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
By: Madhu Kapparath
1986
The two hit blunder
Josimar, an unknown right-back was cooking and looking after his pregnant wife when the call came, asking him to join the Brazilian squad in Mexico for the 1986 World Cup. He hadn’t played a game since mid-march. Against Northern Ireland, with four minutes to go before half-time and 30 yards from the goal, the formidably built Josimar put his whole being into a shot that swooshed past the goalie into the far top corner, a feat he would repeat four days later, against Poland. The fairytale turned cautionary with the downfall that besets folks with poor background: Booze, cocaine and womanising and soon Josimar’s career drifted to nothing.
