imarker

Trust me, my best World Cup Memory Was in 2006 World Cup In The final, France vs. Italy. I was in Malaysia that time, so the game were in the morning about 4 o`clock. I had to really focus on getting my eyes keeping open, because i don`t think anyone would want to miss this match, it was one of the best game. I drank like 3 or 4 cups of coffees to keep me a wake. Of course I was really cheering for Italy that game, even though my team Portugal has gone out when playing against France in Semi-Final. So I Hated France really Bad, So I cheered for Italy! We Had A Big Party At the Pool That Morning After the game. Well, Then I slept all day in the afternoon, so my day went upside down. So that was my best memory of the World Cup, and i wish to get a better memory from this June 11 to July 11, South Africa Fifa World Cup. Why it so a great memory was because i don't usually watch soccer because i didn't have cabal and they said they would be showing it on TV with people that has antenna and i was so glad! Sure, it was my first game of the World Cups and one of the greatest first game I've ever senn, so it was so memorable!

I'm sure there will be many people remembering the 2006 final between France and Italy, but I doubt few would be quite as clairvoyant as mine. The night before the final me and my friends went biking in Minneapolis, it was getting late around 11 o'clock at night when we were making a loop around the beautiful lake Calhoun. The night was dark, with very few stars visible, as we reached the south-eastern tip of the lake a group of dozen people or so tried to stop us. The five of us were not taking this nonsense, so we tried to breeze through them at full speed, my friend going last heard his name being called out and slowed down to see a girl from our high school and her boyfriend being mugged. We were not in any shape to confront these guys as it would only escalate the situation, so we biked on and after our attempt to call it in with the local police failed because we couldn't provide street names, we were lucky to run into a parked squad car. They left to check it out and we rode on. On the way back I was racing with my friend when an unexpected s turn in the bike path changed the mood of the night once more. My friend being just behind me started to make the turn, clipping my back wheel. As I tried to correct I ran into railroad tracks and took a front flip over the handlebars. The next thing I felt was an enormous vibration throughout my whole body emanating from my right shoulder, I reached for the back of my head and felt dirt and blood. My bike was ruined, my friends were speechless, we had to carry on. I foolishly spent the night at my friend's house, icing half of my body and trying to recollect what actually happened. My friends courteously provided me with a diagram and I fell asleep soon after. I woke up early, my right shoulder was immobile (broken collarbone), the blood on the back of my head had dried out with the dirt intact. I had also suffered a mild concussion but had to carry on. I grabbed a fruit bar which was about the best thing I've ever had, turned on the tele and watched the sensational match that was Italy vs. France (hospital could wait until the day after). Unfortunately France lost but it was a match that will be a part of my own history in many ways.

My greatest World Cup memory was during the summer of 2002. 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, the very first tournament to be held by two countries. I was rooting for my home country, South Korea; although I was only 9 years old, my passion for the team was no less than anybody else. I do not know if any of you guys remember, but that year had so many upsets-- such as Senegal beating France on the opening game, and my personal favorites: South Korea making it to the semi-finals.
South Korea beat Poland 2-0, which was the first ever win that the South Korean team has ever gotten in the World Cup since the national team was created. Then they tied USA 1-1, a great game, I must say, and after that, the shocking moments began. S. Korea played Portugal on the last game in the group stage, and beat them 1-0, proceeding to the top 16 along with USA. Then it was Italy-- South Korea was losing 1-0 to the Italians who scored 15 minutes into the game. The first half ended 1-0. The second half, both teams playing their best, was continuing to be 1-0; until the 87th minute, when Seol scored an equilizer that put South Korea back in the game. Proceeding to extra time (back then they had the Golden Goal system where if you score, you win), players from both teams were exhausted; nevertheless, they were trying their best to bring their country to the quarterfinals, respectively. In the second half of the extra time, a cross from Lee was delivered to Ahn, as he headed the ball into the corner of the Italian goal. Buffon dived to reach the ball, but he was too late.
I remember the moment the ball went in to the goal. My body was frozen with goosebumps all over my arms and neck, as my family and I jumped and yelled to celebrate the Korean victory. My 2 year old brother was jumping with us as well. However, I cannot forget the roar coming from all the people in our neighborhood. Many Koreans lived in tall apartments, with several households per floor. Thousands of people around our apartment, yelling, shouting, and crying of joy made me feel like I was right there in the stadium watching, and feeling the furious atmosphere.
After that, Korea beat Spain on the penalties, and met the Germans in the semifinals. The South Koreans lost to Germany 1-0-- and for me, this was the worst thing that could happen in my life at the time. I remember crawling on my bed and crying for hours. It was one of the worst days of my life. For a moment, I was mad, for another moment, I was sad. But the overwhelming pride I had in my country's national soccer team was nevertheless the greatest. From a team that has never won a game in the World Cup tournaments, to a 4th best team in the world. I was never more proud of the South Korean National Soccer team.
I will never forget the players and the goals they have made and saved. I will never forget the roar throughout the peninsula, the roars we made, and the tears we shed of joy and pride. The summer of 2002, shall I never forget.

