hands of Northern Ireland in Play-off pangs second-half as goals from the ever-dependable
the deciding qualifying match – but where all Though the format had changed slightly since Ivor Allchurch and Tottenham Hotspur’s Terry
four of the home nations would claim a spot the 1954 tournament in Switzerland so that Medwin secured what was a remarkable win.

46 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

June 29, 1958, Stockholm.
In Sweden, Pelé truly arrived.

SWEDEN 1958 47
 June 15, 1958, Solna. Wales hold
hosts Sweden to a 0-0 draw in their
Group 3 match.
June 15, 1958, Stockholm. Sweden’s “Nacka”
Skoglund shoots at the Welsh goal. Skoglund’s
story is particularly sad. He was an alcoholic
throughout his career and died at just 45.

48 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

Yes, this may well have been a Hungarian
team that no longer had the likes of the
legendary Ferenc Puskás and Sándor Kocsis
in their line-up, but it took nothing away from
what was an astonishing and famous victory
for the principality.
But if the groups had seemed that there
was little to choose between the sides – and
there wasn’t – the real fireworks of the initial
exchanges would come in Group 2 with the
six games yielding an incredible 31 goals.
The undisputed star of the show,
meanwhile, would be the French striker Just
Fontaine who scored a hat-trick in France’s
opening 7-3 win against Paraguay, two
against Yugoslavia and another against
Scotland in their third and final group game.
That awesome firepower would eventually
see them top the group despite a 3-2 defeat
to the group runners-up Yugoslavia, leaving
Paraguay third and Scotland propping up
the group.

The dream draw

Wales’ reward for topping Hungary would
be a Quarter-Final against Brazil, a team
that had taken part in each and every one
of the World Cup Finals to date but had,
for one reason or another, failed to finish
as champions.
Certainly, Brazil’s failure to win on home
soil in 1950 and then the defeat at the hands
of Hungary – the “Magnificent Magyars” –
four years later had left the nation at a low
ebb. Despite this, there were few countries that
could match Brazil for their natural aptitude
and enthusiasm for the game.
At Sweden ’58, though, Brazilian coach
Vicente Feola had left nothing to chance
in their attempts to win the Jules Rimet
Trophy. His team had arrived in Europe
well in advance of the tournament starting,
familiarising themselves to the climate and
playing friendlies against teams whose style
mirrored that of some of the nations they
would be playing at the competition. They
even brought a sports psychologist with them.
It was a disciplined and determined approach
that was seemingly at odds with the free-
flowing and flamboyant way in which the
team actually played the game.
But it was incredibly effective. Under coach
Feola, Brazil had become known for their
radical 4-2-4 formation, a breathtaking,
all-out attack centred around the boundless
imagination of Garrincha, Vavá and the new
kid in town, Pelé.

One of a kind
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in the
© Getty Images

small town of Três Corações (or “Three

Hearts”), Pelé was a wonderful one-off,
an effervescent, ebullient bag of tricks that

SWEDEN 1958 49
covered every blade of glass on the football of Just Fontaine, who bagged another two but with nine minutes remaining, the Swedes
field, the ball seemingly glued to his boots. goals in a 4-0 demolition of Northern Ireland went ahead through Gunnar Gren before the
Having made his World Cup debut against (who wouldn’t be seen in another World Cup winger Kurt Hamrin secured a memorable
the USSR to become the youngest player for 24 years). victory two minutes from time when he
in the history of the competition, he then meandered down the right wing, cutting
became the youngest player to score in Pelé and Fontaine this way and that, before beating the German
a World Cup Finals when his goal against It left a mouth-watering Semi-Final line-up with keeper Fritz Herkenrath at his near post.
Wales in the Quarter-Final proved to be the Brazil (the only team from outside Europe left In the other Semi-Final, France and
difference between the two sides. in the competition) facing the free-scoring Brazil played out a lively and intriguing
It would be the kind of goal that, in time, game in Stockholm but if Just Fontaine had
we would come to expect from Pelé. Receiving PELÉ WAS A WONDERFUL spearheaded France’s charge to date – and
the ball with his back to goal, he simply span ONE-OFF, AN EFFERVESCENT he would score one more in the Semi-Final
round, taking the ball with him, before coolly – then he would be left in the shadows by
BAG OF TRICKS THAT COVERED
knocking the ball past Wales keeper Jack the performance of Pelé. The young star was
Kelsey. The celebrations that followed were just
EVERY BLADE OF GLASS simply irresistible, an imperious 23-minute
as remarkable too, with Pelé following the ball ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. second-half hat-trick propelling Brazil to
into the net, pursued by most of his teammates a wonderful 5-2 victory and into their first
and several press photographers too. French, while the host nation Sweden would Final proper (the 1950 World Cup was a
The other Quarter-Finals would follow be pitted against the reigning champions group stage, remember) from six attempts.
form with the favourites all making progress. West Germany.
West Germany pipped Yugoslavia thanks to In Gothenburg, the hosts, cheered on by Lucky 13 for the Frenchman
an early Helmut Rahn single goal, Sweden nearly 50,000 fans in the Nya Ullevi stadium, But that would not be the end of Just Fontaine’s
eased past the USSR courtesy of two second- would rally against a West German side that incredible World Cup, not by a long chalk. In
half goals, while France would continue their had taken a 24th minute lead from Hans the Third/Fourth Place Play-Off match against
ominous passage in the tournament, thanks Schäfer, to equalise through Lennart Skoglund West Germany in Gothenburg, the French
mainly to the incredible goalscoring prowess eight minutes later. A tight second-half ensued would eventually emerge as 6-3 winners

June 29, 1958, Stockholm. Pelé

congratulates goalscorer Vavá, who
has edged Brazil 2-1 in front against
Sweden in the World Cup Final.

50 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 30, 1958, Stockholm. Brazil
coach Vicente Feola kisses the trophy.

and this time Fontaine, inevitably, stole all level, the ever-dependable Vavá sliding the team’s achievement finally kicked in. It had
the headlines once more, as he plundered ball home from close range to level the scores been a huge burden to bear for one so young
a further four goals to take his total for the and then repeating the trick with an almost but he had carried the weight of expectation
tournament to a frankly ridiculous 13 from just identical goal on 32 minutes to give Feola’s with all the confidence and maturity of a
six games. Though it was a World Cup record side the lead. veteran campaigner 15 years his senior.
by some distance, it also made him only the After the interval, Brazil stretched their lead A star had been born. It’s also worth noting
second player after Uruguay’s 1950 hero still further – and how. In a flash of improvised that in 1958, Pelé scored 58 times for
Alcides Ghiggia, to score in every game of brilliance, Pelé received the ball at a difficult Brazilian champions Santos .
the World Cup Finals. Indeed, it was – and height on the edge of the Swedish penalty
is – such a phenomenal display, that it is area, chesting it down and then flicking it over Brazilian adventure is underway
unlikely ever to be beaten. the head of a defender before volleying it low It was a measure of Brazil’s achievement
and hard past Kalle Svensson in the Swedish that, to this day, it remains the one and only
Another classic Final goal. It was the kind of moment of magic that occasion when a World Cup staged in Europe
The following day, meanwhile, Sweden and captivated everybody that saw it but also the was not won by a European team. It would,
Brazil would contest the Final at Stockholm’s kind of turn that the football world would see moreover, be the start of a World Cup journey
Råsunda Stadium, a ground whose time and time again over the next 20 years. for the country that would, in time, come to
redevelopment for the World Cup Finals eclipse that of any other nation on the planet.
had been partly funded by the organising Worthy champions As for the World Cup itself, Sweden had
committee chairman Holger Bergérus When Mário Zagallo added a fourth goal on been arguably the most successful tournament
remortgaging his own house to help raise 68 minutes, the game, as a contest, was all but in years. Superbly organised and wonderfully
funds, just so they could increase the capacity over and though Agne Simonsson would pull presented, it had boasted some momentous
from 38,000 to over 52,000. one back for Sweden, steering the ball home and memorable moments and had produced
Certainly, all that extra home support from 12 yards out, the last word, fittingly, an average of over three goals a game. It had,
seemed to make the difference when the would go to world football’s newest star, Pelé, in addition, brought to the world a player who
game started as the hosts got off to a dream who on the stroke of full-time rose majestically would, in time, go down in history as one of
start when the Swedish skipper Nils Liedholm to guide a header into the far corner of the net the true greats of the game and, of course,
weaved his way through the Brazilian defence to complete a comprehensive and thoroughly produced champions that were, unequivocally,
© Getty Images

to cut a low shot into the corner of the net with deserved victory. the best team in the tournament. Pelé had
just four minutes gone. But the lead would At the final whistle, Pelé broke down in arrived, Brazil, finally, were world champions
be short-lived. Five minutes later, Brazil were tears as the size and scale of his and his and world domination beckoned for both.

SWEDEN 1958 51
 CHILE 1962
AS THE WORLD CUP FINALS RETURNED TO SOUTH AMERICA, THE STAGE SEEMED SET FOR ANOTHER VIRTUOSO
DISPLAY FROM THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS BRAZIL. BUT IT DIDN’T QUITE PAN OUT THAT WAY…
...............................................................................................................................................................
After the bitter disappointment felt in South
America at missing out to competing bids
from Europe and, eventually, to Sweden for
the 1958 World Cup Finals, it was almost
inevitable that the tournament would return
to the continent for the 1962 edition, not
least because had it gone to another
European nation, then it’s more than likely
that there would not have been many of
South America’s top sides in attendance. After
all, there was nothing that some teams from
the continent liked more than a good old-
fashioned boycott.
The only issue, then, was which country
would receive ratification, and though
Argentina appeared to be the overwhelming
favourite to land the rights to stage the
competition, they would face stiff competition
from neighbours Chile, who, driven by their
federation’s key committee members Juan
Pinto Durán and Carlos Dittborn, lobbied long
and hard in a bid to bring the World Cup to
their nation.

Surprise host
On the face of it, Argentina’s bid seemed to
tick all of FIFA’s boxes. The stadia were all
in place and were larger than those over
the border in Chile, the country had a sound
pedigree in the competition and, of course,
the nation was insanely passionate about
the game itself.
Despite the apparent superiority of the
rival Argentine bid, however, Chile’s belief
that FIFA had an obligation to take the World
Cup Finals to those nations that needed it most
seemed to strike a chord and when a choice
was taken in June 1958, the decision to award
the tournament to Chile was as surprising as
the margin of victory – the underdogs winning
32 votes to Argentina’s 11.
When they had submitted their bid to
stage the 1962 World Cup Finals, Chile
had originally planned to use eight stadiums
across eight different cities but the Federation’s
plans had been thrown into disarray on
Sunday, May 22, 1960 when an earthquake
measuring 9.5 on the Richter Scale (the most
powerful ever recorded) struck the country,
with its epicentre near Valdivia. While the
casualties ran into the thousands, and some
two million people affected, the effect on the
nation’s infrastructure was also significant and
four of the stadiums earmarked for World Cup
action, including newly-built ones, would be
damaged to such an extent that they would no

52 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 2, 1962, Rancagua. England’s
Bobby Moore, Maurice Norman,
Ron Flowers and Johnny Haynes are
jubilant after defeating Argentina 3-1.

longer be suitable for use in the tournament. began. The 1962 Finals would also see two come in Arica, where the debutants Colombia
Though initial doubts about whether Chile new teams make their bow in the event, as came from 3-0 and 4-1 down to salvage an
could still actually host the event would be Colombia and Bulgaria also came through incredible point in a breathless 4-4 draw.
assuaged, the ruinous effects of the Valdivia to take their places. Mind you, it wasn’t just the goals that kept
earthquake would see only four stadiums – in While the format had not changed – four the crowds enraptured. In the hard-fought
Santiago, Viña del Mar, Rancagua and Arica groups of four, with the top two in each group game between the USSR and Yugoslavia, for
in the far north of the country – now being progressing to the knockout stages – the only example, the Soviet defender Eduard Dubinski
used for the Finals. real change to the tournament rules would would leave the field with a broken leg after a
A new record entry of 57 teams would come in the shape of deciding ties in the group horror tackle by Muhamed Mujic who, for the
enter the qualification fray initially, competing stages. Now, for the first time, goal difference record, didn’t receive as much as a caution for
for the 14 places on offer (with Brazil as would be employed to resolve any stalemates, his part in the incident.
holders and Chile as hosts already assured although the only occasion it would be needed Organised and tenacious, the USSR would
of automatic places), although just 52 would was in Group 4 where England’s marginally top the group, remaining undefeated, as
eventually take part as withdrawals and better goals record would be enough to Yugoslavia, thanks to a thumping 5-0 win over
rejections reduced the field. separate them from Argentina. Colombia in the final game, took second spot
England’s final game, a dire goalless behind the Russians.
Italy’s easy ride draw against Bulgaria in front of 5,700 at
Aside from notable absentees such as France, Rancagua, proved sufficient to take Walter Where have all the goals gone?
Austria and the runners-up from 1958, Winterbottom’s side through to the Quarter- The feast of goals in the opening group
Sweden, there would be few surprises among Finals (as runners-up to Hungary) and send seemed to buck the trend in the tournament
the teams making their way to Chile. Football the South Americans home. Still, at least it as, for the most part, goals were hard to come
superpowers West Germany, Hungary and wasn’t that far to travel. by. Indeed, by the end of the tournament, the
England were in the draw, while two-times The tedium of Group 4 would be in stark average number of goals per game – 2.78 –
winner Italy only had to play two games, contrast to the action in Group 1, however, would be the lowest in the history of the World
© Getty Images

home and away to Israel, to claim their where the six games would yield 25 goals Cup Finals and also the first time that it had
place. The other team in their group, Romania, and provide some much-needed spark to the fallen below an average of three goals a game
pulled out before the qualification stage tournament. The best of these matches would since the competition began in 1930.

CHILE 1962 53
 In Group 3, meanwhile, the reigning referee Ken Aston’s whistle to start the game, punch, this time breaking the nose of Italy’s
champions Brazil eased through but in a as the first foul was committed. From then on, Humberto Maschio.
decidedly more cautious manner, with just though, the game simply descended into a
four goals to show from their three group violent free-for-all. Disgraceful exhibition
games against Mexico, Czechoslovakia and On eight minutes, Italy’s Giorgio Ferrini Somehow, and to his eternal credit, Ken
Spain. Still, it would be enough for them to was sent off for a foul on Honorino Landa but Aston and his team managed to get the game
top the group, with Czechoslovakia’s record then refused to leave the pitch and eventually finished without any further casualties, as the
of won one, drawn one and lost one sufficient had to be escorted from the field by the police. host nation emerged 2-0 winners. Later the
for Rudolf Vytlacil’s team to steal the second It would be the first of many flashpoints and game was dubbed “The Battle of Santiago”
qualification spot in the group. and as the players, or the casualties, left the
But the First Round’s and, for that matter, the field, it was easy to see why.
tournament’s main talking point would come AS THE GAME THREATENED This most vicious and vindictive of games
in the host nation’s match against Italy. Though TO DESCEND INTO ANARCHY, was still dominating the back pages (and
it was the first time the teams had ever met, SANCHEZ THREW ANOTHER PUNCH. some of the front pages) when the Quarter-
tensions were already running high before the Final matches began on June 10.
kick-off at Santiago’s Estadio Nacional. Some Fifty years or so on, it’s intriguing to
overly critical and unfavourable newspaper you had to feel for Aston. Wherever he see how the schedules have changed for
reports of Santiago by Italian journalists looked, there seemed to be scuffles breaking FIFA’s showpiece event. Today, of course,
Antonio Ghirelli and Corrado Pizzinelli had out all over the pitch. One minute Chile’s the Quarter-Finals would be played over
served only to inflame the local population, so Leonel Sánchez was escaping sanction for a a number of days, with each game kicking
much so that by the time the match began they punch on Italy’s Mario David, thrown right in off at a different time so as to increase the
had already returned home to Italy, concerned front of the linesman, but then, moments later, potential viewing figures across the globe.
for their own safety. David found himself dismissed for a brutal and Back in 1962, however, when few people
retaliatory flying kick to the head of Sánchez. had televisions and football matches being
© Getty Images

The Battle of Santiago Then, as the game threatened to descend screened live was still a comparative rarity,
You could see just how fevered the atmosphere into anarchy, with the police on the field as all of the Quarter-Finals kicked off on the
had become within 12 seconds of English much as the physios, Sánchez threw another same day at the same time.

June 7, 1962, Santiago. Ken Aston sends

off Italy’s Mario David in the 41st minute
after fighting between Italians and Chileans
in the infamous “Battle of Santiago”. Italy’s
Giorgio Ferrini also had an early bath.

54 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

Buoyed by some fanatical home support
in Arica, the hosts edged past the Soviet
Union by two goals to one, all of the goals
coming within the first half an hour while
England, despite possessing a team and a
squad that boasted household names like
Bobby Charlton, Johnny Haynes and Jimmy
Greaves, would be undone by the Brazilian
brilliance of Didi, Vavá and Garrincha.
These three players were more than
equipped to compensate for the absence of
Pelé, who had been ruled out for the rest of
the tournament having torn a thigh muscle
in the goalless draw against Czechoslovakia
in Brazil’s second group game. While it
was disappointing for Pelé to miss out on a
personal level, it was perhaps even more so
for the tournament itself, which badly needed
a player of such ingenuity and creativity to
help kick-start the event into life.
As for England, they would have to wait
another four years for another shot at World
Cup glory. Then, though, there would be a
new manager in place of the national team
and, of course, they would also have the
advantage of playing the tournament at
home. Then, expectations would be much,
much higher.
The other two Quarter-Final games would
be tight, close-fought encounters with little
to separate the sides. In Rancagua’s Estadio
El Teniente, Czechoslovakia overcame a
Hungary side that, after the glory years of
the 1950s, were no longer the force they
once were; a single goal by Adolf Scherer
separated the teams.
Meanwhile, in Santiago, a late strike by
Petar Radakovic just five minutes from the
final whistle was enough to put paid to the
brave challenge of Sepp Herberger’s West
Germany. While Radakovic had made his
own little piece of World Cup history, tragedy
would strike a little over four years later when
the midfielder would suffer a heart attack
during training with his club NK Rijeka. He
died at the age of 29.

Goals at last!
The results would mean two Semi-Finals of
contrasting styles, with one all-European tie
between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia and
one South American, as hosts Chile took on
the defending champions Brazil. To the relief
of the organisers, the two matches would at
last see some goalmouth action with ten goals
plundered across the two games.
In Viña del Mar, Czechoslovakia
rallied from a goal down to eliminate the
Yugoslavians 3-1, with two more goals
from Scherer and one from Josef Kadraba
taking the Czechs through to their second
World Cup Final. A goal for Yugoslavia’s
Drazan Jerkovic would tie him as the
tournament’s top scorer.
The contrast with the other Semi-Final
Switzerland’s Peter Rösch and Eugen Meier.
could not have been more pronounced. In
The Swiss would return home after losing all
Viña del Mar, 5,890, turned up to watch three of their group games.
Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, but for the

CHILE 1962 55
 June 17, 1962, Santiago. Brazil’s Zito
celebrates after scoring the second goal
against Czechoslovakia in the Final.

56 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 17, 1962, Santiago. Brazil captain
Mauro holds aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy
after Czechoslovakia were beaten 3-1. It was
Brazil’s second consecutive World Cup win.

game between Chile and Brazil at the would prove to be the perfect deputy. “Once of a grateful Vavá who prodded the ball into
Estadio Nacional, there would be 76,500 in I saw that Pelé could barely walk during the the empty net to seal another deserved victory
attendance, as anticipation and expectation Czechoslovakia game, that’s when I started for the Brazilians.
reached fever pitch. thinking what it would be like to replace
But for Chile it would be the end of him,” he would say later. “Under [coach] Who needs Pelé?
a remarkable journey. Determined and Aymoré Moreira there was never any doubt OK, so it was hardly vintage Brazil but in the
courageous, Chile would do everything to as to who his replacement would be. Every wider scheme of things it didn’t really matter.
keep pace with Brazil but the champion’s first-team player had a direct substitute and Here, after all, was a team who may not have
class would shine through. Two goals down I was Pele’s.” played with the same fluidity and flair of some
on the half hour mark, Chile pulled one back And so it transpired that Amarildo would of their earlier models – a fact that was hardly
through Jorge Toro just before the interval, write his name into World Cup folklore. helped by the absence of Pelé from their ranks
but once more found themselves two goals Despite going a goal behind after a quarter – but was still more than good enough to beat
adrift just two minutes after the restart when of an hour – Josef Masopust latching on to the best that international football had to offer
Vavá restored Brazil’s cushion. Yet if they a clever through ball from Adolf Scherer to at the time.
thought Chile would lie down and die, they score – Brazil were level within two minutes. In winning their second World Cup, Brazil
were wrong as an emphatic penalty by Leonel Weaving his way into the penalty area on the had retained their title – the first and only
Sánchez near the hour brought them back into left, Amarildo shaped to cross but deceived team to do so since Italy won their second
the game. the Czech keeper Viliam Schrojf by firing the World Cup in France in 1938 – but while it
But it would not be enough. A fourth and ball home at the near post instead, prompting had, undeniably, been a good thing to take
final goal, a downward header by Vavá, mass celebrations. the Finals to a new host nation, the resultant
would see Brazil record a fine 4-2 victory, With 20 minutes to go, Brazil grabbed competition had hardly set the world alight
which given the balance of play, was a fair the lead as Zito powered through the Czech as goals had been at a premium and a new
reflection of Brazil’s dominance. Chile’s ranks, drawing the defence towards him circumspection had seemed to prevail among
consolation, meanwhile, would come in the before setting Amarildo free on the left wing. teams as they sought to avoid defeat rather
Third-Place match three days later as a 1-0 Amarildo’s cross, meanwhile, would be than go all out to win.
win over Yugoslavia gave them their highest another inch-perfect delivery, finding Zito Indeed, half a century on and people
ever finish in the competition. unmarked at the back post, who nodded home still look at the 1962 World Cup Finals and
with ease. think immediately of The Battle of Santiago,
© Getty Images

Amarildo shows the way The game would be all but over ten minutes rather than what Brazil achieved. That, in
Even without Pelé, Brazil were still a potent later when Schrojf capped a Final to forget by itself, speaks volumes about the quality of
force and Pelé’s replacement, Amarildo, dropping Santos’ simple cross right at the feet the tournament.

CHILE 1962 57
 ENGLAND 1966
THE EIGHTH STAGING OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP WOULD SEE THE COMPETITION RETURN TO THE
BIRTHPLACE OF THE MODERN GAME AND ALSO WELCOME A FIRST-TIME WINNER…
...............................................................................................................................................................
Given that the world’s oldest federation, the For whatever reason, though, England’s they had lost 1-0 to the part-timers and
Football Association, was still celebrating it’s undeniable passion and appetite for the no-hopers of the United States and found
centenary, it seemed entirely appropriate that game had never translated into success on themselves on the long boat ride home from
the 1966 World Cup should be awarded to the international playing field. While they Brazil after the group stages.
England. Besides, here was a country that had were known and respected throughout the By the time the FIFA World Cup finally
given the game to the world, whose players football world for the quality of their players reached England’s shores in 1966, the host
were household names across the planet and both domestically and internationally, their nation’s record in the event wasn’t the kind
whose fans lived, breathed and slept football. performances in the FIFA World Cup had of résumé to fill opponents with fear and in
In England, football wasn’t just the national never really lived up to their billing. Famously, the four tournaments they had contested,
game, it was the national obsession. in their first World Cup in 1950, for example, they had played 14 games, won three,
drawn five and lost six, and the best finish
they had mustered had been a lowly sixth
in Switzerland in 1954.

IN ENGLAND, FOOTBALL
WASN’T JUST THE NATIONAL
GAME, IT WAS THE
NATIONAL OBSESSION.

Though the bare facts made for depressing

reading, especially as England had given the
game to the world, hope still sprung eternal in
the green and pleasant land, not least because
in Alf Ramsey they had a manager who was
meticulous but creative, determined and adept.
They now possessed a squad that boasted
some genuinely world-class talent, too. From
the prolific Jimmy Greaves to the tireless
youngster Alan Ball and on to the midfield
maestro Bobby Charlton, here was a team
that was tight, well-drilled and disciplined
and who, with the support of an expectant
nation, seemed set fair for the greatest
challenge in the game of football – winning
the FIFA World Cup.

Dog days
And yet there may have been no Jules Rimet
Trophy to actually play for. On March 20,
1966, just three months before the tournament
was due to start, thieves had broken into
Westminster Central Hall and stolen the trophy
from its display cabinet. A hunt ensued.
Fingers were pointed, accusations hurled and
March 28, 1966, London. David Corbett reveals hoax ransom notes were even delivered but all
the spot where his dog Pickles, a mixed-breed to no avail. Seven days would pass before the
collie, discovered the missing Jules Rimet Trophy. trophy was discovered, wrapped in newspaper
and dumped in a hedge in Norwood, South
London. But it wasn’t one of the scores of

58 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 23, 1966, London. England manager
Alf Ramsey prevents defender George Cohen
swapping his shirt with the “animals” of
Argentina after a bad-tempered Quarter-Final.

police officers who had been assigned to the that Ramsey’s England were about. West whose ideas were considered revolutionary at
task. No, it was found by a black and white Ham United’s Bobby Moore had won his first the time. Though he appeared almost typically
mongrel dog, Pickles, who had been out for international cap in a warm-up game for the English in his manner, when it came to football
his daily walk with his owner. 1962 World Cup Finals against Peru in Lima Ramsey possessed such an unwavering belief
With the Jules Rimet Trophy safe and and had impressed then-manager Walter in his and his team’s ability that it bordered on
intact (and Pickles lauded the world over Winterbottom so much that he had asked the arrogant.
as the hero of the hour), the build-up to the Moore to stay on and join the squad for the Indeed, when he took over as England
Finals continued apace. Expectation was tournament. From that day on, Moore would coach in October 1962, one of his very
high and certainly, England were genuine be one of the first names on the England team first pronouncements was that England – his
contenders. But if Alf Ramsey’s team were sheet and when Alf Ramsey became manager England – were going to win the World Cup
to mount a serious and sustained challenge of the national team in 1962, he wasted little in 1966. Though Ramsey could see no real
on home soil they would need to overcome time in appointing the young central defender reason why this wouldn’t happen, only time, it
some ominously strong opposition, such as his new captain. seemed, would tell.
as the reigning champions Brazil, with the “He was my leader, my right-hand man.
peerless Pelé in their ranks, Portugal, featuring He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the That leaves North Korea...
Benfica’s legendary hitman Eusébio, and West team,” Ramsey would say. “A cool, While there was experienced and well-
Germany, a team blessed with the likes of calculating footballer I could trust with my organised opposition arriving in the country to
Uwe Seeler and the new star of world football, life. He was the supreme professional, the challenge for the title, there would, however,
Franz Beckenbauer. best I ever worked with.” be no African teams in England for the World
© Getty Images

But England had a star of their own, a Ramsey’s ability to spot not merely talent Cup Finals. All 16 teams from the continent
towering, talismanic presence at the heart and potential but also leadership qualities in that wanted to participate would withdraw
of their defence that represented everything relatively young players was typical of a coach from the qualification process in protest at

ENGLAND 1966 59
 Holders fall at the first hurdle
Brazil’s premature exit had taken most
observers by surprise but their’s was a game
not really suited to the overly aggressive tactics
that they would come up against in England.
Take their opening game against Bulgaria
at Everton’s Goodison Park. Despite scoring
the first of his country’s two goals, Pelé now
found that his reputation as the pre-eminent
player of his generation had preceded him.
Kicked from pillar to post, he left the field
bruised and battered and unable to play in the
next game against Hungary, a game which
they then lost 3-1. It was their first defeat since
losing to the same opposition at the 1954
World Cup in Switzerland.

Korea prospects
One of the greatest stories of not just the
1966 World Cup Finals but of the entire
history of the event came in Group 4 where
the USSR, Italy, Chile and North Korea were
drawn together. Little was known of the North
Koreans when they arrived in England – the
country was not even officially recognised as
such by the British government – but when they
left, everybody knew only too well what they
had achieved. Though they were expected to
be the makeweights of the group – and their
3-0 defeat to the eventual group winners USSR
in their first game suggested as much – they
salvaged a draw against Chile with a late
equaliser and then, remarkably, pulled off one
of the greatest shocks in history by beating
Italy 1-0 at Ayresome Park and guaranteeing
Ticket for the final. their place in the Quarter-Finals.
The Quarter-Finals would all start at
the same time, 3pm, on Saturday, July 23
and while the Soviet Union continued their
having to also play a play-off match against stages with successive 2-0 victories over impressive showing with a 2-1 victory over
the winners of the Asian qualification zone Mexico and then France. But the win against Hungary, and West Germany hit top form,
just to secure their place in England. The mass France would come at a cost, as Jimmy brushing aside an ill-tempered Uruguay 4-0
boycott from Africa left just three teams from Greaves, the prolific Tottenham Hotspur striker in a drubbing inspired by Beckenbauer, it
across Africa, Asia and Australasia competing who had already scored 43 goals in just 54 was the other two games that provoked most
for the one place on offer and when one games for his country, received a gash to the reaction, albeit for vastly differing reasons.
of those teams, South Korea, pulled out, shin that would keep him out of the next two At Wembley, England’s last eight tie with
preferring to concentrate on their preparations games. Greaves’ misfortune, however, would Argentina would prove to be one of the ugliest
for the 1968 Olympic Games, it left Australia present the West Ham United striker Geoff and tetchiest encounters in the World Cup
and North Korea facing just a two-leg home Hurst with an opportunity and it would be a Finals, second only, perhaps to “The Battle of
and away tie to qualify, a contest that the chance that Hurst would grab with both hands. Santiago” in Chile in 1962. With Geoff Hurst
North Koreans would ultimately win. Joining England in the Quarter-Finals in for the injured Jimmy Greaves, England
would be West Germany and Argentina found themselves on the receiving end of
Nervous start from Group 2, both of whom won two some brutal Argentinian assaults. The chief
In a rare display of common sense, FIFA games and drew one as they sent Spain tormentor was the skipper Antonio Rattin who
had decided not to change the format of the and Switzerland home, and Portugal and as well as diving into challenges also seemed
tournament from the one used in Chile. It was Hungary from Group 3. to be waging a personal battle with the referee
neat, sensible and easily understood, although Portugal, in particular, had caught the Rudolf Kreitlein so much so that by half-time
England, initially, made hard work of getting eye in winning all their games and it was the West German official had had enough and
through the Group Stage. In the opening their mesmerising striker Eusébio that had set sent him from the field of play.
© Getty Images

game they laboured to a 0-0 draw against the competition alight, his angled volley in The trouble was Rattin didn’t want to go
a Uruguay side intent on defending but the 3-1 win over Brazil being the pick of his and an unseemly melee ensued involving most
eventually booked their place in the knockout three Group Stage goals. of the Argentinian team and their officials that

60 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

eventually ended when Rattin was escorted almost unbelievable run in the World Cup million people around the world watching
from the pitch. come to an end. the game on television, this was now a truly
A Geoff Hurst glancing header 12 minutes If Portugal had ridden their luck in the global event and one that had pitted two
from time, meanwhile, would settle the game Quarter-Final then it would finally run out of the tournament’s strongest nations, both
and at the final whistle, as the players went against England in the Semi-Finals. It would undefeated, against each other.
to swap shirts, on ran the England manager be a terrific game, the best possible advert England, perhaps feeling the weight of
Alf Ramsey to stop them. Later, Ramsey would for football after some of the less savoury expectation, started cautiously and were
even call the Argentinian team “animals”, encounters of the previous round and there first to crack when after 12 minutes full-back
a statement that he was forced to retract by would be little to choose between the sides. Ray Wilson’s headed clearance could only
the Football Association. For their part, As it was, it would be two goals from find the West German striker Helmut Haller
Argentina and, for that matter, Uruguay, went Bobby Charlton, the first a coolly-taken side- who wasted no time in returning the ball
home complaining of a conspiracy to get them foot finish after a rebound from the Portuguese with vengeance to beat Gordon Banks in the
out of the tournament, pointing out that both keeper José Pereira and the second a howitzer England goal.
of their Quarter-Finals had European officials of a shot from just inside the box, that made It was the wake-up call that England
in charge. the difference. needed. Six minutes later, Geoff Hurst, still
And while Eusébio would pull one back preferred to the now-fit Jimmy Greaves, rose
Meanwhile, in Liverpool... from the penalty spot, awarded when the unmarked in the penalty area to head home
Over at Goodison Park, the very real prospect other Charlton, Jack, handled on the goal line, Bobby Moore’s pinpoint free-kick and England
of another stunning act of giant-killing seemed England would hold on to win through to the were back in the game.
to be on the cards once more as North Korea Final where hey would meet West Germany, As the game wore on, England continued
sprinted into a 3-0 lead against Portugal 2-1 winners over the Soviet Union in the other to press and were rewarded with just 12
within 25 improbable first-half minutes. Semi-Final. minutes left to play when a Hurst shot took a
It was only the endeavour and guile of deflection and sat up nicely for Martin Peters
Eusébio, however, that helped Portugal Jules Rimet gleaming who steered the ball home on the volley to put
extricate themselves from an almighty hole Saturday, July 30, 1966. It’s a date etched England within touching distance of victory.
and his four goals, two from the penalty spot, in the memory of every English football fan. But that sense of relief soon turned to despair.
followed by a fifth and final goal by José With nearly 100,000 fans crammed into With a minute left to play and a nation
Augusto saw North Korea’s incredible and Wembley Stadium and an estimated 500 gearing up for the party to end all parties, a

July 30, 1966, London. “They think it’s all

over... it is now!” Geoff Hurst blasts England’s
fourth; Wolfgang Overath can only watch.

