History of FIFA World Cup

[Rasputin]

Chizeh ziadi beh residaneh jam-e jahani namundeh (saleh digeh hamchin zamani).barayeh hamin ye seri info amadeh kardam dar moredeh Fifa world cup va dar moredeh bazikonha va teamha va ...

Omid varam keh khoshetun biad.

[Rasputin]

No other sporting event captures the world's imagination like the FIFA World Cup™. Ever since the first tentative competition in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA's flagship has constantly grown in popularity and prestige.

A group of visionary French football administrators, led in the 1920s by the innovative Jules Rimet, are credited with the original idea of bringing the world's strongest national football teams together to compete for the title of World Champions. The original gold trophy bore Jules Rimet's name and was contested three times in the 1930s, before the Second World War put a 12-year stop to the competition.

When it resumed, the FIFA World Cup rapidly advanced to its undisputed status as the greatest single sporting event of the modern world. Held since 1958 alternately in Europe and the Americas, the World Cup broke new ground with the Executive Committee's decision in May 1996 to select Korea and Japan as co-hosts for the 2002 edition.

Since 1930, the 16 tournaments have seen only seven different winners. However, the FIFA World Cup has also been punctuated by dramatic upsets that have helped create footballing history - the United States defeating England in 1950, North Korea's defeat of Italy in 1966, Cameroon's emergence in the 1980s and their opening match defeat of the Argentinean cup-holders in 1990....

Today, the FIFA World Cup holds the entire global public under its spell. An accumulated audience of over 37 billion people watched the France 98 tournament, including approximately 1.3 billion for the final alone, while over 2.7 million people flocked to watch the 64 matches in the French stadia.

After all these years and so many changes, however, the main focus of the FIFA World Cup remains the same - the glistening golden trophy, which is the embodiment of every footballer's ambition.

[Rasputin]

Jules Rimet Cup

Two years before the inaugural FIFA World Cup™ in 1930, the newly drafted regulations stipulated that the winners should be rewarded with a new trophy, with French sculptor Abel Lafleur being assigned this prestigious task.

The little trophy had a hazardous existence. The Italian Vice-President of FIFA, Dr.Ottorino Barassi, hid it in a shoe-box under his bed throughout the Second World War and thus saved it from falling into the hands of occupying troops.

Then in 1966, the cup disappeared while on display as part of the build-up to the World Cup in England and was only recovered, buried under a tree, by a little dog called Pickles.

Finally, in 1983, it was stolen again, this time in Rio de Janeiro, and apparently melted down by the thieves. The Brazilian Football Association, who had earned the right to keep the trophy after having won it three times, ordered a replica to be made.

The original trophy was 35cm high and weighed approximately 3.8 kg. The statuette was made of sterling silver and gold plated, with a blue base made of semi-precious stone (lapis lazuli).

There was a gold plate on each of the four sides of the base, on which were engraved the name of the trophy as well as the names of the nine winners between 1930 and 1970.

[Rasputin]

FIFA World Cup Trophy

With the Jules Rimet Cup now in the permanent possession of Brazil after their third World Cup™ triumph in Mexico City in 1970, FIFA commissioned a new trophy for the tenth World Cup in 1974. A total of 53 designs were submitted to FIFA by experts from seven countries, with the final choice being the work of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga.

He described his creation thus: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory".

The current FIFA World Cup Trophy cannot be won outright, as the regulations state that it shall remain FIFA's own possession. The World Cup winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica, gold-plated rather than solid gold.

The new trophy is 36 cm high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 4,970 grammes. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite and has room for 17 small plaques bearing the name of the winners - space enough for the World Champions up to the year 2038.

[Rasputin]

Foundation
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in the rear of the headquarters of the Union Française de Sports Athlétiques in Paris on 21 May 1904. The foundation act was signed by the authorised representatives of the following Associations:

France - Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques USFSA
Belgium - Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports UBSSA
Denmark - Dansk Boldspil Union DBU
Netherlands - Nederlandsche Voetbal Bond NVB
Spain - Madrid Football Club
Sweden - Svenska Bollspells Förbundet SBF
Switzerland - Association Suisse de Football ASF
FIFA gets its shape

The first FIFA Congress held two days later on 23 May 1904 elected Robert Guérin (FRA) as President. Victor E. Schneider (SUI) and Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann (NED) were made Vice-Presidents. Louis Muhlinghaus (BEL) was appointed Secretary and Treasurer, with the assistance of Ludvig Sylow (DEN). These pioneers were faced with an immense task because FIFA only existed on paper so to speak. One had to give it shape, create Associations as true national representations and get hold of new members. In the first place, the English had to be convinced that their membership to this newly created organisation was indispensable.

