Joe Carroll's Curiosity Corner: Sporting Trivia and World Cup Waffle

KNOW YOUR INITIALS

It’s WG this week:

1: He’s back in the Valleys with a Gilbert under his arm
2: It’s what Irish supporters do on the day of an international match
3: They throw darts at this venue
4: Sean Cunningham got it for Louth many years ago
5: They won the World Cup when playing on their own
6: He had no hand in the build-up, but scored the goal that is still talked about in this country
7: He had a long beard and looked to be overweight, but this throwback to the 1800s is still regarded as cricket’s first superstar
8: A Canadian, he’s said to be ice hockey’s greatest-ever
9: Stephanie Roche got one a few years ago, putting her in competition with Messi and Ronaldo
10: He played on England’s World Cup-winning rugby side

ANOTHER HELPING OF WORLD CUP WAFFLE

After causing a sensation by beating England 1-0 in 1950, USA didn’t reach the finals again until 1990, going out in the qualifying rounds. They again beat England, this time by 2-0, in a 1993 tournament, the year before their country hosted the finals.....

You’d imagine you’d have to be in the rudest of health to be able to keep check on Diego Maradona. Not so, if you’re Lothar Matthaus. Playing for West Germany at the 1986 finals, Matthaus broke a bone in his wrist in the very first group match, but heavily strapped played in all the subsequent matches and helped his side to reach the final. His direct opponent in the final was Maradona. He subdued the superstar, not allowing him to display the artistry of earlier matches. Matthaus’ effort was not enough, however, to prevent Argentina from taking the title on a 3-2 scoreline. West Germany gained revenge in the Italia 90 final, and Matthaus was captain.....

It took Mexico some time to get into the swing of things at the finals. In the line-up for the first World Cup in 1930, they had to wait 32 years before ending a 12-match losing sequence, beating Czechoslovakia....

Though Northern Ireland appeared at three finals, George Best, clearly identified as their best-ever, didn’t play at any of them. Northern Ireland’s most successful tournament was in 1958, when they reached the quarter-finals....

Walter Winterbottom, England manager before Alf Ramsey, was in charge at four finals, but guided his side to just three wins from 14 matches. When England reached the semi-finals in 1990, Bobby Robson, later to join Stephen Staunton on the Republic of Ireland sideline, was manager.....

When Brazil won the Jules Rimet in 1970, Mario Jorge Zagalo completed a noteworthy treble. He became the first to win a World Cup as a player (he did it twice, in fact), manage a World Cup-winning side, and score in a World Cup final. Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer was first to captain and manage a winning side. ....

IT’S A RACE TRACK IN ENGLAND
I Trick Badger Etc (9, 6)

HE SAID
“A lot of those players were put into seniors far too young. I pleaded with the county board and football board not to let them in too early.” Oliver Phelan, manager of the Laois minor team that won the 1997 All-Ireland final. Laois also won the title the previous year and were beaten in the ’98 final. It wasn’t, however, the start of a resurgence at senior level. Though the O’Moore County reached three Leinster finals (2003-’05), they won just one title, in 03 (their first in 57 years, under the guidance of Mick O’Dwyer.) There hasn’t been one since then.

ANSWERS
Know Your Initials: 1 Warren Gatland, 2 Wear Green, 3 Winter Gardens, 4 Winning Goal, 5 West Germany, 6 William Gallas, 7 William Grace, 8 Wayne Gretsky, 9 Wonder Goal, 10 Will Greenwood. English Racetrack: Catterick Bridge