Event Type: 1001 GREATEST FOOTBALL MOMENTS - 2023

2023-03-28

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 434

LAST KICK EQUALIZER DASHES ENGLAND HOPES (1966)

A collective «Oh no!» could be heard over England. It was 30 July and with just 15 seconds of the World Cup final to go the England team stood crestfallen as West Germany’s Wolfgang Weber snatched away the Jules Rimet trophy. Stealthy Weber had equalized to send the 1966 World Cup final into extra-time. England, overcoming an early 13th-minute West Germany goal by Haller, has fought back to lead 2-1 through goals by Hurst and Peters, and appeared to have their hands on the trophy for the first time. Weber, if only temporarily, broke their hearts with his last-minute strike.

Wolfgang Weber guides the equalizing goal past England’s Gordon Banks to take the final into extra-time.

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2023-03-27

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 433

LOSERS APPLAUD CHARLTON’S DOUBLE (1966)

Professional appreciation of a fine performance was behind the post-match hands proffered to Bobby Charlton by Portugal’s players, because the goals of the midfielder/striker with the famous and ferocious rocket shot had ensured England a place in the World Cup final at Wembley. Charlton opened the scoring against Portugal on 26 July with a crisp side-footed finish after a run by Roger Hunt had forced the Portuguese goalkeeper to come out of his goal. Charlton’s winner – after Eusebio had equalized- was a sweetly-struck shot created by a run and pull-back from Geoff Hurst.
Charlton strikes home the winner that signalled the end of Portugal’s participation in the World Cup and won England a place in the final.

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2023-03-24

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 432

INTER MILAN ROW OVER EUSEBIO (1966)

His position as tap scorer at the 1966 World Cup and his four-goal rescue act against North Korea brought Portugal’s Eusebio to the attention of tap Italian clubs. Accusations of ‘tapping up’ flew from the striker’s club, Benfica of Lisbon, and although nothing was ever proved, at the time the Italians were famous for the amounts of money they had available to attract tap international stars. The spat obviously didn’t unsettle Eusebio, who stayed at Benfica for 16 years, making 301 appearances and scoring 317 goals. He spent his later years in the North America League with a number of US and Canadian clubs.
Eusebio’s strong performances and one-man rescue act against North Korea had made him a transfer target for Europe’s biggest clubs.

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2023-03-23

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 431

…BUT EUSEBIO SCORES FOUR (1966)

However, Portugal’s brilliant and inspirational Eusebio kept his head and launched a one-man rescue act, which saw him exploiting North Korea’s defensive frailties. With half an hour gone the Portuguese young gun had had enough. Within two minutes he’d scored one, then a second with a penalty just before half-time. In the second half he took his hat-trick in the 56th minute and a final fourth from the penalty spot. Jose Augusta completed Portugal’s great escape with a fifth goal 12 minutes before the whistle.
Despite losing their commanding lead the ‘Red Mosquitoes’ left the ground as heroic underdogs and returned to Pyongyang to delirious celebrations and a special commendation from President Kim Il-sung. According to conspiracy theorists the players then ‘disappeared’ because their collapse against Portugal was blamed on a pre­match night of partying-an act deemed ‘bourgeois’ and ‘symbolic of corrupt western imperialism’. The government has denied that many of the squad spent 20 years in an internment camp.
Eusebio claws a goal back for Portugal. At 1-3 the stage was set for a stirring comeback.

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2023-03-22

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 430

NORTH KOREA’S ‘RED MOSQUITOES’ STING PORTUGAL… (1966)

On 23 July nobody believed North Korea could beat Portugal in the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals – except the North Koreans. Self-belief and a high­energy attacking style saw the Asian side rock the Portuguese with a goal after just one minute. After twenty minutes the 41,780 fans at Goodison Park, Liverpool, were convinced they were witnessing soccer history. The scoreboard read 1000-1 outsiders North Korea 3, Portugal 0. The ‘Red Mosquitoes’ of Communist Korea had the tournament third favourites rocking with their thrilling series of ‘lightning horse’ attacks and clinical finishing.
A North Korea player celebrates after his side scored their second goal to go 2-0 up. An historie World Cup shock was on the cards.

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2023-03-21

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 429

RATTIN’S RANT ROW (1966)

England’s quarter-final dash with Argentina in the 1966 World Cup took on the flavour of a diplomatic incident when Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattin was banished from the pitch ten minutes before the end of the first half. German referee Rudolf Kretlein cited «violence of the tongue» as the reason for the dismissal, following a sustained haranguing by Rattin who was demanding explanations for decisions, despite the fact that neither man understood a word the other was saying. England manager Alf Ramsey was so disgusted with the spectacle he refused to allow his players to swap shirts and branded the Argentinians «animals».
Antonio Rattin gets his marching orders from Rudolf Kretlein after strongly disputing a decision that had gone against his side.

