DO YOU KNOW WHEN DAVID BECKHAM SCORED SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL FOR ENGLAND'S THREE LIONS?

Becks!

David Beckham made his first international cap for England's Three Lions on September 1, 1996 against Moldova in a France 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Wembley Stadium under Glenn Hoddle as manager. 

He however, scored his first goal for his country against Colombia at the FIFA World Cup tournament in a last group game with his trademark long range freekick.

DO YOU KNOW THE FIRST PLAYER TO CAPTAIN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM?

Etim Henshaw

Richard Etim Henshaw who played for the defunct Marine FC of Lagos is the first player to captain the Nigeria national team. He led the first ever assembled Nigeria national team (that is now the Super Eagles) for the tour of UK in 1949. The team toured the United Kingdom and impressed in seven friendly matches which they played bare–footed. 

After the tour of UK, the Nigerian team returned to Africa and played its first international match against Serra Leone in Freetown on October 8, 1949 and it was Henshaw that also captained the Nigeria squad to a 2-0 victory. He died in his home in Calabar at the age of 89 on November 18, 2009.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE WILL THE 2020 UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL (EUROS) WILL TAKE PLACE?

UEFA

For the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament and where it will be hosted, three bids are still being considered by the Executive Council of UEFA. The are: Turkey, a joint Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales bid and a joint Georgia and Azerbaijan bid. 

The hosts will be announced in late 2013 or early 2014. France has been awarded the UEFA Euro 2016 Finals, when 24 countries will compete for the first time.

DO YOU KNOW THE LAST APPEARNCE GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA MADE FOR ITALY'S U-23 TEAM?

Gianluca Zambrotta

Gianluca Zambrotta last appearance for the Italian U-23 side was against Nigeria's Dream Team in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games football  tournament after winning 13 caps there. He started in games against Australia and Honduras that Italy won 1–0 and 3–1 respectively. 

Since Italy had already qualified for the quarter finals, the coach put Zambrotta on the bench for the last game against Nigeria and brought him on at the 80th minute. Italy was defeated by Spain, who would go on to win the silver medal, by one goal in the quarter final in a game Zambrotta sat out.

DO YOU KNOW THE INTER MILAN LEGEND THAT HIS NUMBER 3 JERSEY WAS RETIRED FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE CLUB?

Giacinto Facchetti

Giacinto Facchetti who played his whole football career for Inter Milan as one of the first truly great attacking-full backs, and one of the best ever in his position from 1960 to 1978, played 634 official games and scored 75 goals.  

Facchetti won 4 Italian Serie A Scudetto in 1962/1963, 1964/1965, 1965/1966 and 1970/1971 seasons; one Coppa Italia in 1978; two European Cups (now UEFA Champions League) in 1963/1964 and 1964/1965; and two Intercontinental Cups in 1964 and 1965.

His number 3 jersey he wore for Inter Milan all through his career was retired posthumously in his honour after he died of pancreatic cancer in Milan on September 4, 2006 as the club President.

DO YOU KNOW THE OLDEST OUTFIELD PLAYER TO MAKE HIS DEBUT FOR ENGLAND'S THREE LIONS?

Leslie Compton

In 1950/1951 season, Leslie Compton of Arsenal FC became the oldest post-war and the oldest ever outfield player to make his debut for England's Three Lions when he played against Wales aged 38 years and 2 months on November 15, 1950.

Compton also doubled as a Cricketer for Middlesex, playing as a wicket-keeper from 1938 to 1956, but never played Test Cricket for England unlike his brother Denis Compton. He retired from playing football in the 1952 close season. In total he played 273 matches and scored 6 goals. He stayed on at Arsenal FC for another three years as a coach and scout.

DO YOU KNOW WHO SCORED FOR ITALY WHEN THEY FIRST BEAT ENGLAND AT WEMBLEY STADIUM IN 1973?

Fabio Capello

The first time the Azzurris of Italy conquered the Three Lions of England, (the so called “inventors”of football) on their home soil at the Wembley Stadium was on November 11, 1973 in an international friendly match. 

