FIFA World Cup 2022: Greatest show on Earth returns
FIFA World Cup 2022: Greatest show on Earth returns
At its best and its worst, the FIFA World Cup is more thrilling than any other event can conjure up. A live performance unequalled in its vigour and trickery, the thralling geometry of its movement a mere foil to the violent earnestness of its combat. From 1930 to 2022, from Pele to Zidane to Mbappe, here's a walk down the lanes of the history of the beautiful game
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10/35
1962 The Battle of Santiago The first time that hosts Chile and Italy played is universally agreed as the ugliest, most vicious and disgraceful in soccer history. With a fanatical support, hosts Chile could not afford to lose. The Italians had to win this match to stay in the competition. From the start, Chileans poked and kicked and provoked and spat in the faces of Italians. The Italians retaliated and the pitch quickly became a battlefield. The match featured numerous punches, a broken nose, two red cards, and riot police invading the pitch three times. It was less a World cup and more a World war.