FIFA only consisted of European Associations up until 1909. The first members from overseas joined in the following order: South Africa in 1909/1910, Argentina and Chile in 1912, USA in 1913. This was the start of FIFA's international activities. The long path towards full expansion had been sketched out.

A New Era
When Dr. João Havelange was elected at the 39th Congress in 1974, he was ready to consider football not only as a competition, but also to try and find new ways and means to worldwide technical development and to prepare new generations for this.

Havelange's installation in FIFA's headquarters heralded the dawn of a new era. Previously, with survival depending almost exclusively on limited resources from World Championships in four-yearly intervals, FIFA had been somewhat conservative and reserved when it came to taking decisions. Administrative energy had been concentrated on consolidating and maintaining the status quo. In no time, Havelange transformed an administration-oriented institution into a dynamic enterprise brimming with new ideas and the will to see them through. The actual address in Zurich has not altered but instead of the romantic Derwald Villa on the Zurichberg, where in 1974 a staff of twelve used to coordinate the fate of world football, there are now five different office buildings housing more than 120 employees

Globalisation
Over the past 25 years football has not only taken root as the world's major game in an ephemeral world but has also blossomed in other branches of society, commerce and politics. Football, more than any other factor, has enveloped whole regions, people and nations. With approximately two hundred million active players it now constitutes a substantial chunk of the leisure industry, having opened up new markets for itself and for the rest of the business world.

204 Member Associations

On 8 June 1998 Joseph S. Blatter (SUI) was elected as the successor to João Havelange as the eighth FIFA President. This victory at the 51st FIFA Ordinary Congress in Paris elevated Blatter, who had already served FIFA in various positions for 23 years, onto the highest rung in international football.

[Rasputin]

Classic Stadiums

Centenario

Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario stands at a profound crossroads of past and present on the face of Planet Football. A monument to South America’s steadfast love for the game, the concrete colossus with a capacity of 100,000 was the main stage .

San Siro

San Siro - or to give its official name, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - is a proud footballing shrine for both the Nerazzuri (Internazionale) and Rossoneri (AC Milan). It is also no exaggeration to call it a symbol for football lovers .

Azteca

City’s fabled Estadio Azteca has been the backdrop for some of history’s most unforgettable FIFA World Cup moments. Pele’s last sparks of invention on the world stage, a final glimpse of the old Jules Rimet Cup and Maradona’s famous goals .

Maracana

There are few stadiums in the world that can rightly claim to be truly historic monuments as well as sporting arenas. But the Mario Filho Stadium, or the Maracaná as it is known, with its enormous expanse, huge seating capacity and majestic .

Bernabeu

The story of the mythical Santiago Bernabéu Stadium leads inevitably to the history of its regal owners, Real Madrid, an institution which in 2000 was recognised by FIFA as the Club of the Century.

[Cop]

very nice topic and thanks for the hard work redinw jun

[Rasputin]

Classic Players

Franz Beckenbauer
Beckenbauer is without doubt one of the greatest players and managers of all time. He redefined the role of 'libero', lifted the FIFA World Cup as captain in 1974, before repeating the feat as a manager in 1990. The son of a General Manager of a postal depot, he began his career at the age of 9, in the youth team of SC München 06, before joining FC Bayern Munich in 1958.

Bobby Charlton
A survivor of the Munich air disaster, a FIFA World Cup winner, a Knight of the British Empire but above all, a great and an honest player. Bobby Charlton is one of football’s true ambassadors.

Johan Cruyff
Very few players have earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Beckenbauer and Diego Maradona. Although he never won an international title at country level and played in only one FIFA World Cup, Johan Cruyff is one of them.

