World Cup curiosities

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In 1950, a team won both its qualification rounds because the opposing team withdrew each time (Syria then Austria). While that fact earned the team a place in the World Cup, this country did not show up in Brazil. Which is this country?

Talking about withdrawal, although qualified, India refused to make the trip to Brazil in 1950 because FIFA would not allow Indian players to play.... how?

Uruguay won the 1950 World Cup having won only three games and playing how many?

In 1954, despite the 104 Farenheit heat, Austria and Switzerland played en epic game (7-5) in which Swiss city?

In 1954, which Hungarian player scored 11 goals in only five games

That same year, Hungary thrashed all opponents leading to the final (25-7 in four games...). They somehow lost brokenheartedly to what team whom they had beaten 8-3 earlier in the tournament?

1958 World Cup's participating teams consisted of 4 teams from Western Europe, 4 from Eastern Europe, 4 from the Americas and 4 teams from...?

In 1958, which French player scored 13 goals, a record unmatched to this day.

That same year saw the first ever 0-0 draw in a World Cup. Surprisingly, it happened between two formidable teams, England and...?

In the Battle of Santiago (1962), Italy and Chile gave way to a disgraceful exhibition. Two Italians sent off, one refusing to leave before armed police intervened, many punches, kicks to the head, broken noses... No wonder why the referee, Ken Aston, went on to invent two useful things later on. What are those two things first used in the 1970 World Cup?

North Korea created the biggest upset of the 1966 World Cup beating Italy 1-0 and sending them home. What did the infuriated fans infamously throw to the Italian players?

Complete the famous quote by BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme during the 1966 final : Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over! ___ ___ ___!

In qualification for the 1970 World Cup, riots during games between El Salvador and what neighbour country sparked the 100 hour war?

In what many consider the best World Cup match ever, a semi-finals in 1970 saw Italy and West Germany score how many goals in overtime?

Which Brazilian player scored a goal in each and all seven game his country played in 1970. A feat yet to be equalled.

As they did in 1954, West Germany went on to win the 1974 Cup in spite losing a game in the process. Who defeated them in 1974?

In 1978, Argentina delayed the kick-off of its last game before the final so the players would know by how many goals they needed to win vs Peru to reach that final. It turned out they needed a four point margin. What was the score vs Peru?

Italy won the 1982 World Cup although the team did not win a single group stage match. The incredible thing is that in the exact same group 1, a team was eliminated after group stage without even losing a game. Who?

An African country made its World Cup debut in 1982 by beating West Germany 2-1. Not bad for a start. However, nine days later, that team was eliminated because of a dishonest spontaneous match-fixing between West Germany and Austria, a game dubbed the Disgrace of Gijón. What is that unlucky country?

The same year, an angry fan rushed onto the pitch during a game between his country and France. Maybe because he was Sheikh Fahid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, he managed to have the referee change his initial decision and disallow a French goal. That man was the president of which football association?

In 1986, Diego Maradona showed both sides of his football personality in the same game vs England. In a moment of pure grace, he dribbled past 5 opponents before scoring but in a moment of shame he scored a goal everyone knows should not have been allowed. Maradona himself gave this goal what name?

The 1986 World Cup is the only presence to date for Canada who lost all three games they played. How many goals did Canada score that year?

Group F of the 1990 World Cup was pretty bleak. One win and five draws, including two nil-nil. No team managed to score more than one goal per game. What was the goal total for the whole group?

In such occasions, strange things are bound to happen. In group F, two teams had the same number of points, goal difference and goals scored. How were Ireland and Netherlands split between second and third place, then?

Still in 1990, Cameroon and Roger Milla had a fantastic run. In their first match, they even beat Argentina who were defending champions and soon-to-be finalists despite being brought down to what number of players?

That international tournament was the last to showcase the wonderful play of an English gentleman. After winning golden boot in 1986, he helped England reach the semi-finals in 1990. Who is that man who was never shown any card, red or yellow his entire career?

In USA '94, Colombia was seen as a strong contender for a deep run. It hasn't been so, since the were eliminated after two matches. In the second game, a Colombian sadly scored in his goal and was shot to death when back in his country. Who was this poor fellow?

1994 Group E is the first and to date only group where all four teams finished the group stage with exactly the same number of what?

In 1998, a team shocked Morocco by beating Brazil in the last group stage game and finishing ahead of the African country. In fact, surprisingly, this European country faced Brazil four times in international play and never lost, beating the Brazilians twice. You will never guess who has been so succesful against such a powerhouse.

French footballer Lilian Thuram singlehandedly won the 98 semi-finals for his country vs Croatia, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win. After a glorious international career of 142 caps, how many goals has the defender scored?

The weight of England's elimination in France was put on the shoulder of one English player who was sent off after Argentinian Diego Simeone acted and "fell like a ton of bricks". The Daily Mirror described the English midfielder as a Stupid Boy. Yet the year after, he was to become The Spice Boy. Who is this iconic figure?

In the 2002 third place match, Turkey scored after only 10.8 seconds of play. And it was South Korea's kick-off! Who scored that record-breaking goal?

In the quarter-finals of that year, which Brazilian player sent England home when he caught out goalkeeper David Seaman with a free-kick from an incredible distance?

The Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament did not go to a cup-winning player in 2002. Who was awarded the Golden Ball?

In the last Croatian game of 2006 World Cup, Josip Šimunić was shown an unusual number of yellow cards. How many?

A European team left Germany 06 without conceding a single goal, a first in the history of the World Cup. What is that country which lost on penaltys to Ukraine?

Marco Materazzi was all over the place in 2006 when he substitued for Nesta. He scored a goal 9 minutes after coming in, he received a red card the following game, then in the finals he conceded a penalty converted by Zinedine Zidane and scored a goal to tie the game Italy went on to win. But he will be remembered for insulting which player, resulting in an infamous head-butt?

In South Africa 2010, Italy were defending champions. They were drawn in group F with lesser countries such as Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. So Italy obviously finished ______ of their group...

What is the name of the plastic horn that has been the subject of such controversy when used by thousands of spectators in 2010?

2010 winner Spain won all four of its knockout games by the exact same score. Which one?

At Brazil 2014, in a thrilling round of sixteen game, the US goaltender made no less than 16 saves! That did not forbid Belgium to claim the victory in extra-time but this exceptional American keeper has made his mark on the World Cup. Who is he?

Welcoming the Cup for the second time in 2014, Brazil did not suffer the torments of a cruel defeat in the finals this time. They were defeated by the Germans in the semi-finals. What was the final score of this game?

During that game, which German player became the all-time scoring leader when he netted his 16th World Cup goal?

Who is the only man to have won two World Cups, one as a captain and the other as a coach?

Only one player has won three World Cups. What is his name?

Egypt participated only two times to the Big Event. Both times, the Cup was held in the same country. Which one?

Six countries had the disappointment of leaving a World Cup empty handed without losing a game (not counting those losing on penaltys). Scotland in 1974, Brazil in 1978, Cameroon and England in 1982, Belgium in 1998. What is the last one in 2010?

Oddly, Israel is part of what football federation since the mid-90s?

And Australia is part of what football federation since 2006?