World Cup Memories - Part 5

The countdown is getting ever closer to that first kick-off between the hosts and Mexico, which will open up the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.  For the first time, Africa will stage the world’s biggest show and over four weeks and sixty-four matches, we really will find out who is the best in the world. 

It also gives me the opportunity to lookback at some classic FIFA World Cup moments from down the years, a mixture of romance, drama, controversy, disgusting foul play, heartbreak and joy.  Every picture, every match tells its different type of story.  In this five-part series, I will be looking back at my top 50 FIFA World Cup memories, starting, ranging from 1958 to the most recent tournament in Germany four years ago.  Coming up is the final part, and in the no particular order.  Here are the final ten memories:

Mexico 1986: Maradona’s Hand of God

Despite the decline in his career which saw his disgraced in USA 94, there can be no doubt about Diego Maradona’s impact on his playing career.  Single handily, he won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, as Mexico 86 simply belonged to this new genius.  However, with Maradona, there was always a little bit of controversy, which is no surprise with him.  Unfortunately, it was England who fell afoul of him and the ‘Hand of God,’ in the Azteca Stadium.  With the quarter-final deadlocked at 0-0, ten minutes into the second half, Bobby Robson’s men were holding on valiantly, when Maradona made one of those mazy runs, then after a misjudged clearance from Terry Fenwick, leaped above Peter Shilton and punched the ball into the net.  Everyone saw it in the stadium, except for the blinded Tunisian referee and his officials.  What made things worse was that Maradona never admitted his blatant guilt, even today.  Three minutes later, he hurt England again, with a wonderful run that is quite simply, the best goal in FIFA World Cup history.  His magnificence stole the show; it’s just a shame that the hand gets all the attention, rather than Maradona’s wonderful skills.

Germany 2006: Zidane Leaves in Disgrace

On July 9^th 2006, the scene was set perfectly for Zinedine Zidane’s final match as a professional football player, by skippering France to the World Cup trophy.  However, everyone was gobsmacked by the final outcome in Berlin’s Olympicstadion, which saw the great Zidane leave the game, in absolute disgrace.  Having literally dragged a mediocre France to the final, Zidane made the perfect start against Italy in the final showdown, scoring an early cheeky penalty.  His later nemesis, Marco Materazzi equalised for the Azzuri, overpowering Patrick Vieira in an aerial battle, to head home Andrea Pirlo’s corner.  In extra-time, Luca Toni had a goal disallowed, before the main event.  Materazzi was rolling around on the ground and Zidane was being confronted by angry Italians.  Television replays quickly showed the crime.  Materazzi may have provoked Zidane, as Zinedine was jogging back towards the centre circle, but then what Zidane did next was inexcusable.  He turned around and head butted Materazzi in the chest.  Luckily, the linesman saw the offence, alerted the referee, who promptly sent Zidane off.  France lost the final on penalties, but the night and Italy’s triumph was badly tarnished by the actions of a great footballer, which left him bowing out of the game in disgrace.

England 1966: They Think It’s All Over, It Is Now

Maybe, just maybe England will match this feat in the summer.  If not, the pain of perennial failure will stretch further than the current forty-four years it stands at the moment.  Thanks to the help of a Russian linesman, our only current success came on home soil in 1966.  Spearheaded by the hard-working Nobby Stiles and Alan Ball, and led by the inspired captain, Bobby Moore, England stormed into a 2-0 lead in the final against West Germany, through goals from the West Ham double act, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.  The Germans pulled the game back to 2-2, to take the final into extra-time, but the Three Lions could not be denied.  Hurst’s second goal was originally disallowed, but then allowed to stand by the Russian linesman.  His hat-trick goal, in the final minute will be best remembered for the ‘They Think It’s All Over, It Is Now,’ commentary from Kenneth Wolstenholme.  For four years at least, England could call themselves World Champions.

Spain 1982: Italy 3-2 Brazil – Quite Possibly the Best Ever Match in World Cup History

The Brazilian side of 1982 was amongst one of the greatest in football history, but they were downed in this amazing match of swinging fortunes by the more measured, if not so charismatic Italians.  Coming into this group deciding match, for a semi-final berth, Juventus Paolo Rossi was in national disgrace.  Banned in 1980 for match-fixing, Rossi had served a two-year ban and become a surprise inclusion in Italy’s World Cup squad, much to the chagrin of many Italian supporters and experts.  To be honest, Rossi played like a donkey in the group stages, hopelessly lacking confident and having the fitness levels of a tortoise.  However, it all clicked together against the masterful Brazilians, as he broke into form, scoring a stunning hat-trick.  In just ninety minutes, he had become a national hero, from a national scapegoat.  Despite the goal of the game from Falcao, this amazing Brazilian team, containing Zico and Socrates amongst others, was denied the ultimate prize by an inspired Rossi.