ENGLAND 1966 61
 July 30, 1966, London. England captain Bobby
Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy while
wearing the now-worshipped Umbro second kit.

62 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

long-range free-kick from Lothar Emmerich trick of growing in strength and belief as the
ping-ponged around the English penalty tournament progressed, culminating in that
area before rolling into the path of Wolfgang electrifying win over West Germany in the
Weber who skilfully slid home a last-gasp Final itself. Nobody could say they didn’t
equaliser for the Germans. deserve it.
The sense of deflation was palpable and As Bobby Moore clambered up the famous
as extra-time beckoned, the shellshocked Wembley steps, pausing to wipe his sweaty
English team, who had been within a whisker hands on the velvet table top ahead of meeting
of winning, were sent on their way with the and greeting Her Majesty the Queen, the
words of Alf Ramsey ringing in their ears. look on his face said it all. Here was a man
“You’ve beaten them once,” he told them. who had fulfilled his destiny and, as he held
“Now go and do it again.” aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy, a player who
had delivered for his country. That he was
Russian linesman the greatest captain England ever had was
They didn’t let him down. With 11 minutes beyond question. That he was never knighted
gone, England attacked and when Geoff before his death in 1993, aged just 51, was
Hurst received a low centre from Alan Ball, he nothing short of a scandal.
swivelled and hit a fierce shot that rifled off the
underside of the crossbar, appearing to cross Many years of hurt
the line before spinning back into play again. But what of the legacy of England’s victory
In the confusion that followed, the referee in 1966? Well, you could argue that as well
Gottfried Dienst ran over to consult his Russian as being the greatest day in the history of
linesman Tokiq Bahramov who, even though English football, it might just have been the
he was some distance from the incident, worst too. Ever since that day, the expectation
confirmed that the ball had crossed the line that has accompanied each England team’s
before it had bounced out. The Germany appearance in the World Cup Finals has
protests continued but to no avail. England clearly been a burden that they are clearly
had a precious lead and this time they weren’t incapable of shouldering and nearly half a
going to surrender it. century after that sunny Saturday at Wembley,
England has still to replicate the success of
Some of the crowd are on the pitch... the 1966 team.
With just seconds left on referee Dienst’s Indeed, their World Cup record has been
watch and some fans already on the pitch little short of shocking for a nation of its size
celebrating, Bobby Moore cleared his lines, and its supposed stature in international
finding Geoff Hurst free in the German half. football. Since 1966, they have had just two
Though he had Alan Ball clear and unmarked World Cup Semi-Final appearances to show
on his right, Hurst instead drove into the for their efforts and finished runners-up at
opposition penalty box before unleashing an the recent 2020 European Championships.
unstoppable left-foot shot that fairly ripped Contrast that with West Germany and,
the back of the net. Game, set and match to more recently, the newly-unified Germany
Ramsey’s England. team. Since that defeat in 1966, they have
That goal, of course, not only confirmed won three World Cups and three European
a famous England win but also propelled Championship titles. They have been runners-
Hurst into the record books, as he became up on six other occasions and also taken three
the first and, to date, only man to score a hat- third-place finishes as well. That is a football
trick in a World Cup Final. Much is still made superpower. That is genuine success.
of Hurst’s second and England’s third goal
when, in reality, it didn’t really matter in the Semi-Finals and an OBE
final outcome. Today, England’s players tend to return from
Today, of course, Hurst, or rather Sir a tournament after another predictable
Geoff Hurst, can barely conduct an interview Quarter-Final exit (usually on penalties) to
or make a public appearance without be lauded as heroes and if they reach a
being asked about the incident. Had it Semi-Final then it’s street parades and a
have been the decisive goal then it may be spot in the New Year’s Honours list too.
understandable but it wasn’t. Quite why It’s a sad, sorry state of affairs and one that
so many people in the game still obsess simply wouldn’t happen in any of the other
about it is actually quite baffling. major footballing nations and while it was an
undeniably glorious day and a remarkable
Top of the world achievement for Alf Ramsey and his
© Getty Images

England’s victory, irrespective of dubious magnificent team, England’s victory in 1966

decisions, had certainly been well-earned. has cast a shadow that all England teams
As a team, they had pulled off the classic since have been simply unable to step out of.

ENGLAND 1966 63
 WORLD CUP ICONS

BOBBY
MOORE
If you ever visit Wembley Stadium, you’ll see
a statue of Bobby Moore greeting you as you
reach the top of Olympic Way. Underneath
it, there is an inscription that reads:
“Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender.
Immortal hero of 1966”.
The skipper of England’s one and only
World Cup winning team, Moore was the
beating heart of Sir Alf Ramsey’s side. Always
composed, always confident, he was a
consummate captain, forming a formidable
partnership with Jack Charlton at the heart of
the Three Lions’ defence as England took the
title on home soil.
Four years after that heady July day in North
London, Moore was again at his imperious best
as he went toe to toe with the world’s greatest
player, Pelé, in England’s World Cup group
match with Brazil in Guadalajara, Mexico.
While Brazil won a tight match, it was a contest
that left an indelible mark on Pelé, who said
Moore, “defended like a lord”.
“Defenders would just kick me in
frustration… but not Bobby, not ever,” he said.
“He would watch the ball, he would ignore my
eyes and my movement and then, when he was
ready and his balance was right, he would take
the ball, always hard, always fair. He was a
gentleman and an incredible footballer.”
When he retired in 1973, Bobby Moore had
won a then record 108 caps for his country,
with 90 of them coming as the captain. And
while his managerial career failed to scale
the heights of his time playing – he had brief
and unsuccessful spells in charge at Oxford
City and Southend United – Moore’s legacy
as perhaps the finest defender that England
has ever produced can never be questioned.
Indeed, to this day he remains the man to which
© Getty Images

all English centre-backs are measured and, put

simply, nobody has really come close.

64 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 23, 1966, Wembley,
London. Bobby Moore leads his
side out to play Argentina.

BOBBY MOORE 65
 MEXICO 1970
WAS MEXICO 1970 THE GREATEST WORLD CUP FINALS IN HISTORY? AND WAS THE BRAZIL TEAM THAT TOOK
PERMANENT POSSESSION OF THE JULES RIMET TROPHY REALLY THE BEST EVER? IT’S HARD TO ARGUE OTHERWISE.
...............................................................................................................................................................

There have been more spectacular goals and, a match, it is as pure and precise a football tournament but perfectly exhibited the beauty,
indeed, goals of more immediacy, strikes move as you will see. imagination and sheer unencumbered joy with
where a spontaneous or audacious flash of And then, of course, there was the finish which Mário Zagallo’s team played the game.
improvisation have brought fans to their feet itself. Appearing on the right side of the 18- It would be a goal and a tournament that
or all but brought the house down. But there yard box, Carlos Alberto doesn’t even break would live long in the memory.
have been few more beautiful goals than stride. He simply steps up and powers the ball,
Carlos Alberto’s goal in the Final of the 1970 low, hard and true, into the far corner of the Argentina, always the bridesmaid...
World Cup. net, the force of the strike lifting him of his feet As Mexico were already set to host the 1968
From the mesmerising manner in which and his momentum carrying him off beyond Olympic Games, FIFA had decided that they
the ball criss-crossed the pitch, the Italian the bye-line in ecstatic celebration. were best placed to stage the 1970 World Cup
players unable to get anywhere close to it, Finals and in 1964, they chose the Central
to the final moments when Pelé, on the edge It doesn’t get better than this Americans over Argentina, who had also lost
© Getty Images

of the opposition penalty area, rolls the ball Scored just three minutes before the end of the out to Chile to stage the 1962 tournament. The
nonchalantly into the path of the goalscorer 1970 World Cup Final, it was a goal that not South Americans would get their chance in
as though he were just warming up before only capped Brazil’s total dominance in the due course, but for now Mexico, with its iconic

June 21, 1970, Mexico City. Italy and

Brazil line up in the Azteca Stadium
before their astounding Final match.

66 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

Estadio Azteca at the heart of its bid, would
take centre stage.
Seventy-five teams would enter the June 14, 1970, Leon. Captain
qualifying competitions but there would be Bobby Moore leads his England
team out for their Quarter-Final
some high-profile casualties along the way, not match against West Germany.
least Spain, France, Hungary and the nation
who would have been playing had they won
the bid, Argentina.
This would also be the World Cup where
a string of smaller footballing nations would
begin to raise their games. Morocco, for
example, became the first African country
to qualify for the Finals since Egypt made it
through back in 1934, while Romania
reached their first Finals since they lost in
the First Round in France in 1938. El Salvador
and Israel would also make their maiden
appearances in the tournament.

Bobby Moore jailed

As holders, England’s place in Mexico was
automatic but their preparations for their
defence would be interrupted by an unsavoury
incident involving their captain, Bobby
Moore. As the team visited Colombia to play
a warm-up game, Moore and his teammate
Bobby Charlton had visited a jeweller’s shop
in Bogotá only for the skipper to be arrested
soon after on a trumped charge of stealing a
bracelet. Moore would spend four days in jail
until diplomatic efforts and the small matter of
little or no evidence, saw him freed to rejoin
Sir Alf Ramsey’s squad.
For all the cherished memories people hold
of the 1970 World Cup, it’s easy to forget that
it got off to the most inauspicious of starts.
After a suitably spectacular opening ceremony
at the Estadio Azteca, the host nation Mexico
and the USSR played out a tepid goalless
draw where the only real talking points were
the number of yellow cards handed out – it
was first time they had been used in the
World Cup – and the fact that the Russians
had become the first team in World Cup
history to make a substitution, when Viktor
Serebryanikov was replaced with Anatoliy
Puzach after 45 minutes.
Mercifully, the match didn’t set the tone
for the rest of the competition. Across the
opening stages, there were, with the exception
of Group 2, some entertaining and high-
scoring exchanges.
Despite the sluggish start against the
USSR, the host nation won their remaining
two matches against El Salvador (4-0) and
Belgium (1-0) to claim second place behind
the Soviet Union on goal difference. In Group
3, meanwhile, Brazil got off to a flying start,
despite going a goal down after just 11
minutes to Czechoslovakia. Stung into action,
the South Americans lay siege to the Czech’s
goal, with Rivelino levelling matters and

MEXICO 1970 67
June 7, 1970, Guadalajara. England’s
Gordon Banks denies the Brazilians in
the Group Stage. On the right, in Aertex
splendour, is Spurs’ Alan Mullery.

68 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 14, 1970, Leon. Bobby Charlton is
followed by manager Sir Alf Ramsey,
whose tactical blunder in the Quarter-Final
allowed West Germany back into the game.

second-half goals from Pelé and a brace from Goals were in plentiful supply in Group 4 half minutes, including two from the prolific
Jairzinho, completing the rout. Perhaps the too where there was an average of four per centre-forward Gigi Riva, ending the host’s
highlight of that game would be an audacious game. It would be the eventual group winners interest in the competition.
shot from the halfway line from Pelé that West Germany that plundered the most, with The Italians would be joined in the Semi-
caught the Czech keeper off his line and very their deadly striker Gerd Müller scoring seven Finals by Uruguay, who edged past the USSR
nearly found the back of the net. of their ten goals (including two hat-tricks). 1-0 after extra time, and free-scoring Brazil
The Brazilians would win their other two Peru, meanwhile, would claim the second who put paid to a valiant challenge from their
games to top the group but not without some qualification place by virtue of their wins over neighbours Peru, eventually winning 4-2. The
difficulty, especially in the match against Bulgaria and Morocco. game of the last eight, though, would come at
reigning champions England in Guadalajara. Leon’s Nou Camp where England would meet
Certainly, it was an epic battle. Brazil Italy explodes into life their arch rivals and the team they defeated
pushed and probed while England, with the It was only in Group 2 where there seemed four years earlier in the final, West Germany.
imperious captain Bobby Moore leading by to be a dearth of anything approaching
example, defended resolutely and even when excitement. Here, goals were at a premium Ramsey’s disaster
their ranks were broken, there was always and remarkably, Italy would win the group There were some familiar faces on show,
Gordon Banks in goal to lend a helping despite scoring just a single goal in their with both teams fielding five players who had
hand. His save from Pelé’s downward three matches against Israel, Sweden and the played in the 1966 Final but with Gordon
header, for example, was one of those eventual group runners-up Uruguay. Banks waylaid with a stomach complaint,
magical World Cup moments that would Italy’s shyness in front of goal, however, apparently caused by consuming a bottle
live long in the memory. would end in spectacular fashion in their of beer, Sir Alf Ramsey had called on the
Ultimately, it would take a lone goal from Quarter-Final against the host nation in Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti to fill what was
Jairzinho on the hour to separate the teams Toluca. Though Mexico took the lead early an enormous void.
and at the end of the game, as Moore and in the first-half through their experienced Initially, all seemed to be going to plan for
© Getty Images

Pelé embraced heartily, it was evident that midfielder José Luis González, the Italians England. Goals in each half by Alan Mullery
here were two teams that held each other in suddenly found their scoring boots and ran out and Martin Peters had seen England place one
the highest possible regard. 4-1 winners, with three goals in 13 second- foot in the Semi-Finals but a goal by Franz

MEXICO 1970 69
Beckenbauer on 68 minutes gave the now a better squad than the one England had nearly steering the ball home into the now
Germans hope and, just eight minutes later, possessed in their victorious 1966 campaign, unguarded net. It was another sublime piece
parity would be restored, as the veteran Uwe the unavoidable truth was that they were of invention and further proof, if it was still
Seeler, playing in a record 20th match in heading home, their reign as world champions needed, that here was the world’s greatest
the World Cup Finals, nodded home past over. Little did they know then, however, that it player playing at the very peak of his powers.
a bemused Bonetti. would be another 12 years before an England
As the game headed into extra-time, team took to the field in a World Cup Finals European classic
England were on the verge of losing a once more. Italy, meanwhile, appeared to be a
two-goal lead for the first time under the With the World Champions gone, the team growing in confidence with each
management of Alf Ramsey and when tournament was there for the taking and the passing match. Gone was their defensive
the ever-ready Gerd Müller hooked home only certainty that the Semi-Final line-up preoccupation of the early matches and
a third German goal in the second period, threw up was that the Final would be a straight in had come a more attacking and
England’s fate was all but sealed. fight between South America and Europe, purposeful approach.
as Brazil took on Uruguay and Italy faced Their Semi-Final against West Germany
Four years of hurt West Germany. would be another classic encounter. For
The shattering defeat, snatched from the jaws In Guadalajara, Brazil recovered from 120 exhausting minutes, it was like watching
of what had appeared to be a clear and going behind to a 19th minute goal from Luis two proud heavyweight fighters slugging
comfortable victory, would also prove to be the Cubilla to eventually win 3-1 but, again, it was it out, refusing to cede any ground. Franz
last international game for Bobby Charlton. a moment of genius from Pelé that so nearly Beckenbauer, for example, even carried
Substituted for Colin Bell on 70 minutes, the stole the show. Running on to a through-ball on playing with his arm in a sling having
Manchester United midfielder had amassed and faced with the Uruguayan keeper Ladislao dislocated his shoulder.
a record 106 caps and another record haul Mazurkiewicz rushing off his line to challenge With the scores level at 1-1 after Karl-
of 49 goals. Put simply, it was an England him, Pelé simply dummied the keeper allowing Heinz Schnellinger’s last-minute equaliser, the
career without compare. Though the manager the ball to run past him before running around game headed into extra-time and still the two
Sir Alf Ramsey had maintained that this was the other side of Mazurkiewicz and very combatants continued to trade blows;

June 18, 1970, Mexico City. German

goalkeeper Sepp Maier can’t hide his
frustration as Gianni Rivera puts Italy 4-3
up in a mesmerising World Cup Semi-Final.

70 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 21, 1970, Mexico City. Brazilian star
Pelé, with the Jules Rimet Trophy, is mobbed
after his side’s emphatic World Cup victory.

Müller pulled the Germans ahead only for his powerful header evading the despairing The beautiful game
Tarcisio Burgnich to equalise four minutes later. dive of Enrico Albertosi and giving Brazil Then, three minutes from time, that final
Riva made it 3-2 to Italy – his 22nd goal in 21 a deserved lead after 18 minutes. Not that flourish, courtesy of Carlos Alberto, and the
international games – only for Müller to reply Brazil was a one-man team. In fact, here goal that would come to typify everything
once more. was a side with an embarrassment of riches; that Brazil and their mouth-watering blend of
No sooner were West Germany back on Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Tostão, Clodoaldo attacking football had given to the watching
terms, however, then Italy were back in front. – everywhere you looked were players with world. At the final whistle, the Estadio Azteca
Straight from the kick-off, the Azzurri swept the kind of God-given talent that most other pitch was swamped with fans and media alike
downfield and as the ball found its way into nations could only dream of possessing. while Pelé, soon relieved of his shirt, was
the area, there was Gianni Rivera, the vastly carried aloft, his place as the world’s greatest
experienced AC Milan midfielder and the player confirmed once and for all.
1969 European Footballer of the Year, on PEOPLE WERE ALREADY It was fitting, too, that Carlos Alberto would
hand to side-foot the ball past Sepp Maier and CALLING BRAZIL THE GREATEST be the last man to hold aloft the Jules Rimet
send Italy into the Final. INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF ALL- Trophy and that his manager, Mário Zagallo,
TIME AND IT WAS HARD, IF NOT would become the first man to win the World
That’s entertainment Cup as both a player (he won it 1958 and
IMPOSSIBLE, TO DISAGREE.
Though games didn’t come any bigger than 1962) and as a coach.
the World Cup Final, this particular edition Though other teams staked a claim to the
was given extra spice by virtue of the teams’ Though Italy would equalise with a well-taken title, there could be no denying Brazil’s pre-
record in the competition. Having both won goal by Roberto Boninsegna, capitalising on eminence in the 1970 World Cup. They had
the World Cup twice, the winner would, as an unusual lapse by the Brazilian defence won all six of their matches, scoring 19 goals
three-times champions, get to keep the Jules before steering the ball into an unguarded and conceding just four. They had, of course,
Rimet Trophy in perpetuity. goal, the second half would see Brazil move won all six of the matches in qualifying for the
These were two teams that were polar through the gears in scintillating fashion. finals as well.
opposites. Brazil were a team laden with On 66 minutes, the effervescent Gérson Journalists and connoisseurs of the game
flair, flamboyance and a natural predilection unleashed a rapier of a drive from outside of were already calling them the greatest
to attack while Italy were the past-masters of the penalty area to restore Brazil’s advantage, international team of all time and it was hard,
defensive solidity. It was the unstoppable force while a third goal bundled in by Jairzinho if not impossible, to disagree. Indeed, it is
against the immovable object. But something not only put the game out of Italy’s reach but a testament to their talent that every great
had to give. confirmed his place as one of the star players international team that has trod the turf since
© Getty Images

Inevitably, it would be Pelé, a man whose of the tournament. Indeed, his record of has, inevitably, been compared to Mário
irrepressible performances had come to scoring in all six games of Brazil’s World Cup Zagallo’s side. The truth, however, is that not
dominate the event, who opened the scoring, Final campaign remains unmatched. many teams really can compare to them.

MEXICO 1970 71
 INTERVIEW

PELÉ
AT THE 1970 WORLD CUP FINALS IN MEXICO, PELE, THEN 29, NOT ONLY CAPPED A GLORIOUS INTERNATIONAL CAREER
BY WINNING AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD WORLD CUP WINNERS’ MEDAL AS PART OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING BRAZIL
SIDE EVER, HE CEMENTED HIS PLACE IN HISTORY AS THE GREATEST PLAYER THE GAME WOULD EVER KNOW…
...............................................................................................................................................................

When I started out as a footballer, I never Obviously, I was very happy to score in the to play with those players and to be part of
imagined I would become the only man to Final against Italy but I think people perhaps that team, I also believe that. As a player, it
win three World Cups; I just wanted to play remember Brazil’s fourth goal more than mine. was such a joy to be part of such a special
like my father. Now when I look back at all When Carlos Alberto scored it really was a team. To win the World Cup too just made it
my medals it really brings it home. It’s beyond beautiful goal, especially as we had worked all the more special.
all my expectations. on similar moves in training. When that goal
went in we all new we had won the match. People often ask me how I managed to
When I played in my first World Cup Finals, We all knew we had won the World Cup. maintain my motivation and that drive to
in Sweden in 1958, I was so young – just 17 carry on playing and winning with Brazil
– and when you are that age you don’t really Many people, including FIFA, think that the and I tell them what I tell everyone, that you
stop to think about what you have achieved. Brazil team of 1970 was the best team in play for love, not money. Everyone should
Then, when we won in 1962, I was so happy the history of all of the World Cup Finals and do that. It’s the only way.
for the team, even though I had been injured
in the tournament.
1970. Brazil legend Pelé
But for me the 1970 World Cup was the most with the Jules Rimet Trophy.
important of all. It was the best of all, the
most special. Why? Because when I played
in the World Cup in England in 1966, I had
found it difficult because people knew me by
then and the only way they could think of to
stop me was by fouling me. It was inevitable
that I would get injured. I even thought about
not playing in the World Cup ever again.

That’s why Mexico 1970 was so important to

me, not just because I had got injured in 1966
but because I knew it would be my final
World Cup – and because I wanted to leave
as a champion.

The World Cup of 1970 has so many fond

memories for me and the Brazilian team
but where do you start? It was the perfect
tournament for us. For me, though, the
highlight would have to be the header that
I scored against Italy in the Final. I remember
seeing the cross coming over and then the
ball was in the net. It all happened so quickly.

But I also remember the group game against

England as it was the toughest game we
had in the competition. I have to say we
were a little lucky against England because
they were such a strong team, especially in
defence. Their goalkeeper Gordon Banks
© Getty Images

made an incredible save from my header

and my good friend Bobby Moore was
always so difficult to play against.

72 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

PELE 73
 W. GERMANY 1974
IT HAD BEEN A LONG WAIT FOR WEST GERMANY TO CLAIM THEIR SECOND WORLD CUP TITLE BUT WHEN IT FINALLY
CAME – ON HOME SOIL AND AGAINST THE PURVEYORS OF TOTAL FOOTBALL – IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIAL.
...............................................................................................................................................................
A new era had begun. With Brazil now But while change was in the air at FIFA, – a 1-1 draw – would see the Poles qualify at
the proud and permanent holders of the there were more pressing concerns in West England’s expense. For England, it would be
Jules Rimet Trophy, it was time for a new Germany, the host nation of the tournament. the first time since they had entered the World
cup to grace international football’s premier Like their predecessors Mexico, West Germany Cup fray in 1950 that they had failed to reach
competition and FIFA would receive over had also hosted the summer Olympics two the World Cup Finals. For Sir Alf Ramsey, the
50 designs from seven countries before they years before the circus of the FIFA World man who had delivered English football’s finest
finally commissioned the Italian artist Silvio Cup Finals had come to town. But it was hour, it was the end of the road. Ramsey was
Gazzaniga to create a new World Cup. The there that the comparisons ended. At the sacked by the FA on May 1, 1974.
finished result, called simply “the FIFA World Munich Olympics in the summer of 1972, The demise of England and Wales in Group
Cup”, would be made from 5kg of 18-carat 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team had 5, coupled with Northern Ireland’s third place
gold, stand 36.5cm tall and depicted two been kidnapped by the Black September in Group 6, would leave Scotland as the only
people, arms outstretched, cradling the earth. terrorist group and held hostage in the qualifiers from the home nations, with Willie
This time, however, FIFA also announced Olympic Village. Within a day, all would Ormond’s team pipping Czechoslovakia by
that no team would ever hold permanent be dead, as would five of their captors and a point in Group 8 to go through.
possession of the new trophy, regardless of a West German police officer. There was, moreover, some significant
how many times they should win it. After all, tinkering with the format of the tournament
solid gold trophies didn’t come cheap. THE NEW “FIFA WORLD CUP” once again. Though there were 16 teams in
WOULD BE MADE FROM 5kg OF attendance once more, FIFA, in their infinite
Havelange gives hope but more often than not questionable wisdom,
Change was also afoot at FIFA HQ where,
18-CARAT GOLD, STAND 36.5cm
had decided to do away with the format that
three days before the 1974 World Cup began, TALL AND DEPICTED TWO PEOPLE had helped make the 1970 tournament in
the Brazilian João Havelange was voted in CRADLING THE EARTH. Mexico such a fantastic success.
as the new president of the governing body, Now, instead of a straight knock-out
succeeding Sir Stanley Rous, and in doing so Less than two years later, the World Cup competition after the initial Group Stage, the
becoming the first ever non-European to hold would begin and with memories of the atrocity top two teams from each group would go
the position as head of the world game. still fresh in the watching world’s mind, security through, whereupon two new groups would
Crucially, Havelange’s election campaign would, not surprisingly, be tighter than at any take place, with all four teams playing each
had made great efforts in appealing to the previous World Cup Finals. other. The winners of those groups would then
associations and representatives from Africa, Security concerns aside, there was much progress straight to the Final, thereby negating
pledging that he would endeavour to increase to look forward to at the 1974 World Cup any need for the drama of any Semi-Finals.
their allocation of places at the Finals if they Finals, not least because the team from But if FIFA’s tweaking and fine-tuning had
were to support his candidature. the other side of the Iron Curtain, East many observers scratching their heads, the
Certainly, the idea that Africa and, for Germany, had also qualified. But there were First Round Group Stage nevertheless threw up
that matter, all of the Asian and Oceanian some notable absentees from the starting some intriguing match-ups, not least in Group
federations should have more places at 16, including France, Spain and the 1966 1 where the hosts West Germany had been
the World Cup Finals was gathering pace champions, England. drawn against neighbours East Germany.
as the heavy bias in favour of European England’s campaign had foundered Indeed, what made the meeting all the
teams was more evident than ever at the badly in a group they should really have more delicious was that it would be the final
1974 tournament. won. Drawn with just Poland and Wales, match for both teams in the group and, as the
With 33 teams from the continent taking Sir Alf Ramsey’s team were the overwhelming games against Chile and Australia had been
part, there was a total of nine places at the favourites to progress from Group 5 but a negotiated by both sides with relative ease, it
Finals at stake for European nations to battle combination of complacency and both Wales would also be the match that decided not only
over. Contrast that with the plight of the teams and Poland seeming to play above themselves who topped the group but who would gain
from Africa (23 teams) and Asia/Oceania saw England needing a victory in the final perhaps the biggest bragging rights in modern
(19 teams) who both were given just one place game against the Poles at Wembley to qualify. international football history.
each. Not that the disproportionate allocation But it would be a frustrating and ultimately
of places seemed to put anybody off. After fruitless night for Ramsey’s men. England West against East
all, a total of 99 teams had entered the laid siege to the Polish goal but were denied The game in Hamburg would be the first
© Getty Images

qualification stages of the 1974 World Cup time and time again by Jan Tomaszewksi, meeting in a full competitive international
competition and that was a new record entry a goalkeeper that Brian Clough had famously match since Germany was divided in the
list for the tournament. labelled a “clown”, and the final result wake of World War II and some 3,000 East

74 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

July 7, 1974, Munich. Match-winner
Gerd Müller retires from international
football a deserved world champion.

W. GERMANY 1974 75
 German supporters were allowed over the
border to watch the game. Despite the host
nation being the favourites, the East Germans
were well drilled, defensively solid and,
in many respects, it would be a game that
represented the East’s own World Cup Final,
such was the importance of the match.

DDR edge it, but West Germany profit

All of which made the result at the
Volksparkstadion all the more significant and,
ultimately, it would prove to be a well-deserved
win for the unfancied East Germans, a late
goal by the Magdeburg midfielder Jürgen
Sparwasser being the difference between
the sides. But was there method in the West
German’s madness? After all, by finishing
second in their group they would, in all
likelihood, avoid Holland in the Quarter-Finals
and, as it transpired, Brazil and Argentina
too. East Germany might have gone through
as group winners, but they would have to
contend with some of the toughest teams in the
next round, unlike their counterparts from the
other side of the Iron divide.

SCOTLAND BECAME THE FIRST

TEAM IN WORLD CUP FINALS
HISTORY TO BE KNOCKED OUT
OF THE EVENT WITHOUT HAVING
LOST A SINGLE GAME.

While the two German teams both advanced

from Group 1, there was more agony for
Scotland in Group 2 who won one game and
drew two (including one against the reigning
world champions Brazil) but still found
themselves going home on goal difference.
Ahead of them was Yugoslavia, who
had thumped Zaire 9-0 in Gelsenkirchen’s
Parkstadion (equalling the tournament record
for the biggest margin of victory), and Brazil
whose 3-0 win over the Africans was one goal
better than Scotland’s result and therefore saw
the Scots unable to make it past the first stage
once more.
What made it all the more galling was
the Scots had become the first team in World
Cup Finals history to be knocked out of the
event without having lost a single game. It was
precious little consolation.
But Scotland were not the only team to be
eliminated by the narrowest of margins. In
Group 4, for example, Italy, the runner-up
in Mexico four years earlier, had also missed
out by just a single goal, as Argentina edged
them out of second place with a 4-1 win over
© Getty Images

Haiti, leaving the South Americans to join the

runaway group winners Poland in the second
group phase.

76 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

June 22, 1974, Hamburg. In front of
60,000 supporters, East German forward
Jürgen Sparwasser scores the winning goal
against West Germany, meaning that the
DDR are the unlikely winners of Group 1.

W. GERMANY 1974 77
 July 7, 1974, Munich. No sooner had
the Final started than Holland were
1-0 up thanks to Johan Neeskens.

The team to watch, however, was Holland. Having breezed through Group 3 with Eventually it became too much for the match
Under their coach Rinus Michels, the Dutch almost indecent ease, the Dutch signalled referee Kurt Tschenscher who finally sent off
had introduced the concept of “Total Football” their intent in their first game of the Second Brazil’s Luis Pereira for one infringement too
to the world stage, a system of play Michels Round Group Stage with a 4-0 demolition of many. Two second half goals from the Johans,
himself had developed with enormous success Argentina in Gelsenkirchen, with two goals Neeskens and Cruyff, would be sufficient to
at Ajax and one that had broke the mould from the scintillating Cruyff setting up another send the Dutch through to the Final.
of more rigid formations as it concentrated impressive win. In Group B, meanwhile, there was a similar
on greater freedom of movement for players Their main rivals in the group would be state of affairs as both West Germany and
wherein team-mates would fill in for those Brazil, a team who had lost many of the fabled Poland, who had rampaged through their
players who had moved out of position. side from 1970 but were still, undoubtedly, group winning all three matches and scoring
At the heart of their team was the a force to be reckoned with as their wins 12 goals in the process, went head to head
incomparable talent of Johan Cruyff. Another over East Germany and Argentina showed. for a place in the Final having both beaten
product of the innovative youth system at With Holland also beating East Germany, it Yugoslavia and Sweden. Again, though,
Ajax, Cruyff had won six Eredivisie titles and meant that the final game between the two West Germany held the advantage on goal
three consecutive European Cups with the would determine who would reach the World difference and needed just a draw to ensure
Dutch giants, as well as a host of individual Cup Final. they went through. But on a sodden pitch in
awards including two coveted Ballon d’Ors in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion, it would be the hosts
1971 and 1973. Frustration for the Brazilians who progressed, a single goal being enough
His success had continued when he moved As the Dutch had a superior goal difference to extinguish any lingering hopes that the Poles
to Barcelona in the summer of 1973. Though than Brazil it meant that the South Americans had of making their first Final
nominally a centre-forward, Cruyff’s talent needed to win to make the Final but it The Final, four days later, would start
was such that he could cause damage from was clear that they had little answer to the in almost farcical circumstances. With the
almost anywhere on the pitch, especially invention and audacity of their opponents. elaborate closing ceremony complete, the
with his signature move, the imaginatively- As the match wore on, Brazil, somewhat teams had taken to the field only to find that
© Getty Images

named “Cruyff turn”, a trick that could leave uncharacteristically, resorted to the kind of nobody had seen fit to replace the corner flags
defenders chasing thin air as Cruyff himself tactics more usually seen in the wrestling ring that had been removed for the ceremony.
motored off towards their goal. as foul after foul rained down on the Dutch. With panicking officials scurrying around the

78 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

stadium trying to find them, the kick-off in the minute they were on terms once more and a mark that eclipsed the previous record total
biggest match in football would be delayed by again it was by virtue of a penalty kick. held by France’s Just Fontaine.
what was an unusually amateurish lapse on This time, it was Bernd Holzenbein that was
the part of the organisers. hauled down by Wim Jansen and the resultant Total Football has no answer
Eventually, the corner flags would be found penalty, converted coolly by the hirsute Paul While the Dutch would spend most of the
and the game would start – and how. Indeed, Brietner, made it 1-1. Interestingly, in nine second half desperately seeking an equaliser,
the first time a West German player would previous World Cup Finals there had never the West German defence remained steadfast.
touch the ball was when Sepp Maier picked it been a single penalty kick, now there had Suddenly, the Total Football that had taken the
out of the back of his net. A penalty awarded been two in less than half an hour. Dutch this far seemed bereft of ideas as the
by the English referee Jack Taylor for a foul on hosts repelled any threat from their opponents.
Johan Cruyff by Bertie Vogts in the first minute Müller’s touch of genius When Jack Taylor blew for full-time the sense
saw the other Johan, Neeskens, step up and With half-time looming and the match of relief in the crowd was as tangible as the
hammer the ball straight down the middle to delicately poised, Germany pressed, making sense of disappointment in the Dutch camp.
give the Dutch an immediate lead. progress down the inside-right channel and The Dutch, who had dazzled everyone
The way Neeskens confidently dispatched as the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder with tactical innovation and potent attacking
the penalty, with power and no small measure Rainer Bonhof whipped a cross into the play, had fallen agonisingly short while West
of panache, typified the manner in which penalty area, it was the omnipresent Gerd Germany, after 20 years of close calls and
Holland had played the game throughout Müller who reacted first. His first touch, false dawns, had finally claimed their second
the tournament and if West Germany had however, would let him down, taking the ball World Cup title. For some of West Germany’s
thought that their opponents might have been away from the goal, but in a sublime piece of players, like Gerd Müller, it would be the
intimidated by playing the host nation and improvisation he took the Dutch defence by perfect way to leave the international stage,
appearing in their first World Cup Final, then surprise by swivelling and somehow steering not just as a World Cup winner but as the
the spot-kick was proof to the contrary. the ball back into the net. greatest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
It was another act of spontaneity and For Franz Beckenbauer, meanwhile, it was
Breitner marks the spot brilliance from this most prolific of strikers and the one title that his unique and abundant
Inevitably, West Germany, buoyed by some marked his tenth goal in the tournament. It talent more than merited. Nobody could say
rabid home support, rallied and by the 25th was, also, his 14th in the World Cup Finals, he didn’t deserve it.

