The Bizzare World cup moments
It is right around the corner that very moment where the world speaks one language, and that language is the language of football... It's the world cup here again, where we will see creativity at its peak, entertainment at its best, and excitement at the zenith!
Where the world's best clashes for the period of 30days, with the likes the world football country Brazil, Germany, Spain, England, Croatia, France, Egypt, and our very own Super Eagles amongst others!
- Here, I want to share those bizzare moments in the history of the world cup.
1982: The Schumacher Combo
West Germany's semi-final win over France - featuring six goals, including four in extra time and a dramatic penalty shootout - is regarded as one of the best World Cup matches of all time, but it was overshadowed by one of the most brutal non-fouls in football history.
With the score at 1-1 in the second half, France defender Patrick Battiston was sent on as a substitute and within a few minutes was played through on goal by Michel Platini.
Battiston got to the ball first and poked a shot narrowly wide, but was cleaned out by goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's uncompromising body check.
The challenge left the Frenchman needing oxygen, and ending up with three broken ribs, two missing teeth and severe damage to his back.
Battiston said: "All I know is that Schumacher was someone who wanted to win at all costs and he went way over the top that evening."
Unbelievably, Dutch referee Charles Corver did not even award a foul and the Germans progressed to the final, where they were beaten by Italy in Madrid.
1990: The Rijkaard Spit
The long-standing rivalry between West Germany and the Netherlands, who contested the 1974 World Cup final, which the Germans won, boiled over when they met in the second round at Italia 90.
Germany striker Rudi Voller and Netherlands defender Frank Rijkaard played against each other in Serie A, but ex-Roma man Voller was the victim of not one, but two of the ugliest incidents in the history of the tournament. AC Milan player Rijkaard was given a booking for a late challenge on Voller and, as the two moved back into their positions, the Dutchman spat in the back of Voller's luscious mullet. The German, in his attempts to show the referee what had happened, was given a booking of his own.
Just a minute later, the two clashed again and Argentine official Juan Carlos Loustau decided he had had enough, sending both players off. As Voller stood with his hands on his hips in disbelief, Rijkaard delivered another gob full of phlegm into the blond locks of his opponent.
Rijkaard said: "That day I was wrong. There was no insult. I always had much respect for Rudi Voller. But I went berserk when I saw that red card. I talked to him after the match and I apologised. I am very happy that he accepted. I have no bad feeling about him now."
West Germany won the match, defeated England in the semi-finals and went on to beat Argentina in the final to claim the trophy for the third time.
1994: The Quiver of Maradona
Who wouldn't know him in the world cup record history for his level of commanding strength that shatter defense. Maradona had led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and to the final in 1990. He came into the 1994 tournament after serving a doping ban and had been given a suspended prison sentence for shooting at journalists with an air rifle. The dream comeback turned into a nightmare. Skipper Maradona started the tournament in the USA by thumping a left-footed finish into the top corner against Greece.
His deranged celebration with a wide-eyed scream into the camera led to questions about his mental health. Maradona played the next game against Nigeria, but little did he know it be the last of his 91 caps as he was sent home from the tournament for failing a drugs test for ephedrine and subsequently given a 15-month suspension.
Maradona said: "They have retired me from soccer. I don't think I want another revenge. My soul is broken."
1998: Ronaldo in Colorado
Brazil were looking for their fifth World Cup triumph when they faced hosts France in the 1998 final, one which began with the question 'will he or won't he?' hanging over it. At 21, superstar Inter Milan striker Ronaldo was the world's most expensive player and all hopes were pinned on him to lead Brazil to victory at Stade de France.
Ronaldo had scored four goals in the tournament but there was amazement and confusion when his name was left off the initial team sheet for the final.
But a revised line-up then saw him back in the starting XI, although he was clearly not at his best as he and his side struggled badly and were beaten 3-0 by France.
Ronaldo said: "I had a convulsion, after lunch in the afternoon. I was unconscious for three or four minutes. I don't know why it happened. Nobody knows. Was it pressure or nerves? It could be."
Theories were voiced that team sponsors and the Brazilian FA had forced an unwell Ronaldo to play in the final, or that Ronaldo had a secret medical problem.
2006: The Zidanecious Headbutt
Zinedine Zidane the former Real Madrid player and coach had announced his decision to retire after the 2006 World Cup.
