Leo Messi

[SpaceCruiser]

2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much

France cheating Spain out of the WC and Zidane's head butt in the final.

Other than that, yeah, not much happened.

[Maquisard]

2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much

The Germany-Italy semi final was one of the finest games of football ever played (IMHO of course). (Does anybody know whether it's available on DVD?)

But I can't think of any outstanding players at the moment, although I shared outside-office space with some Algerians at the time who drew a certain French player to my attention at every opportunity.

[bobbybottler]

comments apenged

1958 Pele (at 17!) - really? Even though he didn't score until his deflected effort against Wales in the QFs? I'd have said Just Fontaine had a shout tbf.
1962 Garrincha - 100% agreed.
1966 Moore and Eusebio - yep, but pick one.
1970 Pele - most def
1974 Cruyff and Beckenbauer - yep, but pick one.
1978 Kempes - Eskandarian no no no I mean Rensenbrink was >>>> Kempes, although let's be honest the tournament was overshadowed by a player who wasn't even there. If the parsimonous Dutch FA had coughed up the required guilders to meet Cruijff's requirements, Holland would have strolled off with it, and his absence weakened the tournament as a whole.
1982 Rossi - I disagree, what about Zico or Socrates or Falcao or Platini or K-HR or David Narey?

[PlasticRoyale]

Not fit to lace Jimmy Kebe's boots!

[Big Foot]

2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much

France cheating Spain out of the WC and Zidane's head butt in the final.

Other than that, yeah, not much happened.

Don't remember the France - Spain game - give me a brief synopsis please.

[papereyes]

I would say Villa for 2008, he won golden boot didn't he?

but he didn't really boss it from start to finish which Maradona did in 1986 and I don't think many players do. Ever.

Take 2004 - the story is of the Greek TEAM and perhaps the England Portugal quarter final.

[SpaceCruiser]

2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much

France cheating Spain out of the WC and Zidane's head butt in the final.

Other than that, yeah, not much happened.

Don't remember the France - Spain game - give me a brief synopsis please.

Spain went up 1-0 up. France equalised. Then Spain were looking good to score the winner when Henry dives for a free-kick which led to France going 2-1 up.

[6ft Kerplunk]

comments apenged

1982 Rossi - I disagree, what about Zico or Socrates or Falcao or Platini or K-HR or David Narey?

Rossi had one excellent game against Brazil where he got his hattrick but other than that he didn't dominate the tournament, although I did insist on being called Paolo for a while after it. . One of my favourite games ever and was being shown a fair bit last week on ESPN Classic. That Brazil midfield is the best ever not to win a World Cup, if only they'd had even a half-decent defence, centre forward and goalkeeper.
Whatever happened to Eder, appeared for one World Cup with the sweetest left foot ever and then didn't see him again. World Cups just aren't the same now you see all the best players almost weekly.

[soggy biscuit]

200th appearance for Barca tonight, 114 goals.

Even better when you consider that he takes their corners for them too

[biscuitman]

Even better when you consider that he takes their corners for them too

I doubt he will be much use in the box when a corner comes in.

[sandman]

Zidane only really came alive in the '98 final and missed a game in that tournament through being sent off as well.The Euro's 2 years later were his tournament.

Messi is carrying Barca to an extent this year, Henry hasn't scored the amount of goals he did last year and Ibrahimovic is not as good as Eto'o. As for the theory that he hasn't done well against English teams I would of thought that that would 've been put to bed by last seasons CL Final as would the theory that he can't score with his head.

[SpaceCruiser]

Zidane only really came alive in the '98 final

Exactly. And he was on performance enhancing drugs - says Juventus forced it on him, hmmmm, I smell bullshit.

[Ark Royal]

comments apenged

1958 Pele (at 17!) - really? Even though he didn't score until his deflected effort against Wales in the QFs? I'd have said Just Fontaine had a shout tbf.
1962 Garrincha - 100% agreed.
1966 Moore and Eusebio - yep, but pick one.
1970 Pele - most def
1974 Cruyff and Beckenbauer - yep, but pick one.
1978 Kempes - Eskandarian no no no I mean Rensenbrink was >>>> Kempes, although let's be honest the tournament was overshadowed by a player who wasn't even there. If the parsimonous Dutch FA had coughed up the required guilders to meet Cruijff's requirements, Holland would have strolled off with it, and his absence weakened the tournament as a whole.
1982 Rossi - I disagree, what about Zico or Socrates or Falcao or Platini or K-HR or David Narey?

