10) These Are The World Champions
O Mundo, Brazil, 1950
Rio's O Mundo carried this fateful headline along with a giant picture of the Brazilian 'winning' team on the day of the World Cup final.
Needing only a draw to claim their first World Cup the hosts were in super-confident fashion with even Jules Rimet getting ahead of himself with a congratulatory speech prepared in Portuguese
Uruguay rather spoiled party with Ghiggia's late winner prompting many Canarinho fans to take their own lives leaving a dark cloud over the game in the country until Pele's arrival.
Cruyff hunts down some Bild reporters
Patrick Reilly, Goal.com
O Mundo, Brazil, 1950
Rio's O Mundo carried this fateful headline along with a giant picture of the Brazilian 'winning' team on the day of the World Cup final.
Needing only a draw to claim their first World Cup the hosts were in super-confident fashion with even Jules Rimet getting ahead of himself with a congratulatory speech prepared in Portuguese
Uruguay rather spoiled party with Ghiggia's late winner prompting many Canarinho fans to take their own lives leaving a dark cloud over the game in the country until Pele's arrival.
9) Cruyff, Champagne, Naked Girls and a Pool
Bild-Zeitung, West Germany, 1974
Terrified that Holland might beat the hosts in the World Cup final, West Germany's Bild pulled off a trademark tabloid sting - upset the opposition.
To this day nobody knows the true circumstances behind the story but rumours abound of local Mädchen being paid to frolic with the Dutch players in a hotel pool.
No pictures were ever published but the tactic worked a treat and threw the talented Netherlands side into a spin. Cruyff, it's alleged spent hours on the phone the night before the final telling his wife the story was false. The Germans won the match. Job done as they say in Fleet Street.
Bild-Zeitung, West Germany, 1974
Terrified that Holland might beat the hosts in the World Cup final, West Germany's Bild pulled off a trademark tabloid sting - upset the opposition.
To this day nobody knows the true circumstances behind the story but rumours abound of local Mädchen being paid to frolic with the Dutch players in a hotel pool.
No pictures were ever published but the tactic worked a treat and threw the talented Netherlands side into a spin. Cruyff, it's alleged spent hours on the phone the night before the final telling his wife the story was false. The Germans won the match. Job done as they say in Fleet Street.
Cruyff hunts down some Bild reporters
8) Harkes To Sign for Sheffield, Wednesday
New York Post, America, 1990
One of the big apple's best sellers announced John Harkes' signing for First Division Sheffield Wednesday in true American style. Pre MLS and USA '94 the infamous headline reinforced the stereotype that 'sawker' would never take off in the States.
New York Post, America, 1990
One of the big apple's best sellers announced John Harkes' signing for First Division Sheffield Wednesday in true American style. Pre MLS and USA '94 the infamous headline reinforced the stereotype that 'sawker' would never take off in the States.
Harkes on a Wednesday, maybe
7) Swedes 2 Turnips 1
The Sun, England, 1992
Nothing sums up Graham Taylor's disastrous England reign better than this classic headline from Euro 1992.
With Gazza injured and Ian Wright bizarrely not even making the squad, the three lions were dreadful and were sent packing by a Tomas Brolin inspired Sweden in the final group game.
Taylor woke up the next day to discover his face superimposed on a turnip in Britain's best selling newspaper and he's carried the burden ever since. Yes, it was cruel but how we all laughed. No wonder the coach 'did not like that.'
6) Milan Non Taglialatela
Corrierre Della Serra, Italy, 1995
It's not just the red tops in Britain who can pull of a pun. 'Non taglia la tela' is an Italian phrase which loosely translated means 'can't cut the cloth' or simply not being good enough.
Napoli's then goalkeeper Giuseppe Taglialatela prompted this headline by denying the great Milan side of the 90s with a man of the match performance.
5) Super Calley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious
The Sun, Scotland, 2000
Mary Poppins fused with football to creative genius effect. John Barnes was destined for the Hoops chopping board after his Celtic side were humbled at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-1 in the Scottish Cup.
The headline was plastered all over The Sun the next day and Barnes was gone shortly afterwards.
