1930

Host nation: Uruguay Games: 18 Goals: 70 (3.89 per match) Dismissals: 1 Venues: 3 Winners: Uruguay Top scorer: Guillermo Stabile (8 goals)

The inaugural World Cup got off to an inauspicious start, despite hosts Uruguay offering to pay for every participant’s travel and accommodation. The English FA – having already resigned from FIFA in a hubristic huff – said no, while Sweden, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands declined when they were told they’d be off to Uruguay. Romania were forced to go by enthusiastic King Carol II, who picked their squad himself. Jules Rimet harangued the French (bottom) into playing in his own tournament. Ditto Belgium, who suspended star striker Raymond Braine over the heinous act of opening up a café. Egypt, meanwhile, pulled out at the last minute because their boat was slowed down by a storm at sea. Over 18 matches, however, the United States, Yugoslavia, Peru, Paraguay, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil and more changed football forever.

STAR FACTOR

Limited, compared with modern standards, but the cream of the crop were in situ. Argentine pair Guillermo Stabile and Luis Monti earned post-tournament moves to Italy, the former’s eight goals winning the Golden Boot. Defender Jose Nasazzi, the Great Marshall, is probably Uruguay’s best-ever player, while the power and grace of womanising half-back Jose Andrade, rumoured to be a gigolo, helped him become football’s first world star.

WONDER GOALS

Uruguay outside-left Santos Iriarte’s 68th-minute long-ranger in the final against Argentina was a goal of savage power. Especially with a ball heavier than a lead pipe.

AGGRO

Primarily off the pitch. Half-time death threats levelled at Argentina’s stars if they won soured the showpiece as much as Europe’s collective no-show. On it, everyone just wanted to get along.

THE THRILLERS

Both of the semi-finals finished 6-1, but Argentina’s 6-3 group-stage demolition of Mexico (right) took the crown. The Albiceleste’s captain, Manuel Ferreira, missed the game because he was sitting a law exam back home in Buenos Aires.

THE FINAL

Never bettered. A seesawing encounter which Argentina led 2-1 at half-time, only for the hosts to come roaring back after the break to win 4-2. Each half was played with a ball of native origin – Argentina first, Uruguay second – because neither team could agree on which to use. At full-time, ships sounded their horns, while some disgruntled Argentina fans ransacked the Uruguayan embassy in Buenos Aires.

LEGACY

Well it’s still here 88 years later, isn’t it? Appetite very much whetted.