June 10 – Italy are World Champs

After the success of the first ever World Cup in 1930, the powers that be decided to make it a regular gig, and Italy was chosen as the host country for the second tournament in 1934.

It was an unusual World Cup in two respects: first, the holders did not take part for the only time in World Cup history – Uruguay declined an invitation, still hurt after most European teams refused to play in the 1930 contest, although there was also concern that all their best players would sign for Italian clubs and never return home.

Secondly, despite being the hosts, italy had to qualify for the right to take part. Luckily they did, or the whole thing could have been something of an embarrassing non-event.

As it was the Italian team, no doubt spurred on by the dubious motivational powers of Mussolini, destroyed the USA in the first round 7-1, before overcoming Spain in the quarter-final 1-0 in a replayed match after the first game ended 1-1.

They then dispatched Austria in a tense and nervy semi-final that was eventually settled by a single goal from Italy’s Argentine-born winger Guaita in the 19th minute.

So far so good for the Italian team, as their winning run ensured Mussolini’s propoganda was based in reality for once.

It was on this day that the second World Cup Final took place. Mussolini had given virtually the whole country the day off in anticipation for the great victory that would surely follow against opponents Czechoslovakia.

Inevitably things did not initially run to the Italian dictator’s script. After a goalless first half it was the Czechs who opened the scoring with just 20 minutes remaining to sour the party inside the del Partiti stadium.

The scorer, Puc, had only just returned to the field after treatment for cramp when his long shot beat Italian keeper Combi after a corner.

Perhaps imagining the frightening consequences that awaited them if they failed, the Italian players stirred into life and Raimondo Orsi equalised with just eight minutes left.

In extra time Angelo Schiavio netted the winner and the whole of Italy rejoiced: they were World Champions.

All of which was a far cry from the fate of future World Champions Brazil and Argentina: both teams had took an 8,000 mile boat trip to reach Italy, promptly lost their opening matches and were out on the spot with just the return journey home as a consolation.

By 1962 the World Cup was back in South America and England had finally decided to enter. Read about the Three Lions striker doing his Rolf Harris bit here, and come back tomorrow for another story from football’s history.

June 9 – Addicks Anniversary

SINCE their relegation from the Premier League in 2007, Charlton Athletic have had little to shout about, so we thought it was time to wish the Addicks a happy birthday, as they were founded today in 1903.

Charlton were formed by a number of clubs in south-east London, with their nickname of ‘The Addicks’ coming from the local pronunciation of the work ‘haddock’.

Their first home was on Siemens Meadow, now a housing estate, but in 1907 they moved to Woolwich Common where their neighbours, Woolwich Arsenal soon upped sticks and moved to a more fashionable home north of the Thames.

Chartlon moved to The Valley in 1913 and enjoyed one of the finest periods in their history under manager Jimmy Seed, finishing second in the league in 1937 and picking up the FA Cup ten years later, which remains their only major honour so far.

Look away now Charlton fans. The end of Seeds’ 23-year reign brought about decline, as crowds dwindled and The Valley fell into a state of disrepair and soon found themselves yo-yoing between the second and third division.

In 1982 the Addicks were responsible for one of the most bizarre transfers of the decade, as the second division club snapped up former European Footballer of the Year Allan Simonsen from Barcelona. This gamble turned out to be a massive mistake, as the club, deep in debt, came within five minutes of going out of business in 1985.

After being saved by chairman John Fryer the club had to flee the now-decrepit Valley and were forced to ground-share with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. After seven years Charlton returned home and under the stewardship of Alan Curbishley enjoyed their most successful period for 50 years and were heralded as a shining example of a modest club, well-run club that over-achieved whilst living within their means.

However, the wheels again fell off when Curbs left after the 2005/06 season after he had spent 15 years in dugout. Iain Dowie only lasted five months, but his reign seemed like an eternity compared to Les Reed’s month-long spell in charge. Alan Pardrew was next up, but staying in the Premier League when you have three managers in a single season is nigh-on impossible, as any Newcastle fan will tell you if they’ve stopped sobbing into their replica shirt.

