Greatest WC match of all time

[MIGkiller]

Most of football fans and experts agree: the greatest WC match of all time took place in Mexico 1970, Jalisco Stadium, between Brazil and England. The brazilian side won by 1 x 0, scored by Jairzinho, in what is said to be a clash of titans. Among the players were Pelé, Tostão, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto; Bobby Chalrton, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks. Some of the historical plays, tackles, passes, saves - and goal - of the WCs happened there.

I wasn't born at the time, but I did see some of the best moments of the game, and it's indeed great. Anyone disagree?

[usscouse]

You got it! I did see the game and it had it all.
Should have been the final.

[Dennis P. Crawford]

The West Germany - France 1982 semi-final had it all. Controversy, drama and an amazing comeback. Many experts have chosen this match as the greatest in WC history.

[Wolves_67]

Gordon Bank's save on a Pele header in that match is often refered to as the save of the century.
It was pure drama from start to finish with a late winner off a great build-up.

[Auriaprottu]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
Most of football fans and experts agree: the greatest WC match of all time took place in Mexico 1970, Jalisco Stadium, between Brazil and England. The brazilian side won by 1 x 0, scored by Jairzinho, in what is said to be a clash of titans. Among the players were Pelé, Tostão, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto; Bobby Chalrton, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks. Some of the historical plays, tackles, passes, saves - and goal - of the WCs happened there.

I wasn't born at the time, but I did see some of the best moments of the game, and it's indeed great. Anyone disagree?

I've seen only highlights, so I'm in no position to disagree. But for sheer drama, some of my favorites are:

Sweden d. Romania, 1994

W. Germany d. France,1982 (yes, that one. It was still a great match)

Brasil d. Holland, 1998

[Metros Striker10]

June 5, 2002: The United States beat Portugal, who was ranked 4th by FIFA.

[condor11]

joao havalange
said it was the 1970 quarterfinal betwen brazil and peru 4-2

ive seen highlights not the whole match so i cant comment the top 5 ive seen...

holland-brazil 1998
paraguay-france 1998
uruguay-senegal 2002
holland-brazil 1994
spain-nigeria-1998

[Wolves_67]

I wonder if the US vs England 1950 match was a great one? I wish there was film of it. I'd sure pay to see it!

[Excape Goat]

In the WC Finals that I had seen....


Brazil vs France 1986: Two great powers met.... Zico, Platini and Socrates all missed their PKs.

Cameroon vs England 1990:

Holland vs West Germany 1990: Great historical rivalry between Holland and West Germany. Brehme, Matthaeus & Klinsman of Inter Milian matched up against Gulit, Van Basten, Rijkarrd of AC Milian played in MILIAN. A mini-Milian derby.... end-to-end battle.... one of greatest WC goal scored by Brehme.... ejection of Voller and Rijkarrd.

Holland vs Brazil 1994:

Spain vs Italy 1994: I was at the stadium.... Baggio at his best.

Holland vs Brazil 1998:

Holland vs Argentina 1998:

THE BEST = West Germany vs France 1982

I had three matches for 1990 WC Finals which I considered the most boring WC ever. :)

[Chesco United]

Sweden-Romania finished very well, but was a snoozefest until Brolin scored about 79 minutes in. Spain-Nigeria 1998 was a very good game.

[Ictar]

Originally posted by Metros Striker10
June 5, 2002: The United States beat Portugal, who was ranked 4th by FIFA.

[Office Space]Riiiiiight[/Office Space]

The game has sentimental value but that's it. It was a good game, but one of the best ever in a World Cup?? I'm gonna PM you with my address so I can buy some of whatever you're on. ;)

[michaec]

Brazil v Italy (3-2 to Italy, Rossi hat-trick) in 1982 stands out in my memory from when I was a youngster.

[pmufc]

The best I remember was England vs. Argentina in 98. Both sides scored very early and it was 2-2 at half time. Beckham was sent off straight red early second half. Sol Campbell had a goal wrongly disallowed and Argentina tried to score disgracefully when England were still celebrating. Ten man England were still the better side and Owen hit the post in sudden death extra time. It went to penalties which at one point was going England's way but eventually ended when Batty missed and Argentina were winners.

When the amateurs of the USA beat England in 1950 the papers published the score England 10 USA 1 and assumed 0-1 had been a misprint. People in England believed this for days.

When the USA beat Portugal, Portugal were playing terrible, they even lost 4-1 at home to Finland in WC preparation.

[comme]

When the BBC reshowed the England-Brazil game from 1970, I was quite dissapointed. It had been built up into a mythologically significant game, but it didn't live up to the hype (I suppose what Gregoriak is saying of Pele's career in another thread).
Italy-Germany semifinal of the same tournament was i have been told the best, but that is merely opinion. I can't remember a WC finals game which has been amazing although I enjoyed Brazil-Costa Rica in 02 purely as a neutral.

[Sardinia]

Mexico 70, Italy-Germany 4-3

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1845000/1845437.stm

As the match entered injury time Italy must have felt they had done enough. But Germany, who had forced England to extra time in the dying moments of the 1966 final, never gave up.

And three minutes into added time Karl-Heinz Schnellinger hammered home a cross for a deserved equaliser.

Moments later the whistle blew to signal the end of normal time, but whereas the previous 90 minutes was a relatively tedious affair, the next 30 minutes was anything but.

What followed was an extra-time goal feast, with the lead changing hands at an alarming rate.

Gerd Muller swept Germany ahead five minutes in but Tarcisio Burgnich levelled within three minutes.

Just before the interval Luigi Riva, Italy's star forward, crashed home a left-foot shot from outside the box to make it 3-2.

Still the Germans would not lie down.

Muller, the deadliest striker in the tournament, headed home his 10th of the finals to bring it back to 3-3.

But European Footballer of the Year Gianni Rivera delivered the final blow following good work from Boninsegna. At 4-3 Italy were through at last.


It had been a breathtaking end to a match which for so long had never hinted at the drama ahead.

[lanman]

Most people who saw the 1954 World Cup semi-final between Uruguay and Hngary believe it to be the best game ever played (not just at the World Cup).

The best game I have ever seen is France-Germany in 1982.

[schmuckatelli]

Did anyone see Holland-West Germany in WC 74? I heard that was a truly great match.

[dcunited4life]

Netherlands vs. Germany in WC 1990. Although most of the tournament was boring (except for Cameroon) this particular game had great end to end action. This game had great star power that included Matthaus, Klinnsmann, Voeller, Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard and many others who played their hearts out. Once I emigrated to US I started to lose interest in watching soccer since I couldn't see any. This game (along with Cameroon vs Argies) brought back the passion I've always had for the sport.

[jp77]

1966 world cup in england

Portugal -5 Korea- 3

Portugal was down 3-0 in the first 20 minutes, but then scored 5 unanswered to win.. A hat-trick by Eusebio sealed the win

I have the game on tape....GREAT GAME !!!!

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by Dennis P. Crawford
The West Germany - France 1982 semi-final had it all. Controversy, drama and an amazing comeback. Many experts have chosen this match as the greatest in WC history.

That gets my vote!