Eusebio
Dubbed the ‘Black Panther’ or the ‘Black Pearl,’ Eusebio, who acted as one of Portugal’s ‘football ambassadors’ for Euro 2004, is the most-renowned legend in Lusitanian football. Originally from Mozambique, the great man grabbed nine goals at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England to win the Golden Shoe and was the first world-class striker to emerge from the African continent.

Garrincha
Unpredictable, magical, elusive and explosive are just some of the many adjectives people have used to describe Brazil’s beloved Garrincha, one of the best strikers ever to wear the famous yellow jersey. With his legendary dribbling skills and keen eye for goal, he helped the South American giants to successive FIFA World Cup triumphs in 1958 and 1962.

Mario Kempes
With the exception of Diego Maradona, nobody shines brighter than Mario Kempes in Argentina's star-studded football firmament.

Maradona
Some things never lose currency in Argentina - beef, women and dulce de leche (a caramel dessert) among them. Football is another source of comfort for the masses, and one player in particular has provided more than his share of tender loving care .

Gerd Müller
Not only is the name Gerhard “Gerd” Müller still synonymous with the model striker par excellence, but “The Bomber’s” remarkable records still remain unchallenged today. The Bayern München and Germany centre forward scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga appearances and 68 goals in 62 international appearances, milestones no other player is ever likely to equal.

Pele
Pele. The God of football. "O Rei". Whatever the name, the memory is the same - of a world-beating superstar - a record-breaking footballing icon. Above and beyond his unequalled achievement in winning three FIFA World Cups.

Michel Platini
He never did win the FIFA World Cup, the ultimate prize for a footballer. In fact, it is the only trophy missing from Platini's impressive trophy cabinet, but that surely does not detract from his status as a footballing legend. His technical ability, reading of the game and amazing ruthlessness in front of goal made him one of the game's all-time greats.

[Rasputin]

Roger Milla
Old age is when you begin to say: "I've never felt so young". The Jules Renard adage could have been written for Roger Milla. The Cameroon striker, a figurehead of African football, exploded onto the international scene at the ripe old age of 38.

Ferenc Puskas
Generally considered Hungary’s finest ever player and one of the greatest footballers ever to grace the FIFA World Cup, Ferenc Puskas was the figurehead of the groundbreaking Hungary team that dominated world football in the early 1950s. Alas, the supreme prize of world champion would always elude this magnificent striker --particularly in the 1954.

Paolo Rossi
Some players control games, some are capable of outstanding pieces of skill, while others impose themselves through sheer physical strength. Paolo Rossi didn't fit into any of these categories. He was quite simply a born goalscorer.

Dino Zoff
A rock, a workaholic, a perfectionist: Dino Zoff is one of the greatest goalkeepers the world has known. The facts speak for themselves: he played in the FIFA World Cup three times, winning in 1982, won 112 caps and holds the record of 1,142 minutes without conceding a goal.

Fritz Walter
The city of Kaiserslautern was founded by Fritz Walter,” a schoolboy’s essay once claimed. The assertion was, of course, incorrect as the Rhineland-Palatinate town traces its origins back to early medieval times, but the young lad’s mistake was an understandable one. The player has become something of a mythic figure not only in footballing terms, but also as a symbol of rebirth and vindication for post-war Germany.

[Rasputin]

The Greek game "episkyros", relatively little of which has been handed down, was much livelier, as was the Roman game "Harpastum". The latter was played with a smaller ball with two teams contesting the game on a rectangular field marked by boundary lines and a centre-line. The object was to get the ball over the opponents' boundary lines. The ball was passed between players and trickery was the order of the day. Each team member had his own specific tactical assignment and the spectators took a vociferous interest in the proceedings and the score. The role of the feet in this game was so small as scarcely to be of consequence. This game remained popular for 700 or 800 years, but, although the Romans took it to England with them, it is doubtful whether it can be considered as a forerunner of contemporary football. The same applies for hurling, a popular game with the Celtic population, which is played to this very day in Cornwall and Ireland. lt is possible that influences were asserted, but it is certain that the decisive development of the game of football with which we are now familiar took place in England and Scotland.

