DAVID ADAMS has a look at the World Cup…
With the FIFA World Cup under way in Brazil,Sight takes a stroll through some facts about the world game’s great contest…
A World Cup game in Berlin in 2006 between Brazil and Croatia. PICTURE: Dinko Verzi/www.freeimages.com
• The first World Cup was hosted in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo in July, 1930, to mark the country’s centenary. In the first games France defeated Mexico 4-1 and the US defeated Belgium 3-0. The first World Cup goal was scored by Lucien Laurent of France.
• The current FIFA World Cup trophy was introduced in 1974. The former trophy was the Jules Rimet Cup which was named after FIFA’s third President Jules Rimet and took its name in 1946. That cup was permanently awarded to Brazil after its third win in 1970 but was stolen in 1983 and has never been found. It was the second time it had been stolen – the first was in 1966 when it was stolen while on display in England but it was recovered then from a suburban garden by police who had the aid of a small dog called Pickles.
• This World Cup is the 20th time the event has been held. World Cups have been held in 16 different countries including the 2002 cup which was jointly held in Korea and Japan. Countries which have twice hosted the cup include Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, and Mexico.
• Thirty-two national teams compete for the cup (the figure was reached in 1998). The current World Cup champions – at least until the end of this tournament – are Spain who won in South Africa in 2010.
• The 19 World Cups have only been won by eight different national teams. Brazil has won five times, Italy four and West Germany three. Other winners include Uruguay and Argentina (twice each), England, France and Spain.
• The honour of kicking the most World Cup goals is shared jointly by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose – both of whom have kicked 15. Klose kicked his 15th goal just last week during Germany’s draw with Ghana.
• The fastest goal in World Cup history was scored in 11 seconds by Hakan Sukur of Turkey in a game against hosts South Korea in 2002.
• Among the most famous or infamous moments at World Cups are Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986, West Germany’s shock ‘Miracle of Bern’ win in 1954, and Colombian Andres Escobar’s own goal in 1994.
• Australia has played in four World Cups (including this year’s).
• The next World Cup will be hosted in Russia in 2018 followed by Qatar in 2022.
Sources: FIFA, The Guardian, Yahoo Sport, Sky Sports
