World Cup Memories - 30th July

1930 - Uruguay win the first world cup
1966 - England win football's World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1930.

World Cup Memories - 11th July

1966 - On July 11 1966, Alf Ramsey's England got their campaign off to a disappointing start with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in front of 87,000 at Wembley.
1982 - Paolo Rossi was the star of the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the Italian smashing five goals on the way to the final before netting Italy's first, his sixth, against West Germany at the Bernabeu on July 11. Italy won the match 3 - 1.

World Cup Memories - 10th July

1982 - Poland finished third for the second time in three tournaments after beating France 3-2 at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante.
1998 - Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker both scored as Croatia defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the third place match.

World Cup Memories - 9th July

1950 - The World Cup saw the winner of four groups progress to a final round-robin round. On July 9, hosts Brazil hammered Sweden 7-1 in front of a crowd of 138,000 in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.
2006 - The World Cup final saw Zidane put France ahead after just seven minutes with a penalty but it took only another 12 minutes for Materazzi to equalise. The two later locked horns when Zidane, in his last match before retiring, head-butted Materazzi in extra-time and was sent off. Italy eventually won 5 - 3 in the penalty shoot out.

World Cup Memories - 8th July

1982 - The first of the two semi-finals at the World Cup in Spain saw Paolo Rossi take centre stage with a clinical brace to down Poland. West Germany faced France in the second semi-final at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, and it was a 3-3 thriller with Germany eventually winning on penaltes.
1990 - The World Cup final in Italy saw West Germany take on Argentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Franz Beckenbauer's side won courtesy of Andreas Brehme's 85th minute spot-kick.

World Cup Memories - 7th July

1974 - The World Cup final of 1974 pitted the 'total football' of the Netherlands, inspired by the exceptional talent of Johan Cruyff, against the Franz Beckenbauer-inspired West Germany at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Germany won 2 nil.
1990 - England lose the World Cup third/fourth place playoff to hosts Italy 2 - 1.

World Cup Memories - 6th July

1974 - 74,000 watch Brazil lose 2 nil to Poland in the third/fourth playoff at the World Cup finals.

World Cup Memories - 4th July

1990 - England meet Germany in what would prove to be one of the all-time classics. This was England,s best run since 1966, reaching the semi finals but Pearce and Waddle famously miss the vital penalties.
2006 - Germany suffered a dramatic exit at the hands of Italy on home turf in the 2006 finals.

World Cup Memories - 3rd July

1990 - The day Italy crashed out of their own World Cup in Naples as they went down to Argentina on penalties at the semi-final stage
1994 - A Gheorghe Hagi-inspired upset saw Romania down Argentina in front of 90,469 spectators at the Los Angeles Rose Bowl1971 Doors lead singer Jim Morrison dies

World Cup Memories - 2nd July

1994 - Colombia were knocked out of the World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to the hosts USA - courtesy of Andres Escobar's 34th minute own goal. July 2 saw Escobar murdered outside a Medellin nightclub, allegedly at the behest of the powerful gambling syndicates which lost money as a consequence of Colombia's early exit. 120,000 people went to the defender's funeral, and a statue has since been built in his honour.

World Cup Memories - 1st July

1990 – Cameroon’s surprising run at Italia ’90 finally came to an end. After becoming the first African nation in World Cup history to reach the quarter-finals. England won the match through two Gary Lineker penalties.
2006 - England are knocked out of the World Cup by Portugal at the quarter final stage. This was their third exit through penalties out of the previous four finals they had reached.

World Cup Memories - 30th June

1954 – Having won the competition in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay suffered their first World Cup defeat at Switzerland ’54 against Hungary.
1998 – On this day 12 years ago, Michael Owen announced his presence on the world stage with one of the most memorable England goals in World Cup history.
2002 – At Korea/Japan ’02, Brazil claimed their fifth World Cup title by defeating Germany 2-0 in Yokohama eight years ago.