[Rasputin]

Classic Games

1998 Nigeria: Spain

Date: 13 June 1998
Stadium: La Beaujoire Stadium
City: Nantes, France
Attendace: 33,257

Nigeria 3:2 Spain
HIERRO Fernando (ESP) 21', ADEPOJU Mutiu (NGA) 25', RAUL (ESP) 47', LAWAL Garba (NGA) 73', OLISEH Sunday (NGA) 78'


It was a carnival atmosphere at Nantes’ intimate La Beaujoire Stadium. Throngs of Spanish fans braved the short, but arduous crossing of the Pyrenees waving flags, painted red and yellow, La Furia’s fanaticos were even up to challenging the thumping rhythms of the numerous Nigerians in attendance. Decked from head-to-toe in green and white, the Super Eagles’ supporters were set to take flight as both teams emerged from the tunnel for battle in their first match of the 1998 FIFA World Cup France.

Nigeria, Africa’s most-populous nation, opened eyes four years earlier in the United States by reaching the second round and stretching Italy in the last sixteen. Also Olympic Gold Medallists in 1996, they were tipped by many to go far in France. And with Serbian boss Bora Milutinovic - renowned for inspiring minnows to minor glories - their chances of picking up where Roger Milla and Cameroon left off in at Italy 90 were looking on the up. Unfortunately African Player of the Year for 1996, Nwankwo Kanu, was seated right beside the new boss on the subs’ bench – sadly still recovering from heart valve surgery and a series of niggling injuries.

The lanky man’s nimble skills figure to be sorely missed, especially up against group-favourites Spain. Tipped by many to finally overcome their self-appointed status of tragic losers, they have an up-and-coming young star from the Bernabéu who goes by the name of Raul. With a bevy of grizzled old campaigners and warhorses behind the young Real Madrid prodigy, the Iberians are much feared. But there is controversy on the bench too. Head Coach Javier Clemente caused a sensation back home when he revealed a propensity for selecting Basque players – not surprisingly the region of his birth. Perhaps the Vascos’ renowned steel and thunder will be necessary attributes up against the hulking Nigerians.
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1994 Brazil: Netherlands

Date: 9 July 1994
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
City: Dallas, Texas, USA
Attendace: 63,500

Brazil 3:2 Netherlands
ROMARIO (BRA) 53', BEBETO (BRA) 63', BERGKAMP Dennis (NED) 64', WINTER Aron (NED) 76', BRANCO (BRA) 81'

Famed the world over for their sultry skills, Brazil landed on the shores of the United States for one reason and one reason alone - to get their hands on the FIFA World Cup. The three-time champions had not won the world championship for two dozen years, and to some degree the Auriverde eagerly agreed to swap the joy and exuberance of their forebears for sound tactics and a clinical determination at the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™.

The lethal edge to striking tandem Romario and Bebeto was the key for this largely unfamiliar Brazilian team, and the Dutch had seemed shaky in defence while breezing their way through the group stage and past the Republic of Ireland in the second round. And, in general, the Dutch too seemed a less cohesive version of their former selves.

Still, it was the first time the two historical giants locked horns since the semi-final of Germany 74. That one proved a match of unparalleled passion and elegance – at least from the victorious Dutch. For Brazil it was the start of two decades failure by their inflated standards.

Formidable threats up front
Wide-shouldered and menacing, Romario looked a perfect foil to his strike partner Bebeto. The skinny one’s requisite nickname (‘the baby’) fit him like a glove, and he looked a fragile kid with his shorts pulled high around his waist. Ronald Koeman, a wizened holdover from Holland’s European Championship-winning side of 1988, was a stark study in contrast as the burly last line of defence for the Dutch.

[Rasputin]

Classic Games

1990: England - Cameroon

Date: 01 July 1990
Stadium: San Paolo Stadium
City: Naples, Italy
Attendace: 55205

ENGLAND 3:2 CAMEROON a.e.t.
[PLATT David (ENG) 25', KUNDE Emmanuel (CMR) 61', penalty, EKEKE Eugene (CMR) 65', LINEKER Gary (ENG) 83', penalty, LINEKER Gary (ENG) 105', penalty]

England maul fellow lions Milla, Cameroon

At a tournament that was criticised for being excessively defensive, this was one game at Italia 90 that certainly had people on the edge of their seats. England, one of the favourites to lift the trophy, were not expected to struggle against surprise-package Cameroon, but the Indomitable Lions, the first African team to make a FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final, had been high on adrenaline since the beginning of the finals.

