1990. Bumping into Tavern in Turin A tout getting a clump and getting a ticket for the semi. The build up and the atmosphere was potent in Turin. The way we were treated by the Italians, compared to the Germans, made for a very us v them attitude. The drive there and back in a motor I gave £60 for from Charlton auction. Had everything except a victory. Up there with the best moments of my life.
USA 1994: Was the first International competition I truly remember
France 1998: The first one I remember watching properly as it was the first I saw England involved in, had the emergence of the likes of Beckham and Owen, along with that epic game against Argentina.
Germany 2006: Spent a lot of England games down the pub for this one, some great memories
Probably due to my age but 1978 for me. Wasn't aware of all the political implications and stuff going on at the time so just got caught up in the whole spectacle of a South American tournamen, with the tickertape and bands playing, etc. Quite different to a '70s Valley atmosphere and seemed a world away.
Some cracking players on show too - Kempes was unplayable but also Rossi, Rumminegge, Krankl, Jonny Rep, etc. Special shout out for little Archie Gemmill's goal against the Dutch too!
What a great thread. It's fascinating to read how people recount their most memorable tournaments. It's been really interesting to read and to see how different people judge reach world cup. Well done to every poster who's contributed to making this such a great read.
1970 with out a doubt. England holders players Charlton ,Moore ,and my favorite Colin Bell. Wonder goals scored by many players and of course Pelé and Brazil at their prime.
Football was normal back then and hero’s you could speak with. Never forget that save!!!!and speaking to the man himself afew years later.
1994 was my first that I recall and I was amazed by the whole event.
1998 getting to watch England vs Tunisia on the TV In English at school, you know those tvs with the silver video recorder that we didn't think could tune into normal TV.
I hated 2010.
I loved the 98 world cup intro that the BBC did and I love this video, shame it only goes upto 2010
86 and 90 probably my favourites and both have a few things in common.
Poor England performances in group stage followed by Peter Shilton costing us the tournament by getting out jumped by a midget in 86 and by his inability to dive for a penalty before seeing where the ball was going in 90. Should also have saved the German goal but no, his crappy little putter patter backward steps. He even cost us third place as well - fuck you Shilton
1982, was 13 and mesmerised by Brazil, some absolutely amazing goals. Remember rushing home from school to see Italy beat them in an incredible game. I had the film of the World Cup, G’ole, narrated by Sean Connery, watched it over and over again. Zico, Socrates, Junior, Falcao, Eder… amazing. Must be the best team that didn’t win.
Same for me, I was 9 but absolutely loved that Brazil team
1990 was superb as was 98 (mainly cause I was in Ayia Napa and spent the tournament drinking with Lee Sharpe)
Italia 90 for me. Funny how its supposed to have been rubbish yet so many of us have voted for it.
It coincided with an epic holiday driving across newly free Europe, World in Motion blaring, to Bulgaria, where my footie mad friends awaited. i was on the overnight ferry to the Hook and fortunately we could watch the last group stage game in the bar. I swear the ferry swayed as Platty scored the winner. Then it just seemed to track my holiday, and the presence of quite a few Scots in the bar on the coast for the knock out games livened things up.
I enjoyed Germany too, as it was in my backyard, and i had tickets for Stuttgart 3rd place playoff, which was epic apart from the game, just that England stank the place out.
Although I can remember a few things pre-1966 (Churchill dying for example), I’ve no recollection of the ‘66 World Cup, I don’t think the world stopped for it like it does now.
By 1970 I was football mad, and I soaked up that tournament, including the infamous 3-2 vs West Germany which taught me how cruel football could be. Overall, that WC was probably my favourite. Plus, we saw Brazil at the peak of their powers “taking it turns to give an exhibition”.
The 1990 one was great as well, a classic England start bad and get good performance. I still think if we’d got past the Germans we would have dispatched Argentina but we’ll never know now.
1970 with out a doubt. England holders players Charlton ,Moore ,and my favorite Colin Bell. Wonder goals scored by many players and of course Pelé and Brazil at their prime.
Football was normal back then and hero’s you could speak with. Never forget that save!!!!and speaking to the man himself afew years later.
I was 9 when we won it in 66 so not really old enough to fully take it in, but at 13 in 1970 I was old enough to appreciate it all.
The England v Brazil game is still so fresh in my memory 52 years later. Moore's tackle on a rampaging Jairzinho, and of course that save. Back in the 80s I ran a betting office in The Strand and the pools panel used to meet in The Savoy which was just across the road - they would all come into the shop in the afternoon, Jimmy Armfield was there and Banksy. As you can imagine I used to spend most of the afternoon talking with them and I've also had the great good fortune to be in Banksy's company on many occasions at Stoke. He was an absolute gentleman in every respect.