July 7, 1974, Munich. A losing Finalist

in 1966, Germany’s illustrious Franz
Beckenbauer finally tastes victory.

W. GERMANY 1974 79
 WORLD CUP ICONS

FRANZ
BECKENBAUER
“Football,” said Franz Beckenbauer, “is one
of the world’s best means of communication.
It is impartial, apolitical and universal.
Football unites people around the world
every day. Young or old, players or fans,
rich or poor, the game makes everyone
equal, stirs the imagination, makes people
happy and makes them sad.”
Beckenbauer wasn’t just gifted with
words. Dubbed “Der Kaiser” (the Emperor),
he was, quite simply, one of the greatest
players in the history of the game. Often
credited as creating the role of the modern-
day sweeper, his style and sophistication,
both in defence and midfield, helped West
Germany become the world’s best team in
the 1970s.
Twice European Footballer of the Year,
Beckenbauer’s stellar career saw him win
almost everything there was to win in
the modern game, including captaining
the all-conquering Bayern Munich to three
consecutive European Cups (1974-76; the
only player to do so).
But it was with the national team, Die
Mannschaft, that saw him climb to even
greater heights. Having skippered West
Germany to the World Cup title on home
soil in 1974, he then led them to glory
in the 1976 European Championship in
Yugoslavia becoming the first captain in
history to achieve the feat.
Later, as the manager of the national
side, Beckenbauer led his country to their
third title, beating Argentina 1-0 in the Final
in Italy in 1990.
It was the England legend Sir Bobby
Charlton who perhaps best summed up
the stature of Franz Beckenbauer when he
argued that the German legend’s reputation
always preceded him. “The message he sent
out was: ‘Don’t even try it. Coming out to
face me is a waste of your time’.”

80 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

7th July, 1974. Franz Beckenbauer
holds aloft the trophy as his team
become World Champions for the
second time in history.

FRANZ BECKENBAUER 81
 ARGENTINA 1978
AFTER DECADES TRYING TO SECURE THE RIGHTS TO STAGE THE WORLD CUP FINALS, ARGENTINA FINALLY GOT THEIR
CHANCE IN 1978. BUT IT WOULD BE A TOURNAMENT MIRED IN CONTROVERSY, BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH.
...............................................................................................................................................................

It was only right and proper that Argentina, Dirty War was came when Omar Actis, a retired
a nation whose passion for the game was as Governed by General Jorge Videla and his general and the president of the local World
real and fervent as any other of the world’s military junta, Argentina’s selection as World Cup organising committee, was gunned
great football superpowers, should get the Cup hosts had caused consternation among down by guerrillas claiming to be from the
chance to stage the FIFA World Cup Finals. human rights activists who had long viewed Revolutionary Mononero Army in August
Awarded the tournament at FIFA’s 1966 the regime for being responsible for a wide 1976. Soon after, state forces executed 30
congress in London at the same time that they range of offences, from extrajudicial murders people in reprisal.
gave the 1974 tournament to West Germany to the forced “disappearance” of dissidents
and the 1982 event to Spain, Argentina’s and even the kidnap of babies born by those International retirements
determination to land the World Cup had mothers held at their detention centres. Certainly, the political situation in Argentina
finally paid dividends. But though Argentina’s So while the World Cup represented was such that several of the world’s greatest
football credentials could not be disputed, the a high-profile opportunity for activists to players even decided to bow out of
wider political and socioeconomic situation expose the darker and more brutal side of international football either on moral grounds
within the country would provoke widespread the administration, it also provided a chance or simply to avoid the risk of playing in
concern among FIFA members and in the 12 for Videla to clamp down even harder on Argentina; West Germany’s Paul Breitner and
years that passed between the awarding of the any protests just in case it may embarrass Holland’s superstar Johan Cruyff being the two
World Cup and the staging of it, there would the country with the whole world watching. most notable. Others, like Breitner’s teammate
be massive upheaval in the country. An example of just how volatile the situation Franz Beckenbauer, for example, had already

82 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 1978. Scotland’s Tartan Army

called time on their international career, sign of peace” and, for the most part, it would manager Ally McLeod confidently proclaiming
heading off to the United States to play in be an event that passed off without incident. that his team were going to return home
the fledgling North American Soccer League, Argentina, coached by the chain-smoking and triumphant. Even their official World Cup song
alongside Pelé at the New York Cosmos. left-leaning César Luis Menotti, was a side declared that “We’ll really shake ‘em up, when
Not that it deterred the world’s football now focused on a style of play, La Nuestra, we win the World Cup/‘Cos Scotland are the
community from taking part as a record that owed more to slick movement and quick greatest football team”. You had to admire his
number of initial entrants, 106, was proof passing rather than the physical and more confidence, even if it was a little misguided.
that the tournament still had pulling power combative tactics employed by the national Certainly, Scotland had some terrific players
even when concomitant concerns about team in previous years. Menotti’s dedication in their ranks – Joe Jordan, Graeme Souness,
safety and security were so rife. Yet there and belief in his system was such that he Asa Hartford and, of course, the incomparable
would be some high-profile absentees from refused to pick any players from Boca Juniors Kenny Dalglish – but they weren’t exactly one
Argentina and not because of any moral simply because the negative manner in which of the pre-tournament favourites.
objection to playing there. they played the game was entirely at odds
England, ditched by their manager Don with his footballing philosophy. Harsh reality
Revie as the campaign petered out, failed to But it was the omission of 17-year-old While Ally McLeod was adept at talking the
qualify for the second Finals in succession, Diego Maradona that raised most eyebrows in talk, his Scotland side soon showed they
losing out to Italy, while the new European the country and the wider world. A first team weren’t quite up to walking the walk and in
champions Czechoslovakia, the USSR and player for Argentinos Juniors at 15 and given their first game they crashed to a 3-1 defeat
Yugoslavia also failed to negotiate their his full international debut at 16 by Menotti against Peru in Córdoba in front ot 37,927,
qualifying groups. That said, there were more when he picked him to play against Hungary the mercurial Teófilo Cubillas scoring twice
than enough quality sides ready, willing and in 1977, it was assumed the prodigious for the South Americans.
able to take their places in Argentina with midfielder would be part of Argentina’s squad Though they were criticised for the defeat to
Hungary, France and Spain back at the Finals for the World Cup. Instead, his place went to Peru, there was no real shame in losing to the
for the first time since 1966 and Austria Oscar Ortiz. South Americans, not least because this was
returning after a 20-year absence. There a side that alongside Brazil had taken only
would also be World Cup debut appearances Ally’s Tartan Army one of two automatic qualification spots in
for Iran and Tunisia. Of the home nations, only Scotland would the South American CONMEBOL region. But
© Getty Images

When the World Cup finally began on make the trip to South America, sealing their what followed proved to be another setback
June 1, 1978, General Videla announced to place with a 2-0 win over Wales at Anfield for the Scots. In the wake of the Peru game,
the world that it would be played “under the in October 1977. They had arrived with their winger Willie Johnston tested positive

ARGENTINA 1978 83
for a banned substance contained in his European advancement place in Group 3, would come back to haunt
hay-fever medication and was immediately While Scotland’s demise ended any interest them later in the tournament.
expelled from the competition, a decision that the United Kingdom had in the 1978
that also ended his international career after World Cup, there was still considerable Second Round clash of the titans
22 appearances. success for other European teams. For once, it seemed as though a European
Worse was to follow. In their next match Italy topped Group 1, winning all of their team may finally have a realistic chance
against Iran, a game they were expected to three games and leaving hosts Argentina to of winning the World Cup outside of their
easily win, they could only muster a 1-1 draw. take second place. In Group 2, Poland and own continent, especially with the
It left Ally McLeod’s men needing to beat West Germany qualified in first and second, traditionally strong South American nations
Holland, the runners-up from 1974, by three while in Group 3, unfancied Austria, with like Brazil and Argentina failing to impress
clear goals in order to make it through to the their prolific striker Hans Krankl in fine form, in the early exchanges.
next round. won the group ahead of an out of sorts Eight teams would advance into the Second
It was a tall order and yet one that Scotland Brazil, who, after two draws in their opening Round group stages – the same, slightly
so very nearly pulled off. While it proved to be games against Sweden and Spain, had to unsatisfactory format that was used in West
a famous victory, not least because of one of beat the Austrians to ensure they remained Germany in 1974 – and the way in which
the goals of the tournament by Archie Gemmill in the tournament. the groups had panned out made for some
who weaved his way this way and that before The game against Sweden would prove fascinating matches. Group A, for example,
casually clipping the ball over Jan Jongbloed to have added significance for Brazil as the would be an exclusively European affair
in the Dutch goal, it would amount to nought tournament unravelled. With the scores tied with Italy, Holland, Austria and the reigning
for the plucky Scots. at 1-1, the South Americans won a corner champions West Germany playing for a
At one stage, Scotland were 3-1 up and with time almost up. But as the kick was taken, place in the Semi-Final. In the other group,
pressing for a fourth that would have sent Welsh referee Clive Thomas blew for full-time meanwhile, all but Poland would hail from
them through, somewhat improbably, to the just as the ball was in mid-air, a split second South America, with Peru joining the hosts
next round on goal difference. As it was, before midfielder Zico headed the ball into and Brazil.
it was Johnny Rep who finally put paid to the back of the net. As Italy and West Germany were grinding
Scotland’s hopes and his goal in the 71st Despite their protestations, the goal would out a goalless draw in Buenos Aires, Holland
minute finally extinguished any lingering hope not stand and though they would advance, the signalled their intent with a devastating win
that the Tartan Army – Ally’s Army – had of fact that Brazil had missed out on what would over Austria, Johnny Rep scoring twice in a
staying in the competition. have been an extra point, and therefore top rampant 5-1 victory. After such an impressive

June 1, 1978, Buenos Aires. West

Germany and Poland play out a
goalless draw – both would qualify
from the first group stages.

84 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 11, 1978, Mendoza. Archie
Gemmill puts Scotland 3-1 up against
the Netherlands, but sadly it wouldn’t be
enough to progress to the next round.

start, the rest of Group A were now playing the post as it ripped past Dino Zoff in the and only foreign-based player in their squad
catch-up to Ernst Happel’s blossoming Dutch Italian goal and smashed into the back of the – scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over
side. In the Second Round, Italy pipped the net. It was a goal that defied belief and, for Poland. A tense goalless draw against Brazil
Austrians by a lone goal, while Holland twice that matter, most of the laws of physics too, would follow for Menotti’s side four days later
came from behind against a determined West and one that was more than worthy of winning in Rosario, a result that made the final group
Germany to claim a point in a 2-2 draw. the World Cup itself. games for Argentina and Brazil all-important
With Austria out and West Germany in their quest to make the Final.
teetering on the brink of elimination, the final Brazil hit form
round of games saw the place in the Final As it was, Holland had reached their second Six of the best?
come down to a straight shoot-out between successive World Cup Final. The only issue Crucially, Argentina’s final Second Round
Holland and Italy and after a goal at both was who would emerge from Group B to face group game against Peru would kick off a few
ends by Holland’s Ernie Brandts, it would them. Brazil, of course, had timed their run to hours after Brazil’s final match, meaning that
take one of the most spectacular goals of the perfection, saving their best form for the latter the hosts would know exactly what they would
tournament to separate the sides. stages of the tournament and their opening need to do to make the Final. With Brazil’s
With just a quarter of an hour to go before 3-0 win over Peru was as comprehensive as it 3-1 victory over Poland giving them five points
extra-time, the Dutch defender Arie Haan was enthralling. from their three games and a very healthy
© Getty Images

picked up the ball just inside the Italian half Not to be outdone, Argentina also won goal difference of +5, it left Argentina needing
and after setting into a charge, hammered their first game later that day, with Mario to beat the Peruvians by four clear goals to go
the ball home from 40 yards, the ball clipping Kempes, the tousle-haired Valencia striker – through at Brazil’s expense.

ARGENTINA 1978 85
25 June 1978, Buenos Aires. Argentinian midfielder
Mario Kempes celebrates his second goal, arriving
in extra time. This was Kempes’ sixth goal – and the
Golden Boot was his. Ten minutes later, Daniel Bertoni,
also in this photograph, would make it 3-1.

That Argentina won the game was not, in even be annulled, such was the high level with their claims to be the tournament’s moral
itself, remarkable. That they won it 6-0 and of corruption surrounding the proceedings. victors landing on largely deaf ears.
with Peru barely bothering to contest the
game, however, would come to tarnish the Delay tactics
entire reputation of the tournament. While THE ESTADIO MONUMENTAL Four days later, the 1978 World Cup Final
Argentina celebrated, conspiracy theories WAS SHOWERED WITH A DELUGE began in the most spectacular manner. In
soon began to sweep around the tournament scenes never witnessed before, the Estadio
about the legitimacy of the result and however
OF TICKERTAPE AND RIBBONS, Monumental was showered with a deluge of
you examined it, it was suspect at best, not BLANKETING THE PITCH AND tickertape and ribbons, blanketing the pitch
least because the two final games in Group A CAUSING A HEADACHE FOR THE and causing a headache for the stadium
had kicked off at the same time so that no side STADIUM CLEANERS. cleaners. But it wouldn’t be the litter that
would gain an advantage. caused a delay to the kick-off.
In 2012, a Peruvian senator, Genaro As the teams took to the field, Argentina’s
Ledesma, claimed that the Peruvian team While debate raged and the accusations flew players and staff mounted a protest against a
had thrown the game as part of a murky this way and that, the result would nevertheless cast that Dutch winger René van de Kerkhof
deal cooked up by Argentina’s ruling stand and Argentina’s place in the Final was had on his forearm, arguing that the dressing
military junta and the then government of assured. Brazil, meanwhile, were now out could prove dangerous to players. It seemed
Peru. In fact, Ledesma even proposed that of the tournament, eliminated in the ugliest petty but this was an Argentine side under the
the result of the 1978 World Cup should and most unsavoury manner imaginable and most enormous pressure to win – especially

86 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 25, 1978, Buenos Aires. Tickertape
rains down onto the Estadio Monumental
pitch ahead of the Final.

after the hullabaloo of the Peru game – and Cup Final, Holland rallied in the second a goal that would also win him the Golden
if they could eke out any advantage they half and with just eight minutes remaining Boot award and the Golden Ball prize for the
most certainly would. Discussions turned into they drew level when a René van de Kerkhof tournament’s best player.
arguments and arguments almost turned into a cross was met with a bullet header from When Daniel Bertoni broke through and
walk-off from the Dutch side. the substitute Dick Nanninga. Then, with crashed in a third goal five minutes from the
Eventually, a compromise was reached final whistle, the World Cup was Argentina’s
whereby Van de Kerkhof was sent back to and Cesar Luis Menotti lit another cigarette
the dressing room to apply an additional
HOLLAND’S UNIQUE BRAND in celebration.
layer of padding to the bandage, even though OF TOTAL FOOTBALL HAD
he had actually worn the same plaster in all TAKEN THEM TO THE BRINK Don’t cry for me Total Football
of Holland’s previous five games without OF SUCCESS BUT AGAIN Having lost in 1974 and now coming within
incident or protest. the width of a post of winning in 1978, the
THEY HAD FALLEN AT THE Dutch were crestfallen. Their unique brand of
Fever pitch FINAL HURDLE. Total Football, a style so widely admired and
The delay merely served to intensify the respected, had taken them to the brink of the
already emotional atmosphere in the Estadio seconds left on the clock, Robbie Rensenbrink, success its exponents undoubtedly deserved
Monumental, which was packed with 71,483 Holland’s most prolific marksmen in the but again they had fallen at the final hurdle.
supporters. With the pitch still littered with tournament, wriggled free in the penalty area While it was tough on the Dutch, there
tickertape, the teams got the game underway. to flick the ball past Ubaldo Fillol, only to see was a huge sigh of relief accompanying the
The hosts would settle into the game better the ball come back off the post. wild celebrations that continued across the
than their European opponents and their It would be Holland’s last chance. Come country. For almost half a century, Argentina
industry would be rewarded when, in the 38th extra-time, it was Argentina, galvanised by had been trying to win football’s premier
minute, Mario Kempes, the striker who had some fanatical home support, that edged event but now, finally, they had managed to
© Getty Images

suddenly found his form in the latter stages of ahead when Kempes ghosted through the shed the tag of the Best Team Never To Win
the tournament, slid home the opening goal. Dutch defence, prodding the ball home when The World Cup. Instead, they passed that
Faced with back-to-back defeats in the World it fell kindly for him after his shot was saved, particular baton on to Holland.

ARGENTINA 1978 87
 SPAIN 1982
SHOCKING UPSETS AND RECORD WINS, CLASSIC ENCOUNTERS AND CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS – SPAIN 1982
WAS A ROLLERCOASTER OF A WORLD CUP WHERE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN… AND USUALLY DID.
...............................................................................................................................................................
That the World Cup was growing ever larger To accommodate the additional eight teams, with the winner of the mini-league progressing
and, indeed, more popular was indisputable. FIFA had also changed the format of the to the Semi-Final. In all, it would take the
A record number of countries – 108 from World Cup Finals. While there would still be winning team a total of eight matches to
FIFA’s then membership of 147 – now entered groups of four teams to begin with (only with become world champions – the most ever.
the qualification stages with 22 places up for six groups this time, rather than four), there As was tradition, the Finals began with
grabs across the world. With hosts Spain and would now be an additional group stage in the a match involving the reigning champions –
reigning champions Argentina already assured Quarter-Finals whereby four groups of three this to be played at Barcelona’s Camp Nou –
of their spots, the total of 24 national teams at teams would play a round-robin mini-league, although Argentina’s opponents, Belgium, had
the Finals would also make it the biggest in the
competition’s history, not least because there
was now additional allocation for those teams
in Asia and Africa.
In Europe, qualification for the Finals threw
up few surprises, save for the elimination of
Holland, the team that had been runner-up in
the previous two World Cups.
Group 1 saw perennial contenders West
Germany and their neighbours Austria take
the two places, while in Group 7 it was Poland
who, like West Germany, achieved a 100 per
cent record to claim their berth. Elsewhere,
there was a familiarity and inevitability about
the identity of the qualifiers; France, Belgium,
USSR, Czechoslovakia – these were all nations
with a track record in the event.
Italy, with their striker Paolo Rossi back in
the fold after a two-year suspension for his part
in a betting scandal, would qualify from Group
5 alongside Yugoslavia, while the United
Kingdom would also boast a strong presence
in Spain, despite the fall-out from the recent
conflict in the Falkland Islands which briefly
threatened the home nations’ participation.
Scotland and Northern Ireland would come
through the same group, ahead of Sweden,
Portugal and Israel, while England endured
a sticky campaign with some embarrassing
results (a 2-1 defeat to Norway being the
nadir) to take second spot behind Hungary.

We’re all off to sunny Spain...

Around the world, the competition for places
was more intense than ever. In South America,
Brazil, Chile and Peru (at the expense of
Uruguay and Colombia) all won through from
their mini-leagues to join Argentina at the
Finals while in the CONCACAF region a little
further north, it was Honduras and El Salvador
that progressed to Spain.
In Africa, Cameroon would edge out
Morocco, and Algeria would defeat Nigeria
to go through while the final two spots, in the
Asian and Oceania section, would be taken June 13, 1982, Barcelona. Maradona
made his first appearance at a World
© Getty Images

by Kuwait and New Zealand. One hundred

Cup Finals in Spain, but would have to
and eight had finally become 24 and the stage wait four years to really make his mark.
was set for FIFA’s biggest ever show.

88 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

clearly failed to read the script. For their considered standing aside after the failure to end in a comfortable 3-1 win for England
Group 3 match in Barcelona, Argentina’s side qualify for Argentina in 1978 and a less than and set them up for a 100 per cent record
had been bolstered by the presence of their auspicious qualifying campaign, manager Ron in Group 4, with wins over Czechoslovakia
midfield magician, Diego Maradona, the Greenwood had agreed to stay on for one last and Kuwait. But winning their group would
prodigious talent who had controversially been hurrah in Spain and, initially, it had seemed to do England few favours. Now, as a reward
omitted from the World Cup-winning squad be going swimmingly. for emerging from their group with an almost
four years earlier. Belgium, meanwhile, hadn’t Drawn in a group with Czechoslovakia, faultless record, they found themselves in
scored a goal in a World Cup Finals since France and Kuwait, England got off to the a group with the hosts Spain and the ever-
1970. All that would change, however, when perfect start against the French when, in the present threat of West Germany.
Erwin Vandenbergh scored in the 62nd minute stifling heat of Bilbao’s Estadio Sam Mamés, Poland and Italy would emerge from
to give the Belgians a lead they would not they scored after just 27 seconds, Manchester Group 1, the latter on goal difference ahead
relinquish. Fortunately for César Luis Menotti United’s Bryan Robson hooking in from close of Cameroon, while in Group 6, Brazil simply
and his Argentina side, two sides still went range. Though most of the media reports powered through the preliminaries, winning
through from the group and they would join declared it to be the fastest goal in the history all three games and scoring ten goals in the
Belgium in the Quarter-Finals after victories of the World Cup Finals, there had been a
process, four of which went past the hapless
against Hungary and El Salvador. goal scored at the Finals in Chile in 1962 by
Czechoslovakia’s Václav Masek after just 15 Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough. It would be
This time, we’ll get it right seconds – or was it 11? – against Mexico. a costly defeat for the Scots who went home,
In Group 4, England had finally returned to Still, the goal nevertheless gave England eliminated on goal difference (as they had
the fray of the World Cup Finals, qualifying a lead and Robson an inscribed gold Seiko been four years earlier) and leaving the USSR
for the first time since 1970. Though he had watch for his achievement. The match would to snap up second place.

SPAIN 1982 89
Yet the team that qualified with them, Northern Northern Ireland on top of the world scored 33, conceded three – was nothing short
Ireland, were having the time of their lives Remarkably, Northern Ireland had not only of sensational. While they had every right to feel
in Group 5. For Billy Bingham’s team, it was progressed to the next round but they had confident, there was little need for some of the
achievement enough just reaching the Finals. won their group, remaining unbeaten and arrogance and complacency they had started to
Now, after a goalless draw against Yugoslavia, defeating the host nation along the way for exhibit ahead of their opening game against the
in which Norman Whiteside, aged 17 years good measure. minnows of Algeria.
and 41 days, broke Pelé’s record to become It was the best of times for Billy Bingham One German player spoke of dedicating
the youngest player to appear in a World Cup and his band of brothers. But it had also “our seventh goal to our wives, and the eighth
Finals, and a 1-1 stalemate with Honduras, been a close call for Spain. Having beaten to our dogs”, while another pledged to play
they went into their final game against Spain Yugoslavia in their second game, by virtue of a the game with a cigar in his mouth. Even the
unbeaten but still knowing that only a win would controversial penalty, they had the same goal manager Jupp Derwall was joining in the free-
guarantee their progress to the next round. for-all, insisting that if his team lost he would
It was a tall order but one that would help “jump on the first train back to Munich”.
provide one of the greatest nights in the history IT HAD ALSO BEEN A CLOSE CALL
of the province. After a goalless first-half in FOR SPAIN. HOME INTEREST IN Second-class ticket to München?
Valencia, the Irish broke downfield soon after THE TOURNAMENT WAS STILL In an upset that bore comparison to the USA’s
the restart with a surging run from Gerry victory over England in 1950 and North Korea’s
Armstrong. Laying the ball out to the right flank, ALIVE, BUT ONLY JUST. shock win over Italy in 1966, Algeria not only
he continued his run and as Billy Hamilton’s beat West Germany but they outplayed them,
teasing cross was only parried by Luis difference as the Yugoslavs but went through by and their 2-1 victory was a result achieved with
Arconada in the Spanish goal, there was Gerry virtue of scoring one more goal. Home interest considerable panache.
Armstrong, the man who had started the move, in the tournament was still alive, but only just. Even when the Germans equalised through
to crash the ball home, low and hard. The major talking point of the opening Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Algerians didn’t
For the next 40 or so minutes, Northern exchanges, however, came in Group 2 where panic. Instead they strung a delicious nine-pass
Ireland defended as though their lives depended West Germany were drawn against Austria, move together straight from the restart and
on it and, despite losing their defender Mal Chile and the team they would face first, regained their advantage, Lakhdar Belloumi
Donaghy, dismissed for a push on José Antonio Algeria. West Germany had arrived in Spain as finishing the move from close range. Certainly,
Camacho on the hour mark, they held on for a one of the pre-tournament favourites and their cigars were conspicuous by their absence on
famous victory. record in qualifying – played eight, won eight, the West German team bus later that day.

Gerry Armstrong on a night to remember...

Our campaign hadn’t quite gone to plan. me but I kept going before passing it to
After the draw with Yugoslavia we had Billy Hamilton. And Billy did brilliantly.
been hoping to beat Honduras so we He took it past Miguel Tendillo and then
could maybe get a draw with Spain and stuck in a great cross. To be honest, I should
go through but it didn’t work out that way. have gone for that cross but I didn’t think
Instead, we went into our final group game he’d do so well with it so I didn’t bother.
needing to beat Spain to progress. I’m not As it happened, Luis Arconada in the
sure anybody apart the team thought we Spanish goal made a mistake and couldn’t
could do it though. hold it and the ball came straight out to me,
We knew that the Spaniards had so I just kept my head down, put my foot
underperformed so far in the tournament through it and it went through his legs and in
but as the hosts they were under a lot of the back of the net.
pressure. We had also watched them play I was half expecting the referee to
Honduras and win, but they had been disallow it because he hadn’t given us
very lucky in that game, getting a dubious many decisions up to that point but when
penalty, so we knew they were going to Sammy McIlroy and Norman Whiteside
come at us in the first 15 or 20 minutes and started celebrating, I knew it was going
we would have to absorb it. to stand.
But our captain Martin O’Neill called There was nearly 50,000 in the crowd
it right. The day before the game against at Valencia that night and only around
Spain, we were sat around the hotel pool 350 of them were our fans. When I scored,
and he turned to me and said: “We know there was just this deathly silence. I’ll never
they are going to come at us but we’ll get forget it.
two or three chances, we’ll stick one away That team went on for three or four
and we’ll win 1-0.” I wish I’d had some years more, qualifying for the next World
money on that. Cup in Mexico and wining Home Nations
It was 0-0 at half-time and we had Championships, too, so I think we proved
defended really well. But early in the second it wasn’t a fluke. But, put simply, that win
half, Rafael Gordillo was attacking down the against Spain in Valencia was the biggest
left-wing when he tried to knock a pass to result Northern Ireland has ever had in
On the evening of June 25, 1982, GERRY ARMSTRONG Roberto López Ufarte but I intercepted it and international football. To beat the host
scored the vital goal in what would prove to be the greatest set off on a run. nation in a World Cup Finals and then
night in the history of Northern Ireland’s national team. Here, As I got to the halfway line, Miguel qualify as group winners for the next stage?
he recalls that heady night in Valencia… Alonso – Xabi Alonso’s dad – tried to kick It doesn’t get much better than that.

90 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 8, 1982, Seville. In one of the most shocking
moments in World Cup history, West Germany’s Harald
Schumacher jumps past the ball before colliding with
Patrick Battiston. The Frenchman would lose three teeth
and suffer damaged vertebrae in the challenge.

Though West Germany bounced back with a official protest to FIFA but to no avail, and the one game and drew the other, and all without
4-1 win against Chile, it was a quirk of FIFA’s only consolation, for what it was worth, was that conceding a single goal, and yet still went
format in 1982 that the final groups games in from the 1986 World Cup Finals, all concluding out as Poland progressed thanks to a better
the opening round did not all take place at the group games would now kick-off at the same goal difference.
same time (as they do today) which meant that time, just to avoid anything quite so cynical and But it was more clear cut in Group D where
having seen Algeria beat Chile 3-2 to finish unpleasant ever happening again. France ended Northern Ireland’s World Cup
on four points, West Germany and their journey, beating them 4-1 and Austria 1-0 to
neighbours Austria knew that a 1-0 win for Unbeaten England are out qualify for the Semi-Finals with some ease.
Jupp Derwall’s side in the final game would see West Germany’s prize for their hollow victory
both nations progress at the expense of Algeria was a place in the same Quarter-Final group Class acts
on goal difference. as England and the hosts Spain. Again, they The real fireworks of the Quarter-Finals would
But what happened in Gijón remains one of would progress, a 2-1 win against Spain and come from Group C, where Italy, Brazil and
the darkest days in the history of the World Cup a goalless draw against the old enemy England the reigning champions Argentina faced each
Finals. In front of 41,000 fans, West Germany enough to see them through. It was especially other in a group contest positively overflowing
and Austria contrived to manufacture the tough on England. Having only conceded one with talent.
result that suited both nations and after Horst goal and remained unbeaten after five games, With Italy beating Argentina 2-1 and Brazil
Hrubesch scored on ten minutes, the game all they found themselves out of the tournament. going one better against their South American
but stopped. No shots were taken and barely It seemed unjust, plain wrong even, but by rivals, 3-1, it not only sent Menotti’s team home,
a tackle made and the crowd was incensed. virtue of the fact that West Germany had bottom of the table, but also saw their star
Disgusted Algerian fans waved banknotes at the beaten Spain, England were out. player, Diego Maradona, dismissed for
players while the Spanish contingent shouted For the next World Cup, FIFA would change a wild, flailing elbow and kick on Batista.
“Fuera, fuera” (“Out, out”). the format so that after the initial group stages, Though everyone could see what a rare
After 80 more minutes of nothingness, the the competition would revert to a straight talent Maradona was, he would have to wait
© Getty Images

result both teams needed had come to pass and knockout. Not that that was any consolation another four years for another chance to
the howls of derision could almost be heard for Ron Greenwood and England. It was a shine on the world’s biggest stage. It left
back in Algiers. Later, Algeria would make an similar story in Group A where the USSR won the final match of Group C, between Italy

SPAIN 1982 91
and Brazil, as the winner-takes-all decider for
a place in the Semi-Final. Often, great games
of football are too quickly labelled a “classic”
but few actually qualify for such lofty status.
But the match in Barcelona between these two
sides, both with such a long and rich history in
the World Cup, would stand alone not just as
the game of the 1982 World Cup Finals but as
one of the greatest of all time.

The connoisseur’s encounter

From start to frenetic finish, it was a pulsating
encounter. Paolo Rossi opened the Azzurri’s
account within five minutes, only for Sócrates,
Brazil’s charismatic, chain-smoking and super-
talented skipper, to level matters after a mazy,
mesmeric run.
Rossi restored Italy’s lead after 25 minutes,
only for Falcão to peg them back with one of the
goals of the tournament. Then, with a quarter of
an hour to go, Rossi completed his hat-trick and
this time the boys from Brazil had no answer.
If the match between Brazil and Italy had
staked a claim to being one of the best in
World Cup history, there would be another
contender in the Semi-Final between West
Germany and France in Seville, a game that
while undeniably exciting would also be
remembered for one of the most controversial
moments ever seen at the Finals.
Level at 90 minutes, the game had gone
into extra-time at which point the French had
moved ominously into a 3-1 lead and their first
appearance in the World Cup Final seemed all
but assured. It looked as though they may even
increase their advantage when Patrick Battiston
latched on to a through ball from Michel
Platini and knocked it past the advancing West
German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher. But
as Battiston chased the ball down, Schumacher July 11, 1982, Madrid. Marco Tardelli teaches the
leapt up and pole-axed the Frenchman, leaving world’s playgrounds how to celebrate scoring a
him motionless on the pitch. goal in Italy’s win over West Germany.

