Categoría: Todas las equipaciones de fútbol

The 1994 FIFA World Cup was a tournament that saw the participation of Nigeria Super Eagles for the very first time in their football history having qualified from the African Zonal qualifiers. The team was led to the tournament by Dutch coach- Clemence Westerhof who had earlier led the Super Eagles to lifting the African Nations Cup in Tunisia that same year.

Expectation from football loving Nigerians was on the rise as the tournament drew near, and Nigeria did not disappoint when the tournament eventually kicked-off. Below is a profile of all the Nigerian goal scorers in the tournament.

• Rashidi Yekini

He scored the very first goal in the 3-0 bashing of Bulgaria in Nigeria first ever World Cup appearance. It was a classical goal from a vintage Yekini who was then playing his club football with Portuguese top club- Victoria Setubal.

• Daniel Amokachi

Daniel» The Bull» Amokachi became a house hold name in Nigeria after the 1994 World Cup after he scored a wonder goal in Nigeria opening game against Bulgaria in the 43rd minutes of the first half. He collected a stray ball in the midfield and outwitted three Bulgarian defenders before slamming a right foot shot into the back of the Bulgarian net.

• Emmanuel Amuneke

Emmanuel Amuneke continued his goal scoring form from where he stopped in Tunisia. He was the hero of the 1994 Nations Cup triumph where he scored two brilliant goals to earn Nigeria a second Nations Cup trophy. In Nigeria first World Cup encounter with Bulgaria, he scored the decisive 3rd goal via a brilliant header in the 55th minutes of the second half. The Bulgarian goalkeeper-Borislav Mikhailov could only watch helplessly as the ball rested at the back of the net.

• Samson Siasia

In Nigeria second World Cup match with former World Champions-Argentina, the Super Eagles took a surprise lead via striker- Samson Siasia who wasted no time in the 18-yard box of the Argentine to register his name on the scorers sheet in the 8th minutes of the first half. Nigeria however lost the match 2-1.

• Finidi George

Finidi George who played in the right-wing position for Nigeria throughout the duration of the 1994 World Cup was in sparkling form in Nigeria last group match with Greece, as he scored a superb goal in the 45th minutes of the first half.

• Daniel Amokachi

The Bull struck his second goal in the 2-0 hammering of Greece in Nigeria last group match. He scored in the 90th minutes of the second half to put the game beyond the Greek side.

• Emmanuel Amuneke

Emmanuel Amuneke scored his second goal of the tournament against tournament favorite- Italy, in the round of 16 fixture with the Italians. He scored in the 25th minutes of the first half, but his goal was not enough to see Nigeria through to the next round, as they got beaten 2-1.

Adhemar Ferreira da Silva became the second sportspeople in Brazil to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games when he won the jump triple at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki (Finland).

Rossana De Los Rios is a famous Paraguayan tennis player. She was junior world champion in 1992. Rossana is married to Gustavo Alfredo Neffa, who was a soccer football player. She once said, » I could have come very far in tennis. In 1992 I won the Junior Roland Garros but I made decisions and I am happy with my life. [Gustavo] Played soccer in the leagues of Italy and Argentina, with the national team and in the Olympic Games and he was good in that, but now he talks more about tennis. The times changed for the women and he helps me to be able to play calm. Now my goal is to return to the top 100. I am well, but for two years I had knee and wrist injuries and I had to come back from that. Perhaps I will retire in a few years and then I would like to help so that the Paraguayan girls are developed and are able to have a future, but by then if I am in the top 30 maybe I will defer that project». This sportswoman was born on September 16, 1975 in Asuncion, the capital city of Paraguay. Currently, she resides in the United States.

Francisco Cabañas became to first Mexican boxer to win an Olympic medal. He won a silver medal at the Los Angeles Games in 1932 .

Claudia Poll Ahrens (Costa Rica) became only the first Latin American female swimmer in the history of the Olympic Games to win two individual medals at one Games ( Sydney’2000 ). She is the greatest Central American athlete of all time…

Luis Brunetto won the silver medal in the triple jump at the 1924 Paris Games. Argentina’s Brunetto became the first sportsperson to win an Olympic medal for his country.

