Favourite World Cup performer ever?

[Chippy]

I was just thinking about football from years gone by and how as a kid I enjoyed the World Cup so much,

that got me to thinking of Players I used to pretend to be when kicking around as kids do and wondered who your favourite World Cup performers would be?

bet we get a few differant ones but I shall start of with mine.

I would go for Jairzinho, older posters will remember him as one of the most exciting players in the 1970 World Cup, He scored in every game for Brazil 7 Goals and still was beaten for the golden Boot by Germany's Gerd Muller who got ten, Jairzinho was dazzling to watch and probobly the only player who excited me to watch as much as Georgie Best Or Charlie Cooke, not forgetting I am a Chelsea fan and any bias even when I was so young just went out the window when I watched players of this class, the man was pure magic.

He played his last game in 1982 so I dont expect many of the younger ones on here to remember him but if you ever get a chance to see any footage, have a look. another thing people may know him for is he was the one who spotted Ronaldo (the chubby one) when he was 14.

 

[Pauly]

I can't go past the drama that involved Robi Baggio every time he did or didn't pull on the national shirt and the dignity Maldini always showed in leading our boys. The Italian side of 2000, Hiddink's Holland with bergkamp, Kluivert, De Boer and Cocu were fantastic to watch- that game against Brazil where Kluivert scored *that* headed goal.

I can't really focus on a player but the magic and beauty that the '98 world cup produced from chilavert to zidane to baggio to nigeria and 40 yard strikes will never be forgotten for me- sparked a true passion in football and showed what the game was all about.

Other than that... Signori. ho ho ho, what a man. Just you would have loved him.

Even Owen was fantastic to watch in that world cup... it had everything!

 

[BlueBeard]

1970 - same World Cup, same team, different player - Rivelino.

He was the first player I ever saw who could bend the ball round a wall - known as a 'banana shot' back then

Rivelino was a great player, could beat defenders, excellent passer of a ball, and had one hell of a shot on him.

Unfortunately for him, fame wise, he was in a team full of all-time greats - Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Gerson, Tostao, etc....so he often doesn't get the credit he deserves.

In fact, now I'm on the subject, I can remember quite a few players from that competition that I haven't thought about for years.

Beckenbauer, Muller, Overath, Vogts, Haller, Seeler (West Germany)

Facchetti, Rivera, Riva, Mazzola, Zoff, Boninsegna (Italy)

Byshovets (Russia)

Van Himst, Van Moer (Belgium)

Cubillas (Peru)

That was some World Cup though, wasn't it! I was about 12/13 when it was played, and haven't enjoyed a World Cup anywhere near as much since. It was the first time I'd seen football on a colour TV, and I was hooked - even that black and white ball became an icon. As far as I can remember, there wasn't a single player sent off in the tournament either.

Only down side to it all was Peter Bonetti getting the blame for England's getting knocked out of the competition. One of his main accusers was more to blame than Bonetti was, a certain Brian Labone - the git! I've never forgiven him for slagging The Cat down in public.

....and Alf Ramsey's refusal to select Peter Osgood.

....oh, and England's World Cup song, "Back Home" - bloody awful!

World Cups afterwards never lived up to the 1970 one, and I endured numerous embarrassments and disappointments following Scotland's efforts on TV. They even managed to get knocked out of the 1974 World Cup Finals without losing a game!

 

[Chippy]

1970 - same World Cup, same team, different player - Rivelino.He was the first player I ever saw who could bend the ball round a wall - known as a 'banana shot' back then

Rivelino was a great player, could beat defenders, excellent passer of a ball, and had one hell of a shot on him.

Unfortunately for him, fame wise, he was in a team full of all-time greats - Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Gerson, Tostao, etc....so he often doesn't get the credit he deserves.

In fact, now I'm on the subject, I can remember quite a few players from that competition that I haven't thought about for years.

Beckenbauer, Muller, Overath, Vogts, Haller, Seeler (West Germany)

Facchetti, Rivera, Riva, Mazzola, Zoff, Boninsegna (Italy)

Byshovets (Russia)

Van Himst, Van Moer (Belgium)

Cubillas (Peru)

That was some World Cup though, wasn't it! I was about 12/13 when it was played, and haven't enjoyed a World Cup anywhere near as much since. It was the first time I'd seen football on a colour TV, and I was hooked - even that black and white ball became an icon. As far as I can remember, there wasn't a single player sent off in the tournament either.

Only down side to it all was Peter Bonetti getting the blame for England's getting knocked out of the competition. One of his main accusers was more to blame than Bonetti was, a certain Brian Labone - the git! I've never forgiven him for slagging The Cat down in public.

....and Alf Ramsey's refusal to select Peter Osgood.

....oh, and England's World Cup song, "Back Home" - bloody awful!

World Cups afterwards never lived up to the 1970 one, and I endured numerous embarrassments and disappointments following Scotland's efforts on TV. They even managed to get knocked out of the 1974 World Cup Finals without losing a game!

