-Copa Mundial 2010-

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1/4 finals

1/4 Finals July 3





Argentina- Germany

Prediction: 3-1 Argentina

Pick: Argentina +135 5 units







Paraguay- Spain

Prediction: 3-0 Spain

Pick: Spain -1 -110 3 units




Good luck!


1986 WC Final Argentina-Germany

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Copa Mundial 1966 England Part 1

Copa Mundial 1966 England July 11-July 30



Finally it was England's turn to host the World Cup - sixteen years after taking part for the first time. Coach Alf Ramsey had a great generation of players in their prime age at his disposal; Banks, Moore, the Charltons, Greaves, Hurst and Hunt. Quarterfinalists in Chile 1962, Ramsay was confident his team would do better on home soil and boldly predicted his men would win the trophy.

That trophy - the Jules Rimet Cup - caused a lot of drama months before kick-off in the tournament. It was stolen at an exhibition at Westminster's Central Hall in March. Due to its unique and not easily copied design, the organizers feared they would have no cup to hand out to the winners, but a dog named Pickles sorted out all problems when he sniffed around some bushes in Norwood, South London and found the trophy wrapped in newspaper just a week after the theft.

Apart from the trophy hiccup, England staged a flawless tournament from an organizing point of view. England had few problems getting through from their first round group, although some people were critical after the goalless opening match against Uruguay. The teams in Group A (Uruguay, France and Mexico) did not push Ramsey's men to the limit of their capabilities, but things would be different in the quarterfinals. Uruguay followed the hosts to the knock-out stage. Mexico's goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal appeared in a record fifth World Cup and bowed out in style on Wembley keeping a clean sheet against Uruguay - his only clean sheet in his World Cup career.

Group B was tough with West Germany, Argentina, Spain and Switzerland. The Germans had an aspiring young midfielder called Franz Beckenbauer who played superb in the early stages of the tournament. He scored two when Switzerland were beaten 5-0 in the first game. Argentina went through alongside West Germany, but their violent style, particularly in the goalless encounter against the Germans, forced FIFA to caution the whole team. With players like Rattin, Artime and Onega, Argentina were capable of much more than rough play. Reigning European champions, Spain, with loads of ageing stars like Gento, Suarez and Del Sol failed to reach old standards and finished third.

Before the World Cup most people envied people on Merseyside who got to host the Brazilian team in all their first round games plus a likely quarterfinal if groupwinners. Everything went according to plan in Group C when Pelé and Garrincha knocked in a free-kick each to bag a 2-0 win against Bulgaria in the opening match. But the 1958 and 1962 world champions then faced problems against Hungary and lost 3-1. Pelé missed the game through injury. Florian Albert and Ferenc Bene stole the show and were the stars of this Hungarian team who surprised many.

Uwe Seeler

Still they were both overshadowed by a star-player from a country making their World Cup debut in 1966 - Eusebio from Portugal. He led the attack of a team which also featured great names like Torres, Augusto, Simoes and Coluña. Portugal won all their first round matches and put the final nail in Brazil's coffin when beating them 3-1 on the last matchday of the groupstage. Brazil's elimination was a huge upset and it meant the end of the national team careers of such great names as Garrincha, Bellini and Orlando.

Eusébio in action against Hungary during the 1966 World Cup

Huge upsets were to follow in Group D. The Soviet Union - just like Portugal - came through the first round stage with three wins. The Russians had a solid team with Yashin, Shesterniev and Porkuyan. They easily brushed aside debutants North Korea 3-0 in the first match, but the underrated Asians came back in the second game stealing a point from Chile seconds before the end before achieving their historic 1-0 win against Italy. It ranks up there among the greatest shocks in World Cup history. North Korea - with the youngest team in the finals - found themselves in the quarterfinals at the expense of twice winners Italy.

In the quarterfinals the Koreans continued where they left off against Italy - shocking the world. 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 against Portugal halfway through the first half, but then the tide turned, Eusebio scored four goals and Portugal won 5-3 in the end. It remains the only time in World Cup history a team has come from three goals down to win.

West Germany beat Uruguay 4-0 in their quarterfinal, but the South Americans had two players sent off early in the second half which made the scoreline look a bit more impressive than the performance really was. Still, nobody could deny the obvious quality of players such as Haller, Overath, Held, Seeler and Kaiser Franz. The Soviet Union put an end to Hungary's adventure with a display of solid defence particularly in the second half and thereby secured themselves a first ever semifinal place.

