I know there are many World Cups we'll get to enjoy and it's always dangerous to make any kind of predictions or assumptions involving the future in any way, but this World Cup has been so abundantly fantastic and has had so much that I do have a niggling doubt about whether this is almost a freak occurrence - and whether future World Cups going back to the predominantly less remarkable fare they normally serve up.

Certainly when we consider the next two World Cups, Russia doesn't seem like the kind of place which'll offer conditions conducive to free-flowing, attacking football and Qatar seems even less ideal with its colossal heat and humidity - and heaven knows what kind of places will stage following tournaments with FIFA going where the money is, now where the ideal conditions for players are.

On that basis, therefore, if somebody told you this would be the best World Cup you'll ever see, would you be surprised?

I'd put money on it

I don't think this has been the best WC ever. Its in my opinion, a very good WC being over hyped a little by the media.

1994 and 1998 had similar goals per game averages than this one, 1982 and 1970 goal averages are even higher infact (but they were both before my time). No one was screaming a tournament of goals in those WC's when their ratios were just as high.

I think there is a media narrative to be biased towards the present and I'll tell you what I mean.

If you ever listen SkySports, every single Premiership season is the "best ever". Every single year we hear "this is the best premiership season in history".

2013/14 according to Sky pundits was the greatest premiership season ever, despite all three teams being relegated before the final day and the title being more or less decided baring a mircale before the final day. 2012/13 was considered the greatest season before that, then 2011/12 was and 2010/11 was and so on and so on. (proof: 2012 - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...on-ever-823588 , 2014 - http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/n...14-season.html)

The independant ran an article suggesting was Tim Cahills goal the greatest goal in WC history, when its nothing like the greatest goal in WC history. Wayne Rooney's overhead was voted the best goal in English football history, there seems a narrative to back whats now.

I just want to make it clear I don't have a problem with anyone who say this is the best/their favourite, and genuinely think that. But I do get suspicious of media pundits all agreeing together telling me that, in an attempt to generate more hype and boost ratings.

I would put this one in the top 5 for sure, but I don't see how its definitely better than some other WC's. Most 'goal of the tournaments' have been better in previous WC's if you look IMO.

Out of the 4 knockout games so far, Brazil vs Chile had a great first half, the rest of the match was ordinary (despite Martin Keown trying to tell me otherwise). Colombia vs Uruguay was awful apart from two very good goals. Holland vs Mexico was missable until the last 15 minutes. Greece vs Costa Rica was booed off at half time don't forget. But we've had the best start to a second round ever apparantly! Its like some of these pundits have never seen a penalty shootout before!

We are only part way through the WC, so a it's a bit premature to start placing it against others.

No. How does present holland, brazil, german, italian team compare to their predecessors?

Depends how old you are

1970 and 1974 are the best world cups I have seen. !970 had arguably the finest England team of all time (including 1966) and one of the greatest ever Brazil teams, while 1974 saw the arrival of total football with Holland, football heaven, with the wrong winners at the end, to add a sense of grievance, perfect!

The top half of the draw has already broken up. Columbia and Costa Rica aren't the giants of football. Columbia are ok and may even beat Brazil, but they aren't setting the world alight. Nobody would have expected Costa Rica to be in the quarters.

It's just had a few more goals than some other tournaments. How many games would you watch again completely. Not too many.

The best World Cup I'll ever see in my life is the one that England wins.

I plan to live to be 375.

It's right up there for me. Apart from England's elimination I have enjoyed every second of it. Drama, goals, excitement, shocks.

Its had everything so far - and the knock out stage has started brilliantly with two penalty shoot-outs already!!

It's been a very good tournament so far, certainly better than the previous 2 or 3, and I'm not expecting too much from the next 2 in Russia and Qatar.

Lots of goals and exciting, dramatic games have made it very enjoyable. The timing of games has aslo meant I've been able to watch most of it unlike previous tournaments which have had games on during the working day.