As if that wasn’t bad enough for Charlton they now find themselves back in the third-flight, with rumours of administration and memories of 1985 again circling.

We hate to end on a downer, so happy birthday Charlton, and here’s the highlights from one of best Wembley finals you’ll ever see. Find out what else was going down today in football history here and join us tomorrow and we can help each other get through this football-less summer together.

June 8 – Revie’s Flight of Fancy

AS ENGLAND took Brazil in Rio today in 1977 their manager Don Revie was not on the bench for the Three Lions. Nothing too fishy about this most people thought, as he said he was back in Europe on a scouting mission to watch their qualifying group opponents Italy take on Finland.

Fair enough, you might think. But hold on a minute, who’s that dodgy looking person in bulky overcoat and dark glasses sneaking onto a plane to the Middle East? When the England manager is dressing up like Carlos the Jackal, you know something is up.

It soon emerged that Revie had not been in Helsinki watching the Italians down the Finns 3-0, but on his way to the United Arab Emirates to discuss a new, highly-paid job.

Paranoid that England’s spluttering World Cup 1978 qualifying campaign was going to cost him his job, Revie had been tempted east by the promises of eastern petro-dollars.

Revie’s era as England manager started well, as he picked up the pieces following Sir Alf Ramsey’s exit after England failed to reach the 1974 World Cup, going undefeated in his first ten matches, with clean sheets in his first six.

The former Leeds boss also brought in some of the team-building exercises from his Elland Road days, as he organised games of carpet bowls and bingo, but he failed to build up the same team spirit that saw Leeds become one of Europe’s most feared sides.

As it became more and more evident that England were not going to qualify for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Revie’s old neurosis kicked in. Worried about his financial future, Revie convinced himself he would soon be out of work so when the UAE offered him the job of head of soccer development, more than doubling his wages to £60,000-a-year tax free, with a £100,000 bonus his head was very quickly turned.

“This is an offer I can’t refuse,” said Revie. “If everything goes through OK it is an unbelievable opportunity to secure my family’s future. I had many offers to stay in England but the tax structure, let alone the salaries available, makes it impossible to earn this kind of money at home.”

Despite this honesty, the FA were furious and tried to ban him from the game for ten years for “bringing the game into disrepute.” They failed, but Revie never worked in England again and his reputation and place in football history suffered as a result.

Revie, suffering from motor neurone disease, died in 1989, on the same day as Arsenal’s last-gasp title win against Liverpool, and shamefully the FA did not send a representative to his funeral and the passing of one of English football’s greatest innovators went by unmarked.

See Revie’s in his emotional final return to Elland Road below and read about one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history today here.

June 7 – England’s (and Becks’) Revenge

IF it’s not Germany inflicting World Cup heart ache on England, it’s invariably Argentina. Whether it’s Sir Alf calling them “animals” in ’66 or Maradona’s volleyball technique in ’86 it’s fair to say the games between England and Argentina are never dull.

At the 1998 World Cup, despite Michael Owen’s best efforts the Argentines again put paid to England’s World Cup hopes. They were aided by David Beckham’s impetuousness in that match and the young winger was vilified by the entire nation.

Four years later, in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Beckham was now captain and rehabilitated in he eyes of the nation after his heroics in the crucial qualification game against Greece.

Waiting for Becks and England were Argentina. One of the pre-tournament favourites, the South American team was drawn alongside England in Group F, dubbed the Group of Death by the press because it also contained Sweden and Nigeria.

In the match itself, played on this day, it was England that began to look like world beaters rather than their much-hyped opposition and it paid off just before half time when Owen was brought down in the box. Penalty. There was only one man who was going to take it, the Hollywood script had Beckham stepping up for spot kick.

