The one and only German to play for Manchester United in the Premier League was holding midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was signed for the Red Devils by Louis van Gaal, on a three-year contract, on July 13, 2015. Schweinsteiger made his Premier League debut on August 8, 2015, replacing Michael after an hour during a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the opening match of the 2015/16 season.
However, he subsequently fell out of favour with José Mourinho, who replaced van Gaal on May 27, 2016 and was, at one point, banished to training with the under-23 squad, thereby limiting his opportunities for first-team football. All told, Schweinsteiger made just 18 appearances for the Manchester United first team, before completing a move to Chicago Fire on March 21, 2017, where he remained until his retirement from professional football on Pctober 8, 2019.
Bavarian town of Kolbermoor, near Munich, on August 1, 1984, Schweinsteiger originally signed for Bayern Munich as a 14-year-old, but went on to become a mainstay of the senior first team, making 500 competitive appearances and earning himself the nickname of ‘Fußballgott’ or, in English, ‘Football God’. At international level, he was similarly ever-present, making 121 appearances for the German national between 2004 and 2016. Former manager Joachim Löw, who led Germany to victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, said that Schweinsteiger was ‘certainly one of the greatest players Germany has had’.
To avoid any confusion, two other German players, midfielder Markus Neumayr and goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler were on the books at Old Trafford, between 2003 and 2006 and 2005 and 2008, respectively, but neither ever played for the first time, in the Premier League or elsewhere. Zieler came the closest of the pair to first team action, being named as an unused substitute in a League Cup match against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on September 23, 2008.
The saying goes that “the world only remembers the winners”… but that’s not always true.
Here we look back at World Cup history and pick out two of the great underdog stories, of sides that didn’t win the tournament, but left it with their heads held high.
A Rugby Nation Celebrates its Soccer Stars
Look back to the 2010 World Cup and New Zealand were making only their second appearance in the major tournament after beating Bahrain to reach the competition. An island nation that takes great pride in its All Blacks rugby union side, it was the All Whites who took centre stage for the competition in South Africa. In a group that included Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, the Kiwis were not given much of a chance of picking up any points in the pool. While New Zealand failed to reach the knockout stages, they did manage to go through their group without losing a match and were the only team to be undefeated at the tournament. Even the eventual winners Spain suffered a 1-0 loss to Switzerland on their way to World Cup glory.
New Zealand started with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia thanks to an injury-time goal from Winston Reid, before a remarkable stalemate against Worlds Cup holders Italy. Scoring early can give an underdog a real confidence boost and Shane Smeltz’s opener after seven minutes certainly did that. However, it was by no means the quickest goal in the tournament’s history as there have been numerous goals within the first minute including Hakan Sukur’s strike within 11 seconds in 2002 for Turkey against South Korea.
Vincenzo Iaquinta went on to equalise for the Azzurri in the 29th minute from the penalty spot, before New Zealand held on for a famous draw at Mbombela Stadium. A goalless draw with Paraguay meant the Kiwis missed out on reaching the knockouts by a point, but they did finish above the Italians and headed back to New Zealand with plenty of plaudits for their efforts.
Cameroon Take African Football Forward
There have been some great runs from African nations at World Cups, with the likes of Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) being two prime examples. But Cameroon back in 1990 were the first African country to really make a statement on the world stage. The Indomitable Lions managed to secure a 1-0 win over eventual finalists Argentina in their opening game of Italia 90, with François Omam-Biyik scoring the all-important goal. The result was even more remarkable considering Cameroon had two players sent off in the match against an Argentina side captained by the great Diego Maradona.
Age is just a number. At 43 years old, I was still playing because football is life. I had a great time in Pelita Jaya, Indonesia ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/2TJj1vHJVS
— Roger Milla (@roger_milla_9) August 26, 2020
Cameroon then went on to beat Romania 2-1, before a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union. Still, Cameroon managed to finish top of Group B before their 38-year-old forward Roger Milla became a world sensation with his goals and eye-catching celebrations. Milla bagged a brace as Cameroon beat Colombia 2-1 in extra-time in the last-16, before a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to England in the quarter-finals. It took extra time to separate the two sides, and Cameroon left the tournament having put African football firmly on the map.
World Cups are more than just about the winners, and Qatar 2022 is likely to produce its own stories of underdogs who will grab the headlines.
Secretariat, the legendary chestnut racehorse, holds the record for the fastest time ever recorded in the Kentucky Derby. This historic moment occurred in 1973 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and left an unforgettable mark on the world of horse racing.
Under the guidance of jockey Ron Turcotte, Secretariat showcased a remarkable blend of power, speed, and elegance as he thundered down the track. The crowd was awestruck as he effortlessly left his competitors behind, displaying an unparalleled level of dominance.
Crossing the finish line in an astonishing time of 1 minute 59.40 seconds, Secretariat shattered the previous record, etching his name into horse racing history. This extraordinary achievement reflected his exceptional abilities and the meticulous training that had prepared him for this defining race.
Secretariat’s victory went beyond the realm of horse racing, captivating the nation and earning him a special place in the hearts of millions. He became a symbol of determination, grace, and the pursuit of greatness.
Even today, Secretariat’s legacy remains strong. His name is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, serving as a reminder of the extraordinary athletes and moments that define the sport. His record-breaking time continues to inspire future generations, igniting a passion for horse racing and showcasing the limitless possibilities of equine athleticism.
Secretariat’s remarkable feat as the fastest horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby stands as a testament to his unparalleled talent and the enduring allure of this prestigious race. His legacy lives on as an emblem of greatness and serves as a constant source of inspiration for those who strive to push the boundaries of horse racing excellence.
According to Guinness World Records, the fastest serve of a tennis ball was recorded by former Australian professional Samuel Groth during a second-round match at the Busan Open Challenger Tennis in Busan, South Korea on May 9, 2012. Against Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik, Groth sent down an ace clocked at 163.4 mph, thereby obliterating the previous record, 156 mph, set by Croatian Ivo Karlovic during a doubles match against Germany in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group in Zagreb on March 5, 2011. For the record, Groth also registered serves measured at 158.9 mph and 157.5 mph, but still lost the match.
Serving speed is measured, immediately after the ball has left the racket, by speed guns positioned behind the baseline at either end of the court. Each gun emits a stream of radar pulses, some of which are reflected by the ball back to the gun, where the difference between their frequency and those of the original pulses is translated into the speed of the ball, in miles per hour (mph). Not all speed guns are created equal, so the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) does not formally recognise speeds recorded at Challenger Tour events.
Thus, as far as the ATP is concerned, the fastest serve of a tennis ball, 157.2 mph, was recorded by American John Isner against Australian Bernard Tomic during a singles match in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup World Group in Melbourne on March 6, 2016. Isner also has the distinction of serving the most aces in the history of the ATP Tour, 14,177 at the time of writing, and having played in, and won, the longest tennis match of all time; after 11 hours and 5 minutes, he finally defeated Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the final set of their first-round match in the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 2010.