1962 World Cup

Competitions at the World Cup can be cut throat, but even by gung-ho standards, Chile v Italy in 1962 leapt overboard.
Tensions had run high before-hand as two Italian journalists had branded the Chilean capital Santiago, "poverty stricken dump, full of loose women".
BBC's David Coleman introduced the Group B game thus: "Good evening. The game you are about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game." He didn't do it justice.
The first foul came within 12 seconds. Then, eight minutes later, Italy's Giorgio Ferrini was sent off, refused to leave the pitch, forcing a group of eager and armed Chilean policemen to pounce and drag him off kic~ing and screaming.
The game restarted and Chilean Leonel Sanchez, the son of professional boxer responded to a series of kicks from Italy Mario David by flattening him.
Furious that referee hadn't acted, David kicked Sanchez in the neck, earning a red card.
Sanchez revenged by punching Italian Humberto Maschio, prompting the BBC commentator to declare: "I say, that was one the neatest hooks I've ever seen!" Referee Ken Aston admitted in the aftermath: "I wasn't refting a football match, I was acting as umpire in military manoeuvres."
The encounter was dubbed ''The Battle of Santiago" after the 1898 clash between American and Spanish naval forces which had left over 2,000 poor Spaniards slaughtered since it proved as bloody.
Oh, by the way, while few can recall the match's footballing relevance, the hosts won 2-0.

'Wooden Zidane'

Vanity can be expensive as Tottenham Hotspurs can readily admit. Apparently, the nort'" London outfit rejected Zinedine Zidane in 1993 while he was still struggling with the clutches of obscurity at Bordeaux. The midfield maestro was spotted and heavily scouted for two seasons. Invited for trial, the Frenchman was snubbed by manager Gary Francis who took one look before deeming him 'too wooden' to suit Spurs' 'riveting style of play'. Little. wonder Francis record after boasts of only two stints at mighty QPR and Bristol Rivers, which ended in sacks.

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But for stroke offate, we wouldn't have witnessed the defensive talents of Arsenal colossus, Sol Campbell. The England international was supposed to be an lectrician and had even taken an apprenticeship before Spurs persuaded him to sign professional in December 1992. And look how Arsenal have benefited. The youngest son from a poor family of 12, Campbell was looking for an immediate source of livelihood and being an electrician offered him that. A similar tale involves Dutch man-mountain, Jaap Stam, who switched an electrician's garb for a jersey. "I never thought I would be a professional footballer. I come from the small town in Kampen and being an electrician was my dream," he recalls. How strikers have wished that dream was realised.

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Another soccer talent that should never have seen the light of day is that of Everton's Phil Neville. Ignoring the sarcasm laden "he
wouldn't have been missed" remarks from cynics, Neville was supposed to have been a cricketer. He excelled as a young player at Lanchashire cricket club where he broke records set by 54-time England captain Mike Atherton. He captained the Lancashire Cricket side at all levels, from under 11-16. The budding all rounder was then made skipper for north of England cricket U-14s and U-15s. He also captained the England schools cricket U-11, U-14 and U-15 sides on top of becoming the youngest player ever to represent Lanchashire against Middlesex at U-14 level.
He would later have football dreams, and when the 14-year old
asked Sir Alex Ferguson to solve his dilemma, the incredulous Scot told him, "How absurd that you should give a second thought to a decision between football contract and a cricket one." Needless to say, he never touched the bat again.

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Remaining with the Scot, the man never seems to tire in his determination to undermine his rivals. In January 2003 he had the home dug-out at Old Trafford fitted with a carpet and radiator to keep his bench warm. Rumours that perpetual reserve Quintone Fortune single handedly funded the renovation are not true. The catch is that the same kind of palatial splendour was not extended to the visitors, who have to content themselves with the old facilities. "United's hospitality to visiting teams is second to none," an insider said, "But that is before and after the game. When the teams are playing the only thing that matters is a United win.