The Argentines did their best to put him off, Pablo Cavallero, the goalkeeper, marched over to Beckham and told him where to place the shot. Beckham ignored him. Then Beckham’s nemesis Diego Simeone, whose play-acting had earned Beckham his red card four years earlier tried to shake Becks’ concentration. Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes suggested he leave their captain alone.

The theatrics over with, the referee blew his whistle and Beckham leathered the ball into the back of the net. Beckham’s redemption was complete and he ran over to the England fans pulling at his England shirt and kissing the badge.

England held on to win, and should have even extended their lead during the game but no matter, the team, and Beckham in particular had avenged the defeat in France.

“It is a fantastic feeling. This is probably the sweetest moment of my whole career,” said Beckham after the game.

“It is a victory for the whole nation. When you play one of the best teams in the world, to score the goal that wins the game is very special.

“It puts the ghosts of France 98 to rest once and for all. I have always said I have never been nervous, but I was definitely nervous getting ready to take that. I just ran up and hit it as hard as I can and hoped for the best.

“There were a few antics going on before I took it. The goalkeeper was telling me where I was going to put the ball and Simeone tried to shake my hand. I didn’t shake his hand then, but made sure I did at the end.”

Beckham added: “When we got the penalty, Michael said ‘are you going to take it or me?’ but I wanted it badly. I may have scored the goal, but everyone in the team was fantastic.”

Meanwhile the Argentina players were not gracious in defeat. As Paul Scholes walked past some of them on his way to the coach after the match they yelled out “bastardo” at him. Needless to say, he, and England, had already had the last laugh.

England had another tasty encounter with South American opposition on this day in 1970 which you can read about here. Or if you’ve got something better to do, just pop back tomorrow to see what was happening in the world of football way back when.

June 6 – By the Power of Greyskull!

GAMESMANSHIP, play-acting, simulation; call it what you will, but in OTFD’s old-fashioned jumper’s for goalposts, black and white, sepia tinged eyes, it’s just plain old cheating.

Yes it goes on all the time, in varying degrees, in every single match all over the world, from sunday league to the Champions League, but a line has to be drawn somewhere, but today in 2002 Fifa showed that ‘the line’ was merely a paltry fine.

In a 2002 World Cup match between Brazil and Turkey, the South Americans were fortunate to be winning 2-1 as the game wound down, after a foul by Alpay on Luizao in the 85th minute was clearly outside the box. Alpay was correctly sent off, but then referee Kim Young-Joo pointed to the spot as well.

Brazil had been trailing to a goal from Hasan Sas just before half time but a Ronaldo equaliser and then the converted penalty by Rivaldo gave them the lead.

With the clock on 92 minutes Brazil were awarded a corner and Rivaldo went over to take it. Turkey’s Hakan Unsal kicked the ball towards him and it hit him on the legs. Immediately the Skelator lookaliek clutched his face and flung himself to the ground in apparent agony.

The ref then sent Unsal off for the offence but replays of Rivaldo’s reaction were soon playing around the stadium. It was the worst piece of acting since Crossroads and soon the crowd were booing him and the referee.

With the media baying for blood Rivaldo’s manager defended his actions with an explanation weaker than some of those MPs have been trotting out over the past few weeks.

“The ball hit him on the knee and then bounced upwards. He put his hand on his face to stop being hit in the face,” Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

“Nobody’s talking about this apart from the Brazilian media who are more interested in getting Rivaldo punished than in giving value to his performance.”

Fifa, for one, wasn’t buying it, and on this day they found the Brazil forward guilty of “simulation” but decided against banning him, instead landing him with a £5,180 fine.

Rivaldo himself was unmoved. “I’m calm about the punishment,” he said. “I am not sorry about anything. I was both the victim and the person who got fined.

“Obviously the ball didn’t hit me in the face, but I was still the victim. I did not hit anyone in the face. Nobody remembers what the Turk did. I’m not a player who fakes fouls.”

He also claimed Fifa had made an example of him, saying: “I don’t know if everyone would be punished as I was.”