World Cup Memories - 29th June

1950 - The United States defeated Walter Winterbottom's England 1-0 in the World Cup finals in Brazil.
1958 - Brazil came from behind to defeat hosts Sweden 5-2 and claim their first World Cup.
1986 - Diego Maradona captained Argentina to their second World Cup with a 3-2 victory over West Germany.
2002 - Hakan Sukur scored the fastest goal in World Cup history, finding the net in just 11 seconds for Turkey against hosts South Korea.

World Cup Memories - 28th June

1958 - A 17-year-old Pele made his breakthrough on the international stage at Sweden '58, but the six goals he scored in the tournament were no match for France's Just Fontaine.
1994 - Oleg Salenko scored five times against an unsettled Cameroon side, setting the record for most goals scored in a single match at the World Cup.
1994 - On this day, at USA '94, all four teams in a group finished on equal points; the only time it has ever happened. Italy, Mexico, Norway and the Republic of Ireland finished on four points.

World Cup Memories - 27th June

1954 - 56 years ago to this day, Hungary reached the semi-finals at Switzerland '54 after one of the most violent games in World Cup history. A 4-2 triumph over Brazil, dubbed the 'Battle of Bern', resulted in three players being sent-off with numerous other scuffles overshadowing the match.
2006 - At Germany '06, Ronaldo became the highest scorer in World Cup history with a fifth-minute strike against Ghana.

World Cup Memories - 26th June

1954 - The highest scoring match in World Cup history took place on this day 56 years ago, as Austria recorded a 7-5 quarter-final victory over host nation Switzerland.
2006 - Four years ago, Switzerland made history by becoming the only team not to allow a goal at the World Cup finals.

World Cup Memories - 25th June

1978 - On this day, at Argentina '78, the Netherlands lost their second successive World Cup final, falling to the hosts 3-1 after extra-time.
1991 - Slovenia declare their independence from Yugoslavia.

World Cup Memories - 24th June

1958 - 52 years ago in Sweden, Pele puts three goals past French goalkeeper Claude Abbes to ensure Brazil reach the finals.

World Cup Memories - 23rd June

1990 - Twenty years ago to this day, 38-year-old Roger Milla scored twice, helping Cameroon become the first African nation to advance to the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
1994 - On this day at USA '94, Bolivia achieved a dubious record of playing five consecutive matches World Cup matches without scoring a goal.

World Cup Memories - 22nd June

1986 - Maradona scores the now legendary 'Hand of God' goal against Argentina's two nil victory over England in Mexico.
2006 - Four years ago, English referee Graham Poll made a calamitous blunder by issuing Croatian defender Josip Simunic two yellow cards without sending him off.

World Cup Memories - 21st June

1970 - Forty years ago to this day, Brazil made it a hat-trick of World Cup titles with a commanding 4-1 victory over Italy.

World Cup Memories - 20th June

1954 - Hungary beat West Germany 8 - 3 in a World Cup Match.
1990 - 20 years ago today, Costa Rica sent Scotland crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Sweden.

World Cup Memories - 19th June

1938 - France '38 was the last World Cup before a 12-year hiatus due to World War II, it was also the second time Italy were crowned champions.
1958 - On this day, at Sweden '58, Brazil defeated Wales 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

World Cup Memories - 18th June

1974 - Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) are beaten 9 - 0 by Yugoslavia, equaling Hungary's record scoreline from 1954.

World Cup Memories - 17th June

1962 - Brazil retain the World Cup without the influence of Pele.

World Cup Memories - 16th June

1982 Bryan Robson score the fastest goal to date in the World Cup finals. It took only 27 seconds to put the ball in the back of the net against France in Spain.

World Cup Memories - 15th June

2002 - Cesare Maldini becomes the oldest world cup coach at 70 years and 131 days, whilst managing Paraguay.

World Cup Memories - 14th June

1970 - Bobby Charlton retires from international football