The “Moroccan” Just Fontaine and the Brazilian Jairzinho, Recordmen of the series in the World Cups
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress-Rabat-Fifa
Each week, FIFA stinks on a record in the FIFA ™ World Cup. Today, zoom in on two attackers who marked in the greatest number of consecutive matches.
Throughout the history of the FIFA ™ World Cup, only two men managed to find the net in six matches in a row. Just Fontaine and Jairzinho both marked the competition of their imprint, the first in 1958, the second in 1970. Their name was engraved in gold letters in the history of world football.
The Frenchman has only one participation in the supreme test, but his career has long entered legend. Author of 13 achievements in Sweden, he remains the top scorer of all time on an edition.
Fontaine makes a thunderous entry into the competition by signing a hat-trick during a victory without appeal (7-3) over Paraguay. He adds two units to his counter against Yugoslavia (3-2 defeat) and still finds the net in Scotland (2-1 victory), still in the group phase. In the quarterfinals, a new double from the Rémois allows the Blues to rule out Northern Ireland (4-0).
The French are upgraded by the Brazil of Pelé in the semi-finals, but Fontaine manages to register his name on the posting board, despite the defeat (5-2). The match for third place provides him with the opportunity to conclude this competition on a positive note. Indeed, France won 6-3 ahead of Western Germany, thanks in particular to a quadrupled of its prolific attacker. Under its leadership, France wins the bronze medal.
For twelve years, Just Fontaine remains the only player to have scored in six consecutive World Cup matches. But Mexico 1970 will see a new hero emerge, with the bewitching technique. Within a Brazilian selection considered as one of the most talented in history, Jairzinho impresses with his ease and elegance.
Like Fontaine, the winger heals his entry into competition by offering a double against Czechoslovakia (4-1). The second goal, listed at the end of a breathtaking individual action, is still in all memories. He then scored the goal of victory against England (1-0) and illustrated again a few days later, against Romania (3-2 victory).
As the stake increases, Jairzinho is increasingly decisive. He closes the mark in a fascinating quarter-final against Peru (4-2), before equalizing against Uruguay (3-1), thus opening the doors of the final in Brazil.
To lift the most coveted trophy on the planet, Jairzinho and his teammates must however defeat a final adversary, and not the least: Italy, double winner of the event. Never mind: the magician of Botafogo bewitched the Azteca public thanks to a dazzling performance, during which he scored the third goal of his team.
Brazil won 4-1 and Jairzinho joins Fontaine in the very closed club of the World Cup serial scorers.