Meanwhile Fifa mouthpiece Keith Cooper said Rivaldo’s card had been marked. “It has been brought to the attention of the Brazilian Football Federation that if he continues to behave in this manner he may be sanctioned strongly by the Fifa disciplinary committee,” he said.

“It’s regrettable that a world-class player such as Rivaldo has resorted to this type of subterfuge,” added Fifa’s disciplinary chief Marcel Mathier.

“We want to demonstrate that this type of simulation cannot be accepted and cannot go unpunished. Such behaviour means that everybody is cheated, not only the opponents but also the referee and particularly the fans.”

Also on this day, Tottenham’s never-ending search for a new managerial messiah continued. Check that out and pop back tomorrow for more nostalgic ramblings from us.

June 5 – You Say Potato…

BRAZILIAN goalkeepers are funny breed. In a nation renowned for producing the most skillful players on the planet, which right-thinking child would want to play in goal?

Perhaps this explains the curious cases of Dida, the man with the weakest jaw this side of Audley Harrison and Barbosa, whose gaff lost Brazil the 1950 World Cup.

Today in 1938 one of the first-ever Brazilian number 1′s was also having a shocker. But, when you have the nickname ‘Potatoes’, what do you expect?

The Brazilian ‘keeper, Algisto Lorenzato to his parent, was dubbed Batatais, which is Portuguese for potato he chipped in with a performance that nearly cost his side a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

The Selecao were taking on the Poland in their World Cup 1938 first round match in Strasbourg, France and soon enough it turned into a goal-fest. The Black Diamond, Leonidas, opened the scoring for Brazil and by half-time the South American’s were 3-1 up.

The heavens then opened at half-time and Brazil and particularly Potatoes, found the going somewhat tougher in the wet conditions. Soon enough the contest turned into the Ernst Wilimowoski show.

He soon netted twice as Potatoes’ confidence was mashed and would complete his hat-trick in the 90th minute when he equalised Jose Peracio’s 71st minute goal.

At 4-4 the match, possibly the most exciting this young tournament had ever seen, went into extra time as the two sides continued to trade blows, with Leonidas completing his hat-trick to put Brazil 6-4 up.

Wilimowoski wasn’t finished though, scoring a fourth with two minutes remaining, but it wasn’t enough. The Poles crashed out 6-5, with Wilimowoski making history by becoming the only player to ever bag four goals in an international and be on the losing side.

Our old friend Potatoes meanwhile was dropped quicker than a bag of old spuds for Brazil’s quarter-final match with Czechoslovakia as they would go on to claim third place in the competition. Amazingly enough, we’ve got footage of this 71-year-old match below, so marvel at the old school skills and display and then see what else was going on in football today here.

June 4 – Tartan Army’s Crossbar Challenge

THEY came, they saw, they conquered. And then they trashed the place.

Today in 1977 Scotland’s 2-1 win over England was completely overshadowed when members of the Tartan Army flooded onto the Wembley pitch, conspiring to snap the crossbar, producing one of Scottish football’s most infamous images.

Around this time the Scots were doing an extremely passable impression of a half-decent football team. Gordon McQueen, Danny McGrain, Joe Jordan and the irrepressible Kenny Dalglish had all been putting in good stints for the national team and hopes were high for the next summer’s World Cup in Argentina (obviously a first-round exit would beckon).

England meanwhile were toiling under Don Revie, who was soon to take the money and run to the Middle East, convinced that England were about to give him the boot.

Scotland needed a win in this Home Championship clash to secure the title and goals from McQueen and Dalglish before a late Micky Channon conciliation meant that they could be crowned best of British.

Cue several thousand happy Scotsmen. Ten years earlier Scottish fans had peacefully invaded the Wembley pitch after Jim Baxter’s keepie-uppies when Scotland beat the newly-crowned World Champions, but this time it wasn’t so cordial.

