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First Forever: A Complete Collection of International Football Firsts
First Forever A Complete Collection of International Football Firsts Author:Jim Henderson When the Secretary of the Football Association, Charles W. Alcock, wrote to the GLASGOW HERALD in 1870 expressing an interest in arranging matches between the best Scottish and English players, little could he have realised that his concept for regular international competition between the two nations would... more » develop into the greatest sporting phenomenon in world history. Following a series of unofficial matches between England and Scotland at The Oval in London, the first-ever official international football match took place in Glasgow on 30th November 1872. Although the match ended in a goal-less draw, a number of ‘firsts’ were created in international football history.
Fast-forward 134 years to the 27th June 2006. In the World Cup second round match between Brazil and Ghana in Dortmund, Germany, the Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored the opening goal to create a new goalscoring record in the competition. This was the player’s 15th goal in World Cup tournaments, a feat which surpassed the 32-year-old record held by the legendary West German striker Gerd Muller.
Ronaldo’s goalscoring record was just one of a number of ‘firsts’ in the same tournament, proving that international football history is being written and rewritten all the time.
FIRST FOREVER brings together for the first time a unique collection of occurrences and achievements by players, coaches, managers and administrators who have helped to make association football the most popular sport the world has ever known.
This is a tribute to all of the people who have made a unique contribution to ‘the beautiful game’.« less