Football captain Sunil Chhetri presented another master-class performance to guide India to a thumping victory against Chinese Taipei in the first match of the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai. Chhetri led from the front with a hat-trick as the hosts won 5-0 against Taipei. The leading goal-scorer for India, Sunil Chhetri, …

Dope shame returned to Indian Weighlifting as Sanjita Chanu, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 53kg Women’s category, was tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid and was provisionally suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). “IWF reports that the sample of Ms. Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham (IND) has returned …

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 …

A trophy made of gold-plated sterling silver on a white-yellow marble base was manufactured following the design of French sculptor, Abel Lafleur. It depicted Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory holding a cup. This came to be known as the ‘World Cup’ and later nicknamed ‘the Golden Goddess’. The first Football …

Edvaldo Isidio Neto, better known to the world as Vava, has a unique record set against his name. Among the four players who have scored in two FIFA World Cup finals, Vava is the only one who has managed it in successive editions. The dynamic Brazilian scored twice in the …

The 1958 World Cup belonged to the Brazilian great Pele. But there was another man; a lesser-known Frenchman who created history. Just Fontaine set a record for the most goals in a World Cup that still remains untouched. Only Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Muller have scored more goals than …

There could be no other more important event in the 1958 World Cup rather than Pele’s mercurial performance at the age of 17. As Brazil lifted the World trophy, a new era of Football started; it was the day when the story of Pele and Brazil began. Brazil had been …