scored two goals and helped Brazil achieve a 4–2 victory over Sweden.
Quickies
Did you know …
that thirty-two teams qualify for the World Cup from six regions — Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America — but only European and South American teams have ever won?
Why did England not play in the World Cup until 1950?
The four British FAs resigned from FIFA in February 1928 after a disagreement with how FIFA proposed to administer what are called “broken time payments” to amateur players in the Amsterdam Olympics that were being held that year. “Broken time payments” is the practice of a promoter or organizer compensating amateur players for lost income from their regular jobs. The British FAs had their own system in place and did not like FIFA’s interference. They eventually rejoined FIFA in 1946, and participated in the World Cup for the first time in 1950.
Quickies
Did you know …
that despite having to wear eyeglasses while playing, shortsighted Swiss centre-forward Poldi Kielholz scored three goals in two matches in the 1934 World Cup finals?
Why did India once withdraw from the World Cup?
The team from India withdrew from the 1950 World Cup finals because FIFA would not permit them to play barefoot, as was their custom.
What was the highest attendance for a World Cup final?
There’s agreement on the match, but not on the number. The BBC reports that 199,854 spectators attended the World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay at Estádio do Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro on July 16, 1950. But FIFA officially records the number at 174,000. Either way, it stands as a record attendance.
Quickies
Did you know …
that the 1958 World Cup marked the debut on the world stage of 17-year-old Pelé?
Who was the youngest player to score in the World Cup finals?
That would be none other than Pelé, who was 17 years and 239 days old when he scored for Brazil against Wales to win a quarter-final match 1–0 on June 19, 1958. Brazil went on to win the tournament and Pelé still holds the record for youngest player to have played for a World Cup champion team.
What was “The Soccer War”?
The Soccer War, also known as the 100 Hours War, was a five-day war between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. It was caused by political conflicts between the two nations, namely issues concerning immigration from El Salvador to Honduras. Tensions boiled over into rioting at two qualifying matches between the nations for the 1970 World Cup, on June 8 and 15. Many people erroneously believe the war was a result of these soccer riots, but the truth was the opposite. The riots resulted from earlier tensions; indeed, by July 14, the Salvadoran air force had begun launching attacks into Honduras. The conflict lasted until a ceasefire was arranged on July 18, leaving 6,000 dead and 12,000 wounded.
Quickies
Did you know …
that upon returning to his hotel after his team’s defeat in the quarter-finals in the 1970 World Cup, disappointed English player Alan Ball threw his tournament medal out his room window?
Which was the first sub-Saharan African nation to play in a World Cup finals?
When Zaire qualified for the 1974 finals, they became the first sub-Saharan African nation to advance beyond the qualifying stage into the finals. The Zairean president promised each player a house, a car, and free holidays. All of these offers were withdrawn when Zaire lost all three matches, scored no goals, and gave up 14 goals.
Quickies
Did you know …
that in a 1978 World Cup finals match, Peruvian goalkeeper Ramon Quiroga was cautioned for pulling down a Polish player — in Poland’s half of the field?
Which country has participated in every World Cup qualifying competition but never made it through to the finals?
From 1934 to 2005, Luxembourg played 104 qualifying matches and lost 100, scoring 50 goals and giving up 356. The only two teams that Luxembourg has defeated in qualifiers are Portugal (4–2 on October 8, 1961) and Turkey (2–0 on October 22, 1972) — not quite good enough to get them in.
Why was Prince Fahid, the Kuwaiti FA president, fined $14,000 U.S. after a 1982 World Cup finals match against France?
After France scored, one of the Kuwaiti players complained to Soviet referee Miroslav Stupar that prior to the goal he’d heard a play-stopping whistle. When Prince Fahid walked out onto the field to argue the point with the referee and threatened to pull out his team, Stupar reversed his goal decision. France ended up winning the match anyway, 4–1. For their actions, Stupar was suspended and Fahid fined.
Quickies
Did you know …
that Colombian player Andreas Escobar was shot dead by an angry fan after he scored an own goal that was part of his team’s collapse that saw them eliminated in the first round of the 1994 World Cup?
What did Brazilian player Ronaldino donate to charity during World Cup 2006?
Two locks of his hair. They were donated for an auction organized by a Swiss newspaper to raise funds for a cancer charity. The hair was collected by a team of Swiss barbers in the Brazilian camp in Switzerland before the start of the finals.
Who were “The Elephants”?
Ivory Coast’s team — nicknamed “The Elephants” — created their own “elephant dance” and practised the steps in training sessions before each match of the 2006 World Cup, hoping to dance before cheering fans to celebrate a winning goal. They lost their first two group matches, but the world had the chance to watch them dance on June 21, 2006, when they defeated Serbia and Montenegro 3–2.
What country holds the record for the longest winless streak in the World Cup?
That would be Bulgaria, with six ties and 11 losses in 17 consecutive matches from 1962 to 1994.
World Cup First Cards
• First yellow card: Lovchev (USSR) against Mexico, May 31, 1970.
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