England played most of their match against Argentina one man up after Rattin's much-talked-about dismissal. It took the Argentina captain nearly ten minutes to leave the field having had a running argument with the referee for much of the first half. Even the police entered the field to control the emotions of players who did not understand what was going on. England coach Ramsey refused his players to exchange shirts after the match with the Argentinians whom he described as "animals". Geoff Hurst headed home a cross 12 minutes from time to the relief of a packed Wembley who could look forward to a semifinal with Portugal.

That semifinal was perhaps Bobby Charlton's best game in an England shirt. The Manchester United star scored both goals in the 2-1 win over the tournament's most exciting team. Eusebio scored on a late penalty - it was England's first goal conceded in the finals. West Germany beat the Soviets 2-1 in the other semifinal. Beckenbauer scored a wonderful goal from long range past Yashin who seemed to misjudge the ball's direction. Yashin would have to pick out two more balls from his net in the consolation final against Portugal. Eusebio scored his ninth goal of the finals which made him topscorer - three more than West Germany's Haller - and also secured his country bronze medals.

The 1966 World Cup Final saw Alf Ramsey's prediction come true. His team triumphed at Wembley. Geoff Hurst scored the first (and only so far) hat-trick in a final game. His second, the much debated "did the ball cross the line?" and the third in the dying seconds "some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over....It is now!" are both World Cup classics.

England's controversial third goal scored by Geoff Hurst (not shown) in the World Cup Final against West Germany in 1966 was given by a USSR linesman

Of course the match also featured a late German come-back, but Hurst's two goals in extra-time sealed the win for England in a tournament which generally grew in quality and entertainment as it progressed.



Group A



Jul 11 London England v Uruguay 0-0
Jul 13 London France v Mexico 1-1

Jul 15 London Uruguay v France 2-1

Charlton scores against Mexico

Jul 16 London England v Mexico 2-0
Jul 19 London Mexico v Uruguay 0-0

Jul 20 London France v England 0-2

P W D L Gls Pts
ENGLAND 3 2 1 0 4-0 5
URUGUAY 3 1 2 0 2-1 4
Mexico 3 0 2 1 1-3 2
France 3 0 1 2 2-5 1


Group B


Argentina's Perfumo clears in defence as West German captain Seeler watches.



Jul 12 Sheffield West Germany v Switzerland 5-0

Jul 13 Birmingham Argentina v Spain 2-1
Jul 15 Sheffield Spain v Switzerland 2-1

Jul 16 Birmingham Argentina v West Germany 0-0
Jul 19 Sheffield Switzerland v Argentina 0-2

Jul 20 Birmingham West Germany v Spain 2-1

P W D L Gls Pts
WEST GERMANY 3 2 1 0 7-1 5
ARGENTINA 3 2 1 0 4-1 5
Spain 3 1 0 2 4-5 2
Switzerland 3 0 0 3 1-9 0



Group C


Team Brasil




Jul 12 Liverpool Brazil v Bulgaria 2-0

Jul 13 Manchester Portugal v Hungary 3-1

Jul 15 Liverpool Hungary v Brazil 3-1
Jul 16 Manchester Portugal v Bulgaria 3-0

Jul 19 Liverpool Brazil v Portugal 1-3

Eusebio comforts Pelé

Jul 20 Manchester Bulgaria v Hungary 1-3

P W D L Gls Pts
PORTUGAL 3 3 0 0 9-2 6
HUNGARY 3 2 0 1 7-5 4
Brazil 3 1 0 2 4-6 2
Bulgaria 3 0 0 3 1-8 0


Group D


Jul 12 Middlesbrough Soviet Union v North Korea 3-0
Jul 13 Sunderland Italy v Chile 2-0
Jul 15 Middlesbrough Chile v North Korea 1-1
Jul 16 Sunderland Soviet Union v Italy 1-0

Jul 19 Middlesbrough North Korea v Italy 1-0
Jul 20 Sunderland Chile v Soviet Union 1-2

P W D L Gls Pts
SOVIET UNION 3 3 0 0 6-1 6
NORTH KOREA 3 1 1 1 2-4 3
Italy 3 1 0 2 2-2 2
Chile 3 0 1 2 2-5 1

[pronk]

Copa Mundial 1966 England Part 2




1/4 Finals



Jul 23 Sheffield West Germany v Uruguay 4-0




Eusebio tackled by a Korean defender

Jul 23 Liverpool Portugal v North Korea 5-3



Jul 23 Sunderland Soviet Union v Hungary 2-1



Jul 23 London England v Argentina 1-0




1/2 Finals



Jul 25 Liverpool West Germany v Soviet Union 2-1


Franz Beckenbauer (not in picture) scores for West Germany against the Soviet Union in the semifinal. The great Lev Yashin stretches, but can't keep it out.



