This is your blog

FIFA World Cup guide for a footballing novice

Posted May 24th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student

FIFA World Cup guide for a footballing novice

World Cup fever is cranking up, every shop in the land is packed full of England merchandise designed to strip you of your hard earned cash. For a country that is notoriously unpatriotic we are some how compelled to adorn our cars with flags, buy England beach towels for our jaunts to Spain (if that volcano doesn’t mess it up for us) and paint our faces so we look like we have a bad case of sunburn.

That’s all part of the fun though isn’t it? There’s many a fair weathered football supporter out there and because we aren’t glued to the weekly kick offs during the league season it puts us at a disadvantage when it comes to the post and pre match debates. Fear not though, here’s a lowdown of some facts and figures you can throw out there over an ice cold cider.

• The concept of hosting a “World Cup” was due to the success of the Olympic Footballing events. The idea was rolled into action on the 28th May 1928.

• The first ever World Cup was held in Uruguay at the Estadio Centenairo.

• In total thirteen nations took part; seven from South America, four from Europe (Belgium, Yugoslavia, Romania and France) and two from North America.

• British teams first competed in 1950, it was held in Brazil.

• England, the land of footballing fanatics, have only won it once.

• Brazil have won the most, 5 times; 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

• Italy come in second with 4 wins; 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006

• If you didn’t note that then, Italy won the last World Cup.

• There is four years between each tournament.

• Fabio Capello is the England Coach. Amazing fact – He didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived and is now fluent. I bet none of our lot could do that if they went to Italy!

• England’s highest ever ranking in FIFA is 4th.

• Lowest is in 1996 when we ranked an embarrassing 27th

• Peter Shilton (goalkeeper) got the most caps (caps are times they have played for the squad)

• Top scorer of all time is Sir Bobby Charlton with an impressive 49 goals.

OK, enough for the general World Cup fact file (make sure you revise those) Here’s some team facts.

• England finished top of their group in the qualifiers. This therefore means the whole country thinks they are going to win the whole schbang. Expect tears if we don’t and vicious headlines from The Sun.

• We have however drawn quite a tidy group; United States (renowned for being shit, they call it soccer so what do you expect), Algeria and Slovenia. Although the Eastern European’s should not be looked down upon, if we don’t get through we might as well hang up our boots.

• There are currently 30 players in our squad; 3 goalies, 10 defenders, 12 midfielders, 5 strikers.

• Rio Ferdinand is our captain (the one with a lip like Elvis) he was given the title after John Terry couldn’t keep his jewels in the safe.

• Theo Wilcott is the youngest (21), he plays for Arsenal, quite a lot of hype and pressure being put on him to perform.

• The oldest player is David James (39) he’s a goalie and plays for Portsmouth (the team that have been in the press recently for being absolutely brassic)

• Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) has the most caps at 78 and is the vice captain.

One more topical fact; Lord Triesman (Chairman of the FA) basically accused the Russians (people it’s not wise to annoy) and Spanish of cheating and setting up bribes so they’d win more points in this year’s cup and Spain would support Russia in their bid to host rather than going for it themselves. This comes as England are bidding to host the 2018 World Cup and needing support and friends… not looking so likely now!

Excellent, that should keep you up with a bit of the banter. The best piece of advice I can give is this…..

If people in the venue you are watching the game in are booing, boo too. If they are cheering and hurling beer everywhere, either join in or duck for cover!

Do NOT, in any circumstances, if you are unaware of what the offside rule is, get into an argument about whether “that goal” should have been allowed or not.

Good luck and let us sing…. “Ennnngeerrrrlllaaannnddd, EnnnGERRRLAND, ENNNgerrrrLAND!”