History Of The Soccer World Cup - Part 2

This Is part two of the history, click here to go to part 1

1966 – England were hosts of the 1966 event and were determined to improve on what had been a poor showing in the finals up until then from the country that had given birth to the game. There was drama even before a ball was kicked, when the World Cup trophy, named after the competitions originator Jules Rimet, was stolen from an exhibition, but later recovered when discovered by a dog named Pickles. The 1966 finals was also a benchmark as it was the first finals where defensive play became paramount over attacking style and verve. There were far fewer goals than in previous finals and the tackling meted out to some dangerous players, such as Brazilian ace Pele, verged on the scandalous. Pak Doo Ik earned almost legendary status in North Korea and North East England when his goal gave North Korea a stunning 1-0 victory over Italy. The 1966 finals controversy and drama continued in the final when Germany snatched a last gasp equaliser to make the game 2-2 and send it into extra time, and then Geoff Hurst’s shot cannoned down off the bar either in front of, on or behind the goal line. The Belarussian lineman felt it was over the line and the goal stood. With seconds remaining Geoff Hurst became the first, and so far only player to score a hattrick in a World Cup final when he added a third to make the final score 4-2.

1970 – The 1970 finals in Mexico are widely regarded as the best ever contested. The competition produced many amazing games as the 16 teams faced off under the relentless Mexican sun. England and Brazil were the favourites and they clashed in the group stages, Jairzinho’s goal giving the Brazilians a narrow win. England qualified for the quarter finals, but were undone by a brilliant comeback from West Germany who after being 2-0 down, scored three goals past replacement keeper Peter Bonetti to take themselves through. Brazil moved on imperiously to the final, defeating Uruguay 3-1 in a semi final which saw Pele produce a defining moment of his soccer genius, when racing through he dummied the ball past the onrushing Uruguayan keeper. It is a moment that comes close to being soccer perfection, if it wasn’t for the fact that he dragged his resulting shot just inches wide! Italy defeated Germany 4-3 in an incredible semi final, but in the final, the brilliant Brazilians were just too good, defeating Italy 4-1 and scoring what many believe to be the perfect team goal with Carlos Alberto’s impeccable strike for the Brazilian’s fourth goal.

1974 – West Germany were the hosts of the 1974 tournament and were expected to do well. Their victory in Sweden in 1954 was widely tipped to be repeated and the home fans were not to be disappointed. The tournament also saw the emergence of another European superpower in the guise of Holland, who played a wonderful flowing brand of soccer dubbed “total soccer”. The Dutch, led by the incomparable Johan Cruyff, easily defeated holders Brazil on their way to the final in Munich where they took the lead without a German player touching the ball after they were awarded a penalty just seconds into the game. Germany however, led by the imperious Franz Beckenbauer, struck back with a penalty themselves, converted by Paul Breitner and a first half strike by legendary striker Gerd Muller giving the hosts their second World Cup victory.

1978 – The 1978 finals were slated for Argentina and were amongst the most political ever staged. Holland would once again prove to be European soccer’s strongest performers, though they didn’t distinguish themselves in the group stages, losing their final game to Scotland. Italy looked strong and defeated the hosts in the group stages, but they lost to an unbelievable 40 yard strike from Arie Haan in a result which proved crucial to Holland making the final. Argentina also made the final in controversial circumstances, needing a three goal victory over Peru, they slammed six past the Peruvians much to the chagrin of Brazil who felt that the Peruvian team had been bribed to allow the hosts through to the final. The final itself was played in Buenos Aires and was won 3-1 after extra time by Argentina over Holland.

1982 – The Spanish finals of 1982 saw the competition expanded from 16 teams to 24 teams for the first time. Six groups of four teams would provide twelve qualifiers, who would be split into four groups of three in the second phase. The winners of these second phase groups would then go on to contest the semi finals and the winners of those games the final. The Brazilian team wowed the world with their attacking flair, but their defensive weaknesses were taken advantage of by the brilliant Paolo Rossi who put them to the sword with a classy hattrick that gave Italy a 3-2 victory and eliminated Brazil. Germany, Poland and France contested the all European semi finals, Italy defeated Poland 2-0, Rossi with another brace while the Germany – France clash was decided on penalties after an incredible 3-3 draw when Maxime Bossis missed allowing Horst Hrubesch to net and take Germany into the final. The game is also remembered for German keeper Harold Schumacher’s dreadful and devastating tackle on French defender Patrick Battiston, which almost broke the full back’s neck. In the final Italy, who had started the tournament so slowly, took the trophy for a third time defeating West Germany 3-1.

1986 – Mexico would once again host the finals in 1986 after Colombia, the original hosts, had to withdraw. The finals would be remembered mostly for one player. Diego Maradona. Although he showed little in 1982, in 1986, Maradona was the worlds best player and he proved it with the finest individual display throughout a world cup tournament, in the history of the competition. Maradona was in his pomp driving Argentina on into the quarter finals where they faced bitter rivals England. His first goal was a handball, the hand of god. The second was soccer genius that is unstoppable. He put Belgium to the sword in the semi final before orchestrating a 3-2 win over West Germany in the final despite being man marked by the German’s finest player Lothar Matthaus. It was fitting Maradona was the man to lift the trophy, he had at times, won it on his own.