The France captain had inspired his country to another final, eight years after scoring twice against Brazil to lift the trophy for the first time, and his last match as a professional was unforgettable.
Zidane's seventh-minute penalty, a casual chip down the middle which went in off the crossbar, gave France an early advantage, but former Everton defender Marco Materazzi headed in the equaliser 12 minutes later.
The match was heading for penalties when the two goalscorers squared up, leaving Italy defender Materazzi in a heap on the ground. Initially, the television cameras missed the incident. But replays showed the two players exchanging words, before Zidane stepped forward and butted Materazzi in the chest. Referee Horacio Elizondo was informed of the incident by the fourth official and showed Zidane a red card, ending his wonderful career with such a record.
2010: France Players go on strike!
France had lost the 2006 final to Italy on penalties and came into
the 2010 tournament following Thiery Henry's controversial handball which led
to their decisive goal in the play-offs against the Republic of Ireland.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka had not scored an international
goal for seven months and despite that run continuing in the Group A opener
against Uruguay, was given a reprieve and started the second game against
Mexico. Then it kicked off. Another lackluster performance from Anelka saw him
taken off at half-time by coach Raymond Domenech. The French went on to lose
the game 2-0, that wasn't the real deal
Anelka allegedly had verbally abused Domenech in the dressing room
during the interval and, after refusing to apologise, he was sent home from
South Africa. And that was where it begun.
A statement was released by the players "declaring their
opposition" to Domenech's decision and the whole squad refused to train,
unhappy at a "leak" from inside the camp, and returned to the bus
instead of the training pitch.
Domenech said: "The decision to exclude him was the right
one. I am sorry for the children for whom the French team represents something.
Anelka does not have the right to say such things."
France were beaten 2-1 by the hosts in the last game to finish
bottom of the group.
2014: Stomp the Yard!
Brazil, the World Cup
hosts and the most successful country in the tournament's history, dreamed of
adding a sixth title in front of their own fans. It was supposed to be a
glorious few years for Brazilian sport, with the Olympics in Rio to follow two
years later.
The script was
written. Neymar, one of world football's great talents, was the poster boy and
was supposed to guide his team to glory. However, the Selecao made stuttering
progress to the semi-finals, and then lost Neymar and Captain Thiago Silva to
injury.
To the disbelief of a
nation, things unraveled in spectacular fashion. Unbeaten in competitive
matches at home for 39 years, Brazil entered their semi-final against Germany
with history on their side.
But their air of
invincibility was shattered as Germany scored five goals in 18 first-half
minutes, their brilliant attacking play combining with a shambolic defensive
performance from the Brazilians to leave the Maracana - and millions of viewers
worldwide - scratching their heads in disbelief.
Germany added two more
in the second half to lead 7-0, before Oscar scored one of the most futile
consolation goals in history as the match finished 7-1.
Joachim Low, manager
of eventual champions Germany, said their opponents "cracked up",
while Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari lamented the "worst day" of his
life.
It was a major
comedown for the man who guided Brazil to the title 12 years earlier.
2014: The Superbite!
This is one of the
peak of craziness in the history that nobody can forget in a blink! Four-time
champions Italy were facing the ignominy of failing to reach the knockout
stages of the competition for a second straight World Cup, having finished
bottom of their group in 2010.
The Azzurri beat
England in their opener, but a shock defeat by Costa Rica left them needing to
collect three points against Uruguay to progress to the last 16.
They faced a Uruguay
side that had reached the semi-finals four years earlier, thanks in no small
part to Luis Suarez's goal-line handball in the last minute of extra time in
their quarter-final to deny Ghana a certain winner.
After the criticism
they faced during that tournament, Suarez and his Uruguay team-mates were
hungry for success. With 10 minutes remaining, Uruguay were on the attack when
striker Suarez and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini clashed and tumbled over in
the box. Chiellini pulled down his shirt to reveal bite marks on his left
shoulder, although Suarez held his mouth claiming he had been elbowed.
The referee took no
action and to make matters worse for the Italians, it was Suarez's cross a minute
later which led to Diego Godin's headed goal. Italy went home, Uruguay went
through.
Suarez said: "It
was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder.
"There are things
that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of
them."
Fifa did not agree and
handed the Liverpool striker, who had two previous suspensions for biting
during his career, a four-month ban from all football-related activity - the
longest in World Cup history.
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