Image via Complex Original
With the World Cup in South Africa upon us, everybody's getting caught up in the fever. Hooray for soccer! But newbies, take note: This competition existed well before every game was broadcast in HD and the U.S. had a decent team. Eighteen times, in fact—eighteen glorious tournaments full of moments to remember, from the magic (Pele) to the tragic (Andres Escobar) to the Maradona-ic...yeah, 'nuff said. So, to prep you for the month of madness, we sought the help of noted footy author (and real-life Englishman!) Tim Webber to compile this comprehensive list of the greatest World Cup moments of all time. Oh, whoops, did we say "greatest"? What we meant was: badass!
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Diana Ross Penalty Miss
It was the moment that the U.S. was to welcome soccer once and for all: the USA 94 World Cup opening ceremony in Chicago's Soldier Field. Diana Ross—she sings, she dances, she waves to crowd...and then she scuffs the penalty horribly wide. The goal fell apart anyway, possibly out of embarrassment.
David Beckham Red-Carded
David Beckham, worldwide sporting hero? It wasn't always like that. His sending off, for a petulant kick at Diego Simeone, turned the tide of a brilliant second-round clash between England and Argentina in 1998. A ten-man England held on for penalties but Argentina eventually prevailed. Beckham was vilified in the U.K. with fans booing him everywhere he went. From hero to zero, then back to hero again. Well done, Becks.
Zaire Forget The Rules
With how big the World Cup is these days, this sort of thing just never happens anymore...and the tournament's worse for it. Back in 1986 the World Cup meant unknown teams, unknown players, and to some of the competitors, unknown rules. Team concedes free kick, team lines up defensive wall. Check. What's the one thing you can't do, Zaire? Yep, probably this. LOLz!
Pele Announces Himself
So, what did you do back in the summer when you were 17? Hang out, go to a few parties, watch TV, feel up some girls? Pele won the World Cup, doing what you see above in the 1958 final. Underachievers, all of you.
Bobby Moore Arrested
England were the defending World Cup champions and Bobby Moore was their captain—an elegant defender and a great leader. In the eyes of a Colombian jewelery store owner, he was also a thief. Moore was accused of stealing a $1,500 bracelet while on a pre-tournament tour of Colombia in 1970 and was placed under house arrest. The conspiracy theorists had a field day, but Moore was out in time to play in the World Cup.
Pele Misses
Pele was the greatest, making this moment all the more shocking. After an outrageous dummy against Uruguay in the 1970 semi-final, where he let the ball run and basically undressed the goalkeeper, he somehow managed to miss the target with his shot. Hey, even MJ missed a dunk or two. No matter: Brazil won the match and the entire tournament.
Roy Keane Walks Out
Roy Keane has always been an ornery son of a gun, and he more than lived up to that rep before the 2002 World Cup. Annoyed with Ireland's poor training facilities, the Irish captain let manager Mick McCarthy know all about it at a team meeting. Keane told Mick he was a shit player and now a shit manager, all before storming out of the tournament with the infamous "You can stick it up your bollocks" line. No, nobody knows quite how that would work. Anybody care to ask him?
Saeed Al-Owairan Keeps Running
In the fifth minute of Saudi Arabia's final first-round match, Al-Owairan picked up the ball midway in his own half. About 10 seconds later he was sticking it in the net. Run Al-Owairan, run. This goal against Belgium at RFK Stadium in 1994 was named sixth in FIFA's Goal of the Century poll and earned him the nickname the "Maradona of the Arabs"—minus the coke, liposuction, and erratic behavior, of course.
The Battle Of Santiago
Chile squared up against Italy in thie first-round encounter, quite literally. The BBC's David Coleman was appalled, and did little to hide it in the intro. The first foul came after just 12 seconds and the first sending-off, accompanied by the police, after just eight minutes. Referee Ken Astor was inspired to invent red and yellow cards to keep track of cautions on the back of this. Watch out for the flying kick to the neck!
Sacchi Subs Baggio
"He's taking off Roberto Baggio?!" That was pretty much the universal (and justified) reaction of the world media when Italy boss Arrigo Saachi sacrificed the best player in the world after goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca was dismissed in a game with Norway at USA 94. Italy still won, 1-0. Further down the list you'll see what the Divine Ponytail could do when left on the pitch.