1990 – The 1990 finals were hosted by Italy who were under the weight of expectation of a fervent home support to do well. The finals got off to a shock start when Cameroon defeated World Champions, Argentina, in the opening game and it would set in motion a chain of events which would lead the indomitable lions to a quarter final match with England, where they would eventually lose 3-2. Argentina stunned Italy in the first semi final and in the second England were eliminated on penalties by West Germany after an enthralling 1-1 draw after extra time. Paul Gascoigne’s tears, after his second booking of the tournament during the semi final, an abiding memory for many of that game. The final itself was a disappointing and negative affair. Argentina had two players sent off and Germany won the game 1-0 thanks to a late Andreas Brehme penalty. A rather unsatisfying end to what had been, in general, an entertaining competition.

1994 – The United States first hosted the tournament in 1994 and with their usual glitz and glamour, the tournament started with Diana Ross missing her penalty kick, and unfortunately for Italy it would end in a similar fashion. It would end for Diego Maradona in disgrace as the Argentinian legend was found to have ephedrine, a banned substance, in his blood. It would end in tragedy for Andreas Escobar, who just ten days after scoring an own goal against the USA, was murdered outside a bar in Medellin for his part in the loss. Italy and Brazil advanced to the final in a largely forgettable second phase competition and a rather dull final ended goalless after extra time. Penalties ensued for the first time in a World Cup Final and Roberto Baggio’s high lofted penalty was enough to confirm Brazil as winners of the tournament for a record fourth time. The other notable event from the tournament was Russian striker Oleg Salenko who netted a record five goals in one match against Cameroon. A record which still stands.

1998 – France hosted their second World Cup in 1998 and Aime Jacquet’s side were amongst the favourites for the trophy. The finals were expanded once again from 24 teams to 32 teams, encouraging participation from teams in Africa, Asia and Oceania specifically and the new tournament now lasted for over a month. The tournament heated up in the group stages, especially when Argentina defeated England on penalties after an exciting 2-2 draw that saw Michael Owen score a wondergoal and David Beckham sent off. France progressed to the semi finals where they would face surprise outfit Croatia and two goals from defender Lilian Thuram would see them into their first ever final. Brazil edged past Holland on penalties to reach the final with the host nation. On the day of the final the Brazilian preparation for the game was thrown into turmoil when it emerged that star striker, Ronaldo, had suffered a fit of some kind during the night, brought about by the weight of expectation on his shoulders. At first the striker was absent from the Brazil team for the final, but he was reinstated minutes before the game. However the damage had been done and Zinedine Zidane proved the catalyst with two fine headed goals and Emmanuel Petit added a late third for a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 victory for the host nation.

2002 – The 2002 finals saw the tournament travel to Asia for the first time. It would also be the first time that two nations hosted the trophy as South Korea and Japan were co-hosts. There were a couple of major shocks in the group stages as France and Argentina both failed to progress beyond their own group stage. The home nations, in particular South Korea who enjoyed stunning, if controversial, victories over Italy and Spain to reach the semi finals, shone and Brazil and Germany were as consistent as ever. It was the two superpowers who would overcome South Korea and another surprise team in Turkey to reach the final and Ronaldo earned redemption in the final scoring twice to give Brazil a 2-0 victory and earn them their fifth World Cup trophy. Ronaldo finished leading scorer in the tournament with eight goals.

2006 – Germany would host the 2006 finals which would be remembered for the amount of red and yellow cards dished out by the officials. England referee Graham Poll memorably giving Croatian defender Josip Simunic three yellow cards in one game! Unlike four years previously, many of the big national sides progressed into the second knockout phase with little trouble and they were joined for the first time by the likes of Australia, Ghana and Ukraine. Ukraine managed to reach the quarter finals, but lost heavily to an improving Italy, Portugal defeated England on spot kicks to reach the semi’s and France shocked many by inflicting a 1-0 defeat on tournament favourites Brazil. Germany and Argentina fought out a 1-1 draw before the Germans triumphed on penalties. However the German’s joy was short lived as Italy defeated hem 2-0 after extra time in the semi final, while in the other semi, France, inspired by the mercurial Zidane, defeated Portugal. The final between Italy and Portugal seemed destined to go France’s way when Zidane put the French in front from the penalty spot only for Materazzi to equalise for Italy minutes later. The two goalscorers would then be at the centre of perhaps the most abiding memory from 2006, when a verbal exchange between the two saw Zidane butt the Italian defender in the chest and earn a straight red card. The game went to penalties even with the French down to ten men, but Italy triumphed as Fabio Grosso converted the crucial spot kick to hand Italy their Fourth World Cup trophy.

2010 sees the first ever finals held on African soil and with barely six months to go before the first game kicks off in Johannesburg, the world awaits the start of perhaps the biggest sporting event in the world once again. The FIFA World Cup Finals.