The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Deutsch Wolf]

Argentina just shithoused their way through 1990, only managed to beat a rubbish USSR team in the groups, so lucky to beat Yugoslavia (one of the great underrated World Cup teams, they were seriously good) and Italy on pens. Pretty much the only things Maradona contributed were:

a) Punching one off the line vs USSR and getting away with it
b) Great run and pass to Caniggia vs Brazil
c) Scored his pen vs Italy (although he did miss vs Yugoslavia)

 

[Sniffer]

I'm with Tony in that Maradona's feats (in my lifetime) top what Ronaldo and Messi have done. He also carried Argentina to the final in 1990 as well as bringing the Serie A title to Napoli for the first time since gods dog was a puppy. Messi and Ronaldo have played the club careers with some of the best talent on the planet. Messi hasn't won a World Cup, neither has Ronaldo and Portugals success in the Euro final was without him in the pitch.

Edit. Napoli had never won Serie A until he arrived.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

George Best did not ever play at a World Cup, yet he was the finest player I have seen.

 

[Lupo]

Moreso at Italia 90 I would say, Valdano and Burruchaga were very good footballers in particular, off the top of my hat.

Passarella (probably on his way down) and Pumpido (forget Cameroon in 90) weren't bad either.

Passarella didn't play at Mexico 86

 

[Jack Regan]

Passarella didn't play at Mexico 86

FIFA world disagree, in their squad at the very least.

https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/teams/team=43922/matches.html

 

[Keef]

George Best did not ever play at a World Cup, yet he was the finest player I have seen.

On mud baths of pitches as well,just think what he could have done if the pitches were the standards of today.years ago I worked with a Lincoln legend Percy freeman,who played the same time as George best,asked him who was the best player he'd played with or against,without pausing he said George best,and then added, at the end of the game I went up to him looked him in the eyes and said I just wondered what you looked like,I've spent all game trying to catch you

 

[Lupo]

FIFA world disagree, in their squad at the very least.

https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/teams/team=43922/matches.html

He was in the squad but didn't play any minutes due to illness

 

[darlowolf64]

On the "great(est) players, I'm surprised Eusebio hasn't been mentioned but you're all bloody kids ldboy:

 

[Jack Regan]

He was in the squad but didn't play any minutes due to illness

Indeed, I was only 5 for that World Cup so other than a few vague recollections (Josimar against NI, France v Brasil penalties, and Maradona's handball) not exactly au fait with it. Apparently from what I've read Maradona and he didn't get on and there is a minor conspiracy about his absence from the team for the tournament, although nothing specifically from Passarella himself.

 

[Lupo]

Indeed, I was only 5 for that World Cup so other than a few vague recollections (Josimar against NI, France v Brasil penalties, and Maradona's handball) not exactly au fait with it. Apparently from what I've read Maradona and he didn't get on and there is a minor conspiracy about his absence from the team for the tournament, although nothing specifically from Passarella himself.

From what I know, Passarella was/is a very strict and conservative character, a disciplinarian and his ethics were in total contrast to Maradona's. When Passarella managed Argentina, he insisted that all players should have short, neat hair to be considered for selection. This was the time when Gabriel Batistuta had his mane cut off.

My great-grandmother's surname was Passarella, not a relation though I don't think, his family originated from a different part of Italy.

 

[White Wolf]

Slightly changing the topic, but who would be the greatest player that we have all seen play in person?

 

[Paul]

Can we just agree that the next person that states "I was only 5 in '86" or anything similar (you know who you are !) receives at least a small ban

 

[Paul]

Slightly changing the topic, but who would be the greatest player that we have all seen play in person?

I have witnessed Tim Flowers, Scott Barrett,, Bev Bevan, Ian Sludge Lees, Jeff Lynne, Jasper Carrott, Robert Plant, all in the same team as well as many Tiswas luminaries

 

[YoungWolf]

Can we just agree that the next person that states "I was only 5 in '86" or anything similar (you know who you are !) receives at least a small ban

I’ll be alright then, I wasn’t 5 until 2000...

 

[Johnny75]

Slightly changing the topic, but who would be the greatest player that we have all seen play in person?

Drew Brees.

 

[Langers]

Steve Bull.

 

[machin05]

So, look who turned up at my mate's house yesterday! Some McDonalds competition that he'd forgotten he entered. They just rocked up at his house to film some social media World Cup thing.

https://twitter.com/petercrouch/status/1007649226677997569?s=19

 

[MARKakaJIM]

His garden looks as healthy as mine!

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Slightly changing the topic, but who would be the greatest player that we have all seen play in person?

I saw Ronaldo against us obviously but he wasn't the player then that he is now.

I'll go with Luis Figo.

 

[leedswolf]

Pele.