I've liked this one, most of the games have been exciting, the officiating's been largely good, very little petulent behaviour, some outsiders through to the latter rounds, loads of late goaly goals etc. I think it's one of my faves, but my top three would probably be...
1) USA '94
2) Euro '92
3) Euro '96
First one I saw was Euro 96
This is probably the best since.
euro 2000
was pretty sweet.
and france 98.
but this has been the best (my first since coming of age was prob euro 96)
Based on the things I remember
1. Van Basten's volley, giggling at a player called Vasily Rats, Ireland existing. Euro '88
2. 4-1 against Holland, Gazza's goal, falling in love with the Czech Republic. Euro '96
3. Roger Milla. Paul Parker. Toto Schillachi. Claudio Cannigia's hair. David Platt's volley. Andreas Brehme. Italia '90.
Schillachi!
More footballers should
be named after MOR powerhouses.
I don't own the Schillachi record. Can I borrow it from you?
I'll swap it for
Marco Van Boston's greatest hits.
1) USA 94
2) Italia 90
3) Euro 96
90S 90S 90S 90S
Euro '96, without question.
Closely followed by Japan and South Korea '02.
i loved world cup 2002,
surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet! i remember being crowded round a radio at the bottom of the football field at school listening to senegal go 1-0 up. magic.
this tournament had been thoroughly enjoyable too, i reckon.
world cup 2002 was fucking horrendous
had to get up early for every game, which were nearly all shit. i had to miss englands quarter final against brazil to do an english a level exam, which i failed anyway. usa 94 has definitely been the best in my lifetime, and this year's second. no england at either tournament, coincidence?
- - -
1. Euro '96 - Britpop, 3 Lions, Gazza's goal, stuffing the Dutch. Amazing.
2. World Cup '90 - David Platt's volley against Belgium, Chris Waddle hitting the post against Germany, the two penalties against Cameroon, Baggio's run to score against Czechoslovakia.
3. World Cup '02 - because there's something magical about being in a pub at 7.30 in the morning.
I maybe should have put '02 in there.
Wandering through the streets of Lincoln at about 8.30am, battered, singing 'You can stick your fucking bacon up your arse' has got to be a highlight.
Getting mildly smashed at 8 in the morning,
then going into work, 3 hours late. Brilliant.
Also
Belgium v South Korea was ace.
Worst tournament anyone?
World Cup 2006?
Brazil unbelievably disappointing.
Argentina failing to recreate the form that battered Serbia.
England/penalties/generally shit.
Italy diving, shrugging, protesting their way to the final.
penalties everywhere.
diving pandemic.
i was disappointed
secondeded
You disgust me.
Mentioning the poor sportsmanship of Italy and not mentioning the diabolical cheating of Portugal is unfair to say the least, just because Italy won the torunament. Poruagal ruined that world cup and I don't say these things lightly.
agreed
portugal are consistently disgusting in these matters, look at their disgraceful behaviour in Euro 2000 against france.
sorry for forgetting them.
Portugal vs Holland was the most annoying game of football I've ever watched.
I wanted to beat the shit out of all the Portugese players and I'm not a violent person. What annoyed me even more was that all the ITV commentators kept going on about was Robbens diving, like they were ignoring all the cheating Portugal were involved in.
The ref didnt help matters
by giving out yellow cards like some kind of man obsessed. I cant remember the exact stats but there was something like 21 fouls and 17 yellow cards. Most of them entirely unwarranted. he was like a flapping maniac desperately trying to get a grip on a game that wasn't out of control.
The last African Cup of Nations
was fantastic!
france 98
'cause scotland were in it and we marched around my primary school chanting and stuff. and there was flags EVERYWHERE. and scotland scored against brazil! and drew against norway or something! and my friend's dad was on tv!
every tournament since then has been rubbish.
what was that copa america
when ronaldinho first emerged and uruguay had a really young team? that was a good one
Copa America '99
I think. I remember watching some of it when I was out in Spain after A-Levels.
USA '94
Houghton's goal against Italy. BROKEN GOALPOSTS! Jorge Campos jerseys. Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones. Bulgaria!
Euro '96 - Poborsky's lob. Sheringham's side shimmy pass to Shearer.
Italia '90 - Master System game. Schillachi. Milla. Penalty drama. Germany's amazing green kit.
world cup italia 90
the game. amazing.
Le Tornoi?
Its in the trophy "cabinet"... a shelf would probably do the shelf trick.
* plank of mdf and a couple of cinder blocks.
Erm
1) Italia '90. The first tournament I really remember. Higuita, Stejskal, Matthaus' goal against Yugoslavia, Milla, Thomas N'Kono, Schillachi, Cameroon hacking.
2) USA '94. The maverick's tournament. Stoichkov, Hagi, Romario, Baggio. Bulgaria v Germany.
3) Euro 2000. Drunken evenings at the student bar cheering on Slovenia.
This one is probably right up there at the moment though.
Probably...
a) '96
b) '98
c) '02
This is probably far more to do with social factors/the atmosphere I remember watching games in than it is to do with the football though.
italia 90
question - you know when gazza got booked (and started crying), what was it that lineker was saying to the camera? for me the iconic image of gazza's tears is spoilt somewhat by not knowing what lineker was saying.
second best: euro 96. i think i cried after the england-germany penalty shoot-out.
He's saying
'I'll keep an eye on him boss.'
Paul getting the red would have been a nightmare.
ahhh
thank you for solving something that has been a mystery to me for 18 years!
I can't believe you worked it
out! Thats always been a mystery, and his facial expressions are so funny!
France 1998
Has been the best tournament overall that I've seen - the knockout stages had some real crackers, two good semi-finals and a virtuoso performance by Zidane in the final.
Euro 2000 was pretty good too.
And just to say, Italia 1990 was fucking awful, and England's near-miss there is the only reason why it's fondly remembered in this country.
USA 94
- Diana Ross missing a penalty
- England weren't in it
- Argentina v Romania
- Maradona's goal v Greece (then getting booted out for being coked up - look at his face when he runs to the camera)
- Rashidi Yekini in the back of the net
- Saeed Owairan's goal against Belgium
- John Aldridge nearly battering the 4th official
- Yordan Letchkov's header
- Andres Escobar :(
- Sweden's free kick where Tomas Brolin hid behind the wall
- Hristo Stoichkov
- Bebeto's 'baby' celebration
The end
beautifully put
esp "Sweden's free kick where Tomas Brolin hid behind the wall"
and
"Bebeto's 'baby' celebration" - the original version of a since championed celebration
Excellent stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzV4KNj51Do
naive Romanians 0
pie eating swede 1
Bebeto has got a lot to answer for
1) Euro 96
2) World Cup 02
That is all
.
Euro '96
Italia 90
France 98
Why are so many people saying USA 94?
That was a pretty dull tournament -
Brazil were especially dour, apart from the front two. Dunga and Mauro Silva and Mazinho all in the one midfield - 3 Makelele's.
Italy were single-handedly dragged through by Baggio.
Only Bulgaria, Romania and Ray Houghton were in any way exciting. And the sight of Jason McAteer running rings around Maldini and Franco Baresi which, in hindsight, is just as bizarre as it was then.
For me,
Euro 88 and Italia 90 were amazing because of Stuttgart/Houghton and O'Leary.
But probably Euro 2000 for the football quality. Especially France, Netherlands and Italy - Cannavaro & Nesta were immense in that tournament.
France 98
My first ever world cup (that I was sentient for)
I enjoyed the last euro as well.