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 Whenever the Soccer World Cup is mentioned, the mind is boggled by moments of magic and illusion; smiles and tears; Pelé and Maradona; Brazil's five cups, the famous Maracanã final and a long history of events that begun in 1930.
The first World Cup was played in Uruguay in 1930 and was a rather pale event since only four European teams turned up, France, Belgium, Yugoslavia and Romania, and nine from the Americas for a total of thirteen. As could be expected two South American teams made it to the final: Argentina and Uruguay who were again meeting following the 1928 Olympic final. Argentina was desperate for revenge, but once again Uruguay won and became the first holder of the Cup. In 1934 Italy hosted the first World Cup in Europe. "Il Duce" Mussolini wanted support and good public relations for his regime and immediately realized the importance of organizing a World Cup, and winning the competition. With this clear objective in mind Italy quickly nationalized four Argentine players, Raimundo Orsi, Luis Monti, Enrique Guaita and Atila Demaría plus the Brazilian star Anfilogino Guarisi. He had besides the invaluable help of friendly referees. In fact FIFA later fired two of them. Uruguay was not present in retaliation for European absences four years earlier, the only time in the Cup's history that the best team did not defend its title. Egypt was also the first African team in participating. Italy played the final with Czechoslovakia, and in spite of being under most of the time, eight minutes before the match was over Orsi scored and in the additional time a goal from Angelo Schiavio made Il Duce's dream come true: Italy was world champion. War was in the air in Europe when France hosted the 1938 Cup. Austria which had a great team was absent in spite of qualifying since Adolf Hitler expansionism rapidly moved into Vienna. Spain was in the middle of a long, fierce civil war (1936/39). Brazil and Cuba were the only Latinamerican countries represented. The rest boycotted the event since they argued that the Cup should be played alternatively in different continents. However South American football was marvelously represented by Brazil. It was by far the most surprising team of the tournament particularly because of the talent of one of the pioneers of football as a display show: Leônidas the Diamante Negro "black diamond" who was also the main scorer of the competition with eight goals. But it wasn't enough and the final was played between Italy and Hungary (4-2). Diamante Negro, a chocolate bar inspired by Leônidas continues to be one of Brazil's favorite candies. Many Brazilians, however. don't know the origin of the name. The world was beginning to recover from the destruction of World War II when in 1946 FIFA decided to celebrate the fourth World Cup, a trophy which would begin to be named Jules Rimet, to honor the man whose mind created the competition. Brazil organized the Cup and to impress built the largest stadium in the world with a capacity for 200.000 people in Rio do Janeiro: Maracanã. In the last match Brazil only needed to draw with neighboring Uruguay. But tiny Uruguay showed the world what the "Charrúa grit" meant and in an epic match 2-1 which history recalls as "Maracanazo", celebrated its second World Cup. If Uruguay was the surprise in 1950, Germany played the role when against all odds they defeated the clear favorites, Hungary in the final match of the Cup organized by Switzerland. Hungary had all running for them: a team of renowned stars, Sandor Kocsis, Zoltan Czibor or Ferenc Puskas which hadn't lost a match in four years. On the final match, Germans took revenge and beat Hungary 3-2, in the so called "Berne miracle". The 1958 World Cup in Sweden discovered Pelé, who at the time was only 17. It was the first World Cup that didn't have among the spectators Jules Rimet, the father of the tournament who had died in 1956 at the age of 83. Fellow Frenchman Just Fontaine scored 13 goals, a record that still stands today. But the Cup in Sweden was yellow/green. In the semifinals Brazil defeated France 5-2 and in the final repeated the score against Sweden, 5-2 Chile 1962 saw a change in the rules with the goal difference advantage in case of draw match in the first round, which promoted strong locked defenses, few goals and many injuries. Brazil nevertheless managed its second title, catching up with Italy and Uruguay, thanks to such players as Garrincha, Amarildo, Didi, Vavá, who defeated Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final. Beatles and miniskirts were the fashion in England that in 1966 hosted the World Cup for the first time ever. None less than the country that had invented the sport 103 years before. In the first round two great surprises: Italy and Brazil were eliminated. Particularly Brazil which again couldn't count with Pelé fiercely