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Post by londonranger on Apr 29, 2010 18:03:37 GMT
Missed the post. The Lombardi Years.
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Post by londonranger on Apr 29, 2010 18:06:37 GMT
Also remember Billy Wright. Played for Wolves in 50s, legend.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:00:50 GMT
Five teams have been unbeaten but not the champions in the same finals. Those unbeaten teams are: Scotland in 1974 (1 win, 2 draws), Brazil in 1978 (4 wins, 3 draws), England in 1982 (3 wins, 2 draws), Cameroon in 1982 (3 draws), Belgium in 1998 (3 draws).
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:01:26 GMT
Two players have scored in four successive finals tournaments? Both Pele of Brazil and Uwe Seeler of West Germany have scored in the finals of 1958, 1962, 1966 & 1970.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:03:26 GMT
The most common surname of World Cup players is Gonzalez or Gonzales. The most common score in a World Cup finals match is 1-0.
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Post by blockhead on Apr 30, 2010 18:04:41 GMT
Italian goalie, Walter Zenga, holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in Cup history. He played 517 minutes without letting in a goal during the 1990 tournament.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:05:21 GMT
The first player to be replaced in World Cup finals due to injury was French goalkeeper Alex Thepot. The goalkeeper was kicked by a Mexican player in the jaw in the opening match of the 1930 World Cup. He was replaced by midfielder Augustin Chantrel.
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Post by blockhead on Apr 30, 2010 18:05:41 GMT
Sweden has actually played against Brazil seven times in World Cup history. No other country has faced Brazil that often.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:06:17 GMT
The first player to miss a penalty in World Cup finals was Brazil's Valdemar de Brito. De Brito missed the penalty in Brazil's 3-1 loss to Spain on 27 May 1934. That was Brazil's only match in the 1934 finals, and the only finals in which Brazil did not win any match. He later amended his reputation as he discovered and nurtured Pele.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:07:57 GMT
The first player to score an own goal was Ernst Loertscher of Switzerland against West Germany on 9 June 1938.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:08:37 GMT
The first country to be eliminated by toss of coin in qualifying round was Spain which lost to Turkey on toss after a 2:2 tie in a play-off match on 17 March 1954.
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Post by blockhead on Apr 30, 2010 18:10:46 GMT
At the age of 52, Pedro Gatica cycled from his home in Argentina to Mexico for the 1986 World Cup, only to find on arrival that he couldn’t afford to get in. While he was trying to haggle for a ticket, thieves stole his bike.
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Post by blockhead on Apr 30, 2010 18:14:21 GMT
Only two goalkeepers have ever captained a World Cup winning side. What's more, they were both Italian. Giampiero Combi led Italy to their first title way back in 1934 and he was followed forty-eight years later by Dino Zoff, who skippered the Italians to victory in Spain in 1982.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:48:32 GMT
The first time drug testing was introduced was in World Cup finals in 1966. Players banned after failing in drug testing include Haiti's Ernest Jean-Joseph (1974), Scotland's Willie Johnston (1978) and Argentina's Diego Maradona (1994).
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:51:29 GMT
The first qualifying match played on artificial turf was between Canada and USA on 24 Sept 1976 in Vancouver, Canada.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:52:56 GMT
The first qualifying match played indoor was between USA and Canada on 20 Oct 1976 in Seattle, USA.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:55:01 GMT
Sri Lanka was the first country to withdraw from the World Cup due to the inability to pay the entrance fee for the 1978 World Cup.
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:58:31 GMT
The new trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga (and submitted by Bertoni of Milan, Italy). Constructed in 18-karat solid gold, the trophy is 36 centimeters (14 inches) tall, has two rings in malachite inlaid in the base, and weighs a total of 4,970 grams (11 pounds).
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Post by eusebio13 on Apr 30, 2010 18:59:57 GMT
A new World Cup trophy will be required for 2042, as the name plaque at base of the current trophy is designed to be filled up by names of the 17 champions from 1974 to 2038.
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Post by saphilip on Apr 30, 2010 19:36:50 GMT
Pickles the cross terrier went into football folklore after he sniffed out the tropthy when it was stolen prior to the 1966 World Cup.
