Which is the best world cup ever?

[Cocacolajojo1]

There has been (at least on Swedish TV) a lot of talk about this world cup as the best ever. I don't see it. Despite being a defensively poor world cup, where the goalkeepers consequently have played a major part, it was a very defensively played world cup. Several teams fielded 5 man defenses with little or no intent to attack. Tony Pulis, not Barcelona, seems to have provided the blueprint for how to go far this year.

The best world cup is obviously the glorious cup of 1994, when Sweden took the bronze, the weather was fantastic and Tomas Brolin was still sober enough to be able to play football on a world class level.

Which is your favourite world cup?

[john@staustell]

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

[Scatman]

1998.

20 years old, most matches spent watching it in the pub.

Ronaldo (final aside), Rivaldo, Zidane, Bergkamp, Suker.

Best moment of that world cup: the ten seconds or so between Sol Campbell scoring that disallowed goal against the Argies and the goal actually being disallowed. Mental.

[PeterParker]

Same as Scatman John

1998.

The best World Cup for me, it was actually the first that i actually understood, plus i remember it all. The incredible strike of Oliseh, or Bergkamp, England vs Romania (our last WC), the great tournament that Blanc had, Ronaldo at maybe his best, the hilarious outfits of Campos and Chilavert, the Zidane suspension agains Saudi Arabia, the Iran huge victory against USA, the incredible first eleven of Yougoslavia and Croatia, or, my least favorite, when all the romanians had their blonde hairdoo after they qualified from the group.

Incredible tournament for me, quality football and most of all, it was in Europe at a decent hour.


Least favorite: South Africa.

[Avalon]

For me it is:

'74, '94 and 98

[Ted Hughes]

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

+1

Football has changed so much, will never see it's like again.

[john@staustell]

So it turns out that this one is really shit, which it is - never seen such poor international sides as a group - and the answer depends on how old you are!

[Ted Hughes]

So it turns out that this one is really shit, which it is - never seen such poor international sides as a group - and the answer depends on how old you are!

+1 on that as well.

Fucking dreadful set of teams & managers, the Germans being the only team which would stay up in the Prem.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Some of you lot are hard to please! It was an absolutely cracking world cup, full of goals and full of entertainment. Plenty of great games and it was a joy to watch.
Sure the defending wasn't great but who gives a shit? It makes for great viewing. A tactically astute 1-0 victory or a 3-3 thriller with shitty defending and mistakes? I know which I'd prefer.

[mr_nool]

1986 was the first one where I was old enough to "get it". Watched every game that was on the telly and absolutely loved it. I still get the Panini sticker book out every now and then for pure nostalgia.

1994 was obviously fantastic for all us Swedes.

1998 was great as well. Was euro-railing during that whole tournament and had a great time getting pissed with the English in Montpelier, celebrating with the Italians in Lucca, and laughing at the Germans in Berlin.

[Ted Hughes]

Some of you lot are hard to please! It was an absolutely cracking world cup, full of goals and full of entertainment. Plenty of great games and it was a joy to watch.
Sure the defending wasn't great but who gives a shit? It makes for great viewing. A tactically astute 1-0 victory or a 3-3 thriller with shitty defending and mistakes? I know which I'd prefer.

Some good games early on, due to all the teams being mediocre, thus evenly matched.
But if you take away the exposure & the individual quality of one or two players, it's like watching Bolton v Blackburn.

[Alex Sapphire]

1970 all day long
Magnificent Brazil team, serious challenge from Europe, carnival atmosphere, 66 final v2, the Best Goalkeeper I'll ever see, 3 City greats in the England squad,
Riva and Rivera, Airtex.
And this bad boy:

Just a shame about that fuckin Peter Bonetti.

[twosips]

I'm too young to remember 1970 sadly...

You're all right old farts.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Some of you lot are hard to please! It was an absolutely cracking world cup, full of goals and full of entertainment. Plenty of great games and it was a joy to watch.
Sure the defending wasn't great but who gives a shit? It makes for great viewing. A tactically astute 1-0 victory or a 3-3 thriller with shitty defending and mistakes? I know which I'd prefer.

Some good games early on, due to all the teams being mediocre, thus evenly matched.
But if you take away the exposure & the individual quality of one or two players, it's like watching Bolton v Blackburn.

Think you're being a bit harsh tbh Ted.
True the quality wasn't always great but the large majority of matches were entertaining which was the most important thing, at least to me anyway.
It may have been like Bolton v Backburn but i'd rather watch those two play out a 3-3 draw then watch Chelsea v Atletico (random example) play out a 0-0.

In terms of pure entertainment this was a fantastic advert for football. Lots of thoroughly entertaining end to end games with lots of goals, even if the quality wasn't always there.
I know some people can enjoy a great defensive performance, or a tactically astute 1-0 and that's absolutely fair enough but for me, I much prefer goals and drama.
Even England's opening two games were good to watch for the neutral!

[Alex Sapphire]

this one was like watching the Championship.
You might call it end to end stuff, I call it surrendering possession cheaply
Like centre court most of the time

[Bridge'srightfoot]

this one was like watching the Championship.
You might call it end to end stuff, I call it surrendering possession cheaply
Like centre court most of the time

That's fair enough mate. We all have our preferences. I can see some prefer to see genuine quality but I'm happier sacrificing a little bit of (defensive) quality to see more goals and end to end stuff.

Certainly a million miles better than the snooze fest of 2010 anyhow.

[PeterParker]

1994 was obviously fantastic for all us Swedes.

Yeah, no. Have i ever told you how much i hate Ravelli?

Gutted.

[South Stand Balti]

Best for me was 1978 in Argentina. Ticker tape and proper football. I did think the group stages of this WC were the best there have been but the quarter finals and onwards produced some stale footie.

[BlueinBosnia]

98 for me.
2002 was interesting for poor decisions
I honestly don't remember watching any of 2006
2010 was pretty boring, and I only watched games as an excuse to go out with friends
This one was fine, but I'd rather watch a random lower-end Prem match than your average game from it

[sheblue]

Agree that this was not a great World Cup. As for when was the best? Who knows but I always think the better ones are held in 'footballing' countries ie not places like USA, Japan, South Africa etc those were shit world cups to be honest.
Quatar ? Fuck me!!