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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Football Tactics

You are going to listen to a short talk about football. Look at the numbers in this diagram. Do you know what they mean?

Now Listen

listen to ‘Football Tactics’ on Audioboo

True or False
a) Football was once a simple game.
b) The first England team had six defenders
c) Scotland played against England with eight defenders
d) The offside law started in 1945
e) Herbert Chapman managed Arsenal
f) There are now several different team formations
g) 4-4-2 is a common formation in England
h) The Christmas Tree formation has three forwards.
i) The Triangle system is popular with some teams
j) All modern teams play with the same system.

Answers

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Football Tactics

You are going to listen to a short talk about football. Look at the numbers in this diagram. Do you know what they mean?

Now Listen

listen to ‘Football Tactics’ on Audioboo

True or False
a) Football was once a simple game.
b) The first England team had six defenders
c) Scotland played against England with eight defenders
d) The offside law started in 1945
e) Herbert Chapman managed Arsenal
f) There are now several different team formations
g) 4-4-2 is a common formation in England
h) The Christmas Tree formation has three forwards.
i) The Triangle system is popular with some teams
j) All modern teams play with the same system.

Answers

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Manchester City: First Premier League Championship?

Francis Lee celebrates the 1968 League Championship

Manchester City have not been English league champions since 1968 - the year United won the European Cup for the first time. City did an FA Cup/League Cup double the following year and won the European Cup-Winners Cup the year after that. Since then the trophy cabinet has not been overstocked - a League Cup win in 1976 and the FA Cup in 1981 being the only notable successes.

Sir Alex Ferguson calls them 'noisy neighbours' but City fans claim that theirs is the 'real' Manchester club. This is because City fans have traditionally come from the local area while United supporters are more likely to come from other parts of the country or from overseas

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How many European teams played in the first World Cup?

Only four European teams competed in the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930: France, Romania, Belgium & Yugoslavia And they travelled there together on the same ship.


King Carol of Romania personally paid for his players, who travelled in the third class section (luckily there were no iceburgs or they may not have got the lifeboats!)

Only the French team travelled first class, only joining players from the other nations to train on the ship's deck.

There is no mention of how the WAGS (wives & girlfriends) travelling - I can't see the modern ones accepting third class tickets, somehow.

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