Favourite World Cup?

[Guest MattP]

Just been watching some ESPN Classics and they did a show on USA 94', I remember really enjoying it at the time but I didn't realise until watching it again just how good it was, highest average attendance ever, every ground was full, over half the games had 80,000+ there and it was enthralling on and off the pitch. It's possible I enjoyed it more looking back as there was no England, no tension and no 24/7 media bullshit to accompany it.

(it also made me realise watching it just how shit South Africa 2010 was)

The highlights looking back were...

The four Quarter finals, all geniuine classics.

The emergence of Georghe Hagi and Hristo Stoichkov.

Salenko scoring five in a match.

Colombia going in as one of the favourites having beaten Argentina 5-0 and it ending in Escobar's killing. (not a highlight I suppose)

Bulgaria knocking out Germany.

Maradona's drug test.

Baggio carrying Italy to the final then missing that penalty.

The only real lowlight was the let down of the final, a terrible game but you can't have everything.

Suppose it's one for the old boys really as I can only remember as far back as 1990 but what was your favourite World Cup?

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Every WC is my favourite but i'm selfish and will say '06 and '10 were extra special cos the 'roos were in it.

2006 was great seeing Australia not only in the WC but play pretty well and go close to beating Italy in the round of 16 who went on to win it. Also they played very well in a loss to Brazil in the group stage.

2010 was brilliant as i was there and with a good group of mates in a country i never thought i would ever go to. Results on the pitch weren't as good but did beat the Serbs (Sure you love that match too Father Ted)

[Guest MattP]

Yeah if you go it is brilliant, we spent a couple of days at France 98 and that was fantastic.

I might be falling into the 'older was better nostaglia' syndrome here but I generally don't think the last few World Cups have been that good.

When you think of 90 it's Pavarotti, Gazza, the shootouts, 94 all the incidents I mentioned, 98 it's the Argies and the Ronaldo final illness story.

When I think about 02, 06 and 2010 nothing really stands out at all. Kahn maybe in 02 and Ballack sacrificing himself for his team but nothing along the lines of previous years.

[foxfanazer]

Can only remember a few but 98 was quality

[Guest Bilo]

I really enjoyed 1998, a great World Cup with some cracking games games with Brazil and France well and truly on song. Netherlands were at their peak with Dennis Bergkamp being an absolute monster in the tournament.

England's exit to a poor Argentina side was very disappointing but it didn't ruin it much, I always enjoy a host nation lifting the cup and France had just entered a time when they were the Spain of their day albeit with more attacking prowess.

2002 was good as well but the timings of the matches left much to be desired, 9am kick-offs are no fun.

[AyewJoking]

94 was probably the best for me as I was naive and hate free back then.

98 was good as we bought a big tv and I was able to persuade my dad to buy me World cup 98 for the playstation.

Since then they have been pretty mediocre and I can barely remember them.

[pSinatra]

Espana '82

There have been some great players, some great teams & some great matches.........but Espana 82 had the lot.

Bryan Robson scoring after 27 secs & England thumping a brilliant French team. N. Ireland beating Spain. That game between Italy & an incredible Brazil with Paolo Rossi getting a hat-trick. West Germany v France semi-final, an epic game & Schumacher breaking Battiston's face!!

The only decent World Cup Final I can remember watching & Tardelli's goal celebration!!

[Corky]

France 98.

Great tournament, I remember the Mexicans (?) doing that skill where they trapped the ball between their feet and jumped over a challenge

Looked cool to an 8-year-old

[Voll Blau]

Wish I was old enough to remember Italia 90.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Without a doubt Argentina 78 is by far my favourite, my first world cup I watched can still remember the theme tune, despite England not being there I loved the whole tournament, the Scots has a decent team at the time and were entertaining in many ways, I think they played Iran, and Peru struggled in these games then played brilliantly against the Dutch Archie Gemmill what a goal!!!!!!!!! The Dutch were an amazing tean as well, but Argentina deserving winners. Great world cup.

[Guest MattP]

Espana '82

There have been some great players, some great teams & some great matches.........but Espana 82 had the lot.

I'm not exaggerating when I say 90% of the old boys I've asked this question to have said the same, it must have been some show.

Wish I was old enough to remember Italia 90.

It was fantastic, probably when I fell in love with the game and the first time I really felt hurt by watching a team lose.

Gazza, Pavarotti.

[Amin]

Definitely 2002. As a Ronaldo fan it was brilliant.

[Kitchandro]

Yeah if you go it is brilliant, we spent a couple of days at France 98 and that was fantastic.

I might be falling into the 'older was better nostaglia' syndrome here but I generally don't think the last few World Cups have been that good.

When you think of 90 it's Pavarotti, Gazza, the shootouts, 94 all the incidents I mentioned, 98 it's the Argies and the Ronaldo final illness story.

When I think about 02, 06 and 2010 nothing really stands out at all. Kahn maybe in 02 and Ballack sacrificing himself for his team but nothing along the lines of previous years.