Jul 26 London England v Portugal 2-1


Bronze Final

Jul 28 London Portugal v Soviet Union 2-1


Final







Jul 30 London England v West Germany 4-2



ATTENDANCE 96,924







12' 0-1 Helmut Haller

18' 1-1 Geoff Hurst (assist - Bobby Moore)

78' 2-1 Martin Peters



90' 2-2 Wolfgang Weber
West Germany with a trademark last-minute equallizer at Wembley. Wolfgang Weber manages to slide the ball home. English defender Wilson and goalkeeper Banks' efforts are not enough. The 1966 World Cup final goes to extratime.




Seconds after Hurst's shot hit the bar and bounced down. Was it over the line? Both teams await the decision from the referee.

101' 3-2 Geoff Hurst (assist - Alan Ball)
120' 4-2 Geoff Hurst (assist - Bobby Moore)

Geoff Hurst scores in the dying seconds of the 1966 World Cup Final, still the UK's most watched TV event


Seconds before Geoff Hurst puts the game beyond the Germans with his 4-2 goal. The classic quote from the English TV-commentator: "..Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over....it is now! Hurst has got three.."



Disappointed West German captain Uwe Seeler walks off Wembley after the final.











Captain Bobby Moore kisses the Jules Rimet Cup.






Top scorer- Eusebio (Portugal) 9 goals

[pronk]

1/4 Finals recap:

Holland-Brasil 2-1 L, Uruguay- Ghana 1-1 (4-2 PK) L, Argentina- Germany 0-4 L, Spain-Paraguay 1-0 push.

0-3-1 -11.00 units

CM2010 record: 19-40-1 -12.85 units.

[pronk]

1/2 Finals July 6-7

1/2 Finals



July 6,





Holland- Uruguay

Prediction: 2-1 Uruguay

Pick: Uruguay +500 5 units




July 7







Germany- Spain

Prediction: Spain 2-0

Pick: Spain +160 5 units



Good luck!

[pronk]

Copa Mundial 1970 Mexico Part 1

Copa Mundial 1970 Mexico May 31-June 21



The 1970 World Cup is regarded by many to be the best ever. Mexico ousted Argentina during the FIFA congress in 1964 and won the right to host the ninth edition of the tournament. Many delegates were a bit worried about the high altitude and how that would affect the matches, but despite the thin air, hot temperatures and early kick-off times the quality shown on the field by the best teams was impressive.

Defending champions England had their own problems before the World Cup started. During the preparation camp in Bogota, skipper Bobby Moore was accused of stealing a bracelet and was forced to stay in Colombia while the rest of the England team travelled to Mexico. Thankfully, he was released due to lack of evidence and could join the England party a few days later. Moore went on to play up to his brilliant best in this World Cup despite the pre-tournament distraction.

The World Cup tournament set-up was identical to the one four years earlier. Sixteen teams - four groups of four teams with the best two teams in each group through to the quarterfinal knock-out stage. The new additions from FIFA for this World Cup included yellow and red cards plus substitutions. The red card was not used a single time during the three weeks in Mexico, making 1970 one of only two World Cups to this day (the other 1950) to be staged without a player being sent off.

The boring Group A 0-0 curtain-raiser between the hosts and Soviet Union was not a worthy teaser to the remaining 31 games. The players lined up and waited an extra-half hour in the mid-day sun, listened to speeches and watched balloons fly into the sky before kick-off. May be that took some energy out of them. By 1970 opening ceremonies at World Cups had started to become huge spectacles.

Both Soviet Union and Mexico progressed rather comfortably to the quarterfinals. Belgium gave some resistance, but could not occupy any of the top spots. El Salvador was the group's fourth team. They literally fought a war to qualify for the World Cup. The decisive 3-2 win over arch rivals Honduras triggered off military actions for four days between two countries who already were at loggerheads with each other. Thousands of people were killed. El Salvador's football team, made up by amateur players, could not measure up against the three other teams in the group and lost all games without scoring a goal.