58 - Really thought long and hard about Fontaine, but Pele's impact helped Brazil win the thing. They looked shaky in the group phases.
66 - Ok, Moore it is. Probably the best defender in the world at the time (and 70).
74 - Cruyff then. Beckenbauer came to mind only when I had to think about it. Cruyff certainly influenced the game as a whole.
78 - Agree. If Cruyff was there, Holland would have undoubtedly won it. What is it about the Dutch that puts petty personal vendettas above the team's best interests?
82 - David Toe-Punt Narey? Nice one. Brazil 82 were the best team never to win it, but I think they got too much into their own hype and paid the price for cockiness. Looks at the goals they conceded against Italy. Italy just got better and better and Rossi's goal were the catalyst. If we included Euros, then Platini in 84 would be a shoo-in. Nine goals from a midfielder in a final tournament? That was just nuts. He was my favourite player between 78 and 86.

[6ft Kerplunk]

If we included Euros, then Platini in 84 would be a shoo-in. Nine goals from a midfielder in a final tournament? That was just nuts. He was my favourite player between 78 and 86.

Platini was sublime in his pomp. Expect Spacey to disagree.

[TBM]

Spain went up 1-0 up. France equalised. Then Spain were looking good to score the winner when Henry dives for a free-kick which led to France going 2-1 up.

I know you're a massive racist and a xenophobe but seriously, do you ever take those blinkers off?

How you can say this wasn't a foul i dont know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDlaz7HGl-w#t=6m10s

[bobbybottler]

comments apenged

1958 Pele (at 17!) - really? Even though he didn't score until his deflected effort against Wales in the QFs? I'd have said Just Fontaine had a shout tbf.
1962 Garrincha - 100% agreed.
1966 Moore and Eusebio - yep, but pick one.
1970 Pele - most def
1974 Cruyff and Beckenbauer - yep, but pick one.
1978 Kempes - Eskandarian no no no I mean Rensenbrink was >>>> Kempes, although let's be honest the tournament was overshadowed by a player who wasn't even there. If the parsimonous Dutch FA had coughed up the required guilders to meet Cruijff's requirements, Holland would have strolled off with it, and his absence weakened the tournament as a whole.
1982 Rossi - I disagree, what about Zico or Socrates or Falcao or Platini or K-HR or David Narey?

58 - Really thought long and hard about Fontaine, but Pele's impact helped Brazil win the thing. They looked shaky in the group phases.
66 - Ok, Moore it is. Probably the best defender in the world at the time (and 70).
74 - Cruyff then. Beckenbauer came to mind only when I had to think about it. Cruyff certainly influenced the game as a whole.
78 - Agree. If Cruyff was there, Holland would have undoubtedly won it. What is it about the Dutch that puts petty personal vendettas above the team's best interests?
82 - David Toe-Punt Narey? Nice one. Brazil 82 were the best team never to win it, but I think they got too much into their own hype and paid the price for cockiness. Looks at the goals they conceded against Italy. Italy just got better and better and Rossi's goal were the catalyst. If we included Euros, then Platini in 84 would be a shoo-in. Nine goals from a midfielder in a final tournament? That was just nuts. He was my favourite player between 78 and 86.

I really wanted Maradona to succeed in 1982, I was gutted at how it finished for him and Argentina. Regarding Platini, the 1984 Euros are right up there as one of my fave tournaments, the football was sublime especially from the French midfield of Platini, Giresse, Tigana and Hernandez. Even the Germans played well, and the hugely over-rated Arconada got his come-uppance. Best of all, there were no home nations and none of the absolute shite that goes with them.

PS Kerplunk - agreed.

[Ark Royal]

France 3 Portugal 2 semi-final was one of the greatest internationals I have ever seen. What a team France had.

[bobbybottler]

Ark - shall we get a room?

[Ark Royal]

Mais oui.

[leon]

2006 really was a poor world cup looking back wasn't it? Germany vs Costa Rica was a good game, Kaka scored a good goal against Croatia and apart from those games, England's games and the final - I can't remember much

France cheating Spain out of the WC and Zidane's head butt in the final.

Other than that, yeah, not much happened.

Germany Italy semi and the Cambiasso goal after about 50 passes. You probably missed that whilst you were w*nking off over the Daily Express