With the evergreen Roger Milla (3 in unstoppable form in attack they made Gary Lineker and his team sweat right up until the final whistle. This is the story of an epic World Cup battle, played out in the humid heat of a Neapolitan summer's evening.

Prior to the tournament, nobody would have predicted a Cameroon v England quarter-final. The Africans had recorded a shock win over reigning world champions Argentina (1-0) in the opening match, though, and had since gone from strength to strength. Another great performance against Romania (2-1) had ensured their qualification from the group phase, and a further miracle win over Colombia (2-1) had sent them joyously into the quarter-finals. Their opponents, meanwhile, Gary Lineker's England, had just enjoyed a narrow escape in the second round against Belgium (1-0 aet), and were now dreaming of the semi-final place they had been denied by Argentina's Diego Maradona in 1986.

The San Paolo had been kind to Cameroon in the last round. Would its blessing work wonders again a week later? Cameroon were certainly out of luck in other respects. Without the suspended André Kana, Emile Mbouh, Victor Ndip and Jules Onana, Russian coach Valeri Nepomniachi had to field a new line-up. The irresistible Milla, the bane of René Higuita's Columbia in the previous round, would start on the bench. In contrast, Bobby Robson's England were at full-strength, and Lineker and co. were raring to go.

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1986: Brazil - France

Date: 22 June 1986
Stadium: Jalisco Stadium
City: Guadalajara, Mexico
Attendance: 65,000

Brazil - France 1:1 a.e.t., 3:4 PSO
CARECA (BRA) 17', PLATINI Michel (FRA) 40'

France edge Brazil in epic Jalisco contest

The 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ quarter-final between France and Brazil was always going to be one to savour - the recently crowned kings of Europe against the undisputed champions of romantic football. It had been 16 years since Pelé, Tostao and co. last raised the Jules Rimet cup. And back home in Rio, big questions were arising about Brazil’s once vaunted status in world football. After cruelly falling to Italy four years before at the same quarter-final stage, Socrates and Junior were back to reclaim their heritage. Iconic Zico was there too, but starting on the bench not fully fit.

France, with their sublime midfield pairing of Michel Platini and Alain Giresse, were also back looking for revenge after the crushing loss to Germany four years earlier in the semi-final in Seville.

The match began as the stifling 45+ centigrade degree conditions demanded. Bypassing midfield, both sides poured forward as if to appease the old Aztec sun god, Quetzalcoatl. Junior raced forward for Brazil, age showing only for the grey flecks in his hair. Socrates, unhurried, bearded - the benevolent general orchestrating from a withdrawn midfield role. And up front, the danger man is Careca. Heir to Jairzinho, he is feared by the French defence. However, he surely doesn’t scare Manuel Amoros; the barrel-chested fullback later named defender of the finals is all coiled menace and always up for a fight.

[Rasputin]

1986: Argentina - England

Date: 22 June 1986
Stadium: Azteca Stadium
City: Mexico City, Mexico
Attendace: 114580

ARGENTINA 2:1 ENGLAND
[MARADONA Diego (ARG) 51', MARADONA Diego (ARG) 54', LINEKER Gary (ENG) 80']

Maradona’s celebrated brace sinks England

The expressions “hand of God” and “goal of the century” are part of football folklore, and for most fans conjure up memories of one epic encounter. The year was 1986 and Argentina were taking on England in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final. History was about to be made in a match that pitted opposing styles and mentalities against each other in the stifling heat of the legendary Aztec stadium in Mexico City.

The game should first be placed in its historical context. The Falklands War was still fresh in the collective memory, and footballing rivalry between the teams dated back to their stormy encounter at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. Ever since, for one reason or another, Argentina-England games had never failed to excite - and this one was to prove no exception to the rule. The English relied on a typical no-nonsense style in defence and a cutting-edge up front. The South Americans, meanwhile, compensated for their physical disadvantage with their usual faultless technique. The game already had all the makings of a classic, but the fact that it was taken to another level entirely can be put down to the genius of one man - Diego Maradona.