Lucky to be alive
It was less of a tackle than it was a common
assault but as the paramedics rushed to help
him, even administering oxygen, the Dutch For the first-time in the history of the World on goal were at a premium and even when Italy
referee Charles Corver didn’t even award a Cup Finals a game would now be decided by a were awarded a penalty, Antonio Cabrini still
free-kick, let alone a red card. Instead, he just penalty shoot-out and when Schumacher saved managed to knock it wide.
pointed for a goal kick. Maxime Bossis’ spot-kick, when plainly he Once again, though, it would be Italy’s
It was a hideous challenge. Battiston would should have been back in the changing room, prodigal son, Paolo Rossi, that would make
lose three teeth, suffer damaged vertebrae and the French found themselves on the wrong end the breakthrough, heading home a bouncing
also slip into a coma shortly after. Michel Platini of a 5-4 defeat on penalties. cross from Claudio Gentile just as the hour
even thought he was dead because “he had no In the other Semi-Final held at Barcelona’s mark approached.
pulse and looked pale”. Camp Nou in front of 50,000, Italy, still buoyed It was Rossi’s sixth goal in the tournament
Mercifully, Battiston would make a full by their historical win over Brazil, encountered and one that would guarantee him not just
recovery, even helping France to win the 1984 few problems in overcoming Poland, and it the Golden Boot but the Golden Ball award
European Championship two years later, but was the hero of the Brazil match, No.20 for being the tournament’s best player. His
Schumacher’s reputation would forever be Paolo Rossi, that came up with the goods once redemption, it seemed, was complete.
tainted by the incident. more, scoring both goals in a straightforward With West Germany wilting, their
It was inevitable, then, that Schumacher 2-0 victory. endeavours against France in the Semi-Final
would play a pivotal part in the outcome of If the tournament appeared to be getting now taking their toll, Italy pressed and were
the game. Despite the cushion of a two-goal more exciting with each passing round, it was rewarded on 69 minutes when Marco Tardelli
lead, the French capitulated in the aftermath of brought back down to earth in the Final at Real shot home from the edge of the penalty area.
Battiston’s injury, allowing the West Germans to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium. A stolid His now legendary celebration, as he wheeled
peg them back at 3-3. first-half passed with barely any incident. Shots away, arms pumping, and sprinting back

92 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

towards the Italian bench, would be one of the Italy’s ability to time their run perfectly and
defining images of the 1982 World Cup. play clever, tactically astute tournament
football had stood them in good stead once
No coming back more. Now winners of the World Cup on three
The Azzurri’s victory was all but complete occasions, equalling Brazil’s record in the
when, with nine minutes left to play, event, they had proved that an innate knack
Alessandro Altobelli, on for the injured of handling the challenges of playing in the
Francesco Graziani since the seventh minute, World Cup Finals was more use than having
completed a fine breakaway move to give a side packed with flair and flamboyance.
Italy a three-goal lead. France, for all their fight, would finish fourth
Though West Germany would pull a goal after losing to Poland 3-2 in Alicante
back from their midfielder Paul Breitner,
nothing could deny the Italians a third World Poor PR exercise for West Germany
Cup victory. For the West Germans, a side that had
It was left to their captain and now the drew widespread criticism not just for the
oldest man to win the World Cup, 40-year-old manipulated result against Austria that sent
Dino Zoff, to lift the trophy and crown Algeria home but also for the unacceptable
© Getty Images

a professional career in which he had action of their goalkeeper, it was one game
achieved virtually everything there was to too far. For once, though, it had seemed as if
in the professional game. justice, finally, had been done.

SPAIN 1982 93
 INTERVIEW

PAOLO ROSSI
HAVING SERVED A TWO-YEAR BAN FROM FOOTBALL FOLLOWING THE 1980 TOTONERO BETTING SCANDAL – OF
WHICH HE MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE – ITALY’S PROLIFIC CENTRE-FORWARD RETURNED TO THE INTERNATIONAL
STAGE IN 1982. HIS GOAL-SCORING EXPLOITS IN SPAIN EARNED THE JUVENTUS MARKSMAN THE GOLDEN BOOT.
...............................................................................................................................................................

In 1982, I had just returned from a suspension The 3-2 victory against Brazil certainly infused no team in the tournament could hold our
of two years and I had left for the World a strong belief within the team that we could pace or obstruct our path. We were possessed
Cup in Spain both fearful and afraid, with and should go on to win the tournament. Now of an enviable self-confidence and a real
so many doubts in my mind. I did not know there was an extraordinary new confidence sense of certainty.
if I would be back to being that player that and moral strength running through the team.
everyone had admired in the first four games Everything had changed, especially for me, It was a wonderful feeling winning the World
of Argentina ’78. I did not know my physical and I also scored both goals in the Semi-Final Cup that night and for the first time in my life
and mental condition either, but I was counting win against Poland. I had the impression that I was holding the
on the contribution of my fellow players to help whole world in my hands. It was like a strange
me through any really difficult moments. The Final against West Germany, meanwhile, kind of omnipotence. I felt like the most
was both beautiful and engaging. There was important person in the world in becoming
We did not have a great start to the a truly magical atmosphere that night at the world champion and also the Golden Boot
tournament, collecting two 0-0 draws against Bernabéu in Madrid. The Italian team was now winner as the top scorer of the tournament.
Poland and Peru and then only managing a like a runaway train – we were unstoppable. It’s an emotion that only a few people have
1-1 draw with Cameroon. In truth, we had so By now, we had reached the conclusion that ever had the good fortune to live.
many difficulties and as a team it had seemed
as though we were in a rut, entirely unable
to express ourselves and unable to create July 11 1982, Madrid. Paolo Rossi,
any sort of good game. But equally we were World Cup winner and, with six
always very attentive to each result. Yes, we goals, awarded the Golden Boot.
cared – we just didn’t know how to show it.
At the end of that First Round we were just
happy to have got through, even if we didn’t
shine. And we really didn’t shine.

In the Second Round we played the reigning

champions Argentina and we won 2-1. That
game was very important for us because it
restored our faith and gave us the belief that
we could still be a great team. In fact, beating
the world champions made us realise the true
value of our team. We realised then that we
could play together and, more than that,
we could play well together.

Our next game was against Brazil, one of

the strongest teams in the World Cup Finals.
That game was the race of my life and
I wanted to repay those who had shown
so much confidence in me, particularly the
Italian coach, Enzo Bearzot. We knew
victory was entirely in our hands and that
day in Barcelona’s Sarrià Stadium [the
ground of Espanyol], I was in a state of
grace and everything I touched turned to
gold. I felt so confident of my abilities,
© Getty Images

completely exulted by my qualities. No one

could have stopped me from scoring those
three goals.

94 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

PAOLO ROSSI 95
 MEXICO 1986
A LAST-MINUTE STAND-IN AS HOST, MEXICO ONCE AGAIN DELIVERED A WORLD CUP FINALS THAT WOULD LIVE
LONG IN THE MEMORY BUT THERE WAS ONE PLAYER WHO WOULD DOMINATE, AIDED BY DIVINE INTERVENTION.
...............................................................................................................................................................
Rarely has a World Cup Finals had to football’s blue riband event and with Brazil coupled with genuine concerns as to whether
negotiate quite so many obstacles before (1950), Chile (1962) and Argentina (1978) it could host a safe and secure tournament
a ball had even been kicked. Indeed, the story all having staged the Finals already, FIFA saw enthusiasm wane and preparations stall.
of how the 1986 tournament finally came to decided, in June 1974, to ratify the selection Despite the mountain of problems affecting
pass is one that encompasses everything from of Colombia. At the time it had seemed like Colombia, they still insisted that they could
high hopes to dashed dreams, from economic a sound decision. Not only was the Colombian host the World Cup Finals but only if the
uncertainty to shocking natural disasters and bid unopposed but it promised the kind of number of teams taking part was reduced
from controversy to calamity. That it happened vivid and spectacular event that the World Cup from 24 to 16. When FIFA declined, Colombia
was remarkable in itself. That it proved to be deserved and needed. After all, Colombia, had nowhere else to go and on November 5,
such a magical and memorable one was nigh- like most other countries in the continent, was 1982, it announced its decision to surrender
on miraculous. insanely passionate about football and there the rights to host the 1986 FIFA World Cup,
was the guarantee of enthusiastic crowds promoting a fresh bidding process.
Colombia ’86 But what had seemed like a dream
© Getty Images

With Europe having held the World Cup in selection soon turned into an administrative Host nation required, apply within
Spain four years earlier, it was now the turn of nightmare for both Colombia and FIFA. Though there were two heavyweight
a South American nation to once more stage Crippling economic problems in the country contenders in USA and Canada, ready

May 31, 1986, Mexico City. A Mexican fan

waves a sombrero at the Estadio Azteca for
the opening ceremony of the 1986 World Cup.
© Getty Images

96 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

June 18, 1986, Querétaro. Spanish forward
Emilio Butragueño scores one of his four goals
in a 5-1 Quarter-Final demolition of Denmark.

MEXICO 1986 97
 to step in to host the tournament, FIFA Mexico’s confidence that the Finals could go all the heavyweight nations qualified,
awarded the tournament once more to ahead as planned and even began to look at including West Germany, France and Spain,
Mexico, who had hosted such a memorable yet more alternative hosts for the tournament. while the United Kingdom saw all of the
Finals 16 years earlier when Brazil had As has been proved on innumerable national teams apart from Wales make the
romped to their third World Cup title. occasions over the years, though, football Finals. Northern Ireland once more defied
But Mexico, too, would also find their has a knack of uniting people. Though there the odds to qualify for their second successive
preparations hampered, only this time it were protests against the government’s World Cup Finals, finishing runners-up to
was something that was entirely out of their priorities, the reconstruction of Mexico City England in Group 3.
control. On the morning of September 19, continued apace, as did preparations for
1985, eight months before the World Cup the World Cup Finals. Canada debut
Finals were due to begin, an earthquake Qualification in Africa, meanwhile, saw the
measuring 8.0 on the Richter Scale struck Colombian pathos northern nations of Algeria and Morocco
the capital, Mexico City. The quake lasted With Mexico now taking Colombia’s place claim the two places on offer while in Asia,
for just 50 seconds but the damage to the as host nation and reigning champions Italy Iraq and South Korea progressed at the
city was immense and the loss of human qualifying as of right, the remaining 22 teams expense of Syria and Japan respectively.
life horrific. that made it through to the Finals proved Finally, there was consolation of sorts for
An estimated 10,000 people died, with to be an intriguing mix of the familiar and Canada who, having missed out on hosting
another 30,000 injured. Six-thousand the unfancied. In South America, perennial the tournament, qualified for the World Cup
buildings were destroyed and around front-runners Brazil and the hotly-tipped Finals for the first time in their history, edging
250,000 people lost their homes and the Argentina both won their qualifying groups, out Honduras and Costa Rica in the final
shock was so strong it could be felt as far as did Uruguay, leaving a four-team play-off shake-up of the CONCACAF qualifiers.
away as Houston, Texas, 745 miles away. to decide the final qualifier from the continent. Despite the debacle of Colombia’s
One of the precious few positives to emerge Eventually, it would be Paraguay that emerged withdrawal as hosts and terrible toll the
after the earthquake was that the stadiums victorious, beating Colombia and depriving earthquake had taken on Mexico City,
earmarked for use at the World Cup Finals them of a place at the very tournament they the 13th FIFA World Cup Finals began as
had been miraculously left intact. It was should have been hosting. scheduled at midday on May 31, 1986 with
a small blessing, even if nobody could quite In Europe, meanwhile, the biggest shock a game between the holders Italy and Bulgaria
see how they were going to stage an event came from Group 5 where Holland, the at the Estadio Azteca, 7,200 feet above sea
as big as the World Cup Finals, given that Finalists from 1974 and 1978, failed to make level. As the referee Erik Fredriksson blew
the capital had been devastated and the it through automatically and when faced with his whistle to get the match under way, you
competition itself was just a short time away. a two-leg play-off against neighbours Belgium, could almost hear the sigh of relief emanating
Certainly, FIFA itself wasn’t convinced by missed out on away goals. Elsewhere, though, from FIFA’s top brass. Somehow, in the face
of sometimes overwhelming odds, they had
managed to get the tournament up and
running. Finally, it was game on.

Wonderful Copenhagen
Though entertaining, the group stages would
give few surprises. Argentina and Italy
emerged unbeaten from Group A, as did
the hosts Mexico and Paraguay in Group B.
In Group C, Canada went home goalless and
without a point from their debut appearance
in the Finals, allowing the USSR and France
to progress, while Brazil and Spain
encountered few problems in overcoming
the challenge of Northern Ireland and
Algeria in Group D.
In Group E, meanwhile, Denmark emerged
as the surprise package of the tournament,
winning all three of their games, including a
6-1 victory over Uruguay and a 2-0 win over
West Germany.
The only team that really struggled to make
headway was England. Drawn in Group F
alongside Morocco, Portugal and Poland,
they seemed to struggle to acclimatise to the
searing heat and after a 1-0 defeat against
Portugal and a draw against Morocco that
June 21, 1986, Guadalajara. Michel Platini
saw captain Bryan Robson leave the field with
captained France to the Semi-Finals after
© Getty Images

knocking out Italy and Brazil along the way. a dislocated shoulder and fellow midfielder
Ray Wilkins leave the field with the country’s
first red card in a World Cup Finals, Bobby

98 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 11, 1986, Monterrey. Gary Lineker
sparks life into the England campaign with
a hat-trick in England’s 3-0 win over Poland.

Robson’s team needed to beat Poland in the edging past the USSR in a seven-goal thriller, rapid. Their chief tormentor would be the
final match to progress. Within 35 minutes, while on the same day, Mexico continued their Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño, who
though, Robson’s men were three goals to impressive start to their campaign with plundered four goals as the Spanish ran out
the good, a hat-trick by the Everton striker a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bulgaria. 5-1 winners. He wasn’t known as El Buitre
Gary Lineker securing England’s safe passage The following day, Brazil put down a (The Vulture) for nothing.
through to the next round. marker for the rest of the field with a stunning With the tournament reaching the last
The new format of the World Cup Finals, 4-0 rout of Poland as their South American eight, the stars of the World Cup were
however, meant that as well as the top two rivals Argentina stole a narrow 1-0 victory already beginning to emerge. But while
teams from each group going through as of over two-time champions Uruguay. There were Butragueño’s finishing and fellow strikers
right, four of the best-placed third-place teams also differing fortunes for the Finalists from like Gary Lineker (who had already scored
would also secure a berth in the last 16. Or, Spain 1982. While West Germany finally five goals in England’s four matches) had
to put it another way, it would take 36 games overcame a plucky Moroccan side, a single certainly caught the eye, there was one man
of football played over two weeks just to send goal from the midfielder Lothar Matthäus who was already beginning to dominate the
eight teams home. making the difference, the holders Italy were tournament – Diego Maradona.
That said, certain sides would be grateful eliminated, beaten 2-0 by a French team
for the new format. Much-fancied Belgium, inspired by the evergreen Michel Platini. Genius with a dark side
for example, sneaked through in third place Everyone knew about Maradona. An
in Group B behind a buoyant Mexico and Vulture culture Argentinian full international at the age of
a resolute Paraguay, while Uruguay would The Quarter-Final line-up would be completed just 16 (although he was dropped from the
qualify from Group E with just two draws and by England, 3-0 victors over Paraguay, and victorious 1978 World Cup squad for being
a 6-1 hammering by Denmark to show for by Spain, who dispatched the tournament’s too young), he had enjoyed a remarkable
their efforts. form team, Denmark, in a ruthlessly efficient rise to football stardom with Boca Juniors,
© Getty Images

The goals would flow in the Second Round manner. Though the teams were level, 1-1, Barcelona in Spain, and, after a then world
of matches. Belgium took full advantage at the interval, Denmark’s capitulation in record £6.9m transfer in 1984, at Italian
of their good fortune in getting through by the second half was as surprising as it was Serie A side Napoli. Short in height but huge

MEXICO 1986 99
in stature, he was a dashing, darting dynamo, render that argument well and truly redundant. prodded the ball into the goal with his hand.
capable of almost single-handedly defeating Throughout the tournament, Maradona had It was a clear handball and one so obvious,
teams in one momentary flash of virtuosity. bewitched, bothered and bewildered the so apparent, that everyone in the Estadio
Playing behind the strikers, Maradona had a opposition – the archetypal box of tricks Azteca saw it, except, it seemed, the Tunisian
free role to go wherever he pleased, although, – scoring goals and making them, and referee Ali Bin Nasser and his linesman.
inevitably, that meant straight to the very propelling Argentina ever onwards. Later, Maradona would famously attribute
heart of the opposition’s defence. Solid, stocky the goal to “The Hand of God”, a moment of
and with an almost balletic sense of balance, Maradona destroys England divine intervention that he claimed showed the
here was a unique talent, a one-off, blessed The Quarter-Final game against England Almighty’s support for Argentina in the battle
with the talent, vision and audacity to change exemplified the many, mercurial talents of over the Malvinas (Falklands Islands).
games almost at will. Maradona, both good and bad. With relations
Though he had played in the World Cup between the two nations still frosty after the Unstoppable talent
Finals in Spain in 1982, his and Argentina’s Falklands War four years earlier, this would If Maradona’s first “goal” had been
campaign had not been a happy one, ending be the first game between the countries and mischievous, his second, just four minutes
in the Quarter-Final Group Stage, when, the stakes could not have been higher. later, would show the sublime side of
against Brazil, Maradona was sent off five Though they weren’t one of the pre- Maradona that marked him out as the greatest
minutes from the end for taking a wild and tournament favourites, Bobby Robson’s player of his generation and, quite possibly,
frustrated swing at Batista. But in the years England were still a strong and disciplined the greatest of all time.
since Spain, Maradona’s stock had risen side, built around a spine of experienced Picking up the ball just inside his own half,
still further. Following a successful spell at players, including the goalkeeper Peter Maradona cut a swathe though the English
Barcelona, he had signed for Napoli in Italy Shilton, Terry Butcher in central defence and team, weaving in and out of tackles with the
and had become accustomed to some of the prolific striker Gary Lineker in attack. ball seemingly glued to his foot. With pace,
the more rigorous methods defenders would What they didn’t have, though, was a player power and vision, he homed in on the
employ to try and stop him. like Diego Maradona. England goal and even when he reached the
But if there were nagging and persistent After a tetchy but uneventful first-half, the penalty area, he still had the imagination to
doubts about his ability to perform in deadlock was broken in the 51st minute when drag the ball around Shilton’s desperate
international competition, especially on the Maradona, seizing on to a high miskick by grasp and steer it home into the unguarded
biggest stage of all, Mexico 1986 would Steve Hodge, leapt with Shilton and promptly net. It was an incredible, ridiculous goal. And

June 22, 1986, Mexico City. Argentina’s

Diego Maradona is assisted by the “Hand
of God” in his side’s defeat of England.
Incredibly, the goal was allowed to stand.

100 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 29, 1986, Mexico City. Diego
Maradona, the star of the show.

it wasn’t just the goal of the match or the Four days later, Carlos Bilardo’s Argentina West Germany pressed still further and were
tournament either. No – in years to come, met Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany in rewarded when a neatly-taken header by Rudi
it would even be awarded FIFA’s Goal of the front of over 114,000 people in the Azteca. Völler levelled the scores.
Century award. It really was that impressive. It was an intriguing mix of styles; Argentina,
Later, the renowned Uruguayan football a team centred entirely around the creativity Man of the tournament
commentator Victor Hugo Morales remarked of Maradona against a West German side It was an extraordinary turn of events and one
that Maradona’s dribbling was so sublime and who had lurked in the shadows in this World that few observers had seen coming. With just
so entirely unpredictable that trying to catch Cup, making steady, almost unnoticed five minutes remaining, however, and extra-
him, let alone tackle him, was akin to “chasing progress as they edged ominously towards yet time looking increasingly likely, Maradona
a kite in the wind”. another Final appearance. managed to find some space in midfield,
Though England rallied, grabbing a goal before picking out an exquisite through-ball
back through Lineker (his sixth of the Finals DIEGO MARADONA’S GOAL for Jorge Burruchaga, who kept his head, and,
and one which would eventually give him the AGAINST ENGLAND WASN’T JUST as the German keeper Harald Schumacher
Golden Boot award), Argentina held on for came off his line, coolly slotted past him to win
THE GOAL OF THE MATCH OR THE
a famous victory and buoyed by Maradona’s it for the South Americans.
genius and ably assisted by a stellar TOURNAMENT. NO – IN YEARS For West Germany, it was another runners-
supporting cast featuring the likes of Jorge TO COME, IT WOULD EVEN BE up spot to follow the one they had achieved
Valdano and José Luis Brown, Argentina’s AWARDED FIFA’S GOAL OF THE in Spain four years earlier. For Argentina,
progress continued apace. CENTURY AWARD. though, it was a second title to add to the one
they had claimed on home soil in 1978.
Who can stop Maradona? But it had seemed to be an unequal contest. But this wasn’t Argentina’s World Cup; not
In the Semi-Final against Belgium – penalty For 75 minutes, Argentina had controlled the really. It belonged to one man, a man who
shoot-out winners against Spain in the game, taking a two-goal lead through Brown had played every minute of every match.
Quarter-Finals – Maradona took centre stage, and Valdano and seemingly coasting towards A man who had scored five goals and made
scoring both goals in a comfortable and an inevitable victory. Suddenly, though, the another five. And a man who had been, by
© Getty Images

well-deserved victory, one of which saw him Germans regained a foothold in the game some distance, the most creative, dynamic and
dancing through the opposition defence in as Inter Milan’s prolific striker Karl-Heinz influential player of the tournament. No, this
another virtuoso performance. Rummenigge halved the deficit. Rejuvenated, World Cup belonged to Diego Maradona.

MEXICO 1986 101

 WORLD CUP ICONS

DIEGO
MARADONA
For many observers, French midfielder Michel
Platini was one of the finest footballers to ever grace
a football field but even he bowed down at the
feet of Diego Maradona. “Diego was capable of
things no one else could match,” he once said.
“The things I could do with a football he could do
with an orange.”
Though he played for Argentina in four World
Cup Finals (and managed his country in the
2010 Finals in South Africa), the 1986 event in
Mexico, in which he all but won the tournament
single-handedly, remains the very pinnacle of his
professional career.
Small yet powerful, and blessed with almost
balletic grace on the ball, Maradona cast his
spell all over Mexico ’86, deservedly winning
the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best
player. The Quarter-Final match against England
typified both sides of the player, good and bad.
He scored both goals in Argentina’s 2-1 victory but
the contrast between the two couldn’t have been
more pronounced. The first, a clear and entirely
deliberate handball that Maradona later called
the “Hand of God”, was deception at best, cheating
at worst.
But the second goal, when he ran 60 metres
with the ball seemingly glued to his boot, beating
England player after England player before
rounding goalkeeper Peter Shilton and sliding
the ball home was as close to football perfection
as you can imagine. In 2002 the goal was voted
Goal of the Century by FIFA. It was difficult to
argue otherwise.
In the Final, he once more proved his worth when
he evaded the close marking adopted by Franz
Beckenbauer’s side to provide the pass for Jorge
Burruchaga to score the winner in a 3-2 victory. It
was a fitting end to a remarkable tournament, both
for Argentina and Diego Maradona.
Recently, Maradona’s compatriot and the winner
of seven Ballon d’Or awards, Lionel Messi, was
asked about the influence Maradona had on his
© Getty Images

career. “Even if I played for a million years, I’d

never come close to Maradona,” he said. “Not that
I’d want to. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”

102 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

July 29 1986. Diego Maradona is jubilant
following Argentina’s 3-2 defeat of West
Germany in the 1986 Final. His goal
against England a week earlier has been
voted the best goal ever.

DIEGO MARADONA 103

 ITALY 1990
ITALIA ‘90 WAS THE WORLD CUP THAT PROMISED SO MUCH BUT FAILED TO DELIVER. NOT THAT WEST GERMANY
CARED. DESPITE THE LACK OF EXCITEMENT, WE STILL HAD “NESSUN DORMA”, GAZZA AND ROGER MILLA...
...............................................................................................................................................................
While everybody remembers with fondness the that saw the likes of Mozambique, Mauritius for the first time in their history, Costa Rica,
part that the late Luciano Pavarotti played in and Belize all denied entry because of taking the two spots on offer. The remaining
opening the World Cup Finals in Italy in 1990, outstanding financial issues. Seven teams, places would be taken by Egypt and
the choice of the Puccini aria “Nessun Dorma” including Bahrain, Lesotho and Togo, pulled Cameroon from the African competition and
as the tournament’s signature song, was, with out before they had actually played a game. South Korea and the United Arab Emirates
the benefit of hindsight, a little off the mark. Controversially, Mexico, the host nation just from the Asian section.
four years earlier, would be thrown out of
Rose-tinted eyewear CONCACAF qualifying for fielding overage Cameroon – everyone’s second team
Now if you’re not aware, “Nessun Dorma” players in the qualifying stages of the 1988 But if Italia ’90 failed to live up to its pre-
translates as “None Shall Sleep” which may Olympic Games football tournament. tournament billing, at least it started in
well have been apt in Turandot but couldn’t spectacular style when, in Milan’s San Siro
have been further from the truth at Italia ’90. Strong contenders stadium, the holders Argentina suffered a
For whatever reason, many football fans still In Europe there would be some stand-out shock reverse at the hands of Cameroon,
look back at Italia ’90 as one of the great performances from some of the bigger a team who, despite having two men red-
World Cups but a cursory examination of nations, with the likes of West Germany, carded, both for full-on assaults of Argentina’s
some of the facts, not to mention the dearth Holland, Belgium, Sweden and Yugoslavia tousled striker Claudio Caniggia, managed to
of attractive football, suggests that, if anything, all progressing to the Finals without losing a pinch a goal midway through the second-half
it was one of the worst. game and, after a disappointing European courtesy of a header from François Omam-
With goals at a premium, ill-discipline Championship in 1988, Bobby Robson’s Biyick and managed to hang on for a win
taking centre stage and defensive caution England would also qualify without losing It wouldn’t be the first shock that Cameroon
seemingly the preferred tactic, Italia ’90 or even conceding a single goal, although delivered in the tournament. Cast in the
suffered for many reasons and even record role of perennial underdogs, the so-called
television audiences did little to improve the Indomitable Lions then defeated Romania 2-1
perception that here was a World Cup where ITALIA ‘90 STARTED IN SPECTACULAR and even though they lost their final game 4-0
the expectation and anticipation far exceeded STYLE WHEN, IN MILAN’S to the USSR, they would qualify for the Second
the reality of the standard of football on offer. SAN SIRO STADIUM, THE HOLDERS Round as group winners, leaving Argentina
ARGENTINA SUFFERED A SHOCK to scrape through as one of the two best third-
Lack of genius REVERSE AT THE HANDS placed teams.
That’s not to say there weren’t some very OF CAMEROON.
special moments. From the sudden and Scotland, so near yet so far
explosive emergence of Salvatore “Totò” While Argentina had struggled to impose
Schillaci as one of the most potent strikers that record still wasn’t sufficient to overhaul themselves on the tournament, most of
in the international game to the impetuous Sweden at the top of Group 2. the other major football powers seemed
genius of England’s creative midfielder Paul Scotland would also qualify as runners- to be breezing into the Second Round with
Gascoigne, there certainly were stars in the up in Group 5, behind the runaway winners few problems.
ascendant at Italia ’90. The problem was that Yugoslavia, as did the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, for instance, topped Group C,
there just wasn’t that many of them. who, under their English manager Jack winning all of their three games, including
After the success of Mexico 1986, it would Charlton, qualified for their first ever major a narrow 1-0 victory over a spirited Scotland
be Europe’s turn to host the World Cup Finals tournament finals, taking second spot in Group who so nearly got the draw they needed to
and it was high time that the tournament 6 behind Spain. That said, there would also take them through to the second phase. It
returned to Italy. After all, it had been 56 be some notable absentees from Italia ’90 as had been another frustrating World Cup
years since Italy had last hosted the event France and Portugal failed to progress. Finals for Scotland. Despite beating Sweden
and now, as three-time winners, it was only In South America, serial qualifiers Uruguay 2-1 in Genoa, they had lost their opening
right and proper that one the world’s proudest and Brazil would once more advance to the match to Costa Rica, the Central American
footballing nations received the nomination finals, while Colombia would make it through nation making their debut appearance in the
ahead of rival bids from Greece, the USSR after the narrowest of play-off victories against World Cup Finals.
and England. the winners of the Oceania group who, it Elsewhere, it was a case of the usual
While there were an initial 116 teams transpired, wasn’t Australia or New Zealand, suspects making moves towards yet more
© Getty Images

that had entered the qualification stages but, thanks to some more imaginative thinking World Cup success. Italy breezed through
around the world, there would be a series from FIFA, was now the hastily relocated Group A, winning all three games without
of rejections, withdrawals and expulsions Israel. Further north, it would be the USA and, conceding a goal, West Germany scored

104 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 8, 1990, Milan. Cameroon stunned
the world by beating Argentina 1-0.

ten goals to lead the way in Group D and It wasn’t the only clash of the titans in the last with precisely the same scoreline too, as the
Spain, aided by four goals by the Real Madrid 16 as Argentina suffered the same fate as the West Germans emerged victorious once more.
midfielder Michel, took top spot in Group E. Dutch, their unexpectedly low qualifying spot The game would be remembered, however,
But it was in Group F where World Cup in Group B resulting in a Second Round match for some of the most unsavoury scenes ever
history would be made. Featuring England, against three-times champions and their arch witnessed at the World Cup Finals as Holland’s
Holland, the Republic of Ireland and Egypt, enemies, Brazil. But this was not a vintage Frank Rijkaard, angry for what he claimed
it would be the tightest group ever seen in the Brazilian side. Yes, they had household names was blatant diving by Rudi Völler, saw red for
World Cup. At the end of the first two rounds like Careca and Branco in their ranks – and spitting at the German striker; Völler went, too.
of matches, all four teams were level on points certainly they had chance after chance to
and on goal difference, and the places in the score – but they were thwarted by poor Costa Rica and Cameroon: the entertainers
Second Round were up for grabs. finishing and the inspired performance of Costa Rica’s entertaining run in the
Argentina’s Sergio Goycochea, the second- competition, meanwhile, would come to an
Luck of the Irish choice goalkeeper thrust into action after Nery end against free-scoring Czechoslovakia.
While a lone goal from the Derby County Pumpido broke his leg in the group game Beaten 4-1 – Tomás Skuhravy scoring a hat-
central defender Mark Wright would be against the USSR. trick – they had astounded everyone with two
sufficient to send England through as group As it was, it would take another sublime wins in the group stages and had brought a
winners, eliminating Egypt in the process, the moment of magic from Diego Maradona to new and dynamic element to the competition.
1-1 draw between the Republic of Ireland and decide the tie. Picking the ball up in the centre Now they could leave with their heads held
Holland would see the two teams finish with circle, he weaved his way in and out of the high. But while Costa Rica departed, the
identical records, meaning that for the first Brazilian midfield and as he bore down on other surprise package of the tournament,
time in World Cup Finals history, lots would the defence, he picked out Claudio Caniggia Cameroon, continued with their progress.
be drawn to determine who would take the with the kind of pass that few other players In the match with Colombia, their ageless
second qualifying spot. would have seen, let alone executed so striker Roger Milla – who was believed to
Luck would favour the Irish, not that Holland perfectly. Rounding Taffarel in the Brazilian be 38 – had come off the bench to score
were too troubled, as they would still progress goal, Caniggia slotted the ball home, securing twice in extra-time, celebrating his goals in
as one of the two teams with the best third- Argentina’s place in the Quarter-Finals. his now customary manner of running over
place records. That said, the third place meant The game between West Germany and and dancing with the corner flag. While
the Dutch would now be playing their fiercest Holland would be equally spicy. A re-run of Colombia would pull one back, it would be too
rivals, West Germany, in the Second Round. the 1974 World Cup Final, it would also end little and too late as Cameroon booked their

ITALY 1990 105

July 3, 1990, Naples. Totò
Schillaci fires Italy 1-0 up against
Argentina in the Semi-Final but the
game would go to penalties.