The only goal of the game was scored by Fabio Capello in the 87th minute with the aid of Peter Shilton, who could only parry out a powerful Giorgio Chinaglia cross and the former England Coach was on hand to sidefoot the ball home and send hundreds of Italian waiters in London home happy.

DO YOU KNOW THE ONLY CLUB IN ENGLAND TO HAVE WON THE LEAGUE AND THE FA CUP DOUBLE IN THREE SEPERATE DECADES?

North London giant, Arsenal FC are the only team to have won the English League and the English FA Cup double in 3 separate decades.  

The Gunners first achieved this feat in the 1970/1971 season under Bertie Mee, the 1997/1998 season and the 2001/2002 seasons were under Frenchman Arsene Wenger. 

DO YOU KNOW WHAT BILL SHANKLY AND BRENDAN RODGERS HAVE IN COMMON APART FROM BEEN FORMER AND CURRENT MANAGERS OF LIVERPOOL FC?

Legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly joined the Merseyside club from Huddersfield Town in 1959. His last game for Huddersfield Town is by defeating Liverpool FC 1-0 at the old Leeds Road ground on November 28, 1959. 

Current manager, Brendan Rodgers appointed from Swansea City AFC on June 1, 2012 last game for The Swans was also to beat Liverpool FC 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium on May 13, 2012.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL FOR ARSENAL FC?

The Ox

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who was signed from Southampton for £12 million initial payment which could rise to £15 million with "add-ons" made his Arsenal FC debut on August 28, 2011, in the 8–2 defeat at Manchester United, as a 62nd minute substitute for Francis Coquelin, thus becoming the 150th player to represent Arsenal FC in the English Premier League (EPL). 

On September 20, 2011, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first goal for Arsenal FC in the 58th minute of a Carling Cup match against Shrewsbury Town, with a drive from 25 yards. Arsenal FC won 3–1.

When he was younger, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain now of Arsenal FC and the Three Lions of England was offered a trial at rugby club London Irish, but didn't attend as football was his main aim.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ASSISTS JOEY BARTON HAD IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE (EPL) IN THE 2011/2012 SEASON?

Joey Barton the Bad Boy

In the 2011/2012 season, Joey Barton of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) created just 2 assists in the English Premier League (EPL) making him the joint 124th best creator in the league after moving from Newcastle United before the end of the August transfer deadline.

DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS THE ONLY PLAYER TO SCORE A HAT-TRICK DURING THE UEFA EURO 2008 FINALS?

David Villa

David Villa nicknamed the El-Guaje of the La Furia Rojas of Spain is the only player to score an hat-trick at the UEFA Euro 2008 hosted by Austria and Switzerland. 

He did it against Russia on June 10, 2008 in Innsbruck, where he scored three goals in the tournament he ended up winning the Golden Boot with 4 goals and the championship trophy as his team clinched the trophy without him in the final match against Germany.

He missed UEFA EURO 2012 due to the broken tibia injury he sustained while playing for FC Barcelona against Al-Saad in a FIFA World Club Cup tournament in Japan made his debut in 2005 and has so far racked up 82 caps with a record 51 goals.

DO YOU KNOW THE MOST CAPPED GOALKEEPER TO EVER PLAY FOR THE SELACAO OF BRAZIL?

Cláudio Taffarel is the most capped goalkeeper to have played for the Selecao of Brazil winning 101 caps from 1988 to 1998 with his last against the Les Bleus in the France 1998 FIFA World Cup final in a 0-3 loss. He made his debut for the national team on July 7, 1988 against Australia in a  Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup, playing all four games and conceding two goals in an eventual win. He was also in goal for the following year's Copa América, in another international conquest (during his 10-year career, he appeared in five editions of the tournament).

Claudio Taffarel

He played for clubs like FC Parma of Italy (twice), Internacional of Brazil, Reggiana of Italy, Atlético Mineiro of Brazil and Galatasaray SK of Turkey where he helped win the UEFA Cup in 2000 against Arsenal FC by saving penalties in that final.

 

 

 

DO YOU KNOW THE PLAYER THAT SCORED THE 1,000TH GOAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE FEDERATION FRANCAISE DE FOOTBALL OVERSEEING MATCHES OF THE LES BLEUS OF FRANCE?

