The First Time ….., Part Two

1-The First Time Brazil lost a World Cup Qualifier was on July 25, 1993 when they lost 0 to 2 to Bolivia by giving up the two goals in the last two minutes.

Many observers blamed LaPaz’s high altitude as the reason for Brazil’s sub-standard showing. Bolivia qualified along with Brazil to the World Cup.

Photo From : World Soccer, November 1993

(Carlos Borja, one of Bolivia’s key players in the 1993 World Cup Qualifiers, August 8, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Bolivia 3-Uruguay 1)

2- The First Time that a substitution took place for the French National team was on May 10, 1908 in their match with Holland that they lost 1 to 4.

In the 55^th minute, Victor Denis replaced his brother Julien Denis for an apparent injury.

Holland’s Captain Karel Heijting in an act of Fair Play did not object to the substitution.

Victor Denis revealed in 1949 that there was no injury. He really wanted to play so much that he pleaded to his brother at halftime to feign an injury so that he could come on.

Julien Denis was killed in action in 1915 fighting in World War I .

Photo From: Oranje Toen En Nu, Deel 1, 1905-1914, 2000-2001, Author: Matty Verkamman

(Holland and France squads, May 10, 1908, Holland 4-France 1)

3- The First Time a player scored in consecutive World Cup Finals matches was on June 17, 1962, when Vava scored Brazil’s third goal in their 3 to 1 win vs. Czechoslovakia. He had scored twice in the previous World Cup Final match vs. Sweden on June 29, 1958 in a (5 to 2 win).

Photo From: The World Cup 1930-1990, Author Jack Rollin

(Vava in front of England goalkeeper Colin McDonald, June 11, 1958, World Cup, Brazil 0-England 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, August 1963

(Vava scoring Brazil’s third goal past Czechoslovakia goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf, June 17, 1962, World Cup, Brazil 3-Czechoslovakia 1)

4- The First Time a Soviet player joined a club in the West German Bundesliga was on August 10, 1989, when Igor Belanov signed for Borussia Moenchengladbach.

At the time the Bundesliga II already had signed a soviet player, Alexander Borodjiuik.

Photo from: Onze, December 1988

(Frank Rijkaard and Igor Belanov, June 25, 1988,  UEFA European Championship, Holland 2-USSR 0)

5- The First Time the English national Team wore blue uniforms was in a Friendly with Germany on December 4, 1935 that they won 3 to 0.

Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005

(Team Captains Edris Hapgood and Fritz Szepan with referee Otto Olssen of Sweden, December 4, 1935, England 3-Germany 0)