A unique atmosphere, an easy decision, an earthquake and a bunch of stickers

Over the weekend, we got to enjoy four more legendary World Cup matches. But who would have thought that one of them actually was responsible for a real earthquake? Another one led to some serious outrage and changed some minds about technology in football? Read on to discover all of this and more in our weekly #WorldCupAtHome recap.   </figure>Friday, April 17th  1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico, Argentina – West-Germany 3:2 (Final)   (<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/zXVMBHmw-60">Click here to watch the full match</a>)  After the 1986 World Cup Final, Argentinian superstar Diego Maradona not only got to lift up the World Cup Trophy, he also received the Golden Ball for being the best player of the tournament. It was probably the easiest decision to make in Golden Ball history, since Maradona dominated the whole tournament. Some claim, that he single-handedly won the title for Argentina. Out of the 14 goals the Argentinian team scored throughout the tournament, Maradona himself scored five. These included the “Hand of God” goal and his famous run across half of the pitch which was later voted Goal of the Century (both were score in the quarter-final versus England). He also gave the assists to five more goals including the deciding goal of the Final scored by Jorge Burruchaga. All of these accomplishments make us very proud to be able to display Maradona’s shirt from the tournament at the FIFA Museum. The 1986 Final also provided a bunch of interesting statistics. It was West Germany’s second defeat in a row in a World Cup Final after losing to Italy in 1982. The only team also to do so were the Netherlands in 1974 and 1978. But West Germany went on to reach a third Final in a row in 1990 – again versus Argentina. And this time, they won it. It was the first time that two teams faced each other at a World Cup Final twice. Brazil and Italy matched this in 1994 (they also met in 1970), but Germany and Argentina took the lead again with their third encounter at the Final of the FIFA World Cup Brazil in 2014.   </figure>Saturday, April 18th  2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, Germany – Mexico 0:1 (Group match)  (<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/3fYpcapas0k">Click here to watch the full match</a>)  Matches between Mexico and (West-)Germany have always been pretty straight forward. Before the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia the two teams met eleven times and Mexico only won once. All of their three matches at different World Cups (1978, 1986, 1998) were won by Germany. With that record in mind, it was quite a surprise when defending champions Germany lost their first group game in Russia against Mexico. It was also the third time in a row that the current World Cup holder failed to win their opening match at the following World Cup and subsequently, to make matters worse, also get eliminated in the group stage (Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014). For the Mexicans, the tournament couldn’t have started with a bigger bang. Hirving Lozano's sole goal caused such a celebration amongst fans that scientists were able to detect minor seismic activity in Mexico City. The goal literally caused an earthquake. What could be a better reason to have the shirt of the earthquake's architect in our collection at the FIFA Museum?   </figure>Sunday, April 19th  2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, Germany – England 4:1 (Round of 16)  (<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/eMdTsex8Cyw">Click here to watch the full match</a>)  Games between Germany and England have always been special. And, they were always close. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that Germany’s 4-1 victory in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup South Africa in 2010 was actually the first World Cup match between the two teams that ended after 90 minutes and didn’t have to go into extra-time or penalties. Additionally, it was England’s biggest ever margin of defeat at a World Cup. But let’s be honest, all of this didn’t really matter due to a controversial referee-decision. In the first half, the Germany took a 2-0 lead after goals from Klose and Podolski. Shortly after the 2-0, England got one back with a header by Matthew Upson. And two minutes later, Frank Lampard equalized. Or so everyone in the stadium thought. But the referee’s whistle stayed silent. The replay clearly showed that the ball had crossed the goal line. The English players, coaches and fans couldn’t believe it. But the controversial decision on the field stood and subsequently let to England’s elimination when Thomas Müller scored a brace in the second half. After the game, the discussion about technical aids rose up and resulted in the introduction of goal-line technology to football. On another note, all matches featured an atmosphere provided by the countless vuvuzelas in the stands. Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t deny that they created a unique soundtrack that will forever be associated with the 2010 World Cup.   </figure>Monday, April 20th   FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, Brazil – USA 2:2 a.e.t. (3:5 a. pen.) (Quarter final)  (<a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/UAbX7wld9vg">Click here to watch the full match</a>)  Last minute winners or equalizers are always extra special. That also applied at the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany in 2011 between the two heavy-weights Brazil and USA. After finishing the 90 minutes 1-1, Brazilian superstar Marta was quick to open the scoring in the 92nd minute in extra-time. 20 minutes later, moments before the final whistle, the USA’s striker Abby Wambach forced the ball into the back of the net to equalize. A goal that took her team into the penalty shoot-out, which they won, and was later voted Goal of the Tournament. Wambach and Marta were probably also two of the most sought-after players for the famous Panini sticker album. Collecting Panini stickers and filling up the album has been a tradition for fans of all ages dating back to the 1970 FIFA World Cup. But in 2011, Panini released an official album for a FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. Obviously we have one of those albums in our collection - completed of course.