Emmanuel Petit

Emmanuel Petit of the Les Bleus of France scored the last goal of the 21st century in the final of France 1998 FIFA World Cup at the Stade de France in St. Dennis Paris against the Selacao of Brazil.

That same goal happened to be the 1,000th goal in the history of the Fédération Française de Football. The former Arsenal FC and FC Barcelona midfielder earned 63 caps and scored 6 goals from 1990 to 2003 when he played for his country.

WHAT DO THE NETHERLANDS, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, SOUTH KOREA, BELGIUM AND RUSSIA ALL HAVE IN COMMON?

Dick Advocaat

At the national team level, Dick Advocaat has coached the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium and Russia. 

He has coached his country the Netherlands twice from 1992-1995 and 2002-2004 after serving as assistant to the great Rinus Michels from 1984-1987 and again from 1990-1992. 

In July 2005, Advocaat signed a one-year contract to become coach of United Arab Emirates, but he terminated this contract in September to become manager of South Korea's national team from October 1, 2005 until the end of the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup.

He coached the Rode Duivels of Belgium from 2009-2010 and managed Russia from 2010-2012 when the UEFA Euro 2012 ends.

DO YOU KNOW THE TEAM THAT WERE THE ENGLISH DIVISION 1 LEAGUE CHAMPIONS WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH II FIRST BECAME MONARCH?

Queen Elizabeth II

Tottenham Hotspur were the current English First Division champions on 6th February 1952 when King George VI died and Queen Elizabeth II became Britain's Monarch. 

Spurs had won the 1950/1951 English First Division ahead of Manchester United (who would be 1951/1952 champions), Blackpool and Newcastle United.

DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS THE ONLY FOREIGN MANAGER TO WIN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP?

Euro Trophy

Otto Rehhagel

Otto Rehhagel of Germany who led Greece to win the UEFA Euro 2004 hosted by Portugal is the first and only foreign manager to do so since 1960 when the competition commenced. 

All the other 12 managers to date led their own countries to the titles.

DO YOU KNOW WHO SCORED THE FIRST GOAL IN THE BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION COMPETITION?

Deon McCaulay who plays for Honduran club Deportes Savio, as a striker and for Belize on June 15, 2011 in their 5-2 CONCACAF First Round away win against Montserrat scored the first goal in the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification competition.

 

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT KIT MANUFACTURERS ARE SUPPLYING THE 16 EURO 2012 FINALISTS?

At the UEFA Euro 2012 championship been co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, four kit manufacturers supplied the 16 teams at the tournament and they are the following:

Adidas (Spain, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Russia & Ukraine),

Nike (Netherlands, Poland, France, Portugal & Croatia),

Umbro (Sweden, Ireland & England) 

Puma (Czech Republic & Italy).

DO YOU KNOW THE MANAGER OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR THAT SIGNED LUKA MODRIC IN 2008?

Luka Modrić who agreed terms with Tottenham Hotspur on April 26, 2008 under Juande Ramos' reign, was signed from DNK Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia for £16.5 million. 

Modric scored his first goal goal in a 2–2 draw against Spartak Moscow during the UEFA Cup group stages on the December 18, 2008. He scored his first English Premier League (EPL) goal against Newcastle United in their next match, three days later.

DO YOU KNOW THE CLUB WHERE LIVERPOOL FC SIGNED MILAN BAROS FROM IN 2002?

Milan Baros

Before joining Liverpool FC in 2002 under Gerard Houllier, Milan Baroš was signed from Baník Ostrava FC . He was the winner of the Golden Boot prize at UEFA Euro 2004 tournament hosted by Portugal, where he scored five goals. 

He has represented his country 88 times and have scored 41 goals so far for the Czech Republic. He now plays for Galatasaray SK in the Turkish Süper Lig where he emerged Top Scorer in the 2008/2009 season with 20 goals.

DO YOU KNOW THE PERUVIAN PLAYER THAT RETIRED AGAINST THE SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA WITH THE MOST CAPPED RECORD?

