Being born in the late 80's, for me this has so far been the most exciting World Cup by a distance.
2002 and 2006 were exciting for different reasons. One saw a few of the underdogs make good runs as far as the SF with 2006 quite the opposite.
2010 and 2014 weren't particularly exciting for me. Between the Vuvuzelas and 2AM kick offs, I didn't get much joy watching these tournaments. Possibly due to the approach of the successful teams in the competitions.
This World Cup however, so far, has been very exciting. Only Uruguay are yet to concede and I believe France vs Denmark was the first 0-0. Almost every game seems to mean something and I can't keep away.
Does anybody else feel the same? 1990 looked an amazing World Cup, unfortunately I wasn't even 2.
Best World Cup?
posted on 28/6/18
The WCs we saw as kids are always special so need to make allowances. From my dodgy memory:
I remember my dad watching 82 but nothing of the football myself. A shame because it seems to have been a classic.
86 - lots of great matches and Maradona at his demonic best.
90 - great memories because of England's run but objectively not a classic tournament. It went down in folklore because of Gazza, the penalties and the the three sodding tenors (which in turn made middle class people adopt the game and ushered in gentrification and the Premiership).
As I've grown older and less innocent, the WC has had less and less hold on me. But I'm really enjoying this one so far. I reckon it's the most I've enjoyed a summer tournament since Euro 96.
posted on 28/6/18
BruceandPally,
I think also the reason why people liked these tournaments was the host team looked like contenders, Italy in 1990 and England in 1996 (although I personally didn't enjoy the tournament)
Usually when the host are doing well, there's a buzz in the tournament.
posted on 28/6/18
It’s tbe spectacle that people enjoy. The games themselves have been hit and miss.
posted on 28/6/18
Agreed about it being the last time I felt we could have any success at a tournament.
I think we could’ve beaten Holland. France and Brazil would’ve been tough, but it a one off game and with the likes of Owen, Beckham, Shearer etc all at the top of their game, and a team that actually played like one, who knows?
If we put in a good performance tonight then regardless of the result I will start to believe. If we get thrashed then it’ll ruin the party a bit.
posted on 28/6/18
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 1 minute ago
It’s tbe spectacle that people enjoy. The games themselves have been hit and miss.
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Not sure about that.
I perfectly timed my paternity leave for the start of the World Cup, so I’ve watched pretty much every game that hasn’t been on at the same time as another. There’s been some absolute crackers and some real shocks in this tournament.
Compared to Brazil and South Africa it has been great.
posted on 28/6/18
Well being a boring old git, it has to be 1966 when we won the Cup on my 21st birthday.
posted on 28/6/18
As I've grown older and less innocent, the WC has had less and less hold on me. But I'm really enjoying this one so far. I reckon it's the most I've enjoyed a summer tournament since Euro 96.
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Tv coverage of so much football has taken the shine off it imo
Back in the 70s 80s and early 90s there was still a bit of mystery about the south Americans and even the top European countries
You only saw domestic football and highlights of the European/Cup Winners and UEFA cups... And only really until the British sides went out
There's no surprises really anymore... No buzz of anticipation of what Brazil will be like etc... We know nearly all the players well
Its just more football on tv than the event it was when I was younger
posted on 28/6/18
From the World Cups I have watched, the best World Cups were:
1982 - most dramatic WC, with unforgettable matches and even among the losers were great teams that are remembered fondly at least in their respective countries
1986 - lots of drama, very exotic, suprising performances by teams like Russia, Belgium ...
1998 - the quality of the matches was probably higher than in any other World Cup; interesting stars (Chilavert, Laudrup, Hadji ...)
posted on 28/6/18
1982
the last one that was truly competitive, interesting and about pure football.
all the others since have, largely, been about show ponies looking for the 'break' - and very often getting away with it
posted on 28/6/18
comment by I'll be The Judge of that! (U21434)
posted 8 hours, 17 minutes ago
I remember Argentina 78 been special as a kid. Ticker tape, Arie Hann, Mario Kempes and Luque, Scotland wanting their money back and that fixed match: Argy vs Peru.
And yes, England didnt qualify.
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That was a great tournament to watch and Kempes and Luque set it alight. I'm trying to remember the one (it may have been 74) where the Argies played Brazil and both sides forgot there was a football involved and just kicked lumps out of each other, There were something like 94 fouls in 90 minutes. Best team ever Brazil 70, best game Brazil 1 England 0.