The World Cup is not only about goals, but also interesting anecdotes and stats. Relish them!
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| Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta scored two hat-tricks at the World Cup. The hat-trick against debutant team Greece in 1994 was scored on 21 June and the final goal was off a penalty. The hat-trick against debutant team Jamaica in 1998 was also scored on June 21 and the final goal was again off a penalty! |
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| English referee, Graham Poll was suspended from the 2006 WC after he booked Croatia's Josip Simunic thrice before sending him off in the Australia-Croatia match. |
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| Italian striker Gianfranco Zola received a card on his 28th birthday; a red card! Playing against Nigeria in a Round of 16 match on July 5, 1994, he was sent off by referee Brizio Carter of Mexico. |
Bogus Rojas
Chile needed to win against Brazil to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, but were down 1-0 with 23 minutes to go. Then Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas pretended to be hurt by a fire-cracker thrown by Brazilian fans. Chile walked off in protest. FIFA however discovered the hoax from TV replays and Brazil was awarded a 2-0 win while Chile was disqualified and Rojas banned for life!
FIFA's new World Cup Trophy
The World Cup Trophy, made of solid, 18-carat gold was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. The trophy, selected in 1971 after the Jules Rimet Cup was retired by Brazil, is 36 cm high and weighs 4.79 kg. Two rings of semi-precious stones adorn the base, at the bottom of which the name of winning teams are written.
Rolls Royce for a goal
When Khalid Ismail of the United Arab Emirates scored his country's first-ever World Cup goal against Germany in 1990, he was presented a Rolls-Royce by a business man in the Emirates for that goal.
A goal of its kind
There was something unique about Johan Neeskens' 1st minute goal in the 1974 final against West Germany. It was not only the first penalty and the earliest goal in a final, but also unusual in the sense that no German player had touched the ball, even though the Dutch had taken 15 touches before the goal was scored.
When Nescafe didn't work!
During the 1962 World Cup in Chile, the home fans claimed their players ate Swiss cheese before the match against Switzerland and won 3-1, pasta before the match against Italy and won 2-0. Before the quarterfinal match against USSR, the players had swigs of Vodka and beat them 2-1. At the semifinal against Brazil, home fans displayed banners saying, "With or without Pele, we shall drink Nescafe!". Brazil, however, beat them 2-0.
Holland's Johann Cryuff, had a lucrative deal with Puma. The Dutch team was sponsored by Adidas (three stripes). He refused to wear rival sponsor's jersey and agreed to wear the team colours only if it was redesigned with two stripes. A jersey with two stripes was then made for him.
Reproduced with permission from Goal! by Austin Coutinhou00a0 published by Popular Prakashan. Rs 145.00
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