The 7 Most Controversial Stories In The History Of The World Cup

Sir Geoff Hurst says he wishes goal-line technology had been introduced 50 years ago - to stop Germans complaining about his controversial World Cup final goal.

After a goal by West Germany early in the first half, both teams (Austria and West Germany) seemed content to accept 1-0 as a mutually-beneficial final score. They lazily passed the ball around themselves for the remainder of the game, neither team making another serious attempt on goal.

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The players were booed and called “cowards” by spectators, and announcers implored those watching at home to switch off their sets.

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Both Austria and West Germany denied that they had colluded, and despite protests from Algeria, FIFA let the result stand.

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The Brazilian superstar sparked one of the biggest mysteries in football history when his name was left off the teamsheet, only to reappear just in time for kick-off.

It was initially reported that Ronaldo had been struggling with an ankle injury, then that he had an upset stomach.

There was even talk of poison and whispers about his turbulent love life.

Ronaldo - "I don't remember what happened but I went to sleep and, like the doctor said, it seems I had a fit for about 30 or 40 seconds."

Team mate Roberto Carlos: "Ronaldo was scared about what lay ahead. The pressure had got to him and he couldn't stop crying. "If anything, it got worse because, at about four o'clock, he started being sick. That's when I called the team doctor and told him to get over to our room as fast as he could."

A below-par Ronaldo was subsequently eclipsed by Zinedine Zidane in a one-sided match which saw France crowned world champions for the first time.

Referee Byron Moreno chalked off another valid Italy goal, a golden goal from Damiano Tommasi which would have taken them to the next round.

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Francesco Totti was sent off for diving when replays suggested he had lost his footing

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While the Koreans - who repeatedly went unpunished for apparent foul play - were awarded a controversial penalty for a Christian Panucci tugging offence.

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Italy eventually lost after Ahn Jung-Hwan’s golden winner, but the match and Moreno represent a black mark in Italian sport.

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Materazzi said that when Zidane offered to give him his France jersey after the final whistle, in response persistent shirt-tugging by the Italian, he had replied: "I would prefer your sister.

"If peace can be made after terrible wars can Zidane and I not make peace? A peace between men, without much publicity, certainly yes.
"The door of my house will always be open to him and if he wants, Zidane knows how to find out my address," said Materazzi.

In extra-time, and with the score level at 1-1, Zidane produced a header of a very different kind. Reacting to shirt tugging and provocation from the Italian defender, Zidane forcefully shoved his head into Materazzi’s chest, sending the defender crashing to the ground.

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Rooney, 26, was shown a red card for stamping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho before the Portuguese eliminated Sven-Goran Eriksson's side on penalties.

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As I protested my innocence, Ronnie started waving an imaginary card around, getting in the ref's face. The official pulled out the red and I was off. I knew I couldn't really blame Ronaldo for what had happened because he was trying to win the game for his country.

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All hell broke loose. Everyone immediately decided that Ronaldo and I were the best of enemies, and his wink would spell trouble for United in the coming months.

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A handball on the goal-line by Luis Suarez prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the last minute and Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty - with Uruguay triumphing in the shoot-out to make the World Cup semis.