Brazil Lose At Maracanã
Health, safety, and capacity regulations were no friend of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro for the final of the 1950 World Cup. The official attendance was 173,380, but it's estimated that somewhere between 200,000 and 210,000 fans crammed in with hopes of watching Brazil lift their first World Cup. After going 1-0 up, it all fell apart and Uruguay took their second title with a 2-1 win.
Argentina Get Enough Goals
Brazil had played their last group game the day before, leaving hosts Argentina knowing that they needed to win by four clear goals to qualify for the final. (Yep, you went straight into the final from the a group stage back in '78.) Argentina, a country ruled at the time by a military junta, faced up against Peru—who happened to have a Argentine-born goalkeeper. The hosts got six in the end, and the words "bribe" and "fix" appeared frequently. And not for the last time in World Cup history...
Jack Charlton's Meltdown
Jack Charlton, the Ireland manager, was pissed. He couldn't get water to his players. It was Florida, it was hot, and Ireland were losing 2-0 to Mexico. At least let him make a substitution? No. Alright then. You can't really blame him for what happened next. Joined by enraged would-be sub John Aldridge, Charlton made sure the FIFA officials realized there was a problem in this first-round match. Charlton got a fine and a touchline ban, but Ireland still made it out of the group.
The Worst Foul In History
Michel Platini put Patrick Battiston through on goal with a sumptuous pass in the second half of the 1982 semi-final between France and West Germany. Who would reach it first, Battiston or German keeper Harald Schumacher? Turns out Schumacher had no interest in the ball and instead smashed Battiston in the face with a combination of his hip and forearm. Battiston was out cold and taken to hospital. Exacerbating matters for the French: The ref gave a goal kick! The Germans proceeded to win on penalties.
Josimar!
Sometimes debuts just go like a dream. Josimar!!!!!! Yes—his debut, for Brazil, at the World Cup. Another thing that just doesn't happen anymore.
Zico's Perfect Free Kick
Pick up the ball, walk right up to the goal, and place it perfectly in the top left corner—right up against the frame of the goal, with no space. Now try and do it from a free kick from 30 yards out, like Zico did against Scotland in 1982. It's the replay that really makes the mouth water.
Letchkov Heads Bulgaria Through
Germany were the World Cup holders going into USA 94, Bulgaria were the unknowns. When Die Mannschaft (ayo!) went up 1-0, it looked all over in this quarter-final. But Hristo Stoichkov smashed home a free kick before Yordan Letchkov used every last strand of hair on his balding head to nod home this game-winning beauty.
Cambiasso Caps Argentina Rout
Serbia didn't concede a goal in qualifying for Germany 2006 but made up for it when they faced Argentina in the group stages. The 6-0 scoreline established the Argentineans as the early favourites, but it was Esteban Cambiasso's goal, after a move involving eight players, that really delighted. Watch the goal and just count the passes. Don't worry, already done it: 24.
Salenko Hits Five In One
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in a World Cup, with the winner usually bagging a few in each game throughout the tournament. Not in USA 94 though. After scoring one against Sweden, Oleg Salenko scored five times as Russia beat Cameroon 6-1—a total of six goals for the striker, enough to tie for first place with Hristo Stoichkov.
Ahn Is Sacked
South Korea shocked the world by getting to the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, beating Italy on the way. Ahn Jung-Hwan scored the winner in the dying seconds of extra-time and the entire country celebrated. Problem was, Ahn played for Italian club side Perugia, and their chairman immediately declared that the Korean was banned from the team.
Zidane Headbutts Materazzi
At half-time in the 2006 World Cup final, the votes were cast to determine the player of the tournament in Germany: Zinedine Zidane was the winner. What happened next left a few red faces. Insulted by Italy defender Marco Materazzi, Zidane officially lost it and took things into his own hands—or head as it turned out to be. The subsequent red-card dismissal was Zidane's last act as a footballer.
East Shocks West
One of the greatest shocks in World Cup history saw the two sides of Germany come together for an original East meets West encounter in the first round. The West were playing a World Cup on their home turf and had the likes of Franz Beckenbauer. The East? Not so much. But like an unwanted neighbour invited to a house party, the East turned up and stole the limelight with a 1-0 win. Awkward! But the West Germans still took home the trophy.
Voeller And Rijkaard Spitfest
Spitting in soccer (and pretty much any sport) is universally decried as the greatest unsportsmanlike act. When German Rudi Voeller and Dutchman Frank Rijkaard started exchanging heated words in this round of 16 clash at Italia 90, it all went too far. Rijkaard spat at Voeller, who complained to the ref to no avail. The trash-talking carried on for a few minutes until they were both sent off, so Rijkaard had another go, leaving the contents of his mouth hanging from Voeller's mullet.