Roberto Palacios of Peru

Roberto Palacios who played as a midfielder mostly for Sporting Cristal, which was the club he started his career won the most caps for the La Blanquirroja (The White and Red) National Football Team of Peru with 128 caps from 1992, scoring 19 goals in the process.

He retired from the Peruvian team on May 25, 2012 against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Lima in an international friendly they won 1-0.

DO YOU KNOW THE FIRST PAKASTANI PLAYER TO PLAY IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE?

Zesh Rehman who played for Fulham FC from 2003 to 2006 is the first Pakistani born player to play in the English Premier League (EPL). He was the first British Asian to start a EPL match and is the first to have played in all four divisions of professional football in England. 

He also plays for the Pakistan national football team and was the first Pakistani international footballer to play professional football in England, Thailand and Hong Kong.

DO YOU THE MOST CAPPED PLAYER FOR THE SELECAO NATIONAL TEAM OF BRAZIL?

The Selacao Crest

Marcos Evangelista de Moraes was born June 7, 1970, better known as Cafu, is the most internationally capped player for the Selacao of Brazil with 142 caps with 5 goals. 

He earned his first cap in a friendly against the La Furia Roja of Spain on September 12, 1990, and played sparingly for Brazil in the early 1990s, making the USA 94 FIFA World Cup roaster as a substitute. He appeared in the final against the Azzuris of Italy at the Rose Bowl, following an injury to Jorginho in the 22nd minute.

He is the only player ever to have appeared in three FIFA World Cup finals, having won two, USA 94 and Korea/Japan 2002. Cafu also hold the record of winning the most number of matches in FIFA World Cups with 16.

DO YOU KNOW THE ALL-TIME GOALSCORING RECORD HOLDER FOR OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS?

Fleury Di Nallo

Olympique Lyonnais all-time leading scorer is Fleury Di Nallo, who scored 182 goals while at the club from 1960 to 1974. He is also third behind Moroccan born French midfielder, Serge Chiesa and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet in all time appearances having played in 489 matches during his 14-year stint at the club. 

Despite Di Nallo's impressive goalscoring record, he doesn't hold the record for most goals scored during a French Division 1 league season (now Frernch Ligue 1). That distinction goes to Bourg-en-Bresse-born André Guy who notched 25 goals, which he attained in the 1968–1969 season.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CAPS DIDIER ZOKORA WON TO BECOME THE MOST CAPPED PLAYER FOR THE LES ELEPHANTS OF COTE D'IVOIRE?

Fierce playing Didier Zokora is the most capped player for the Les Éléphants of Côte d'Ivoire with 102 caps since he made his debut in the year 2000. 

He scored his only goal at the international level in a 4-0 thumping of the Zebras of Botswana on June 22, 2008 that moved Côte d'Ivoire to the top of their African qualifying group for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY JAPANESE PLAYERS THAT HAVE GRACED THE EPL AFTER SHINJI KAGAWA RECENTLY SIGNED FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Shinji Kagawa

Shinji Kagawa will be the 5th Japanese player in the English Premier League (EPL) history after Manchester United have agreed deal with Borussia Dortmund.

The other Japanese to have played in the EPL are Junichi Inamoto for Fulham FC and West Brom from 2002–2006, Ryo Miyaichi for Bolton Wanderers in 2012 on loan from Arsenal, Hidetoshi Nakata for  Bolton Wanderers from 2005–2006 and Kazuyuki Toda for Tottenham Hotspur from 2002–2003 which makes it 5 in total.

 

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY GOALS DIRK KUYT SCORED TO BECOME THE TOPSCORER IN THE DUTCH EREDIVISIE IN THE 2004/2005 SEASON?

Dirk Kuyt who started his career with FC Utretch in 1998 and he transfered to Feyenoord in 2003 where he emerged as the Top Scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie in the 2004/2005 season with 29 goals.

He made his international debut in 2004 and has represented the Netherlands at three major international tournaments, the Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.

DO YOU KNOW THE SECOND AFRICAN PLAYER TO SCORE A CENTURY OF GOALS IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE?

