Brushing up in readiness for the World Cup!

(Published on 23 May 2006 in 'Life' - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Well it’s time to brush up your knowledge about Football because the only thing you are going to be hearing about for the next couple of weeks is the FIFA World Cup. And you don’t want to be left out of any conversation. Whether at office, social gatherings, official meetings or the confines of your home – the conversation will positively veer towards football and the current greats on the football field.

So here goes – test your knowledge and more importantly remember the answers so that you can throw in a little information and sound knowledgeable.

1) Who designed the current FIFA World Cup Trophy?

2) Where and when was the last FIFA World Cup held? Name the two teams who played the finals at the last World Cup.

3) Name the player who won the ‘adidas Golden Shoe’ for scoring the maximum number of goals in the 2002 tournament.

4) Name the player who has scored the maximum ever in a single World Cup tournament.

5) Name the first man to play in three FIFA World Cup final matches.

6) What was the biggest debacle of the 2002 World Cup?

7) Name the goalkeeper who won the ‘adidas Golden Ball’ as well as the Yashin Award for the Best Goalkeeper

8) How many teams are participating in the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

9) Name the official mascot of the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

10) Where and when is the opening match of the 2006 tournament to be held?

11) Name the two teams who will be playing the opening match of the 2006 World Cup.

12) Name the new award that will be given to the best young player who will shine the brightest at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

13) What does the official emblem of the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 represent?

14) What is the slogan of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany?

15) Name the only man to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager.

16) Name the current President of FIFA.

17) What is the full form of FIFA?

18) When and where was the first World Cup held?

19) Name the country that won the first World Cup. Who did they defeat in the finals?

20) What is the number of times the World Cup has been held since its inception?

Answers given below.

Answers to the FIFA World Cup Quiz 1) The FIFA World Cup Trophy is the work of Italian Artist Silvio Gazzaniga. The trophy is 36 cm high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 6175 grams. The base of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974. 2) The last FIFA World Cup was held in Korea and Japan in the year 2002. Germany and Brazil played for the 2002 world championship, and it was the South Americans who won their unprecedented fifth FIFA World Cup. 3) Ronaldo from Brazil won the ‘adidas Golden shoe’ for having scored eight goals in the tournament. He was also the hero of the final match having scored both the goals in the 2-0 victory. 4) West Germany's goal machine Gerd Müller scored ten times at the Mexico 1970 tournament. 5) Brazilian captain Cafu became the first man to play in three FIFA World Cup final matches. 6) African debutantes Senegal shocked the holders France with an impressive 1-0 victory. France never really recovered from the loss, failing to escape Group A without even mustering a goal. 7) Oliver Kahn of Germany. 8) Thirty-two teams from across the globe make up the field for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Six past winners will take part, including hosts Germany, who head the 14-strong European contingent, and holders Brazil who lead the South American challenge. 9) GOLEO VI the loveable lion is the official mascot of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. GOLEO VI's constant companion, Pille the talking football, is always at his side. 10) Munich on 9 June 2006. 11) Germany and Costa Rica. 12) The Gillette Best Young Player Award has been created to recognise the impact made by young footballers in their first FIFA World Cup. 13) The official emblem represents three smiling 'Celebrating Faces' of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. 14) The slogan of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany is - A Time to Make Friends 15) Franz Beckenbauer is the only man to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. He was the captain of West Germany when they won the World Cup in 1974. 16) Joseph S. Blatter from Switzerland was elected as the eighth FIFA President in 1998. Blatter, who had already served FIFA in various positions for the past 23 years, was elected at the 51st FIFA Ordinary Congress in Paris. 17) Fédération Internationale de Football Association 18) The first World Cup was opened at the Centenary Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay on 18 July 1930. 19) A total number of 13 teams participated. Uruguay won the finals defeating Argentina by 4-2. 20) Since 1930, 16 tournaments have been held. The 2006 one in Germany will be the seventeenth. (Information sourced from the official FIFA World Cup website)