Earliest WC memory

[Simmops]

1998 world cup for me

[Mr Angry]

1970 - I remember bits of games, but have seen so many clips so often since, I wouldn't swear blind that they are my memories from actually watching at the time or not.

What I do vividly remember is being distraught at Italy losing the Final.

[WestYorksRoyal]

98 for me. Lots of hatred for Beckham on the playground that summer. Still can't believe Campbell's goal was disallowed, definitely not as obvious as the foul in 04.

[Ark Royal]

1966 and the brilliant Hungary team: Bene, Albert, Rakosi, Farkas. I think they were the reason I fell in love with international football. Florian Albert was an elegant, deep-lying number 9 of the old Hungarian school. The goal by Farkas in the 3-1 win v Brazil at Goodison was a thing of beauty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WljSX3UE-MU

[fartdad]

94. Just started playing soccer as a 8 year old and our city was a host city. Got tickets somehow. Played soccer until high school but quit because I wasn’t very good. Didn’t really care or notice professional soccer until Euros 2002. Went to a handful of MLS games between 96-2000 but never really cared to follow the league. Honestly should have stuck to playing baseball.

[Sutekh]

1974 tournament.

Found world cups to be the greatest thing to watch until 1994 when we got what I think was one of the most tedious competitions and since then it’s not really regained much of it’s magic. These days the utter dullness of nearly everybody playing possession-ball has especially killed things. Not to mention too much of the old “must not lose” scenario.

Looking back think 1982 was possibly one of the most exciting and interesting tournaments. Could have been even better if FIFA had done it’s duty over Austria v West Germany and thrown both teams out. But overall you can’t say that tournament had much missing on or off the field.

[Westwood52]

Vaguely remember seeing the 62 Chile WC highlights;but mainly the 66 WC for me.Went to the Portugal game,where Charlton scored the whizzer.Missed the Final as my Dad got all the timings wrong and we were travelling back from holiday.The 1970 defeat against West Germany is definitely one of the worst bummers of all time.Right up there with the Bolton play off defeat.I remember going to school the day after the West Germany defeat and all my mates just sat round all day in a daze.One bloke had a German foreign exchange student with him,TBF she just looked a bit embarrassed, as if she had shot someone.

[Mr Angry]

The older World Cups were interesting and exciting because you knew almost none of the players from the other teams - even the European sides.

Thats why Scotland were so shocked at how easily Peru played them off the park, and how Iran battled to a draw with them, in 1978.

Today, there are no surprises any more; In the Euro's 117 players in the squads play in the Premier League; 33 play in the EFL.

[Sanguine]

Italia '90 for me. The opening game in the iconic San Siro, and for a particular moment, David Platt's volley in the final seconds of extra time against Belgium.

[Hendo]

The older World Cups were interesting and exciting because you knew almost none of the players from the other teams - even the European sides.

Thats why Scotland were so shocked at how easily Peru played them off the park, and how Iran battled to a draw with them, in 1978.

Today, there are no surprises any more; In the Euro's 117 players in the squads play in the Premier League; 33 play in the EFL.

The last real big surprise for me was Senegal in '02 when they beat France in the opening game.

[Zip]

The older World Cups were interesting and exciting because you knew almost none of the players from the other teams - even the European sides.

Thats why Scotland were so shocked at how easily Peru played them off the park, and how Iran battled to a draw with them, in 1978.

Today, there are no surprises any more; In the Euro's 117 players in the squads play in the Premier League; 33 play in the EFL.

Yep agreed and it felt like a treat watching Brazil because you so rarely saw their top players on tv.

[LUX]

1970 here.

Watched England, remember every match, even though I was only 9.

I even remember the Bobby Moore shoplifting episode.

[Zip]

I remember the Booby Moore jewellery theft too. I was only 6 but have vague memories

[AthleticoSpizz]

1970 - I remember bits of games, but have seen so many clips so often since, I wouldn't swear blind that they are my memories from actually watching at the time or not.

What I do vividly remember is being distraught at Italy losing the Final.

this, and having gathered the full Esso England Squad coin set from my dad and his mates....they (the coins) pressed into a cardboard display case...collection probably worth about a fiver on fleabay these days.

[NathStPaul]

Pretty sure it was England v Cameroon at World Cup Italia 90.

[Orion1871]

Diana Ross shanking her penalty wide in the 94 opening ceremony.

[Sutekh]

1970 - I remember bits of games, but have seen so many clips so often since, I wouldn't swear blind that they are my memories from actually watching at the time or not.

What I do vividly remember is being distraught at Italy losing the Final.

this, and having gathered the full Esso England Squad coin set from my dad and his mates....they (the coins) pressed into a cardboard display case...collection probably worth about a fiver on fleabay these days.

That’s my earliest football memory, not the World Cup coins but an Esso club badge collection from about 1971 or 72.

[Stranded]

'86 tournament for me - have a really vivid memory of being a bit confused that the scorer of the first Argentinian goal was called Brown.