Yakuza_devils
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2016
- Messages
- 2,902
1986 the only world cup where a player almost single handedly won the world cup for his county. Until today he is the God in the country.
I'd rank Euro 2000 as the best, too. Zidane was fantastic in that tournament, and there were great, exciting matches in every round (maybe not the QFs so much) including a dramatic end to the final. Euro 2008 was up there as well - let down by a bit of a dull final and one-sided SF with Spain beating Russia easily.Nostalgia will inevitably play a part, but in addition to 1998 being my favourite World Cup, 2000 was my favourite European Championship (i'd still rank that as the best major tournament that I've seen bar none).
I take it you didn't watch South Korea vs Spain thenI remember the Italy vs South Korea match of the Korea Japan world cup. Never saw a game so rigged ever again or before.
The 3 Germans mentioned have to be the most underrated players of all time. What a trio. Hardly get mentioned when discussing the worlds best.1982 was the best.
Brasil - Zico, Falcao, Socrates...
Italy - Rossi, Conti, Tardelli...
Germany - Rummenigge, Littbarski, Matthaeus...
Argentina - Maradona
France - Platini
On a side note, but after watching highlights of the Argentina-England QF during the Covid lockdown (I wasn't born when the tournament took place), and seeing that Terry Fenwick cynically hacked Maradona down numerous times (including a few times after he had already been booked early on), elbowed him off the ball a couple of times, and literally few minutes before the opening goal jumped with Maradona, led with his arm (how ironic) and knocked him down (so he was either trying to handle the ball or elbow Maradona yet again or both), I thought that the hand of god was even more awesome, plus his skill during the build-up to the goal as he waltzed past 2-3 English players as if they were training cones before passing to Valdano, was exquisite. Even before we get to the wonder goal 4 minutes later, the hand of god seems like the perfect way for him to get his revenge against Fenwick and England (he was also fouled numerous times by other English players as well).1986 the only world cup where a player almost single handedly won the world cup for his county. Until today he is the God in the country.
Yes Euro 2000 was such an embarrassment of riches, packed full of high quality, exciting and dramatic matches, and a lot of big name players delivered the goods at that tournament. Even from teams that were eliminated in the group stage, the likes of Beckham and Nedved were still excellent. And I agree that Euro 2008 was also excellent. Spain were far more entertaining to watch at that tournament that they were at either the 2010 World Cup or Euro 2012 IMO, in-part due to the tactics / line-ups of Aragones vs. Del Bosque, and in-part due to them having an aura / fear factor in 2010 and 2012 with opposing teams setting up negatively against them.I'd rank Euro 2000 as the best, too. Zidane was fantastic in that tournament, and there were great, exciting matches in every round (maybe not the QFs so much) including a dramatic end to the final. Euro 2008 was up there as well - let down by a bit of a dull final and one-sided SF with Spain beating Russia easily.
Does single handedly means the rest of the 10 players lie down and sleep, let Maradona to do the job alone ?1986 the only world cup where a player almost single handedly won the world cup for his county. Until today he is the God in the country.
But you've to check this time FIFA 2022, It's surely going to be crazy. I'm very excited to stream all the matches online. especially after knowing that Fifa 2022 has become the most expensive world cup in History with an Estimate $220 Billion.For me it was the best,
From Diana Ross missing a penalty, to Sweden coming third, Ireland's spirited displays, amazingly cut pitches, and packed crowds for nearly enough every game, that quality Bulgarian side.
So many iconic moments.
You mean Breitner? I don’t believe that Matthäus was even a starter back then while Breitnigge were the backbone of that team.1982 was the best.
Brasil - Zico, Falcao, Socrates...
Italy - Rossi, Conti, Tardelli...
Germany - Rummenigge, Littbarski, Matthaeus...
Argentina - Maradona
France - Platini
The group stages were rubbish, endless 0-0s and low scoring games. Think they had issues with the new ball introduced on eye of the tournament (well Rob Green did...) so that set the bar although there were a few decent games in knock out stages (Uruguay-Ghana and the late Dutch comeback v Brazil).No one has said 2010, those goddam vuvuzela's ruined that entire tournament, basically unwatchable.
Maradona said In his autobiography, Matthaus was the best player he ever faced.You mean Breitner? I don’t believe that Matthäus was even a starter back then while Breitnigge were the backbone of that team.
Matthäus grew more and more important as the tournaments went, from almost successfully man-marking Maradona in the final of 1986 to leading Germany to the title as its best player in 1990.
Breitner was only 1 of 4 players to score in more than one World Cup final. Not many people now that!You mean Breitner? I don’t believe that Matthäus was even a starter back then while Breitnigge were the backbone of that team.
Matthäus grew more and more important as the tournaments went, from almost successfully man-marking Maradona in the final of 1986 to leading Germany to the title as its best player in 1990.
You are right and your memory is better than mine . Lothar was only 21 at that time and was used mostly as substitute.You mean Breitner? I don’t believe that Matthäus was even a starter back then while Breitnigge were the backbone of that team.
