Random World Cup Facts

Fastest hat-trick was made by Hungary's Laszlo Kiss against El Salvador in 1982, when he scored after 70, 74 and 77 minutes. He is infact also the only substitute to have scored a hat-trick.

 

Only player to have scored for two countries is Robert Prosinecki who represented Yugoslavia in 1990 scoring against the United Arab Emirates, and Croatia in 1998 scoring against Jamaica

Players who have appeared for two countries in World Cup history are: Luis Monti (Argentina 30 and Italy 34), Ferenc Puskas (Hungary 54 and Spain 62), José Santamaria (Uruguay 54 and Spain 62), Mazola (Brazil 58, Italy 62 [then known as José Altafini]), Robert Prosinecki and Robert Jarni both for Yugoslavia in 90 and Croatia in 98.

First player ever to be sent off in a World Cup match was Peru's Mario de Las Casas against Romania in 1930. HELL YEA


Belgium has taken 5 pk's and made all 5, aswell as South Korea (5/5) 100%

Mexico has taken 7 penalty kicks, and only converted 2 in all their WC apperances, that is a 28.6% ratio, the worst.

 

BIGGEST VICTORIES

1982 - Hungary v El Salvador 10-1
1954 - Hungary v South Korea 9-0
1974 - Yugoslavia v Zaïre 9-0
1938 - Sweden v Cuba 8-0
1950 - Uruguay v Bolivia 8-0
2002 - Germany v Saudi Arabia 8-0

Most successive wins:
7 wins - Italy in 1934-38 and Brazil in 2002

Most successive defeats:
9 defeats - Mexico 1930 & 1950-1958

 

In the Spain-Brazil match it was Michel that didn't get a goal. That shot was clearly over the line. The ref was an Australian, pity for me. It's the only controversial decision I've known involving an Aussie ref at a major tornament. I don't know about any others.

How about Italy vs South Korea?

There's a guy in Canada called Nick Scurtu who has thousands of games. This is his website:

www.geocities.com/nickvideotapes

In the US, there's a guy called Tony Federici but I forgot his website address. I'll try to look for it.

 

I'm not sure about this but I think OLeg Salenko never played another international game after his 5 goal game

 

This is Tony's website:

www.raresoccervideos.com

 

Not counting the World Cups of 1930 and 1934...
Portugal (1966) and Croatia (1998) have gone the farthest in their first appearance at the World Cup finals, both reaching the semi-final stage and eventually finishing third.


West Germany and Yugoslavia met at the quarterfinal stage in three consecutive World Cups ('54, '58, '62)


Austria's three goals at France 98 - one goal in each of their three first-round matches - were all scored in second half injury time.

 

I remember there being a lot of questions by the press when it was learned that Chris Bambridge of Australia had been given the assignment to take charge of the anticipated Brasil-Spain match.
I don't really fault him for not giving the goal. In cases like that I feel the linesman is more at fault.
Shortly after that goal/no goal play, Brazil took a corner and 'scored' on what clearly was a hand ball. Bambridge didn't give the goal, but the Spanish players were upset that no yellow card was issued to the player who punched the ball in.
This match was played on the second day of the tournament, and although the Aussie ran the line in a couple other games I can't recall him being the man in the middle for any other matches in Mexico 86.

Italy -v- South Korea was okay in my opinion. It was interesting during the 20 minute spell from when Korea equalized to the own goal putting Italy two-up. Probably ranked ahead of the last three matches I listed but I wouldn't rush out to get it.

 

Wasn't '02 Turkey's appearance their first? I guess if it was you would have mentioned it, but I always thought that was their debut.

 

1954 Switzerland

 

They played in 1954, losing to West Germany, beating South Korea and losing to West Germany again (in a playoff). The other team in the group was Hungary.

 

What do you mean by "a goal plus an own goal?" If you are talking about Brandts scoring a goal and an own goal in one match, you wrong on that fact because Arie Haan scored the winning goal in that match.

In France 98, Belgium's captain was Franky Van Der Elst and he was 37 years old.

 

Argentina v. Belgium, for Maradona's second goal.

 

I was waiting for this one. Vava, of course, is the only one to score in successive finals.

Has anyone besides Mario Zagalo and Beckenbauer won as player and coach?

Is France the only defending champion not to score a goal in the next world cup (2002)?

 

i heard the fans threw rotten tomatoes at them..

 

In 1938 WC match Brasil 6x5 Poland, Leônidas da Silva scored a hat-trick still in the first half. In the second half, the "Black Diamond" scored his fourth goal while barefoot in the mud, after having flung his wet boots off

 

Just for that? I've got that goal on video but not the rest of the match. Is the rest of the match worth buying?

