What a simulator cannot do is to model the drama of a great football game. These are five great World Cup games:
World Cup 1950: Brazil 1, Uruguay 2
The famous (infamous for Brazil) "maracanazo". Arguably the biggest sporting upset in history. This match has acquired mythical status in spite of no live television broadcast. The game was not actually the final, rather the last match of a round robin of four finalists. All Brazil needed to do was tie to win the tournament, and early in the second half Brazil scored first. But two Uruguayan goals upset the host nation’s firm belief that they would win. According to FIFA President and World Cup founder Jules Rimet, in the stadium “the silence was morbid, sometimes too difficult to bear”.
YouTube Maracanazo
World Cup 1970: Italy 4, W. Germany 3
In this semi-final match, Italy scored early in the first half. The West Germans tied 1-1 in the last second of ordinary play. In extra time West Germany scored first, followed by two goals by the Italians, followed by an equaliser by the West Germans. At 3-3, the Italians scored their fourth goal through an uninterrupted passing movement straight from the kick-off. Five goals in extra time. West German legend Beckenbauer played extra-time with a dislocated shoulder. The Italians even made a movie where the game is played continuously in background for the duration of the film.
The Brazilian team and its offensive play have acquired legendary status. Pele played and scored in his second World Cup final. Brazil’s fourth goal scorcher by Carlos Alberto from a perfect pass by Pele is arguably the best goal in a World Cup final ever.
West Germany won this semi-final game on penalties. At 1-1 by the end of ordinary time the French took a 3-1 advantage in extra-time only to see the West Germans come back and tie. The game is infamous and still polemic due to the West German goalkeeper Schumacher’s vicious foul on French player Battiston.
World Cup 1986: Argentina 2, England 1
This high tension quarter-final game between two countries recently at war is not mythical for the quality of play (rather boring for those of us old enough to remember), but for two moments that would forever be etched in a fan’s memory: the “Hand of God” and “the Goal of the Century”, both played out by legendary Argentine player Maradona. With Maradona returning to the 2010 World Cup as Argentine coach, expect the memories of this game to be rekindled.
YouTube Hand and Goal of the Century
YouTube Goal of the Century with mythical commentary by Victor Hugo (Spanish)
Will there be any mythical games in 2010? Time needs to pass for a game to be considered mythical. Perhaps the 2006 semi-final between Germany and Italy or the final between Italy and France may acquire mythical status, but time will tell.
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