North Korea Shock Italy
North Korea's only World Cup appearance before this summer in South Africa came in England in 1966. Amazingly they beat Italy 1-0 to advance past the first round (to another memorable match), rocketing the name Pak Doo-Ik into folklore. Can Jong Tae-Se repeat the trick in 2010?
Germany And Austria Stop Trying
The game that led to FIFA ruling that the last games in a group must be played simultaneously: Austria and Germany knew that a 1-0 German win would see them both through to the next round at the expense of Algeria. Can you guess what happened? Yes, after an early German goal, the teams basically played the ball around in their own half, showing little inclination to score. Shiesty!
Ronaldo Final Mystery
Ronaldo lit up the 1998 World Cup, but the Brazilian striker was also at the center of the tournament's biggest story. As the team sheets for the final against hosts France were handed in, Ronaldo's name was missing—rumors of seizures and a trip to the hospital as a result of poisoning began to emerge. Thirty minutes later he was back in the team. Had Nike forced him to play? Well, he was in the game, but he barely made a ripple as France won, 3-0.
Romania And Argentina Trade Blows
The game of the 1994 World Cup. With the Italians grinding out wins and the Brazilians not living up to the Samba tag, it was the Romanians and the Argentineans playing the flair-filled attacking football. From start to finish, this second-round game in Pasadena had attack after attack with play switching from end to end in a 3-2 win for the Romanians.
Diego Maradona Fails Doping Test
Diego Maradona was written off as washed-up before the 1994 World Cup. But momentarily he was brilliant again, the orchestrator of Argentina's fluid attacking play. After scoring a cracker against Greece he celebrated by screaming at the camera. But after the match, he was pulled in for a doping test. He tested positive for ephedrine and was out of the tournament forever.
USA's Amateurs Beat England
A sign of things to come this summer? Perhaps. But it wouldn't be anywhere near the shock it was in 1950 in Brazil when a bunch of American amateurs defeated the English professional game's most stellar names at what was essentially their own game. It was the Americans' only victory in the tournament, but it still rings bells today.
Manuel Negrete's Scissor-Kick
From Mexico's second-round victory over Bulgaria: an exquisite volleyed lay-off to an acrobatic scissor-kick. This goal summed up the flair that ran throughout the World Cup in Mexico in 1986. Sit back and enjoy.
Senegal Down The Champions
Sometimes champions are so arrogant, they deserve to lose. The French were favorites to repeat in 2002 after their 1998 success and Euro 2000 triumph. Defender Marcel Desailly even told his family not to bother coming to Asia until the later rounds, so easy would their progress be. Senegal, who'd never qualified before, didn't read the script and won the opener 1-0. The French went home after three games without scoring a goal. Sacré Bleus!
Eusebio Saves Portugal
North Korea weren't happy with just beating Italy in 1966, they had a good go at Portugal too. They raced to a 3-0 lead after just 24 minutes before the Black Panther, Eusebio, saved the Portuguese by scoring four of his side's five goals in what remains the greatest World Cup comeback.
Rivelino Shouts "Duck!"
Sometimes Brazilians just try stuff on the soccer pitch that mere mortals wouldn't even think of. Did Rivelino shout "duck" (or the Portuguese equivalent) to his teammate in the wall for this free kick in Brazil's second-round match with East Germany? You decide.
Gazza Cries
Gazza's tears after England's exit in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup helped kick-start the Premier League boom years. Paul Gascoigne restored pride in a sport that was often seen as the reserve of hooligans in the '70s and '80s. Gazza received his second caution of the tournament in the game and it meant he would be ruled out of the final if England qualified (which they didn't). It seemed to upset him, greatly.
The Hand of God
Scandal followed Maradona everywhere. Prior to the 1986 quarter-final with England, he'd been stoking the tension by mentioning the recently-fought Falklands conflict between the two nations, pulling on the emotional strings of his countrymen. He saw the game as potential "revenge" and would do anything to win...and he did. "Handball!" cried Peter Shilton in the England goal. "Why couldn't you out-jump a 5'5" midget!?!" cried everyone else.
Nine-Man Cameroon Beat Argentina
Cameroon not only beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the opening match of Italia 90, they beat them 1-0 with a rubbish goal and were reduced to nine men because of two red cards. The greatest shock in World Cup history? Probably.
