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The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, with millions of people tuning in to watch the world's best teams compete for the ultimate prize. While the tournament is known for its spectacular goals and moments of individual brilliance, it's also seen its fair share of epic battles on the field.
The first fight on our list comes from the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where Italy faced off against the hosts in a heated encounter. The match was marked by a number of violent incidents, with players from both sides exchanging blows on several occasions. The most infamous moment came when Italian striker Giorgio Ferrini was sent off for punching an opponent in the face.
The second fight on our list takes us to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where West Germany faced off against Austria in a pivotal group stage match. The Germans needed a win to advance, while Austria only needed a draw. In a scandalous display of collusion, both teams proceeded to play a boring, uneventful match that ended in a 1-0 win for Austria. The match became known as the "Disgrace of Gijón" and led to a change in the format of the tournament.
The 1986 World Cup in Mexico saw a number of fights and altercations on the field, but none were as memorable as the clash between Mexico and Bulgaria in the round of 16. The match was a tense affair, with both teams exchanging goals and tackles throughout. However, things boiled over in the second half when a brawl broke out between the two sides. The referee had to intervene and issue several yellow and red cards to restore order.
The same World Cup saw another infamous fight, this time between England and Argentina in the quarterfinals. The match was already heated due to the Falklands War, and tensions boiled over when Argentine midfielder Diego Maradona scored a controversial goal with his hand. The English players were incensed and a number of scuffles broke out on the field, with several players receiving yellow cards.
The 1990 World Cup in Italy saw another African team make a deep run, with Cameroon reaching the quarterfinals. In their match against Argentina, the Cameroonians played a physical, aggressive game, with several players receiving yellow cards for rough play. The match reached its boiling point in the second half when Cameroon's Benjamin Massing launched a brutal tackle on Argentine player Claudio Caniggia, sending him flying through the air. Massing received a straight red card, but his team held on for a historic upset win.