Updated: Italy versus South Korea in the 2002 World Cup

See the golden goal at the 4:10 mark in the video below.

My favorite World Cup memories also happen to be my first ones. The year was 1990, the location was Italy and the impact was instant upon the 10-year-old version of myself.

The opening game had enough drama for an entire tournament. Cameroon beat Argentina, Maradona and all, despite finishing the game with just nine men. A day later, an unheralded reserve named Toto Schillaci scored the first of his six goals for Italy, for whom Roberto Baggio would later notch arguably the goal of the tournament against Czechoslovakia.

Meanwhile, England grew into its campaign after winning just one of its group games. In the second round, Belgium was beaten by a goal so late that my sleeping father -- himself no fan of the sport -- was rudely awakened by screaming from downstairs. The quarterfinal against Cameroon was just as dramatic, with England scraping by the Indomitable Lions thanks to two Gary Lineker penalties.

Penalties. Little did us England fans know then what we have since come to expect. Turin was the site of the first shootout heartache of my lifetime. West Germany, whose captain, Lothar Matthaus, was probably my favorite non-English player in the tournament, held its nerve from 12 yards better than did England.

As the victors celebrated their passage to a final they would ultimately win (thanks, of course, to a penalty), so the losers were left with little more than Gazza's tears and a vision of what might have been. We have never been as close since.

That's easy. The goal I scored against Switzerland. Enough said. Don't doubt me. This goal was epic. See it for yourself: http://www.soccer-training-info.com/...World-Cup-Goal

The 1994 World Cup was my first World Cup. It was in the United States and I remember there was such a buzz surrounding it since soccer/football was so new to the Americans despite having one of the oldest soccer federations in the world (est. 1913). The Final between Brasil and Italy was a grueling affair in the Southern California summer, slogging through two halves and then two extra time periods before Brasil became the first nation to lift the cup four times when Dunga slotted home Brasil's third penalty kick after the match ended scoreless, and Italy's Roberto Baggio failed to convert his PK at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. What a thrilling final for a first-time supporter! I have been hooked ever since!

2002 World Cup Final, Brazil against Germany that was the immediate revenge and reaction of Brazil and Ronaldo after failing the final with France in 1998. I was so happy that Ronaldo after a long period of injury could be as decisive as he was that World Cup. He scored 8 goals and the two most important against the best goal keeper. I cheered as crazy at the second goal when Rivaldo made that faint and Ronaldo took down Kahn (i thought at that moment it was done, we are world champions for the fifth time!). This is my best final reminiscence... i have a lot of them since Brazil is the best team but this one is the recent world cup that we won (hoping that we will repeat on 2010) wish you all a fair cheer full world cup

1994 World Cup! My fisrt son was on the way and my wife and I had just been married on July 2. The honeymoon was cut short because I had tickets to the USA vs Brazil on the 4th at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto California. What an expereince...great people outside the stadium...street soccer, food, drinks and people from all ove the world! Inside was amazing as well, the atmosphere...UNBELIEVEABLE!!! And the USA only lost 1-0!!! The after party was amazing...downtown Los Gatos!!!!!!

my world cup memory is from the 2006 world cup. it was my first world cup and i was at camp at the time. when the final rolled around there was a buzz in the air at camp. i wasnt really a soccer fan and didnt even play soccer yet at the time so i didnt fully grasp the importance of the spectacle that was soon to befall us. the day of the game at camp was solely dedicated to watching it and the one tv that i had ever seen there was rolled out for the game. there were around 100 people crowding this small tv, screaming and cheering for the team they were supporting. most loudly the french and italian foreigners at the camp. i soon understood what the big deal was and found myself screaming at the tv with the rest of the crowd, not even knowing who i was rooting for, just cheering for the hell of it. by the time of the shoot out i had decided to root for the Italians, based on my heritage. when Fabio Grosso kicked in the penalty that made it 5-3 i was beyond ecstatic. the spectacular finale of the game left some crying, all of the french, some crying in joy, the italians, and then there were the group of Americans myself included, awed by the power of the greatest game on the planet.

