Major Historical Events in Football
1998 – France wins its first FIFA World Cup France defeated Brazil 3–0 in the World Cup final at Stade de France. Zinedine Zidane scored two first-half headers and Emmanuel Petit added a third in stoppage time, sealing a historic victory for the host nation.
2018 – Croatia reaches its first World Cup final Croatia beat England 2–1 after extra time in the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow. Mario Mandžukić scored the winner in the 109th minute, completing a stunning comeback after falling behind to an early goal.
1970 – Pelé announces retirement from international football After winning three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), Pelé announced his retirement from the Brazil national team. He left as one of the most decorated and celebrated players in football history.
2012 – Didier Drogba debuts for Shanghai Shenhua After leaving Chelsea as a Champions League winner, Didier Drogba made his debut for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, signaling a new wave of global player transfers to Asia.
1996 – Eric Cantona retires from international football The French legend announced his departure from the national team at age 30, following disputes and changes in France’s squad plans leading into the 1998 World Cup.
2009 – Michael Owen signs with Manchester United Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen made a shock move to rivals Manchester United on a free transfer, sparking controversy among fans of both clubs.
Notable Football Birthdays – July 12
- Pablo Zabaleta (1985): Argentine full-back, Premier League winner with Manchester City.
- Gaël Clichy (1985): French left-back and multiple-time Premier League champion with Arsenal and Manchester City.
- Ike Opara (1989): American defender, two-time MLS Defender of the Year.
- Malcolm Macdonald (1950): English striker, known for his time with Newcastle and Arsenal.
- Jonas Hofmann (1992): German midfielder and Borussia Mönchengladbach playmaker.
- Naby Sarr (1993): French-Senegalese center-back, formerly of Lyon and Reading.
- Jackie Groenen (1994): Dutch midfielder and World Cup finalist in 2019 with the Netherlands.
- Lazar Marković (1994): Serbian winger who played for Benfica and Liverpool.
Memorable Moments
France 1998 (12 July): A defining day in French football, as Zidane’s double and team unity delivered the country’s first World Cup title in front of a home crowd.
Croatia’s golden generation (2018): From underdogs to finalists, Croatia’s come-from-behind win over England in extra time marked their biggest achievement in World Cup history.
Pelé’s farewell to Brazil: After 92 caps and 77 goals, Pelé’s international retirement closed the chapter on one of football’s most glorious careers.
Trivia of the Day
Which player scored two headers in the 1998 World Cup final? Answer: Zinedine Zidane
Quote of the Day
“Playing in the final for my country was a dream. Scoring twice made it unforgettable.” — Zinedine Zidane (on the 1998 World Cup final)