FOOTBALL

In the 1980s, political situation in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia deteriorated leading to a series of political upheavals and conflicts in the 1990s. Formed after the Allied victory in the Second World War, Yugoslavia, was a federation of six republics, with borders drawn along ethnic and historical lines: Bosnia and …

‘The one who scores’- this is what Zabivaka means in Russian; an apt name to represent the mascot of 2018 Football World Cup. The anthropomorphic wolf with brown and white fur, wearing a combination of white, blue and red T-shirt and sporting an orange goggles, radiates fun, charm, and confidence. …

South Korea and Japan jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup. It was the first World Cup to be held in Asia and also the first one to be jointly hosted by more than one nation. Brazil won the Cup for a record fifth time that was scripted by their forward …

Russia had a horrific tournament in 1994 held in the USA where they started with losses against Brazil and Sweden. Almost out of the tournament, they thought of some redemption against Cameroon. The African nation that had a dream run in the 1990 edition, were not in their best form. …

Aged 38, Albert Roger Mooh Miller, became one of the oldest to play in the World Cup. Better known as Roger Milla, he became the oldest player to score in a World Cup in 1990. He even topped that feat in the United States at the 1994 tournament, when aged …

The blazing hot afternoon in Mexico City was hotter at the famous Estadio Azteca as England took on Argentina in the quarterfinal of 1986 World Cup. England, had a horrific start to their World Cup campaign with a loss and a draw. But a lean striker, not so much known …

As the final whistle blew to declare Argentina’s home-turf triumph over the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup final of 1978; a certain Victor Dell’Aquila jumped the fence, evaded the police, rushed onto the field and hugged his heroes Alberto Tarantini and Ubaldo Fillol, who were kneeling on the field …

After the terrific heat of Mexico during the 1970 World Cup, it was a relatively cooler but rainy West Germany that welcomed one and all for the 1974 edition. Having being the reigning European Champions, West Germany came a long way after their upset 1954 World Cup win. They progressed …

1970 World Cup had seen many ‘firsts’- substitutions were allowed (previously, teams could not replace injured or tired players), red and yellow cards were introduced and matches were broadcasted in colours. But these reasons were eclipsed by a bigger and more important occasion for which this edition is remembered. The …

The only man to have scored a hat-trick in the final of a World Cup remains Geoff Hurst since 1966- the year in which England became world champions for the first and last time till date. In front of a strong Wembley crowd, the hosts defeated West Germany by 4-2 …