Italia '90 was my first world cup. As a six year old, back home in Nepal, I religiously followed Maradona and his men with a bunch of my friends and elders. I remember the shock loss to Cameroon in the first game.. and the struggle to reach the knock-out stages. But we defeated Brazil, then Yogoslavia and Italy, both on penalties and then cruelly lost to the then West Germany in the finals. I remember the finals as if it was yesterday. When the penalty was awarded, I prayed and prayed that Goyocochea would be able save it... but when the kick was about to be taken, I couldn't watch it any more and pretended that I needed to go to the loo and went outside... sat in the dark. Eerie silence followed by some muffled groans told me that the worst had happened. I shed a few tears... dried my eyes and went inside.... Goyocochea was so so close to saving it... but at the end he couldn't nor could I save my tears. Its been 20 years since that heartbreak but the pain is still afresh... here's hoping Argentina finally wins the world cup.

Watching Zidane headbutt somebody!

2002 - Seeing the U.S. advance and getting my hopes up.....only to be duped by German hand ball. But that 2002 World Cup was great. Beating Mexico at the highest level is always just spectacular.

2010, my favorite World Cup memory hasn't happened just yet. My younger brother will be returning from serving with the US military in Afghanistan early on Saturday, and the first thing we will do together is watch the US-England game that we are both looking forward too. I have seen him in over a year and I'm sure it will be a something I'll never forget!

My greatest WC memory, hmmm. That's a tough one. I'd have to say it's one that's going to differ from the norm...
I was renting a house in the summer of 1990 as a 19 yr. old. I had an old broken down 20" tv that still had antennas. Needless to say the picture quality was horrible. In fact, I spent much of that summer standing in front of the tv holding the antennas in just the right spot which still provided me with, at best, a grainy image with the occasional flicker.
At any rate - my best memory would have to be of me watching the Cameroon vs. England Quarterfinal in what had to be one of the most amazing games of all time. Here you had England, the creators of Football, against the upstarts from Africa - the indomitable lions lead by one of the oldest players to have played a modern WC, Roger Milla. The game itself had everything, great goals, high tempo, intensity and creativity, etc. The only thing the game didn't provide was the right winner. On the day the Cameroonians had been the better side and came out as losers in extra time. That said they were gracious in defeat and roundly applauded for their courage and beautiful football.
While they weren't the first African country to play in the WC they had been the best by some measurable distance and they brought with them the hopes of a continent and the glimpse of the future as African teams and players have gone on to light up the world stage and now that stage has come to Africa this summer in what promises to be a memorable spectacle for all!

Updated: Cameroon versus England in the 1990 World Cup

My dad managed to get tickets to the 2006 World Cup. At that time I didn't know how big tickets where worth because I was young and so I just brushed it off as another game. I remember sitting in the stands in Berlin just screaming forza azzurri at the top of my lungs. Although that all came to a stop once france won a very iffy penalty. I was infuriated for my team to lose to a dive? I would have been mad if that's how the day would have ended. However their was one man on the pitch who had something to say about the scoreline and that was MARCO MATERAZZI. I remember has he said that his girlfriend saw a beam of light as a rose for the header. I didn't see any beam but that's probably because I was crying in the stands next to pap , tears of joy. As materazzi equalized I was more then proud of my country. As the game progressed into penalties I remember almost pissing myself everytime someone went to shoot. However when david trezeguet missed his penalty i knew gli azzurri where destined to win. On the way back home I couldn't stop crying/yelling. I will never forget the day that the azzurri won the 2006 World Cup

well lets see... So this year was the first time that i could witness the world cup because before i wasnt into soccer as much as i am now... Ok so let me begin.. Right the day before the World Cup i was hapy excited anxious and nervous. That night i put my alarm from my ipod at 5:00 am pacfic time. I went to bed at 11:00 i couldnt sleep because i was anxious. So i fall asleep then wake up at 2:00 thinking it was time ... i check the time and its not 5:00am yet. I go back to sleep and then wake up before my alarm went off! It was finally time to see the world cup openning! i got up sneeked out of my room, turn on the tv really low, 7 volume to be exact. i was tired and kinda hungry so i ate a granola bar, i witnessed so much wonderful scenes i was really amazed! All my family was asleep i was the only one of five to be awake.! then the presentation of the WORLD CUP finished and around 6 i started to watch the shows DESPIERTA AMERCIA!EDICION ESPECIAL south africa!! it went on till 6:30, after that it showed them getting ready for the world cup opening game!! (by the way it was on univision hd) finally the time came my tomach had butterflies !! the teams came out, MEXICO!!! V SOUTH AFRICA!! woooohoooooooo!!! i got so excited i was smiling and then .. peeeeeeeeeeee!!! the game started omg i finally witnessed and world cup game with my own eyes by myself!! MEXICO did great but in the end they tied 1-1 ! but it was one of the best games i had ever seen both teams were great but it ended in a tie
1 i was satisfied as long as mexico didnt lose !! i will NEVER! forget the first time i witnessed the worlc cup of south africa in 2010!! i cant wait till the next one in four years!!