Argentina had enjoyed an easy ride in the competition thus far, and took to the pitch in confident mood. Led out by the best player in the world, Diego Maradona, they were determined to go all the way and win back the trophy they had first lifted on home soil in 1978.

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Date: 11 July 1982
Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
City: Madrid, Spain
Attendace: 90,000

ITALY 3:1 WEST GERMANY
[ROSSI Paolo (ITA) 57', TARDELLI Marco (ITA) 69', ALTOBELLI Alessandro (ITA) 81', BREITNER Paul (FRG) 83']

Italians triumph in heavyweight rumble

Under a bright blue Spanish sky, the two best teams in the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™ - Italy and West Germany - played out a highly anticipated final and few of the millions to see the match came away disappointed. A second half outburst by the Italians saw them lift their first FIFA World Cup trophy since 1938, while the Germans would have to wait until Italy 90 to complete their trio of world championships.

Both sides boasted a plethora of talent in their ranks: Zoff, Bergomi, Gentile, Tardelli and a certain Paolo Rossi on the one side; Briegel, Breitner, Forster, Littbarski and Rummenigge on the other. Ninety thrilling, spectacular minutes of football beckoned.

Right from the start

The Squadra Azzura kicked off and immediately sought to impose their pace on the game. But their German opponents, coached by Jupp Derwall, created the first chance with only two minutes on the clock. Littbarski broke down the left and steered a diagonal pass to Klaus Fischer, who found Littbarski again with the return. The winger known as 'Litti' fired goalwards, but Italian goalkeeping legend Dino Zoff gathered easily enough.

[Rasputin]

Profile.

Iran ready for revival

Despite failing to reach the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan after a tense 2-1 aggregate defeat to the Republic of Ireland in the play-off, Iran are still one of Asia's top teams and a side to be reckoned with in the qualifying run to Germany 2006.

The Persians reached their first FIFA World Cup as the sole representative from Asia at Argentina 1978, when they shockingly drew Scotland 1-1 in between losses to finalists Holland and powerful Peru. Twenty years later they reached their second finals at France 1998 and claimed their first victory by beating the United States 2-1 (wtih goals from Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia). The win made them the only one of the four Asian sides at that tournament to win a match.

In qualifying for France 1998, the Gulf side performed bravely to secure their finals berth. They finished second in one of the two final groups and then lost to Japan 3-2 on a golden goal, which meant they had to beat Australia in another play-off. Two legendary late goals in the second leg in Melbourne from Karim Bagheri and Khodadad Azizi sent the Iranians through.

Iran's Croatian coach Branco Ivancovic has relied on trusted players and methods, and Team Melli have responded with convincing performances even in the midst of growing parity in the Asian Zone. A third FIFA World Cup appearance is clearly within reach for a side that can call on legendary hero Ali Daei, highly regarded young star Mehdi Mahdavikia, German-based Vahid Hashemian and secret weapon and " Wizard of Tehran" Ali Karimi.

Team Melli produced more than a few moments of magic in 2004, including their 4-3 victory over old nemesis Korea Republic at the Asian Cup, courtesy of Ali Karimi’s sublime hat trick. A 2-0 return leg triumph in September separated them from their closest group contenders Jordan, who had stunned coach Ivankovic’s team with a 1-0 away win. A tense 3-2 decisive victory over Qatar in the penultimate group match one month later secured one spot in the last eight for the Iranians.


Founded 1920
Affiliated 1945
WC participations 2 (1978, 199
WC honours None
Continental Titles Asian Championships 3 times (1968, 1972, 1976), Asian Games 4 times (1974, 1990, 1998, 2002)

Facts


Iran first participated in the qualifiers in 1974 and reached their first finals tournament just four years later. The team lost to Holland and Peru in Argentina, but held Scotland to a 1-1 draw.


The Iranians had already proven their potential in previous years. Between 1968 and 1976, they lifted the Asian Cup on three occasions without losing a single game.


In 1998 Iran qualified for a FIFA World Cup™ for the second time. They also recorded their first victory in the finals with a 2-1 defeat of the USA. However, they failed to reach the last sixteen after finding themselves in a group with Germany and Yugoslavia.

[football_girl]

a great one ... thanks