Best world cup ever

Red the Bear

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A thread for the football history enjoyers out there and it's pretty straightforward , which Edition of the aforementioned competition was the best.
You could list your criteria as well it being the footballing strength and quality , breadth of good teams , atmosphere, the narrative surrounding it and most importantly how enjoyable it may have been.

I'm a bit biases over here due to my love of the 80s but to me 2 world cups stand shoulders above the rest the 1982 and 1986 editions, packed full of stars, enjoyable matches (legendary in fact) and even more legendary winners.

So what's your opinion.

(Mods I'm aware there are threads similar in nature to this already but I think it's a topic worth going over again and after all we're closings the occasion itself.)
 

Red Star One

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France 98 was fantastic with overall quality of teams very high and two heavy favourites clashing off in a final.
 

Champ

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USA 94, hands down.

Upsets, close groups, great games, iconic moments and no England :lol:
 

Ramos

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1994 for me too. That tournament had everything and the best team won it.
 

Red the Bear

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USA 94, hands down.

Upsets, close groups, great games, iconic moments and no England :lol:
Interesting choice as its usually ranked on the other end of the spectrum from what I gather , blazing heat, the Maradona controversy, drab games and the worst final in the history of the competition the reasons being cited.
 

Hoof the ball

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Interesting choice as its usually ranked on the other end of the spectrum from what I gather , blazing heat, the Maradona controversy, drab games and the worst final in the history of the competition the reasons being cited.
Although, it does have the most remarkable comeback from a major injury (Baresi) and arguably the greatest single performance by any defender ever (also Baresi).
 

68cob

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'94 final on the big screen at Phoenix Festival, followed (or was it preceded) by Inspiral Carpets
 

Red the Bear

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Although, it does have the most remarkable comeback from a major injury (Baresi) and arguably the greatest single performance by any defender ever (also Baresi).
Well that's just baresi being baresi, shame how it ends for the poor lad.
 

BorisManUtd

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I'm younger so don't remember but many people from my country liked 1990 in Italy, when Yugoslavia got to quarterfinals but went out on penalties vs Argentina. Alsofear think WC in Russia 4 years ago was well organised, even though there were fears about it.
 

Champ

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Interesting choice as its usually ranked on the other end of the spectrum from what I gather , blazing heat, the Maradona controversy, drab games and the worst final in the history of the competition the reasons being cited.
For me it was the best,

From Diana Ross missing a penalty, to Sweden coming third, Ireland's spirited displays, amazingly cut pitches, packed crowds for near enough every game, that quality Bulgarian side.

So many iconic moments.
 

pacifictheme

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Weird to see people say 94.generally considered a quite shit world Cup overall. 98 was much better and probably the best we have had. I did really enjoy Russia 2018 as well, but 98 was the best imo.
 

Red the Bear

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Is it? I was convinced 1994 was usually high in those kind of rankings.

Example: https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wo...world-cups-all-21-editions-from-worst-to-best
Very Interesting , maybe it's some recent revisionism, revaluation but that was certainly not how I remember it being received back in the day.

1990 and 1994 were not warmly received compare to their predecessor and successors back then.
For me it was the best,

From Diana Ross missing a penalty, to Sweden coming third, Ireland's spirited displays, amazingly cut pitches, packed crowds for near enough every game, that quality Bulgarian side.

So many iconic moments.
It's definitely subjective and I don't Newcastle disagree, it had the 90s footballing generation in all their glory which i hold dear.
 

KeanoMagicHat

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Seems like most people are giving the World Cup they grew up with. From most accounts I'd read, 1994 was a poor tournament.

2002 from an Irish perspective it was great and I was the age to have wonder about it, also for Ronaldo to have the redemption story as one of my favourite players. But a lot of bad enough late knockout games in it.

I think the last World Cup was as good as any I've seen actually. Plenty of drama, good football, good final and good winners. 2006 and 2014 were also decent and had a few generally memorable and "wow" moments - 2006 had Zidane, the final, Argentina's goal, lots of screamers. 2014 had Brazil-Germany and a great group stage.

Least favourite is easily 2010. feck the vuvuzelas.
 

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1994 for nostalgic reasons. Fond memories watching it with my dad, beating the Dutch, almost beating Germany.