106 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

place in the Quarter-Finals – the first African either yet to be invented or it simply can’t They all count
team to do so. match the shoot-out for unbearable drama. After a goalless first half, it would be Franz
In the first match, hosts Italy would take Beckenbauer’s West Germany that would
Big Jack on the defending champions Argentina in carve themselves an advantage.
While Italy eased past Uruguay 2-0 and Naples. It was a surreal build-up to the game A free-kick on the edge of the England
Yugoslavia upset Spain, winning 2-1 in with Diego Maradona, a hero in Naples penalty area was driven towards the goal
Verona, there would be drama in the other where he played his club football, urging all but had clipped the full-back Paul Parker on
remaining two games as Jack Charlton’s Italians to support Argentina instead of their the way through and, somehow, looped over
Republic of Ireland came through a tense own country. the head of Peter Shilton and into the back
game against Romania, with David O’Leary’s Once more, though, it would be the of the net.
shoot-out penalty putting them into the tournament’s fast-growing talent, Totò Schillaci, To England’s credit, though, there was no
Quarter-Finals in their very first appearance who broke the deadlock, netting the opener blind panic or any sign of throwing caution
in the Finals. England, meanwhile, would on 17 minutes and sending the home crowd to the wind. Instead, they played their way
leave it until the final minute of extra-time into raptures. back into the game and were rewarded for
to beat Belgium, thanks to a wondrous goal their endeavours with eight minutes left as
from David Platt who had latched on to a That man again Gary Lineker, so often England’s man in the
free-kick from Paul Gascoigne and volleyed a Gradually, though, Argentina would pull right place at the right time, steered the ball
remarkable winner with just seconds to spare. themselves back into it. Driven by Maradona, past Bodo Illgner in the West German goal to
The dramatic win would see England they created a succession of chances and restore parity.
advance to a Quarter-Final game against when Claudio Caniggia equalised midway
one of the surprise packages of the event, through the second half, it was the first goal Daft as a brush
Cameroon, and it would prove to be one Italy had conceded in 517 minutes of play in There would still be time for one more
of the matches of the tournament, not least the Finals. Inevitably, the game would go flashpoint, though, and it would be an image
because there seemed to be more goals and that would live long in the memory and, for
opportunities in this game than in the rest of England supporters at least, come to define
the competition combined. EKEKE’S NEAT FINISH GAVE the entire tournament.
Initially at least, Bobby Robson’s England CAMEROON A DESERVED 2-1 LEAD With moments left until the final whistle,
seemed to be in control of a game they were AND SUDDENLY, ONE OF THE Paul Gascoigne lost possession and as he
expected to win, a David Platt header putting BIGGEST UPSETS IN WORLD CUP battled to get the ball back he succeeded only
them ahead after 25 minutes. But if they HISTORY WAS ON THE CARDS. in bringing down Thomas Berthold. But when
thought they were in for an easy night, they the referee brandished a yellow card to the
were wrong. After the break, Cameroon laid 23-year-old – his second of the tournament
siege to Peter Shilton’s goal and when Paul to extra-time and where it was clear that – it was too much for him to take and as the
Gascoigne clumsily felled Roger Milla in the neither side really wanted to push for the win, realisation hit him that he would not be able to
penalty area just after the hour, Emmanuel perhaps as the reality of what was at stake play in the Final should England go through,
Kundé’s resultant penalty brought them level. began to bite, penalties seemed inevitable and the tears began to flow. He needn’t have
But worse was to follow. Just four minutes later when Diego Maradona converted Argentina’s worried. As the game headed into extra-time,
Eugène Ekéké’s neat finish past Shilton gave fourth kick, it left Inter Milan’s Aldo Serena as both sides came close to edging ahead. Chris
Cameroon a deserved 2-1 lead and suddenly, the Italian fall guy. Waddle hit the post for England, while Guido
one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history It was tough on Serena who had only put Buchwald did the same for West Germany. But
was very much on the cards. himself forward for a spot-kick when nobody it would go to penalties.
It was a breathless encounter, with England else on the Italian team would volunteer. Still, Though England have a pretty poor
beating Cameroon 3-2 in extra-time. It was the it had been a good tournament for the host penalty shoot-out record these days, this was
highlight of an otherwise uneventful Quarter- nation and but for a bit of luck they may have the first time that England had faced the lottery
Final line-up. Argentina contrived to squeak gone much further. For Argentina, this was of the shoot-out in a major tournament. Bobby
through courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory their third Final in four tournaments. Robson selected his five takers, overlooking
against Yugoslavia, Italy finally put an end to The following day, England would take to Gascoigne in favour of David Platt, as the
Jack Charlton and the Republic of Ireland’s the field at Turin’s Stadio delle Alpi for their young midfielder was, by now, in no fit state
adventure with a 1-0 win in Rome while a first World Cup Semi-Final since the heady to take one.
Lothar Matthäus penalty was sufficient for days of 1966. For Bobby Robson, it was his They were, in order, Gary Lineker, Peter
West Germany to edge past Czechoslovakia. last chance to emulate Sir Alf Ramsey and lead Beardsley, David Platt, Stuart Pearce and,
The Semi-Finals, then, would see four England to glory once more. He had already finally, Chris Waddle. It was a strong,
former world champions, with a total of eight become the first English coach to lead the confident line-up, all proven goalscorers or,
World Cup titles between them, pitted against country to a World Cup Semi-Final on foreign in the case of Stuart Pearce, a regular penalty
each other. Both games would be too close soil but now he wanted to go one better. taker for his club, Nottingham Forest.
to call and both would go to extra-time and While West Germany were the form side The first three England penalties all found
then penalties. of the tournament, England’s progress had their target but so too did the West German
been marked by a noticeable increase in their ones. Up strode Stuart Pearce. Huge of heart
The Englishman’s fear of the penalty kick confidence, imbued largely by the outstanding (and thigh), Pearce was as passionate an
Penalties. Harsh and arbitrary. Dramatic and performances of their young midfielder Paul England player that had ever crossed the white
© Getty Images

nerve-wracking. Commentators often say that Gascoigne. Again, Gascoigne would be at the line. A rock in the defence, he had given his
it’s no way to settle a game of football but if heart of the action in Turin in what would be all in England’s pursuit of glory but his penalty,
there is a fairer way to decide matters, it has another impossibly fraught match. though hard and low, was straight down the

ITALY 1990 107

 July 8, 1990, Rome. Argentina defender
Pedro Monzón was the first player ever
to be sent off in a World Cup Final.

middle and was saved by the legs of keeper that play-off would be sufficient for him to take the Final and relied on their adeptness in the
Bodo Illgner. the Golden Boot for his six-goal tally. For a lottery of the penalty shoot-out to progress.
As Shilton watched Olaf Thon’s fourth player who had made his international debut For their part, Germany had at least tried
penalty for Germany sting the corner of his just before the World Cup Finals to end the to entertain on their path to the Final in Rome,
net once more, it was down to the Olympique tournament as top scorer was an astonishing scoring more goals than anyone else in the
Marseille winger, Chris Waddle, to keep way to introduce yourself to the world. competition, but with the world’s greatest
England in the World Cup. Opting for power, prize at stake, it was hardly surprising that
Waddle, now shorn of his trademark mullet GERMANY HAD AT LEAST TRIED the game didn’t develop into a free-flowing,
haircut, blasted the ball, but it went high and TO ENTERTAIN ON THEIR PATH TO end-to-end game of football.
not so handsome over the crossbar, before If anything, it was niggly and ill-tempered,
THE FINAL IN ROME, SCORING
bouncing off the athletics track and into the a fact never more evident than when, in the
grateful hands of a child in the stands. MORE GOALS THAN ANYONE ELSE 65th minute, the Argentina substitute Pedro
IN THE COMPETITION. Monzón, who had been on the pitch for less
Sad, a little ironic too than 20 minutes, was shown a straight red
Down and now out, England had been beaten The Final – the first repeat Final in history for a horror tackle on Jürgen Klinsmann,
by the narrowest of margins and in the most – would be an anticlimax. Tense and tight, becoming the first player in 14 World Cup
heartbreaking of manners. As the German it was perhaps inevitable that it would be Finals to be dismissed.
players ran to congratulate Illgner (not that so disappointing given the distinct lack of Despite having the endless talents of
he had actually had anything whatsoever to highlights the tournament had offered up Diego Maradona in their line-up, Argentina
do with Waddle’s miss), Bobby Robson, sat so far. seemed intent on suppressing the greater
on the bench in his England blazer and tie, The defending champions Argentina had attacking impetus of their opponents and as
bowed his head, his international swansong made it to the Final not with the kind of flair the game wore on – and it did wear on – it
now shattered. and flamboyance that had carried them to was as though they were more than happy
England fared no better in the Third/Fourth victory in Mexico in 1986 – they had scored to take the match into extra-time. This time,
Place Play-Off, where even a fine headed just five goals in their six games en route however, there would be no penalty shoot-out.
goal by David Platt, one of England’s stars of to the Final – but with an uncharacteristic Concerned by the overly negative approach
© Getty Images

the tournament, wasn’t enough to hold Italy combination of stout defence and, at times, of some of the teams in the tournament – most
at bay, as the Azzurri won 2-1. It was small cynicism. With over 20 yellow cards blotting notably Argentina – FIFA had decreed that
consolation for the hosts but Schillaci’s goal in their copybook, they had bullied their way to should the Final finish level then the game

108 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

would be replayed and not go to yet another an ugly and messy end to the match and, was not only the lowest in World Cup Finals
spot-kick lottery. indeed, the tournament but the result had history but remains a record to this day.
Thankfully, though, the watching world been the right one. West Germany had, after
was spared what would have been another all, been the best team in the tournament FIFA’s grand re-think
unsatisfactory end to the tournament when and in winning their third World Cup helped Italia ’90 would prove to be the last time
in the 85th minute, Roberto Sensini brought their coach Franz Beckenbauer become the that group games in the Finals would award
down Rudi Völler and the Mexican referee first man in history to captain and manage a just two points for a win as FIFA, in a bid to
Edgardo Codesal pointed to the spot. It was World Cup winning side. Nobody could say encourage more attacking football, changed
down to Andy Brehme, the man whose free- he – and West Germany – didn’t deserve it. the format to three points for a win soon after.
kick had looped in against England, to settle They would also introduce a new rule banning
the match and the tournament. His penalty, By no means a classic goalkeepers from picking up back passes from
low and hard, dutifully found the bottom It had been a stinker of a tournament and outfield players, a tactic used repeatedly by
corner of the goal. while Italia ’90 may still be held up as a great teams at Italia ’90 in order to waste time.
The final action, somewhat appropriately, tournament in England, purely because the That FIFA were prepared to act in such a
would see yet further angry scenes with the national team reached a rare Semi-Final, the manner was proof, if it was needed, that the
Argentine players once more surrounding truth was it was one of the least impressive negativity and circumspection seen at Italia
Codesal as he dismissed Gustavo Dezotti for Finals in history. Yes, there had been a record ’90 was hardly the best advert for the world’s
a second bookable offence. total television audience of over 26 billion over most popular game. That something needed
Now, Argentina had finished the Final not the course of the tournament, but there was to change was clear. That FIFA was prepared
just with nine men but with their reputation also a record tally of red cards (16), while the to act – and so decisively – was surprising but
if not in the gutter then clearly sullied. It was average number of goals per game (2.21) overwhelmingly welcome.

July 8, 1990, Rome. West Germany’s

Andreas Brehme confidently places his
penalty past Sergio Goycochea.

ITALY 1990 109

 INTERVIEW

DAVID PLATT
DESPITE STARTING THE WORLD CUP FINALS AS ONE OF ENGLAND’S SQUAD PLAYERS, DAVID PLATT TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE
OF A CHANCE OPENING IN BOBBY ROBSON’S TEAM TO BECOME ONE OF THE STARS OF THE 1990 TOURNAMENT. HERE, HE
EXPLAINS HOW A WONDER GOAL AGAINST BELGIUM CHANGED NOT ONLY ENGLAND’S FORTUNES BUT ALSO HIS LIFE…
...............................................................................................................................................................

I had only made my first England squad in underway, though, you don’t really get a sense would be the best game we played in the
November 1989 so there was no guarantee of just how excited people are getting back at tournament and yet we still went out. What
I was going to make the squad for the World home. Yes, you can ring people and they’ll tell made it worse was that I had a goal disallowed
Cup Finals, yet alone play. So, looking back, you how unbelievable it is but you don’t really for offside in extra-time in that game and I still
everything that happened to me at that World feel it because you’re training or playing and don’t think it was to this day.
Cup in Italy in 1990 was above and beyond the World Cup is just going on around you. It’s
all my expectations. like a bubble really. Everybody remembers the penalties. It’s not
a nice way to go out, especially when you’ve
From a squad point of view, I don’t think We played Cameroon in the Quarter-Finals. played so well. I didn’t mind the shoot-out.
anybody really expected to be as successful as Back then, the African nations weren’t as I never had a problem with them. I was a penalty
we were, but we grew in stature and confidence well regarded as they are now and suddenly taker for Aston Villa and I’d taken penalties in
as the tournament progressed. The Group Stage everyone from the fans to the media saw this big games before so I was kind of used to it.
was really too close to call but I didn’t really opportunity simply because we hadn’t been And in a perverse sort of way, I actually enjoyed
figure that much. drawn against one of the superpowers like Italy the penalty shoot-out.
or Germany or Argentina. It was a side that most
I didn’t play against the Republic of Ireland but observers didn’t have much regard for. We did I look back at that World Cup and think how
I had come on as a substitute against the Dutch as a team but I don’t think the wider public did. things might have been with a different set of
and the Egyptians. But Bryan Robson had But that turned out to be a hell of a hard game – circumstances. If Bryan Robson would have
been struggling with his injury and as a result it could have gone either way. played against Belgium, I might not have come
Steve McMahon had come in for the Belgium on and I wouldn’t have scored but as soon as
game. And then I came on for Steve with The Germany game was the first Semi-Final that that goal went in against them it gave me a
about 20 minutes to go against Belgium and it England had played since the 1966 World Cup platform to showcase what I could do – and
changed everything. and that brought its own pressure. Ironically, it I took full advantage.

The goal wasn’t something we had worked

on on the training ground – it was all down to
circumstances. We had a minute left in extra-
time and a chance to get the ball into their box.
Gazza elected to chip it in to my side of the
box and I managed to find half a yard of
space and as the ball came over my shoulder,
I managed to connect. It was one of those goals
where I could try that ten times and never hit
the target but I timed it perfectly on that occasion.
It was right out of the sweet spot.

Things like that free-kick just showed what

Gazza could do; he made a real difference to
that England team. He was so assured for one
so young and had this incredible confidence in
his own ability. And he wasn’t frightened in the
slightest about going in against the Dutch or
the Germans or whoever. He had no fear, just
this will to be centre stage and to get the ball
and make things happen.
June 26, 1990, Bologna. David Platt gives
After the Belgium game we got a sense that England supporters a rare moment of total
things were getting interesting. Once you’re and utter jubilation against Belgium.
away with the squad and the tournament is

110 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

DAVID PLATT 111
 USA 1994
AMERICA WAS ONE OF THE FEW NATIONS THAT FIFA AND FOOTBALL HAD YET TO CRACK BUT THAT WAS ABOUT
TO CHANGE. DESPITE MARADONA’S DRUG DISGRACE AND DIANA ROSS’ MISSED PENALTY, THE CROWDS ARRIVED...
...............................................................................................................................................................

June 17, 1994, Chicago.

The opening ceremony at Soldier
Field, home of the Chicago Bears.

To say that the United States has had a be the stand-in host in 1986, the desire to Thanks to the efforts of Cameroon in 1990,
difficult relationship with football – or soccer, host the tournament never faded and by African football would be buoyed by an
as they prefer to call it – is something of an February 1987 they had already thrown additional place at the 1994 Finals, and
understatement. For decades, the world’s their hat in the ring for the 1994 competition, while the Indomitable Lions would once more
fourth-biggest country had appeared to a bid that would see them pitted against progress, so too would Morocco, who would
put up stiff resistance to the game that the Morocco and Brazil. Fittingly, the United be making their third appearance in the
rest of the planet had taken to its heart. States would learn that their latest application World Cup Finals, and Nigeria, who would
Though football had always enjoyed a strong had been successful on July 4, 1988 but be making their maiden outing.
following among the nation’s immigrant by granting the USA the rights to host the In South America, Brazil, Colombia and
population and schoolkids, it had tried and 1994 World Cup Finals, FIFA would also Bolivia would all qualify automatically, while
failed on several occasions to sustain a insist that America must begin to form its Argentina, World Cup runners-up in 1990,
successful professional league. own professional football league when the would go through after the narrowest of wins
Briefly, of course, they had the North tournament was over. in a two-leg play-off over Australia. Mexico,
American Soccer League (NASL), a high- meanwhile, would take the only automatic
profile competition that had boasted a Three points – now score goals place on offer in the CONCACAF region,
wealth of world-class stars like Pelé and For once, FIFA had decided not to tinker while Saudi Arabia and South Korea would
Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Carlos with the format of the competition, splitting win through from the Asia qualifying section.
Alberto, George Best and Bobby Moore, the 24 teams into six groups of four, with
but it had been a league based not on the six group winners, six runners-up and Home nations put their feet up
developing the existing talent in the nation four best third-placed teams all going There would be several firsts in the European
but on simply throwing money at the idea through to the last 16, from which point the qualification round as Russia, competing
and importing the best talent the world had tournament reverted to the knockout system. under this name for the first time since the
to offer. It was like building a house and There was one significant change, however. dissolution of the USSR, and Greece, who
starting with the light fittings. After the stalemates and negativity of Italia had 12 failed attempts stretching back to
’90, each group game would now award 1934 to show for their efforts, both booked
© Getty Images

Start of a domestic league three points, rather than two, to the winning their places in the United States.
Though the United States had mounted team, a move designed to encourage more It would also be the first time since 1938
a strong but ultimately unsuccessful bid to attacking football. that not one of the home nations would qualify

112 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 21, 1994, Boston.
Diego Maradona in high
spirits against Greece.
He would later leave the
World Cup after shouting
wildly into a TV camera
and failing a drugs test.

USA 1994 113

 the United States would book their passage
July 17, 1994, Pasadena. Brazil’s into the next phase with a momentous win
Romário would be named player against Colombia in front of almost 94,000
of the tournament as the Seleção fans at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
won their fourth World Cup title. Though the Americans won the game 2-1,
helped by an own goal from the Colombian
defender Andrés Escobar, in time the game
would be remembered for some truly tragic
reasons. Finishing bottom of the group,
Colombia would return home early but
ten days later, as Escobar was leaving a
restaurant in a Medellin suburb, he was shot
dead by an assailant thought to be exacting
revenge for the ruinous effect his own goal
had had on the match bets that one of the
Colombian drug cartels had made.
Group B would see Carlos Alberto
Parreira’s Brazil intent not just on making
up for the hugely disappointing early exit at
Italia ’90 but also putting an end to what was
turning into a very lean spell in the country’s
World Cup history. This time, though, Brazil
seemed more organised and more disciplined
than before and marshalled in midfield by
their uncompromising captain Dunga and his
right-hand man Mauro Silva, they had now
added a certain steel to their set-up. Moreover,
they also had Romário de Souza Faria – or
simply Romário – one of the most prolific
and predatory strikers in the business and
with a goal in each of Brazil’s group games,
for the Finals. Scotland were always going That said, the moment where the Motown he would help steer his country through
to struggle in a group that contained Italy, legend Diana Ross had to take a penalty will comfortably as group winners.
Portugal and Switzerland; Wales finished go down in history as one of the worst misses But while Brazil and Sweden would qualify
a distant fourth in a group with Romania, in the history of football. Tasked with kicking from the group, you had to spare a thought
Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Cyprus and the a giant football into a net from just five yards, for Russia and, in particular, their striker Oleg
Faroe Islands; while Northern Ireland fell short Ross nevertheless managed to pull her shot Salenko, who scored a record five goals in
in their group, which saw their neighbours wide. Despite the miss, the goal still magically their 6-1 demolition of Cameroon, taking his
the Republic of Ireland qualify once more, collapsed on cue. total to six from Russia’s three games, but still
alongside Spain. But it would be a calamitous The game that followed between the found himself heading home with only the joint
campaign for England and their coach newly unified Germany (participating as a Golden Boot award as the tournament’s top
Graham Taylor as away defeats to Norway single nation for the first time since the 1938 scorer as a consolation.
and Holland saw them finish in third place World Cup Finals) and Bolivia was hardly the
and out of the top two qualifying spots. glowing advert for football needed to convert Interesting drug
After the promise of Italia ’90, English an already sceptical nation about why the In Group D, meanwhile, Nigeria, Argentina
football fans had expected much from game really was the greatest of all. and Bulgaria would all win twice but the story
the team as they sought to improve on the While the German side were a little on of who went through or went out was but a
performance of four years previous. the old side and familiar to most of their mere sideshow to an event that would come
England, under Graham Taylor, hadn’t just opponents, they would still have enough to dominate the tournament.
been under-par during qualification but, at about them to breeze through their group In their opening game against Greece,
times, had been verging on the woeful and at undefeated, although they had to survive Alfilo Basile’s Argentina had started in stirring
the end of their group games, Taylor would a scare in their final group game in Dallas fashion, romping to a 4-0 victory against
stand aside. when, having taken a 3-0 first-half lead Greece with Diego Maradona still working his
against South Korea, they found themselves magic in midfield and scoring a sensational
Ain’t no goalmouth wide enough hanging on to scrape through 3-2. goal, a strike which prompted one of the most
The 1994 World Cup Finals would begin in memorable celebrations at the tournament –
spectacular fashion in front of 63,000 fans at Bringing the roof down he ran to the side of the pitch, screaming right
Chicago’s Soldier Field stadium and billions The host nation would begin their campaign down the lens of one of the television cameras.
of others around the world. Featuring a in Detroit with a game against Switzerland Little did anyone know, however, just what was
speech from President Bill Clinton, it would under the roof of the cavernous Silverdome in store for Argentina’s prodigal son. The day
© Getty Images

be the kind of opening ceremony that only – the first time a World Cup match had been after Argentina’s next game, a 2-1 win over
America could deliver. played indoors. After a draw with the Swiss, Nigeria, news broke of a player who had

114 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

failed a drugs test and it transpired that it was though, the second phase would prove to also a couple of surprise packages making
none other than Diego Maradona. Later, when be the end of the road. Saudi Arabia a name for themselves at the World Cup,
a second sample confirmed the results of the acquitted themselves well in their 3-1 defeat most notably Romania and Bulgaria.
initial test, FIFA had little option but to suspend to Sweden, while their fellow debutants Romania, for instance, had topped Group
Maradona and send him home. It would Nigeria, who had surprised everyone with A and then, in the last 16, beaten Argentina
prove to be the end of a long and illustrious their enterprise and endeavour on their first 3-2 in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, inspired in no
international career that had spanned 17 appearance at the World Cup Finals, also ran small measure by their talismanic captain
years and 91 games for his country but the out of luck as a brace from Roberto Baggio Gheorghe Hagi.
image of the fallen idol, running full pelt would take Italy through after extra-time in
towards the camera, his eyes bulging and Foxborough, Massachusetts. The bigger they come...
a crazed expression on his face, would live The USA’s run, meanwhile, would end in As for Bulgaria, they had not only beaten
long in the memory. San Francisco at the hands of Brazil, despite Argentina in the group stages but had also
a valiant challenge from the hosts who also beaten Mexico on penalties in the Second
had Tab Ramos hospitalised for three Round before creating the upset of the
NEWS BROKE OF A PLAYER months after a flying elbow from the Brazilian tournament in the Quarter-Finals with a
WHO HAD FAILED A DRUGS defender Leonardo fractured his skull. quite stunning 2-1 victory over the reigning
TEST – NONE OTHER THAN Leonardo, meanwhile, would receive champions Germany, the goals coming from
DIEGO MARADONA. WHEN a four-match ban although it scarcely seemed the Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov and a
A SECOND SAMPLE CONFIRMED sufficient and the idea that one of Brazil’s spectacular headed winner by the balding
THE RESULTS, FIFA HAD LITTLE genuine flair players could carry out such Iordan Letchkov. And all this from a team that
OPTION BUT TO SEND HIM HOME. an assault seemed as preposterous as it had never won a single game in all of their
was shocking. five previous World Cup Finals appearances.
Still, the United States, who had for so long Bulgaria’s riveting run in the event,
Group E, featuring Italy, Ireland, Mexico been seen as a second-class citizen in the however, would end in the Semi-Final against
and Norway, would be impossibly tight, world of international football, had done their Italy when they would be undone by the
meanwhile. Each team would win one game, nation proud and nobody, but nobody could brilliance of Roberto Baggio, whose first-
draw one and lose one and all would have say that they didn’t deserve their place at half double would be enough to see Arrigo
the same points and the same goal difference. football’s top table. Sacchi’s side through.
The pick of the games, though, would be Italy While many of the bigger names in the Though Stocihkov would pull one back from
versus the Republic of Ireland in the Giants tournament, like Italy, Holland and Germany the penalty spot just before the interval – a
Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, would progress through to the Quarter-Finals, goal that would help him share the Golden
a match where Jack Charlton’s indomitable some with more ease than others, there were Boot with Russia’s Oleg Salenko – the Azzurri,
side would exact sweet revenge over the
Azzurri for the defeat at Italia ’90 – thanks to
a wonder goal by Aston Villa’s Ray Houghton. June 28, 1994, Stanford.
Due to having scored more goals, Mexico Cameroon’s Roger Milla becomes
the oldest scorer at a World Cup
would advance as group leaders with the Finals, at the age of 42, after his
Republic of Ireland taking second place by goal against Russia.
virtue of their better head-to-head record
against the team that would take third place,
Italy. Fortunately for Italy, their haul of four
points would be enough – but only just – to
send them through to the last 16, leaving
unlucky Norway to pack their bags.
The final group, Group F, would also end
in a tie, with Holland, Saudi Arabia and
Belgium all winning two games but all
progressing, with the Dutch’s better goal
difference and their victory over the Saudis
giving Dick Advocaat and his team the top
spot and a game against the Republic of
Ireland in the second phase.

Arabian heights
Perhaps the highlight of the group, though,
would be one of the great World Cup goals
when Saudi Arabia’s Saeed Al-Owairan ran
from his own half, beating half of the Belgian
team in the process, before finishing coolly
and giving his side a priceless 1-0 win over
the Europeans and a place in the last 16.
For debutants like Saudi Arabia and Nigeria,

USA 1994 115

 July 4, 1994, Stanford, California. Brazil’s
Leonardo receives a red card after badly
injuring USA’s Tab Ramos with an elbow.

116 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 17, 1994, Pasadena. Brazil’s
Dunga lifts the trophy, presented
by US vice-president Al Gore.

yet again, had reached the World Cup Final, tense than the Final itself. The first two kicks, moment in the event’s history. Financially, it
their fifth in total. They would be joined by by Italy’s Franco Baresi and Brazil’s Márcio would be the most successful on record, while
another side that had been there, done that Santos would be missed and then saved. any initial fears that the organisers may have
and bought several World Cup T-shirts along While the next four would find their target, had about poor ticket sales proved to be
the way, Brazil, who had overcome a spirited when Daniele Massaro missed Italy’s fourth totally unfounded as Americans embraced
challenge from Sweden to emerge as 1-0 spot-kick and the Brazilian skipper Dunga each and every match leading to a record
winners, courtesy of another goal by the converted his for Brazil, it left Roberto Baggio, average attendance figures of 69,000 and
player of the tournament, Romário. the so-called “Divine Ponytail”, needing a total attendance of 3.6 million, the highest
to score to keep Italy in with a chance. in World Cup history.
Not pretty But no. The Juventus hero blazed his ball
And so to a clash of the Titans that would over the bar and stood still, his head bowed The World Cup effect
see the winning team take the lead in the It was the catalyst for change in the status of
overall total number of World Cup titles won. the game in the United States. Today, some
FOOTBALL, SOCCER OR WHATEVER
With three crowns to their credit, Brazil and of the world’s best players, from David
Italy had an enviable track record in the YOU WANTED TO CALL IT, Beckham to Thierry Henry, have all made
tournament and, not surprisingly, the match HAD FINALLY REACHED THE the move to play in Major League Soccer
– played in a stifling temperature of 27°C – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. while the United States national team is a
would be tight and cagey, not least because permanent fixture in the top 30 of the FIFA
this was a Brazil team that was perhaps in utter disbelief, as the Brazilian team darted world rankings for international teams and
more defensively-minded than any of its about in celebration. has been as high as fourth (2006; ahead of
predecessors. Of course, they had the Argentina and Spain) in the world.
requisite attacking flair, with Romário in the Record attendance figures And so what if the journey had been long
form of his life and some stellar support from Brazil’s win would be their fourth from five and rocky? The main issue was that football,
his co-striker Bebeto. appearances in the World Cup Finals and soccer or whatever you wanted to call it, had
For the first time in its history, the World though the winner would prove to be a finally reached the United States of America
© Getty Images

Cup Final would be decided by a penalty familiar one, the 1994 World Cup Finals and, more importantly, the American people
shoot-out and it would prove to be more would nevertheless prove to be a watershed had finally taken it to its heart.

USA 1994 117

 FRANCE 1998
THE FIRST WORLD CUP FINALS IN FRANCE FOR 60 YEARS SAW THE HOST NATION, WITH ZIDANE, DESCHAMPS
AND PETIT, FINALLY FULFILL THEIR VAST POTENTIAL, WHILE RONALDO’S BRAZIL RAN OUT OF STEAM...
...............................................................................................................................................................
It had been 60 years since France had last 15 years, was a case in point. Needing a in imperious fashion, winning all three of their
hosted the World Cup Finals and much had point to qualify for the World Cup Finals they group games, and sending a country already
changed in international football. Back in put in one of those archetypal, backs-against- consumed by the World Cup circus onto a
1938, the Finals had struggled to attract the-wall performances that seemed 30 years heady new level of excitement. Denmark
16 teams to the competition as a raft of out of date. Blood – quite literally in Paul Ince’s would also join them in the next phase.
withdrawals and an increasingly unsettled case – sweat and, for once, only tears of joy.
political situation in Europe saw a host of A right Raúl mess
teams fall by the wayside. Reggae boys Spain’s largely miserable World Cup record
Fast forward over half a century and the Elsewhere, Africa sent a strong contingent continued, even with such great names as
World Cup Finals was bigger than ever, north, with Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Raúl, Luis Enrique and Fernando Morientes in
and in every way imaginable. And as the Cameroon and Morocco all qualifying while their ranks. They were beaten into third place
international game grew ever more popular, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan all by Group D winners Nigeria and runners-up
outgoing FIFA president João Havelange had qualified from Asia via play-offs. In South Paraguay, and this despite beating Bulgaria
sanctioned another increase in the number of America, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia and 6-1 in their final group game. Holland and
teams that would qualify for the Finals. Now, Chile would progress, joining holders Brazil, Mexico, and Germany and Yugoslavia eased
rather than 24 teams, there would be a record while the CONCACAF region sent Mexico, through in Groups E and F respectively.
32 nations participating in FIFA’s showpiece, the USA and – wonderfully – Jamaica. In Group G, England booked second
a move designed to placate FIFA’s ever spot behind winners Romania as a David
burgeoning membership, which now stood at Beckham free-kick helped them to a 2-0 win
193 countries – over three times what it had MICHAEL OWEN’S GOAL WOULD over Colombia in a game both sides needed
been in 1938. PROPEL THE TEENAGER FROM to win to advance. The only issue with coming
PROMISING YOUNG STRIKER TO second in the group, however, was that
Expansion benefits WORLDWIDE SUPERSTAR. they would now face the winners of Group
With so many teams (174) now vying for H in the next round – and that was their old
a place in FIFA’s pride-and-joy event, the enemy, Argentina.
qualification rounds would be hectic and The 16th FIFA World Cup Finals kicked off Their game in Saint-Étienne, the last of the
protracted, not least because there were now on June 10, 1998 and it was Scotland who Second Round matches, would be another
five places up for grabs for teams from Africa drew the short straw once more, pulling nerve-shredding experience for England’s
and a whopping 15 for European nations, Brazil out of the hat yet again, and then losing long-suffering supporters and, by some way,
a process which would require nine qualifying in agonising fashion as the defender Tommy it was the game of the tournament. In a
groups and four play-off games to settle. Boyd put through his own net towards the first half with more incidents, accidents and
Despite the numbers competing, it was end of the game, to gift the South Americans controversy than in the rest of the tournament
familiar faces that progressed to France 1998. a 2-1 victory. combined, England fell behind after just six
Germany, Spain, Holland, Italy (via the play- While Brazil would win their second game minutes when Gabriel Batitstuta squeezed his
offs) – these were serial qualifiers who knew against Morocco with a goal apiece for their penalty past David Seaman.
only too well what it took to get through. But lethal strikeforce of Rivaldo, Bebeto and Four minutes later, another penalty, this time
there were some relative unknowns in the mix Ronaldo, and qualify for the Second Round hammered home by England skipper Alan
too, with Croatia and Ukraine joining the with a game to spare, it seemed as though Shearer, drew Hoddle’s side level. After 16
fray. There would also be success for some of Morocco would also be joining them in the last minutes, the Liverpool striker Michael Owen,
the home nations too, as Scotland advanced 16. But two extremely late goals for Norway just 18 years old, received a pass near the
as the team with the best runner-up record, in their final game against Brazil saw them halfway line before beating Jose Chamot and
and England, under their new coach Glenn overcome a one-goal deficit to steal a win Roberto Ayala with his astonishing pace and
Hoddle, made it through, losing just one and second place in Group A. then coolly slotting the ball past keeper Carlos
game, against Italy at Wembley. In Group B, Italy, as ever, would remain Roa for a goal that would propel the teenager
undefeated as they took top spot, while from promising young striker to worldwide
England’s old-fashioned grafters Chile, who could only muster three draws and superstar. Once again, though, the teams
Though Hoddle was always known as a flair three points from their games, still managed would be level. Deep into injury-time in the
player in his Tottenham days, it was clear that to claim the second place at the expense of first half, a cleverly worked free-kick by the
© Getty Images

his England team could put a shift in too. The Austria and Cameroon. Argentinians found Javier Zanetti unmarked
return game against Italy in Rome, where the Meanwhile in Group C, host nation France, in the penalty area and in a flash, his shot
Azzurri had won every game in the previous guided by coach Aimé Jacquet, would begin was nestling in the net behind David Seaman.

118 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 30, 1998, Saint-Étienne. Michael
Owen hugs Alan Shearer after Shearer
puts England level against Argentina.

FRANCE 1998 119

 July 4, 1998, Marseille. Holland’s Dennis
Bergkamp gives a master class of ball
control in the World Cup Quarter-Final.

