World Cup 2014 countdown: Jack Charlton and John Aldridge at fever pitch at USA 94

Counting down the 100 greatest moments in the history of the World Cup

Simon Rice
Tuesday 25 March 2014 18:08 GMT
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(GETTY IMAGES)

The World Cup in Brazil is coming into view and everyone is hoping this summer's carnival can take its place among some of the great tournaments of the past.

That won't be easy though, as this series will testify. In the run-up to the tournament, we're counting down the 100 greatest World Cup moments.

Check out our latest instalment below, and for any you missed, see the gallery at the end of the article.

Jack Charlton and John Aldridge at fever pitch at USA 94

Jack Charlton was the first to lose it. With the scorching weather at USA '94, the Republic of Ireland boss wanted to get some water on the pitch for his players - but FIFA officials refused.

So Big Jack went potty, storming up and down the touchline, looking much like he needed a drink himself.

If anything, the incident proved once and for all that Englishmen should never wear baseball caps.

In Ireland's next match, it was John Aldridge's turn to flip out. During the tournament, if a team made a substitution, a form needed to be filled out and given to the fourth official. But for some reason, a faceless bureaucrat from FIFA stepped in and took the form away. As a result, Aldridge wasn't allowed on to the pitch, even though another player had come off.

The striker flipped out, and very audibly made his opinions known. When he finally got on, it was Charlton's turn to have a go. The images of the Ireland boss confronting the blue-jacketed yellow-cap wearing official were priceless. Charlton was fined and banished from the touchline for getting in a temper.

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