Which World Cup Was Your Favourite?

[superkeeper]

Of the ones I can properly remember in my lifetime (too young to remember France '98 & wasn't really into football yet around 2002) 2018 is probably my favourite in terms of enjoyment I had watching the games. Group games generally were entertaining with some high scoring ones and also some of the topsy turvy nature of a couple of groups in the final group games where it seemed liked at one point Argentina were going out of their group and Portugal going out in theirs, but then scraped through. Even the knockouts were entertaining in the main, which was unlike Brazil 2014, which bar that semi and Algeria running Germany close in the last 16, there wasn't much else to shout about, which was a shame as I thought that tournament had a fun group stage in the main.

In terms of drama and tension, I'd go with 2006, The battle of Nuremberg, Brazil vs France in a quarter final, where both team's line-ups would've been fit for a final, Rooney's red card, the Germany-Italy semi final and of course, that headbutt, with the subsequent image of Zidane walking past the World Cup down the tunnel, in his final ever game. A 'what it could've been' moment for all 'what it could've been' moments.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

2002 for me, seems to be the forgotten World Cup imo

Not with me it isn't! Sure Roy Keane was a tough character to handle, but as a manager you need to keep your best players onside, and Mick McCarthy failed dismally there!

They did alright without him to be fair, but an Ireland team with Roy Keane probably would have beaten Spain in the last 16.

Japan/South Korea 2002 is my third favourite World Cup after 1990 and 1994.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Good post. I think this sums up WC 1990. It was the WC that had way more poor games than any other- England/Ireland's groups was so dull (a total of 7 goals in 6 games) but you couldn't help being swept away by it as an England and/or Ireland fan- it had such a good vibe and the music seemed everywhere (Nessun Dorma & World in Motion).

If people say the 'world cup isn't the same anymore' that probably because they're just less interested due to being older or pure football saturation (as mentioned earlier) as the 2018 version was excellent and the best for many years. Far better than most for exciting, competitive matches (much better than 1990, for example). It just goes to show that it's mostly about being young or your team doing well.

The two goal scorers in that Ireland v England game, Gary Lineker a former blue and Kevin Sheedy who was still a blue. That was a very tight group. Egypt did alright as well. They drew with Ireland and the Netherlands, and England only narrowly beat them as well.

Simon Hart wrote a very good book about the 1990 World Cup. He profiles and tells the story of pretty much all the teams from that tournament. His book Everton in the 1980s is another good one as well.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Oh and i decided to support Scotland in France 1998. It was yet another group stage exit as per usual!lol

 

[WA Toffee]

Brazil 2014 because I was there and went to 6 games

 

[Preki]

I loved 86 as it was the first one I can clearly remember. Also 1990 but in retrospect the games were low scoring.
I think the magic has slightly ebbed as so few of the teams and players are unknown quantities.
Now there is so much football available to watch live/most of the top players play in Europe and every player can be googled in seconds ,so apart from the real minnows that element of surprise is gone. Players who played in the Bundesliga or Spain were genuine surprise packages (at least to British TV audiences).
I loved USA 94, no England or Scotland so I could relax and enjoy it.

 

[magicjuan]

1990, hot summer nights, Toto Schillaci and the Quad ?

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

I would have to say Italia 90. The football was great at times but i mostly remember some of them being awful. Despite this it was the first world cup where i watched as many games as possible and so it always sticks out. The emotions, the names, the tv presentation during the games was next level, pavarotti and nessun dorma, the stadiums.

86 World cup was a belter for me too. Maradona breaking my heart, but scoring one of the greatest goals i've ever seen. Absolute genius of a player, the GOAT and the player that made me completely fall in love with footy. Levels above anyone else at that tournament.

The best in terms of quality games has to be Russia 2018. Some really superb games through the whole tournament.

 

[IrishBlue2022]

The Robbie Keane goal v Germany in Japan/Korea 2002 is one my favourite world cup moments.

My Spanish GCSE oral exam was running a bit behind and i had the dilemma of waiting and missing some of/if not all the game or jumping on the next bus.

Safe to say i got the bus, as a result failed my Spanish GCSE and it was worth every second.

 

[ParkhallToffee]

Didn't really follow Mexico 86 fully, was a bit too young but can remember Lineker's hattrick and Maradona.

Italia 90 was by far the best ever. Group games were on at 16:00, 18:00 & 20:00. Perfect as I finished school at 15:30.

Cameroon beat the Argies in the opener, can remember a big tackle where an Argy got clattered. In one game someone called Dragan scored a hattrick of headers. Maradona was still pretty boss, England went close and Pavarotti on the BBC. Brilliant.

Also Frank Rijkard I think spat at Rudi Vollers 80's perm. Can still see him pulling it out of his hair ?

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Didn't really follow Mexico 86 fully, was a bit too young but can remember Lineker's hattrick and Maradona.

Italia 90 was by far the best ever. Group games were on at 16:00, 18:00 & 20:00. Perfect as I finished school at 15:30.

Cameroon beat the Argies in the opener, can remember a big tackle where an Argy got clattered. In one game someone called Dragan scored a hattrick of headers. Maradona was still pretty boss, England went close and Pavarotti on the BBC. Brilliant.

Also Frank Rijkard I think spat at Rudi Vollers 80's perm. Can still see him pulling it out of his hair ?

In fairness unlike Frank Rijkaard, Rudi Voller also has a World Cup winners medal to pull out of his hair as well! ?

 

[Stevie Nicks Bootleg]

The two goal scorers in that Ireland v England game, Gary Lineker a former blue and Kevin Sheedy who was still a blue. That was a very tight group. Egypt did alright as well. They drew with Ireland and the Netherlands, and England only narrowly beat them as well.

Simon Hart wrote a very good book about the 1990 World Cup. He profiles and tells the story of pretty much all the teams from that tournament. His book Everton in the 1980s is another good one as well.

I've read one called All Played Out about that WC, mostly from and England team perspective. Well worth a read- if only for how the Sun turned from hating the team to being their greatest cheerleaders, in the space of a few weeks.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Argentina of course beat West Germany in that 1986 World Cup final, but i think Germany have beaten them in every World Cup game they've played since. Of course they beat Argentina in the 1990 and 2014 World Cup finals as well. So since that 1986 final, Argentina have been totally and utterly owned by Germany.

 

[Stevie Nicks Bootleg]

In fairness unlike Frank Rijkaard, Rudi Voller also has a World Cup winners medal to pull out of his hair as well! ?

True, but Frank has a far better medal collection and was a better player.

 

[Cool_Blue]

I would have to say Italia 90. The football was great at times but i mostly remember some of them being awful. Despite this it was the first world cup where i watched as many games as possible and so it always sticks out. The emotions, the names, the tv presentation during the games was next level, pavarotti and nessun dorma, the stadiums.

86 World cup was a belter for me too. Maradona breaking my heart, but scoring one of the greatest goals i've ever seen. Absolute genius of a player, the GOAT and the player that made me completely fall in love with footy. Levels above anyone else at that tournament.

The best in terms of quality games has to be Russia 2018. Some really superb games through the whole tournament.

The 1990 final was 1/10 for entertainment. Brazil Italy in 1970 was 10/10. As you say, the best thing about ‘90 was the BBC’s theme tune.