The final, Pele's dummy and just shaving the post, that goal from Carlos Alberto - the greatest national football team I've ever seen, I still put them above the great Spanish side.
Bobby Moore's arrest for the bracelet theft!!
The other thing I remember from from that World Cup - every one of the Brazil squad played in Brazil. Players were on show that you had not seen before - yes I had heard of Pele of course and Felix, but Jairzinho, Rivelino, Tostao, Alberto, Gerson, Clodoaldo - I hadn't heard or seen any of them before. The Brazil side next month pretty much all play in Europe, many in the Premier League - there will be no surprises. I think the last World Cup I can remember that was like that was 78 with the likes of Kempes and Ardilles - not known, certainly to me, before the finals.
There was something unique and special about the (football) world being a much smaller place pre probably 02 but def 98.
You still saw players in a WC you’d never heard of before. It was still unique (for me at least) to have that many live games to watch, it was not completely over-commercialised and it still felt like the football pinnacle for players and fans alike.
It was Euro 96, Rome 97, France 98 and Euro 2000 (15 years old by then) that really made me desperate to follow England. I’ve been fortunate enough to attended many games since but nothing has come close to the excitement of those early memories, but maybe the expectations of a commitment-free youth where football was all that mattered were never realistic to be met.
1998 - truly felt like the biggest event in my life and therefore the world at that time. Being able to see the big names you’d heard about but rarely seen. I watched every game I possibly could on tv. A decent and largely likeable England team which included characters, the excitement (for me) of the trouble coming through from Marseille etc on the news bulletins, watching games at school. Owen….heartbreak.
2002. - Under-age but working so going to the pub at 7am with older work mates. The uniqueness of those early games, a unique and passionate hosts, beating the argies, leading against Brazil….heartbreak.
2006 - My first WC I attended. An English invasion, fun at times but unremarkable. Things had changed.
2010 - I should have gone, SA would have been an amazing place to experience, but I didn’t and it was dire in most other ways, Eng performance was a disgrace.
2014 - Could not even tell you our scores. Very disillusioned by top level football at this point.
2018 - Enjoyed England’s performance and spent far too much going to the semi-final last min……heartbreak for 30 mins then life goes on.
Probably watched more non-England games at France 98 than all the others combined.
I wonder if 13 year olds now have the same excitement about Qatar as I did France 98. Maybe they do, or maybe the game and world had changed so much that it’s highly unlikely. I hope they do, even if it’s for different reasons.
For those of a certain age, there's only one possible answer - 1950, England lose to the USA, a game it's since been revealed was fixed by a bent referee. Seriously, 1966. I watched every England game and can still vividly remember certain bits of the Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, and W Germany games.
1982 went there to Bilbao for the opening rounds, Robson after 12 seconds, right behind the goal when he scored, followed by the local old bill waiving batons!
I'd be amazed if they actually waived their batons.
Italia 90 for me. Funny how its supposed to have been rubbish yet so many of us have voted for it.
It coincided with an epic holiday driving across newly free Europe, World in Motion blaring, to Bulgaria, where my footie mad friends awaited. i was on the overnight ferry to the Hook and fortunately we could watch the last group stage game in the bar. I swear the ferry swayed as Platty scored the winner. Then it just seemed to track my holiday, and the presence of quite a few Scots in the bar on the coast for the knock out games livened things up.
I enjoyed Germany too, as it was in my backyard, and i had tickets for Stuttgart 3rd place playoff, which was epic apart from the game, just that England stank the place out.
Qatar can fuck off.
I'm more ambivalent about watching this one than I was about 2018 when I could already see what a complete and utter fucktard Putin is and wanted nothing to do with his country.
1982 went there to Bilbao for the opening rounds, Robson after 12 seconds, right behind the goal when he scored, followed by the local old bill waiving batons!
I'd be amazed if they actually waived their batons.
Few stand outs, mainly non football related. 1998 was in gran canaria with my parents and a mate. I was 18 despite England losing I got a shag from someone another mate worked with and fancied, so that was ok. 2002 just finished at university and watched us lose, and then had a viva straight afterwards. Fucked it up and thought that was. 4 years down the pan but turned out OK. Then the whole class flew to Dublin for a few days and a guy I really didn't like shat his bed.
1998, first World Cup I can remember, got the sticker book etc. everything about that World Cup gives me unbelievable amounts of nostalgia.
2002 is probably the worst - watching England getting dumped out, seaman crying and then having to go through a whole day of school was depressing. Also I remember feeling my mortality, as I worked out at the next World Cup I’d be unbelievably old and 15.
Comments
A tout getting a clump and getting a ticket for the semi.
