Aidan Russell 1907 FA Cup Final Score: Sheffield Wednesday 2 Everton 1 Venue: Crystal Palace, London Date: Saturday 20th April 1907 Scorers:Sheffield Wednesday – Jimmy Stewart, George Simpson. Everton – Jack Sharp Sheffield Wednesday Team: Jack Lyall, Billy Layton, Harry Burton, Tom Brittleton, Tommy Crawshaw, Bill Bartlett Harry Chapman, Frank Bradshaw, Andrew Wilson, James Stewart, George Simpson … Read more
Closely watched by dictator Benito Mussolini, Italy fulfilled the double mission of projecting itself onto the international and political stage by winning the 1934 World Cup. The second World Cup organized by FIFA triggered the interest of 32 national teams. Therefore, for the first time, teams had to qualify. Despite being the host nation, even … Read more
Fascism was spreading through Europe, and the imminence of war was felt in all corners of the continent when France hosted the 1938 World Cup. The Second World War would only start in 1939, but in June the year before, a series of problems threatened the staging of the tournament. The Spanish Civil War started … Read more
Once more, the unthinkable reared its head at the World Cup. Four years after Brazil watched stunned as the world title slipped away to Uruguay, it was time for one of the strongest teams in football history to crumble when faced with German determination and physical strength in the 1954 World Cup. Hungary had won … Read more
Pelé was just a seventeen-year-old boy and practically unknown when he arrived in Sweden in 1958 to play in the 1958 World Cup in history. However, Brazil’s 5-2 convincing win over the hosts in the final and Pelé’s outstanding performance, playing alongside another football genius, Garrincha, were enough to draw the world’s attention to the … Read more
Enrique Castro González, also known as ‘Quini,’ was a spectacular striker at Sporting de Gijón and FC Barcelona. He gained legendary status due to his supremacy in front of the goal and his bravery on and off the pitch. “The Era Quini” Born on 23rd September 1949 in Oviedo, Spain, the young Quini later moved … Read more
After its South American neighbors (Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile), Argentina finally had the chance to host the 1978 World Cup. And contrary to what happened in Brazil and Chile, their story had happy endings. Mario Kempes finished the 1978 World Cup tournament as top scorer, and the celebration took over the streets of Buenos Aires, … Read more
For Brazilians, only the 1950 World Cup is more traumatic than the 1982 World Cup, hosted by Spain. The World Cup in Brazil went into football history books for coining the expression Maracanazo, or the Maracanã blow, referring to the 2-1 defeat suffered by the hosts to Uruguay in a packed-out Maracana Stadium. The 1982 … Read more
The 1986 World Cup saw the rise of another football immortal. Until that year, Diego Armando Maradona was only an excellent Argentine midfielder with rare skill, a track record of indiscipline, and a controversial figure. However, after June 1986 in Mexico, Dieguito became a myth. For everyone, a genius with his left leg; for many, … Read more
The former Irish goalkeeper Shay Given played professionally as a goalkeeper. The Republic of Ireland’s second-most capped national team player with 134 caps. Given was regarded as an agile, athletic, committed, and courageous goalkeeper with exceptional reflexes. His Premier League teammates nicknamed him Lazarus because he never misses a game or picks up injuries and … Read more