Major Historical Events in Football
2018 – France celebrates World Cup victory in Paris One day after defeating Croatia 4–2 in the final, France returned to a hero’s welcome in Paris. Hundreds of thousands filled the Champs-Élysées as Les Bleus paraded the World Cup trophy for the second time in history.
1994 – Brazil wins fourth FIFA World Cup Brazil defeated Italy 3–2 in a penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw in the World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was the first World Cup final to be decided on penalties and marked Brazil’s record-setting fourth title.
1962 – Pelé announces retirement from club football (first time) After suffering injuries and enduring a demanding schedule, Pelé initially announced his intention to retire from Santos at age 21. He later reversed the decision, continuing to play for over a decade.
2001 – Zinedine Zidane makes Real Madrid debut Zidane played his first match for Real Madrid in a preseason friendly following his record-breaking transfer from Juventus. The Galáctico era was officially underway.
2017 – England wins U-19 Euro Championship England’s U-19 team defeated Portugal 2–1 in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final. The win highlighted the strength of England’s emerging youth system.
Notable Football Birthdays – July 15
- Mario Kempes (1954): Argentine striker, Golden Boot winner at the 1978 World Cup.
- Bruno Conti (1955): Italian winger, 1982 World Cup winner and Roma legend.
- Trevor Francis (1954–2023): England’s first £1 million player and two-time European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest.
- Stefan Kießling (1984): German striker and Bundesliga top scorer in 2012–13.
- Andrej Kramarić (1991): Croatian forward and 2018 World Cup finalist.
- Michy Batshuayi (1993): Belgian striker, known for spells at Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
- Chloe Kelly (1998): England women’s international, Euro 2022 final goal scorer.
- Óscar Mingueza (1999): Spanish defender who came through Barcelona’s academy.
Memorable Moments
1994’s tense shootout: The final between Brazil and Italy was cagey and goalless, ending in heartbreak for Roberto Baggio, who missed the decisive penalty.
Kempes carries Argentina (1978): Born on this day, Kempes led Argentina to their first World Cup triumph and scored twice in the final against the Netherlands.
Zidane’s Madrid beginning: Zidane’s debut marked the start of a new era at Real Madrid, eventually leading to Champions League glory in 2002.
Trivia of the Day
Who was the first player to miss a penalty in a World Cup final shootout? Answer: Franco Baresi (Italy, 1994)
Quote of the Day
“The penalty still haunts me. But football, like life, is made of beautiful and painful moments.” — Roberto Baggio