Best world cup ever

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

1998 was so damn good. Head and shoulders above everything else. 1994 brilliant too.

Big affinity for 2006 too, but only because I went to the whole thing and saw so much of Germany. Fell in love with the place.

 

[We need an rvn]

I know it’s not a World Cup and has a different feel being just Europe, but 1988 with Holland against the ussr, van basten volley, gullit, rijkaart will never leave me.

But the Ronaldo come back in 2002 is a great memory from a World Cup perspective

 

[Stack]

1970 was pretty great

Pros	Cons
First World Cup in colour	Heat & 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)

Pros	Cons
That Brazil team	Disgrace 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.

Great take on it.
Both great tournaments

 

[Stack]

To be really honest I love them all.

 

[Forest Red]

My first World Cup memory was 1978 and Archie‘s goal. I remember the ticker tape etc and the whole atmosphere feeling exotic - a world away from muddy pitches and rainy Britain. Italia 90 was easily the best as we had a good team and a chance. After that or was all false starts and flattering to deceive (and turnip Taylor) culminating with The farce that was South Africa. I’ve not watched International football since.

 

[Stookie]

82 for me.

 

[LouieVanGallsRedArmeh]

Definitely 1998, so much awesome matches right from the group stage up to the final. I almost remember them all, it's weird.

 

[Lynty]

1998 or 2018 were most entertaining for me.

 

[rimaldo]

got to be this one. no gays to spoil it.

 

[r1z3mu]

1982 was the best.
Brasil - Zico, Falcao, Socrates...
Italy - Rossi, Conti, Tardelli...
Germany - Rummenigge, Littbarski, Matthaeus...
Argentina - Maradona
France - Platini

 

[Reditus]

94 was a fantastic world cup apart from the final.

2002 also terrific.

I actually think the last one in Russia was great too

They are my top 3

 

[Reditus]

Why do folks not like 94(just reading thread now) was it just because England weren’t in it?

 

[rimaldo]

Why do folks not like 94(just reading thread now) was it just because England weren’t in it?

it was more that if a game ended a draw at the end of extra time, teams had to shoot up a school to see how many dead bodies they racked up instead of having a penalty shootout.

 

[Kanu]

2006. So many stars it's unbelievable. Also the first world cup where I basically watched as many games as I could. Great final and semi finals too.

Fond of 2010 as well, because I'm Dutch. Hated the vuvuzelas, but other than that I really liked the vibes.

2014 my 2nd favourite after 2006. Brazil - Germany by far the most shocking match I've seen, especially the first half, couldn't believe it. Spain - Netherlands was euphoric for me. RvP with the iconic header.

 

[spottieottiedopaliscious]

‘06 World Cup was my first World Cup I watched and followed. My friends boss let him use their projector to watch the games on his basement wall. We then stacked a couple of mattresses and created “stadium seating”. It was such a fun experience we would sneak beers into the basement and drink them through take out cups with straws. When there wasn’t a game on we would play fifa 06 (the best version) and have tournaments. Just a great memory and fun time.

 

[Vapor trail]

2002

 

[Lj82]

94 was the first I have memories of and I still remember some of the games and goals very well. The Romario-Bebeto partnership was brilliant to watch.

I know most people dislike 02, but as an Asian that was the world cup with the best atmosphere for us. For the first time we did not need to wake up in the middle of the night to catch games. There were live screening everywhere and the atmosphere was great.

Subsequent world cups lost its magic for me. Part of the reason being FIFA starting to charge exorbitant prices to watch the matches.

 

[tentan]

2014.

Many great games and attacking football.

 

[antohan]

Best for me was 1986. Many NTs which are easily the best or Top 3 in their country's history, packed with superstars, basketball scorelines... Awesome. 1982 was similar but I didn't like the double group stage format and I particularly enjoyed the dark horses of 1986 over having a better Brazil or Italy vintage.

1998 is the modern one that comes closest on overall NT and player quality but by then you no longer had the enchantment of watching teams and players you hardly got to see at all in between World Cups. That was absolutely massive and anyone post Italia 90 simply doesn't understand it.

2006 was sensational as a fan experience, Germans definitely know how to run these things.

2010 is a favourite of mine for the way my boys and particularly Forlán lit it up after years of abject performances or absences.

1994 was shite bar a few memorable games (the green wall, Romania-Argentina, Sweden and Bulgaria advancing in knockouts, the final as a -heartbreaking- contest).

 

[weetee]

2010 was great, agreed. Personally liked the Vuvuzelas, on the telly, as the only person on the planet (except those using 'em of course). Nice tourney, not the best but extremely enjoyable.

 

[Gazza]

1998 was so damn good. Head and shoulders above everything else. 1994 brilliant too.

Big affinity for 2006 too, but only because I went to the whole thing and saw so much of Germany. Fell in love with the place.

I was at 2006 for three games myself. Fantastic tournament. I stayed in Stuttgart. Saw Australia vs Croatia which was just brilliant and also the third placed play off with the hosts winning and Schweini scoring. Atmosphere where I was staying was fantastic throughout.

 

[Tarrou]

2006, spent the entire month getting fecked up in Medellin

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

98 was my favourite but 2014 is up there for the 7-1

 

[colombianmancunian]

For me as a Colombian, it was Brazil 2014, by far.

Trying to be more objective, due to it being decided by penalties after a draw, USA 1994.

 

[HaliRed]

1982 for me - easily.