Minutes after the final whistle the pitch was flooded with tartan-clad jocks rocking bad hats and even worse trousers. Soon enough they found their way to the crossbar and it appears they had indulged in too many deep-fried Mars bars, as the bar snapped quicker than the England defence.

As some of the estimated 40,000 Scots who had come down to London that weekend proceeded to rip up chunks of turf as souvenirs, the police did their best to re-enact the 1923 FA Cup Final by sending in the horse to clear the pitch.

With over £5,000 worth of damaged Kevin Keegan was not impressed: “They looted the goal posts and the cross bars, the nets and the corner flags,” he fumed.

“They whipped out dirks from their kilts and cut out the penalty spots for souvenirs, then they began carving up keepsake patches of turf. Almost the only things left were the twin towers.”

Police arrested 41 people outside the stadium and over the whole weekend 289 arrests were made, mostly Scottish. This match would also be one of the first nails in the coffin for the Home Championships, as seven years later the tournament would be disbanded.

See King Kenny’s goal that got a few Scots over-excited below and read all about a far less stressful day for the English here. Until tomorrow footy fans…

June 3 – Captain Heskey

THE England team has been skippered by some fine captains down the years: Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bryan Robson and, er, Emile Heskey.

The quiet man who has invented his very own new football position (that of non-scoring striker) took the England armband on this day in 2003, when England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson came under fire for yet another game in which he substituted almost the whole team, and was accused of not treating the England captaincy with the respect it deserves.

England opponents were Serbia & Montenegro and the match was a friendly in preparation for some Euro 2004 qualifiers.

It was held at Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium – the first international to be played at the new ground, and old softie Sven decided to give Heskey the nod in the starting line-up for the game in his home city – leaving the great young hope Wayne Rooney on the bench.

In David Beckham’s absence, Michael Owen started the game as captain but it was Steven Gerrard that gave England the lead after 35 minutes.

Just before half time Nenad Jestrovic scored from a corner to level the score before the break.

Sven then made five substitutions, including taking Owen off for Rooney. With his captain having gone off, Sven further indulged Leicester boy Heskey by allowing him to take the armband. “And no, that wasn’t a typo – Emile Heskey is captaining England,” read the Guardian’s live internet feed of the game, summing up the incredulity of everyone watching.

After 62 minutes of play Sven suddenly woke up and realised he hadn’t subbed anyone for far too long so hauled off Heskey, Lampard and Danny Mills, with Vassell, Joe Cole and Jamie Carragher coming on.

Third captain of the night? Phil. Neville. We s**t you not. Phil Neville. *shakes head disbelievingly*.

But the shuffle proved to be inspired management from Sven when, just as it looked like another boring and pointless England friendly destined to lurch to an unsatisfying draw, Joe Cole stepped up and scored from a free kick with just eight minutes left.
Sven decided to celebrate the only way he knows how during an England friendly, and made some more subs, bringing the total number of players on the pitch who started the game to just one. James Beattie came on for Phil Neville, his brief reign as England captain mercifully over. Gareth Barry replaced Matthew Upson in the other change.

By now England were on to their fourth captain of the night, easily a record for one match, with Jamie Carragher now taking the armband as England saw out the match to win 2-1.

It was a win of England but Sven found himself targeted by the press for the nonchalant treatment of the honour of wearing the captain’s armband.

The Guardian’s Richard Williams, in his summing up of the match said: “Perhaps because he wears rimless spectacles, Eriksson is sometimes suspected of lacking a sense of humour. Nevertheless there are those who will see his decision, after half-time, to bestow the captaincy of England first on Heskey and then on Philip Neville as a joke, rather than the sign of a desire to salute the contribution of England’s two most widely criticised players.”

More tomorrow folks, but in the meantime, check this out for the story of another of England’s more maligned players of recent years.

June 2 – Heysel: The Aftermath

AFTER the terrible events at the 1985 European Cup Final at Heysel when 39 fans were killed, the authorities began looking for someone to blame.