120 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 Any chance England had of truly forcing chessboard jerseys. With their confidence
the issue in the second half, however, would growing, they took on Germany in Lyon and,
be undone by a spot of juvenile petulance to the surprise of pretty much everyone, ran
from the Manchester United midfielder David out comfortable 3-0 winners, with goals from
Beckham. Clattered by the opposition’s captain Robert Jarni, Goran Vlaovic and the ever-
Diego Simeone, a prostrate Beckham had impressive Davor Suker stunning Berti Vogts’
flicked out his leg and kicked the Argentine in ageing side.
full view of Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen. Denmark would not be so fortunate,
Simeone was booked for the foul. Beckham, though. In a thriller of an encounter against
though, was dismissed. Brazil in Nantes, they took the game to the
Remarkably, England continued to press. South Americans, and were ahead after
Cruelly, a Sol Campbell goal was disallowed just two minutes when Martin Jorgensen put
because of Alan Shearer obstructing the the Danes ahead as he tucked in a shot at
goalkeeper, otherwise it could so easily have Taffarel’s near post.
been a famous and thrilling victory. As it The lead would to and fro. The industrious
was, the match would once more hinge on Bebeto squared matters on 11 minutes and
penalties. If penalties had been the undoing of after 27 minutes Brazil moved into the lead
England at Italia ’90 and again on their home thanks to a clever dinked finish by Barcelona’s
soil at Euro ’96, then another helping was the creative genius Rivaldo. To their credit, though,
last thing the Three Lions needed. Denmark refused to buckle and five minutes
Eventually, Hoddle settled on his penalty after the break, they had their reward for
line-up. Shearer, as ever, would lead, followed perseverance, with Brian Laudrup pulling them
by Paul Ince, Paul Merson, Michael Owen and level. But joy would be short-lived. On the
culminating with Leeds United’s David Batty. hour mark, Rivaldo unleashed a low left-foot
shot from 25 yards that ripped past Peter
Hoddle is gutted Schmeichel’s outstretched left hand and nestled
Shearer went first and scored, as did Sergio in the corner of the net, ending Denmark’s
Berti. Hernán Crespo missed, with Seaman stubborn resistance.
saving low to his left, but Paul Ince’s almost At the Stade de France in Paris, meanwhile,
identical kick would meet the same fate. the hosts once more found themselves in
The two teams then exchanged successful another too-close-to-call contest as they
penalties until the fifth and final kicks. When struggled to break down Italy’s notoriously
Roberto Ayala coolly converted his, it was resilient defence. Even the return of Zinedine
left to David Batty to keep England in the Zidane, back from suspension, couldn’t make
tournament. It wasn’t to be. His tame effort a difference and a tense penalty shoot-out
was easily saved by Carlos Roa and Hoddle’s would end when Roma’s Luigi Di Biagio
dream was over. “My stomach,” he said later, smashed his spot-kick against the crossbar,
“felt as if it had been ripped out.” collapsing on the turf as the ball bounced
England’s demise would be the only out. The French players celebrated wildly.
notable casualty from the Second Round, After the shock of the shoot-out in the Final
as all seven of the other matches seemed to four years earlier, Italy had, again, gone out
go as expected. Brazil dispatched Chile in heartbreaking fashion.
4-1 (with Ronaldo scoring twice), the same
scoreline as Denmark’s impressive victory Dennis the menace
over Nigeria. Germany and Holland both The last Quarter-Final, between Holland and
scored late winners to progress with 2-1 Argentina, would be settled with one of the
victories over Mexico and Yugoslavia goals of the tournament. Poised at 1-1 and
respectively, while Italy and Croatia emerged heading inexorably towards extra-time, it was
from tight encounters with Norway and left to Dennis Bergkamp to decide the match
Romania to earn wins by a single goal. with a piece of exquisite skill. Latching on to
Hosts France, though, would find the going a 60-yard pass, he pulled it down as though
tough against a plucky Paraguay as they it were a balloon on a piece of string before
scraped through in Lens, courtesy of an extra- turning back inside and then firing home to
time goal by defender Laurent Blanc. send Holland through.
It left a rare Semi-Final line-up with only
Check point one previous winner – Brazil. In Marseille’s
Even without England, the Quarter-Final Stade Vélodrome, Holland’s wretched luck
July 4, 1998, Marseille. Dennis Bergkamp line-up would prove to be an enticing one, at the World Cup Finals continued as Brazil
scores one of the goals of the tournament especially as less-fancied teams such as dumped them out of the competition on a
in the last minute of Holland’s Quarter-
© Getty Images

Croatia and Denmark seemed to be playing penalty shoot-out with Phillip Cocu and Ronald
Final against Argentina to send the South
Americans home.
some of the best football of the tournament. de Boer missing. The other Semi-Final would
Take Croatia in their distinctive red-and-white pit France against Croatia. In their first official

FRANCE 1998 121

World Cup campaign as a stand-alone Croatian, but Bilic fell to the ground clutching moment that France and French football had
nation Croatia, under Miroslav Blazevic, his forehead as though he had been on the waited 68 years for, the moment when they
had surprised everyone with their inventive receiving end of a heavyweight’s haymaker. reached the World Cup Final. It was scarcely
football and in Davor Suker, they had a player Sadly, the referee, Spain’s José Maria García- believable that France had just three Semi-
who bore comparison with the very best that Aranda, bought Bilic’s act and gave Blanc, Final appearances to show for all their years
was on show at the tournament. But their one of the lynchpins of the French side, a red of toil in the World Cup but finally, they had
impressive run would come to an end. Though card. It meant he would miss the Final. The managed to make that all-important step up.
they took the lead just after the interval with injustice of Blanc’s dismissal merely served to Now, all that stood between them and victoire
Davor Suker steering the ball under Fabien galvanise Aimé Jacquet’s side. was the four-time winners Brazil.
Barthez as he came off his line, two rare goals
by the defender Lilian Thuram would send Memorable debut We need to talk about Ronaldo
France through. Incredibly, those two Semi- To their credit, Croatia would pick themselves The build-up to the Final, however, would be
Final goals would be the only goals Thuram up and eventually claim third place in their dominated by rumour and counter rumour
would score in his record 142 appearances debut appearance in the World Cup Finals, about Brazil’s star striker, Ronaldo, whose
for his country. defeating Holland 2-1 in the Third/Fourth place in the Final seemed to be in doubt. One
Place Play-Off at Parc des Princes – the winner moment he was playing then he wasn’t. He
Bilic KO’s Blanc coming from Golden Boot winner Davor Suker. had suffered a fit and been hospitalised, then
The only negative from another stirring night It had been a remarkable first stab at the he was back with the Brazilian squad. He was
at the Stade de France would be the dismissal Finals for Blazevic’s side and a campaign that, out of the team, then he was back in again,
of France’s defensive stalwart Laurent Blanc. the Bilic incident aside, had brought them a lot allegedly at the insistence of his sponsors Nike.
Attempting to free himself from the close of admirers along the way. Not that anybody Whatever had happened, Ronaldo would
attention of Slaven Bilic, Blanc had shoved the in France really cared. No, this was the take to the field with the Brazilian team for the

June 27, 1998, Paris. Ronaldo in fine

health, during Brazil’s 4-1 win over Chile

122 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 8, 1998, Paris. France’s Laurent Blanc
is sent off for pushing Croatia’s Slaven Bilic.
Bilic went down unusually easily, meaning
that Blanc would miss the World Cup Final.

Final, even though nobody, apart from a select were never at the races. Lethargic at times and goal in international football and, of course,
few, had any idea whether he was in any fit strangely devoid of ideas, they posed little the last goal in the World Cup Finals in the
state to play in the most important football threat to Fabien Barthez’s goal and nor did 20th century.
game of 1998. they suggest anything resembling a comeback,
The almost farcical circumstances in not even when France lost Marcel Desailly to Paint the town blue
which Brazil came into the Final did little to a red card in the 68th minute. Later, as the French captain Didier Deschamps
motivate or inspire Mario Zagallo’s side. shook the hands of dignitaries at the trophy
From the off, they seemed ill at ease and presentation, Laurent Blanc, the defender so
under-equipped to deal with a French side AFTER DECADES OF FALSE cruelly denied a place in the Final, was pushed
that were lifted by some huge home support. DAWNS AND UNFULFILLED forward to stand side-by-side with his skipper.
Though he had missed a couple of matches POTENTIAL, LES BLEUS HAD It was a touching display of camaraderie
through suspension earlier in the tournament, FINALLY ASCENDED THE SUMMIT and one, you would hope, that made Slaven
Zidane’s return had re-energised France and Bilic feel ever so slightly ashamed of his
OF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL.
his performance in the Final was little short actions. The scenes that greeted France’s
of astonishing. victory in Paris, meanwhile, were unlike
On 25 minutes, he rose at the front post With moments left on the clock and with the anything seen in previous World Cup Finals.
to head home an Emmanuel Petit corner to Stade de France in full voice, the host nation The party was long and hard and lasted
give the hosts a deserved lead and then, on confirmed their victory with a third goal, as for days. Finally, after decades of false dawns
© Getty Images

the stroke of half-time, he repeated the trick, Arsenal’s midfielder Emmanuel Petit clipped and unfulfilled potential, Les Bleus had finally
heading in a corner from the other side to a precise shot past an advancing Taffarel. ascended the summit of international football
double France’s advantage. Brazil, meanwhile, Fittingly, it would also be France’s 1,000th and more than that – it felt right.

FRANCE 1998 123

 JAPAN & S.KOREA 2002
THERE WERE SHOCKS GALORE AS FOOTBALL OPENED ITS FRONTIERS TO ASIA. SOUTH KOREA AND TURKEY PROVED
UNLIKELY CONTENDERS BUT THERE WAS NOTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THE YELLOW-SHIRTED WINNERS.
...............................................................................................................................................................

June 18, 2002, Daejeon. South Korea depose Italy.

Asia was the setting and shock, surprise pre-match seizure. But by the time he’d scored bidding process as rivals along with Mexico.
and redemption were the themes as Brazil his second goal of the Final and his eighth But when the two Asian countries decided to
and a famous smiling number nine put the of the 2002 competition past a previously unite, they were unanimously chosen ahead
heartache of 1998 behind them to win their unbeatable Oliver Kahn, the Golden Boot of the Mexicans. South Korea’s automatic
fifth World Cup title. In a tournament full winner laid to rest the ghost of Paris. As the qualification as hosts meant they would be
of upsets, there was a familiar feel to the seemingly ageless Cafu held aloft the trophy, making their fifth successive Finals, a record
Finalists as international heavyweights Brazil the world could catch its breath following for a nation outside of Europe or the
and Germany battled it out on a warm June a frenetic tournament that had entertained, Americas (and incredibly, they have qualified
evening in Yokohama. stunned and captivated from the off. for every World Cup since 2002). Conversely,
Four years earlier, mystery and intrigue co-hosts Japan would be making only their
surrounded Brazil’s 3-0 loss to France in Two’s company second appearance, while France would
© Getty Images

Paris, particularly the circumstances that led Asia’s first World Cup was also the first, and be the last defending champions to qualify
to Ronaldo first being dropped from the side, likely the last, to feature two hosts. Back in automatically before FIFA changed their policy.
and then reinstated, following reports of a 1996, Japan and South Korea had began the As a sign of things to come, qualification threw

124 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 5, 2002, Ibaraki. Irish captain Roy Keane
had been sent packing by manager Mick
McCarthy yet Ireland picked up decent results.

up a number of new and rare participants. have cursed their luck when drawn in the Group B, where Paraguay nudged out South
Turkey were back after last competing in tournament’s “group of death” alongside Africa on goals scored.
1954, Portugal ended a 16-year drought, Sweden, Nigeria and old foes Argentina,
while China, Ecuador, Slovenia and Senegal it only made their qualification ahead of Japan and South Korea thrill
would all sample their first taste of the World Marcelo Bielsa’s men even sweeter. An A cracking 3-2 win over Portugal in Suwon
Cup Finals. But none of the heavyweights opening day draw against Sweden – England built the foundations for the USA’s progress,
had missed out, as all seven previous World manager Sven Göran Eriksson’s homeland who, to the delight of the home fans, finished
Cup winners qualified. – was followed by a pivotal 1-0 victory over second behind South Korea. The Koreans
Argentina. After his controversial sending off were yet to taste defeat, following a 2-0
The Gaul of it opening day win over Poland with a 1-1 draw
With Japan hosting the Final, it meant that CAPTAIN ROY KEANE HAD SENT with the Americans before dumping out the
South Korea would have the honour of fancied Portuguese with a 1-0 win in Incheon.
THE IRISH CAMP INTO DISARRAY
opening proceedings and it was the Olympic Unbelievably, Japan had also topped their
city of Seoul that witnessed the 17th World
BEFORE A BALL HAD BEEN KICKED, own group with a similar-looking record,
Cup Finals begin as it meant to go on, with an ORDERED HOME AFTER OPENLY drawing with Belgium before beating Russia
upset. It took Senegal only 30 minutes to knock QUESTIONING THE SQUAD’S and Tunisia. Much to the organisers’ delight,
France from their pedestal, as Papa Bouba PROFESSIONALISM. the hosts were not only holding their own, but
Diop finished following El Hadji Diouf’s left- thriving in front of jam-packed stadia.
wing trickery to ensure that manager Bruno against the Argentinians four years earlier,
Metsu would get one over his countrymen. fate left it to captain David Beckham to score Robbie’s keen
It would be the beginning of a miserable the winner from the spot. A 0-0 draw with Whether the giddy hosts were partying quite
run for Roger Lemerre’s World Cup and Nigeria in Osaka was enough to see England like the Irish fans is another matter. Mick
European Championship holders, as a 0-0 through, where they would face Group A McCarthy’s men were back at the World Cup
draw with Uruguay followed by a 2-0 defeat winners Denmark. after missing out in 1998 and were certainly
to Denmark saw them heading home inside Only two sides qualified without dropping a making headlines, on and off the pitch.
12 days, without a goal being scored. point, Brazil scoring 11 goals in the process of Captain Roy Keane had sent the Irish camp
They weren’t the only high-profile casualties brushing aside China, Costa Rica and runners- into disarray before a ball had been kicked,
of the first round. While England fans must up Turkey, while Spain also had little trouble in ordered home in disgrace by McCarthy after

JAPAN & S.KOREA 2002 125

openly criticising the manager and questioning been paved for a predictable collision course it worse for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men,
the squad’s professionalism. in the Final. But what happened in-between goalscorer and man of the match Ahn plied
The dismay in Ireland that greeted the news was anything but. his trade in Italy’s Serie A, for Perugia.
of their best player’s omission soon dissipated This would be the last World Cup to feature
however, as the Irish drew their opening match the so-called “golden goal”, and this short- Referee’s had better days
with Cameroon before a last-minute equaliser lived innovation would be the decider in two The Japanese weren’t able to follow their
from Roy’s namesake Robbie secured a point of the Round of 16 matches. Senegal were fellow co-hosts’ lead, losing to Turkey 1-0.
against the Germans. A comfortable 3-0 thankful to FIFA’s inventive nature as a bobbled But as Guus Hiddink’s South Koreans
win against a weak Saudi Arabia saw them Henri Camara shot seemed lacking in lustre as marched on, so the shocks followed – not
qualify at the expense of the Africans. The Irish it trickled past Magnus Hedman in the 104th to mention the controversy.
would soon be heard chanting “There’s only minute to send Sweden out. Following Robbie Keane’s second last-
one Keano” – and it wasn’t the one sulking In Daejeon, the Koreans were also getting minute equaliser of the tournament, the
back in Manchester. in on the act. The Italians were set to go Spanish were taken all the way to penalties by
through thanks to Christian Vieri’s 18th minute the spirited Irish before meeting the Koreans
Miroslav the merciless header, but Seol Ki-Hyeon’s 88th minute in the Quarter-Final. And José Camacho’s
Germany had been typically ruthless; equaliser sent the game into extra-time before side would soon join the Italians in screaming
their only points dropped being the two Ahn Jung-Hwan won it for the hosts with three scandal as Egyptian referee Gamal Al-
surrendered to McCarthy’s battlers. That draw minutes left. Ghandour controversially disallowed two
was sandwiched between an 8-0 demolishing The Italians were enraged, though, at Spanish goals as the game finished goalless.
of the desperate Saudis – featuring a hat-trick what they felt were a number of incorrect Korea’s K-League employed a quirky system
from Miroslav Klose – and a solid 2-0 win calls from Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno, where all drawn games would be decided on
over Cameroon. Their 11 goals tied them with in particular the sending off of Francesco penalties, and having won all seven that he
Brazil for the tournament’s top scorers so far. Totti after adjudging the player had dived in had been involved with in the previous season,
Evidently, their respective paths had already the box to earn his second yellow. To make keeper Lee Woon-Jae was in confident form.

June 21, 2002, Shizuoka. England keeper David

Seaman can only watch on as a firecracker free-kick
from Brazil’s Ronaldinho hits the net for the winning
goal in the Quarter Finals.

126 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 22, 2002, Gwangju. South Korea
celebrate after their shoot-out win over
Spain in the Quarter-Finals.

Sure enough, as his teammates showed round for his side. First, his powerful run half-time, Rivaldo scored a late winner from
remarkable composure in front of their set up Rivaldo for the equaliser before he the spot, despite Alpay’s foul on Luizão – for
expectant fans by not missing a single kick, somehow caught out a flapping David Seaman which the Turkish defender was red carded –
Lee kept out Joaquin before Hong Myung-Bo with a free-kick from 40 yards. Ronaldinho’s occurring outside the penalty area.
fired home to continue the fairytale. Even eventful afternoon came to an early end with Hackan Unsal was then shown a late red
a man as pragmatic as Hiddink began talking a red card for a foul on Danny Mills, but for kicking the ball at the goalscorer’s leg,
of dreams. England failed to get back on level terms and though Rivaldo’s reaction – dropping to the
Germany lay in wait in the Semi-Finals. a scintillating game in Shizuoka proved to be floor clutching his face – would later earn him
Their goal-laden group stage had been the last the World Cup would see of the Three a fine as he became the first player punished
something of a red herring when it came Lions for another four years. in FIFA’s crackdown on “simulation”.
to forecasting the manner in which Rudi With Ronaldinho out through suspension,
Völler’s men would make it to the Final, the Turks were confident. But ultimately,
as they recorded successive 1-0 victories SCOLARI STILL FELT HEAT FROM Ronaldo’s resurgence would not be halted by
against Paraguay and the USA. First Oliver anyone, even the inspired Rüstü Reçber in
Neuville and then Michael Ballack were the
FANS FOR REFUSING TO SELECT the Turkish goal. Reçber had successfully
goalscorers, but the real match-winner was ROMARIO. “BIG PHIL” WAS repelled everything Brazil had thrown at him
Kahn. So impressive was he at protecting the CONTENT TO RELY ON HIS until “Il Fenomeno” muscled into the box and
German net that he would go on to become THREE OTHER “R’S” – RONALDO, caught the keeper off guard with a clever toe
the first World Cup goalkeeper to be named RIVALDO AND RONALDINHO. poke in the 49th minute.
player of the tournament. HIS GAMBLE, IF IT COULD BE SEEN
AS SUCH, WAS PAYING OFF. Never mind, Ballack
Three Rs outclass Three Lions It had been the same scoreline a day
If England had been solid yet unremarkable in earlier in Seoul, as Germany recorded their
making it to the last 16, their 3-0 hammering third successive 1-0 victory, ending South
of the previously impressive Danes had The third golden goal of the tournament Korea’s fortuitous but gutsy run in their
certainly upped the ante. The real test would saw one surprise package see off another, as home tournament. Ballack was again on the
come in the Quarter-Final though, against the substitute Ilhan Mansiz’s strike four minutes scoresheet, reacting quickest after his first
in-form Brazilians. into extra-time ended the remarkable run of shot was saved by Lee Woon-Jae, but the
Boss Luiz Felipe Scolari hadn’t had the a tired Senegal side and sent Turkey into the midfielder endured a bittersweet evening as a
easiest of times in charge of his country. last four. It was Turkey’s best ever performance 70th minute yellow card, five minutes before
He’d taken over exactly a year previously, at a World Cup, while South Korea had his winning strike, meant that he would be
with a misfiring Brazil in serious danger of become the most successful Asian team sitting out of the Final.
not qualifying. Despite losing his first game to at a Finals. It meant the Semi-Finals took Hiddink’s charges were again sharp on the
Uruguay, Brazil scraped through, but Scolari on a distinctly unusual look, and while the break and keen to attack, but found a resolute
still felt the heat from fans for refusing to select footballing powerhouses facing them were German backline in no mood to concede. On
veteran striker Romário. Instead, “Big Phil” still expected to negotiate one final hurdle, the few occasions they did make it through,
was content to rely on his three other “R’s” – they wouldn’t be so foolish as to take anything Kahn was once again proving invincible, with
Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. His gamble, for granted. a stop low down to his right from Lee Chun-
if it could even be seen as such, was paying Turkey had lost narrowly against Scolari’s Soo the pick of the bunch. This time, the South
© Getty Images

off handsomely. side in their group encounter and were keen Koreans would not find late salvation, as the
Despite going behind to Michael Owen’s to avenge perceived injustices. In the previous Germans, in their tenth World Cup Semi-Final,
23rd minute opener, Ronaldinho turned it game, following Ronaldo’s equaliser just after used all of their experience to great effect.

JAPAN & S.KOREA 2002 127

 June 26, 2002, Saitama-Ken. Brazil’s
Ronaldo is all smiles as he scores
for the second time in the Semi-Final
against underdogs Turkey.

128 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 30, 2002, Yokohama. Brazil’s 32-year-
old captain Cafu lifts the trophy, but much
praise must go to master tactician Scolari.

And so it was set up for a mouth-watering The final had been inevitably billed as a battle Marcos tipping a superb Neuville free-kick
encounter in Yokohama. Brazil would be between Kahn and Ronaldo. Whoever edged on to the post only moments earlier. Twelve
gunning for their fifth World Cup, while this personal duel would take the trophy. By minutes later, the game was over. Kléberson’s
the Germans would be aiming to go level half-time, Ronaldo had spurned three glorious pass inside was wonderfully dummied by
with their opponents on four. Despite their chances, Kahn saving two from close range. Rivaldo, allowing Ronaldo space to slot the
respective illustrious records, few pundits had The Brazilians had made most of the running, ball past Kahn’s despairing left hand.
picked either of these sides to make the Final with Kléberson also twice coming close, hitting
before the tournament. the bar from 20 yards with Kahn stranded. Big Phil silences the doubters
Brazil’s struggles in qualifying were well There have been few World Cups where one
documented, while Germany’s current crop side has dominated quite like Scolari’s Brazil.
THERE HAVE BEEN FEW WORLD
of players were widely acknowledged to They’d won every single game, never once
be a level off some of their all-conquering CUPS WHERE ONE SIDE HAS needing extra-time or penalties – a World Cup
predecessors and, unusually, they had DOMINATED QUITE LIKE first – and boasted the Golden Boot winner
needed a play-off against Ukraine to qualify, SCOLARI’S BRAZIL. in Ronaldo, not to mention the runner-up,
having even been humiliated 5-1 by England Rivaldo. Two-goal Ronaldinho would also
in Munich. But the striker with the famous toothy grin make the FIFA all-star team.
would not be denied in the second half. With This was a victory inspired by the three R’s.
Normal service resumed his peculiar hairstyle appearing to point an There was redemption for Ronaldo’s 1998
In Japan and Korea, though, Scolari and arrow to goal, Ronaldo pounced on the rarest misery, not to mention retribution for Scolari
Völler had expertly manoeuvred their sides of occurrences, an Oliver Kahn mistake. Kahn over his many critics. And for their 32-year-
up through the gears. It may have been uncharacteristically spilled a swerving drive old captain Cafu, there was long overdue
a tournament that had allowed football’s from Rivaldo, and Ronaldo was on hand to put recognition. Here was a man who was so
underdogs to thrive, but there’d be nothing Brazil ahead in the 67th minute. often the unsung hero. He lifted the trophy
small time about the Final. Remarkably, despite aloft knowing he had become the first player
© Getty Images

being the tournament’s two most consistently On the ropes to appear in three World Cup Finals – a feat
successful teams, this would be their first ever It was a devastating blow to the Germans not even the great Brazilian legends of yore,
meeting at a World Cup. who’d enjoyed their best spell in the match, including Pelé, had managed to achieve.

JAPAN & S.KOREA 2002 129

 WORLD CUP ICONS

RONALDO
Even though he retired from playing in 2011,
there are probably still hundreds of defenders
around the world still having nightmares
about the time they faced Ronaldo.
Nicknamed O Fenômeno (The
Phenomenon), Ronaldo was a wondrous one-
off; lightning quick, awesomely powerful and
blessed with the kind of insatiable appetite
for goals, not to mention the ability to provide
them, that you only see once in a generation.
Indeed, there have been few finer sights in
the modern game than witnessing Ronaldo in
full and frightening flow as he picks the ball
up in midfield and drives his way forward,
with opposition players trailing in his wake
and, quite often, the goalkeeper left, finally, in
a bewildered mess on the turf.
In a career that saw him play for PSV,
Barcelona, Real Madrid and both of the
Milan giants, his goalscoring exploits more
than lived up to his nickname. And he
certainly delivered for his country when it
mattered too. In three World Cup Finals
between 1998 and 2006, he plundered a
total of 15 goals, and took the Golden Boot
Award at the 2002 event where he scored
eight, including both of the goals in the final
win over Germany.
Though his later career was curtailed by
injury, Ronaldo’s impact on the game cannot
be underestimated and the glut of individual
awards that he garnered was testament to his
greatness. The highlights? Three times FIFA
World Player of the Year (in 1996, 1997 and
1998), two-time Ballon d’Or winner (in 1997
and 2002) and UEFA Club Footballer of the
Year in 1998. His legendary compatriot,
Pelé, even named him in the FIFA 100 list of
the greatest living players in 2004 too. Put
simply, he was the perfect centre-forward.

June 17, 2002, Kobe.

Ronaldo celebrates after
© Getty Images

scoring Brazil’s second goal

in a 2-0 win against Belgium
in the Round of 16.

130 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

RONALDO 131
 GERMANY 2006
WITH HOME ADVANTAGE, JURGEN KLINSMANN’S GERMANY WERE FREE-SCORING POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS, BUT THE
FINAL WOULD INVOLVE GERMANY’S NEIGHBOURS – A MATCH OVERSHADOWED BY A MOMENT OF ZIZOU MADNESS
...............................................................................................................................................................
With the scores tied at 1-1 and only seconds been the player of the tournament, showing watching could not believe what happened
remaining in the first period of extra-time, the grace, poise and control of a true master next. Zizou’s destiny would take a darker turn.
France’s captain and talisman lost his marker of his craft. His seventh-minute penalty, a
and rose majestically to meet a pinpoint caressed dink off the underside of Gianluigi No joy for the usual suspects
cross from Willy Sagnol. Zinedine Zidane Buffon’s crossbar, was a stunning show of It had been the first World Cup Final since
connected as perfectly as he had in Paris impudence and class on the world’s biggest 1978 – and only the second since 1938 –
eight years earlier, when his two first-half stage, against the world’s best goalkeeper. that neither Brazil nor Germany would be
headers had inspired the French to their first involved. As the host nation, Germany had
ever World Cup, and propelled Zidane into Zidane denied charmed and entertained, and few would
football’s stratosphere. But Zidane’s header did not trouble the back have begrudged the welcoming masses the
With his bullet header goalbound, Zidane of the net in Berlin. Sixty-nine thousand fans enjoyment of seeing their team claim their
watched his destiny unfold. This, his final in the Olympiastadion gasped as Buffon fourth title.
match before retiring from the game, would somehow managed to leap and claw the The tournament had been such a success
surely end in the most perfect of scenarios. ball over the net. Zidane could not believe it. that most had forgotten just how lucky the
Even at 34 years old, he had undoubtedly And then, an estimated 715 million people Germans were to get it in the first place.

132 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

The bidding process in 2000 had proved to of the CONMEBOL standings alongside Munich’s Allianz Arena on their feet, the
be a controversial affair. After rival nations fellow South American giants Argentina. Bayern Munich left back cutting inside to curl
Morocco and England were eliminated in the But while South America’s representatives in only his second international goal from the
first two rounds of voting, Germany squared had a familiar look about them, there right corner of the box. Lahm’s overlapping
up against South Africa. On the eve of the was a distinctly fresh feel to the rest of the runs, and those of his opposite number Arne
vote, Oceania delegate Charles Dempsey June arrivals, with all six confederations Friedrich, were a clear sign that if boss Jürgen
pulled out of proceedings, citing “intolerable represented for the first time since 1982. Klinsmann was going to win this tournament
pressure” and concerns over his safety. Angola and Togo had seen off some on home soil, he was instructing his side to do
His expected vote for South Africa was of Africa’s bigger sides to make it for the it in some style.
lost and Germany triumphed 12-11. FIFA first time, while high expectations followed As if to emphasise this point, even
president Sepp Blatter would have had the debutants Ivory Coast and Ghana given their Germany’s holding midfielder was getting
casting vote in the event of a tie, and it was bounty of top European-based talent. in on the act, Torsten Frings scoring with
no secret that he was in favour of bringing Other debutants included Trinidad and a 35-yard rocket in the 87th minute to seal
the World Cup to Africa. Tobago, while Czech Republic, Ukraine and the game. Two goals from poacher Miroslav
South Africa would get their chance four Serbia and Montenegro were making their Klose had nudged his side back ahead after
years later. This time it was a return to Europe first appearances as independent nations. the ever-eccentric Paulo Wanchope had twice
after France last took charge in 1998, and of And after defeating Uruguay on penalties pulled Costa Rica back into contention. It was
the 197 participating teams desperate to get in the CONMEBOL/Oceania play-off, Guus the highest-scoring opener in World Cup
there, only 32 would make the cut. Hiddink’s Australia would also be ending history, and a perfect start for a host nation
a World Cup drought of 22 years. that many forget were ranked way down in
Holders have to qualify 19th place in FIFA’s pre-tournament rankings.
As usual, the hosts were guaranteed a spot, Worthy is the Lahm
but for the first time ever, the defending Starting as they meant to go on, the Polish connections

© Getty Images
World Cup champions would not qualify Germans opened up the 18th World Cup Next came the visit of the Poles in Dortmund,
automatically. Not that this seemed to overly with a breathless 4-2 win over Costa Rica. a traditionally frosty relationship making for
concern 2002 winners Brazil, who finished top It took Philipp Lahm only six minutes to have a heated tie. All the more galling for the

July 4, 2006, Dortmund. Italy’s Fabio Grosso nets in

the 119th minute against Germany in the World Cup
Semi-Final. Moments later, Alessandro Del Piero would
double the lead, sending Italy to their sixth Final.

GERMANY 2006 133

underdogs – who’d failed to win any of their against Japan in a 4-1 rout bringing him level Under Marcello Lippi, the Italians were playing
previous 14 meetings with Germany – was the with Gerd Müller as the World Cup’s all-time to their footballing stereotype, unspectacular
fact that the opposition front line of Klose and leading scorer. but solid, qualifying unbeaten and conceding
Lukas Podolski were both born in Poland. Argentina and Holland managed to only the once. As for group stage flops,
Unfortunately for any neutrals watching, negotiate a tricky group with Ivory Coast despite beginning with a 3-0 win over the
a match that had the look and feel of a derby and Serbia and Montenegro, though José Americans, the much-fancied Czech Republic
played out like one too, with few bursts of Pékerman’s side were scoring more freely failed to live up to their “golden generation”
quality or moments of note before Radoslaw than Marco Van Basten’s, managing eight in expectations, the USA crashed out with a
Sobolewski saw red in the 75th minute, total, five more than the Dutch. This included single point, while Ghana were the only side
prompting the Germans to force the issue. a ruthless 6-0 demolition of a hapless Serbia from Africa to make it through, with their
Artur Boruc was proving an immoveable and Montenegro side, and while the likes of steely midfield duo of Michael Essien and
object in the Polish goal, while captain Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Hernán Crespo captain Stephen Appiah showing themselves
Michael Ballack and Klose both hit the bar and Maxi Rodriguez all got on the scoresheet, to be formidable opponents.
in the dying minutes. Just when it looked it was unlikely scorer Esteban Cambiasso who Meanwhile, Sven-Göran Eriksson’s England
as though Poland had clung on for a vital claimed arguably the goal of the World Cup, side had survived an injury crisis to finish top
point, substitute Oliver Neuville slid in for adding the final flourish to a flowing move of Group B. Eriksson had raised more than
the winner in the 91st minute. that included 24 passes throughout this skilled a few eyebrows when he opted to call up the
The Germans didn’t look back, comfortably Argentinian team. inexperienced Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott
beating the already-qualified Ecuador 3-0 to at the expense of the Premier League’s highest-
claim top spot, before two goals for Podolski Europe’s big guns scoring Englishman that season, Darren Bent.
inside the first 12 minutes saw off the Swedish The Spanish, with a seemingly unshakeable The Swede later admitted that his decision
in the Round of 16, who’d made it through reputation for flattering to deceive at major was based more on instinct than logic –
Group A unbeaten in second place. The tournaments, had similarly breezed through Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe was also left out –
Germans had made it into the Quarter-Finals their group with three wins, as did Euro 2004 but when Michael Owen crawled off the pitch
by scoring ten goals, shoring up what had Semi-Finalists Portugal. after four minutes in England’s final group
looked a leaky defence from the opening Eventual Finalists France had looked game against Sweden with a cruciate ligament
game, conceding only one further goal. far from impressive as they stuttered their injury, Eriksson may have thought it one gut
way past Togo in their final group game feeling he wished he’d ignored.
Ronaldo back to his best following two draws against South Korea and By that stage England were through,
But they were not the only team showing good a defensively frugal Swiss side who didn’t having beaten Paraguay 1-0 in their opening
form. Germany’s 2002 conquerors Brazil were concede a goal in the tournament before game thanks to a Carlos Gamarra own goal,
flawless in Group F, with Ronaldo’s two goals heading out on penalties. and then eventually broken down a stubborn

June 16, 2006, Gelsenkirchen.

Esteban Cambiasso puts Argentina
two-up against Serbia and Montenegro.
Argentina went on to win 6-0.

134 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 June 16, 2006, Berlin. France
superstar Zinedine Zidane headbutts
Marco Materazzi in what would be
his final act for the national team.