Where its lacked I think is there hasn't yet really been a team or individual that has truly sparkled or set the tournament alight. I'm thinking of Brazil in '70 and '82, Holland in the 70's or someone like Maradona or Zidane. Messi, Neymar and Robben have shown flashes of brilliance but haven't excited me in quite the same way (yet).

Also England's early exit will probably mean it ends up less memorable for me than tournmaments like Italia 90.

It's definitely one of the great ones. Goals galore, drama aplenty, lots of upsets and a fantastic atmosphere in the stadiums.

It's the best one I've seen so far (up to this point of the tournament) with '98 a close second. I've watched avidly since '94 but couldn't judge the ones before as I never saw enough of them.

However, it tends to be the final stages people remember afterwards so I guess it depends on what kind of ending we get.

It's certainly been an exciting world cup but much of this has been down to some very poor defensive play. Yes, there's been some great goals but then you always get great goals at the world cup.

My favourites tournaments were 1978, the first one I saw in colour and it seemed exotic being in Argentina, and 1986 which had some classic matches.

The best match I've ever seen at a world cup though was the France vs W. Germany semifinal. 1-1 going into extra time. The French go 3-1 up but then the Germans pull it back and go on to win on penalties. Had Schumacher's flying tackle on Battiston as well!

They are all a lot younger?

Depends which predecessors. Germany are miles better than their squad around 1998-2002 - for example. I guess just about every country will have had stronger (and weaker) sides in the past but that's to be expected, right? I doubt there was ever a world cup where every country rolled up with their best ever side.

Its been a fantastic tournament so far with so many great teams just going all out on the offence. I am not sure why that is and what makes it different to previous tournaments.

However the one thing that lets all Word Cups down is the final. IMO there hasn't been a decent final since 86 where there were 5 goals scored. Every final since has been either one sided or alter defensive.

It's more likely, you'll be able to die and be resurrected by that time.

Brazil = vastly inferior to all of their previous ones. Italy = not great. Germany and the Netherlands probably on a par with some of their good WC teams.

No. It's been unpredictable and that's been fun, but there's no great or even very good sides in it. It's like watching the Championship of World Cups where anyone can beat anyone and the standard isn't that high. Personally I'd like to see some heavyweight battles between some excellent teams and I they're lacking in this tournament for me.

Yes, but two or three outstanding sides steamrolling everyone 3-0 or 4-0 and then meeting in the final wouldn't necessarily give us a "great" World Cup, far from it in fact.

People are looking for drama and entertainment and goals and memorable games, and this World Cup certainly has that.

The way things are heading, i would probably place this wc in a list like this

1. 1970
2. 1986
3. 1982
4. 1998
5. 2014

Won't decide till end of the tournament, but it is shaping up to be better than 2006 and 2010 that is for sure.

Each to their own. Whilst I wouldn't want to go to your extreme I would prefer two or three outstanding sides plus 3 or 4 teams looking dangerous with it building up to them all meeting each other in the knock out rounds. As it is I think teams have largely struggled to find consistency with Colombia and the now departed Mexico as possible exceptions.

Edit: I suppose Costa Rica have been consistent too, although their level of football hasn't been much to write home about imo.

There are no bad World Cups. Just great and greater. If anyone doubts this then they need to sit through three hours of Olympic swimming/rowing/running. Or the bore fest that is Wimbledon. I of course speak as a football fan so anyone who watches those other sports is perfectly entitled to take the opposite viewpoint. I am assuming everyone on here at the moment is a football fan as well. Even Italia 90 which gets criticised all the time holds some fantastic memories. Schillaci....Gazza`s tears....The Three Tenors.....

It's running '98 close for me at the moment. Need to see how the latter stages pan out. Certainly makes a nice change to see everyone going for it rather than in 2010 where quite a few teams fielded 2 holding midfielders and games were a lot more cagey.