My best world cup memory was in 2002. I was about to go into high school, and my brother was on the school soccer team (the very same one that I was about to try out for). My brother brought me to his friend's house, where the school soccer team (including some people in my grade) were hanging out watching the game. It was the USA v. Germany in the semifinals. I remember cheering alongside all these people who I didn't know when the USA seemingly scored, and groaning when the refs got the call wrong and did not allow the goal. The USA lost 1-0. The play of USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel was inspiring to me, since I had recently taken up goalkeeper. I used what I learned from watching him in that game, and I made the school team.

My best world cup memory would have to be this years at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. My dad got tickets for us to go. We were going to watch the United States play all their group games and hopefully some games in the knockout stages. Everyone has to agree that the United States has been the most exciting team in the tournament by far. The most exciting game they played was the one against Algeria. I remember sitting in the stands on the edge of my seat every time the U.S. passes the ball around perfectly just to miss the target. For example the shot Jozy Altidore took, he missed by like an inch. Then in stoppage time everyone seemed to give up hope as the end was imminent. The fans were all leaving because it was over the dream was over. Tim Howard then threw the ball to Donovan who passed it to Altidore who got a pass to Clint Dempsey who took the shot but the keeper saved it, but then out of nowhere Donovan puts the ball into the corner of the net, and the crowd goes wild. The dream lives on. That game has inspired me so much to never give up hope because its not over till the whistle blows.

My greatest World Cup memory happened in 2010 when Uraguay's Luis Suarez single-HANDedly saved his team. Let me first give you all the situation...The game is tied 1-1 after regulation and the game goes into overtime; after 30 minutes of gritty play it would appear that we are destine for the penalty shootout. In the 121 minute Ghana has made a very good chance inside the box and a Ghanian player rifles one towards the goal. It appears like the game winner, but Luis Suarez saves it off the line with his foot. The skrum ends with a header from Gyan (Ghanian Striker) that sails past the keeper and in towards the goal. But low and behold Suarez is there yet again! This time batting the ball of the line with his hands! Now obviously you cannot use your hands at all in soccer and expecially not inside your own box (excluding keepers). Suarez new exactly what he was doing and knew the punishment that would follow. The reffery blows his whistle and gives Suarez a red card and Ghana a penelty. Suarez walks off the field with tears in his eyes thinking his country will be sent home. But Gyan missed the penalty! And Uraguay goes on to win the game in a shootout. The most exciting/controversial end to a game of soccer in World Cup history! Luis Suarez has surely just played the last game of this world cup, but he should be proud of himself; he kept his countrys hopes alive. Soccer is a game where the name on the front of the jersey is more important then the one on the back. Suarez is an inspiration to all sports fans. He has shown everyone (not only soccer fans) what true dedication and sacrifice is.

I've had another extreme World Cup memory, it's not just a game that made this memory good, it's was the whole World Cup 2010, beginning to the end. This is the first World Cup, the first soccer tournament I've watched all the matches that was played in South Africa. Even if there was two matches playing at the same time, I had my desktop on for a match and My TV for the other match, was just incredible as hell! Since you guys probably have read my first comment, as you know, my spirit was in Portugal. They played well in the group stage, but in the knock out stage, the attackers were terrible or Spain's defenders were probably just too good for Portugal's attackers to get over them. As Portugal Lost, I went and chose Holland to cheer for just for the end of this World Cup. Holland were magnificent, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's goal ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFczbFGmfh0 ) against the cheaters Uruguay was just Unbelievable, probably it was the best goal of the tournament. Of course, Dutch bet the Uruguay, but lost to Spain in the final match. I had a team party with my all my teammates which most of them were cheering Spain to win the World Cup. But in my opinion, I thought Holland played better then Spain did, even Spanish side had more of ball possession then the Dutch did. They had more chance then Spain did, and played a better game then Spain did, but the defender's performance was very poor. The final, of course was the best game that was played in this World Cup 2010, two teams fighting to win the first World Cup for their country that has never won. The best player of the tournament i thought was Diego Forlan which got "The Best Player Of The Tournament" award as i expected! So This World Cup 2010 South Africa Made My Year, Thank You SOUTH AFRICA!