Aidan Russell First World Cup to be broadcast to the whole world, the 1970 World Cup tournament was full of skillful and attacking plays, mainly from Brazil, with great players like Pelé, Tostão, Rivelino, Jairzinho, and Gerson. Brazil made a glorious exhibition of attacking football from the first match to the final. At the same time, thousands … Read more
Brazil did not in any way resemble the magical 1970 team, England did not even manage to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, and Argentina had yet to rise as a footballing power. Nonetheless, the World Cup in West Germany became a benchmark for the sport. All because of Dutch total football. Commandeered by football … 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
Together with city rivals, Persepolis, Tehran-based Esteghlal sits alongside the biggest and best-supported clubs in Iran. The pair is generally considered the premier soccer clubs in the Iranian top flight, known as the Persian Gulf Pro League. Esteghlal Football Club is one of the oldest in Tehran and Iran and carries a deep history in … 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
Richarlison, Nikica Jelavic, and Romelu Lukaku are the latest in a long line of deadly strikers that have shown off their talents at Everton. Here is our tribute to some of the greatest Everton forwards in the club’s long history. Everton Forwards Before The War Edgar Chadwick (270 matches, 97 goals) One of only eight … 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
Land of basketball, baseball, and American football, the United States succumbed to soccer, as they call the world’s most popular sport, and hosted the 1994 World Cup. Doubts over how involved the population would get spread: the 1994 World Cup had the biggest crowd in the FIFA event’s history, 3,587,538 spectators, and other equally impressive … Read more
Ferenc Puskas was goalscoring royalty during his reign in the 1950s and 1960s. It’s no wonder he was destined to become a legend who, in making Europe his kingdom, became one of the greatest footballers of the 20th century. This is his awe-inspiring story. The Hungarian Wonderkid On the 1st April 1927, Ferenc Purczeld Biró … Read more