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
1950
A record disappointment
A record 173,850 tickets were sold for the Brazil-Uruguay fi nal at the historic Maracana stadium, but the unofficial accounts estimate it over 200,000. It is an all-time record for attendance ever, only to witness disappointment when Brazil lost the fi nal 1-2. A word was invented to describe the disappointment: “Maracanaço” or the blow of Maracana.
1954
A gale of goals
It was a 12-goal quarterfinal thriller in Lausanne, a record for total goals scored in a single World Cup match. And how Austria and Switzerland shored up a 7-5 score in the 40°C scorcher of a heat that day is a daunting thought. Austrian goalkeeper Kurt Schmied suffered from hyperthermia early in the match, quickly allowing the first three Swiss goals, before being assisted by the Austrian masseur while in play.
1954
The stud boot
The design theory behind football boots was elementary: They should be primarily protective, to shield bones from the weight of a heavy leather ball. When Germany opted for Adidas boots for the ’54 World Cup, manufacturer Adi Dassler refined the boots, making them lighter, with longer screw-in studs that could counter waterlogged pitches better. The result was ‘ the Miracle of Berne’, underdog Germany’s clinching its first World Cup title, and the shoe’s mythical status.
1958
A brace for Pele
When Pele stepped onto the ground in the World Cup final against Sweden, he was 17, an age when one couldn’t legally drink alcohol. When he stepped off, he had scored two goals in the victorious final, crying as he lifted the trophy, cementing the moment into soccer lore.
By the end of his career, Pelé would win three FIFA World Cups with Brazil, the most wins of the World Cup by any player.
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.
1966
Crossed the line?
It’s the extra time at the 1966 final and the hosts England and Germany are tied at 2-2. Geoff Hurst’s furious right foot blazed past the German goalkeeper, hit the underside of the crossbar, hit the ground and bounced out of the goal-line. Did the ball cross the line? The referee, after consulting his linesman, awarded the goal. Subsequent studies and simulations have shown that it may have not. England won the World Cup, the only one to this day.
1966
Sniffing the Cup
In early March of 1966, three months before the World Cup kick-off, The Jules Rimet Trophy had been displayed in a glass case at a stamp exhibition in Westminster, England, with two guards on hourly checks. On the morning of 20th, between the regular tour of inspection at 11 am and midday, the cup was stolen. Two nights later, a dockworker and his collie Pickles were walking in Southeast London when the dog sniffed out a parcel in a newspaper, which turned out to be the trophy. Pickles briefly became a national hero, appeared on TV and in some movies.
1970
A miraculous save
For millions, it was a treat to watch the ‘save of the century’ in colour. In the first-ever World Cup to be televised in colour across the globe, the legend Pele’s downward header was destined for England’s net. Until goalie Gordon Banks chose to dive backwards, moving so far and so fast to his right, instead of forward, to fingertip the ball up and over. Pele, who was sure he had scored, was left transfixed. It triggered a friendship between them for the years to come.
1970
Satellite themed ball
Adidas introduced the Telstar ball at the 1970 World Cup, with the now-familiar truncated icosahedron for its design, consisting of 12 black pentagonal and 20 white hexagonal panels. It was inspired by the 1962 Telstar communications satellite, which was roughly spherical and dotted with solar panels, visually similar to the football.The 32-panel design of the ball, based on the work of Eigil Nielsen, is now a popular culture classic.
1974
The U Turn
One of football’s most famous pieces of skill had its premiere in this game between Netherlands and Sweden at the 1974 World Cup. Marked by a Swedish defender and with his back to the goal, Johan Cruyff seemed to have few options, but famously swayed one way, knocked the ball backwards, swivelling his entire body around and took off, leaving behind the defender, and create a soccer lore called The Cryuff Turn.
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