Oh what Rivelino what a player? in fact what a team?

I was 12 then as well and made it my business to collect the esso world cup coins

That was my favourite WC ever and all the players you mentioned brought a smile to my face,

Couldn't believe Ossie was not first name on the teamsheat.

and Poor Bonetti what a thing to be stand out in a carreer like his?

And Labone I forgot about him...did he play for Everton the twat?

Happy Days 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Have to agree Bluebeard there has not been a WC to touch 1970.Some great memories

Beckenbauer playing with his arm in a sling v Italy

Banks save from Pele

Pele with a crazy shot against the Czechs and selling the dummy to the Uruguayan keeper.

Carlos Alberto with the last goal in the final and Tostao(I think) selling dummies to 4 Italians in the middle of the field.

Why did Banks not play v W.Ger.?

 

[Chippy]

Banks was ill and the Cat was in for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9fsnuR8kXUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9fsnuR8kXU

sad to see

 

[just]

Other than that... Signori. ho ho ho, what a man. Just you would have loved him.

Bepe? I used to watch him regularly on Football Italia Pauly.

My favourite ever Italian player is Maldini. A true footballing God. I also revered Franco Causio.

Only an Italian or a scouser could play football with hair and a moustache that huge, and shorts that small.

Favourite world cup player ? Only one contender for me. Pele. For f*cks sake he won it when he was 17 and he scored two goals in the final !!!!!!

 

[Scott]

That young left back was just the best.

Also not a bad squad, Baresi,Donadoni,Schiilaci,Bergami and Luca somebody.

 

[Chippy]

Pele was superb obviously and has had plenty of plaudits but just thinking back to when I was a kid the stand out players for me were more the dribblers,

heres a bit of Jazz for you

 

[Chippy]

That young left back was just the best.

Also not a bad squad, Baresi,Donadoni,Schiilaci,Bergami and Luca somebody.

that schillaci could find the net couldn't he?

the more you think about it the more players you can count as truely great.

 

[BlueBeard]

Oh what Rivelino what a player? in fact what a team?I was 12 then as well and made it my business to collect the esso world cup coins

That was my favourite WC ever and all the players you mentioned brought a smile to my face,

Couldn't believe Ossie was not first name on the teamsheat.

and Poor Bonetti what a thing to be stand out in a carreer like his?

And Labone I forgot about him...did he play for Everton the tw*t?

Happy Days 8)

I remember collecting those coins too, and insisting that my dad got his petrol only at Esso garages

I also seem to remember Typhoo tea packs having a football theme - each pack would have a picture and info of a different player. So, my mum was obviously under strict instructions to buy only Typhoo Tea

And yes, Labone played for Everton. They won the league that year and beat us in the Charity Shield at the Bridge in August - sadly, I was there to witness it. Still annoys me to think of that stunted little ginger twat Alan Ball running around in his white boots and squeaking at the ref.

And their chubby git of a keeper, Gordon West - the only player to get a song sung about him just because his name rhymed with Best!

For those who don't know, it was a charming little ditty that was sung in the Shed to the tune of "Excerpt From A Teenage Opera", better known as "Grocer Jack": -

Gordon West, Gordon West

Biggest c*nt since Georgie Best

Get on your bike

And f*ck off home

"Sigh", they don't write 'em like that anymore 8)

1970 - a good year for football - Chelsea won the cup for the first time ever, followed a couple of months later by the best World Cup ever! And the next season we went on to win the Cup Winners Cup!

 

[Chippy]

BLUEBEARD WROTE

I remember collecting those coins too, and insisting that my dad got his petrol only at Esso garages

I also seem to remember Typhoo tea packs having a football theme - each pack would have a picture and info of a different player. So, my mum was obviously under strict instructions to buy only Typhoo Tea

And yes, Labone played for Everton. They won the league that year and beat us in the Charity Shield at the Bridge in August - sadly, I was there to witness it. Still annoys me to think of that stunted little ginger tw*t Alan Ball running around in his white boots and squeaking at the ref.

And their chubby git of a keeper, Gordon West - the only player to get a song sung about him just because his name rhymed with Best!

For those who don't know, it was a charming little ditty that was sung in the Shed to the tune of "Excerpt From A Teenage Opera", better known as "Grocer Jack": -

Gordon West, Gordon West

Biggest c*nt since Georgie Best

Get on your bike

And f*ck off home

"Sigh", they don't write 'em like that anymore 8)

1970 - a good year for football - Chelsea won the cup for the first time ever, followed a couple of months later by the best World Cup ever! And the next season we went on to win the Cup Winners Cup!

I remember Alan Ball strutting about and the chubby west, never heard the song though,

The 70s was a great era when you look back and sometimes I think my specs are rose tinted as they were the best years of my life but with the football I think its not rose tinted.