Greatest World Cup game ever

Excluding Ireland, mine has to be the clash between Germany and Italy in the semi-final in 1970. Described by Wikipedia as follows:

Italy took a 1-0 lead through Roberto Boninsegna on 8 minutes after an excellent "one-two" combination with Luigi Riva. West Germany pressed to equalize for the rest of the game, until the very end when sweeper Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, then with Italy's AC Milan, scored in injury time. In extra time, Gerd Müller brought Germany the lead on 94 minutes before Italy defender Tarcisio Burgnich leveled the score with a rare international goal. On 104 minutes, Riva made it 3-2 past goalkeeper Sepp Maier, only for Müller to equalize six minutes later. Television cameras were still replaying this goal when Italy midfielder Gianni Rivera, left unmarked near the penalty spot, volleyed a fine Boninsegna cross past Maier for the winning goal in the 111th minute. Franz Beckenbauer refused to stop playing after sustaining a broken clavicle from an Italian foul during extra time: as Helmut Schön, the West German manager, had already used the two permitted substitutes, Beckenbauer (who was critical to the German side) stayed on with his arm in a sling. This match is regarded as the "Game of the Century", also known as the Partita del Secolo in Italy and Jahrhundertspiel in Germany. A monument at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City commemorates it.

There were some great matches in that tournament, blighted by the constant showing by the British media of the Gordon Banks save vs Brazil (the greatest save in the world ever :rolleyes:).

The final in 1970, two teams at the height of their powers, neither would be anything close to this strong for more than a decade.
And one of my favorite goals ever - Carlos Alberto lashing it in after Pele's almost nonchalant pass rolls the ball out to him

I'm too young for either of those games. In my recent memory, Romania V Argentina in USA 94, or Argentina V Mexico from 2006.

Didn't match up well but I nearly wet myself during Argentina v Serbia.
Best football i've ever seen.

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Originally Posted by Risteard

Didn't match up well but I nearly wet myself during Argentina v Serbia.
Best football i've ever seen.

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Some good looking Argentinian women in the crowd scenes ;) Is that why you wet yourself :) ?

Nearly.

The best game I ever saw was Italy 3 Brazil 2 in Spain 82 because they were two great sides playing super football in a real ding-dong encounter.
I know a lot's said about Italy-West Germany in 1970, but it was actually a poor enough game played by two tired teams who both fell apart during extra-time.
Last year's Italy-Germany semi was also a superb game of ball.

Saw highlights of that Italy-Germany semifinal recently.
One amusing incident in extra time when an Italian defender ran 30 yards to rugby tackle a German from behind. Defender not even spoken to!! Just a free kick!
Just a tad too young to remember it, but North Korea v Portugal in 66 sounds a cracker (bit like Shels and Rangers)

Really enjoyed Brazil 5-2 Costa Rica from the 2002 World Cup. Not the greatest of games technically, but just two teams who went out and actually played attacking football almost for the love of the game.

Romania 3-2 Argentina at USA 94. Conventional wisdom attributes Romania's victory to the absence of Maradona but Argentina were just beaten by a better team in what was probably the last truly great match in a World Cup.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Really enjoyed Brazil 5-2 Costa Rica from the 2002 World Cup. Not the greatest of games technically, but just two teams who went out and actually played attacking football almost for the love of the game.

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That was a brilliant game..worth watching at 10am.

I remember Spain and Nigeria in 1998 being excellent as well for the same reasons

It was a 7am game, as I recall. Missed the first goal making my corn flakes!

The 1982 Semi between France and Germany was a classic. Germany on penos after a 3-3 draw. Superb game. As already mentioned, Brazil v Italy from the same tournament was another great game.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

It was a 7am game, as I recall. Missed the first goal making my corn flakes!

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Christ, you must get up hours and hours before work every morning.

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Originally Posted by Billy Lord

The best game I ever saw was Italy 3 Brazil 2 in Spain 82 because they were two great sides playing super football in a real ding-dong encounter..

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Same for me. It is actually one of my first memories of football, I think this match got me hooked. Paolo Rossi was my hero after that game:) I still reckon he was stitched up in the betting scandal.

france brazil in 86 , was outside playing football and a neighbour called us into his house when the game started , we watched it there , stuck to the telly while his mother gave us coke and crisps. vaguely remember cheering for NI in '82 ( oh how times have changed) but by 86 was ready for the whole thing. no tournament since has been as good as that one to my mind , luis fernandez scored the winning peno and we were gutted as we wished the game could have gone on for a few more hours.

I'm too young to have seen a lot of these games at the time. I only remember '94 onwards, even then I didn't watch most of '94 cos of the unreal starting times and all 6 year olds have bedtimes. Anyway.......

My picks would be:
Netherlands 2-1 Argentina QF '98
Great game, also had that Bergkamp goal.

Argentina 2-2 England Second Round '98
I remember being on the edge of my seat for most of that match.

South Korea 2-1 Italy Second Round '02
Again, I was on the edge of my seat for the whole time.

Italy 3 Brazil 2 in Espana '82 gets my vote.
France v Germany semi-final of the same tournament was not far behind

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Originally Posted by Risteard

Christ, you must get up hours and hours before work every morning.

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I was on study leave at the time for my accountancy exams at the time. Up at 7, watch three games in a row, four hours study and then sleep for a while! :p

Ireland v Germany was a 12:30 kick off, for example. Nearly didn't do any study that day!

Last World Cup semi between Germany and Italy. Football at the highest level and two great goals at the end.