World cup Legends

WORLD CUP LEGENDS
LEV YASHIN
06
It’s no surprise to
see Soviet Union
goalkeeper Yashin appear on
the oicial 2018 Russia World
Cup poster. His dominance
between the sticks saw him
shout instructions at his
defence and collect crosses of
the line in a manner that was
unique at the time. He ended up
playing 12 times in four World
Cups, keeping four clean sheets.
LILIAN
THURAM
07
The defender only scored
twice for France, but
what important goals they were.
Finding his team 1-0 down against
Croatia in the 1998 semi-inal, he
equalised within a minute before
bagging the winner in the 70th
minute. He went on to become a
world champion, adding a European
Championship two years later.
KARL-HEINZ
RUMMENIGGE
08
Although Rummenigge lost
two inals – in 1982 and 1986
– the winger was impressive
in both tournaments. He scored a
hat-trick against Chile in the 1982
group stages, and grabbed a goal
in the 1986 inal as West Germany
attempted to get back into the game
against Argentina. He scored nine
World Cup goals in 19 appearances.
Rummenigge
scored 45 goals in
95 appearances
for West Germany
GIUSEPPE
MEAZZA
09
The Italian national team,
blessed with proliic goalscorer
Meazza’s talents, won two consecutive
World Cups. Nicknamed ‘Il Genio’ (‘The
Genius’), he scored the only goal against
Spain in the 1934 quarter inal en route to
victory (subsequently being named the
tournament’s best player), and he captained
Italy to a 4-2 win over Hungary in 1938.
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