• The W. Germany-Austria farce that changed points awarded for a win around the world.
• N. Ireland beating Spain (and the ref and the entire country) to cancel their flights home and make the second round.
• Italy tying all three games to barely scrape out of the first round only to win it all
• Brazil v Italy
• France v W. Germany
• Marco Tardelli's celebration in the final
• Kuwaiti sheikh coming onto the field to convince his team to keep playing
• Scotland taking the lead against Brazil ony to be pasted 1-4
• England going out without losing a match
• Sean Connery narrating the best World Cup documentary ever!

1986 comes second - wonderful matches, and Maradona at his best

1998 comes third - The quality of the football was astounding

 

[Pericles]

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).

I think that is the greatest individual performance in a World Cup Final ever. By any player in any position.

 

[RedBanker]

The World Cup with that Chilean or Columbian chick being all over the news.

 

[Red the Bear]

98 was my favourite but 2014 is up there for the 7-1

You're German?

 

[Bondi77]

1966...England win at Wembley...bloody obvious innit?

 

[alexthelion]

1970

 

[Bondi77]

1982 was the best.
Brasil - Zico, Falcao, Socrates...
Italy - Rossi, Conti, Tardelli...
Germany - Rummenigge, Littbarski, Matthaeus...
Argentina - Maradona
France - Platini

England - Keegan

 

[Frank Grimes]

1990 was not great from a technical standpoint but was probably the best outside that. The stadia, especially San Siro, Schillaci, Scifo, Lacatus, Skuravy, Milla.
Maradona v Italy in Naples, Cameroon and Ireland getting to the quarter finals. England getting to the semis, Gazza's tears. Splendid.

 

[Krakenzero]

My personal favorites are the first one I followed entirely (1998) and the one I actually went to (2014). Can't talk about the previous ones so I'll just leave a little summary:

1994 - I only remember watching the whole final, which wasn't a great match. Some great surprise teams out there (Nigeria, Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden) altough after Germany and Argentina were out it seemed clear that this was Brazil's to lose.

1998 - Great tournament overall with fantastic talents and a lot of unpredictability: easily 6 of the 8 teams in QF had a decent chance of winning the whole thing. Denmark's last dance and Croatia's cinderella story were great. The final was underwhelming tough.

2002 - Really weird tournament, with poor refereeing, some of the favorites dissapointing (NT and clubs schedules collided a lot at the time and lots of big names were injured or exhausted) and a deserving champion but one that also had a dream fixture, which included Germany losing its best player for the final. Triple R tough.

2006 - Now that's a good tournament with most of what we want in a WC. Brazil's big four, Zidane story, a fantastic Argentina squad, a very entertaining and young German team. Didn't care that much for Italy tough. They did keep calm at the most crucial moments (unlike Zizou), altough poor refereeing help them surviving at earlier rounds.

2010 - I really dislike this WC. Vuvuzelas + the awful Jabulani + a freaking octopus being the center of attention. Spain's Tiki Taka prevailed, but they didn't face a big challenge the whole tournament (maybe unfinished Germany in SF) and still struggled from beggining to end. Mention to Uruguay's great run and to that match with Ghana.

2014 - Extraordinary tournament, exciting from beggining to end. Maybe the best group stage in modern WC. Elimination rounds had less flair but a lot of tension (Brazil-Chile, Germany-Argelia, Argentina-Switzerland, Mexico-Netherlands). Plus the 7-1, plus a great champion, plus an exciting final (I don't know why some remember it as a boring match. It wasn't).

2018 - kind of dissapointing to me. The level wasn't bad, but most teams played exactly the same which didn't lead to a lot of great matches (Russia-Spain, France-Argentina, Belgium-Japan and England-Croatia come to mind). Half the goals were VAR penalties or own goals which didn't help either. The final was a cakewalk for France since Croatia was knackered.

 

[PepG]

Yeah..that Uruguay-Ghana match in 2010 and that Suarez penalty incident is probably the most iconic moment in the World Cups history for me. How he became a hero from a villian in a matter of a seconds is legendary..

 

[World Game]

2010 > 2014 > 2018

2010
- first time in Africa
- opening goal to remember for the century
- many dramatic moments
- mix of footballing styles
- African team making deep run
- best official songs (waving flag and waka waka)
- super competitive final with late winner
- team which never won before winning it

2018
- penalty and set piece slog fest
- one sided final

2014 in the middle ground between 2010 and 2018.

 

[RedBanker]

I remember the Italy vs South Korea match of the Korea Japan world cup. Never saw a game so rigged ever again or before.

 

[Shakesy]

2010, cause I got to watch 4 games for free from the press box (including the one where Green spilled that ball), chat to De Rossi about joining United, and see an unsmiling Wenger up close.

Objectively, it was the worst.

 

[Eurotrash]

I remember the Italy vs South Korea match of the Korea Japan world cup. Never saw a game so rigged ever again or before.

The game tomorrow has potential.

 

[Thiagoal]

I think most people’s ‘best’ World Cup will also be their first for nostalgia reasons. Italia 90 was the first I remember and moments like the Argentina v Cameroon shock, Roger Milla, David Platt’s volley and Gazza’s tears will live long in the memory. Looking back, the quality of some of the games was probably really poor, but it’s certainly the World Cup I hold most fondly! I’ll be honest many of the 2000 competitions are a bit of a blur for me!

 

[Shakesy]

I think most people’s ‘best’ World Cup will also be their first for nostalgia reasons. Italia 90 was the first I remember and moments like the Argentina v Cameroon shock, Roger Milla, David Platt’s volley and Gazza’s tears will live long in the memory. Looking back, the quality of some of the games was probably really poor, but it’s certainly the World Cup I hold most fondly! I’ll be honest many of the 2000 competitions are a bit of a blur for me!

Italia '90 - the computer game will live forever in my memory