4) Fucks off to Benfica
Eurosport.com, 2001
Journeyman Brazilian defender Argelico Fucks earned legendary journalistic status with his controversial move to Benfica in 2001 having left their sworn rivals Porto only a year earlier.
Fucks spiced things up a bit by declaring Porto were now his enemy. Known as Argel during his playing career Fucks was a favourite of headline writers who created more gems when he returned to Brazil. Go on think...
Dudek: Another Pole with Roman approval
3) Milan Suicide, Liverpool Triumph
La Repubblica, Italy, 2005
In a country where football is a religion it was left to Rome's La Repubblica to capture AC Milan's spectacular implosion against Liverpool in the Champions League final.
The editorial led with, "Gerrard raised the cup, they did not steal it. It seemed they lost it, they won it. Honour to them."
2) Young Boys Wankdorf Erection Relief
Soccernet, 2005
Swiss side Young Boys of Bern moved into their new stadium to much acclaim which inspired some double entendre word play from the team at Soccernet.
It wasn't the first time they'd wheeled out the line as two years earlier when Young Boys were refused temporary setting at their old Neufield venue they led with, 'Young Boys' Wankdorf Erection Woe.'
As juvenile as a whoopee cushion perhaps but isn't that why
we laugh like hysterical boys at the back of the classroom?
Proof alcopops do work!
The Sun, England, 1992
Nothing sums up Graham Taylor's disastrous England reign better than this classic headline from Euro 1992.
With Gazza injured and Ian Wright bizarrely not even making the squad, the three lions were dreadful and were sent packing by a Tomas Brolin inspired Sweden in the final group game.
Taylor woke up the next day to discover his face superimposed on a turnip in Britain's best selling newspaper and he's carried the burden ever since. Yes, it was cruel but how we all laughed. No wonder the coach 'did not like that.'
6) Milan Non Taglialatela
Corrierre Della Serra, Italy, 1995
It's not just the red tops in Britain who can pull of a pun. 'Non taglia la tela' is an Italian phrase which loosely translated means 'can't cut the cloth' or simply not being good enough.
Napoli's then goalkeeper Giuseppe Taglialatela prompted this headline by denying the great Milan side of the 90s with a man of the match performance.
5) Super Calley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious
The Sun, Scotland, 2000
Mary Poppins fused with football to creative genius effect. John Barnes was destined for the Hoops chopping board after his Celtic side were humbled at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-1 in the Scottish Cup.
The headline was plastered all over The Sun the next day and Barnes was gone shortly afterwards.
4) Fucks off to Benfica
Eurosport.com, 2001
Journeyman Brazilian defender Argelico Fucks earned legendary journalistic status with his controversial move to Benfica in 2001 having left their sworn rivals Porto only a year earlier.
Fucks spiced things up a bit by declaring Porto were now his enemy. Known as Argel during his playing career Fucks was a favourite of headline writers who created more gems when he returned to Brazil. Go on think...
Dudek: Another Pole with Roman approval
3) Milan Suicide, Liverpool Triumph
La Repubblica, Italy, 2005
In a country where football is a religion it was left to Rome's La Repubblica to capture AC Milan's spectacular implosion against Liverpool in the Champions League final.
The editorial led with, "Gerrard raised the cup, they did not steal it. It seemed they lost it, they won it. Honour to them."
2) Young Boys Wankdorf Erection Relief
Soccernet, 2005
Swiss side Young Boys of Bern moved into their new stadium to much acclaim which inspired some double entendre word play from the team at Soccernet.
It wasn't the first time they'd wheeled out the line as two years earlier when Young Boys were refused temporary setting at their old Neufield venue they led with, 'Young Boys' Wankdorf Erection Woe.'
As juvenile as a whoopee cushion perhaps but isn't that why
we laugh like hysterical boys at the back of the classroom?
Proof alcopops do work!
1) From Embarrassment Of Riches To Pure Embarrassment
Goal.com, 2009
Real Madrid's thumping by lowly Alcorcon in Copa Del Rey by our very own Goal.com.
Elsewhere, the humiliating defeat prompted Spanish football
correspondent Sid Lowe to tell the Guardian football podcast that Los
Blancos had been beaten three nil by 'Alcopops!'
Patrick Reilly, Goal.com