So, it is day one week to the start of the World Cup. But what do we actually know about the history of the tournament?
Let’s start with its origins.
Jules Rimet was the president of FIFA in 1929 and he wanted to implement a tournament that would bring countries together. Bearing in mind that the First World War had ended just ten years earlier it was an admirable ambitious task.
The trophy was to be called Victory and had the Goddess Nike it stood 14 inches high and weighed 8.4Ibs.
But whereas Rimet had these honourable ambitions. History has shown that the global game is a product of British Imperialism, as it was the British who brought cricket and football to places in their vast empire, and which bred vicious South American rivalries between the likes of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
Referees wore suits and ties and the Bolivians played in berets.
Teams sport how Stars on their shirts and the Uruguay team claim four which states that they have won World Cup four times. When actually, it’s two, (1930 and 1934) l -why do they say this and why do they sport four stars on their shirts?
Because of course they count the previous Olympics victories in 1924 and 1928. However, the World Cup was first held in 1930 - Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final.
But again, this was down to the British, As is the case with many South American countries, soccer arrived in Uruguay with British immigrants. The British were integral to the foundation of Uruguay's railway system and several other businesses, including the first newspaper in the city of Montevideo (The Southern Star).
The next time they would win was in 1950. This is because they boycotted the event in 1934 and 1938, firstly because so many European teams declined to come to Uruguay in 1930, and secondly because the 1938 cup was held in France, and not South America.
The looming shadow of the Second World War, was on the horizon in the early to mid 1930s and both Mussolini and Hitler didn’t really like football, preferring other tactical strategies instead with Germany and Japan getting a red card from FIIFA in 1950 for foul play off the field.
Now then Argentina has won 2 World Cups, whereas Brazil has won 5. How did this all come about, again the British Empire brought cricket clubs into these countries; the cricket clubs turned into football clubs and rivalry was born. Add to these military juntas and dictatorships and you have the threat of failure placed upon the shoulders of those who wear the national football shirt.
Some might say the geopolitics and other controversial elements happen just before World Cups. Supporters of Jair Bulsanaro, like Neymar and Thiago Silva for example follow this right-wing nationalist, law-and-order advocate, and former army captain who expressed admiration for the military government and had ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. Football is their way of expressing their faith with those fans for him who wear the yellow football jersey -whilst those against him wear the away blue colours.
Argentina meanwhile considers the British to be pirates. But they won the World their first World Cup in 1978, defeating the Netherlands in the final.
The Dutch have been described in 1978 as a cross between the "summer of love" and permissive society meets the death of the Beatles. They were predicted to win and indeed scored first but the Argies came back and won 2-1.
Despite teaching them how to play football they have never really liked the English nation and as I say, consider them to be pirates. Reason, we stole the Islas Malvinas and there are many images of piracy when the UK is mentioned in public narration on film or TV or posters.
They have depicted "World Cup Willy", the 1966 England mascot and Margaret Thatcher in pirate dress too. The first because after the England game in 1966 when the Daily Mirror described their football team as animals, the Argentine press did exactly the same by dressing up World Cup Willy in pirate guise.
Again, in 1982, Maggie went to war over the stolen Malvinas or Falkland Islands and retook them – argh Maggie!
In that amazing year of 1966, Argentina made its debut in Group 2 of the World Cup, defeating Spain by 2–1. The next matches were against West Germany, which ended 0–0 and Switzerland also won by 2–1.
1966 and all that
As you can see from the above graphic, Argentina qualified to the quarterfinals where the team was defeated by the host team 1–0.
But, it was a controversial match where midfielder Antonio Rattin was sent off by German referee Rudolf Kreitlein for "violence of the tongue", despite the referee speaking no Spanish. Rattín was so incensed with the decision, believing the referee to be biased in favour of England, that he refused to leave. As a way to show his disgust, he sat on the red carpet exclusively meant for the Queen to walk on.
He eventually had to be escorted from the field by two policemen and as a final sign of disgust, wrinkled at a British pennant before being escorted out. This incident, and others surrounding the same game, arguably started the long-lasting rivalry between both national teams, although on the other hand, allowed for the institution of yellow and red cards into football, a solution devised by FIFA after the spark that set off the incident.
Up until 1978 – Argentina were the worst of the South American teams, but this of course was to change when they hosted in that year. Now this was time In Argentina when people just went missing for protesting against the oppressive regime and it said that up to 30,000, people had just been taken away.
