The 2006 World Cup is my favourite and the Italy v Germany semi-final and Italy v France final were two unforgettable games for me.

It looked like the Germans could not be beaten and were heading for another World Cup title at home before their semi-final clash with Italy. It was like a battle of the titans with Germany displaying incredible desire to win. The quality of football was brilliant, but Germany was outclassed in the end by an Italian team of the highest caliber.

The Italy v France final has to be one of the best World Cup finals in history and certainly the best one in my memory (since 1990). The two teams could not have been more different. France playing beautiful attacking football against the Italian catenaccio.

Zidane was at his very best and hungry to get a second World Cup title in the last match of his career. France looked much stronger and attacked relentlessly, but came up against an impenetrable Italian wall headed by their captain, Cannavaro. I know Pirlo received the Man of the Match award for that final, but to me it was Cannavaro's heroism that saw Italy win the title. I am yet to see a better defender.

Who can forget the drama that Materazzi created by first causing France's penalty, then scoring the only Italian goal and then getting headbutted by Zidane in a moment of inexplicable madness which probably cost France the title?

It's as if both teams were playing for their lives and were prepared to die on the pitch for the win. The football was phenomenal with superstars Zidane and Pirlo at their best and both teams being of the highest quality.

It's something I have missed a little in the quarter finals at the 2014 World Cup. Some teams were playing as if they thought they would be back to try again in four years' time, not like this was their last chance to win a World Cup. I hope we get to see the hunger of the 2006 sides in the last remaining matches.

What were your most memorable/best World Cup semi-finals and finals?

Semi-Final: Germany vs Italy, 2006.

0-0 for 118 minutes and then Italy score TWO goals in the last two minutes to put the Host Nation out. Prior to that it was a brilliant back and forth battle.

Germany vs Italy (semi final) was my favourite too. I don't think anyone predicted Italy to get something in the last 2 minutes nevermind 2 goals. The prediction was to go into pens with Germany beating them with ease.

I also enjoyed the Brazil vs France (quarter final I know) just because of Zidane. His skills that day were just pure art form.

My first WC was at 1998 so I'm fairly young (26) and I thought that final was a huge anti climax. I missed 2002 final and 2010 was awful so I guess 2006. But outside of the infamous headbutt it was a bit ordinary. Italy didn't really feel like deserved winners that day but at the same time I'm glad they won over France. Here's hoping 2014 will be a good one...

Italy were the weaker side in that final, which is why Cannavaro's incredible display against wave after wave of French attack led by one of the best footballers of all time was so special. It looked like Italy would crack under relentless pressure from the French, but they stood stoic and then obviously Zidane cracked. That final had everything: drama, passion, great individual and team displays, goals and of course penalties. Both teams left everything they had on the pitch that night.

Semi-Finals: 1982 France v Germany, 1986 France v Germany and 1990 England v Germany

Finals: 1978 Argentina v Netherlands, 1986 Argentina v Germany, 1990 Argentina v Germany

Semi-Finals: 1982, France v West Germany - An all time classic.
1990 - England v West Germany, the drama was unbearable.
2006 - Italy v Germany, incredible that it took 118 minutes for the first goal. It was a brilliant match.

Finals: Only one for me really - 1986, Argentina v West Germany. Easily the best final I've seen. Argentina brilliant in taking a 2-goal lead and it looked all over. Then the late German comeback to get them level only for Burruchaga to score that sublime winner. No final since has come close to it IMO. It capped off a fantastic tournament.

Final: Tough one and I'll get stick for this. But the 1990 final.

Atrocious match, but some memorable moments thanks to the idiot referee. Controversial penalty and red cards for two Argentian players. Plus Klinsmann performing the Dive of the Century. He actually rolled over 3 times and did an extra jump as well.

Then incredible scenes of Argentinan players accidentally "bumping" into the referee as they run in to confront him. Making it look like they couldn't stop in time lol. You also had one Argentian player wrestling a German to the ground.

Then that image of Maradona crying at the end. Not because they lost. But because of the unfairness of it all (his words).

It was also my first proper World Cup so it has a special place in my heart.

I actually don't remember the 2006 final being any good.

For me the best Final was Mexico 86 the first world cup I watched with a 2-3 thriller between Argentina and Germany.

As for Semi final the Germany v Italy one was pretty good from 2006 but surely the England v Germany one form Italia 90 has to rate up there.

2006 was a great final to me, because Zidane was my great hero, and I was willing him to win (unfortunaley it didnt work out). May not have been a great game, but the emotion was huge.

I go back as far as 1982, and it is true that the France vs Germany semis in 82 and 86 were incredible matches. The fancy French vs the Terminator style German baddies.

England vs Germany 1990 was a great match too.

Historically the Italy vs Germany one in 1970 is seen as one of the greatest games of all time, and from the youtube vids i have seen of it I can understand why.

I don't think we will forget this one in a hurry!

I feel horrible for Brazil and now hope the Germans lose the final. They didn't need to score 5 goals and humiliate the host like that. 2 or 3 would have been humiliating enough.

To stop trying in a World Cup semi-final out of pity would be far more an insult.

Really?! More than 5:0 at half time?

Absolutely. If a team is that good, show the world. Don't take pity on a team who don't want it, that's patronising them in their own house.

Yeah but its not classic in a sense "it was an all time great game" aka France vs Germany 1982 or Germany vs Italy 1970, or Brazil vs Italy 1982 etc. The match was over in half an hour, after that it was a training exercise. It was no contest.

The scoreline will never be forgotten simply because it no one has ever seen Brazil smashed off the park like that in their own back yard, and maybe never will again.