It depends what you look for in a world cup I suppose. A lot of 'purists' consider 1990 to be one of the worst world cups, due to the amount of cards dished out and low scoring games. On the other hand, a lot of England fans say it's their favourite for obvious reasons. You mention Pavarotti, for a lot of people it's that kind of thing, the iconic stuff it's identified with.

I agree with you that South Africa was a bit crap. I think it's the first world cup that didn't really have any iconic/memorable moments (not on the scale of previous years). And the football was quite poor. And even though Spain were/are a great team, I thought they didn't play to their brilliant best except in 1 game. I really liked 06 myself, partly because Italy are my second team, but mainly because there were some really dramatic moments. The final has to be the most memorable since the 80s. Zidane's headbutt is up there with the greatest world cup moments of all time for me Especially as he'd shown glimpses of his former greatness throughout the knockout stage. The semi final against Germany was a great game as well.

2002 had it's moments, but for me I'll always remember it as a colossal fix from the hosts. I was 10 then so it was special in it was the first world cup I properly watched, and there were games on in the morning which I thought was fantastic at the time, the World Cup before school! We watched a couple of England games at school and I'll always remember one of my teachers letting us listen to Senegal beat France on the radio. England beating the Argies was amazing.

I only remember a bit of France 98 but it sticks with me. Italy still had Baggio, Vieri and Del Piero, Bergkamp was a hero too. I loved the Chile team as well for some reason, Zamarano and Salas, lovely kit they had as well. England actually had a team to be proud of then, I've seen the game v Argentina recently and I don't think I've ever seen the current England team perform like that in the last 10 years. I've got to admit that I didn't realise Shearer was such a villain back then, I loved him

My two most memorable moments of that world cup were 1. thinking it was hilarious that Paraguay had a player called Arce and 2. Being in bed down the hall from my dad watching us play the Argies. The doors were open so I could hear everything. I got up and one point cos I heard him shouting in jubliation. Walked in the lounge and he said at the top of his voice 'Ay up, Owen's just scored an amazing goal!'

I could go on about this all day tbh, I love World Cup nostalgia, even the ones that were before I was born. I might post some videos in a bit. There's 10 minute highlights of load of games all over youtube.

[Kitchandro]

I'm not exaggerating when I say 90% of the old boys I've asked this question to have said the same, it must have been some show.

That's the answer I always get too.

[Captain...]

'94 was my first real World Cup, 90 passed me by a bit, I was too young and not really into football, so I didn't really get into it.

By '94 I was hooked on Leicester, had been to 3 play-off finals, and we had won the last one, the next football to come along was the World Cup, I didn't really care that England weren't in it, I just loved football, I used sneak downstairs and watch all the matches live, I did it every night, usually playing on my Mega drive (Street Fighter 2 or World Cup 90) before the match to keep me awake, and usually falling asleep before the end and having to watch all the highlights shows to know what happened, but I did it for every game I could.

'98 was great until we got knocked out then I couldn't care less, 02 was Good as I was at Uni, but I don't really remember too much of that one and again as soon as we were out my interest waned...

'06 I was travelling so was watching lots of the games whilst in South and Central America, didn't see much of it, but had great fun watching the games in some random places, although the commentators breaking off to read out adverts was annoying. I saw Zidane's Headbutt in a cafe at a border crossing between Costa Rica and Panama.

'10 I was living in Spain so when England got knocked out I just started supporting Spain, which ended well, watching the final in a packed square in the middle of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, that was fun, until a bit of trouble broke out because of the Basque separatists not being happy with all the Spanish celebrating.

But ultimately I am with Matt on this 1, 1994 was my favourite World Cup, there were some truly memorable matches, record breakers, and some awful penalty misses, Baggio's miss only being bettered by Diana Ross in the opening ceremony, such a shame the final was a bit of an anti-climax.

[Guest MattP]

Love the posts from both Kit and the Captain.

I was exactly the same, was 11 at the time and like you was playing World Cup 90 on the megadrive before it. This should being back some memories.

[Wycombe Fox]

Espana '82

There have been some great players, some great teams & some great matches.........but Espana 82 had the lot.

Bryan Robson scoring after 27 secs & England thumping a brilliant French team. N. Ireland beating Spain. That game between Italy & an incredible Brazil with Paolo Rossi getting a hat-trick. West Germany v France semi-final, an epic game & Schumacher breaking Battiston's face!!

The only decent World Cup Final I can remember watching & Tardelli's goal celebration!!

I'd agree on this one although some others are worthy of mention;

1970 - the first WC I can remember. The tears when West Germany came back from 2-0 down to beat England 3-2 and the amazing masterclass by Brazil in the Final.

1974 - the guy from Zaire who ran from the wall before a free kick was taken and booted the ball into the other half of the pitch. Funny at the time but quite sad once you find out why he did it.

1978 - magnificent Argentinians, especially Kempes

1986 - after a slow start by England I felt we could have won it if it hadn't been for Maradona.

1990 - the beginning of my hatred of penalty shoot-outs; England should've won this one (the last one we've had any chance of winning, in my opinion)

2010 was definitely the worst.