The Brazilian men’s volleyball team won the World Cup in 2007. The champions were Rezende Bruno, Marcelo Elgarten, André Heller, Samuel Fuchs, Gilberto Godoy Filho, Murilo Andres, André Luiz da Silva Nascimento, Sergio Dutra Santos, Anderson Rodrigues, Gustavo Endres, Rodrigo Santana, Dante Guimaraes Amaral.

Xavier Moreno and Jefferson Perez won gold medals at the Rio Pan American Games in 2007. The runners are sporting heroes in Ecuador now…

Cali (Colombia) hosted the FIBA Basketball Women’s World Cup in 1975. Final standings: 1.USSR / Soviet Union ( currently Russia ), 2.Japan, 3.Czechoslovakia ( currently Czech Republic / Slovak Republic ), 4.Italy, 5.South Korea, 6. Mexico, 7.Colombia, 8. United States, 9. Hungary, 10.Australia, 11.Canada, 12.Brazil, 13.Senegal.

The most popular sports in Mexico are soccer, wrestling, basketball, baseball, athletics, basque pelote, underwater sports, tennis, martial arts, boxing, cycling and equestrian.

Jeanette Campbell ( Argentina / swimmer ) was the first Latin American female athlete who won the Olympic medal. She won the silver medal in the 100m freestyle at the 1936 Berlin Games.

Brazil sent 10 athletes to the 2006 Winter Games in Turin ( Italy ). The Brazilian delegation had athletes competing in 4 sports: alpine skiing, bobsleigh, cross country skiing and snowboarding.

Paraguay has had many famous athletes. Who they are: Jose Luis Chilavert ( soccer / one of the best goalkeepers in the 1990s ), Victor Manuel Pecci ( tennis ), Nery Kennedy ( track and field / South American champion ), Carlos Gamarra ( Olympic football silver medalist, 2004 ), Ramon Jimenez Gaona ( athletics / South American champion)…

Baseball is the national sport of Panama…

Francisco «Morochito» Rodriguez (boxer) is the only Venezuelan sportspeople to win an Olympic gold medal. Francisco was born on September 20, 1945 in Cumana, Venezuela (South America).

Montevideo (Uruguay) hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1930. Final standings: 1.Uruguay, 2.Argentina, 3.Yugoslavia (currently Serbia), 4.USA, 5.Chile, 6.Brazil, 7.France, 8.Paraguay, 9.Romania, 10.Peru, 11.Belgium, 12.Bolivia, 13.Mexico.

Gustavo Kuerten was one of the best tennis players in the world. He has won 28 international tournaments ( Saint Petersburg, Brazil Open, Auckland, Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Acapulco, Rome, Hamburg, Cincinnati, Buenos Aires, Lisboa, Indianapolis…).

Fact File

Name: Gustavo Kuerten

Nickname: «Guga»

Nationality: Brazilian

Ancestry: German

Residence: Florianopolis, Santa Catarina ( Brazil )

Born : 10 / 9 / 1976

Height : 1.91m

Weight : 75 kg

Idol: Mahatma Gandhi (former human rights activist)

Favorite singer: Bob Marley

Favorite writer / author: Paulo Coehlo

Perfume: «Eternity» ( by Calvin Klein )

Best friends: Carlos Moya ( Spanish tennis player ), Nicolas Lapentti ( Ecuadorian tennis player ), Fernando Meligeni ( Brazilian player ).

Men’s Tennis Association Ranking ( 1997-2000 )

2000: 1

1999: 10

1998: 20

1997: 66

The first Europeans to try and inhabit Buenos Aires were eaten by the natives in 1516. This hurt the tourism industry for centuries to follow. But in the late 1700’s, immigrants from Spain and Italy poured in and created much of the city that exists today. Buenos Aires has survived dictators, democracy, inflation and devaluation over the last 200 years but still continues to be one of the most interesting and friendly cities in the world.

There is a tremendous amount to do in Buenos Aires. Here is a list of the top 10 Buenos Aires sightseeing attractions.