The tragedy had gone beyond the football world and even Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher weighed in with her opinion. “We have to get the game cleaned up from this hooliganism at home and then perhaps we shall be able to go overseas again,” she said.

Immediately after the disaster Liverpool announced they would not be taking part in European competition next season.

Then, on May 31, the FA banned English clubs from European competition.

“It is now up to English football to put its house in order,” said FA secretary Ted Croker outside Number 10 Downing Street after discussions with the PM.

“It was very important that the FA took positive action and immediately,” he said, adding it was the most difficult decision he had ever had to take.

Next in line was Uefa, who, on this day in 1985 announced they were imposing their own ban on English clubs for an indefinite period.

Reacting to the decision, football league president Jack Dunnett said: “It is unfair to punish clubs which had nothing to do with the Brussels tragedy”. Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool, Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton were all denied entry to European football in the first year of the ban.

But the move was welcomed by Ted Croker who said: “There are many of us who don’t want to see us back in Europe until we have got our own house in order.”

A British representative on Uefa’s 11-strong executive committee said he had unsuccessfully tried to push for the ban to be limited to a set period. But David Will, president of the Scottish FA, said: “The feeling in Uefa is very, very strong”.

In the end the ban lasted for five years for all English clubs bar Liverpool, who were banned for six.

Also on this football day, some pretty bad scenes at a game, but this time (thankfully) on the pitch rather than in the stands.

June 1 – Hoddle Drops Gazza

Glenn Hoddle called time on Paul Gascoigne’s England career today in 1998, when he announced the controversial midfielder had run out of chances and wouldn’t be a part of England’s World Cup ’98 challenge in France.

And, boy, did Gazza take it badly.

A week earlier Gazza had been snapped by paparazzi stumbling out of a kebab shop, donner in hand, in the earlier hours of the morning after a heavy session with DJs Chris Evans and Danny Baker and Glenn Hoddle reached the end of his tether.

Gazza had been a regular in Hoddle’s squads over the previous 18 months, playing a big part in ensuring England qualified for the World Cup, but reservations over his fitness and behaviour meant that Hoddle’s plans didn’t involve the former Newcastle star.

Now all Hoddle had to do was break the news to Gazza. Easier said than done.

At an England training camp five other players were due to be told they hadn’t made the final 22 and Glenn ‘people skills’ Hoddle decided the best way to inform them was through a series of drawn-out one-on-one sessions.

An anxious Gazza didn’t take to this waiting game very well, storming in during Phil Neville’s session and demanding to know whether he was in or out.

A pre-emptive plan by Hoddle to relax the mood by playing the smoothing stylings of Kenny G in the background failed miserably, as Gazza proceeded to smash up the room upon hearing the bad news.

Over to you Gazza: “I went over to his wardrobe and kicked in the door. Then I overturned his table, smashing a pottery vase and sending it crashing to the floor. In the process I managed to cut my leg, so now there was blood all over the place as well.

“I was about to start smashing all his windows,” Gazza continued in his autobiography, “when David Seaman and Paul Ince burst in and managed to restrain me. Then they called for the doctor, who gave me a valium tablet to calm me down.”

Later that summer Hoddle published his ill-advised diary of the World Cup, saying: “He had snapped. He was ranting, swearing and slurring his words. He was acting like a man possessed.

“He seemed to be dealing with it quite well… then he stopped, turned and flew into a rage, kicking a nearby chair. It was a full-blooded volley and I was concerned because he had bare feet. The kick was so hard I thought he must have broken his foot.
“He was a different person now. He had snapped. I stood there and he turned as if to go again, then came back with a barrage of abuse.”

This indeed proved to be the end of Gazza’s England career after 57 caps and ten goals. Unfortunately it wasn’t the end of his struggles with drink and drugs, but Gazza has recently been doing the media rounds and appears to finally be on the mend.

Marvel at the man in his pomp below and check out what else was going down in football-dom today here.