[foxfanazer]

France 98.

Great tournament, I remember the Mexicans (?) doing that skill where they trapped the ball between their feet and jumped over a challenge

Looked cool to an 8-year-old

that was quality

[MC Prussian]

I started collecting Panini stickers for the 1990 WC, but don't have a lot of memories about the tournament itself.

1994 was by far more rewarding, not only but mainly thanks to Switzerland's first participation since 1966. The qualification was a national success story (finishing behind Italy and before Portugal) and a certain Mr. Roy Hodgson engraved his name in Swiss sports folklore by leading the team to the U.S.

From then on, I was hooked on football. I clearly remember us beating Estonia with former Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom emphatically 4-0 in the last qualification game. And we managed to get two points against Arrigo Sacchi's Italy at home in the process, a rare feat at the time.

The team itself was quality: Pascolo, Lehmann, Bickel, Hottiger, Sutter, Sforza, Ohrel, Brégy, Geiger, Knup, Chapuisat, Türkyilmaz and Fournier, Egli, Grassi or Subiat. It was a story of a united Switzerland, an open Switzerland, with players representing each part of the country (some with different cultural backgrounds, such as Türkyilmaz or Subiat, who was originally Argentinian) coming together, acting as one big supergroup. Everyone could relate to them.

Got a draw out of the opening game against the U.S. and I do recall the Romania game when we trounced them and Hagi 4-1. It was a blast. Sadly, Spain proved to be too difficult in the next phase.

I don't have too many fond memories of the tournaments that followed, though. The game started to be much more player-focused. Zidane's headbutt stands out in 2006. That and Italy beating Germany, which I celebrated tremendously.

I remember following the flurry of goals in 2006 and have but fond memories of 2010. Uruguay put in some great efforts and I was so glad to see them finish that high up.

[pSinatra]

I'd agree on this one although some others are worthy of mention;

1970 - the first WC I can remember. The tears when West Germany came back from 2-0 down to beat England 3-2 and the amazing masterclass by Brazil in the Final.

1974 - the guy from Zaire who ran from the wall before a free kick was taken and booted the ball into the other half of the pitch. Funny at the time but quite sad once you find out why he did it.

1978 - magnificent Argentinians, especially Kempes

1986 - after a slow start by England I felt we could have won it if it hadn't been for Maradona.

1990 - the beginning of my hatred of penalty shoot-outs; England should've won this one (the last one we've had any chance of winning, in my opinion)

2010 was definitely the worst.

I was nearly 11 years old for Espana '82 & on holiday in Spain for the closing stages. I have no recollection at all of Argentina '78.....even though I was already going down Filbert street with my Dad by then. I was talking to someone a few years older than me the other day about 1978 & he was saying what a great team the Dutch had & what a bunch of cheats the the Argentinians were......using all sorts of non-footballing tactics to gain an advantage. Those old enough may know what he he means?

I would have loved to watch the Dutch team in their prime & Cruyff is one of my all-time favourite players. I have watched the whole of the 1974 World Cup Final & what a team the Dutch had. The greatest team to never win a World Cup, followed closely by the Brazilian team of 1982.

[Wycombe Fox]

I was talking to someone a few years older than me the other day about 1978 & he was saying what a great team the Dutch had & what a bunch of cheats the the Argentinians were......using all sorts of non-footballing tactics to gain an advantage. Those old enough may know what he he means?

http://www.dailymail...ru-senator.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanstevenson/2010/05/the_story_of_the_1978_world_cu.html

[Guest MattP]

http://www.dailymail...ru-senator.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk...8_world_cu.html

I think most people around the World realised that match was rigged by the 90th minute didn't they?

[Captain...]

Love the posts from both Kit and the Captain.

I was exactly the same, was 11 at the time and like you was playing World Cup 90 on the megadrive before it. This should being back some memories.

It was a brilliant game, I used to play it every Saturday morning before the Leicester match, I would be Japan (blue and white kit, it was too easy with Italy or France and every player corresponded with a Leicester player), and play it on the highest difficulty, if I won the World Cup and won every game in 90 minutes in the process it meant we would win, if I won but didn't win every game we would draw and if I didn't win the World Cup we lost, it was about 90% accurate during the 93-94 season, didn't work so well the following season though.

[Manwell Pablo]

It was a brilliant game, I used to play it every Saturday morning before the Leicester match, I would be Japan (blue and white kit, it was too easy with Italy or France and every player corresponded with a Leicester player), and play it on the highest difficulty, if I won the World Cup and won every game in 90 minutes in the process it meant we would win, if I won but didn't win every game we would draw and if I didn't win the World Cup we lost, it was about 90% accurate during the 93-94 season, didn't work so well the following season though.

Italia 90 was an excellent game, even though every single player in the game had black hair.

[pSinatra]

http://www.dailymail...ru-senator.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk...8_world_cu.html

Yeah, he mentioned the Peruvians throwing their match & the Argentinians delaying coming out onto the pitch in the final.