The first WC I can remember is Italia 90 which still allowed the backpass and had fewer goals than this 1. But it had Maradona and Baggio, England getting to the semis, Nessun Dorma, the romance of watching as a kid. 1994 had so many outstanding individuals Baggio again, Hagi, Stoichkov, Valderrama, Romario, Roger Milla etc. This WC is definitely my favourite watching as an adult understanding the game. I certainly hope this isn't as good as it gets for the next 50 years though!
Could this be the best World Cup we'll ever see in our lives?
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This World Cup has seen one of the all time great World Cup upsets (Italy losing to Costa Rica), dramatic late equalisers, wonderful goals and some really exciting games.
The only disappointment is England, yet again.
The only disappointment is England, yet again.
Originally Posted by Steveaustin316:
“This World Cup has seen one of the all time great World Cup upsets (Italy losing to Costa Rica), dramatic late equalisers, wonderful goals and some really exciting games.
The only disappointment is England, yet again.”
“This World Cup has seen one of the all time great World Cup upsets (Italy losing to Costa Rica), dramatic late equalisers, wonderful goals and some really exciting games.
The only disappointment is England, yet again.”
I don't think Italy v Costa Rica is even the biggest World Cup shock involving Italy, never mind of all time!
I do believe that this has been the best World Cup I can remember and that goes back to 1974.
Originally Posted by carnoch04:
“I don't think Italy v Costa Rica is even the biggest World Cup shock involving Italy, never mind of all time!”
“I don't think Italy v Costa Rica is even the biggest World Cup shock involving Italy, never mind of all time!”
I said it was one of the biggest shocks, not the biggest shock.
It is up there with the big ones though. Costa Rica were supposed to be the minnows of the group, yet they managed to beat the 4 time winners. If that doesn't count as a major upset then I don't know what would.
Originally Posted by Steveaustin316:
“I said it was one of the biggest shocks, not the biggest shock.
It is up there with the big ones though. Costa Rica were supposed to be the minnows of the group, yet they managed to beat the 4 time winners. If that doesn't count as a major upset then I don't know what would.”
“I said it was one of the biggest shocks, not the biggest shock.
It is up there with the big ones though. Costa Rica were supposed to be the minnows of the group, yet they managed to beat the 4 time winners. If that doesn't count as a major upset then I don't know what would.”
They never should have been thought of as minnows. The beat USA and Mexico during qualifying and neither of them would have been thought of as minnows. I think it was down to a bit of ignorance by punters and pundits. After all, at their previous World Cup the beat Scotland and Sweden and lost narrowly to Brazil. Italy are an aging team and were unlikely to do anything much in this tournament IMO.
A much bigger shock for the Italians would've been losing against S.Korea in 2002 with a squad containing Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Cannavarro, Nesta, Buffon.
I think it's shaping up to be one of the best ever.
It's that good that even England's early exit hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for it.
There's been some great games, upsets and a bit of controversy too. The fact that there is no one team standing out as an obvious winner makes it a very competitive tournament as well. I wouldn't like to pick a winner at this stage. It's wide open and that's a good thing.
It's that good that even England's early exit hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for it.
There's been some great games, upsets and a bit of controversy too. The fact that there is no one team standing out as an obvious winner makes it a very competitive tournament as well. I wouldn't like to pick a winner at this stage. It's wide open and that's a good thing.
Originally Posted by sodavlac:
“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.”
“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.”
The World Cup in 2010 had your recipe of three outstanding footballing sides in Spain, Netherlands and Germany, two of whom met in the final (and Spain knocked out Germany earlier). But does anyone remember that as one of the all time great and memorable tournaments?
Originally Posted by g0ldenballs:
“A much bigger shock for the Italians would've been losing against S.Korea in 2002 with a squad containing Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Cannavarro, Nesta, Buffon.”
“A much bigger shock for the Italians would've been losing against S.Korea in 2002 with a squad containing Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Cannavarro, Nesta, Buffon.”
..or losing to North Korea in 1966!
I always thought that Bulgaria beating Germany in US 94 was one of the most shocking upsets I had ever seen. Didn't even contemplate that was possible.
Originally Posted by g0ldenballs:
“The first WC I can remember is Italia 90 which still allowed the backpass and had fewer goals than this 1. But it had Maradona and Baggio, England getting to the semis, Nessun Dorma, the romance of watching as a kid. 1994 had so many outstanding individuals Baggio again, Hagi, Stoichkov, Valderrama, Romario, Roger Milla etc. This WC is definitely my favourite watching as an adult understanding the game. I certainly hope this isn't as good as it gets for the next 50 years though!”
“The first WC I can remember is Italia 90 which still allowed the backpass and had fewer goals than this 1. But it had Maradona and Baggio, England getting to the semis, Nessun Dorma, the romance of watching as a kid. 1994 had so many outstanding individuals Baggio again, Hagi, Stoichkov, Valderrama, Romario, Roger Milla etc. This WC is definitely my favourite watching as an adult understanding the game. I certainly hope this isn't as good as it gets for the next 50 years though!”
