Big Question: What moment defines past World Cups?

May 15th, 2006 | by: Chris Heidrich |

Azteca Stadium Shadow I had to go back through Bob’s Big Questions to make sure this one had not been asked already. When I think about previous World Cups that I’ve watched on the telly there’s always one or two things that come to mind immediately. For example, the ‘86 World Cup in Mexico was the first one I was old enough to watch on telly and while most might think of Maradona’s Hand of God or the goal of the century, I immediately think of that bloody great shadow that was always in the middle of the Azteca Stadium.

What are your definitive moments of previous World Cups?

Italia ‘90: As much as I cringe to admit it, probably the mascot, Ciao. But right up there is the celebrations of the hither-to unknown Toto Schillaci and a Cameroon team that made us take notice of African football.

USA ‘94: A shame that this one had to end in penalties but Roberto Baggio’s miss in the final was agonizing.

France ‘98: Michael Owen’s goal against Argentina sticks in my mind, but it’s tough to remember cos I was drunk for most of that tournament (and I was the bartender!)

Japan/Korea ‘02: Ronaldo’s haircut for the final took the cake in what was a tournament full of shoddy ‘do’s.

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PeterG

Cuellar’s hairdo for Mexico in 1978.

Rashidi Yekini’s inside-the- goal celebration in 1994.

Chilavert pulling a crying Acuna to his feet after Parguay was eliminated in 1998.

Ahn Jung-Hwan lying by the corner flag after scoring the winning goal against Italy in 2002.
kuko

‘74′ the dutch wild parties and there wild play

‘98′ thurams double in the semi against croatia
Chris

Brazil going from the best team ever in 1970 to really awful and very dirty in 1974, and getting a football lesson from Cruyff and Holland.

Argentina in 1978 when they came out for their home games and the crowd made the stadium look like Times Square at midnight on New Years Eve with all the tickertape.

Socrates scoring his fabulous goal for Brazil in their opening game against USSR in 1982.
After that game you knew it was going to be a special World Cup.
USA

82 – This was the first cup I was old enough to watch on television. Two defining moments (this cup was too good for just one):

One is the hearbreaking 1:2 loss of the extremely promising USSR team to the Brazilian squad. USSR still made it to the 2nd stage, but lost out to Bonek’s Poland on goal differential.

Two is the crying German defenseman Shtilike after missing a penalty kick in a semifinal against France. Germany eventually won on penalty kicks. This was a classic match featuring two great teams.
OPKO

1986
- hand of god
- France v Brasil QF penalties
- German goalie (Schumacher) with disgraceful tackle vs France in semi-final

1990
- Cameroon
- German machine

1994
- Oleh Salenko (Russia)with a bucket of goals in a handful of games
-

1998
- French machine, Croatia breaking out

2002
- South Korea and Japan with strong showings

2006
- ???
http://www.myspace.com/colman1860 colman1860

2002: How about the Irish penalty skills versus Spain?
http://www.girlysportsrant.blogspot.com tracy

1982: Tardelli’s wild celebration after scoring in the final

1986: I agree.. the big spider shadow in the middle.

1990: Why the heck was the Semifinal played in Napoli? Stoopid Italians

1994: Koreas and Saudis play in the group stage and then Baggio’s miss at the end on a bum leg.

1998: Nothing that memorable

2002: The Korean crowd (insane)

2006(?): Rise of the elephants perhaps?
Todd Utah

1986 the greatest goal every scored in an almost length of the field dash by Diego Maradona. He absolutley dominated that World Cup. What a player.
Swaski

Australia all the way mate!!!!