This story was in the Rover in 1966, to fit in with the World Cup finals.
It featured the ultimate giantkillers, a small island nation (somewhere in the Pacific I fancy) who enter the World Cup and get to the finals, because they have a goalkeeper who never concedes a goal. The rest of the team are pretty much there to make up the numbers, although I think there is one chap who occasionally scores a goal so they can win 1-0.
In fact, the team get all the way to the final of the World Cup and, eventually, lose on the toss of a coin, because no-one can break the deadlock. Manny Kritch, the goalkeeper, gets to call the toss and gets it wrong.
The historical interest, of course, is that in 1966, there was clearly no provision for a penalty shoot-out. If there had been, one must assume that a small Pacific island would have been world cup winners, and Kenneth Wolstenholme, Sir Geoff Hurst et al would never have had their moment of fame.
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The story was relaunched in World Cup 1970, Mexico by Hornet.
There Kritch playing West Bulaguay (group stage), Verilaguay (quarterfinals) and Bralivia (semi) led Marinesia to the final. I dont have it but can imagine they lost to England as in the original script. Also, i ve no idea about the first two teams he faced in group stages (if anyone can help). The other World Cup story i ve ever read is Gorgeous Gus' in Victor,in 1966 where his team, Gannett Island were defeated by England! In 1986 DC published another World Cup story with Jon Stark travelling in Mexico, representing England.Its the Football Picture Monthly no1.I m not sure but i think, England beat Argentina in the final...
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