Dr. Aminul Islam, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, AMU, Aligarh

936 views

0 likes

You will need to sign in before you can comment or like.        

   The Football World Cup, started back in 1930, is the most popular sports event. And things that makes it exceptionally special are the unpredictable events that are so common. Some of such unforgettable World Cup moments follow...

Although football was officially born in 1904 with the founding of FIFA, it was not until 1924 and the Olympic tournament in Paris that the international game really came to its great glory. In 1928 however, when many nations abstained from the Olympic tournament in Amsterdam, the FIFA congress decided to organise a new tournament - the FIFA World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay without any qualifying rounds.
- The whole of this world cup took place in a single city, Montevideo, with its three stadiums. In the final, Uruguay were down 2-1 at half time, but fought back bravely to stun the Argentineans with a 4-2 victory.

Italy won the 2nd and 3rd. I may have let in four goals, but at least I saved the lives of 11 men, Hungary goalkeeper referred to the telegram Mussolini sent to the Italy team before the 1938 Final, which contained the words Win or die. Throughout the second world war, the Italian Vice-President of FIFA hid the world cup trophy in a shoe-box under his bed.

1950 saw the first post-war world cup in Brazil. They just needed a draw against Uruguay in Maracana- the planet's biggest stadium to become World Champions but were defeated. A whole nation was plunged instantly into mourning. The Brazilian officials even forgot to present the Uruguayans with the trophy. FIFA President Jules Rimet himself went onto the pitch in search of the Uruguayan captain to perform the ceremony.

The fifth one in Switzerland (1954) was unforgettable for its sensational high-scoring games, introduction of television coverage and a surprise win for an admittedly understrength German side against Hungary. It was also the first time in history that all players wore a number on their shirt. Hungary, the magical Magyars were the favourites with a team including Puskas, Bozsik, Kocsis and Hidegkuti, unbeaten in 28 internationals (since May 1950) and Olympic champions. But after the infamous Battle of Berne with Brazil, three players were sent off and the teams fought afterwards in the dressing rooms. In the final, after leading 2-0 against West Germany, whom they had beaten 8-3 in the opening round, they went down 3-2. In ten memorable minutes the West Germans had fought back to equalise. After the Hungarians hit the post, Helmut Rahn scored the winner for West Germany with only six minutes remaining, when the Hungarian goalkeeper slid on the wet grass as he was about to go for the ball.

Brazil, inspired by a 17-year-old youngster called Pele, won the trophy for the first time in 1958. Pele scored against Wales, hit a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over France in the semi-finals and struck two more in the final, a 5-2 triumph over the hosts Sweden. The real magician was Mario Zagallo, who was there again in the 1962 winning team and then in 1970 as coach, when Brazil took home the Jules Rimet Cup forever after their third win. Best goal-scorer Just Fontaine's (France, 13 goals) record stands to this day and is unlikely ever to be suppressed.

1962 saw another Brazilian triumph. The tournament also staged one of the most notorious matches in the history - the Battle of Santiago between Italy and Chile, in which two Italians were sent off and one had his nose broken by a solid left-hook from a Chilean player.

The 1966 world cup was won by host England. After the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen while on display in London, the hosts triumphed again when it was recovered by a dog called Pickles under a bush in a suburban front garden in south London a few days later. Defending champion Brazil was eliminated in the first round. Probably no event in the history of the World Cup has caused so much discussion as the so-called Wembley goal', a controversial one (goal-line controversy) that set England on the way to victory when Geoff Hurst (hat-trick) made it 3:2 in the final against Germany. North Korea became the first Asian country to reach quarter final stage but lost to Portugal in one of the most astounding and entertaining matches in the history of the competition. Amazingly trailing 0-3 to North Korea, Portugal staged a rousing comeback courtesy of four goals from the trailblazing star Eusebio (popular as the Black Pearl) and eventually triumphing by 5-3.

The Jules Rimet Cup, named after the founder of the FIFA World Cup competition, became Brazilian property outright when the team's victory in 1970 saw the cup pass into their hands for the third time. The trophy was stolen in Brazil and, unlike in England in 1966, was never seen again. A fiercer and nerveracking struggle was seen in the semi-final between Germany and Italy. After 90 minutes the two teams were locked at 1-1. What followed in extra-time has entered football folklore, with both teams leading at different times in a heart-stopping battle. Franz Beckenbauer remained on the field even with a dislocated shoulder. His courage, however, was not to be rewarded, as it was finally the Italians who had their way (4-3) to reach the final. It was the the only match in FIFA World Cup history to have produced five goals in extra time. For the first time substitutes were allowed, as well as yellow and red cards being introduced.

To be Continued . . . .

Comments