World Cup History

When a blindfolded man denied Spain a World Cup ticket

While this was pretty much before the tournament, the 1954 World Cup itself was incredibly entertaining — with an average of 5.4 goals per game.

World Cup History: Brazil makes world sway to samba; Moore arrested

The dislike for England was already there, with most countries thinking that the World Cup in 1966 was fixed and it didn't help matters when England sort of insulted their hosts by importing a whole lot of frozen meals to avoid Mexican food.

World Cup History: West Germany gets painted Oranje with Total Football

Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol and Willem van Hanegem took the plaudits as they tested their method on the world stage for the first time.

World Cup History: Controversy in Argentina ruins Dutch dreams

It's quite stunning how two teams who had such a stuttering start to the World Cup reached the finals.

World Cup History 1982: Losses for Algeria, Brazil change football forever

It was quite riduculous that FIFA was allowing group games to still be played at different times. It clearly meant that teams knew before hand the result or the number of goals they needed to progress to the next stage.

World Cup History: Cameroon show that Africa can play football

From rank outsiders who were 500/1 to win the World Cup, Cameroon were suddenly the darlings of the neutrals — playing football that had a raw beauty — their basic tactics torturing the more adept sides.

History: Death, drugs and Dunga as World Cup goes Hollywood

'Era Dunga' was a time when Brazil played a slower and more mechanical football which got them the results but not the cheers.

History: Bad referees overshadow good Ronaldo at crazy World Cup 2002

Both the host countries topped their groups unbeaten, while Republic of Ireland, Turkey and debutants Senegal made it through to the round of 16.

World Cup History: The head, the feet, the hand and the genius of Maradona

More than Argentina's, 1986 will be remembered as Diego Maradona's World Cup.

FIFA World Cup History: Just Fontaine's unbreakable record

Just Fontaine however holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in a single tournament: representing France at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, Fontaine scored 13 as Les Bleus finished third in Scandinavia.