How could you forget the Republic of Ireland getting to the quarter finals on what was their debut appearance at the World Cup?
Originally Posted by g0ldenballs:
“A much bigger shock for the Italians would've been losing against S.Korea in 2002 with a squad containing Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Cannavarro, Nesta, Buffon.”
“A much bigger shock for the Italians would've been losing against S.Korea in 2002 with a squad containing Totti, Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Cannavarro, Nesta, Buffon.”
That was done with the help of a hometown ref though. Giovanni Trapattoni was absolutely livid after the game (they had a 'golden goal' disallowed in extra time, Totti sent off for diving when he didn't and Korea awarded a dubious penalty)
Originally Posted by zantarous:
“I always thought that Bulgaria beating Germany in US 94 was one of the most shocking upsets I had ever seen. Didn't even contemplate that was possible.”
“I always thought that Bulgaria beating Germany in US 94 was one of the most shocking upsets I had ever seen. Didn't even contemplate that was possible.”
They weren't a bad side at all with Stoichkov, Ivanov, Balakov, Letchkov, Sirakov, Kostadinov, Yankov, Boromirov. It was their "golden generation" and they've went swiftly downhill since.
According to sporcle they were ranked 14th in the world after the world cup (when they reached the semi-final) so they must have been maybe 20-30 in the rankings just prior to their "success".
It's a surprise but not massive. Stoichkov was one of the world's best players at the time and the rest were good enough to play with big German and Spanish teams too.
Anyone remember Trifon Ivanov? He was the most rugged defender you've ever seen. Straggly beard, eyes like Nic Cage on a 3 week bender, looked like he'd kick his grandmother to win a game.
http://www.sporcle.com/games/Scorpio...d_Ranking_1994
Senegal beating France in 2002 was a bigger shock I think, especially considering the run the French were on at the time.
Costa Rica beating Italy was an upset, but any shock factor was removed by the way they'd already taken Uruguay apart really.
Originally Posted by Eurostar:
“That was done with the help of a hometown ref though. Giovanni Trapattoni was absolutely livid after the game (they had a 'golden goal' disallowed in extra time, Totti sent off for diving when he didn't and Korea awarded a dubious penalty)”
“That was done with the help of a hometown ref though. Giovanni Trapattoni was absolutely livid after the game (they had a 'golden goal' disallowed in extra time, Totti sent off for diving when he didn't and Korea awarded a dubious penalty)”
Italy missed a sitter in the last minute too but it's easier to blame the ref!
It's been good, great goals, some fantastic football but there has been no stand out team. Braxil and Argentina seem to be one man sides, France, Germany and Holland have spluttered at times.
I have a feeling the final will be contested by two teams who have been efficient but not played at their best. Whilst making for a great tournament the winners will probably in the history of the world cup be a relatively ordinary side.
I have a feeling the final will be contested by two teams who have been efficient but not played at their best. Whilst making for a great tournament the winners will probably in the history of the world cup be a relatively ordinary side.
Originally Posted by 19Nick68:
“It's been good, great goals, some fantastic football but there has been no stand out team. Braxil and Argentina seem to be one man sides, France, Germany and Holland have spluttered at times.
I have a feeling the final will be contested by two teams who have been efficient but not played at their best. Whilst making for a great tournament the winners will probably in the history of the world cup be a relatively ordinary side.”
“It's been good, great goals, some fantastic football but there has been no stand out team. Braxil and Argentina seem to be one man sides, France, Germany and Holland have spluttered at times.
I have a feeling the final will be contested by two teams who have been efficient but not played at their best. Whilst making for a great tournament the winners will probably in the history of the world cup be a relatively ordinary side.”
I agree with much of this, but I do not think it is right to call Argentina a one man team - Angel Di Maria is playing brilliantly for club and country and is having an impressive tournament.
yeah, young people always think the latest is the greatest
I dont think there have been any classic matches yet.
I dont think there have been any classic matches yet.
Originally Posted by davelovesleeds:
“The best World Cup I'll ever see in my life is the one that England wins.
I plan to live to be 375.”
“The best World Cup I'll ever see in my life is the one that England wins.
I plan to live to be 375.”
Will you be devoting those years to being able to travel back in time? That may well be the only option...
If it carries on in the same vein then this tournament could topple 1986 as my favourite World Cup Finals. A lot could depend on how good the 2014 Final is as nothing has come close to the 1986 Final since I've been watching WC's, and you need a great Final to finish things off.
this tournament has been so much fun so far, and the large majority of the games have been genuinely entertaining. I agree though that there are no great teams, and I don't think any of the games have been classic, but it has been thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
Last night's game against Germany and Algeria was pretty classic! Amazing!! Gutted Algeria didn't get anything out of it.
We're lacking a shock or two as well. I'm not saying it has to be 2002 esque but a decent run from a team from a underdog aka Bulgaria 1994, Croatia 1998, always helps light up a tournament.
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