1. Buenos Aires Tango is the biggest cultural contribution Argentina has made to the world in the last 100 years and is currently enjoying a comeback. There is hundreds of Buenos Aires tango shows to view as well as large nightly tango dances called «milongas». Tango lessons can be found in a variety of different forms and tango history is around almost every corner and city café. A Buenos Aires tango tour is the ticket to get the most out of the number 1 attraction in Buenos Aires.

2. Plaza De Mayo has always been the centerpiece of the city. Impromptu demonstrations are still held here weekly including the Mothers Of Plaza De Mayo who still mourn their children from the «Dirty War». This public space is situated in front of the Casa Rosada, or «pink house», where the president has his offices and Evita performed her speech to millions. The old Cabildo and the Metropolitan Cathedral also border the plaza and are worth a tour. The best way to see this attraction is on the daily Buenos Aires walking tours.

3. The Recoleta Cemetery in the elite neighborhood of Recoleta brings to life the history of its country like no other graveyard in the world. Presidents, dictators, legends, heroes and scoundrels are all buried side by side in a gorgeous display of sculptures and architectural masterpieces. Evita Peron is buried here after her corpse was stolen and copied and stolen again. The cemetery is 13 acres and it can be easy to get lost so a knowledgeable English speaking tour guide is a must.

4. San Telmo is the most unique neighborhood in Buenos Aires with vintage Spanish architecture, interesting restaurants and nightlife including tango shows. Also found along these cobblestone streets are antique shops and the history of Tango. On Sunday, Plaza Dorrego is filled with arts and crafts booths and in the evening, this historic square turns into a giant tango dance called a milonga. This is the arts district and bohemian area of Buenos Aires and although there are many tourists, it is a good idea not to dress too flashy.

5. Caminito is the world’s first outdoor museum and can be found in the working class neighborhood of La Boca, which is anything but a museum. Caminito has a strong Tango theme amidst the coventillos, or old dwellings of the Italian immigrants that came to the city and worked on the docks. An artist named Jaun Quinquela Benito painted these small houses many colors making this a vibrant and fascinating area of the city. Here you will find tango cafes, arts and crafts and many tourists. This area closes early at 6pm and can be a little rough after dark.

6. The Colon Theater is still one of the best opera houses in the world and has held that title for 100 years due to the acoustical design and beautifully constructed interior. The Teatro Colon also houses one of the most extensive costumes collections on the planet. Tours of this Buenos Aires attraction are currently Monday through Friday beginning at 11am.

7. Buenos Aires Restaurants offer some of the best beef and wine in the world. There is an entire district along the old port called Puerto Modero specifically for great restaurants. The befe de lomo and befe chorizo are the best cuts of the cow and go great with a Mendoza Malbec. Buenos Aires also has a café culture and the oldest and most interesting of them all is Café Tortoni.

8. La Boca Football Game – La Boca football is more than a religion and should not be underestimated. The fanatics you will find here truly give the word «a fan» its full meaning. The cheering section alone is worth the ticket however tickets can be hard to acquire on your own. Make sure you are cheering for the home team and confirm if your seat is actually a seat, or just a spot to stand in. Also, you should be careful when the game lets out because there has been a tradition of rioting. But if you manage to live through this experience you will never forget it.

9. Florida Street is a pedestrian street located in the center of the downtown and is always packed with beautiful people. There are countless shops for just about everything you can think of including Argentina leather, souvenirs, clothes and electronics. You may also witness free Tango demonstrations going on creating huge crowds. You will also find gigantic shopping malls on this city street including one of the most beautiful in the world called Galaria Pacifico. Make sure you hold onto your purse or wallet while strolling this attraction and prepared to be bumped into a few times.

10. Buenos Aires nightlife has a reputation of lasting until dawn and indeed it will on the weekends. There are some amazing nightclubs with laser light shows like Museum. You can also find excellent fashionable bars located in the trendy Palermo district. A sure bet for good people watching is in Recoleta near the Cemetery. And of course you must enjoy at least one tango show while in the unique neighborhood of San Telmo.

Football is one of the most popular sports in Nigeria with an estimated following of over 50 millions fans scattered over the 36 states of the country. The game has gained so much significance with the subsequent emergence of the Super Eagles as one of the biggest brand in Africa.

