Football World Cups

The football World Cup started when the President of FIFA, Jules Rimet, invited nations to play in a ‘football Olympics’. 13 nations agreed. It came to be called the Jules Rimet Trophy and was first played in 1930 in Uruguay. Why Uruguay? One reason was that it was willing to pick up all the travelling costs. And that was important given that the Great Depression was on!

The 1934 and 1978 editions were politicized. Mussolini ruled Italy during the 1934 World Cup. He understood the propaganda potential and left no stone unturned to give his Azzuri an advantage, even recruiting several Argentinians. Many countries didn’t want Argentina to be hosts of the 1978 edition since it was then under military rule and political killings were commonplace. In both instances, the host nation won the tournament.

And then there’s Brazil, the country synonymous with football. Samba Futbol gained center stage in 1958, thanks to the all conquering Brazilians and Pele. Brazil went on to defend their title in 1962. And then won again in 1970, beating Italy in one of the best ever displays in a World Cup final. Having won the trophy 3 times, Brazil got to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy forever.

Given the number of unbelievable comebacks Germany has made throughout World Cup history, “Impossible is Nothing” should be Germany’s motto, not Adidas’! The first time they showed it was in the 1954 final when they came back from being 2-0 down to beat the Magical Magyars (Hungary). And they seem to pull off at least one Houdini act in every edition ever since! No wonder they’ve won the Cup 3 times (1954, 1974 and 1990): it’s so hard to knock them out.

Think controversies, think England. England won the 1966 World Cup with the most controversial goal in the tournament’s history. And the venue was, what else, Wembley (England). Having “cheated” their way to a win, the English then were at the receiving end of Diego Maradona’s (in)famous “Hand of God” goal in 1986.

The most memorable World Cups were all one-man shows. Like Diego Maradona in 1986. He scored the greatest goal in World Cup history dribbling through the entire English defense. And scored another spectacular goal against Belgium in the semis. And set up the winning Argentine goal in the final. Or Zinedine Zidane in 1998 as the midfield general who led France to its first ever victory. And he scored goals as well, including two in the final. Or Ronaldo’s rise from the ashes in 2002 as he scored in every match except one to take Brazil to victory.

And then were the great teams that didn’t win the World Cup. Like the Magical Magyars in 1954. Or the “Total Football” playing Netherlands under Johann Cryuff in 1974. Or Brazil with its galaxy of stars like Zico, Falcao and Socrates in 1982. Or Michel Platini’s France, also in 1982.

Who can forget the tension and heartbreak of penalties at World Cups? Great players like Michel Platini, Zico and Roberto Baggio all missed penalties. In some cases, the miss proved fatal; in others, it didn’t.

Think only forwards and strikers get all the glory? You’d be wrong. Even goal keepers can be heroes. Sergio Goycochea, the Argentine goalkeeper in 1990 and Oliver Kahn, the German goalkeeper in 2002, both get most of the credit for taking average teams all the way to the finals.

And lastly, there’s the transformation the World Cup brings about. Maradona went from being the 1986 hero to the villain who failed a drug test in 1994. Zidane was hero in 1998; villain in 2006 when he headbutted an Italian defender and got sent off. Ronaldo sleepwalked in the 1998 final; and scored both goals in the 2002 final.

Whoever said football was dull?

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