So they big KO tomorrow,who remembers their earliest World Cup experience.

Mine was Mexico 86,Lineker's hat-trick,Maradonna's "hand of god" of course,Gordon Strachan being assaulted by a Uruguayan animal in the first minute,last but by no means least the now infamous Mexican wave.

1974... unashamedly then cheering on the sweaty socks ...NO MORE!!!

England won.
Can you guess what year?

Italia 90. Lineker against cameroon.

Roger Milla

The England shellsuits

1962. Watching through the snow on a small black and white tv.
Italy v Chile, the battle of Santiago.
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1966 for me, I was 11 when it started so you are beginning to understand how things work. We were out every day with a tennis ball having a kick about and pretending to be the stars of the various countries.

I am Scot's born and my Dad was also a Scot but he didn't really like football. I didn't really know too much about rivalry back then having lived most of my life in Colchester amongst other places as my Dad was in the Army still from the War. I cheered as loud as anyone for England and remember watching every game they played.

Anyone from a similar background will understand how you are drawn almost mystically towards your birth country but I always support all the other nations when Scotland aren't playing, my Mum is from Burnley so I'm part English anyway and will be cheering again over the next few weeks.

Dazzler wrote:1974... unashamedly then cheering on the sweaty socks ...NO MORE!!!

I watched Scotland play Zaire in Dortmund in 1974.

1974 aged 10 and looking back another one strangely supporting the Jocks. Aged 14 in 1978 I hated them with a passion and cheered madly when Peru,my mum's birth country, beat them with Cubillas starring. Thank god for those teenage genes!

JohnMac wrote:I watched Scotland play Zaire in Dortmund in 1974.

They had a cracking team that year...should have beat the yugo's then it could have been a case of who knows

Ronaldinho lobbing Seaman, I watched in primary school.

1990. Not the best of memories as during the England vs West Germany game, my mum got a call to say her dad (Grandad) had passed away. And we then of course went out. I don't remember the 1986 finals.

I sort of remember the ‘78 WC in Argentina, but my memories really only stretch to the tickertape scenes. My first real memory is of Bryan Robson’s amazing 27 Second goal against France in Spain, ‘82.

Dazzler wrote:1974... unashamedly then cheering on the sweaty socks ...NO MORE!!!

Mine too but I was supporting West Germany while all the other kids in the school yard were supporting Holland.An Auntie bought me Scotland's world cup record that year called Easy Easy of which I am ashamed to say still sits in my singles box

1958 in Sweden, with Colin McDonald and Jimmy Mac representing Burnley.

1982 Robson against France
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Just about remember watching matches on television from the 1962 World Cup in Chile but first real recollections are from 1966. I was fortunate enough to get to one game too - Brazil v Hungary at Goodison which Hungary won 3-1.

Vino blanco wrote:1958 in Sweden, with Colin McDonald and Jimmy Mac representing Burnley.

A vague recollection of watching the Final on TV at the Rabat Football Club (Malta). I was 8 years old at the time and the Burnley bug had not bitten me. I remember reading a lot about Lev Yashin in the local papers - my grandfather was goalkeeper when St George's of Cospicua won their only major title so I was fascinated by Yashin at the time.

The battle of Santiago in 1962 (refereed by Ken Aston who was vilified by the Italian press) is another vivid recollection - by that time I had been bitten by the Burnley bug. The real memories started with 1966.

Ptangyangkipperbang wrote:Mine too but I was supporting West Germany while all the other kids in the school yard were supporting Holland.An Auntie bought me Scotland's world cup record that year called Easy Easy of which I am ashamed to say still sits in my singles box

My Gran took me to Great Yarmouth on hols in 74 and on the way down on coach I got chatting to a lad & his family from Stockport.
It was the day before the final and the lad was hoping for a German win,I was rooting for the dutch.
Anyway,to cut it short it got a bit feisty... you know like"why dya want the krauts" and all that.
We were all staying in the same hotel,The Oasis,and we ended up being best of pals for the week.

2002 remember a massive cheer coming out of the pub when we played Argentina and my mum had taken me down town to do some shopping then a minute later another cheer, thinking we were 2-0 up!

