Major Historical Events in Football
2006 – Italy wins the World Cup in Berlin Italy defeated France 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the 2006 World Cup final. The match is remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s dramatic headbutt on Marco Materazzi in his final professional appearance.
2016 – Portugal wins Euro 2016 against France Portugal beat France 1–0 in the Euro 2016 final at the Stade de France. Substitute Éder scored the winning goal in extra time after Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off due to injury.
2011 – Japan defeats Germany in Women’s World Cup quarter-final Japan upset host nation Germany 1–0 in extra time, with Karina Maruyama scoring the decisive goal. It marked a turning point for Japan’s women’s team, who would go on to win the tournament.
2005 – Real Madrid signs Robinho from Santos Brazilian wonderkid Robinho joined Real Madrid in a €24 million deal. The move was seen as a symbol of the Galáctico era continuing into the new generation.
Notable Football Birthdays – July 9
- Gianluca Vialli (1964–2023): Italian forward and Euro 2020 assistant coach, known for his work with Sampdoria, Juventus, and Chelsea.
- Marc Wilmots (1969): Belgian midfielder and former national team coach.
- Paolo Di Canio (1968): Creative and controversial striker, known for his time at Lazio and West Ham United.
- Hassan Shehata (1949): Former Egyptian player and successful national team manager.
- James Forrest (1991): Scottish winger and Celtic legend.
- Jack Cork (1989): English midfielder with stints at Burnley, Swansea, and Southampton.
Memorable Moments
Italy’s fourth World Cup (2006): Despite the drama of Zidane’s red card, Italy held their nerve in the penalty shootout, with Fabio Grosso scoring the final kick to seal the title.
Portugal’s first major title (2016): Against all odds—and without Ronaldo for much of the match—Portugal captured their first-ever international title thanks to Éder’s stunning goal from distance.
Japan begins magical run (2011): Japan’s extra-time win over Germany was the start of a fairy-tale run that would end with them winning the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Trivia of the Day
Who scored the winning penalty for Italy in the 2006 World Cup final shootout? Answer: Fabio Grosso
Quote of the Day
“We lost our captain, but we didn’t lose our belief.” — Éder (Portugal, after Euro 2016 final)