Saturday, May 29, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010

Mint had a list of the greatest World Cup goals in their "Business of Life" section. This list is available at http://www.livemint.com/2010/05/26195435/The-cup-of-joy.html.

My personal favourites are the Carlos Alberto and Maradona goals.

I think the 1986 World Cup (which Maradona's goal was a part of) is the one I watched with the most interest. The quarter final between Brazil and France was one of the best matches I have ever seen. My other memories of that World Cup were of the Belgium - Soviet Union match (which I thought Soviet Union should have won) and the finals (where Argentina managed to hold on despite a late rally from Germany).

I didn't really keep track of the 1982 world cup (we didn't have a TV at home and anyway it was all black & white Doordarshan everywhere in India at that time). I later watched the movie on the 1982 world cup (Goal!) and really liked it - especially the part about how Brazil couldn't play defence even though all they needed was a draw against Italy.

What I remember most of the 1990 world cup was the heroics of Argentina's substitute goalkeeper Goycochea (their first choice got injured in one of the initial matches) and how he got them through a number of penalty shoot-outs. It was almost as if Argentina was playing for a draw and hoping that they would win via the shoot-out.

I don't remember much about the 1994 world cup, except that the finals were very boring. The 1998 world cup was better - the finals between Brazil and France was a good game. I was in US at that time and didn't get to watch most of the games as they were held during US office hours; also all the matches weren't telecast on the TV channels available at the service apartment I was in.

My most vivid memories of the 2002 world cup were of Ronaldinho, especially his goal against England; the finals between Germany and Brazil did not live up to expectations. I was supporting Portugal at the 2006 games but wanted France to win once they got to the finals against Italy; it was sad to see Zidane's career ending the way it did - sent off with a red card.


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