World Cup Facts

[TRIPxCORE]

Some of you may know these and others may not. Here are some facts about the World Cup.

*The original cup actually was a cup. Named the Jules Rimet trophy, after a French Lawyer who started the competition.

*The 1938 champ Italy hid the trophy from the Nazis throughout WWll in a shoebox under the bed of the vice-president of FIFA.

*The trophy was stolen before the 1966 Cup in England while on exhibition. It was later recovered-for reasons still unknown-in a London garden hedge by a dog named Pickles who was out for a walk.

*The current trophy is composed of almost 11 pounds of 18-karat gold worth nearly $70,000 USD. Yet it's still loaned out for four years to the victor. Reigning Cup holder being Brazil.

*World Cup play was suspended for 12 years surrounding WWll.

*Since 1930, the World Cup has had only seven different winners.

*The World Cup kicks off this year at Munich's new Allianz Arena which cost $420 million USD to build.

*The new arena has a seating capacity of 66,000.

*There are 10,000 parking spaces in the underground lot-now the largest in Europe.

*2,874 puffed-out foil panels cover the arena's exterior.

*There are 10 total locker rooms. Two for the home team; two for the visiting team; two for the refs and four for the coaches.

*There is 1 Audi dealership on the premises.

Soccer Hooligans

Hooligan squads are groups of fans who "love their team and enjoy a good punch up," explains Martin King, a member of the ultra-violent soccer hooligan group Chelsea Headhunters, and author of Hoolifan.

Hooliganism is for anyone who wants to come together and support their team. Some of us choose to take that support to another level," King says, "But it's mostly about posturing. 99% of us wouldn't have a clue what to do in a boxing ring."

I know people who refuse to drink before a big game to stay sharp," King says. "I also know people who take lines & lines of cocaine because its gets them up for a contest."

"Know when the police knock off or wait a few hours after the game," King says. "I've been arrested many times, but a good trick is hiding under a car."

[Backpack_thailand]

Great stuff Trip.

One more for you...

If either Brazil, Argentina or Germany win this World Cup then there will be a new trophy made for the next one as they all have 2 wins each since 1970 (when Brazil kept the original Jules Rimet Trophy, having one it 3 times.).

Edited June 8, 2006 by Backpack_thailand