The game has always enjoyed the patronage of certain technocrats who are commonly referred to football coaches. These are the arrow-head of every successful team, as they ensure that players are well-groomed and conditioned. In Nigeria, football coaches have been given their fair share of prominence with the insistence of the Nigeria Football federation to recruit Local coaches to manage the national teams. One the most popular tactician in the country is none other than Samson Siasia.

Brief Biography

Coach Samson Siasia remains the most popular football technocrat in Nigeria till date, with his antecedent in the age-grade teams. He is presently the Chief Coach of the Senior National team- The Super Eagles of Nigeria who are ranked 4th in Africa. Coach Samson Siasia came into prominence in 2005 when he led the U-20 National team to a second place finish at the FIFA U-20 tournament held in Holland.

The desire to succeed made him to recruit a new breed of football stars at the 2008 Olympics football event held in Beijing China. He made headline back in Nigeria with scintillating performance of the Dream team 4 that reached the finals only to lose to eventual winners Argentina by a solitary goal.

In December 2010, he was formally appointed as the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles after months of media speculations. He remains a firm believer in grass root football with the strong emphasis on home based players who have been deployed into the main stream of the Super Eagles.

He is also the founder of Siaone soccer academy which is presently based in Yenegoa Bayelsa State. The academy was borne out of a passion to groom future talent and potential players for the U-17 National Football team.

An indigenous of Bayelsa state, he was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia. He was also an integral member of the Nigeria team that stunned the world at the FIFA World Cup held in the United States of America, where he scored he fantastic goal against Argentina.

A product of the Nigeria U-20 team that participated at the 1985 World Youth Championship, he was a prolific goal poacher who played for top football clubs in France, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.

You use the Internet and, of course, you watch television, but have you ever tried Internet television?

Most people are unaware of one of the more recent developments in interactive Internet use. This new technology brings all the benefits of the Internet and television together to create your own personalised viewing experience. In simple terms Internet television means that you can watch TV straight from your laptop or desktop PC.

Internet TV allows you to you maximize the use of your computer and your Internet connection. I expect you have probably thought that there must be more you could do with your personal computer or laptop. You know that typing the occasional letter, transferring your MP3 collection to your iPod or playing the odd game or two online is hardly making use of its full potential. Now you can explore a trusted method of entertainment with access to unlimited viewing and you don’t even have to stop your usual computer activities.

If you are someone who can’t get enough of watching programs on television, think about how Internet television will open up new options for free viewing. You can catch up with current news stories, watch real time sports action, keep up to date with stock market movements or enjoy a little light comedy. You are provided with a wide variety of entertainment possibilities that continues to grow, gaining in popularity every day.

At the time of writing, FIFA World Cup 2006 is just around the corner and, for many, Internet TV will provide access to free live football streams. Viewers will be able to keep up with the latest action from all the international football games involving teams including Brazil, Argentina, France, England and many more. Japan’s third largest TV broadcaster, Tokyo Broadcasting System, has recently announced plans to air World Cup programmes over the Internet and on mobile phones.

If you use the Internet for any kind of research (even if it’s only helping the kids with their homework), you no longer have to view what you find in the usual format of text and pictures. Now you can see this information through streams of live or pre-recorded video enabling you to see details that simply wouldn’t be visible in a series of pictures.

5 Features of Internet Television:

1. Stations are available internationally. Currently over 150 countries have Internet access so you can rest assured that your country has at least one Internet TV station you can watch.

2. No additional hardware is required. In the past, watching television on your computer would require the fitting of a PC TV card but this is no longer necessary. Improvements in the telecommunications industry have made broadband connections more widely available and cheaper than ever before allowing more and more people to view high quality streaming media on their computer.

3. Anyone with an Internet connection can watch. A minimum connection speed of 56K is recommended and watching at this speed should give you a reasonable picture. Higher connection speeds will improve the picture quality (dependent on the server capabilities) and the fastest connections can enable you to view programmes in DVD quality.

