India ride on Sunil Chhetri’s hat-trick to outclass Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the Intercontinental Cup
Football captain Sunil Chhetri presented another master-class performance to guide India to a thumping victory against Chinese Taipei in the first match of the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai. Chhetri led from the front with a hat-trick as the hosts won 5-0 against Taipei. The leading goal-scorer for India, Sunil Chhetri, netted in the 14th, 34th and 62nd minute to complete...
Sanjita Chanu suspended after testing positive; will challenge the decision
Dope shame returned to Indian Weighlifting as Sanjita Chanu, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 53kg Women’s category, was tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid and was provisionally suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). "IWF reports that the sample of Ms. Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham (IND) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Testosterone (S1.1 Anabolic Agents). As...
Argentina’s first time summit victory immortalised by the ’Embrace of the Soul’
As the final whistle blew to declare Argentina’s home-turf triumph over the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup final of 1978; a certain Victor Dell’Aquila jumped the fence, evaded the police, rushed onto the field and hugged his heroes Alberto Tarantini and Ubaldo Fillol, who were kneeling on the field embracing each other. But what made that moment at...
When East faced West in a torn Germany- the only time the two teams met in Football’s highest stage
After the terrific heat of Mexico during the 1970 World Cup, it was a relatively cooler but rainy West Germany that welcomed one and all for the 1974 edition. Having being the reigning European Champions, West Germany came a long way after their upset 1954 World Cup win. They progressed a lot in terms of professionalism and were a...
Brazilian hurricane swept Mexico throughout to own Jules Rimet trophy in Pele’s final bow
1970 World Cup had seen many ‘firsts’- substitutions were allowed (previously, teams could not replace injured or tired players), red and yellow cards were introduced and matches were broadcasted in colours. But these reasons were eclipsed by a bigger and more important occasion for which this edition is remembered. The host nation of Mexico danced to the samba rhythm as...
The famous yet ‘infamous’ hat-trick of Geoff Hurst that gave England their only World Cup
The only man to have scored a hat-trick in the final of a World Cup remains Geoff Hurst since 1966- the year in which England became world champions for the first and last time till date. In front of a strong Wembley crowd, the hosts defeated West Germany by 4-2 in which Hurst scored three goals- of which the...
Threats, thefts, recovery, demolition- the mystery behind non-existence of Jules Rimet trophy
A trophy made of gold-plated sterling silver on a white-yellow marble base was manufactured following the design of French sculptor, Abel Lafleur. It depicted Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory holding a cup. This came to be known as the ‘World Cup’ and later nicknamed ‘the Golden Goddess’. The first Football World Cup tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930. The...
Vava keeps his name in record book- the only person to score in the consecutive World Cup final
Edvaldo Isidio Neto, better known to the world as Vava, has a unique record set against his name. Among the four players who have scored in two FIFA World Cup finals, Vava is the only one who has managed it in successive editions. The dynamic Brazilian scored twice in the 1958 final in Sweden and a single goal in...
‘Lucky 13’ of Just Fontaine- the record of highest goal in a single Cup that still remains untouched
The 1958 World Cup belonged to the Brazilian great Pele. But there was another man; a lesser-known Frenchman who created history. Just Fontaine set a record for the most goals in a World Cup that still remains untouched. Only Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Muller have scored more goals than Fontaine at the tournament but they all needed two...
A promise in 1950 fulfilled in 1958; how Pele won the Cup for Brazil and his father
There could be no other more important event in the 1958 World Cup rather than Pele’s mercurial performance at the age of 17. As Brazil lifted the World trophy, a new era of Football started; it was the day when the story of Pele and Brazil began. Brazil had been so near to win the Cup. They were placed third...