injured in the match with Portugal. However the Portuguese also showed up with a brilliant player, Eusébio, who scored none less than nine times, making him the star and helping Portugal reach third position. The final played at the Wembley "temple" was not exempt of controversy. England won in the play offs defeating Germany 4-2 with a "ghost" score from Geoff Hurst. In 1970, in Mexico, Brazil was a master player and source of inspiration with a team under captain Mário Lobo Zagallo with some super stars such as Pelé, Gerson, Jairzinho; Rivelino, Carlos Alberto. The team didn't lose one match and scored 19 times. For the first time red and yellow cards where introduced as well as direct and indirect shots and each team could change two players. The ninth Cup final was played in the packed monumental Azteca stadium with Brazil under the leadership of Pelé defeating Italy 4-1. Three times champions (1958, 1962, 1970) the yellow/greens took the Jules Rimet Cup home for ever. Of the 16 teams in Germany in 1974, Zaire was the first to represent black Africa; Australia represented Asia and Oceania and Haiti replaced Mexico in North and Central America. Holland was the great surprise with its display of "total football" in 1974. The overwhelming Dutch team was headed by Johan Cruyff. The two favorites clashed at the final, Holland ad Federal Germany. However the "mechanical orange" couldn't beat the hosts, who won 2-1. Politics and football again shook hands in the 1978 World Cup. Argentina was ruled by an iron fisted military dictatorship and several countries threatened to boycott the event, which finally did not happen. Holland didn't have much difficulties in reaching the final, while Argentina in the midst of controversy squeezed through the first round and left Brazil out. Mario Kempes was the main scorer of the Cup with six goals, and the great player of the final against Holland which ended runner up loosing 3-1. The big innovation is Spain 1982 was increasing the number of competitors in the final phase of the Cup from 16 to 24. Italy which just managed to get through with three draws, ended winning the Cup to everybody's surprise. In the second round Brazil with Zico, Socrates and Junior was defeated by a defensive but most effective Italy with its scorer Paolo Rossi. In the final Italy defeated Germany 3-1, and joined the exclusive club of the three times winner of the World Cup. Diego Armando Maradona. Those three words define the World Cup Mexico 1986. The Golden kid, hero of Naples, was the great leader of Argentina to its final victory. The great match of the Cup was England and Argentina in quarter finals. Maradona scored on minute 55... with his fist, the famous "hand of God" goal. However four minutes later Maradona scored the nicest goal of the whole Cup after dribbling five English players and running over 50 meters. Final score of the duel 2-1. Argentina defeated Belgium in semifinals 2-0 and Western Germany in the final, 3-2, thus conquering its second Cup. In Italy 1990, good soccer and ideas were absent. The final was Argentina with Germany, and with the same style of the whole tournament, Andreas Brehme scored a controversial penalty kick thus giving Germany its second Cup. The 1994 World Cup in United States was played in a country where it was mostly an unknown sport and not arising much passion. Brazil defeated Italy in the final, a very dull and boring match with a score of 0-0, which was then decided with penalty kicks. The US hosted Cup is remembered because of the tragic killing of Colombian defense player Andrés Escobar, shot in Medellin for having scored involuntarily during the match Colombia lost to United States 2-1. It was also when Maradona's drug test proved positive. France 1998 introduced two interesting features: number of teams was increased from 24 to 32 and the gold goal from eighth finals on. France defeated Brazil which still can't understand how on that famous July 12, the host country was able to easily score three goals. Zinedine Zidane, with two head goals in the final, was the best player of the tournament. Ronaldo the promising Brazilian star couldn't even play the final. The first World Cup ever in Asia ended like a fairy tale for South Korea and Japan. Ronaldo the reborn star, scored twice in an unprecedented final and with a tremendous history ingredient for Brazil and Germany. Brazil wins 2-0 and takes the Cup for a fifth time: Pentachampions. Mercopress - www.mercopress.com
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With making the qtr finals in the 2002 Cup, the pressure is on to go farther.. Could be a difficult task with the Czechs and Italy in their group. Personally, I would love to see Brasil win,,, again. Americans would not appreciate a world cup like the Brasilians do.
I'm just hoping to learn a little more about the game and enjoy some good soccer.
Casual fan in Philadelphia