This day in World Cup history - July 1

Jul 1, 2006, 11:47 GMT

Berlin - This day in World Cup history - July 1

July 1

1945 - Alex Villaplane, who captained France at their first World Cup appearance in 1930 - losing to Argentina and Chile, but beating Mexico - is executed by French resistance fighters on an unnamed date in July after being accused of collaborating with the Nazis.

1950 - Yugoslavia take on Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in their final group game at the 1950 finals, needing to beat the Europeans to win the group and advance to the next round. Striker Rajko Mitic injures himself on a stairwell coming out of the change rooms and suffers a bloody head wound. The Yugoslavs ask for a short delay to treat Mitic, but the referee turns them down and by the time Mitic comes onto the field 10 minutes into the game Brazil are leading 1-0 and are en route to winning the group.

1966 - Franck de Bleeckere is born. The Belgian referee is one of the match officials at the 2006 World Cup finals and handles the group games between Japan and Croatia, in which the Croats fail to record the victory they need to remain on course for a place in the second round. He was also in charge of the controversial World Cup qualifier in November 2005 between Turkey and Switzerland that saw the Swiss qualify for the 2006 finals amidst chaotic circumstances in Istanbul.

1976 - Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is born. The Manchester United player is in the Netherlands squad at the 2006 finals, but is surprisingly left out of the side that faces Portugal in the round of 16. Even as the Dutch struggle to stay in the competition coach Marco van Basten does not bring on the striker, who is visibly annoyed.