Matthäus grew more and more important as the tournaments went, from almost successfully man-marking Maradona in the final of 1986 to leading Germany to the title as its best player in 1990.
Looking back, I have to agree. They also had Dani Guiza who gave them that different option up front, I appreciated his presence at the time. I remember saying that Russia - Netherlands QF was up there with the best games I'd seen, thrilled with the outcome, but a friend being disappointed it had robbed us of a Netherlands - Spain semi-final, which could have been truly special. The Dutch dismantling the previous World Cup finalists in the group stage, and then being the victims of a sensational Russia, was thrilling at the time though.Yes Euro 2000 was such an embarrassment of riches, packed full of high quality, exciting and dramatic matches, and a lot of big name players delivered the goods at that tournament. Even from teams that were eliminated in the group stage, the likes of Beckham and Nedved were still excellent. And I agree that Euro 2008 was also excellent. Spain were far more entertaining to watch at that tournament that they were at either the 2010 World Cup or Euro 2012 IMO, in-part due to the tactics / line-ups of Aragones vs. Del Bosque, and in-part due Spain having an aura / fear factor in 2010 and 2012 with opposing teams setting up negatively against them.
Loads. Branco's free kick, Hagi's lob, Al-Owairan's slalom, Klinsmann's goal vs South Korea, Wynalda's free kick, Maradona's goal, etc...Plenty of spectacular goals (long shots) in 1994, if i dont remember wrong?
The funniest and most shocking game was when Brazil lost 7-1 against Germany in the semi-final.
2006 under the bottom? Edit: oh probably a typo in the middle Tier.I've watched the last 6 World Cups and would categorise them as follows:
Top Tier - 1998 and 2018
Middle Tier - 2016 and 2014
Bottom Tier - 2002 and 2010
Nostalgia will inevitably play a part, but in addition to 1998 being my favourite World Cup, 2000 was my favourite European Championship (i'd still rank that as the best major tournament that I've seen bar none).
Historically, I'd imagine that the 2 World Cups held in Mexico would rank extremely highly. When I went on the Estadio Azteca stadium tour (including getting my photo taken with the hand of god statue), I was thinking that it had a pretty unrivalled history with both Pele and Maradona scoring World Cup goals and lifting the trophy there, probably the 3 most iconic / famous World Cup goals all being scored there (Carlos Alberto's in the 1970 final and Maradona's 2 goals within 5 minutes against England in 1986), the famous Italy-West Germany 1970 semi-final taking place there etc.
Another thing 1998 had going for it was, even if you knew and had seen these guys, their brand recognition was massive due to videogames. That's around the time Championship Manager becomes huge and the Fifa 98 game had a great balance of great gameplay without having to know the controls and special moves inside out.I feel there was an enchantment, at least for me watching France 1998 as my first World Cup, because I only players like Marcelo Salas, Brian Laudrup, Batistuta, even Ronaldo, very occasionally.
Great point with football games... now that you mention it, I felt like I knew the players pretty well after playing Fifa 98 Road to France 98Another thing 1998 had going for it was, even if you knew and had seen these guys, their brand recognition was massive due to videogames. That's around the time Championship Manager becomes huge and the Fifa 98 game had a great balance of great gameplay without having to know the controls and special moves inside out.
So yeah, you weren't watching them as regularly as today but got exposed to the thought/notion of them regularly.
That's quite different from the 70s and 80s when games against Eastern bloc countries had this Rocky vs Ivan Drago feel to them (just because), or you spent the entire runup to the 1990 World Cup hearing of Toni Polster and how he was going to score freely against anyone on his path. I remember examining his Panini sticker in awe of the next big thing... It turned out he was a pretty average striker who had a sensational purple patch in 1989-90.
Hell of a spicy take. Almost all fans would have 1994 as a great WC, with Italia 90 being very boring.Italia 90 by some distance and 94 being the worse so far.
Phenomenal game. Perhaps the best football game of all time. Unfortunately, it also feels like the gateway that led to EA churning out bloated shite refreshed versions of games, rather than actually try.Great point with football games... now that you mention it, I felt like I knew the players pretty well after playing Fifa 98 Road to France 98
I was my first Fifa, I was spoiled. Indoor mode was indeed fantastic (why was it never seen again?) and also there were silly cheat codes you could use -- off the top of my head, there were invisible walls placed on the pitch and players with big potato heads. Brilliant game.Phenomenal game. Perhaps the best football game of all time. Unfortunately, it also feels like the gateway that led to EA churning out bloated shite refreshed versions of games, rather than actually try.
Indoor mode was incredibly fun.
I reckon they just cut costs. Most games cut out all of the fun now.I was my first Fifa, I was spoiled. Indoor mode was indeed fantastic (why was it never seen again?) and also there were silly cheat codes you could use -- off the top of my head, there were invisible walls placed on the pitch and players with big potato heads. Brilliant game.