Group B produced only six goals in six games. Slow starters Italy impressed nobody, but did enough to top the group thanks to a Domenghini goal against Sweden - their only first round goal. Israel made their World Cup debut and got two creditable draws with Italy and Sweden, but it wasn't enough to avoid the bottom position. They went home early with Sweden. Uruguay qualified alongside Italy.

Group C brought together first and foremost champions England and favourites Brazil. The match between them is regarded as one of the best in World Cup history - certainly among first round matches. Brazil won 1-0 thanks to a Jairzinho goal after a fine attack, but the game is also remembered for the "save of the century" by Gordon Banks from a Pelé header. Pelé himself looked rejuvenated after the beating he took in 1966. In Brazil's first match against Czechoslovakia they won 4-1 after coming from behind with Pelé in sparkling form. He once tried to score from 60 yards out, but missed the target by a few inches.

Romania stood up well against Brazil, but lost 3-2 in another entertaining match in this group. Despite some fine efforts none of the Eastern European teams matched up against England and Brazil who marched into the last eight with confidence.

The last group featured some great action too. Peru came from 0-2 down to beat Bulgaria 3-2 to soften the pain felt by their countrymen after the devastating earthquake which killed over 60,000 people just days before the World Cup. Teofilo Cubillas made a name for himself and he would become one of the stars of the tournament.

Debutants Morocco held a 1-0 lead against West Germany for nearly an hour before Uwe Seeler and Gerd Müller saved the day for the 1966 finalists. Müller was unstoppable and knocked in consecutive hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru taking his goaltally to seven by the end of the first round groupstage. Peru followed the Germans to the quarterfinals.

The knock-out stage was badly organized from the TV-audiences' point of view. All matches had kick-off at the same time which caused fans to miss a lot of live action. There were 80,000 empty seats at Azteca for the Uruguay v Soviet Union match. Mexico played against Italy in the tiny stadium at Toluca at the same time. At Azteca both teams looked certain to head for a special kind of tie-breaker - the toss of coin - but after 117 minutes a controversial goal gave Uruguay the victory. Victor Esparrago headed in a cross from Luis Cubilla which might have gone out of play before it was headed in. The goal stood anyway.

In Toluca, Mexico took an early lead to the delight of the home crowd, but Italy - who only scored one goal in the groupstage - made an heroic comeback and won 4-1. Gianni Rivera came off the bench and transformed the game.

Nobody could stop Brazil either who scored four more goals in an open game against Peru who bowed out in style. Tostao and Rivelino played key-roles in this game. The fourth quarterfinal was a replay of the Final four years earlier. England had a 2-0 lead deep into the second half when Beckenbauer brought West Germany a glimmer of hope with a fine goal. West Germany's equalizer came from a looping header by Seeler. Peter Bonetti - stand-in goalkeeper for a sick Banks - looked out of position. Just like in 1966 the game went to extra time, but this time West Germany won - the winning goal was scored by Gerd Müller, who else?

The semifinal stage saw two more great games - one of them an all-time classic. Italy lead West Germany by 1-0 at Azteca when defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger - a veteran of four World Cups - went forward and knocked in his only international goal in stoppage time to secure extra time. The extra thirty minutes brought no less than five goals. Italy bowed out 4-3 winners with Rivera - once again coming off the bench - getting the winner. In Guadalajara Brazil came from behind to beat Uruguay 3-1 with some breath-taking attacking football. Rivelino, Tostao, Pele and Jairzinho once again the deadly quartet.

The World Cup Final at Mexico '70 has become one of the most classic of all time. Pelé headed in 1-0 - Brazil's 100th goal in World Cup history. Gerson followed up with a great goal from long range, Jairzinho kept his goal-in-every-game-record going and captain Carlos Alberto finished it all off with a thunderous shot following a wonderful move. 4-1 the final score and a fantastic ending to a tournament that thrilled the world. A grand total of 34 goals scored from the quarterfinals onwards contributed a great deal in making this World Cup unforgettable.

Brazil won permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Cup. FIFA said in 1930: The first country to win it three times keeps it forever. Pelé crowned his career with his third title, Mario Zagallo became the first man to win the World Cup both as player and coach and the whole team of 1970 has become some kind of yardstick for all others to measure up against.