4. New channels are added all the time. Major players in the Internet industry have recently started showing significant interest in this rapidly expanding market. Google is developing Google TV and has signed up American channel UPN and is in talks with the BBC in the UK to provide content. AOL is launching IN2TV which will show thousands of hours of programmes from Warner Brothers across 6 different channels and Yahoo has plans to show Internet TV in Japan which could lead to a worldwide service if successful.

5. Personalize your experience. Normal televisions have fixed channels which depend on the local stations or the cable operators. Internet television gives you the opportunity to bookmark your favorite stations so you can get back to them quickly without having to flick through everything else available. There is usually the option of viewing in either full screen mode or in a smaller window enabling you to get on with other things on your computer while watching.

You too can enjoy all the benefits of Internet television. The world really is at your fingertips now you have discovered this new, hassle-free way of watching TV.

The ingenuity and creativity that symbolize the game of football would render a form of art rather than the physical context of the sport. Football players are granted the freedom of expression that is why it is the distinguished sport from others. Cricketers and baseball players are limited to specific actions, but football players may dribble, tackle, pass, or shoot in variety of different ways, which allows footballers to reach the peak of the sport.

The list below doesn’t include the current star players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, rather the list contains the players who have retired from the beautiful game.

10. Zinedine Zidane – France

Zinedine Zidane’s strong points are his passing, strength, ball control and individual skill. We got to see the best performances from Zidane in the most important or decisive games that we don’t get to see from many players. In 789 games he scored total of 159 goals as a central midfielder. He won 2000 European Championships and 1998 World Cup with France. With Real Madrid and Juventus he won one European Cup and 3 league titles.

9. George Best – Northern Ireland

The career of George Best was inundated by drink problems, but his ability and talent was almost unmatched. With Manchester United he won two league titles and 1968 European Cup. In 579 games he scored total of 205 goals as an attacking midfielder and was the winner of Ballon d’Or in 1968.

8. Ferenc Puskas – Hungary

Puskas was known for his precise goal scoring ability. Combining his scoring talent with the ability to produce new skills and general intelligence, he scored 700 goals in total of 705 matches. With Real Madrid he won 5 league titles and 3 European Cups. In 1954 he led Hungary to the World Cup Final.

7. Alfredo Di Stefano – Argentina

Stefano was a prolific player for Real Madrid with 511 sensational goals in 702 games. He wasn’t an orthodox forward though; he used to appear all over the filed, passing, tackling, and dictating the game. As a whole he was a complete footballer the game has ever seen. He won 5 European Cups with Real Madrid, and won total of 13 league titles throughout his career.

6. Michel Platini – France

With 353 goals in 652 matches, it wouldn’t be wrong to say Michel was an attacking midfielder. He was a superb free kick taker and excellent passer. Scoring 9 goals in 1984 European Cup, he almost helped France to win the championship. He won 3 league titles and a European Cup with Juventus.

5. Franz Beckenbauer – Germany

In today’s lingo, Beckenbauer was a defensive midfielder or a sweeper, but that wasn’t enough to stop him from scoring 111 goals in 776 appearances for Bayern Munich and Germany. Just like Di Stefano, he was seen all over the field, exerting his influence and dictating the game. Obviously he was the decisive captain, but combined with his all round technical ability, passing and dribbling; he was surely one of the greatest footballers ever. He won the 1972 European Championships, 1974 World Cup, along with 8 league titles and 3 European Cups during his career in clubs.

4. Johann Cruyff – Netherlands

Cruyff had the pace and dribbling of George Best and the strength, control and skill of Zinedine Zidane. Combination of calculating intelligence, clinical ability and sublime gracefulness made him the complete football player. As an attacking midfielder he scored 401 goals in 710 appearances. He won 10 league titles and 3 European Championships.

3. Zico – Brazil

Zico’s capability in football world was never in question, though he was seldom included in the list of top players due to his deficiency of successes. He was a prolific goal scorer with 527 goals in 769 matches. His ability to produce unique skills and shots also made him remarkable creator of goals. Moreover, he had mastered the free-kick and heading ability. He won 4 league titles and the Copa Libertadores.