Bulgaria failed to win a single World Cup finals match in 17 matches that spanned a period of 60 years - until USA 1994 that is. There they promptly made up for lost time as they reached the semi-finals, knocking then holders Germany along the way.
Some trivia about African football
At Mexico 1986 Morocco became the first African team to top a WC group, a group that included England, Poland & Portugal.
Zaire (now known as the DRC) may have gone to the 1974 WC as African Nations Champions but they do not have many fond memories of that particular WC.
While Scotland could only beat them 1-0, it went downhill after that as Yugoslavia hammered them 9-0, followed by a 3-0 drubbing by Brazil. They have never played ina WC since.
While it had the potential to turn Africa into the laughing stock of world football, fortunes were to change very quickly as Tunisa beat Mexico 3-1 in a group match just 4 years later in Argentina.
It got better for African football at Spain 82 as Algeria beat Germany in a group match. However a scandalous & contrived game between Austria & Germany meant an early ride home for Algeria. (FIFA of course did nothing).
At the same tournament Cameroon became the first unbeaten African team to finish a WC - after drawing their 3 matches against eventual champs Italy, Peru & Poland (who would finish 3rd in that tournament). They lost out on goal difference to the Azurri.
Star of that Cameroon side was keeper Thomas Nkomo (Espanyol keeper), who always wore track suit bottoms plus a shirt and vest underneath a thick keepers jersey - and it didn't amtter how hot the temp was.
African teams that have managed to get beyond the group stages include q/finalists Cameroon (1990) & Sengal (2002) plus Morocco (1986), Nigeria (1994) & Ghana (2006).
Egyot may be the kings of African football, winning the last 3 tournaments and record holders of that trophy (7 I think) but their WC record is pretty dismal as they have only managed to qualify for one tournament in Italy 1990 (the same group as England). Ghan are 2nd on that log but until 2006 their WC record was even worse - they had failed to qualify for any tournament. That has since changed qualifying for both 2006 & 2010.
African teams that have managed to play in 3 or more tournaments (including SA 2010) include Cameroon, Nigeria & SA (1 as hosts)
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Post by eusebio13 on May 1, 2010 9:18:58 GMT
And the official song of SA 2010  |
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Post by Lonegunmen on May 1, 2010 9:27:10 GMT
New Zealand will create WC history when they take a female Doctor to the finals. A first.
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Post by eusebio13 on May 1, 2010 9:32:26 GMT
Germany 2006
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Post by eusebio13 on May 1, 2010 20:39:02 GMT
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Post by saphilip on May 2, 2010 17:03:08 GMT
Official WC song is by Shakira AND local SA band Freshly Ground. Not sure who wrote the song but it has an African feel to it.
By the way get used to the vuvuzela - that platic trumpet instrument that annoyed the hell out of Spain (and a host of foreign media staff). You will be hearing a lot of it - and no doubt will be used as an excuse when some fancy team gets knocked out.
Ever heard of Match Enterprises? No I didn't either - until a few months ago that is. This is the commercial arm of FIFA and fits with everything else that is FIFA - i.e. corrupt as hell, as they have seemingly skimmed off millions at the expense of local businesses.
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Post by eusebio13 on May 3, 2010 20:39:49 GMT
World Cup Venues in South Africa
Rustenburg: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Originally this was a rugby stadium. The current capacity is 38,000, but will be increased to 42,000 in time for the World Cup. The Royal Bakofeng Stadium will also have electronic boards and a new light system. This stadium has been host to many South African Premier Soccer League games, despite Rustenburg not having a PSL team.
Polokwane: Peter Mokaba Stadium
The stadium is one of five new stadiums that is being built for the World Cup 2010. It will host 4 matches. The initial plan was to upgrade the old city stadium, but then the government and FIFA decided to build a new one. Peter Mokaba Stadium will be 5km away from the city’s downtown. The stadium was named after Peter Mokaba, a political activist during apartheid.
Nelspruit: Mbombela Stadium
The Mbombela Stadium is a new 46,000 seat stadium and is currently under construction as one of the ten venues for the FIFA World Cup 2010. It will be a multi-purpose stadium, and is expected to host soccer and rugby matches. Mbombela is siSwati and means 'many people together in a small space'. The stadium will be seven kilometres from the city centre and close to game parks, giving spectators the opportunity of seeing wildlife during the tournament.
