FIFA World Cup 2018 - Russia

[CouncilSpectre]

World Cups are always better when you're there

1994 for example, was shite.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Every World Cup the "experts" tend to claim it was the best ever. It didn't seem close to the best Cup I've seen.

Thinking back to the likes of Brazil. Holland, Argentina and Germany of old, I think that’s safe to say. It was entertaining though, especially having my country in there until late on.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

World Cups are always better when you're there

1994 for example, was shite.

It felt like I was there when watching in VR.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by TitusTroy

so many 'experts' claiming this was one of the best World Cups ever...I don't know about that

It had more twists and turns than most recent world cups, which made it watchable.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

World Cups are always better when you're there

1994 for example, was shite.

'94 was awesome just for Ray Houghton's left foot putting one over the Italians, though Italia '90 will always remain my favourite I reckon. Anyone's who said that this 2018 edition was the greatest ever needs their head examining, but it WAS a very entertaining month of football and that it opened up Russia - the real Russia, not the hardline Putin regime - to the world was a beautiful thing. And for whatever reasons it didn't have England fans embarassing their country and the sport of football, and nor did the England players embarass their country and the sport of football. It's a win win!

You've gotta love the contrast in the homecoming for the Belgians and the English. The former were treated to this

while the English players had no formal welcome at all, not even at the airport, with only a few die hard fans turning up to to gaze at them from the periphery:



And that's no bad thing because we've finished fourth before, so despite Southgate and his men lifting the mood of a nation it didn't warrant any kind of celebration. The hard work starts now.

[CouncilSpectre]

Italia 90 was great, because we made the SFs and were involved in some great games.

Think Mexico '86 would be my favourite though:



It was the first one that I can remember watching, I was 10 at the time. Middle of the night games, across the other side of the world, and a bunch of great teams and games - Denmark walloping Uruguay 6-1, Hugo Sanchez's bicycle kicks, that Josimar goal against Northern Ireland...and an epic QF against Argentina, with goals both sublime and ridiculous!

[Bullitt]

The first I remember is Mexico too so I've always favoured it.
The crowds and atmosphere in the stadiums was something I’d never seen before,that Azteca stadium for the final was amazing,it had a proper crowd in it,over 100,000

[CV19]

Well, at the risk of making myself sound like some old geezer, I can remember the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. To be fair, I can't recall specifically which matches I watched or any particular incident which may have taken place, but I certainly remember the tournament being on the telly and all us kids talking about the football. Oh happy days.

I especially remember the theme tune used by the BBC:

BBC World Cup 1978 - Opening titles - YouTube

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CV19

Well, at the risk of making myself sound like some old geezer, I can remember the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. To be fair, I can't recall specifically which matches I watched or any particular incident which may have taken place, but I certainly remember the tournament being on the telly and all us kids talking about the football. Oh happy days.

I especially remember the theme tune used by the BBC:

BBC World Cup 1978 - Opening titles - YouTube

I was 4, I was probably more interested in Rainbow and Bagpuss!

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I was 4, I was probably more interested in Rainbow and Bagpuss!

I would have just turned 12 by this time, and was coming to the end of my first year at high school.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CV19

I would have just turned 12 by this time, and was coming to the end of my first year at high school.

Ah 12! My first crush! . Those were the days.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Ah 12! My first crush! . Those were the days.

I know what you mean mate. I think I was around 11 (just before moving onto high school) when I had my first crush.
Plus having around 6 or 7 weeks (I think it was) off school for summer holidays......ah well, if only I could turn that clock back.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CV19

I know what you mean mate. I think I was around 11 (just before moving onto high school) when I had my first crush.
Plus having around 6 or 7 weeks (I think it was) off school for summer holidays......ah well, if only I could turn that clock back.

Mine was on my teacher! She was in her early thirties!

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Mine was on my teacher! She was in her early thirties!

No such luck with my teachers. At junior school they all looked like they were coming close to retirement age, and at high school most of them were male. The only female teachers I recall was one who taught religion, who was quite good looking but we never had her for our class, and then another one who was I think a music teacher, but she had a face that would shatter a mirror.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cv19

no such luck with my teachers. At junior school they all looked like they were coming close to retirement age, and at high school most of them were male. The only female teachers i recall was one who taught religion, who was quite good looking but we never had her for our class, and then another one who was i think a music teacher, but she had a face that would shatter a mirror.

:d

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yeah, Croatia would've been great if only to lend credence to the people sniping at England that they let a golden chance slip, they won't get a better opportunity etc etc etc. While that may well prove to be true, the point is that Croatia or England weren't going to overcome France, before those semis were even played I called it that the winner of France vs Belgium wins the tournament,....

Anything can happen in one match though. If your path to the on match in the tournament that means something is made easier than it ordinarily might be then it is a huge opportunity, regardless of the opposition.

It was a huge opportunity for Croatia. Two huge decisions didn't go their way and those fine margins pegged them back in a match where they performed very well.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Italia 90 was great, because we made the SFs and were involved in some great games.

Think Mexico '86 would be my favourite though:



It was the first one that I can remember watching, I was 10 at the time. Middle of the night games, across the other side of the world, and a bunch of great teams and games - Denmark walloping Uruguay 6-1, Hugo Sanchez's bicycle kicks, that Josimar goal against Northern Ireland...and an epic QF against Argentina, with goals both sublime and ridiculous!

This was the first world cup I remember watching religiously. I just about remember some of the England games from Spain 82 as well (I was seven). But for me Italia 90 was really special.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by drush9999

This was the first world cup I remember watching religiously. I just about remember some of the England games from Spain 82 as well (I was seven). But for me Italia 90 was really special.

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllll, Lineker, Lineker, Lineker, Lineker, goalllllllllllllllllllllllll! Gary, Gary, Gary, Gary, Gary, goalllllllll!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Martoto

Anything can happen in one match though. If your path to the on match in the tournament that means something is made easier than it ordinarily might be then it is a huge opportunity, regardless of the opposition.

It was a huge opportunity for Croatia. Two huge decisions didn't go their way and those fine margins pegged them back in a match where they performed very well.

Of course it was a huge opportunity but England would still have been battered by France had they bested Croatia, they wouldn't have put up nearly as much of a fight in the final as the Croats did. Let's not get carried away here, one minute the English are chided for being arrogant dicks who act like they've already got one hand on the trophy, and the next they're being chided for having let a massive opportunity at winning the thing slip away.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Of course it was a huge opportunity but England would still have been battered by France had they bested Croatia, they wouldn't have put up nearly as much of a fight in the final as the Croats did. Let's not get carried away here, one minute the English are chided for being arrogant dicks who act like they've already got one hand on the trophy, and the next they're being chided for having let a massive opportunity at winning the thing slip away.

You can’t say that though Geoff. You don’t know what would have happened. It’s all about what happens on the night. It’s the reason Sunderland beat Leeds in the cup final and the same with Wimbledon versus Liverpool. There might have been a huge decision go against France such as a sending off etc.