The first World Cup took place in 1930 and it was a result of an extraordinary series of coincidences. Frenchman Jules Rimet, who later became the FIFA President, proposed the idea of organizing an international football tournament. Coincidentally, the tournament was scheduled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Uruguay's first constitution. This coincidence led to the inaugural World Cup being held in Uruguay, where the hosts triumphed.
In 1950, Brazil hosted the World Cup and was the overwhelming favorite to win. The final match, held at the Maracanã Stadium, saw Brazil facing Uruguay. In a shocking turn of events, Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1, causing the Spanish-language newspaper El Pais to coin the term "Maracanazo" to describe this unexpected upset. The defeat of the host nation created one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history.
The quarter-final match between Argentina and England in the 1986 World Cup gave birth to one of the most controversial goals ever scored. In the 51st minute, Diego Maradona punched the ball into the net with his left hand, fooling the referee and giving Argentina the lead. Maradona later claimed it was "the Hand of God" that helped him score. This incident became an infamous symbol of dishonesty and remains a topic of debate even today.
The 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy witnessed another bizarre moment. In the 110th minute, French captain Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi, leading to his expulsion from the match. Zidane's actions shocked the football world and it remains one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history. Coincidentally, it was Zidane's last match as a professional footballer, ending his illustrious career on a sour note.
Germany has a remarkable record when it comes to penalty shootouts in the World Cup. They have won all four of their penalty shootouts in the tournament's history. This record includes victories against England in 1990, Mexico in 1986, France in 1982, and Argentina in 2006. It is a remarkable coincidence that Germany has always maintained their composure and emerged victorious when the outcome is determined by penalties.
In the 2002 World Cup final, Brazilian striker Ronaldo led his team to victory against Germany. This win had special significance for Ronaldo, as he had suffered a mysterious fit just hours before the 1998 World Cup final. However, in 2002, Ronaldo scored both goals in the final and helped Brazil secure their fifth World Cup title. It was a remarkable comeback for the player, and an incredible coincidence that he played such a pivotal role in the final after the previous setback.
In the 1982 World Cup, West Germany and Austria played their final group stage match with a peculiar outcome. West Germany took an early lead, and both teams later realized that a 1-0 win for West Germany would ensure the elimination of Algeria. They then adopted a conservative approach, with no further goals scored for the rest of the match. This chaotic and unsporting display of play came to be known as "The Miracle of Gijón" and led to changes in the tournament's format to prevent similar situations in the future.