Dennis Bergkamp At His Best
The quarter-final of the 1998 World Cup between Holland and Argentina was heading for extra time. Then Dennis Bergkamp did this! At least we think it's Bergkamp, that's one of the names mentioned in this commentary, isn't it?
Roger Milla Starts Dancing
Was he 38? Was he 40? Was he 44? Nobody knew the age of the Cameroonian striker when he exploded onto the World Cup scene with four goals in 1990. All anyone knew was that they'd never heard of him and he was definitely older than he looked. He could dance, too. His corner flag wiggle changed the face of goal celebrations.
Save Of The Century
In this hotly anticipated first-round clash between England and Brazil, Gordon Banks made what many call the greatest save of all time. At the ten-minute mark, the English keeper desperately plunged to his right to stop a ball off the head of Pele. Brazil still won, 1-0, but that robbery lives on forever.
Italy Start Attacking
For some reason Italy forgot that they are historically a defensive team. It was the semi-final of the World Cup in 2006, Italy were up against the hosts, Germany, and they just went for it. Chance after chance after chance was missed, but did they get cautious come extra time? Nope! They went for it some more. Pulsating and exciting, this game had it all.
And It's Still Baggio
Italy v. Czechoslovakia. Ladies and gentleman, the Divine Ponytail. That is all.
Kuwaiti Official Gets Goal Disallowed
When experts say there's no point in complaining to the referee because he won't change his decision, it's not entirely true. If it's the 1982 World Cup and you're a Kuwaiti FA official (who's also the brother of the Kuwaiti emir) things are different. France scored to go 4-1 up but the Kuwait team claimed they stopped playing because of a whistle in the crowd. The president of the Kuwait FA came down from the crowd and threatened to remove his players. The Soviet referee amazingly took the goal away. Yeah, he wasn't invited back.
The Cruyff Turn
Do new pieces of skill just happen by accident? Sometimes yes, and sometimes Johan Cruyff just invents them. This game between Holland and Sweden saw the first appearance of the Cruyff turn, a legendary ankle-breaker now practiced in training clinics the world over. Johan Cruyff, we salute you.
Belgium And USSR Share Seven
This second-round meeting in the 1986 World Cup had everything: Belgium and the Soviet Union both wanted to attack, leading to seven goals—many of them brilliant—plus extra-time. All in all, one of the great World Cup matches ever.
Marco Tardelli Celebrates
It's 1982 and your team, Italy lead West Germany 1-0 in the final. In the 69th minute, you seal the deal by scoring the second for the Azzurri. How does it feel? Probably something like this. What the passion of the World Cup is all about.
Arie Haan Shoots And Scores
Gravity pretty much dictates that a ball shouldn't be able to travel quite so fast and accurately for quite so long. Arie Haan's game-winning goal for the Dutch against the Italians in the second round—past one of the all-time greatest keepers, Dino Zoff—may well have still been travelling if it hadn't hit the back of the net. Nearly caught the cameramen out, too!
Andrés Escobar Is Shot Dead
Sometimes sport stops being fun. Rumors were flying about the influence various cartels had over a superbly talented Colombia side at USA 94, and the proof was in the team's play: Players seemed afraid to be there and underperformed. Defender Andrés Escobar scored this own goal against the USA that effectively knocked Colombia out of the tournament. A few days later, Escobor was shot dead in his hometown in an attack thought to be related to his gaffe. Way more tragic than badass, but still one of the most infamous World Cup moments ever.
Greatest Team Goal Ever
Style, swagger, audacity. This Carlos Alberto goal perfectly sums up the Brazilian side of 1970—perhaps the best team of all time. This isn't a practice match against amateurs, this is the World Cup final, and against Italy. Did it ever look like they would lose the ball?
World Cup's Greatest Match?
See what happens when the Italians decide to attack? They needed a win to make it to the semi-finals, while Brazil only had to draw. The Brazil side of 1982 with Zico, Socrates, and friends is often called the best team never to win the trophy. Italy scored early to kick-start a fantastic game of attacking football at its best. A Paolo Rossi hat-trick saw the eventual champions Italy through 3-2, ending the purists' dreams.
Diego Maradona Destroys England
He scored the first goal against England in this 1986 quarter-final with his hand. Perhaps, just perhaps, he thought: "I'd better do this properly." Diego, you may not be everyone's favorite guy, but there's no arguing with this. BADASS.