Dr. Aminul Islam, Department of Chemistry, Aligarh

611 views

0 likes

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

. . . . .(continued from previous issue)
The 10th FIFA World Cup tournament held in Germany in 1974 was remembered for the arrival of ‘Total Football’ and colour television. The first round group system followed by a knock-out in the second round was replaced by a group system in both rounds. Notable first-time qualifiers were East Germany and Zaire, which became the first sub-Saharan African nation to do so. Hungary, Spain, France and most surprisingly England failed to make it through. Scotland with one win and two draws failed to qualify for the second round, despite being the only undefeated team of the competition.
   East Germany's 1-0 win over their political enemies from the west, on opposition territory too, might not have much meaning in the sporting sense since both teams had already qualified for the next round, but it did have an emotional effect. West German captain Franz Beckenbauer had to appear on television to explain the situation to an unsettled public.
   The iconic final between West Germany and Netherlands had started off dramatically as Johan Cruyff was brought down in the German penalty area following a solo run. The Dutch took the lead from the ensuing Neeskens penalty before the Germans had even touched the ball and with just a minute gone on the clock. Even playing with the brand of Total Football invented by the Dutch club Ajax, the Dutch could not overcome the hard-running, interchanging style West Germany possessed, and went down 2-1, Gerd Muller, ‘Der Bomber’, typically scoring the winning goal.

Rarely has the run-up to a world cup been so filled with controversy as the 11th tournament held in Argentina (1978). Football, in fact, took a back with the debate whether or not to boycott the tournament in protest against General Videla's totalitarian regime and its violation of human rights. Finally, however, despite a widespread call to stay away, all footballing nations agreed to participate except Cruyff, the outstanding Dutch footballer and teams that had failed to qualify, such as England (for the second time running), Yugoslavia and the USSR. Scotland needed to beat the Netherlands by three goals in their final game to advance to the second round. They were at 3-1, one more goal would be enough . . . but when it came, it was scored by Dutchman Johnny Rep. They had to go home too soon even after putting such a brilliant performance.
  
   To book a berth in the final, Argentina needed to beat Peru in its last game of the second round by at least four clear goals. But contrary to all expectations, Passarella and his team-mates put no less than six goals past the Peruvians, including two by Mario Kempes. This goal avalanche raised eyebrows among even the most casual of observers. In the final, however, Argentina were worthy winners (3-1 after extra-time) over a Dutch side out of sorts again at the final hurdle.
   Italy survived the opening round on goal difference and then went on to win the trophy for a third time in 1982 after defeating a creative Brazilian team (Zico, Socrates) in an astonishing match in the second phase with the help of a terrific hat-trick by Paolo Rossi, who had earlier served a two-year ban for match-fixing. This World Cup is remembered for a game that has passed into football lore: the France vs. West Germany semi-final in which Germans took the lead, before Platini brought France level with a penalty. Substitute Patrick Battison got injured out of consciousness, but the referee didn't sanction the German keeper and not even a free kick was awarded. In extra-time the Blues led 3-1 but Germany fought back to equalize and then won the game on a penalty shoot-out. This dramatic but ultimately cruel game became one of the most talked-about encounters of all time.

The 13th world cup (1986) was awarded to Mexico, after the original choice, Colombia, could not afford to stage the tournament due to terrible earthquakes. For the first time, second round games were played on a knock-out basis. Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the 2nd round in a world cup competition. After winning against the world champions- Italy and then Brazil (Joel Bats saved a Zico penalty in the second half) in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out (Platini and Socrates missed the goal), the French, as in 1982, were again brought to a halt by the Germans in the semi-final. Argentina overcame West Germany 3-2 in the final. This tournament is best remembered by two goals - The Hand of God, which was actually a handball, and the Goal of the Century both scored by Diego Maradona against England in the quarterfinal match, which became a part of football folklore. As for the second goal, he won the ball in his own half and set off down the right, escaping the attentions of two England forwards. The 115,000 fans at the Azteca stadium looked on in a trance as he headed straight for goal, glided past two more England defenders, before dummying and rounding Shilton - the England goalkeeper with 55 minutes on the clock. It was a one in a million goal.

Germany took revenge in the 1990 final beating Argentina by a late penalty converted by Andreas Brehme. Argentina became the first team not to score in the final and also the first team to have two players sent off in the final. Schillaci, better known as ‘Toto’, who had played only one international match before the World Cup became the tournament's top scorer and virtually lifted Italy into the semi-finals on his own. Cameroon's Roger Milla- the old Lion, who came out of retirement to play, became at 38 the oldest goal-scorer in world cup history. They were beaten by England 3-2, after leading 2-1 with ten minutes to go in the quarter final. Cameroon's marvelous display, along with Egypt's excellent performance did not go unnoticed, and Africa was allowed to field three as opposed to two teams in the next World Cup.

The 1994 show had two unusual events- a drama when Maradona, Argentina's hero of 1986, tested positive for drugs and was expelled from the tournament and a tragedy when Colombian Andres Escobar was murdered days after returning home from scoring an own goal against the United States. France, the 1986 semi-finalists failed to qualify. The final pitted Brazil against Italy, two nations which had already won the world cup three times. Brazil won their fourth title on penalties (first time in world cup history) against Italy. Roberto Baggio who had helped his country's win against Spain in the quarter final and Bulgaria in the semis, however, missed the penalty shot in the final. Roger Milla confirmed his ‘title’ as the tournament's oldest goal-scorer, at 42 scoring lone goal against Russia. \\

World Cup 1998 saw the participation of 32 countries. An epic contest was played out in the second round between Argentina and England- a penalty each in the first ten minutes, Michael Owen's goal of the tournament, Javier Zanetti's clinical free-kick move on the stroke of half-time to equalize. High drama after the break- David Beckham sent off, Campbell's ‘winner’ disallowed for a foul, extra time, more penalties . . . Argentinian keeper saved England's fifth and final spot kick to see them through to the final.
   France needed the first ever (and to date only) golden goal in the 113th minute, courtesy of central defender Blanc. In the quarter final, they were up against Italy and this time it was the thickness of the woodwork which came to their rescue - Roberto Baggio flashed a free header past the post in the dying minutes of extra time, then Luigi di Biagio rattled the crossbar with the fifth and decisive penalty of the shootout. In the semi-final, their opponent was the surprise package - Croatia who had upset Germany 3-0 in the quarter final. The golden boot winner Suker gave them the lead after the break but France right back Lilian Thuram chose this moment to score his first, and second, international goals and set up a dream final against holders Brazil, who had overcome Netherlands in the semis. With a header in the 27th minute followed by a second in first half injury time, playmaker Zinedine Zidane sent shock waves through his Brazilian opponents from which they would never recover. Despite being reduced to ten men after Marcel Desailly's expulsion in the 68th minute, the French fortress not only withstood a final pounding from Brazil but even slotted in another goal after a counter-attack from Petit in the last minute.

(to be continued...)

Comments