2002: The Non –Duality Of Korea
Upsets marked the 2002 World Cup, the first to be held in Asia, Korean fans who had gathered at Daejeon stadium for the last -16 clash between Italy and South Korea held up red and white cards spelling out the words “ Again 1966 “ referring to Italy defeat at the hands of North Korea in 1966. A few minutes before extra time, South Korea Ahn-Hwan outjumped his taller opponent and headed the ball home to a 2-1 upset. Celebrations erupted in both Koreas, proving that North and South Korea might be separate and hostile political entities but when it came to World Cup history, the sense of patriotism was shared.
2006: The battle of Nuremberg
A Sequal to the 1966 Battle of Santiago played out in the round of 16 clashes between Portugal and Netherlands. As early as the second minute, referee Valentin Ivanov booked Marco Van Basten for a reckless challenge in a fiesta game that saw a World Cup record of four red and sixteen yellow cards issued
In sister’s Honour, A Headbutt
“ You can give it to your sister “.All it took was this remark by Italian Marco Materazzi while he gently brushed his hands across the Frenchman Zinedine Zidane’s shirt in the World Cup Final. Zidane drove his forehead into Materazzi’s Chest, this being his last action as one of the great footballers of all time, in his final game before taking retirement..After this incident, some songs has been composed on this incident and those songs got viral.
2010: A high–pitched Buzz
The horn instrument vuvuzela invaded the pitch as no teams did at the World Cup in South Africa. The Sound blown en masse-Described as a combination of fuzzy, squeaky buzz layered over a raspy hum –was not to everyone’s liking. Critics remarked that Vuvuselas disrupted team communication and players’ concentration during matches. It led FIFA President Sepp Blatter to declare that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound, adding “ We should not try to Europeanise an African World Cup …that is what African and south African football is all about –Noise, Excitement, Dancing, Shouting and Enjoyment.
2014: A biting opponent, Literally
The world witnessed Uruguay forward Luis Suarez bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a heated match at the 2014 World Cup, it was not the only time though. Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer has, on two other occasions, sunk his teeth into opponents in professional matches. This has led many to ask an innocuous query on Quora: Does he have some kind of psychological disorder? in 2014, Suarez released his autobiography, titled Crossing the Line –My Story .
A Bloodsport Without Bloodshed
If there was any doubt that football is not a bloodsport, watch Brazil’s humiliation in its illustrious World Cup history as they thrashed 1-7 Germany in the 2014 semi-finals. Brazil’s defense was pierced with such frequency and brutality that the German coach’s half-time talk was about not making a fool of the Brazilians on their soil. It was Brazil’s first World Cup Semi-final defeat in 76 years and their first defeat at home in any competitive match in 39 years.
2018: Mid-Life Prizes
When 45 years old Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary lined up against Saudi Arabia at Russia’s 2018 world cup. He made a record as the oldest player in world cup history. El Hadary began playing football in his early teens, washing the mud off his clothes in a local river after a game to avoid his parents knowing . Spotted by a second-division club at 17, El Hadary was handed goalkeeper gloves in his first training session . After making history in 2018, El Hadary donated the jersey and gloves he wore at the game at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich where it was displayed in the special exhibition “ Footest Monde Arabe “
Turning To Var :
It was inevitable that the first world cup to feature Video Assistant Referee (VAR ) would turn to it at a pivotal moment in the world cup final. Ivan Perisic arguably handballed the missed cross unintentionally near the Croatian goal. The referee turned to VAR slo-mo replays, which took a while, and awarded France a spot kick. France went on to win the World cup. Real-time and slow-motion replays tell different tales. The talking point with the verdict is that the given decision may be in keeping with the letter of the law, but less so in the spirit of the game, well, sometimes.
What About Messi? And Ronaldo?
Expectations were high on two of football’s biggest stars, with Cristiano Ronaldo arriving after yet another UE.FA Champions League win and Lionel Messi having starred in Barcelona’s Laliga Triumph. But the curse of the world cup lives on . Both exited the 2018 World Cup in the space of just four hours as the knockout stages kicked off with mighty shockers. Messi’s Argentina bid adieu after a goal–fest with France before Uruguay edged out Ronaldo’s Portugal. So what will be their World Cup Legacy?. This world cup might be the last world cup for Messi And Ronaldo so both the legends want to lift the world cup for their country, so every one eye will be on both of these players.
The Future Was Here And It Was Electic
France, the second–youngest team in the tournament, captured the sport’s biggest prize in 2018.19 years old Kylian Mbappe’s blistering acceleration was electric, helping France win a thriller with a goal that made him the second youngest player to score in a world cup final after Pele. In the quarterfinal against Argentina Mbappe had already matched another pele feat by becoming only the second teenager to score two goals in a World Cup match. Hearing this Pele tweeted “ If Kylian keeps equaling my records like this, I may have to dust my boots off again “
Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022: Every Fifa World Cup brings a lot of excitement, and happiness, to the fans. The World is set to witness the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, From November 20 to December 18, It is the 6th World Cup Of the 21st Century, the 22nd Edition of the competition and the first to be hosted in the Arab World