I'd have to go for my 1st World Cup- in 1982 (i was alive at the time of 74/78 ones but too young to remember and my knowledge of them is from watching old footage since). The 1982 was the one where I was so looking forward to the build-up, had the sticker book, remember watching the botched-up draw, many games being on just as I got home from school, starting around 4.00pm, etc.
Some of the best ever WC matches (Italy vs Brazil; France vs West Germany) fairly obvious fixes (West Germany vs Austria), rumoured fixes (Italy vs Cameroon), some great players who announced themselves on the world stage, often ahead of more illustrious team mates- particularly Alain Giresse, Falcao, Giancarlo Antognioni, Bruno Conti, Pierre Littbarski, Ziggy Boniek (although he was Poland's emerging star by then).
Maradona losing his rag and kicking out vs Brazil (probably the aftermath of Gentile's treatment of him a few days before), Schumacher's horrible foul on Battiston, Keegan's missed sitter, Tardelli's celebration, NI beating Spain, Algeria beating W.Germany! El Salvador's goal celebration despite being about 8-0 down at the time (they lost 10-1), great photograph of Maradona being surrounded by six Belgium players.
Great goals from Brazil, particularly the 2 vs Russia, despite their lummox of a forward Serginho "when he plays the ball becomes square"; other memorable goals off the top of my head from Six (France); Czerniatynski (Belgium) after Jan Cuelemans great, determined run), Robson after 27 seconds and David Narey making it 1-0 vs Brazil "with a toe-poke" (according to Jimmy Hill) and looking like he sh*t himself and he knew what was coming next! The Prince of Kuwait asking for Giresse's goal to be disallowed- and it was!!!! and Alan Hansen running into Willie Miller to knock Scotland out of the world cup.
1986 also good as games were on late and my mum let me stay up for them (e.g. Belgium's classic win over USSR; England having 4 Everton players in the team and getting it right vs Poland). 1990 was probably the biggest (as England and Ireland did so well) and it had the best vibe- but as a whole the tournament wasn't that good- and a terrible final to boot. The last one in Russia was definitely one of the best too. Some great games.