2018 for footballing reasons. Really entertaining games all the way down to the final.
 

harms

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1970 was pretty great

ProsCons
First World Cup in colourHeat & altitude that influenced tempo of most games
The story — joga bonito triumphs over catenaccio
Brazil vs England with Bobby Moore's imperial performance (and Banks' save)
West Germany vs England with Germans overcoming the initial 2 goal deficit
Italy vs West Germany a.k.a. the "Game of the Century"
The final was pretty decent all things considered even if a bit one-sided
Pelé, Tostão, Rivelino, Gerson, Jairzinho, C. Alberto, Moore, Charlton, Banks, Seeler, Müller, Beckenbauer, Overath, Maier, Facchetti, Rivera, Mazzola, Riva, Cubillas, Chumpitaz, Bonev, Shesternyov etc. all near their peak

1982 had so many great stories (even though some of them were bad (*) but were great for an entertainment value — now that we know that Battiston is okay, at least)

ProsCons
That Brazil teamDisgrace of Gijón
Gentile's man-marking*Brazil didn't win it?
Battiston's incident*
Brazil vs Italy with Paolo Rossi's hat-trick — an all-time classic even though the protagonists lose
Boniek's perfect hat-trick against Belgium and the general performance of that Polish team
West Germany vs France as another contender for the greatest World Cup game ever
Bruno Conti making sure that at least one Brazilian makes it to the final
18 years old Bergomi marking Rummenigge out of the final
Zico, Socrates, Falcão, Júnior, Rummenigge, Breitner, Littbarski, Conti, Zoff, Gentile, Scirea, Tardelli, Rossi, Platini, Tigana, Amoros, Boniek, Krankl, Maradona, Ceulemans, Souness, Hansen, Shilton, Robson etc. all near their peak


Although thinking about it you can make the same table for 1966, 1974 and 1986, only 1978 will have to be excluded.

Out of the most recent ones 1998 was brilliant, 1994 wasn't all that even though it had some great stories (like any World Cup would), 1990 was a bit too defensive, 2002 lacked quality a bit... 2006 and Zidane's character arc was quite entertaining although I'm not too sure of how high the entire tournament should be evaluated. 2010 and 2014 were a bit meh (7:1 will go down in history books, of course) and I find it hard to evaluate it being from Russia, it's a completely different experience hosting it.
 
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Swordsman

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I don't know about best world cup..

but 1994 final is the best final for me. (its my 1st time watching world cup)

Italy route to final is so tedious compared to Brazil.

In that final Italy is like a city under siege, Brazil keep attacking but just can't score.. (even the goalpost contribute to save Italy)

Franco Baresi was playing with injury and I lost count how many times he have saved Italy.

Roberto Baggio was playing with injury too.

Can't blame Baresi for missing PK during shootout.. I feel like his legs were going to give way anytime.

I won't blame Roberto Baggio for the miss either. Brazil would still have won the World Cup if their last spot-kick was scored – even if Baggio had converted his.

Without the 2 Baggio (Roberto and Dino) contribution Italy couldn't have reach the final..

I don't understand why the fans at that time blamed him like he was the greatest sinner.

If people really want to look for someone to blame, Massaro should be the one. (I thought he was one of the most useless despite scoring a goal to tie in Italy final group match)

Italy doesn't have any more decent PK shooter ?
 

Chesterlestreet

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and the worst final in the history of the competition the reasons being cited.
Eh? Because it ended 0-0?

That's nonsense. It was a very tight and edgy final with two genuinely great teams failing to score in regular (or extra) time.
 

Red the Bear

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1970 was pretty great

ProsCons
First World Cup in colourHeat & altitude that influenced tempo of most games
The story — joga bonito triumphs over catenaccio
Brazil vs England with Bobby Moore's imperial performance (and Banks' save)
West Germany vs England with Germans overcoming the initial 2 goal deficit
Italy vs West Germany a.k.a. the "Game of the Century"
The final was pretty decent all things considered even if a bit one-sided
Pelé, Tostão, Rivelino, Gerson, Jairzinho, C. Alberto, Moore, Charlton, Banks, Seeler, Müller, Beckenbauer, Overath, Maier, Facchetti, Rivera, Mazzola, Riva, Cubillas, Chumpitaz, Bonev, Shesternyov etc. all near their peak