The build up and the atmosphere was potent in Turin.
The way we were treated by the Italians, compared to the Germans, made for a very us v them attitude.
The drive there and back in a motor I gave £60 for from Charlton auction.
Had everything except a victory.
Up there with the best moments of my life.
Robbo on the wing.
France 1998: The first one I remember watching properly as it was the first I saw England involved in, had the emergence of the likes of Beckham and Owen, along with that epic game against Argentina.
Germany 2006: Spent a lot of England games down the pub for this one, some great memories
Russia 2018: Obvious reasons!!
Some cracking players on show too - Kempes was unplayable but also Rossi, Rumminegge, Krankl, Jonny Rep, etc. Special shout out for little Archie Gemmill's goal against the Dutch too!
1990. Turned the image of football around in this country, and I went to Luton to see the homecoming, which was amazing.
1974. The first one I remember, blown away by the skill of the Dutch.
2018. An England squad capable of winning, who conducted themselves immaculately.
1982. The first time England qualified within my memory, the goal after fifteen seconds was awesome.
2014 was great.
However, the correct answer is 1978.
1998 getting to watch England vs Tunisia on the TV In English at school, you know those tvs with the silver video recorder that we didn't think could tune into normal TV.
I hated 2010.
I loved the 98 world cup intro that the BBC did and I love this video, shame it only goes upto 2010
England actually won a penalty shootout!
1990 was superb as was 98 (mainly cause I was in Ayia Napa and spent the tournament drinking with Lee Sharpe)
2018 was also superb
worst one USA 94
For a complete tournament I have to go for Italia 90.
It coincided with an epic holiday driving across newly free Europe, World in Motion blaring, to Bulgaria, where my footie mad friends awaited. i was on the overnight ferry to the Hook and fortunately we could watch the last group stage game in the bar. I swear the ferry swayed as Platty scored the winner. Then it just seemed to track my holiday, and the presence of quite a few Scots in the bar on the coast for the knock out games livened things up.
Qatar can fuck off.
By 1970 I was football mad, and I soaked up that tournament, including the infamous 3-2 vs West Germany which taught me how cruel football could be. Overall, that WC was probably my favourite. Plus, we saw Brazil at the peak of their powers “taking it turns to give an exhibition”.
The 1990 one was great as well, a classic England start bad and get good performance. I still think if we’d got past the Germans we would have dispatched Argentina but we’ll never know now.
Belgium beating Russia 4-3 in 1986 was a mad one
Italia 90 best one for me though. Its weird but most of the others since all tend to blend into one another.
It was Euro 96, Rome 97, France 98 and Euro 2000 (15 years old by then) that really made me desperate to follow England. I’ve been fortunate enough to attended many games since but nothing has come close to the excitement of those early memories, but maybe the expectations of a commitment-free youth where football was all that mattered were never realistic to be met.
1998 - truly felt like the biggest event in my life and therefore the world at that time. Being able to see the big names you’d heard about but rarely seen. I watched every game I possibly could on tv. A decent and largely likeable England team which included characters, the excitement (for me) of the trouble coming through from Marseille etc on the news bulletins, watching games at school. Owen….heartbreak.
2002. - Under-age but working so going to the pub at 7am with older work mates. The uniqueness of those early games, a unique and passionate hosts, beating the argies, leading against Brazil….heartbreak.
2006 - My first WC I attended. An English invasion, fun at times but unremarkable. Things had changed.
2010 - I should have gone, SA would have been an amazing place to experience, but I didn’t and it was dire in most other ways, Eng performance was a disgrace.
2014 - Could not even tell you our scores. Very disillusioned by top level football at this point.
2018 - Enjoyed England’s performance and spent far too much going to the semi-final last min……heartbreak for 30 mins then life goes on.
I wonder if 13 year olds now have the same excitement about Qatar as I did France 98. Maybe they do, or maybe the game and world had changed so much that it’s highly unlikely. I hope they do, even if it’s for different reasons.
The death toll in Qatar of migrant workers is appalling. Revealed: 6500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since ...https://www.theguardian.com › global-development › feb. When even The Sieg Mail is commenting on the deaths of foreigners (Just how many have died so Qatar can host the World Cup ...https://www.dailymail.co.uk › sport › article-11246449), you know it's bad.
Kind of lost a little bit of interest in World Cup from 1994 onwards
4 years down the pan but turned out OK. Then the whole class flew to Dublin for a few days and a guy I really didn't like shat his bed.
2002 is probably the worst - watching England getting dumped out, seaman crying and then having to go through a whole day of school was depressing. Also I remember feeling my mortality, as I worked out at the next World Cup I’d be unbelievably old and 15.