Big Question: What was your Most Memorable World Cup Final?

July 8th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

These past few days have the hardest of the entire World Cup for me. It hardly seems fair that we should be forced to wait for the final to be played. It does give us a chance, however, to think back to past World Cup competitions and to remember past championship matches.

Of all the World Cups you have seen, which final sticks out in your mind as being the most memorable?

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Cajun Nick

France v Brazil, 1998

Unlike some of those who post here, I can’t boast of a long lineage of following the World Cup.

The first one I saw was in 1994, and although I don’t remember the final (Brazil v Italy) too well, I sure remember the dramatic conclusion.

When 1998 arrived, I had grown up in the sport enough to really appreciate not only the spectacle, but the skill and tactics, as well. I also was very familiar with the various teams and players, making it much more enjoyable – the first one that I could truly say I understood.
http://malta-da-rua.blogspot.com/ malta

Italy vs Brazil 1982… uh that wasn’t a final, was it? :-) Zico, Falcão, Sócrates… dream team.
mike

1994 Brazil Vs Italy
I was a big fan of Roberto Baggio but when he missed that PK I knew Brazil did it again.

Grrr… When the match is decided by Penalty Kicks it sticks in your head more because you are on the edge of your seat the whole time just waiting for an outcome that can go either way. Unfortunately, it went the other way and Italy, although they had a great team failed at penalty kicks. I hope France vs Italy ends in regulation time.
http://malta-da-rua.blogspot.com/ malta

Penalties at the end should be banned. It’s a lottery and allows teams just to defend and hope for some luck in the penalty kicks. Golden goal should be the rule.
Arthur

1986, i was about 9 and cried rivers and 1990 of course, what a team what a tournament. not a great final for non-germans, i would think.

so malta, what if there isn’t a golden goal, last man standing? flip a coin after 3 hours?
tirusew

The 1982 Game between Germany and Italia was the most memorable. Those two teams led by great players but the thing I remember was that how much I hated the Germany team for playing Austria a lousy game on the first round after they scored one goal against them (Austria). They both (Austria and West- Germany) by then secured their passage to the second round so no playing ball was needed. If any one of you older football fans remembers, the game was the lousiest and the most upsetting game ever I recount until now. So then comes the game between West-Germany and Italy, The Italians beat the team I despised very well and made my world cup in Spain and that game particularly memorable.
http://malta-da-rua.blogspot.com/ malta

After 3 hours you’ll got a goal. They’ll be so tired that you’ll got a goal :-) check Italy vs Germany, all those chances at the end ’cause they were exhausted…
mike

lol@last man standing.

Golden goal makes a very long game if neither score after 4 hours -that would be very boring to watch.

Penalty kicks suck I agree but you have to end the game at some point so I think it’s the best solution for the health of the players.
Mystique

1966, 1974 and 1990 were my most memorable. Awesome. Yes, I actually have seen the 1966 game…
futbol

Almost every game BRAZIL played in the final up to WC 86 were very special and memorial.

After WC 86, it’s been very hard to find a memorial final game.
Arthur

well, everyone agrees on germany vs. Austria in 82. in germany it’s known as “the shame of cordoba”. i know some algerians who are still pissed, caus because this game, sent them home. this game’s also the reason, that, since 1986, the last games in each group are starting at the same time.

a 3 hrs game? the players would need a week to regenerate
big wc fan

The best final I remember was 1978 Argentina vs Netherlands. 1-0 for Argentina until the 42th minute of the second half and then a two goals by Argentina in extra time…. great game.

The best game in world cup was definitely the Italy-Brazil game in 1982. Brazil had one of the best teams ever (socratos, zico, falcao –except for the goalkeeper) and Italy had the best goalkeeper of all times (Dino Zoff) and the most opportunistic and deadly wc scorer (Paolo Rossi)
gabriel

I have been watching the WC since 1986. I think the one from ‘86 in Mexico was the most exciting one with 5 goals Argentina vs. West Germany (3-2). But maybe it is just because it was the first one I watched. I missed the ones before that so I can’t talk about those.
Vitali

I have watched all the finals since 1982. I believe, the first one is still the most memorable for the amazing display by the Italians with Rossi and Tardelli. Maybe the 1986 was most thrilling, the 1998 was shocking, but the first one stays in memory forever. I can definitely say that 1990 and 1994 were the most horrible.
mike

Ahh…1986 was the first one for me too and yes it was exciting but hard to watch it on a black and white tv. lol
Great game nonetheless.
rohit

brazil vs italy 1970
Emerson

The France ‘98 final featuring Brasil And France because I was sure Brasil was going to win but it turned out the other way around.
http://hotmail kit

i really hope italy win it, but i think france has the edge, good defenders i.e gallas and thuram and zizou is back. and is football really big in the USA?
rohit

well u can take all the immigrants out of their respective countries but u cant take soccer out of them so more immigrants go to USA the bigger it becomes there
Bb

1994 Brazil v. Italy… it was the first time I had ever really watched soccer, I loved it after the WC in the US in 1994! Unfortunately, I was rooting for italy…on my thirteenth birthday… lol and, we all know, they lost
Catherine

2002 was the WORST one by far…

All the others were good (at least the ones I saw…)