2. Pele- Brazil

Pele is often ranked the best footballer in the history of the game. His dribbling ability, pace, strength and sheer power saw him score varieties of goal. In 1366 games he scored 1282 goals. The ultimate goal score machine helped Brazil win World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He also won 5 league titles and 2 Copa Libertadores.

1. Diego Maradona – Argentina

Undoubtedly Maradona’s talent was the greatest ever seen in the history of football. His crossing and passing were precise, his goal scoring was clinical and unique, and his dribbling ability was mesmerizing which helped earn him plenty of assists throughout his career. Being an attacking midfielder he score 345 goals in 680 matches. Though he had a difficult career than Pele, he still won 3 league titles and 1986 World Cup. He also won UEFA Cup with Napoli.

The clear leaders of Group B are Argentina, twice winners of the World Cup in 1978 and 1986. The best challenge could come from Nigeria. Greece have become lacklustre since their shock Euro 2004 win; they are, in fact, lucky to have qualified for this World Cup, given their struggle in the qualifiers.

S.Korea, arguably the best among the three Asian teams at FIFA 2010, complete the group. Argentina have met and beaten all the other three at previous World Cups, the Koreans in 1986, the Greeks in 1994, and the Nigerians in 1994 and 2002.

The fact that they have been to a semi-final in 2002 gives South Korea a psychological edge over Nigeria and Greece, for what it’s worth. We can expect some fleet footed counter attacks from the Koreans. They are fast, if nothing else.

Nigeria, however, have had some fighting encounters with the South American giants, in the past. Confederation Cup 1995 saw a goalless draw; Olympics 1996 and 2008, Argentina barely scraped past the African team, 3-2 and 1-0.

Two draws between Nigeria and S.Korea in 2006-2007 friendlies leaves unanswered the question as to who are the better outfit, of the two.

Nigeria could see some support from the crowds as a kind of African solidarity.

Nigeria have met Greece twice, winning by an identical 2-0 margin on both occasions, the first at the 1994 World Cup, the next in a friendly, in 1999. Greece have disappointed as a team after they won Euro 2004.

Contrastingly, the Koreans have had a better showing against the Africans, winning 2 of the 3 friendlies the teams played between 1983 and 2001.

This is an interesting group, as it is hard to predict the second team, apart from Argentina, that’s likely to go through to the round of 16. On paper, at least, Nigeria look the likeliest, with the remote possibility of an improved showing by Greece.

The Argentina matches are likely to attract crowds who’ll throng to see their goal-happy forward line led by Messi. The group is likely to provide Argentina a great opportunity to showboat their attacking skills. Maradona has decided on an all-out attack strategy, with no Plan B to fall back on.

So if nothing else, expect lots of goals and some dazzling football from the Argentine forward line against defences that are not quite top-notch enough to keep them in check.

Two weeks in to the world cup we get to the first knock out games of the tournament. This is where tournament football is at its best. Extra time and penalties come into play if the teams are drawing and the excitement cannot be contained as both teams go for it from the start. No more bore draws. No more parking the bus in front of the goal.

The Winner of Group A will take on the Runner up of Group B.

Group A consists of South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France. My prediction is that France will top the group with South Africa coming in second ahead of Mexico.

Group B consists of Argentina Nigeria South Korea and Greece. My prediction is that Argentina will head the group and Nigeria in second place.

The 15:00 game will be between France and Nigeria. What a game this is going to be. I can see this being a classic with attacking football from both the French and the Nigerians. Form says that France will win and I have to agree. It always seem that the big teams get the rub of the green. Maybe its an unconscious decision by the referee. France have great players in Frank Ribery and Thierry Henry. With those two on form I can see them having a great game against the Nigerians. France, winners of the World Cup on home soil in 1998 will have a lot of work to do in order to get past this excellent African team. We will have to wait and see. I predict that France will win in extra time.

Costa Rica

Did you know- Like Mexico, USA, and Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica sent soccer players to the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006. On that occasion, CR was one of the world’s 31 best national squads. But before it could do that, by 2004, the national team qualified for the Olympics in Athens, the capital city of Greece.

