Which is the best world cup ever?

[feedthegreek]

if your english 66,

[avoidconfusion]

2006 for me because it was in my home country literally on my doorsteps.

[Nigels Tackle]

2006 for me because it was in my home country literally on my doorsteps.

how many houses do you own?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

2006 for me because it was in my home country literally on my doorsteps.

how many houses do you own?

I really don't like how the meaning of the word 'literally' was expanded to include figuratively as a definition. So now 'literally' means itself and the opposite of itself.
Stupid English language.

[Slim]

2006 for me because it was in my home country literally on my doorsteps.

how many houses do you own?

I really don't like how the meaning of the word 'literally' was expanded to include figuratively as a definition. So now 'literally' means itself and the opposite of itself.
Stupid English language.

Seems like an odd place to play the games though.

[Tokyo Blue]

2006 for me because it was in my home country literally on my doorsteps.

how many houses do you own?

I really don't like how the meaning of the word 'literally' was expanded to include figuratively as a definition. So now 'literally' means itself and the opposite of itself.
Stupid English language.

Seems like an odd place to play the games though.

Not to mention slightly cramped.

[Blue2]

1970 no question at all. Priveleged to have watched it.

Agree 100%

[Lev Bronstein]

Well. I'm old enough to remember quite a few, Looking back it's difficult to remove the filters such as, how old I was; how new was the whole experience and so on.
I'm only going to comment on the earlier ones.

1966, North Korea, Eusebio, Beckenbaur and of course the England team - who were very good and deserved winners. Plus you got to see loads of the matches and not just highlights.

1970, the first in colour. I thought at the time that the England team were better than 1966. The group game against Brazil was excellent and very close. And then the quarter final against W. Germany - 2-0 up in the second half, Ramsey brings Charlton off to save him, it frees Beckenbaur and the Germans win 3-2 - and as far as England are concerned it's been downhill ever since. Brazil were fantastic, Italy were good but their game against Uruguay was a chess match, i.e. very dull. Still my favourite

1974, England didn't qualify, Scotland did. Holland were great and should have won - showboating let W. Germany off the hook.

1978, England didn't qualify Scotland did. Holland were pretty good but, good as they were there was no way Argentina weren't going to win it.

1982 N.Ireland qualified and contributed to Spain's demise, France good but kicked out off it by the Germans, Italy strange but ultimately worthy winners, their demolition of W Germany in the final was particularly sweet.

The rest start to blur into one. Mexico 1986 - Maradonna. Italia 90 and Usa 94 dull for the most part (despite relative success for England in Italy, and the Cameroons). 98 France good, but what happened to Ronaldo? 2002, apart from England beating Argentina and Ronaldinho embarrassing Seaman, not memorable. 2006 Germany, can only remember Zidane headbutting that Italian. 2010, England very dull, Spain very competent.

The last one: the group stage was fun, Brazil's implosion like watching a car crash. The best two teams fought out the final, it hurts to say but the best team won. Generally though the defending was poor and the "big names" didn't shine, but I don't mind that, football is a team game after all.

[Slim]

^This is why we need a like button^

[Mikhail Chigorin]

And now we have Russia & Qatar to look forward to.

Deep joy.

I don't know what is worse: Qatar getting to keep their tournament and having the WC played on stadiums that were built on the deaths of workers during slave like conditions or Qatar losing the right to hold the WC, and thereby meaning that all those immigrant labourers died for nothing. I honestly don't know what alternative feels more meaningless than the other.

A sobering thought indeed.

[dazby]

USA 94 for this reason and this reason only:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAKsGT9-XB0

[Mikhail Chigorin]

USA 94 for this reason and this reason only:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAKsGT9-XB0

Just a thought Dazzer, old chap, but do you ever foresee a time, in the not too far distant future, when Australia might consider a (cheeky) World Cup bid ??

[dazby]

We just did mate. We got one vote. Qatar bought the rest.

[BobbyJ1956]

1966 was special, not just for the obvious reason. It had some of the best football matches I've ever seen. The North Koreans going 3-0 up against Portugal then Eusebio beating them 5-3, and Hungary defeating Brazil when a player called Albert stole the show and the Goodison crowd stayed behind chanting his name till he came out for a curtain call. It's on youtube somewhere. Not many will recall 1958 in Sweden but it was the first one to be widely televised thanks to the miracle of "Eurovision". All four home countries qualified and I remember Wales giving Brazil a run for their money in the quarter finals no less, and Paraguay putting seven past the Scots. England had been tipped to do well but were without Roger Byrne, Edwards and Tommy Taylor from the club over the road.

[Tokyo Blue]

1966 was special, not just for the obvious reason. It had some of the best football matches I've ever seen. The North Koreans going 3-0 up against Portugal then Eusebio beating them 5-3, and Hungary defeating Brazil when a player called Albert stole the show and the Goodison crowd stayed behind chanting his name till he came out for a curtain call. It's on youtube somewhere. Not many will recall 1958 in Sweden but it was the first one to be widely televised thanks to the miracle of "Eurovision". All four home countries qualified and I remember Wales giving Brazil a run for their money in the quarter finals no less, and Paraguay putting seven past the Scots. England had been tipped to do well but were without Roger Byrne, Edwards and Tommy Taylor from the club over the road.

That sounds thoroughly enjoyable.

I enjoyed 1990 most but my experience only goes back as far as 1978.