1982 had so many great stories (even though some of them were bad (*) but were great for an entertainment value — now that we know that Battiston is okay, at least)

ProsCons
That Brazil teamDisgrace of Gijón
Gentile's man-marking*Brazil didn't win it?
Battiston's incident*
Brazil vs Italy with Paolo Rossi's hat-trick — an all-time classic even though the protagonists lose
Boniek's perfect hat-trick against Belgium and the general performance of that Polish team
West Germany vs France as another contender for the greatest World Cup game ever
Bruno Conti making sure that at least one Brazilian makes it to the final
18 years old Bergomi marking Rummenigge out of the final
Zico, Socrates, Falcão, Júnior, Rummenigge, Breitner, Littbarski, Conti, Zoff, Gentile, Scirea, Tardelli, Rossi, Platini, Tigana, Amoros, Boniek, Krankl, Maradona, Ceulemans, Souness, Hansen, Shilton, Robson etc. all near their peak


Although thinking about it you can make the same table for 1966, 1974 and 1986, only 1978 will have to be excluded.
How do you rate 1986 considering that it probably had the best world cup final ever (only 1966 comes close in terms of actually being competitive and enjoyable at the same time, 1982 and 1970 were too one sided and we have no footage of 1950 and it wasn't technically a final either).
 

grahamo

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Really enjoyed Italia 90. Although it was a poor final.I thought 94 was terrible. Worst final ever. Terrible 2002 world cup with all the dodgy refereeing. I think France 98 was the best. Full of really good teams and both favourites got to the final. South Africa 2010 was good too
 
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Ramos

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If i did a personal ranking from best to worst of the WC's i've witnessed it would be:

1994
1998
2006
2014
2018
1990
2010
2002

I firmly dislike 2002.
 

Red the Bear

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Eh? Because it ended 0-0?

That's nonsense. It was a very tight and edgy final with two genuinely great teams failing to score in regular (or extra) time.
Bro. Did you even watch that final...?????
I just listed the reasons usually cited but you have to admit it wasn't a very fun final either , going off memory no real chance created on with side so it was mostly a showcasing of how good the defender were with baresi being imperial but that's it really, also the fact that Brazil was that negative set a bad taste in most folks mouth (although I actually don't think they were that pessimistic, a lot of the conceived notions was left over residue from their 1990 performances).

A cruel reversal of fate from 1982 where perhaps the better Italian team actually lost while beating the superior Brazilan side(best Brazilian side ever?) 12 years prior.

Still it certain wasn't a world cup clasic.
 

Swordsman

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Although, it does have the most remarkable comeback from a major injury (Baresi) and arguably the greatest single performance by any defender ever (also Baresi).
He went for a major surgery and returned to play in Final when he hasn't heal completely. That would never happened in today's football.
 

Moorie86

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1994 for me. My first World Cup really watched as got into football properly that year.

2002 gets a mention being on exam leave from school having a kick about with mates after the morning games
 

harms

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How do you rate 1986 considering that it probably had the best world cup final ever (only 1966 comes close in terms of actually being competitive and enjoyable at the same time, 1982 and 1970 were too one sided and we have no footage of 1950 and it wasn't technically a final either).
Also near the top, although the final, as usual, was not the best thing about it — there's Maradona's journey, Danish Dynamite's Icarus-esque campaign, Brazil vs France (albeit with both Zico and Platini being a bit past it and the former even starting the game on the bench) and Argentina vs England in the quarter-finals, USSR vs Belgium in the Round of 16 (ridiculous drama even though it was decided by a set of poor refereeing decisions).

It loses a bit when we consider star quality though — it was in-between two amazing generations, Zico/Platini/Rummenigge etc. from the early 80's were already getting older and the younger guys like Gullit/van Basten (Netherland not even featuring)/Matthäus etc. not yet fully hitting their peak*. But Maradona performing at the, perhaps, highest individual peak ever, kinda makes up for it.

* when you look at the Ballon d'Or list of that year it looks a bit bare, although it's important to note that South Americans weren't eligible at the time:
Belanov, the eventual winner, had a one-off season (and he wasn't even the best USSR player that season)
Lineker was a very prolific but a bit limited poacher
Butragueño, Elkjær, Amoros, Zavarov — all great players but when you look at the list overall it doesn't quite wow you immediately.