Then getting to school early when we played Brazil in Quarter-Finals to watch the game before school started and a kid cheering when Ronaldinho lobbed Seaman because he thought England had scored.

1978 for me. I can't remember much about it apart from the horrendous We're on the march wi' Ally's Army shite.

1966 was mine stood outside Wembley with my mum and sister whilst my Dad and uncle were at the final. He regretted not getting me a ticket and I certainly wish I had have been there to witness history

ClaretTony wrote:Just about remember watching matches on television from the 1962 World Cup in Chile but first real recollections are from 1966. I was fortunate enough to get to one game too - Brazil v Hungary at Goodison which Hungary won 3-1.

One of my favourite ever games,watched on telly on a wet Friday night. Florian Albert at his imperious best and cracking goals from Farkas and Rakosi for Hungary. Brazil then played their third game v Portugal who literally kicked Pele off the pitch and put Brazil out if the competition.

My sisters wedding having to be put back a week as they had originally scheduled it for 30th July 1966..

I was only 7 so don't actually remember watching the '66 World Cup but do remember watching the 1970 semi final with Germany on our 1st colour TV.

ClaretTony wrote:Just about remember watching matches on television from the 1962 World Cup in Chile but first real recollections are from 1966. I was fortunate enough to get to one game too - Brazil v Hungary at Goodison which Hungary won 3-1.

Was that the game that finished off Pele? I remember him being helped off with an coat over his shoulders at Goodison but can't remember which team they were playing.

Edit

Being impatient I just googled it and he missed that game after being kicked black and blue by Bulgaria, he returned against Portugal who finished the job off. He was so disullisioned he very nearly didn't play International football again. Thankfully he changed his mind because he was an absolute joy to watch in Mexico 1970.

JohnMac wrote:Was that the game that finished off Pele? I remember him being helped off with an coat over his shoulders at Goodison but can't remember which team they were playing.

That's the one

The Peru kit and Archie Gemill's goal against Holland in Argentina 1978 are my first WC memories.... I'd have been 7 at the time.

1970 collecting the Esso coins , back home on the radio 8 years old

Spain 82 - NI with Billy Hamilton and all that. The one I got most into was Mexico 86 though. Absolutely loved it. First sticker album too.

England vs Tunisia, France 98.

Shearer and Scholes.

Watched it in primary school.

1978 vaguely. Can't remember any games, only the littering of the pitches with paper

66 Quarter Final England v Argentina.

I doubt many people remember the first World Cup. It was nearly 90 years ago and it wasn't on the telly.

The 1974 WC for me. That’s the one where East Germany beat West Germany 1-0 in the group stages. Poland, who stopped us qualifying by drawing at Wembley, finished 3rd.

The great Johan Cruyff led Holland to the final where I really wanted them to win. Despite English ref Jack Taylor awarding them a pen before the Krauts had touched the ball, Germany hit back to win 2-1 with Gerd Müller (68 goals in 62 matches) scoring the winner.

World cup 98. Watching the first game in school and marvelling at the sheer talent on show in that tournament.

The 1966 world cup ..i still have a scrap book with newspaper cuttings from Englands games i did at the time ...then out on the road and grassed area at the top of Radnor Avenue banging the ball against the red brick wall ....

Dazzler wrote:They had a cracking team that year...should have beat the yugo's then it could have been a case of who knows

They drew with an admittedly non-vintage Brazilian team, and Bremner put a relatively easy chance the wrong side of the post I recall ... however, could only beat Zaire ( Now D.R.Congo ) 2 - 0, whereas Brazil beat them 3 - 0, and Yugoslavia 9 - 0! Scotland lost out on goal difference, and were home before the Postcards, again !!

They were however, the only unbeaten team in the Tournament ....

JohnMac wrote:Was that the game that finished off Pele? I remember him being helped off with an coat over his shoulders at Goodison but can't remember which team they were playing.

Edit

Being impatient I just googled it and he missed that game after being kicked black and blue by Bulgaria, he returned against Portugal who finished the job off. He was so disullisioned he very nearly didn't play International football again. Thankfully he changed his mind because he was an absolute joy to watch in Mexico 1970.