Trinidad and Tobago with two late goals from wonder goals, but Maxi Rodriguez’s extra-time League ref Graham Poll made a career-defining
Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard. winner – a cushioned chest followed by error, mistakenly showing three yellow cards
The game with Sweden was to determine a beautiful dipping volley – was the best of the to Croatia’s Josip Simunic in their final group
the group winner, and an entertaining 2-2 lot. A valiant Mexican effort had not stopped match against Australia before eventually
draw, featuring a stunning left foot opener the in-form Argentinians, cheered on in the sending the defender off. The ensuing furore
from Joe Cole and a last minute equaliser from stands by a topless Maradona, feverishly meant a gutsy Australian performance –
Henrik Larsson, was enough for England to waving his blue and white shirt over his head. resulting in the Socceroos finishing second
lead the pack. In scoring Sweden’s 51st minute behind Brazil and ahead of Croatia and Japan
equaliser, Marcus Allbäck marked the 2,000th Lack of discipline – was largely overlooked.
goal in World Cup history. As well as its propensity for stunning strikes,
the tournament was slowly becoming infamous Italy’s shame becomes an advantage
We only have eyes for Roo for its unprecedented number of cards. By the More was to come for Guus Hiddink’s battling
As Sweden’s tournament came to an end time the officials had packed up their bags Australia, when they were unlucky to exit the
against the hosts, England were preparing to and gone home, they had handed out competition in the next round to a 95th minute
face Ecuador, but without leading goalscorer a record 345 yellow and 28 red cards. Francesco Totti penalty. Many felt the spot-kick
Owen. Instead Wayne Rooney, not long back The last-16 tussle between Portugal and was harshly awarded, but few failed to
from a broken bone in his foot that had a Holland certainly didn’t help matters, in what admire the dogged spirit of the Italians, who
nation praying, would lead the line up front. became known as the “Battle of Nuremberg”. had scraped a 1-0 win despite playing with
At times he cut an isolated figure on his Beleaguered Russian ref Valentin Ivanov was ten men for 40 second-half minutes after Marco
own as England struggled to offer the 20-year- forced to show two reds to each side in an Materazzi’s sending off.
old the support he desperately needed. Instead ill-tempered game marked by brawls and Lippi’s side were getting into a groove.
the winning goal came from their captain’s melees. Sixteen yellow cards were also handed Much had been made before the tournament
speciality, a whipped in free-kick that missed out, while a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo had to of the Calciopoli scandal that had been
everyone, including the Ecuadorian keeper. be substituted in the 34th minute following a uncovered just a month before the Finals.
For the second time under Eriksson, Beckham robust tackle from Khalid Boulahrouz, one of Some of Italy’s biggest club sides had been
and England were heading to the last eight of the four players who would later see red. In implicated in a police investigation into
the World Cup. the midst of flying studs, headbutts and flailing match-fixing. But rather than cast a suffocating
In Leipzig, Argentina were also marching arms, Portugal prevailed 1-0. shadow over the national team, Lippi used the
© Getty Images

on, but their opponents Mexico had given But it wasn’t all down to the players’ negative publicity to drum up a siege mentality
them a real game. The tournament was misbehaviour, as the performance of the match in his squad, forging an impenetrable team
beginning to rack up a fine collection of officials came under heavy scrutiny too. Premier spirit that served the Italians to the Final.

GERMANY 2006 135

 June 25, 2006, Nuremberg. In
one of the most extraordinary
fixtures ever played, the “Battle of
Nuremberg” pitted Holland against
Portugal. The game would see four
players sent off. For the neutral, it
made wonderful viewing.

Ukraine had posed few problems in the choked, despite having taken the lead through only did keeper Ricardo become the first
Quarter-Finals, as an early goal from the impressive young striker David Villa. goalkeeper at a World Cup to save three
Gianluca Zambrotta sent the Azzurri on their The two former winners Brazil and France penalties, but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who
way before two second-half strikes from Luca met in the Quarter-Final, but not for the first scored the winning kick, the man whose
Toni sealed a Semi-Final against Germany, time at a World Cup it was Zidane who histrionics before Rooney’s sending off did
whose flawless penalty-taking had seen them outshone Ronaldo, the man of the match little to endear him to the English fans.
dump out the impressive Argentinians. dictating proceedings and creating the
Elsewhere, Ronaldo had taken only five winning goal, as an unmarked Thierry Henry Not a South American in sight
minutes against Ghana to overtake Gerd met his captain’s free-kick with a side-foot For only the fourth time in history there
Müller as the greatest goalscorer the World volley past Dida for the only goal of the match. would be an all-European Semi-Final line
Cup had ever seen. Put through superbly by Like Italy, France were getting into gear up. With the teams so evenly matched,
Kaka, the Brazilian great turned back the at just the right time, combining defensive both Semis proved tight affairs. With home
clock as he sidestepped the goalkeeper to discipline with scintillating attacking play. But advantage and 65,000 fans cheering them
finish with typical relish. The Brazilians added if the French and the Italians were doing what on in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, the top
a further two goals but Ghana exited their first they did best, then so too were the English. scoring Germans had their sights firmly set on
World Cup with heads held high. In their Quarter-Final against Portugal, the Final. But the Italians had already proved
England lost Beckham to injury just after the themselves to be made of stern stuff, and it
Have you any early flights to Madrid? break, and when Rooney was sent off for was only in extra-time, with the score 0-0,
Two late goals from Zinedine Zidane and a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, there was an when the game came to life.
Patrick Vieira completed a 3-1 win for the inevitability to England’s reward for holding Aware of Germany’s proficiency from the
French over Spain, who had once again on being a crushing loss on penalties. Not spot, Italy bucked the trend and went for an

136 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 10, 2006, Berlin. While most
were coming to terms with Zinedine
Zidane’s violence, Italy lifed the trophy
– their fourth World Cup triumph.

increasingly bold approach in extra-time, with Italy’s progress had come despite scandal back was informed by his fourth official and duly
Andrea Pirlo at the heart. It was his wonderful home, while slow starters France had been produced a red. Moments earlier, Zidane’s
reverse pass in the 119th minute that found left inspired by their ageing maestro. last act as a professional footballer had been
back Fabio Grosso, whose first-time curling But while the final promised technical so close to being a winning headed goal.
shot whizzed past Jens Lehmann and found brilliance, goals were not expected in Instead, it would be a head to the chest of an
the corner of the net. Grosso’s contorting face abundance from two sides keen to prioritise opponent. A brutal and shameful way to end
as he reeled off, chased by his teammates, caution over carelessness. Yet by the 20th what was an undeniably glittering career.
echoed Marco Tardelli’s celebration in 1982. minute, two had already been scored.
In their forlorn attempt to rescue a fading Following Zidane’s audacious penalty, Someone has to miss
dream, the Germans were caught on the Italy’s own midfield virtuoso Pirlo flighted in If the world watched on stunned, his France
break only seconds later, and Alessandro Del a corner that was met by Materazzi, who out- teammates failed to show it as they held on
Piero’s fabulous finish added a gloss to Italy’s jumped Vieira to power Italy back level. Luca for penalties. David Trezeguet, the man who
night in Dortmund. Toni headed against the bar from another scored the golden goal against Italy at Euro
Pirlo dead ball before half-time, while the 2000, was the only man to miss as his well-
Scolari’s run comes to an end tireless Florent Malouda had a strong shout struck penalty cannoned back off the crossbar.
In Munich, not even Ricardo’s burgeoning for a second penalty just after the break. Once again it was Grosso who kicked Italy
reputation as a penalty-saving specialist could into raptures.
stop the unflappable Zidane, who struck the What on earth?
winning goal from the spot in the 33rd minute Extra-time arrived, and with it came Zidane’s Tunnel vision
as the French booked their finale with Italy moment of lunacy. The French captain left The picture of Fabio Cannavaro lifting the
with a composed and deserved victory. It no doubt that the line between genius and trophy will be fondly remembered for years in
ended boss Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 100 per cent madness is a fine one as he leapt from one Italy. Unfortunately for Zidane, the world will
record as a coach at the World Cup, having to the other in a matter of seconds. also remember one other lingering image from
won 12 games in a row including his run in With ten minutes left of extra-time to go, that evening in Berlin. That of France’s famous
charge of Brazil four years earlier. an off-the-ball incident saw a riled Zidane number 10 trudging down the tunnel, with
© Getty Images

So it was that two teams largely unfancied thrust his head into Materazzi’s chest, the World Cup trophy he had been so sure of
even as late as the group stages found knocking the goalscorer to the ground. After lifting for a second time, positioned behind
themselves pitted against each other in Berlin. several moments of confusion, the referee him, tantalisingly out of reach.

GERMANY 2006 137

 SOUTH AFRICA 2010
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS SPAIN CLAIMED THEIR FIRST EVER WORLD CUP TITLE, BUT THIS TOURNAMENT WAS ABOUT
MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY, AS A WHOLE CONTINENT REJOICED AT HISTORY BEING MADE IN AFRICA...
...............................................................................................................................................................
Six years and 26 days after Nelson Mandela Fan Fests all over the country, including one section would double as the qualification for
had defied doctors’ orders to travel to Zürich symbolically located 12 miles away in Soweto, the 2010 African Cup of Nations. But despite
to learn that South Africa had been chosen the scene of the 1976 uprising during the failing to qualify from their group – finishing
to host the 2010 World Cup, South Africa’s worst of South Africa’s apartheid regime. second – Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side would
Siphiwe Tshabalala thundered in the opening not be missing out on their own party.
goal of the first ever World Cup held on Africa in the spotlight The hosts’ unusual inclusion took the
African soil. While opponents Mexico would try their best number of participating teams to a new high
Back then, the man known as “Madiba” to spoil the party with a late equaliser through of 204 (from 208 FIFA members), meaning
had revealed to the 24 FIFA delegates in Rafael Márquez, it had failed to dampen that the 2010 World Cup tied with the 2008
Switzerland that listening to football on the spirits or silence the vuvus. The Rainbow Olympics for the record number of competing
radio had been his only respite during 18 Nation had a new motto, Ke nako, Africa – nations in a sporting event.
years imprisoned on Robben Island. Now, the Africa, it is time.
84,000 fans packed into Johannesburg’s new South Africa had, in fact, been the first Glamour draw
Soccer City stadium erupted as one. World Cup hosts since Italy in 1934 to By the time actress Charlize Theron was joined
The unmistakeable din of vuvuzelas could compete in the qualification preliminaries, due in Cape Town by David Beckham to make
be heard across the townships and FIFA to quirky pragmatism on FIFA’s part – the CAF the draw in December 2009, this number

June 11, 2010, Johannesburg.

Siphiwe Tshabalala (second from
the right) opens South Africa’s
account, leading to a special
dance by the corner flag.

138 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 2, 2010, Johannesburg. Uruguay’s Luis
Suárez, no stranger to controversy, handles
on the line in the Quarter-Final against
Ghana and was soon sent off.

had been whittled down to 32. But it had Henry’s main de Dieu provoked outrage and Anxious England
not been without controversy. In the battle to prompted the Irish, not to mention the penitent England would secure qualification with a
represent Africa at its inaugural World Cup, French captain himself, to call for a replay. nervy 1-0 win over Slovenia in Port Elizabeth
old foes Algeria and Egypt had contrived to FIFA’s executive committee rejected the request, thanks to Jermain Defoe’s 23rd minute strike
finish joint-top of their qualifying group, with but when Sepp Blatter reiterated his refusal to and some dogged second-half defending
identical head-to-head records. consider video technology, the FIFA president from John Terry. Crucially, though, Landon
Amid a hostile backdrop of attacks on could not have known that it was a portent of Donovan’s late winner against the Algerians
team coaches, a play-off in neutral Sudan worse to come. saw USA top the group, which left England
was arranged to decide who would join Again it was England bemoaning their luck facing the Germans.
Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory at a major tournament, and this time it had The three-time winners had looked
Coast. Algeria prevailed 1-0 through a goal nothing to do with penalties. The controversy imperious in their opening game, a 4-0
by Antar Yahia of German club Bochum, came as Fabio Capello’s men faced familiar thrashing of Australia, but a shock loss to
meaning Algeria secured their first World Cup rivals Germany in the Round of 16 after Serbia followed by a narrow victory over
appearance since 1986. African champions stuttering through Group C in underwhelming Ghana suggested a tight affair was on the
Egypt would be staying at home. fashion. A Rob Green error in England’s cards at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium.
opening group game against USA saw But when Lukas Podolski put Jogi Löw’s
Ireland are robbed a Clint Dempsey strike somehow slip through side 2-0 up inside 32 minutes, this appeared
Meanwhile, on-field controversies dogged his grasp on a sticky night in Rustenburg, far from the case. West Ham’s Matthew
two other crucial play-offs. Costa Rica blamed cancelling out Steven Gerrard’s well-worked Upson headed one back five minutes later,
poor officiating on their 2-1 aggregate exit fourth minute opener. It would end 1-1. and when Frank Lampard’s shot crashed
at the hands of Uruguay, while the luck of the Capello showed no mercy as Green was off the underside of the bar, bounced well
Irish was noticeably absent in their heated unceremoniously dropped for Portsmouth’s over the line and then out again, it seemed
play-off with France where a deliberate David James – the tournament’s oldest player the scores would be level at the break. But
handball by Thierry Henry in the build up to at 39 years old – for the following game the goal was not given. England,
© Getty Images

William Gallas’ winning goal at the Stade de against Algeria, where a tepid 0-0 draw failed understandably, were incredulous.
France was seen by everyone bar the three to match the eye-catching Table Mountain But sympathy is not a trait often shown
match officials. backdrop in Cape Town. by German footballers at international

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 139

tournaments, and as England pressed for an Korea had been the highlight, while Nigeria Final loss to Portugal at Goodison Park in
equaliser in the second half, Thomas Müller, and Greece were also brushed aside as the England in 1966, but may have wished they
who’d had a highly successful season with two-time winners notched seven goals and hadn’t bothered when that same country –
Bayern Munich under Louis van Gaal, snaffled conceded just one before their 3-1 defeat of this time with Cristiano Ronaldo in place of
two goals in three minutes in a ruthless display Mexico at the first knockout stage. Eusébio – scored seven in their second game.
of counter-attacking panache. While Blatter
later took the unusual step of apologising mid- African farewells Bafana Bafana make buffoons of France
tournament for England’s injustice, only the Argentina’s form was the pick of a full house Back with the Africans, and most
most delusional of Three Lions fans would have of South American qualifiers, with Brazil, disappointingly of all saw the exit of the
failed to accept that Capello’s waning team Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile all making it hosts on goal difference in Group A. With
had been beaten by a better, younger and through without a hitch. The same could not a point on the board and a first goal good
more confident side. be said of Africa’s full compliment. A pointless enough to grace any World Cup, not to
Promising plenty of verve and swagger, Cameroon crashed out bottom of Group E, mention a celebration to match, Bafana
Germany’s Quarter-Final match-up with Diego Algeria’s sole point came against England, Bafana had instilled a renewed belief within
Maradona’s Argentina team looked while Nigeria suffered a similar fate at the South Africa. Maybe the second-lowest ranked
set to be the pick of the tournament so far. foot of Group B. The Ivory Coast once again side in the competition (after North Korea)
With a pre-match repertoire of embracing came unstuck in a tough group alongside wouldn’t be embarrassed after all.
each of his players in the tunnel, the boss Brazil and Portugal, despite beating North Sadly for Perreira, who’d led Brazil to
was proving nearly as entertaining as his Korea 3-0. success in 1994, his team were then soundly
players, who had dominated Group B. The North Koreans were making their first beaten 3-0 by Uruguay in Pretoria. It was
Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick against South appearance at a Finals since their Quarter- the heaviest defeat suffered by a host nation

July 3, 2010, Cape Town. Arne Friedrich scores

the third in Germany’s 4-0 stuffing of Argentina.

140 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 11, 2010, Johannesburg. English
referee Howard Webb sends off Holland’s
No.3, John Heitinga, in the World Cup
Final. He’d been a handful all evening.

in the first round, and it left South Africa back in Dublin as news of player expulsions Quarter-Finals, they scored four goals for the
clinging to the unlikeliest of scenarios in order and training ground boycotts emanated from third time in the tournament.
to progress. They’d need to beat the out-of- Raymond Domenech’s dissenting squad. An early goal for eventual Golden Boot
sorts French, hope the Uruguayans defeated It meant that for the first time in World Cup winner Thomas Müller meant the Germans
Mexico, and pray for a five-goal swing in the history, the host nation and the previous could once again soak up the pressure and
process. Yet, at half-time with the hosts 2-0 up, tournament’s finalists would not be appearing punish on the break, and by full-time Diego
the French one man down following Yoann in the latter stages. Maradona was left to reflect on Argentina’s
Gourcuff’s red and Uruguay a goal to the biggest World Cup humbling since 1974’s
good, a nation began to believe. Two further Swiss timing 4-0 loss against Holland, as Arne Freidrich
goals were needed, but only one came, and it There had been no such issue for the and two for Miroslav Klose completed the rout
was a consolation goal from Florent Malouda. favourites. After a chastening 1-0 defeat to without reply.
It had been a performance of grit, belief Switzerland in their opening encounter – Lifted by the generous support of the host
and, in Steven Pienaar and Katlego Mphela, only their second loss in the two years since nation, Ghana had continued to fly the flag
no lack of style, but ultimately it wasn’t their European Championships success – the for Africa in thrilling fashion, needing extra-
enough. An Asamoah Gyan-inspired Ghana, Spanish would concede only once again in time before Gyan outmuscled the USA defence
second behind Germany in Group D, would the whole tournament. The Swiss, meanwhile, to power the West Africans through.
be Africa’s sole representatives in the ensuing had managed to set a new World Cup record
knockout stages. of going nine hours and 19 minutes without Yet another Hand of God
conceding (a run stretching back to Germany Ghana’s Quarter-Final opponents Uruguay
The mighty fall 2006), surpassing Italy’s previous record of had remained under the radar with quiet
Europe saw its share of shock exits too, most nine hours and ten minutes. progress through their group and then past
notably both World Cup Finalists from 2006, They were not the sort of stats the neutrals the South Koreans. That was until a blatant
Italy and France. The Azzurri managed wanted to hear, and with suggestions of handball would again come to dominate the
only two points and suffered the ignominy questionable flight and bounce surrounding headlines. This time, the hand belonged to
© Getty Images

of finishing last behind an unbeaten New the official Adidas Jabulani ball, it was again Luis Suárez, not Thierry Henry, and there
Zealand, while France’s disarray on and off left to the free-scoring Germans to show the was little chance of the match officials failing
the pitch would have been gleefully enjoyed rest of the world how it was done as, in the to notice. With the match poised at 1-1 and

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 141

heading for penalties, Luis Suárez handled any chance of Brazil’s advance came of the Euro 2008 Final loss to Spain two
a goal-bound header from Dominic Adiyiah, to an end upon Felipe Melo’s red card for years prior – failed to reach their high-tempo
and left the pitch crying following his sending an unseemly stamp on Arjen Robben in the best, with a 73rd minute Carlos Puyol header
off. Tears of remorse had barely reached his 73rd minute. proving the difference.
cheek before they turned to joy, as Gyan’s Holland, meanwhile, had ensured it would
penalty struck the crossbar and the match Villa instinct be an all-European affair with a 3-2 victory
headed for a shoot-out. Despite Ghana’s star Having dumped out Iberian rivals Portugal in over the Uruguayans thanks to goals from
man having the nerve to take – and score – Cape Town, Spain completed the Semi-Final skipper Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder
one of the five penalties, captain John Mensah line-up with a second straight 1-0 victory, this and Robben. Uruguay were without the
and, ironically, would-be goalscorer Adiyiah time over plucky Paraguay. They had their banned Luis Suárez, who had resumed his role
could not, cruelly ending The Black Stars’ quest captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas to thank of pantomime villain and enraged a continent
to become the first African nation to make the for saving Oscar Cardozo’s penalty before by declaring that he’d made the “save of the
World Cup Semi-Finals. Xabi Alonso missed a re-taken spot kick only tournament” against Ghana.
minutes later. David Villa’s 83rd minute winner There would have been few sympathisers
Easy Sneijder sealed a Semi-Final tie against Germany. falling on the side of the Ajax striker as
Earlier that day, Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Faced with criticism of his side’s Uruguay headed out, but it was hard not
Mandela Bay Stadium was awash with orange conservative approach, Spanish coach Vicente to feel aggrieved for Diego Forlán, whose
and yellow as Brazil and Holland took centre del Bosque admitted to the media that they pulsating performances in attack would earn
stage. In his attempt to become only the third had failed to reach the heights expected him the crown of 2010’s best player.
man to win the tournament as player and of them, and conceded that their German
coach, Dunga had shed some of Brazil’s opponents had been the best performers so Surely this time, Holland
famous samba flair in favour of a more rigid far. In private, though, Del Bosque must have So it was the Dutch heading to their first final
spine. Solid if unremarkable progress in the known that keeping the counterattacking since 1978, with boss Bert Van Marwijk
tournament so far, and a 1-0 half-time lead, Germans at bay for as long as possible would having masterminded a flawless 14-game
suggested it might just pay off. But two second- remain Spain’s best chance of progressing winning run, qualification included. The
half goals from Holland’s master craftsman, to their first ever World Cup Final. Sure Spanish were looking to become the first
Wesley Sneijder, turned the tie on its head and enough, Löw’s side – inhibited by the memory European champions to lift the World Cup

July 11, 2010, Johannesburg. With minutes

left of extra-time in the World Cup Final,
Andrés Iniesta of Spain dispatches the Dutch.

142 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 11, 2010, Johannesburg. Spain’s Sergio Ramos
gets his hands on the FIFA World Cup trophy. Spain
had become the eighth nation to win the World Cup.

since Germany managed to secure the double Spain’s midfield metronomes Xavi and The 84,490 in Soccer City, Johannesburg
in 1974. Andrés Iniesta had been almost as effective had waited almost two hours to see a goal
Despite their footballers failing to impress, as it was ugly. and this one was a corker. Spain had won
England would also be represented, as Del Bosque’s side were typically frugal with their maiden World Cup, the eighth side to
Premier League referee Howard Webb was possession but failed to find the space behind do so, and the first national side to win from
given the honour of officiating the Final, the a robust Dutch back line. Holland’s player of outside of their continent.
first Englishman to do so since Jack Taylor the tournament, Sneijder, did just that when Del Bosque’s side had been rewarded for
(a butcher from Wolverhampton) took charge his excellent through ball set Robben free in their refusal to be bullied by a bruising Dutch
in Munich 36 years earlier. the 60th minute, but could only watch and side. The total amount of yellow and red cards
in this encounter was more than double the
Arresting football previous record from the 1986 Final. But there
The former South Yorkshire police sergeant
REFEREE HOWARD WEBB DISHED was no question that the Final had failed to
had his hands full. Webb dished out a record OUT A RECORD 14 YELLOW live up to expectations. It was another slim
14 yellow cards and one red, as a promising CARDS AND ONE RED, AS A victory for Spain, whose goal tally of eight was
finale descended into a fiery kicking match. PROMISING FINALE DESCENDED the lowest of any world champions in history.
Intent on not affording the same respect that INTO A FIERY KICKING MATCH. The delirious Spanish didn’t care, though. And
Germany had granted the Spanish in the nor, for that matter, did the South Africans.
Semi-Final, the Dutch went clogging, with
Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong and John wince as the clearest chance of the game was Africa, it is time
Heitinga the worst offenders. repelled by the outstretched boot of the man Their highlight had unquestionably come just
It was hard to argue with Spain’s who would later lift the trophy. before kick-off, when a 91-year-old Nelson
protestations that De Jong’s 28th minute Mandela made his way on to the Soccer City
caution, following a studs-high challenge Brawn slippy pitch. Supported by his wife, his beaming
into Xabi Alonso’s chest, was worthy of Iker Casillas must have been readying himself grin belied his frailty as he soaked up the
a straight red, but Webb managed to for penalties when substitute Cesc Fàbregas applause. The crowd’s rapturous response
avoid reaching for his back pocket until fed Iniesta with two minutes of time left on said it all – Ke nako, Africa.
© Getty Images

the 19th minute of extra-time following Webb’s watch. The unflappable playmaker Africa, and South Africa, had delivered,
Heitinga’s second appearance in the book. took one touch and hammered a right-foot and once again they had their anti-apartheid
Before then, Holland’s attempt to rattle shot past Ajax’s Maarten Stekelenberg. hero in their hearts.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 143

 INTERVIEW

AARON MOKOENA
AS CAPTAIN OF THE BAFANA BAFANA, THE DEFENDER AND DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER WHO PLAYED FOR AJAX,
BLACKBURN ROVERS AND PORTSMOUTH WITNESSED FIRST HAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT THAT HOSTING
THE WORLD CUP FINALS COULD HAVE ON A NATION. HERE, HE RELIVES A MAGICAL MONTH IN HIS HOMELAND…
...............................................................................................................................................................
It was a crazy time for the people. I remember We were on top of our game against France but we need to get people understanding the
in the build-up we got the opportunity to meet the that day so it was a great feeling to beat them. grassroots game more. Things are almost 100
fans. We drove around Jo’burg and I promise It was our best performance of the three but, per cent professional, but we have to get the
you, it was unreal. People stopped work, kids unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to qualify and foundations sorted properly before we get there.
from school took a couple of hours off to wish we missed out on goal difference to Mexico.
us luck, everything came to a halt. You The World Cup in 2010 meant so much because
usually take an open-top bus after you have There has been a legacy left behind from our we managed to showcase the beauty of our
won something but we got to experience it success and the competition’s success. The country and the talent in our country. We also
beforehand – it was crazy. stadiums are still in very good shape, people are answered our critics by staging a successful
watching PSL games in their thousands, but competition. That filled us all with a tremendous
It was such a unifying experience for the nation; it could still be better. The infrastructure’s there sense of pride.
I remember the Rugby World Cup in South
Africa in 1995, which we won, uniting the
nation, but at the World Cup it was on another
level. Football is our No.1 sport so everyone, no June 11, 2010. South Africa captain
matter what their background, was behind us. Aaron Mokoena leads his team out in
Wherever you went people were getting along the first match in the 2010 World Cup.
– everyone was moving in the one direction.

As the host nation, we did feel a lot of pressure

from our people. From a personal point of view,
I actually felt it from the moment South Africa
were awarded the World Cup. I was imagining
from that moment on what it would feel like to
be standing in that tunnel, waiting to walk out
for the first game. None of us knew how we
were going to perform, but we just wanted to
give it our all.

Our first game was in Soccer City against

Mexico, and even thinking about that moment
still gives me butterflies in my stomach.
I remember standing in the tunnel and thinking,
“I cannot believe this is happening,” and the
noise was just unbelievable. Those vuvuzelas
sounded like a swarm of bees that got louder
and louder as we walked onto the pitch. You
couldn’t hear the person next to you talking and
when we lined up for the national anthem you
couldn’t hear the music at all. It was scary. I just
wanted my first touch and when we scored the
first goal of the tournament, with a beautiful
goal, we were on fire.

We went into the second game against Uruguay

knowing they were strong but these guys were
very tough and in all my games for the national
© Getty Images

team, they were the toughest players I have come

across. Physically, they were beasts and in every
department on the pitch they absolutely ruled us.

144 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

AARON MOKOENA 145
 June 24, 2014, Cuiabá. Colombia’s standout
player James Rodriguez scores his team’s fourth
against Japan. He’d win the Golden Boot.

BRAZIL 2014
WHEN BRAZIL LANDED THE RIGHTS TO HOST THE 2014 WORLD CUP FINALS, EVERYONE KNEW IT WAS GOING
TO BE A TOURNAMENT TO REMEMBER – BUT AT TIMES, THIS WAS ONE WAS OFF THE SCALE.
...............................................................................................................................................................
It seemed like one of those bizarre sporting not only learned to embrace the competition vanishing foam spray to ensure defending
anomalies. Brazil, a nation that had become but had come to dominate it too, establishing walls were in the right place. So what is
synonymous with World Cup success, hadn’t themselves as the most successful side in the vanishing foam? Typically, a can contains 80
staged the event for 64 years. So when event’s history by winning the title a record per cent water, 17 per cent butane and 2 per
FIFA announced, in March 2003, that the five times. Now, having won the World Cup cent vegetable oil. There would also be cooling
2014 tournament would return to South in Sweden, Chile, Mexico, the United States breaks if the temperature was over 32°C.
America for the first time since the 1978 and Japan, they had the opportunity to win it The draw was made in Bahia, a Brazilian
Finals, it was almost inevitable that Brazil where it mattered most. resort, in December 2013. It threw up some
would be in pole position. intriguing combinations with Group G
Confirmation duly arrived in October In the aerosol tonight featuring Germany, the United States,
2007. Colombia, Brazil’s only other rival as For the first time, and after the farrago of Portugal and Ghana quickly being billed
hosts, had officially withdrawn its bid in April Frank Lampard’s “goal” for England versus as the “group of death”. Elsewhere, hosts
© Getty Images

of that year, leaving Brazil unchallenged as Germany in the 2010 World Cup, FIFA had Brazil pulled Mexico, Croatia and Cameroon,
the only candidate left in the running. Since sanctioned the use of goal-line technology while the reigning champions Spain drew
they last hosted the event in 1950, Brazil had at the Finals and armed their referees with Holland, Chile and Australia.

146 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

It would prove to be a draw that was crossfield pass to head home from 15 yards, nought when the team reached Brazil. Drawn
disastrous for the holders, Spain. Their the ball looping up and over the Spanish in a group alongside the 2006 champions
opening game against a resurgent Dutch team keeper and captain Iker Casillas. It was a goal Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica, it was always
showed a side that was long past its best. that defied belief and, for that matter, most of going to be tough to progress but few people
Though Vicente del Bosque’s Spain had the laws of physics too. foresaw just how risible England would be
taken the lead through a Xabi Alonso under Roy Hodgson.
penalty, they were blown away by a rampant SPAIN WERE BLOWN AWAY BY
Holland who rattled in five goals to consign A RAMPANT DUTCH SIDE WHO Absolute rubbish
the world champions to the worst possible In their opening game against Italy in the
start to their title defence.
CONSIGNED THE HOLDERS TO jungle of Manaus, England were felled 2-1,
It was a breathtaking performance by THE WORST POSSIBLE START the winner coming from the maverick former
Louis van Gaal’s team and brought TO THEIR TITLE DEFENCE. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.
comparisons to the “Total Football” played Five days later, they lost 2-1 again, this time
by the Dutch sides of the Seventies. England, meanwhile, had breezed through to Uruguay, with both goals scored by Luis
The pick of the goals came from the a qualification group with Ukraine and Suárez who, remarkably, was still recovering
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie Poland, remaining unbeaten over the course from knee surgery, leading many to doubt
who threw himself headlong at a Daley Blind of their ten games. But it would count for whether he would even play in the tournament.

June 13, 2014, Salvador. Holland’s Robin van

Persie scores a staggering diving header
against Spain. It’s possibly the greatest header
in football history.

BRAZIL 2014 147

 June 13, 2014, Natal. Luis Suárez of Uruguay
But he did. Capitalising on some predictably has hurt his teeth after sinking them into Italian
dreadful defending from England, Suárez defender Giorgio Chiellini. He would be banned
headed Uruguay into a first-half lead before for nine international games.
Wayne Rooney levelled matters with a quarter
of an hour to play. Ten minutes later, however,
Suárez latched onto a simple long ball over
the top before hammering it past Manchester
City and England keeper Joe Hart to give
Uruguay all the points. England’s hopes hung
in the balance and when Costa Rica surprised
Italy, winning 1-0 in Recife, they were out at
the earliest possible opportunity.

AS GIORGIO CHIELLINI GOT TO

HIS FEET, HE PULLED BACK THE
SHOULDER OF HIS SHIRT TO
REVEAL TEETH MARKS.

If the headlines garnered by Luis Suárez in

the wake of the England game had been
overwhelmingly positive, they were in direct
contrast to the ones he was about to receive
after Uruguay’s final group game against Italy.

Biting talk
While a dramatic late winner from defender
Diego Godin gave Uruguay second place in
the group, knocking Italy out in the process,
the game was overshadowed by an incident
in the 79th minute when Suárez tangled with
Giorgio Chiellini in the Italian penalty area,
causing both men to fall to the turf. As Chiellini
got to his feet, he pulled back the shoulder of
his shirt to reveal teeth marks, alleging that he
had been bitten by Suárez.
While Suárez maintained his innocence,
and wasn’t even booked for the clash, replays
showed the Uruguayan clearly sinking his
teeth into the Italian defender’s shoulder. But
he had form. Indeed, it was the third time he
had bitten an opponent in his career. Two days
later, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee banned
Suárez for nine international matches – the
longest ban in World Cup history.
The furore that followed overshadowed
what was a remarkable achievement by Costa
Rica. Considering they were the whipping
boys of Group D, they’d not only made it
through to the last 16 but had also won the
group, winning two games and drawing one.

The pain in Spain

It wasn’t the only surprise of the opening
round. Out went the holders Spain as Holland
and Chile progressed from Group B but the
other groups all went to form with Germany,
France, Colombia, Argentina and Belgium all
© Getty Images

topping their groups.

