Top 5 Thrilling World Cups in Football : With the FIFA World Cup 2018 going down in history as one of the best organised in the entire history of the fabled competition, one is sure to draw parallels to other world cups that were of the same calibre.
The competition that spans a massive 68 years of providing the finest form of live entertainment has had it’s fair share of basking in the big beautiful sun of superstardom, with two different trophies, witnessing legends in the making and well over a 100 countries getting the honour to participate, this competition is one that has already revolutionised the impact of sport in daily life. Saying that however, here are some world cups that stand tall among the rest:
- The 2002 World Cup South Korea/Japan
When the world come came to the Orient, nobody expected teams with world class written all over them fall indiscriminately to the sheer will and tenacity that the so called smaller teams demonstrated and implemented. Dubbed the world cup of upsets, the 2002 edition of the premier competition was one for the underdog although in the end, it was the familiar canary yellow and blue that came out on top through no small feat of team and individual brilliance.
But talking upsets, it all started with a France team, unparalleled on paper, falling to new boys Senegal in what was indeed something that triggered a domino effect throughout the whole competition. The hosts South Korea demonstrated giant killing skills previously unseen in such a competition breaking through to the semi-finals along with a resilient Turkey side.
All this aside, this was the world cup where the brilliant Brazil expressed their free flowing footballing masterclass and had every right to win the world cup. As the final between Brazil and Germany established Ronaldo Nazario as one of the best strikers on the planet. Also Ronaldinho’s sensational goal in the semi-final was another amazing moment in this very special World Cup.
- The 1986 World Cup in Mexico
All the great world cups through the years have something in common, and this is either the emergence of a special group of players or one extraordinary player. Fortunately the ’86 World Cup had both in spades. I am of course referring to Diego Maradona who ran riot in the knockout phases, almost singlehandedly toppling England and Belgium. The Argentine team however worked extremely well as a unit, evident in their 3-2 win against West Germany in one of the best finals of all time.
However, it was Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ that got the whole world’s undivided attention along with of course the ‘goal of the century’ when the Argentine made the whole England team fall at his feet with this exhibition of supreme footballing skill.
The Argentines emerged worthy winners while the likes of France and Brazil asserted their dominance with great football culminating in an epic quarterfinal showdown which France finally emerged from far from in one piece.
Morocco were the surprise packages in this world cup, with them toppling Italy in the group stages as they achieved their best World Cup finish.
- World Cup in England 1966
Of course the 1966 edition simply had to make this list, with England coming up with their finest hour on their own turf in the hotly contested final with a resurgent West Germany side that were favourites to win by a country mile. The English side, dubbed the ‘ Wingless Wonders started with a whimper, with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay but showing perseverance and ultimate tenacity as they subsequently got better and better as they roared to the finish line with a 4-2 score line as Geoff Hurst scored the very first World cup final hat trick .
Alf Ramsay executed his masterstroke with stark perfection as the Englishmen progressed through the competition with an almost perfect record. Italy were stunned by North Korea in what was a historic triumph for them but this world cup was all about England as their third goal in the final came under a lot of subsequent scrutiny.
In an off the ball incident that gathered significant attention, the theft and the subsequent comical recovery of the Jules Rimet trophy also made this a very peculiar World Cup indeed.
- The World Cup 1970 in Mexico
This particular iteration of the world renowned competition, only 20 years old then was on the verge of a Brazilian revolution only a few saw coming as a rampant Brazil side roared to a tremendous finish as unbeaten champions, winning all their games on the trot. The likes of Pele, Alberto, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao among others transcended to world beaters as they dismantled the opposition with verve and class.
Apart from Brazil’s dominance, this world cup also went down as the one with the best contested quarterfinal, with England leading 2-0 into the second half against West Germany, the Germans pounced and got back two goals in quick succession and slotting home a third for the ultimate comeback.
This edition of the competition also has the highest goals per game average among every world cup that has come up so far.
- The 2018 World Cup Russia
Purists might think this as a very unconventional pick but the latest World Cup in Russia was an enjoyable, thrilling, rollercoaster of a competition that greatly favoured the so called underdogs. The previous champions Germany failing to muster enough points to make the knockouts and eventually losing against South Korea was a talking point.
Of course Lionel Messi being denied by the explosive Kylian Mbappe and France as well as Cristiano Ronaldo’s group stage hat trick against an unyielding Spain side, need I say more about that free kick? These moments surely stood out as best moments.
Belgium and finalists Croatia will definitely be celebrated for a long time as they produced stunning performances throughout the competition, only denied by a stubborn French side who romped on to the title.
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