World Cup 2010 Blog: “World Cup Moments: Pelé Becomes the Youngest Goalscorer in a World Cup Final” plus 1 more

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World Cup Moments: Pelé Becomes the Youngest Goalscorer in a World Cup Final Posted: 18 Dec 2009 04:04 AM PST We all know Pelé was good. But it’s easy to forget just how good. If you have any doubts, take a look at Pele’s first goal for Brazil vs Sweden in the 1958 World Cup Final, below. The striker takes the ball on his chest, lifts it over the defender’s head with his right and then volleys home low with the same foot. That goals made the score Brazil 3-1 Sweden. Now factor in the fact that Pelé was just 17 years old at the time, and you’ve got yourself something special. The great man added a second goal when he headed home in the 90th minute as Brazil went on to beat Sweden 5-2. All seven goals are below: The first goal made Pelé the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup final at 17 years and 249 days. He still is. I’m not to keen to share what I was doing at 17, but it wasn’t that. Pelé also remains the youngest scorer in a World Cup tournament (vs Wales in the quarter-final, aged 17 years and 239 days) and the youngest scorer of a World Cup hat-trick (vs France in the semi-final, aged 17 years and 244 days). For more on Brazil visit Duvel at Brazil World Cup Blog. Click here for more World Cup Moments.

World Cup Team History: Australia Posted: 17 Dec 2009 01:10 PM PST We’re doing a World Cup history post for every team at World Cup 2010. Today it’s Australia’s turn. The Socceroos have just two previous World Cup appearances in the record books, but they’ve come so close to making it so many times. I’m sure every Australian football fan has their fill of World Cup playoffs. Until 2007 Australia was part of the Oceania confederation, along with New Zealand and several smaller nations. It’s easily the weakest confederation in world football, and so doesn’t get a lot of love from FIFA in terms of World Cup qualification spots. Hence the playoffs. Which is why Australia has long lobbied to “move” and join the Asian confederation, a goal that was finally achieved in 2007. Below is the story of their two World Cup appearances in 1974 and 2006, plus the frustrating period inbetween where they continually fell at the final hurdle. 1974 World Cup in West Germany Australia qualified for the ‘74 Weltmeisterschaft after coming through a qualification process that merged the Oceania and Asia confederations. In their first World Cup, the Socceroos were drawn into Group 1 with West Germany, East Germany and Chile. In three games they lost 2-0 to East Germany, 3-0 to West Germany and drew 0-0 with Chile. So bottom of the group, one point and precisely zero goals scored. The squad was managed by the 38 year old Serbian born (but Australia committed) Ralé Rašić, captained by English born defender Peter Wilson (pictured), and featured midfielder and Australian soccer legend Johnny Warren (the current A-League player of the year award is called the Johnny Warren Medal). It’s tough to argue that 1974 was a full on success given the lack of goals. But given the fact that many of the squad were not full professionals, a draw against Chile is nothing to be ashamed of. There’s a website titled The Southern Cross which puts a very detailed and very positive spin on the Socceroos adventure in West Germany, particularly in terms of how the squad represented their country. Here’s video of Australia in action, losing 3-0 to the hosts: One of the other highlights of the 1974 campaign was Socceroos super-fan Jim Scane, featured in this Sydney Morning Herald news story from 2006. Scane was born in England but emigrated to Australia, and followed the team devoutly. At the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, Scane carried a koala bear under each arm acted as the team mascot (leading the Socceroos out at every game) and also interpreter (having learned German while a World War II P.O.W. at Dunkirk). Scane wore a gold jacket (pictured) with the names of Australia’s opponents on it, ready to cross the names off as the Socceroos beat each team. He’d have to wait until 2006 to see Australia’s first World Cup win though. World Cup Playoff Frustrations Australia’s frustrations with the Oceania confederation were there for all to see in 1994, 1998 and 2002. In each of these campaigns Australia dominated Oceania but then had to face a tougher opponent from a different confederation in a two-legged World Cup qualification playoff. In qualification for the 1994 World Cup, Australia won a playoff against Canada but then had a further playoff vs Diego Maradona’s Argentina. The Socceroos managed a 1-1 draw at home, but lost 1-0 in Argentina. Close, but not quite. In qualification for the 1998 World Cup (with Terry Venable in charge) the Australia faced Iran in the playoff. The Socceroos got an excellent 1-1 draw in Iran, and led 2-0 at home. But Iran scored two late goals to make it 3-3 on aggregate, with Australia losing out on away goals. Harsh. Here’s a news report from that 1997 game: In qualification for the 2002 World Cup, manager Frank Farina oversaw the Socceroos demolition of Oceania opposition, including a ridiculous 31-0 win over American Samoa. But once again they fell short in the playoff game, this time against Uruguay. A 1-0 win at homes was followed by a 3-0 loss in Uruguay. Australia missed out again. They finally cracked it in time for the 2006 World Cup. With Guus Hiddink in charge they faced Uruguay (again) and after trading 1-0 wins and doing plenty if arguing over kick off time, Australia won a penalty shootout in Sydney. Here’s the Mark Schwarzer save that sent Australia to their second ever World Cup after years of disappointment: World Cup 2006 in Germany A full 32 years after their first appearance, Australia were back in Germany and back in the World Cup. This time they were a much more experienced and soccer savvy outfit, with Guus Hiddink no stranger to World Cups, and much of the squad (like Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and captain Mark Viduka) playing regularly in the English Premier League or elsewhere in Europe. The draw wasn’t necessarily kind though, landing the Socceroos in Group F with champions Brazil, Croatia and Japan. It started badly, with Japan going ahead through a questionable goal. Nakamura’s cross sailed straight in as keeper Mark Schwarzer was impeded by a Japanese player, but the referee let it stand. Australia looked like losing that game and blaming the referee, until an incredible final few minutes that turned the whole World Cup campaign around. Tim Cahill equalized in the 84th and put Australia ahead in th 89th before John Aloisi scored the Socceroos third in the second minute of time added on. Dramatic stuff. This is how the Socceroos three goals were broadcast by Australia’s SBS television: In the second game, Australia held Brazil 0-0 for the first 45 minutes, but eventually lost 2-0. So it all came down to the game vs Croatia, where avoiding defeat would send the Socceroos through to the Second Round. It was an insane game, not least the moment when Graham Poll showed Croatia’s Josep Simunic three yellow cards. But if finished 2-2, which was good enough to send Australia through to the Second Round for the first time. In the Socceroos first ever World Cup Second Round game, they went toe to toe with Italy for 90+ minutes. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. But with stoppage time about to expire, this happened: There’s still debate about whether Fabio Grosso dived or not. I find it tough to tell, but this much is certainly true: Lucas Neill made a clumsy tackle and Fabio Gross went down. Francesco Totti stepped up and put the 95th minute penalty away to send Australia home and Italy on the way to World Cup glory. The excellent ending to this story involves Jim Scane. The Socceroos superfan passed away in 2008 at the grand old age of 91, but in 2006 – 32 years after World Cup ‘74 – Scane witnessed invited to travel to Germany where he and his grandson saw Australia’s incredible come from behind 3-1 win vs Japan. For more on the Socceroos read Australia World Cup Blog.

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