For the first time since the Round of 16 was
introduced in 1986, all of the group winners

148 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

BRAZIL 2014 149
 July 13, 2014, Rio de Janeiro. In extra-time,
Germany’s Mario Götze celebrates the only
goal in the 2014 Final. In reality, Germany
had countless chances to win the game.

would win their Second Round knockout providing three assists and winning three and staring them out, the Dutch scored all
games to make the Quarter-Finals. But they man-of-the-match awards in the four games four of the penalties and watched on as Krul
would be close encounters with five needing he played. Rodriguez also scored six goals to kept out two from the opposition. Costa Rica’s
extra-time and two requiring penalties to claim the tournament’s Golden Boot award, wonderful run in the competition was over.
decide them. one of which also won the FIFA Puskás Award
for the goal of the tournament. It came in the Victory but at a cost
South American scorcher last 16 victory against Uruguay when, in the Colombia’s progress in the event, meanwhile,
The game of the round would take place in 28th minute, he cushioned the ball on his chest would eventually be halted by Brazil in a
Belo Horizonte where hosts Brazil faced Chile. 25 yards out before swivelling on the spot compelling and, at times, ugly Quarter-Final
Goals in normal time from the left knee of and crashing a spectacular volley in off the in Fortaleza. With an opening goal from
David Luiz and the lethal right boot of Alexis underside of the bar. Brazil skipper Thiago Silva and a stunning
Sánchez saw the game head into extra-time. free-kick from David Luiz, Brazil were coasting
With seconds before a penalty shootout, Van Gaal’s tactical nous to victory until a James Rodriguez penalty
Chile came agonisingly close to shattering the The Quarter-Final between Holland and Costa ten minutes from time produced a nailbiting
dreams of 200 million people as Mauricio Rica, meanwhile, would be decided by an climax. But Brazil’s win would come at a cost.
Pinilla hit the crossbar but it was left to inspired piece of management by Dutch Though their dream of a World Cup win on
Brazilian keeper Júlio César to save the day coach Louis van Gaal. With the game tied home soil remained alive, they had lost their
for the host nation, saving two spot-kicks to at 0-0 and deep into extra-time, Van Gaal captain Thiago Silva, his yellow card earning
send Luis Felipe Scolari’s side through to the swapped his goalkeepers, with Tim Krul him a one-match suspension, and, more
last eight. coming on for Jasper Cillessen for the penalty tellingly, their talismanic attacker Neymar, his
As with every World Cup Finals, new shootout, the idea being that, statistically, vertebra fractured by the knee of Juan Zúñiga.
names were being made and superstars Krul was better at saving spot-kicks than his Barcelona star Neymar had featured in
© Getty Images

born. Colombia, for example, unleashed colleague. It worked. As Krul faced down each all of Brazil’s games, scoring four times and
James Rodriguez on the watching world and of the Costa Rican players, walking up to the proving that there was so much more to his
the Monaco midfielder delivered in spades, penalty spot as they placed the ball down game than hype and an unusual haircut.

150 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 13, 2014, Rio de Janeiro. Bastian Schweinsteiger
of Germany lifts the World Cup. After humiliating
hosts Brazil in the Semi-Final 7-1, anything other
than a Germany victory would have been wrong.

But while his absence was always going books, was a 16th World Cup Finals goal for For the third World Cup Final in a row, the
to be felt by Brazil, nobody could have Miroslav Klose, thereby beating the record of match would go to extra time and would only
foreseen what was about to happen when the Brazilian striker Ronaldo. be settled in the 113th minute when the Bayern
they faced Germany in the Semi-Final in Munich midfielder Mario Götze controlled
Belo Horizonte on July 8. Familiar feel André Schürrle’s cross on his chest before
Germany’s opponents in the Final, for a third hooking it past Sergio Romero with a neatly-
Crazy football time, would be Argentina who had edged out taken volley.
Like Brazil, Germany were also undefeated Holland in the other Semi-Final, winning 4-2 It had been a tight and largely uneventful
in the tournament but Joachim Löw’s side laid on penalties after it had ended goalless after Final, glaringly at odds with the compelling
waste to Brazil in a first-half so bewildering, it extra-time. It had been another close call for nature of the other 63 games but Germany
was scarcely believable. Within half an hour, the Dutch but, again, they had fallen short were deserving winners and in claiming
Germany had scored five and Brazil weren’t and their maiden win in the World Cup would their fourth title, they had also become the
just reeling, they were out on their feet. Later, have to wait. first European team to win the World Cup in
some German players had admitted that they The Final would take place at Rio de the Americas.
had decided at half-time to go easy on Brazil, Janiero’s legendary Estadio do Maracanã on
lest they embarrass them on their home soil. July 13, the crowd of a little under 75,000 in Football carnival
Some chance. Two more goals followed stark contrast to the 200,000 that watched the The Semi-Final aberration against Germany
after the break and by the time Oscar grabbed last World Cup Final to be held at this iconic aside, Brazil had done the World Cup proud,
a consolation goal late on, the humiliation had stadium. Chances would be at a premium. delivering a Finals that was as entertaining as
long since been completed. The 1-7 scoreline, Gonzalo Higuain wasted Argentina’s any in recent memory.
was not only the most goals in a World Cup best chance in the first-half while Germany’s From goals to gaffes, incidents to accidents
Semi-Final but it was also Brazil’s biggest Benedikt Höwedes saw his header come and much more beside, it had been one long
ever losing margin and their first loss at home off the upright just before the interval. And, party for anybody lucky enough to pay the
in a competitive fixture since 1975. And strangely, Argentina’s talisman, Lionel Messi, World Cup a visit.
somewhere, lost in the scramble for the record failed to rise to the occasion. But then everyone always knew it would be.

BRAZIL 2014 151

 RUSSIA 2018
A CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE AS HOSTS, RUSSIA SURPRISED THE WORLD BY STAGING A PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE
TOURNAMENT THAT WOULD SEE FRANCE EMERGE VICTORIOUS.
...............................................................................................................................................................
It is no exaggeration to say that FIFA’s on June 14 with a 5-0 demolition of Saudi Placed in Group F alongside Sweden,
announcement in 2010 that Russia would Arabia. It would in fact prove to be an eventful Mexico and South Korea, holders Germany
be hosting the 2018 World Cup was both opening to a month-long festival of football had every right to expect to brush their
surprising and widely unpopular. Howls since hailed as one of the finest World Cups in first-round opponents aside en route to the
of derision and accusations of corruption recent memory. Round of 16. After all, they had not failed
immediately followed the news, along with to reach at least the Semi-Finals of a World
grave warnings from prominent figures about Putin on a show Cup since 1998 in France. Unfortunately for
the hooliganism and racism that permeated The first few days of the group stages offered them, Mexico hadn’t read the script, Hirving
Russian football. Yet FIFA remained unmoved, little in terms of surprises (Argentina’s 1-1 Lozano’s close-range effort condemning
standing by its decision to trust Vladimir Putin’s draw with debutants Iceland aside) as Croatia Joachim Löw’s charges to a shock 1-0 defeat.
vows that the slightest hint of trouble during and Brazil impressed and Spain and Portugal With early favourites France having
the tournament would be ruthlessly crushed. played out an enthralling Iberian derby that scraped past a stubborn Australia the day
Despite such assurances, suspicions of both finished 3-3, a late Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick before, all eyes now turned to Group H,
football’s governing body and Russia’s ability snatching a point for Portugal and completing featuring a much-fancied Belgium, Gareth
to stage a peaceful and inclusive World Cup a hat-trick for the Juventus-bound forward. But Southgate’s England, plus Tunisia and World
remained when the hosts opened proceedings fans didn’t have to wait long for an upset. Cup first-timers Panama.
© Getty Images, Alamy

June 30, 2018, Kazan. Kylian Mbappé sprints

clear of Argentina’s Nicolás Tagliafico during a
tumultuous Round of 16 clash in which the teenager
announced himself to the world.

152 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

June 14, 2018, Moscow. Russia celebrate
their third goal in a 5-0 opening-day
thrashing of Saudi Arabia.

RUSSIA 2018 153

 when France collided with Argentina. The form
of both teams suggested that a tight, cagey
affair was in store. In reality, the lucky fans
crammed into the Kazan Arena were about
to watch the game of the tournament and
arguably one of the most captivating knockout
clashes in World Cup history.
The game was only 12 minutes old when
Mbappé tore through the Argentine back line
towards goal, leaving Marcos Rojo little option
but to wrestle him to the turf and concede a
penalty. Up stepped Antoine Griezmann to
coolly convert his second successful spot kick
of the competition.
Behind but unbowed, Argentina composed
themselves and began to gain a foothold in a
match that had looked set to run away from
them. Their efforts were rewarded on 41
minutes when a sumptuous long-range strike
from Ángel Di María nestled in the top-left
corner of Hugo Lloris’s net. Jorge Sampaoli’s
men then dared to edge ahead shortly after
the break through a slightly fortuitous Gabriel
Mercado flick.
Evidently galvanised by falling behind,
France wasted little time in restoring parity, this
June 21, 2018, Nizhny time through an exquisite volley from Benjamin
Novgorod. A beaming Luka Pavard. At 2-2 the stage was set for someone
Modric wheels away after to become a national hero. That someone
scoring Croatia’s second goal in turned out to be 19-year-old Mbappé.
a 3-0 victory over Argentina. Unable to handle his raw pace throughout
the encounter, Argentina simply had no
As expected, Roberto Martínez’s Belgium Following their scintillating opener, both counter to Mbappé’s probing runs and elastic
made light work of the Central Americans, Spain and Portugal slogged their way to five ball control. Just after the hour mark they paid
who managed to keep the game goalless until points apiece, Morocco and Iran offering the price, Mbappé smartly ending a game
early in the second half before succumbing to stout resistance. Elsewhere, Lionel Messi’s of penalty-box pinball by skipping past two
a Dries Mertens strike. A brace from Romelu star-studded yet fragile Argentina fared even defenders and slamming the ball underneath
Lukaku wrapped up a routine 3-0 win. worse; thrashed 3-0 by an irresistible Croatia, Franco Armani. Four minutes later he would
England’s opening fixture would prove the South Americans only clawed their way put the contest beyond doubt, latching on to
to be far from straightforward. A typical into the next round courtesy of a hard-fought a perfectly weighted through ball from Olivier
poacher’s finish from skipper Harry Kane 2-1 victory over Nigeria. Yet the shock of the Giroud before hammering past an exposed
punished Tunisia’s failure to deal with an early tournament was still to come. Armani to make it 4-2. Sergio Agüero’s
corner, but the Africans soon levelled from the With Uruguay, France, Colombia, Belgium stoppage-time header would prove to be
spot ten minutes before the interval thanks to and England ultimately breezing into the nothing but a consolation.
an infringement from Kyle Walker. A second Round of 16, it seemed logical to expect
half in which England laboured tirelessly but four-time winners Germany to overcome their Hosts with the most
created little ticked into stoppage time with the Mexican setback and add their name to the The continued presence of the host nation
scores level, Southgate’s side looking set for burgeoning list of knockout contenders. Sure always elevates a World Cup, keeping native
a frustrating evening. A late corner provided enough, a last-gasp 2-1 win over Sweden set fans interested and giving others a second
them with a final chance. Kieran Trippier them on course to do just that. Only South team to follow. By finishing second in Group A
whipped the ball into a crowded box for Harry Korea now stood between the holders and and thereby reaching the Round of 16, Russia
Maguire to flick it towards the far post, where a mouth-watering clash with Brazil. However, had achieved the bare minimum expected
Kane ghosted in to nod home a crucial winner as Mexico had found before them, South of a host and avoided embarrassment on
and ignite the Three Lions’ campaign. Korea refused to roll over and accommodate the global stage. Anything beyond that
their illustrious opponents. would be an incredible bonus. Fortunately
Chaos in Kazan Inspired by Son Heung-Min, the Koreans for the originally nicknamed ‘The Team’, a
After an eventful first week of action, the ably neutralised Löw’s side before hitting particularly forgiving Spain awaited them in
groups began to settle down and largely play them twice on the counter in stoppage time to the next round.
out as anticipated, although the traditional condemn Germany to a stunning 2-0 defeat Ranked 60 places below the 2010 World
heavyweights (bar Italy, who were absent for and a first group-stage exit since 1938. Cup winners and the weakest side left in the
the first time in 60 years) were made to fight Remarkably, the same stadium would tournament, Russia knew they faced a colossal
for progress into the knockout stage. witness further drama just three days later task, and a 12th-minute own goal from Sergei

154 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 3, 2018, Moscow. England players
engulf Jordan Pickford after their historic
penalty shoot-out win over Colombia.

Ignashevich certainly didn’t help their cause. Drama on the Don Japan’s opener with a looping angled header
But the local fans inside the Luzhniki Stadium The Round of 16 was delivering its fair share to give Belgium hope. Five minutes later and
remained undaunted, cheering the hosts on of surprises, and while it also offered up a they would be level, substitute Marouane
despite seeing Spain dominate possession. routine 2-0 win for Brazil against a spirited Fellaini nodding home. Then, with extra time
Their belief was rewarded shortly before half Mexico, a dire encounter between Sweden just seconds away, Nacer Chadli stroked home
time when Artem Dzyuba levelled from the and Switzerland that the former just about to finish a flowing counter-attack and break
spot after a handball by Gerard Piqué. deserved to win 1-0, and a tight match that Japanese hearts.
Frustrated at being pegged back, Spain saw Croatia beat Denmark on penalties, it
remained calm and continued to probe for wasn’t finished with the drama yet. One night in Moscow
an opening, completing 1,006 passes, taking When Belgium clinched top spot in Group England versus Colombia rounded off the last
23 shots to Russia’s seven and finishing G with three wins from three to set up a tie 16 in Russia, and it wasn’t to be outdone when
with a whopping 79 per cent of possession. against Japan, even the most die-hard Blue it came to theatre.
Somehow, in spite of all their efforts, a second Samurai fans expected the Europeans to run After suffering defeat to Japan, Colombia
opening could not be engineered. Penalties out easy winners. It therefore came as quite the had beaten both Senegal and Poland to top
would be needed to settle the tie. shock to see the 2011 Asian Cup winners race Group H and were now aiming to reach
Perhaps flustered by their inability to kill off into a two-goal lead early in the second half. the quarter-finals for the second successive
a side they had toyed with for 120 minutes, The Round of 16 was sharpening its knives for time. England, meanwhile, retained hopes of
Spain fluffed their lines as man of the match another leading nation harbouring hopes of adding their name into the last eight for the
Igor Akinfeev, who’d made a series of vital going all the way in Russia – unless the likes first time since 2006.
stops during open play, saved two spot kicks to of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard or Romelu A relatively cagey affair finally burst into
help seal a famous victory for Russia and send Lukaku could stage a comeback of course. life on 57 minutes when Harry Kane was
© Getty Images, Alamy

Fernando Hierro (appointed just two days Remarkably given the talent in the Belgian hauled down inside the Colombia area as
before Spain’s opening fixture after ranks, it was in fact Jan Vertonghen who the South Americans nervously awaited an
the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui) and his would begin a Red Devils fightback, the Spurs England corner, the Three Lions’ prowess
players home. centre-back redeeming his error that led to from set-pieces in the group stage unsettling

RUSSIA 2018 155

 their opponents. The Spurs striker duly rifled Trippier that left Ospina clutching thin air. 3-3. of a nail-biting last-eight match, brushing
England ahead, where they remained until the Sudden death. Sweden aside 2-0 with little fanfare to reach a
93rd minute. Carlos Bacca placed the ball on the spot, first World Cup semi-final since Italia ’90.
Boasting two goals already, Yerry Mina took a few strides back and stood, legs apart, Joining them in the last four were Belgium
once again rose to the occasion when his steadying his nerves. His shot was powerful (2-1 victors over Brazil), France (who had
nation needed him most, the Barcelona and straight down the middle of Pickford’s beaten a lacklustre Uruguay 2-0 in their
defender meeting a corner with a thumping goal, who was flinging himself to his right. But characteristically casual way) and Croatia, the
downward header that bounced up off the just when it seemed like the net would bulge, latter of which had required penalties to edge
turf and over the head of Kieran Trippier the Everton keeper threw up his left hand to out hosts Russia after a thrilling 2-2 draw.
guarding the far post. A devastated England palm the ball away. Advantage England, but They would now play England for a place in
faced extra time. could Eric Dier grab his opportunity to make the Final.
Both sides exchanged opportunities history? He most certainly could, smashing As with the supporters of the other
during the additional 30 minutes, but neither his penalty to Ospina’s right. As he raced semi-finalists, England fans were daring to
possessed the composure to seize one, Danny away to join the throng of red shirts piling dream, and their hopes of a first major
Rose going closest with an angled effort that onto Pickford, Gareth Southgate roared at trophy since 1966 surged when Trippier
whistled narrowly beyond David Ospina’s the heavens, the ghosts of his own penalty found the back of Danijel Subašic’s net with
post. And so it would come down to penalties, heartache exorcised after 22 long years. a perfectly placed free-kick just five minutes
nemesis of so many England teams. England had won a World Cup penalty shoot- into the match. Shellshocked, Croatia tried
It felt like history was repeating itself when, out for the first time. in vain to rally, but the pace and movement
with the score at 3-2 to Colombia, Jordan of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane kept
Henderson saw his effort parried away by Waistcoats at the ready them from fashioning their own openings,
Ospina. Yet again England had missed in a In the wake of such an eventful set of fixtures, and England should have scored a second,
shootout. Yet again they appeared destined the Quarter-Finals were always going to Kane spurning a glorious chance with only
to lose a tense knockout tie in the cruellest of be hard-pressed to match the drama of the Subašic to beat. Even so, Southgate’s men
ways. And then, to English relief, Colombia Round of 16. Even England, supported by still held the advantage. A chance to face
missed their fourth spot kick, handing England now by hordes of waistcoat-wearing fans back France (who had beaten Belgium 1-0 the
a chance to draw level, which they promptly home (a nod to Southgate’s touchline attire), night before) in the final in Moscow was in
did thanks to a hard and high drive from managed to avoid the usual highs and lows English hands.

June 27, 2018, Kazan.

Dejected German players
contemplate their
stunning group-stage exit
in the wake of defeat to
South Korea.

156 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 July 15, 2018, Moscow. Hugo Lloris holds the
World Cup trophy aloft as France hail their
victory in a shower of rain and confetti.

Running out of time, Croatia worked the Didier Deschamps’ side were yet to hit top mark when Paul Pogba reacted quickest to
ball wide, where Šime Vrsaljko took a touch gear pervaded. a rebound to curl the ball beyond Subašic
before whipping a cross into the England For their part, Croatia were contesting their and put France at 3-1. Minutes later, Kylian
box. Electing to clear the danger with a diving first major final, and Zlatko Dalic’s outfit had Mbappé made history when scoring France’s
header, Kyle Walker stooped to meet the ball, fought like lions to get there. They knew they fourth, his low, long-range effort making him
only to be beaten to it by the outstretched could give their favoured opponents a game. just the second teenager (Pelé being the first)
boot of Ivan Perišic, who stabbed home to pull Fittingly for a World Cup that had offered to find the net in a World Cup final.
Croatia level. The familiar prospect of extra up several goal-fests, the Final witnessed Few would have blamed Croatia for letting
time beckoned both sides. six goals. The chaos began on 18 minutes their heads drop, but instead they continued
Croatia apparently didn’t fancy having when an unfortunate Mandžukic nodded a to pressure and harry, and while the outcome
to settle a third game on the bounce from Griezmann free-kick into his own net. But remained unchanged, they earned a small
12 yards, and with little over ten minutes Croatia weren’t behind for long, Perišic doing consolation when Mandžukic robbed a
remaining, Mario Mandžukic ghosted in well to create space in a packed area and rifle dawdling Lloris to make it 4-2. In the end
behind a complacent Walker to crash home an equaliser beyond Lloris. though, France possessed too much for all
the winner. Football wasn’t coming home after An even contest broke out for the next comers. For a second time in 20 years, the
all, but Southgate’s England could leave Russia ten minutes as the game settled down. Then, World Cup was theirs.
knowing they’d made their country proud. on 38 minutes, France won a corner, which Apparently conscious of the theatre
Griezmann fizzed into Subašic’s area. Rushing unfolding inside the Luzhniki Stadium, the sky
Didier does it again to snuff out the danger, Perišic appeared to over Moscow opened as Deschamps and his
Competing in their third World Cup Final, clear the ball legally, but VAR suggested he players celebrated. Worthy champions – if
France boasted two of the tournament’s top had in fact used his hand to usher the ball rarely spectacular – France more than played
scorers in Griezmann and Mbappé (both on out of touch. Ignoring a tirade of Croatian their part in ensuring that a World Cup filled
four goals), a midfield ably orchestrated by appeals, referee Néstor Pitana blew for a with stunning strikes, unexpected results and
N’Golo Kanté and Blaise Matuidi and penalty. For the third time in seven games, historic milestones culminated in the highest-
© Getty Images, Alamy

a back line featuring the formidable pairing Griezmann slotted home to put France ahead. scoring Final in over half a century. Even more
of Raphaël Varane and Samuel Umtiti. Croatia battled valiantly, the underdogs importantly, despite the understandable fears
And yet, despite their tournament pedigree snapping at French heels at every turn, but of many, Russia had given the world a party
and strength in depth, the feeling that their resistance folded just shy of the hour to remember.

RUSSIA 2018 157

 QATAR 2022
BUILT ON THE BACKS OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS, QATAR’S WORLD CUP WILL BE A VISUAL
SPECTACLE OVERSHADOWED BY AN APPALLING HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.
...............................................................................................................................................................

Of all the nations that jostled to host the Slaves for sport However, arguably the bigger issues were
2022 World Cup, Qatar, a nation home to Decried as morally indefensible, illogical and being drowned out by the understandable
less than three million people and best downright bizarre, FIFA’s vote was widely but less imperative complaints of football
known for its premium airline, seemed the derided, and the sense of anger and confusion managers and club sponsors. After all, the
most unlikely destination for the greatest show that permeated the global footballing heat, logistics and even the sporting calendar
on Earth. Surely FIFA, a bastion of community only strengthened when, in 2014, could, with enough forward planning, be
transparency renowned for putting players FIFA’s Secretary General Jerome Valcke overcome. What could not be so easily
(and fans) before profit, couldn’t possibly confessed, “The dates for the World Cup (in overlooked are the laws that still govern
contemplate granting a nation the size Qatar) will not be June to July. To be honest, I Qatar today, namely those pertaining to
of Yorkshire the right to host its flagship think it will be held between 15 November and homosexuality, which is illegal in the Arabic
tournament? It would be utterly impractical, 15 January at the latest. If you play between state, and the treatment of immigrant workers
and that’s before its average summer 15 November and the end of December, that’s from countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and
temperature of 45 degrees Celsius or woeful the time when the weather conditions are best, the Philippines.
treatment of foreign workers came into when you can play in temperatures equivalent Comprising approximately 90 per cent of
the equation. No, it just wouldn’t happen. to a warm spring season in Europe, averaging Qatar’s workforce, these foreign workers find
And then came Sepp Blatter’s staggering 25 degrees.” In order to accommodate this themselves effectively enslaved by Qatar’s
announcement in December 2010 that, in fact, change, leagues around the world would have ‘Kafala’ system, which obliges workers to
it could. The World Cup was to be hosted in to be interrupted, leading to fresh concerns hand their passports over to their employers,
the Middle East for the first time. about player injuries and fixture pile-ups. preventing them from leaving the country

Seven of the eight stadiums that will host

matches during the 2022 World Cup have
been built specifically for the tournament.
© Getty Images, Alamy

158 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 Vinícius Jr celebrates his
goal against Chile with
teammate Neymar during a
4-0 qualifying victory.

without their permission. Workers are also protected from Qatar’s draconian laws (which of topping a World Cup qualifying group that
unable to change jobs. classifies homosexuality as a crime punishable pitted them against Switzerland, Northern
However, these are far from the gravest by seven years imprisonment) has also raised Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Even when
issues they face. Toiling for long hours in serious concerns among journalists and they failed to do so, finishing second, the
scorching temperatures on unsafe construction supporters groups. Yet, regardless of these former Man City manager boldly declared,
sites, thousands of immigrant workers have major issues, the world is preparing for a “We go into the playoffs confident. We will
died while helping to build the seven new festival of football as though it is being hosted book our place in the World Cup in March
stadiums required to host the tournament. in a free, open and inclusive environment. and then hopefully win the tournament, too.”
Authorities in Qatar have rushed to dismiss Ultimately, this should come as little It’s hard to imagine that the Azzurri’s
concerns, labelling many deaths as being the surprise. Outrage in football is usually a playoff opponents North Macedonia needed
result of ‘natural causes’ or ‘non-work related’. passing phase, and the prospect of missing any further motivation, but Mancini provided
Out of those who have survived, many now out on the coverage and revenue afforded to it anyway, and the minnows seized their
face deportation for daring to protest about those who make it to the biggest stage of all opportunity to ram his words back down
their employers’ refusal to pay their wages for outweighed the chance to take a moral stand. his throat with a sensational 1-0 victory in
as long as seven months. Palermo. For the second successive World
Desert road Cup, Italy, four-times winners, would not be
See no evil Of the 32 names that went into the pot for among the 32 contenders.
Despite the valiant efforts of some (including the group-stage draw on April 1, 2022, the Sweden were also conspicuous by their
Norway, Germany and the Netherlands’ most notable were Wales (featuring in their absence at the draw in April, missing out
senior men’s teams and the likes of Phillipp first World Cup since 1958) and Canada thanks to a 2-0 playoff defeat to Poland.
Lahm and Eric Cantona) to drag Qatar’s (qualifying for just the second time). Outside of the UEFA qualifiers, Nigeria, World
horrific human rights record into the spotlight, But it was arguably the nations who were Cup regulars since qualifying for the first
none of the countries that have qualified for absent that really raised some eyebrows. As time in 1994 (although they didn’t make it to
this winter’s World Cup (the last to host 32 with any qualifying campaign, the path to Germany 2006), failed to secure a berth in
teams before the 2026 edition expands to 48) Qatar was a lengthy one, and for some it Qatar on account of an agonising away goals
have opted to boycott the tournament. proved unnavigable. defeat to Ghana.
The state’s failure to reassure LGBTQ+ fans After winning Euro 2020, Roberto Across the Atlantic, Colombia showed
travelling to the competition that they will be Mancini’s Italy were understandably confident themselves to be nothing if not consistent.

QATAR 2022 159

 considered genuine contenders, but each is
Resurgent under Hansi Flick,
Germany are unbeaten in ten burdened by a unique set of limitations.
games since his appointment and Much of Belgium’s once-fabled ‘golden
will look to go far in Qatar before generation’ is now either approaching or
hosting Euro 2024. comfortably beyond 30, meaning time is
no longer on the side of the Red Devils.
They should have far too much for Canada,
Morocco and Croatia, but save for an upset
in Group E, Spain or Germany will be lurking
in the next round. It will be fascinating to see
how far Roberto Martinez can take this ageing
but gifted outfit.
Euro 2020 runners-up England face no
such worries about time, boasting an average
age of 25 and talents including Harry Kane,
Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden. Southgate’s
squad expects to go deep in Qatar, helped by
the experience of reaching a first major final
in 55 years.
Iran, the USA and Wales won’t make for
easy Group B neighbours, but England should
be able to rely on a range of tools to unlock
their defences, and a potential clash with
any of the teams in Group A in the last 16
After reaching three World Cups in a row Copa America Final and dismantling Italy will hold no fears. However, if England get to
from 1990 to 1998, they missed the next in a dazzling 3-0 victory at Wembley in the Quarter-Finals, France or Argentina may
three before then escaping the group stages the inaugural CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of await them, and while the Three Lions’ goal-
in both 2014 and 2018. True to form, they Champions in June, this South American scoring capacity is beyond doubt, their ability
contrived to lose five matches and finish sixth powerhouse has no reason to fear anyone, to prevent technically gifted sides from finding
in South American qualifying, one point and it would come as quite the upset if they the back of Jordan Pickford’s net certainly isn’t.
behind playoff hopefuls Peru (who themselves fail to navigate a group containing Saudi With little option but to trust a defence that
lost 5-4 on penalties to Australia in their inter- Arabia, Mexico and Poland. Should they falter has rarely let him down to date, Southgate
confederation playoff). and finish second, it’s likely the current holders will hope England tighten up defensively.
Along with these nations, some key players will await them in the Round of 16. If they are to buck an abysmal record of
will be watching this winter’s World Cup from France were imperious in 2018, consistently defeats against big hitters on the world stage
the comfort of their sofas, including Mohamed swatting aside problematic opposition without and emulate England’s Women, the back
Salah, Erling Haaland and Oleksandr ever reaching top gear. And yet, against all line needs to show itself to be less forgiving.
Zinchenko. But what of the teams who did expectations, they failed to advance beyond Resorting to its miserly approach at Euro 2020
battle their way to a place in Qatar? the Round of 16 at Euro 2020, knocked out by could yet see a fluid but flawed team fight their
a valiant Switzerland who refused to surrender way to a second consecutive Final.
The usual suspects even at 3-1 down. Incredibly, given their record at major
Of all the competitors set to attempt to secure Les Bleus rallied well in the wake of tournaments since winning three in a row
football’s greatest prize, five-time winners this upset to finish World Cup qualifying between 2008 and 2012, Spain are not
Brazil are arguably the best placed for a undefeated with five wins and three draws, currently listed among the favourites for glory
successful assault. Blessed with the offensive and thanks to their unrivalled strength in in Qatar, which is exactly how Luis Enrique
talents of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Vinícius depth, confidence is high among French will want it. Combining seasoned veterans with
Jr, anchored by Casemiro and with the choice fans that Deschamps can lead his side to prodigious young talents, La Roja continue
of Alisson or Ederson between the sticks, the the summit of world football once more, an to threaten even the best sides with death
Seleção breezed through qualifying with achievement that would see them become only by a thousand passes. Even so, they are not
14 wins and three draws. In doing so they the third team in history after Italy (1934 and the all-conquering force of old, and at times
amassed a South American record 45 points, 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) to retain Spain can resemble a radiant carousel that is
eclipsing Argentina’s total of 43 during the the title. However, they will need to put a string ultimately going nowhere. Possession, while
campaign to reach the 2002 World Cup. of four games without a win behind them and nine-tenths of the law, won’t be enough to win
It’s therefore no surprise that manager Tite’s look to beat Austria and Group D opponents in Qatar. Unless they can share the goal-
charges are favourites to clinch a sixth crown Denmark in their upcoming UEFA Nations scoring burden equally throughout the midfield
in Qatar. League matches in September if they are to and the front three, Spain could yet struggle to
Desperate to prevent their continental lay the ideal foundations for a tilt at winning outmuscle the likes of Brazil and France.
rivals from moving four titles ahead will France a third World Cup crown.
be Argentina. In what will likely be Lionel Young pretenders
Messi’s final appearance at a World Cup, La Lions in the winter? The beauty of football is its unpredictability, yet
Albiceleste seem destined to be formidable As for the rest of Europe, Belgium, England one thing we can be sure of is that a select few
opponents. After beating Brazil in the 2021 and Spain could all make a case for being players will announce themselves to the world

160 THE WORLD CUP – A COMPLETE HISTORY

 After edging rivals Egypt out on penalties to
secure a World Cup spot, Senegal, winners
of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, will be
hoping to cause a shock in Qatar.

this winter. Identifying who they may be is no role in helping his country to reach just its workers’ rights (including the dismantling of
mean feat, but a few names already stand out. second World Cup, and if the Maple Leafs are the Kafala system) are another positive that
Pedri, of Spain and Barcelona, has been to create a stir and crash the last 16 party then authorities in Qatar are pointing to. And yet,
compared to Andrés Iniesta by none other they need him at his buccaneering best. 12 given the suspicion that its initial attempts to
than Xavi. He will only turn 20 five days after goals in 32 appearances is testament to the host the tournament were driven by a jealousy
the World Cup kicks off on 20 November threat he offers, and we suspect that Belgium, towards Abu Dhabi’s purchase of Manchester
(it was originally set to begin on the 21st Morocco and an ageing Croatia won’t relish City in 2008 and a desire to ‘sportswash’
until FIFA decided that it would revert to the trying to contain him. Qatar’s global image, not to mention the
tradition of the host nation contesting the state’s continued refusal to investigate claims
opening game on the first day), but he is A lasting legacy? that as many as 6,500 migrant workers have
already a vital component for Luis Enrique in A common thread that runs through the paid with their lives so foreign dignitaries
the midfield. build-up to any World Cup is the legacy that and fans can enjoy the benefits of a fully
Equally as crucial to his nation’s hopes organisers insist the tournament can leave long air-conditioned arena, it’s difficult to envisage
of success this summer is Darwin Núñez. after the winner has been decided and the what a lasting legacy may look like.
Uruguay’s hot-headed centre-forward already fans have gone home. History has repeatedly Only time will tell if Qatar is serious about
has two international goals to his name in 11 disproved this comforting yet misleading continuing to improve working conditions, and
appearances, and he’s hit the ground (and narrative, as hosting a World Cup rarely it’s to be hoped that one day homosexuality
Joachim Andersen) running since his transfer enhances the lives of those left behind to clean will be decriminalised. Maybe, when the
to Liverpool. Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani up after the confetti finally settles. Even so, eyes of the world turn towards its shimmering
have served their country well, however both Qatar may yet prove to be unique when it stadia and some of the biggest players in the
are now 35, meaning 23-year-old Núñez is comes to the legacy of its World Cup. game run out on to its carpet-like pitches,
the future of a historically lethal front line. His Many of its stadiums will either be fully Qatar might realise the potential benefits
strength, aerial prowess and clever movement or partially demolished (mainly in the form of harnessing the beautiful game’s spirit of
© Getty Images, Alamy

will likely cause Ghana, South Korea and of chairs being removed and used at other, inclusivity. Then again, the previous hosts
Portugal no end of problems. smaller venues), and in their place schools, didn’t exactly choose to bask in the light of the
Fleet-footed and with an eye for goal, shops and other community-based enterprises fine show they put on. When it comes to major
Canada’s Alphonso Davies played a critical will spring up. The supposed improvements to sporting events, all that glitters isn’t truly gold.

QATAR 2022 161

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IN-DEPTH HISTORY WORLD CUP ICONS QATAR 2022

Relive the highs and lows from every World Celebrate the World Cup’s greatest players Look ahead to the Middle East’s first-ever
Cup, starting with the inaugural tournament in with profiles of groundbreaking stars such as World Cup with our round-up of the teams
9000

Uruguay in 1930 right up to the present day Ronaldo, Maradona, Beckenbauer & more and players to watch at Qatar 2022