Group A


May 31 Mexico City Mexico v Soviet Union 0-0
Jun 03 Mexico City Belgium v El Salvador 3-0

Jun 06 Mexico City Soviet Union v Belgium 4-1

Jun 07 Mexico City Mexico v El Salvador 4-0
Jun 10 Mexico City El Salvador v Soviet Union 0-2
Jun 11 Mexico City Belgium v Mexico 0-1

P W D L Gls Pts
SOVIET UNION 3 2 1 0 6-1 5
MEXICO 3 2 1 0 5-0 5
Belgium 3 1 0 2 4-5 2
El Salvador 3 0 0 3 0-9 0


Group B

Jun 02 Puebla Uruguay v Israel 2-0

Jun 03 Toluca Italy v Sweden 1-0
Jun 06 Puebla Uruguay v Italy 0-0

Jun 07 Toluca Israel v Sweden 1-1
Jun 10 Puebla Sweden v Uruguay 1-0
Jun 11 Toluca Italy v Israel 0-0

P W D L Gls Pts
ITALY 3 1 2 0 1-0 4
URUGUAY 3 1 1 1 2-1 3
Sweden 3 1 1 1 2-2 3
Israel 3 0 2 1 1-3 2



Group C



Jun 02 Guadalajara England v Romania 1-0

Jun 03 Guadalajara Brazil v Cze'slovakia 4-1
Jun 06 Guadalajara Romania v Cze'slovakia 2-1

Jun 07 Guadalajara Brazil v England 1-0

Jun 10 Guadalajara Romania v Brazil 2-3
Jun 11 Guadalajara Cze'slovakia v England 0-1

P W D L Gls Pts
BRAZIL 3 3 0 0 8-3 6
ENGLAND 3 2 0 1 2-1 4
Romania 3 1 0 2 4-5 2
Czechoslovakia 3 0 0 3 2-7 0


Group D


Jun 02 Leon Peru v Bulgaria 3-2
Jun 03 Leon Morocco v West Germany 1-2

Jun 06 Leon Peru v Morocco 3-0

Jun 07 Leon West Germany v Bulgaria 5-2

Jun 10 Leon West Germany v Peru 3-1
Jun 11 Leon Bulgaria v Morocco 1-1


P W D L Gls Pts
WEST GERMANY 3 3 0 0 10-4 6
PERU 3 2 0 1 7-5 4
Bulgaria 3 0 1 2 5-9 1
Morocco 3 0 1 2 2-6 1

[pronk]

Copa Mundial 1970 Mexico Part 2

1/4 Finals


The quarterfinal in Leon was a replay of the final four years earlier, but this time West Germany emerged victoriously in extra-time. Geoff Hurst (far left) dives in, but a German defender manage to clear the ball away in front of goalkeeper Sepp Maier.


Famous goal by Gerd Müller

Jun 14 Leon West Germany v England aet 3-2


Jun 14 Toluca Italy v Mexico 4-1


Jun 14 Guadalajara Brazil v Peru 4-2


Jun 14 Mexico City Soviet Union v Uruguay aet 0-1


1/2 Finals




Jun 17 Mexico City West Germany v Italy aet 3-4


Italy thought they had won the semifinal, when Karl-Heinz Schnellinger managed to steer home a cross from Siggi Held two minutes in injury time. Schnellinger's only goal in his 12 year career on the German national team. However, Italy won 4-3 after extratime.


Jun 17 Guadalajara Brazil v Uruguay 3-1


Bronze Final

Jun 20 Mexico City West Germany v Uruguay 1-0



Final






Jun 21 Mexico City Brazil v Italy 4-1


Team Italy: Back row from left: Albertosi, Facchetti, Rosato, Domenghini, Boninsegna and Riva. Front row from left: Bertini, Cera, Mazzola, De Sisti and Burgnich.


Team Brasil


ATTENDANCE 107,412



18' 1-0 Pelé (assist - Rivelino)

37' 1-1 Roberto Boninsegna
66' 2-1 Gerson (assist - Jairzinho)
71' 3-1 Jairzinho (assist - Pelé)
87' 4-1 Carlos Alberto (assist - Pelé)



Aerial battle in the final. Luigi Riva heads towards goalkeeper Felix after beating Everaldo (16).

Pelé slides in, but his shot just missed the target




Captain Carlos Alberto













Top scorer: Gerd Müller (Germany) 10 goals

[pronk]

1/2 Finals recap: Holland- Uruguay 3-2 L, Germany- Spain 0-1 W.

1-1 +3.00 units

CM2010 record: 20-41-1 -9.85 units.

[pronk]

Final July 11

Final











Holland- Spain

Prediction: 3-1 Holland

Pick: Holland +285 15 units




Good luck!

[CaptainPrice]

whats with their aquatting they look so wierd