Does anyone recommmend Argentina vs Uruguay in the second round?

 

That's true.

 

That was a fairly good one. Traditional rivals meeting since the first World Cup. Both teams wore their alternate strip, and Uruguay coach Omar Borras had to sit in the stands for his comments after the Scotland fiasco.
I haven't watched it in many many years, but I seem to remember Arg-Uru being a bit physical with moments of good play and close chances for both sides.
Uruguay had an excellent chance to equalize right after the goal, but the shot just went wide from about 5 yards out. I think it was Francescoli who missed.
The second half was marred with strong winds and, eventually, torrential rain.
Someone for Argentina made a great run down the right and crossed for Maradona to score, but the goal was disallowed as Maradona was called for pushing off his defender.
And Rueben Paz shot a screamer towards the end that flashed across the face of goal.
Yeah, I'd recommend that one.

Argentina-Belgium? I remember very little of that one other than the goals.
After Mexico 86 ended, I went back through all the videos and dubbed onto another tape a chronological highlight package of goals and missed chances for my personal collection. It lasts about 6 1/2 hours, with about 5-10 minutes dedicated to each match. I'll search for the Arg-Bel match and let you know what I think.

 

Thank you unclesox.

 

You've probably read the match highlights elsewhere, but here's my take from what I've seen:

Arg 1-0 Uru
1st half
-- Maradona crosses to wide open Valdano who runs on and only manages a glancing header past far post,
-- Maradona free kick from about 35 yards hits crossbar,
-- Scrappy goal by Pasculli nothing to write home about, but only goal of match,
-- The Uruguay chance I'd described previously was actually from around 15 yards out. Long pass into the box comes off Arg defender, Francescoli and Cabrera (I think) get in each other's way as they chase loose ball, Cabrera eventually shooting wide.

2nd half
-- Long ball to Maradona down right flank, flicks ball past one defender, goes round another in the box as though he isn't there, crosses past oncoming Alvez but ball is too far for Pasculli who slides in and just fails to touch home,
-- Francescoli free kick 30 yards not held by Pumpido, defenders scramble ball out of danger,
-- Pasculli clever run into left side of box, crosses to Burruchaga whose second effort is headed off the line by (looks like) Bossio or Acevedo,
-- Through ball down middle to Maradona who beats offside trap, runs and blasts low from 15 yards held nicely by Alvez,
-- Brilliant midfield run by Maradona whose pass sets off Valdano down right, moves in and shoots at oncoming Alvez who gets hand to ball which bounces in front of goal for Maradona to tap in, but he's called for pushing off defender while wonderfully trying to get into position during Valdano's run,
-- From throw-in, Paz rockets past far post in windy conditions,
-- Driving rain puts damper on rest of match, but there's one moment in closing stages where a defensive mistake allows Paz to blast a shot which produces a great parry by Pumpido, loose ball results in Francescoli sliding into Pumpido and Garre. Tempers almost flare from foul but officials able to calm everyone.

Classic moments by Maradona is worth the purchase of the match.

Arg 2-0 Bel

I used to consider this match a bore. Especially the first half. The only thing worth mentioning here is a wicked 30 yard Maradona shot that Pfaff was able to keep out. Valdano followed up by bundling ball in but ruled to have handled (ball came off his arm).
But if all you've ever seen from this match is the two goals, I'd still consider getting the full match because the second half has moments of more "Maradona magic" that makes it worth the purchase:

-- Burruchaga's through ball cleverly flicked first time by Maradona past Pfaff for 1-0,
-- Belgium struggles to create clear openings, but their best chance comes from a corner which is played out for Grun (?) to shoot, but his low miskick finds an unmarked and surprised Clausen at the edge of 6 yard box, Clausen fails to hit cleanly and ball goes high over bar.
-- Maradona flicks to Enrique who blasts open shot high,
-- Valdano sets up Olarticoechea whose first timer is brilliantly saved by Pfaff to his left,
-- Maradona's second goal almost a mini-repeat of the brilliance against England; classic run past 2-3 defenders ending with a strong left-footed finish,
-- Maradona run down left, shakes off two defenders and shoots inches wide of far post,
-- Argenitna counter with long ball from back finds Maradona winning the ball against a defender down the right, ball reaches end line for Maradona to cross past oncoming Pfaff and in path of Valdano who blasts over open goal from 18 yards.

 

Thank you for your summaries. You are a very reliable source. Your summary has confirmed to me that it will be good to get Argentina vs Uruguay and your summary of the Argentina vs Belgium semi-final has reminded me of the 1982 World Cup final. Dull in the first but more entertaining in the second but that's my thought anyway.