Bloemfontein: Free State Stadium
Free State stadium hosted group and quarter-final matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and the Rugby World Cup in 1995. It is also the home of Premier Soccer League team, Bloemfontein Celtics. The stadium is being upgraded, and once completed it will have a seating capacity of 48,000. Free State stadium will be one of the venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be high-tech and modern. It will host the first and second round matches of the 2010 World Cup. The city didn’t have a football-specific stadium, and all international matches player here were at the Eastern Province rugby team's ground. The locals here are exceptionally passionate about football, despite now having a PSL team (or perhaps because of that). This stadium will also host matches for the 2009 Confederations Cup, and will be the only new stadium included as a venue for that competition.
Johannesburg Stadium: Soccer City
This venue is also known as the First National Bank Stadium (FNB Stadium or Soccer City). The stadium has the third largest capacity in Africa. The stadium is being renovated for World Cup 2010 with a new design inspired by traditional African pottery. The stadium will hold the opening match, four more first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarter-final and the final.
Ellis Park Stadium
Ellis Park stadium is the home of Orlando Pirates FC, a club in the Premier Soccer League. In 1995, they were the first South African team to win the CAF African Club Championship. It was constructed in 1928, and until the late 80s it was just for rugby. Then professional clubs began to play there. Teams like Brazil, Arsenal and Manchester United have all played friendlies here.
Cape Town: Green Point Stadium
This is a new stadium for the World Cup 2010. It is located at Green Point, at the juncture between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. The stadium will be used by South African giants Ajax Cape Town. Ajax Cape Town is a feeder club for European and Dutch giants, Ajax Amsterdam. In the World Cup, it will host five first round matches, one second round match, one quarterfinal and one semi-final.
Durban: Moses Mabhida Stadium
The new stadium will be part of Durban's King Park sporting precinct. The sporting precinct will also include a variety of different sporting disciplines. When completed it will play host to the Confederations Cup in 2009. It will be have a seating capacity of 70,000, and the design of the stadium will be characterized by two large archways above the stadium roof.
Pretoria: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Through the years the stadium has undergone various name changes as sponsors came and went, but locals have always referred as Loftus Versfeld. Minimal upgrading will be required for the World Cup, where it will host first and second round matches. It is also a venue for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. This was the site of South Africa’s historic 1-0 win over Sweden, the first time they had achieved victory over an European team.
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Post by eusebio13 on May 3, 2010 20:42:13 GMT
The World Cup 2010 will be the most profitable ever for FIFA. The contracts FIFA has signed for 2010 are higher than the contracts for 2006 in Germany by about 25%.
Agreements with five strategic partners for 2010 are valued at more than 750 million Euros. This dwarfs the 500 million Euros revenue brought in for the 2006 World Cup.
Companies will pay $125m USD to be one of the six official worldwide sponsors for the 2010 World Cup. In addition there will also be eight World Cup sponsors and four to six national sponsors. Entry level sponsorship is reported to be about $40 million USD.
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Post by eusebio13 on May 3, 2010 20:46:40 GMT
The 2014 World Cup is in Brazil. It will have been 64 years since the last world cup was held in Brazil. The hosts were beaten in the final by South American rivals Uruguay  |
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Post by eusebio13 on May 3, 2010 20:51:19 GMT
The dutch have select a preliminary squad which does not include Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Training squad
Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht); Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord); Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Otman Bakkal (PSV Eindhoven), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), John Heitinga (Everton), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar); Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar).
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Post by eusebio13 on May 4, 2010 13:25:12 GMT
Blind opera star ANDREA BOCELLI and rocker BRYAN ADAMS are to team up to close the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
The Italian tenor and the Canadian will perform at the Celebrate Africa, the Grand Finale spectacular in Johannesburg on 9 July (10), two days before the World Cup final takes place.
South African soprano Pretty Yende will join the two stars onstage.
Alicia Keys and Shakira will headline a concert marking the opening of the football tournament on 10 June (10).
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