Football

  • West Germany and Austria ‘fix’ Algeria’s fate – 1982: World Cup debutants Algeria rocked the tournament by defeating West Germany in their opener, but the Germans had the last laugh. In the final group match against Austria, they scored after 10 minutes to guarantee the two European sides went through at Algeria’s expense, so both effectively stopped playing. Algeria’s seething supporters burnt bank notes and the largely Spanish crowd waved hankies to illustrate their disdain. Fifa then ruled that, in future, the last games in every group be played ­simultaneously. AFP Photo
    West Germany and Austria ‘fix’ Algeria’s fate – 1982: World Cup debutants Algeria rocked the tournament by defeating West Germany in their opener, but the Germans had the last laugh. In the final group match against Austria, they scored after 10 minutes to guarantee the two European sides went through at Algeria’s expense, so both effectively stopped playing. Algeria’s seething supporters burnt bank notes and the largely Spanish crowd waved hankies to illustrate their disdain. Fifa then ruled that, in future, the last games in every group be played ­simultaneously. AFP Photo
  • Wheels begin to turn for the UAE – 1990: Competing in their first and only global tournament, the UAE arrived in Italy determined to do their country proud. There were other incentives, too: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the FA president, promised substantial financial rewards should the Falcons earn a point, and a local businessman vowed to present a Rolls-Royce to the first Emirati to score. Khalid Ismail duly obliged, notching the third goal to be scored in the 5-1 group defeat to West Germany. He never received the car.
    Wheels begin to turn for the UAE – 1990: Competing in their first and only global tournament, the UAE arrived in Italy determined to do their country proud. There were other incentives, too: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the FA president, promised substantial financial rewards should the Falcons earn a point, and a local businessman vowed to present a Rolls-Royce to the first Emirati to score. Khalid Ismail duly obliged, notching the third goal to be scored in the 5-1 group defeat to West Germany. He never received the car.
  • Saudi slalom into the knockout stages – 1994: It is one of the most repeated goals in tournament history. Making their finals bow in the United States, Saudi Arabia needed victory in the final group match against Belgium to progress. Up stepped Saeed Al Owairan, who collected the ball inside his half, went past four opponents and crashed home a shot for a 1-0 win. It did not end well, though: loving the spotlight the goal heaped upon him, Al Owairan later spent time in jail and was suspended from competitive football. Omar Torres / AFP
    Saudi slalom into the knockout stages – 1994: It is one of the most repeated goals in tournament history. Making their finals bow in the United States, Saudi Arabia needed victory in the final group match against Belgium to progress. Up stepped Saeed Al Owairan, who collected the ball inside his half, went past four opponents and crashed home a shot for a 1-0 win. It did not end well, though: loving the spotlight the goal heaped upon him, Al Owairan later spent time in jail and was suspended from competitive football. Omar Torres / AFP
  • Iran and the USA repair relations – 1998: When the draw was made, the US Soccer Federation president labelled this “the mother of all games”. The 1979 Iranian revolution had instigated a lengthy period of hostility between the two nations and, when they met 19 years later on a pitch in France, emotions were high. An Iraqi terrorist organisation purchased 7,000 tickets and was planning to protest. However, a carefully choreographed security operation took place, culminating in Iran presenting their American counterparts with flowers before posing for joint team photos. Iran won 2-1. Denis Doyle / AP
    Iran and the USA repair relations – 1998: When the draw was made, the US Soccer Federation president labelled this “the mother of all games”. The 1979 Iranian revolution had instigated a lengthy period of hostility between the two nations and, when they met 19 years later on a pitch in France, emotions were high. An Iraqi terrorist organisation purchased 7,000 tickets and was planning to protest. However, a carefully choreographed security operation took place, culminating in Iran presenting their American counterparts with flowers before posing for joint team photos. Iran won 2-1. Denis Doyle / AP

In pictures: Mena’s most memorable World Cup moments

John McAuley
John McAuley

June 04, 2014

From a Kuwaiti sehikh’s intervention to Saeed Al Owairan’s screamer, Mena sides have made a memorable impact at the World Cup.

KuwaitUAESaudi ArabiaIran