Brazil Perfect Start?

Brazil win their opening game. They did in 1950, too (7-1 against Sweden). Everything went perfectly until under a weird tournament format they reached Final. 

With home crowd advantage Brazil only needed a draw against neighbours Uruguay ... 

Read here

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Who burnt Alf's World Cup sausages?

England players wait at the airport prior to flying out to Mexico

According to this legend, the England manager suffered this indignity on arriving in Mexico City for the World Cup in 1970.

The story goes that Alf Ramsey had a low opinion of the integrity and cuisine of all Latin Americans (see his infamous 'animals' comment after Ratin was sent off for Argentina in 1966). Worried about  foul-play and/or upset stomachs, Alf ordered that English food be flown in for the tournament.

Outraged by this challenge to their food importation laws, the Mexican authorities (allegedly) incinerated the long travelled British pork sausages on the tarmac at Mexico City Airport.

I cannot find proof of this (alleged) Mexican stand-off. But there was plenty going on to fuel Alf's suspicions of foreign conspiracies: the peculiar Bogota bracelet incident, for example. And then star goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, went down with food poisoning on the eve of Quarter Final against West Germany.

If only Gordon had stuck with British fish and chips .... 

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Which two countries fought the 'Football War'?

George Orwell described international football as war without guns. In the run-up to the 1970 World Cup two rival nations dispensed with the 'no guns' rule. 

El Salvador and Honduras are neighbours in Central America.
 
In June 1969 they play each other to qualify for the 1970 World Cup. Honduras win the first game at  home 1-0, but a week later El  Salvador win the return match 3-0. 

At this time, goal difference is not counted so the two teams are level. They now have to play a replay. 

El Salvador beat Hounduras, Mexico City 1969

Two weeks later the replay takes place in Mexico City in a very tense atmosphere. 

The score is 2-2 at the end on normal time. In extra-time El Salvador scored a dramatic winning goal. 

Riots after  the game quickly turned into a shooting war between the two  countries. Though th fighting only lasts a 100 hours  around three thousand people are killed. And the war did not officially end until October 1980

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First World Cup?

European teams travel to the first World Cup .

In 1930 the first World Cup tournament was held in Uruguay. 

Only four European teams made the long sea journey. Can you guess who they were? 

And which country travelled first class?

1930 World Cup: Fun Facts (audio)

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What happened the last time Brazil held a World Cup? Why did only 13 teams compete?

Brazil line up for 1950 World Cup

For obvious reasons the 1942 and 1946 World Cups were cancelled. Both Germany and Brazil had optimistically bid for the 1942 World Cup. Unsurprisingly the Germans were not in the running for the first post-war tournament. Brazil bid again in in 1946 and were successful.

So after a 12 year break FIFA invited 16 countries to play in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. These invitations were not greeted with great enthusiasm. Many countries could not or would not participate in the tournament now officially named the Jules Rimet Trophy. 

None of the eastern European countries felt strong enough to compete while Argentina was unhappy that they were not the hosts.

The British teams agreed to compete. England qualified as British Champions but withdrew. Turkey and India also withdrew - in India's case because FIFA did not allow them to play in bare feet.

FIFA then invited France, Ireland and Portugal. These days any national team would be on the first available plane - but  all declined. 

For the remarkable story of what happened at the tournament go here: 

World Cup History Quiz * 1930 World Cup * Football Teaching Pack

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100 Essential World Cup Words

Fabio Capello once said he could manage the England team with just 100 English words. Here are ten he would need:

1 – ball 2 – cup 3 – player 4 – Game 5 – Match 6 – Win 7 – Lose 8 – Play 9 – Team 10 – Goalkeeper ...

Source: The Cambridge Dictionaries Online

Can you guess another ten? Write them down. Now download the list below

100 Essential Football Words

Source: The Cambridge Dictionaries Online (CDO)

World Cup History Quiz * 1930 World Cup * Football Teaching Pack

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Are all England captains cursed?

Every player claims it's his life ambition but leading the England team has been something of a poisoned chalice. Losing the captaincy was a bitter experience for John Terry while Rio Ferdinand also felt harshly treated.  

Even Bobby Moore, who lead England to their only triumph, spent the days before the following tournament in jail - see here for details. The 1974 World Cup was not a happy experience for Moore, either - many blamed the ageing player's participation for England's failure to qualify.

Bryan Robson also had a grim time. He missed most of both 1986 (shoulder) and 1990 (achilles). David Beckham could also be forgiven for not thinking of the Jules Rimet trophy with any affection. He was sent off in the crucial game against Argentina in 1998 and taking the armband in 2001 brought no better fortune. Unfit during the 2002 tournament (broken metatarsal) he went off injured in his last game as captain against Portugal in 2006.

Will things work out better for Steven Gerrard? England fans hope so but he should avoid black cats and keep his fingers firmly crossed. Let's hope he used up all his bad luck in that season-deciding fateful slip against Chelsea at Anfield ....

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