Fifty truly unforgettable World Cup memories

Australia’s Lucas Neill, bottom, trips Italy’s Fabio Grosso in the penalty box during the last minutes of the Australia vs Italy Round of 16 World Cup soccer match at Fritz Walter Stadium in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Monday, June 26, 2006. Italy was awarded a penalty and won the match 1-0. AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian

Many older Roarers and long term fans of the world game might be able to cast an eye back to the 1970s and 80s and the feats of Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, Zico, Johan Cryuff and Pele. But for this writer, the love affair with the World Cup really began at Italia 1990.

As we look forward to the latest installment, with the knowledge that the Socceroos will again represent us, it’s time to relive some of the best memories from over the past five editions;

Italia ‘90
1. The first up victory by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon over the defending World Champions Argentina. Romance at its absolute finest.
2. Back-up keeper Sergio Goycochea coming in for Nery Pumpido in Argentina’s second match and producing some wonderful displays, especially from the penalty spot.
3. Paul Gascoigne’s drive and delightful skills taking England to the semis.
4. The commentary of Martin Tyler. “My word”, has there ever been a better caller, in any sport?
5. The emergence from nowhere of Italian striker Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci, he of the wide-eyes and lethal finishing.
6. The Inter Milan trio of Germans, Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Mattahaus and Andreas Brehme, conquering the world at their home ground, the San Siro.
7. The headed goals of Czechoslovakian tower Tomas Skuhravy.
8. The flair and sheer romance brought to the tournament by 38 year old Roger Milla and the likes of Francois Omam-Biyik from Cameroon. Something very very special.
9. The influence of Argentine front man Claudio Caniggia, who combined with Maradona to take Argentina all the way to the final.
10. It wasn’t a tournament of many goals, but Roberto Baggio produced a gem against Czechoslovakia.

USA ‘94
1. Watching the Gheorghe Hagi and Gheorghe Popescu lead Romania in dishing up some delightful stuff which took them beyond Argentina into the quarter finals.
2. Saaed Owairan’s superb solo slalom goal against Belgium will live long in the memory, as will the call from Martin Tyler; “Can he score? He can, he can indeed.”
3. Rasheed Yekini’s goal celebration, inside the net, symbolised everything that was beautiful and fun about Nigeria’s run, which was eventually brought to an end by a Baggio penalty in the second phase. Who will ever forget the quality brought to this tournament from the likes of Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi and Jay Jay Okocha.
4. The performance of Hristo Stoichkov and his Bulgarian outfit, who not only knocked out Germany, but made it all the way to the semis. Players like Trifon Ivanov, Iordan Letchkov and Krassimir Balakov became household names. Ivanov, the central defender, with his deep eyes and facial hair, became a cult hero.
5. Another surprise semi finalist was Sweden, for whom there were memorable performances from goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli and strikers Martin Dahlin and Thomas Brolin.
6. The little men up front for Brazil, Bebeto and Romario, lead with their hearts. This wasn’t a great Brazilian side, but it had spirit, in abundance. Hardest to forget was their contribution to the 3-2 thriller against Holland in the quarter finals.
7. Less memorable was the first ever effort from Greece, who failed to score and copped 10 goals in their three games, including one from Maradona, leaving Greeks all over Australia on the receiving end of some not so subtle jokes.
8. The Italians, of course, lead the chorus, until they lost the final on penalties.
9. Maradona himself ended his tournament in disgrace, bowing out a drug cheat.
10. Another sour memory was the murder of Colombian defender Andres Escobar, soon after returning home from scoring an own goal against the USA.

France ‘98
1. Allez Les Bleus. To my mind, the most deserving of the World Cup champions over the past five tournaments .While they needed extra time to get through Paraguay, penalties to get beyond Italy, and had to come from behind against Croatia, their empathic win in the final was a reward for their all-round teamwork and their ability to control the game in the all the thirds, even without a recognised striker.
2. While Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff provided some wonderful flair in the front third, in the semi final, against Croatia, France needed two goals from right back, Lilian Thuram, to get the win. It proved how much of a team they were, relying on contributions from all.
3. The manner in which the French nation got behind its team was something to behold.
4. As in USA four years earlier, the Romanian’s again made a positive impression, topping their group and outplaying England along the way. Remember the peroxide?
5. Who can ever forget the round of 16 epic between England and Argentina in which Michael Owen, “the boy wonder’, scored a epic solo goal, David Beckham saw red, before England were eliminated on penalties, again.
6. The Dutch and the Italians also choked from the penalty spot, the latter for the third time on the spin.
7. Dennis Bergkamp’s strike (love the commentary!!) in the quarter final against Argentina, enough said.
8. The wonderful run from Croatia all the way to the semi finals. A young nation was announcing itself to the world, and what a statement it was, with Davor Suker the inspiration. The 3-0 quarter final win of Germany was particularly thrilling.
9. The drama surrounding Ronaldo ahead of the final. Mysterious stuff.
10. And Spain failed again.

