1. Portugal Eliminate England in World Cup Drama (2006)
On July 1, 2006, the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal between Portugal and England at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena became a defining moment in football history. The match erupted into chaos when England striker Wayne Rooney was controversially shown a straight red card in the 62nd minute for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho. Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, then Rooney’s Manchester United teammate, was caught on camera appealing to the referee, sparking a media firestorm in England.
After 120 scoreless minutes, Portugal triumphed 3-1 in a tense penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Ricardo became an instant legend by saving three penalties, including decisive stops from Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Ronaldo sealed the victory with the final spot-kick, solidifying Portugal’s first World Cup semifinal appearance since 1966. The match symbolized Portugal’s tactical resilience under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and marked Ronaldo’s emergence as a global superstar, though his role in Rooney’s dismissal temporarily strained his relationship with English fans.
1. Birth of Sporting CP (1906)
On July 1, 1906, Sporting Clube de Portugal was officially founded in Lisbon, launching the century-long journey of "The Lions." As one of Portugal's "Big Three," Sporting is renowned for its youth academy, having nurtured icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo. The club has won 19 Primeira Liga titles and lifted the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1964. Its establishment marked the beginning of professional football in Portugal and became a cornerstone of Iberian football culture. Today, its home ground, José Alvalade Stadium, honors the founder, witnessing the team’s enduring legacy.