Germany

Did you know – Like Italy, Brazil and Argentina, Germany is listed among the World’s best teams. Out of 19 competitions, Germany won three times. Between June 16 and July 4, 1954, it won its first international event when the German team captured the V World Championship in Switzerland. In the final match, they beat Hungary 3-2. Curiously, in the preliminary round, it lost 8-3 to Hungary. This was the first time in which a nation other than Uruguay and Italy had won the FIFA World Cup. Two decades later, by 1974, the men’s soccer team of West Germany, led by its star Franz Beckenbauer, won its second global title by beating Holland 2 to 1 in the final game. Subsequently, in 1990, the national squad came in first place in the Men’s Soccer World Cup in Rome, Italy.

Ghana

Did you know- For political reasons, the government of Ghana -an international known opponent of apartheid in the 20th century- did not send a national team to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Later on, by 1992, Ghana’s national football squad won its first ever Olympic medal when it finished third in the Olympiad in Barcelona, Spain. Soccer is the country’s national passion.

Honduras

Did you know- The men’s soccer team from Honduras won the third place, bronze medal, in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Havana, the capital city of Cuba, in 1930.

Kuwait

Did you know- To prepare for the Asian Championships, the under-20 national soccer team visited Brazil, one of the world’s best known soccer centres, in October 1978. Later on, throughout the 1980s, Kuwait, encouraged by Emir Sheik Jabir Al-Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah, competed in two international events. Firstly, it qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. On that occasion, the men’s football team of Kuwait finished sixth, outpacing Algeria, Nigeria, Colombia, and other countries. Then, in 1982, the Arab nation, by virtue of its triumph in the Asian Tournament, sent soccer players to the FIFA World Cup in Madrid, Spain. In the course of the tournament, Kuwait lost to France and England. However, in one of the most memorable moments in Spain’82, Kuwait tied with Czechoslovakia (Olympic gold medalist in 1980) 1-1.

The Wales national football team don’t have the greatest history as a far football is concerned, they have only qualified for one World Cup Finals in 1958, where they were beaten 1-0 in the quarter finals, by the eventual winners Brazil.

In 1977 Wales played Scotland in a World Cup qualifying match, which, had they won, would have seen Wales reach the World Cup Finals in Argentina in 1978. A hand ball by Joe Jordan was to prove a decisive factor in the game, which Scotland won.

Even before the game, Wales were to lose their home ‘advantage’ when the fixture was re-scheduled to be played at Anfield, England, rather than in Wales at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. This followed the Football Association of Wales’ decision to move the game to secure a larger crowd and to make more money. A huge number of Scottish fans attended the game, far more than would ever have been possible at Wrexham, which created a very hostile atmosphere for the Welsh players who were also playing on an unfamiliar pitch.

The game itself remained goalless until, in the 78th minute, came the fateful moment for Wales following an incident with Scotland’s Joe Jordan

The Scotland striker, Jordan, jumped with Wales defender David Jones to challenge for a long throw-in into the Welsh penalty area, with Jordan then deliberately punching the ball towards the Welsh goal, to the astonishment of the Welsh fans and players, the French referee Robert Wurtz awarded a penalty. Television replays clearly showed it was Jordan’s and not Jones’ hand that had touched the ball, but the referee had made his decision.

Scotland’s Don Masson scored the penalty, which broke Wale’s hearts, and with minutes remaining as Wales pushed forward in search of an equalising goal, Kenny Dalglish scored a second goal and the Wales dream was over and it was Scotland who would go to the World Cup finals.

Prior to the game everyone in the Wales was talking about Argentina and the World Cup finals and many still feel upset about the incident to this day.

To rub salt into the Welsh wounds, Joe Jordan refuses to own up to his handball and has never apologised.

Diego Maradona was famously involved in a handball incident in the 1986 World Cup when he scored a goal against England, and then claimed it was the ‘hand of God’ that had intervened.

More recent ‘handball’ incidents include that of Thierry Henry in the qualifying game against Ireland for the 2010 World Cup Finals, which have now eclipsed Wales’ injustice, and while Joe Jordan has made never made any claims of divine intervention, he will be fortunate to find any Wales supporters who will forgive him easily.