Korea/Japan ‘02
1. As Cameroon had done at Italia ’90, Senegal kicked off this World Cup with a massive upset over defending champs France.
2. They went on to have a terrific tournament, finally eliminated in the quarter final by Turkey.
3. The Turks, lead by inspirational skipper Hakan Sukur, with able support from the likes of Yildiray Basturk, Rustu Recber and Hasan Sas, had an outstanding tournament, making it all the way to the semi finals.
4. Another team dazzling the world with their high-octane pressing game were South Korea, who, spurred on by the magnificent sea of red across the nation, made it all the way to the semis with controversial wins over Italy and Spain.
5. Lead by the Dutch master Guus Hiddink, South Korea was able to play a highly offensive game, with Park Ji Sung influential, while legendary defender Hong Myung Bo was great.
6. Who will ever forget Ahn Jung Hwan’s golden goal against Italy?
7. Germany relied heavily on their goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, and the finishing of Michael Ballack, to progress to the final, but it was there their luck ran out.
8. They came up against The Phenomenon, Ronaldo, who was sporting the tournament’s most ridiculous hairstyle, but managed to bag two in the final to go with his six in the lead up to it.
9. Mexico may have failed to get past the second round, but they did produce some wonderful flowing team football to top their group, including this gem of a team goal by Jared Borghetti against Italy.
10. And remember the less glamorous dive from Rivaldo when struck by a ball near the corner-flag?

Germany ‘06
1. This was all about our beloved Socceroos, back in the big show for the first time in 32 years, it was time to let the hair down and have a party. Lead by Hiddink, the Socceroos were fit, prepared and keen to paint a positive picture. And what a start it was, with those eight totally crazy minutes in the Fritz Walter Stadium, when substitutes Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy and John Aloisi made such a glorious impact. Outside the stadium, before and after the game, the sea of yellow was something to behold, and it only grew as the circus moved through Munich, Stuttgart and back to Kaiserslautern. It was the ride of a lifetime, for fans, new and old, players, present and past, and the entire nation.
2. While there was much despondency around the Allianz Arena after the loss to Brazil, my endearing feeling was that the Roos had competed superbly, and taken it to the raining World champs. We had much to be proud of.
3. The night out at the Gottleib-Daimler Stadion was something surreal. From seeing Zeljko Kalac’s name on the team-sheet, to hearing the almighty noise from the Croatian supporters across the pitch, to the performance from Graham Poll, to the equaliser from Harry Kewell and the ensuing mayhem and euphoria, before and after the final whistle. And then, Archie Thompson on the corner flag guitar and the sound of “I come from a land downunder…”
4. And then back to Kaiserslautern and that drama surrounding Fabio Grosso and Lucas Neill. While bitterly disappointed with the incident afterwards, my endearing memories were of catching up with Paul Trimboli after the match and marvelling at the performance of Fabio Cannavaro. He ate Mark Viduka. For all the Socceroos pressing that match, the reality is we didn’t come close to penetrating the Italian rearguard and we sadly missed the drive of Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell that night.
5. The Italians, as we know, went on to win the tournament on the back of this remarkable defensive structure, with Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon superb.
6. Even the great Zinedine Zidane, such an influence in getting France to the final, snapped under the relentless pressure.
7. While Zidane was bowing out, another French star in Frank Ribery emerged.
8. Germany was a great host, both on and off the field. On the field, the Nationalmannschaft sparkled, dishing up some of the most entertaining football I can remember them producing.
9. Argentina failed to live up to expectations, yet again, but against Serbia & Montenegro they did produce what must surely be one of the greatest ever World Cup goals, a 25 pass move which finished with a one-two on the edge of the box and clinical finish from Esteban Cambiasso. Here it is, complete with Martin Tyler.
10. Another personal memory was attending the Paraguay vs Trindad and Tobago game in Kaiserslautern and witnessing the Soca Warriors fans singing for the introduction of their legendary midfielder, Russell Latapy, for much of the match. Midway through the second half the then 37 year old finally fulfilled a life-time dream and got to taste the World Cup. The fans went mad. More World Cup dreams and memories fulfilled.

So there you have it, 21 years of memories from the world’s biggest show.

Be sure to share yours.