The Yak

Nigeria's Yakubu Aiyegbeni aka The Yak is the first Nigerian player to score 100 goals in the prestigious English Premier League (EPL) since he started his sojourn with Portsmouth in 2003. He has scored EPL goals for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers where he made it 101 goals which was against Wigan Athletic in the 2011/2012 season.

Yakubu became the second African striker to score a century of goals after Chelsea FC’s Didier Drogba who is Ivorian.

DO YOU KNOW THE OTHER TEAM APART FROM FRANCE THAT DIDN'T LOSE A GAME AT THE FRANCE 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP?

France 1998 mascot

At the France 1998 FIFA World Cup, the Rode Duivels (Red Devils in the English language) of Belgium was one of only two teams, together with tournament winner Les Bleus of France not to lose a single game. 

Three draws in the first round – against the Oranje of the Netherlands, the El-Tri of Mexico and South Korea – proved not enough to reach the knock-out stage.

WHO SCORED ENGLAND'S FIRST GOAL UNDER FABIO CAPELLO'S REIGN IN FEBRUARY 2008?

Fabio Cappelo

Jermaine Jenas then of Tottenham Hotspur scored the first goal for England's Three Lions under Fabio Capello reign as manager in February 2008 when they beat Switzerland 2-1 in a friendly at the Wembley Stadium.

DO YOU KNOW WHO ASSISTED DENNIS BERGKAMP'S GOAL AGAINST ARGENTINA AT THE FRANCE 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP QUARTER FINAL MATCH?

Dennis Bergkamp's wonder goal

Frank de Boer supplied the 60 yard pass to Dennis Bergkamp, as his sublime strike for the Oranje of the Netherlands in the 89th minutes knocked the Albaceleste of Argentina out of the France 1998 FIFA World Cup in the Quarter Finals at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

DO YOU KNOW THE REFEREE THAT OFFICIATED THE ENGLAND 1966 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL?

Referee Gottfried Dienst

The referee that officiated the controversial England 1966 FIFA World Cup final match at the 98,000 packed Wembley Stadium is Gottfried Dienst from Switzerland between the Three Lions of England and West Germany. It ended 4-2 in favour of England after extra-time with one of England's goal adjudged by video replay not to have crossed the line.

DO YOU KNOW THE PLAYER THAT WON THE FIFA FAIR PLAY AWARD IN 2001 FOR CATCHING THE BALL INSTEAD OF SHOOTING IN AN EPL MATCH AGAINST EVERTON?

In 2001 while he was with West Ham United, Italian striker Paolo Di Canio won the FIFA Fair Play Award. The previous December, in a match against Everton in the English Premier League (EPL), in a noteworthy display of sportsmanship.

Di Canio shunned a goal scoring opportunity and caught the ball from a cross instead as the Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured on the ground after he twisted his knee attempting a clearance on the edge of the box. FIFA described the act as "a special act of good sportsmanship''.

DO YOU KNOW THE LAST OVERALL WINNER OF THE NOW RESTED UEFA INTERTOTO CUP IN 2008?

In 2008, Sporting Braga of Portugal were the last overall team to win the UEFA Intertoto Cup when they defeated Sivasspor of Turkey 5-0 on aggregate in their third round fixture. This qualified qualified them for the UEFA Cup First Round where they got to the Round of 16 but lost to France's Paris Saint-Germain.

That season's competition was the 14th to be organised by UEFA and the third since the competition's format was given a major overhaul. It was rested and merged with the newly formed UEFA Europa League. Aston Villa were the seond overall winner of the last edtion when they defeated OB Odense of Denmark 3-2 on aggregate.

DO YOU KNOW THE TWO ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS THAT FIRST SCORED HAT-TRICKS FROM OPPOSING SIDES IN THE SAME MATCH?

Roque Santa Cruz of Blackburn

Marcus Bent of Wigan

On December 15, 2007, both Roque Santa Cruz of Blackburn Rovers and Marcus Bent of Wigan Athletic scored hat-tricks during Wigan Athletic's 5–3 home win over Blackburn Rovers. 

This was the first occasion in English Premier League (EPL) history that two players on opposing teams had scored hat-tricks during the same match.