In this year, Argentina started to prepare with friendlies and in all before the tournament, Argentina had played a total of 33 matches. The year 1977 was also the international debut of Diego Maradona, who played for the first time at age 16 against Hungary The match was held in Buenos Aires with a large victory for Argentina by 5–1.
A large victory over Peru allowed Argentina to play the final. On 25 June 1978, at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina played its second World Cup final. Mario Kempes gave Argentina the lead in the 38th minute, with the Dutch who had been monumental in 1974 knocking them out under the cosh but the men in Orange-were able to respond in the 82nd minute for the equalizer.
The game went to extra time and Mario Kempes again the Argentines the lead and Daniel Bertoni added another goal which sealed the win for Argentina. So, the team which became the second South American team to win the World Cup at its home soil. Kempes was not only the most notable player of the team but also the topscorer of the tournament with six goals.
It is said that the jailers of some of the missing were listening to the final on their radios and placed the devices near to their victims so that they could hear the crowd cheering the president’s picked team who they said to them that they "had forgotten about their demise". - the infrastructure had built large walls to ferry fans to the stadiums to hide the shanty towns on the route.
Maradona played little part in this victory even though at his young age he was considered one of the best players in the world, the coach Menotti, did not include him in the definitive list for the tournament. Some sources state that the Argentine military junta that ruled Argentina by then pushed Menotti to include River Plate's midfielder Norberto Alonso instead of Maradona, and that Menotti almost certainly knew that the prodigiously talented 17-year-old would not be able to handle the immense pressure and attention in the biggest sporting event in Argentina's history.
The Argentine squad travelled to Spain to participate in the 1982 World Cup while Argentina was fighting in the Falklands War, of course being the winners in 1978 , they didn’t need to qualify and were the heavy favourites. However, Maradona could not show his skills during the tournament, suffering from the rough play of rivals (especially Claudio Gentile in the game against Italy). He would eventually be sent off by the referee after kicking Brazilian player Batista in the groin. The winners were Italy who beat Germany in the final 3-1.
Then came 1986 and the ‘Hand of God’. They entered the competition with hope because of one player, Diego Maradona. the quarter finals, playing England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The game started very evenly, with both teams getting chances to score but none were able to finish. The first half ended with Argentina having the majority of possession but unable to get past a tough defense. Six minutes following the second half, Maradona scored a controversial goal in which he used his hand; once the match finished, Maradona called it "la mano de Dios" ("the hand of God"), explicitly admitting the infringement. The goal began with a defensive error from Steve Hodge, who passed the ball incorrectly back to his goalkeeper, Peter Shilton.
At that time, Maradona was still continuing his run and reached the ball first and netted it in with his left fist. After the goal, Maradona encouraged his teammates to embrace the goal so the referee would allow it. Four minutes after the "hand of God" goal, Maradona scored a goal which people called "The Goal of the Century" because of the individual effort of Maradona, who starting his run from the half-way line, passed four English midfielders (he beat midfielder Terry Butcher twice) and dribbled around Shilton, finally scoring the goal which allowed Argentina to win the match, 2–1. That victory was very celebrated due to not only the rivalry between both teams, but Argentina had lost the Falklands War at the hands of the British Army four years prior.
Well, that won’t happen again – as we have VAR to sort out those kinds of cheating shenanigans don’t, we?
If you like this - please let me know - if not- tough, it's the start of the World Cup today and I intend to watch as much as I can - who knows maybe it will come home this year?
POEM
The day is now, the time is right, I see a trophy, I see the sight
For Although Jules Rimet, no longer stands
Nine of the teams' wear "One Love" Bands
The Season is paused, we await a name, we await the goals of Harry Kane
No Biting Suarez, no Job after Tourny, for Ron
With Karim out of Les Blues, their chances may be gone
So, who do you think will lift the Cup, which of the teams will not shut up?
Of course, Messi’s leadership is key
If South America have no rivalry
My thoughts are those with one or two stars, and spare a thought for no beer in bars
The Odds are on England, its Southgate's last post
Finish second and we play the most (last-four tie against Spain/Germany or Brazil)
A National paper prediction has no room for Son, but can a miracle soon be won?
Are Les Bleus, really that good now the Balon has burst
Come on England let them do their worst!!
