World Cup Legends #178: Héctor Castro

Today's game is mostly about the athlete. African nations are being talked up largely thanks to their pace and power over 90 minutes, no one ever writes off northern European teams and Spain and Brazil now mix their traditional technique with more solid physique and tactical nous.

Not even your Grandad could say its not how it used to be. When they were out fighting the Great War in Europe in 1917, young Hector here was chopping his forearm off with an electric saw. Not to worry, Hector pressed on with a career as one of Uruguay's finest players, becoming an Olympic champion and then World Champion at the inaugral FIFA World Cup. His goal in that final was the last word in the tournament.

Imperfect as he may have appeared, Castro was tough as old boots, as well as the old balls they used in the thirties, and would often nail foes with his stump, Harald Schumacher style. Suppose they couldnt accuse him of elbowing.

World Cup Legends #179:Pak Doo-Ik

If we cannot remotely imagine a future containing 'Asia's surprise package' in any other form than writhing in its internally-inflicted doom, then we can at least try to relay the past with some accuracy. So I bring to you the legend of Pak Doo-Ik.

Somehow appearing in England in 1966, North Korea sensationally disposed of two-time champions Italy 1-0 thanks to the Pak. Drama followed them to the quarter finals where they took a three goal lead against Portugal and then surrendered it to the great Eusebio, who was having the tournament of his life, and losing 5-3.

They shall finally meet again in the summer. Pak was a military man and received great honour for his part, though it is said that many of his teammates were executed for their ultimate failure. And yet many North Koreans still believe their team to e out there fighting. It is commonly believed that this was a war in which N.Korea captured the nation of Italy and battled westward along the Mediterranean where they fell in Lisbon.

Perhaps we should not be expecting a 23 man squad to arrive in South Africa as much as a 23 tonne nuclear warhead aimed at the visiting Emperor Cristiano. Making my means of travel rather well considered in comparison.

World Cup Legends #180: Jorge Burruchaga

And so we start our countdown of classics with a World Cup winning goalscorer. 'Burru' was a midfielder in Carlos Bilardo's Argentina side of 1986. Inspired as a boy by their 1978 home victory, he rapidly grew in popularity despite the similarity of his name to 'Burro', spanish for donkey. I always wondered how he might cope. But donkey he was not as he took the honour of receiving Maradona's sublime pass and netting a 3-2 winner over a resiliant German side, who had come back twice from behind. So resiliant in fact that four years later the final threw up a rematch, a rather more sombre affair, which the Germans won. 1-0. That settles that then.