I'm glad he changed his mind, as we wouldn't have this to remember......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_q2aB5G6o

I watched the 66 final on TV with my dad - I can't recall anything about it until I have a very vivid memory of, as Germany prepared to take a free kick in a dangerous position in the final seconds of normal time, my dad saying "They won't score now son." ..... I can then remember him insisting the ball had crossed the line when Hurst's shot bounced down, but that is it, wish I could remember more.

Aged 14, the 1966 World Cup was my first real memory.

I was lucky to see most of the matches at Goodison and Old Trafford in the North West group.The opportunity to see Brazil and Pele live, albeit a sad figure after the treatment he got.

Like CT, I saw the Brazil - Hungary game which today is one of my favourite and exciting games. A packed Goodison routing for the underdogs. Sat behind a noisy drum beating group of Brazilians. Can still picture Farkas' goal.

On to the quarter final at Goodison. Portugal - North Korea. Koreans 3-0 up and the crowd loving it, then Eusebio took over. 5-3.

On to Wembley and another great occasion when England beat Portugal. The third place final and then the final itself. We had two tickets and my Dad unselfishly let my brother and I go. It must have been a difficult call but a day I will never forget. Sat right behind the Russian linesman who made the vital call. Never imagined it would be the only time, to date, that we would win it.

I don’t actually remember the 66 final. But according to my dad I was sat right in front of tele, and for every England goal I ran out the front door and up the drive shouting!!

My first real memory is 1970, and how “good” the commentary sounded. Sounding like it was on an old telephone from a million miles away.

Mexico 86

Vague memories of '66! But watched all of the 1970 finals...Jairzinho, Pele ....David Coleman "One Nil" ...the Gordon Banks save. 2-0 up vs the Germans and Alf Ramsey took off Charlton....Beckenbauer took over and Gert Muller did the rest!....But there was no stopping THAT Brazil side....It remains the benchmark for me.....Happy days.

JohnMac wrote:Thankfully he changed his mind because he was an absolute joy to watch in Mexico 1970.

in colour!

claretblue wrote:in colour!

The very first TV broadcast I saw in colour was the England v Brazil game in a marquee at the Prairie sports ground!

Vague memories of Mexico 1986 but first real one was Italia 90.
My dad watched England win the World Cup at Wembley in 66.

1970 the best World Cup ever, and the winners Brazil are still the best football team I've ever seen. Bobby Moore's arrest pre-tournament for alleged shoplifting. Brazil vs. England in the Group stages and the Gordon Banks save. Pele described that save as the best he saw in his career.

Peter "the cat" Bonetti, in goals for England in the quarter-final against Germany. England led 2-0 and eventually lost 3-2.

The semi-final between Italy and West Germany. Possibly the greatest World Cup game ever. Italy took an early lead, and then West Germany got a goal in injury time. It finished, 4-3 to Italy.

Brazil swept Italy away in the final, 3-1. My dad told me they'd been kicked off the park in England in 1966. I suspect there's a film of the tournament somewhere, I must find it. And yes, Esso coins, sticker Albums...I was nine. I don't think they did replica shirts in those days.

Earliest memory is being in a restaurant in Italy for the 1982 final. I had no interest in football at the time (that would come a year later under the floodlights at the Turf) but I recall the place going absolutely mental when Paolo Rossi scored. Mexico 86 was the first World Cup I really got into. And I still hate Maradona.

1958 in Sweden for me. I'd got into supporting the clarets by then (first match a year or two earlier than this) but didn't know much about footy outside UK. I only vaguely followed the tournament via press but I saw the final on TV.
We didnt have a TV until a bit later but we used to visit grandparents (who did have TV) sometimes on Sundays and the final (Brazil v Sweden) coincided with one such visit. I felt very privileged to be able to watch it on the tiny tv.

I was mainly supporting England in the tournament but also keen to follow NI & Wales because they had quite a few players Id already seen at Turf Moor.

The first one for me was also 66’ and the “wingless wonders”as England were called under Alf Ramsey, A team without orthodox wingers then was very new to the game...and of course we won the damn thing.