Italy 1990: ‘Spitalia’ 90

The game in the San Siro between Holland and West Germany at Italia 90 was meant to be one of the most eagerly anticipated games in the World Cup.  In the last sixteen, the Germans wanted revenge for the Dutch knocking them out of Euro 88, in their own backyard.  It was clear that there were scores to settle and the two nations did not like one another.  The game was end-to-end for ten minutes, until Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Voller started a personal civil battle, which ruined the contest.  Voller dived over Rijkaard in the 17^th minute, which saw the AC Milan defender booked.  On his way past Voller, Rijkaard spat at him, leaving a disgusting piece of flab in Voller’s dreadlock.  From the resulting free kick, Voller clashed with the Dutch goalkeeper and Rijkaard started provoking him.  Despite Jurgen Klinsmann’s best efforts to act as peacemaker, the referee sent off both Voller and Rijkaard.  On his way off the pitch, Rijkaard spat at Voller again, which such precision, you wondered whether he had practiced it on the training pitch.  West Germany won the game 2-1, but quite frankly, no-one cares.  Italia 90 should be renamed ‘Spitalia 90.’

Japan/Korea 2002: South Korea and Turkey Rise into the Spotlight

The 2002 tournament in the Far East was when the underdog ruled.  Senegal and the United States had their moments, but the tournament’s main shocks, came from Turkey and co-hosts South Korea.  In only their second World finals, Turkey, under the guidance of Senel Gunes, reached the semi-finals, by playing an attractive element of football.  On the other hand, South Korea set the world alight, with their giantklling perform aces.  Poland and Portugal were beaten in the group stages, then Italy were stunned in the last sixteen, by a golden goal from Ahn-Jung Hwan, who played his club football in Italy for Perugia.  Spain was next, shot down in a penalty shootout, and only Germany’s Michael Ballack denied the Koreans a famous final appearance in Yokohama.  Nevertheless, Guus Hiddink had put South Korea into the spotlight, with some folklore performances that shall never be forgotten.

USA 1994: Bulgaria’s Dream Run

Before the 1994 tournament, Bulgaria had never won a World Cup game at the finals.  When debutants Nigeria won 3-0, with apparent ease in the Group D opener, it looked like this distinguished record was set to continue.  However, their fortunes suddenly turned, under the stewardship of Boris Mikhailov.  Greece ended up being slaughtered 4-0, although two of the Balkans goals were penalties.  Next up was a Maradona-less Argentina, outplayed 2-0, and looking lost without their leader.  In the second round, penalties were required to see off a brave Mexican challenge and all of a sudden, Bulgaria had made the last eight.  Surely, they would be beaten by the world champions, Germany.  A blatant Klinsmann dive won the Germans a penalty, converted by the efficient Lothar Matthaus.  Four minutes later, Hristo Stoickhov scored a stunning free kick to equalise for the unfancied Bulgarians, then the dream run headed for the semis, when the ugly-looking Iordan Letchkov stole half a yard on his marker, Thomas Hassler and powered a delicious header, past the despairing Bodo Illgner.  An Italy inspired Baggio put paid to Bulgaria’s hopes in the semi-finals, but their amazing run was one of the standout stories in America 94.

 

Germany 1974: The Dutch Version of Total Football

Brazil’s 1982 side was not rewarded for its amazing football, and neither was Holland’s 1974 Total Football extraganvanza.  Conducting the masterful show was Johan Cruyff, who was on top of the world, by the far the best player of his generation.  The ‘Cruyff Turn’ against Sweden is one of the most memorable pictures of World Cup history.  Unfortunately, West Germany won the final 2-1, but the tournament shall always be remembered for the birth of ‘Total Football,’ the way we all want football to be played today.

France 1998: Sorry Scots Continue Perennial Failures

An embarrassing 3-0 loss to Morocco in their final Group A game ended another miserable campaign for Scotland.  Eight times the Scots have reached the World Cup tournament; eight times they have failed to advance past the group stages.  Who will forget Alan Hansen’s 1982 clanger against the USSR, Costa Rica’s shock 1-0 success which ruined Scotland’s hopes in Italia 90 and Tommy Boyd’s cruel own goal in the opening match of France 98.  Let’s all laugh at Scotland, the team which fails perennially the most.

Germany 2006: Ronaldo’s Wink

Once again, it was quarter-finals and bust for England in Germany four years ago, inspired by Manchester United’s maestro, Cristiano Ronaldo.  Shortly into the second half, his United team-mate Wayne Rooney, frustrated by his lack of penetration in the match, stamped on Ricardo Carvalho’s nuts.  It was right underneath the nose of the referee, who looked set to book Rooney, until Ronaldo interfered.  He started cornering the ref, urging him to send off Rooney.  Rooney pushed Ronaldo away, and that was enough to send the temperamental striker off.  Moments later, we watched in horror at Ronaldo, winking to the Portuguese bench, hinting that this was a pre-plan action.  Scoring the winning penalty in Gelsenkirchen sealed his place as public enemy No.1, and once more, England had failed in a penalty drama.

So, there you have it.  50 favourite World Cup memories, and there is bound to be plenty more in South Africa over the next few weeks.  The greatest show on earth is now less than 48 hours away, I can’t wait.  COME ON ENGLAND!!!!


FOR PART 1: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/04/world-cup-memories-part-1.html
FOR PART 2: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/05/world-cup-memories-part-2.html
FOR PART 3: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/06/world-cup-memories-part-3.html
FOR PART 4: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/06/world-cup-memories-part-4.html