Expect something absolutely nuts to happen in the next five and a half weeks.The World Cup just does something to people, be it the pressure, the glaring spotlight or having the weight of a nation on their shoulders, footballers regularly abandon all reason in manic pursuit of that solid gold trophy.Headbutts, spitting, diving, biting, crying, cheating, thieving and missing the tournament because you didn’t turn up on time… it’s all happened at some point in the past 96 years. This is the World Cup’s maddest moments. In order of derangement.20) Beckham’s costly flickDavid Beckham’s red card in 1998 made him public enemy No 1 in England (Mark Leech/Getty Images)A regulation red card at the time but one that caused a country to collectively lose its mind.Beckham’s flicked kick at Argentina’s Diego Simeone in 1998 contributed to an agonising England defeat on penalties. It led to the Manchester United player becoming a hate figure for months as he was blamed by the media and an unforgiving football public. An effigy of him was even hung at West Ham United.19) The bonkers first tournamentTake your pick from a multitude of mad events at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, such as Egypt not participating in the tournament because they literally missed the boat, or the United States physio reportedly being knocked out on the pitch by his own chloroform bottle, or the story of a Romanian player’s mother believing he was dead as he did not return home with the team, only for him to turn up alive and well on the day of his funeral.18) The World Cup is stolenNo, we’re not talking about West Germany beating the Mighty Magyars of Hungary in 1954, but a time when the actual World Cup trophy was nicked.It happened three months before the 1966 tournament in England, having been on public display at a hall in Westminster, London.Thankfully, the trophy (then the Jules Rimet trophy) was discovered wrapped in newspaper under a hedge in Upper Norwood, south London by a black-and-white collie named Pickles.When England won the trophy for keeps that July, Pickles was invited to the team’s official celebration. He would probably have been happy with a biscuit, to be fair.17) Zaire kicking the ball awayA mad moment with sinister undertones. Things were not going well for Zaire (now DR Congo), the first sub-Saharan African team to play in a World Cup, in 1974.Having lost 2-0 to Scotland and 9-0 to Yugoslavia, they were threatened, according to defender Mwepu Ilunga, by the country’s dictator, President Mobutu, that if they lost 4-0 to Brazil in their final group game they would not be allowed to return home.When 2-0 down, Ilunga ran out of the defensive wall as Brazil lined up a free kick and harumphed it upfield. It looked crazy, but was driven by fear. They lost 3-0.16) Diana Ross’ missed penaltyDiana Ross’ appearance at the 1994 opening ceremony was a memorable one (Peter Robinson/Empics via Getty Images)In an understated, nuanced opening ceremony for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Diana Ross, having been introduced by Oprah Winfrey, emerged between a field of dancers holding white cards above their heads and took aim for a penalty kick.The former Supremes singer dragged a horrible effort wide of the post as the goal was pulled apart, although bizarrely the goalkeeper would probably have saved it anyway, as he really went for it with his dive.At least Roberto Baggio, ever the chivalrous gentleman, saved Ross’ blushes by taking the worst penalty of the 1994 World Cup in the final a few weeks later.15) Gascoigne’s tearsUnwanted bodily functions played a key part in England’s 1990 World Cup campaign. Defender Terry Butcher lost what appeared to be about two pints of blood after sustaining a head wound during a qualification match against Sweden, ending the match resembling a deranged axe murderer, while Gary Lineker, well, went to the toilet during their group-stage match against the Republic of Ireland.Topping them both would be star player Paul Gascoigne blubbing on the pitch after receiving a yellow card during a semi-final against West Germany that ruled him out of a potential final.England did not make it anyway (not helped by Gazza being too distressed to take a penalty in the shootout) but a national hero was born.14) Suarez’s goal-line handballA mad moment given the incredible drama and controversy it created, but also a moment of serene clarity from Luiz Suarez, who sacrificed himself to save his team, stopping a certain Ghana goal on the line with his hand in the last minute of extra time in their quarter-final. Without his intervention, Uruguay would have lost, but instead they won the resulting penalty shootout.