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2023-03-20

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 428

JACK CHARLTON’S SURPRISE BOOKING (1966)

The 1996 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina was the footballing equivalent of the Falklands War conducted in the Tower of Babel. Neither side understood what the other was saying and with little or no command of either language German referee Rudolf Kretlein was no better off. He did his best to maintain control, but such was the fast and furious engagement that confusion reigned. Jack Charlton was astonished to read in the next morning’s newspapers that he had been booked during the game and had to phone the tournament press office to find out whether it was true or not. It was.
Charlton was as surprised as anyone to find out that he had received a booking during the grudge match between England and Argentina.

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2023-03-17

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 427

GREEN LIGHT FOR RED AND YELLOW CARDS (1966)

England’s bad-tempered quarter-final with Argentina in the 1996 World Cup quarter-finals was historic in more ways than one. On the surface, England’s win allowed the host nation to proceed to ultimate victory, but behind the scenes it sparked an idea for language­neutral symbol cards. Referees’ commissioner Ken Aston had become aware of the language difficulties that had caused so much trouble during the game and was mulling over the problem on his drive home. The stop-start journey through a succession of traffic lights provided him with the inspiration for a warning yellow card and the final red, although the idea wasn’t actually adopted for another ten years.
Referee Konstantin Zecevic sends off Argentina’s Jorge Albrecht as his team-mates complain about the decision by surrounding the official.

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2023-03-16

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 426

AZZURRI RETURN RED-FACED (1966)

North Korea’s Red Mosquitoes had dumped them out in the first group stage of the 1966 World Cup and the Italian stars were understandably nervous about their reception back home. Hoping to sneak back unnoticed, on 20 July the disgraced Azzurri persuaded the authorities to divert their charter flight to Genoa instead of Milan, but the subterfuge was to no avail. News of their rescheduled arrival plans was leaked to the local Genoese fans by a mysterious character going under the nom de guerrre of ‘Christoforo Colombo’ and the footballers got their airport reception after all. It consisted of enthusiastic jeering anda hail of tomatoes and eggs.
The Italian team could not escape the wave of public criticism that followed their weak showing and early exit from the World Cup.

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2023-03-15

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 425

PELÉ AND BRAZIL CHOPPED DOWN (1966)

By the time Brazil came to play their final World Cup group game, they had been rocked by a loss to Hungary and badly needed a win. On 19 July Pelé was thrown into the fray, even though he was still carrying injuries from his brutal encounter with Bulgaria, and from the start Portugal set out to make sure his threat was neutralised. Close marking did part of the job and gruesome tackles did the rest. Enghsh referee George McCabe failed to protect Pelé from punishment that included two particularly murderous fouls by Joao Morais, who many believed should have been sent off. Brazil collapsed to a-3-1 defeat.
Pelé looks accusingly at Portugal’s Jose Augusta after being hacked down once more by a Portugal team intent on nullfying his threat.

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2023-03-14

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 424

NORTH KOREA MUG ITALY (1966)

World Cup minnows North Korea were an unknown quantity when they arrived for their group four campaign in Middlesbrough, but a joyous attacking style soon won the crowds’ hearts. They’d won one and lost one by the time they faced mighty Italy on 19 July and were riding high with chants of «Korea! Korea!» blasting from the stands. In the 33rd minute a powerful header bounced over a flat-footed Italian defence allowing striker Pale Doo-Ik to pounce and drive a half-volley low into the net. Chances of an unlikely Korean win improved further when injury reduced the Italians to ten men and they hung on for an historic victory.
North Korea goalkeeper Li Chan-myung is put under heavy pressure by the ltalian centre forward but he managed to keep a clean sheet.

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2023-03-13

By: GodMorgenFrode / Comments closed

Nr. 423

BOBBY CHARLTON KICK-STARTS WORLD CUP RUN (1966)

Manager Alf Ramsey had unshackled Bobby Charlton for England’s second game in the 1966 World Cup tournament. In the 16 July match against Mexico he gave the Manchester United star a free-ranging role behind strikers Geoff Hurst and Roger Hunt – much deeper than in the disappointing first match against Uruguay – and Charlton responded. Picking up the ball deep in the 37th minute he ran 30 yards before unleashing a long-range screamer into the Mexicans’ net. Hunt capped the day with a second goal 15 minutes from time, but it was Bobby’s goal that convinced a hopeful nation that England could emerge as ultimate victors.
Mexico goalkeeper Ignacio Calderon is beaten by Bobby Charlton’s thundering shot for the goal that set England on their way in 1966.

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