World Cup memories: Soccer Saturday pundits pick their greatest moments from the showpiece event
Monday 11 June 2018 06:12, UK
The Soccer Saturday pundits provide us with their greatest World Cup memories ahead of Thursday's curtain raiser in Russia.
The four former internationals offer up their most memorable moments from either playing or watching the game's showpiece event, recalling some never-to-be-forgotten incidents from the game's archives.
Charlie Nicholas - Pele running riot in '70
It has to be Maradona's handball. Only joking! For me, the 1970 World Cup was the greatest spectacle, with Pele's dummies and trying to score from the halfway line. His displays were simply breathtaking. Italy were supposed to be the Gods of football and Brazil absolutely destroyed them. So, on that stage, that was football played at the very best.
I remember the kick-off of one of Brazil's games being delayed due to Pele tying his boots and it was only later on we found out he was on a nice contract with Puma to do it. Only he was good to get away with that!
Matt Le Tissier - Armstrong sinks Spain
My greatest memory would probably be from back in the days when I was just a fan and the first massive moment was actually nothing to do with England as I was from Guernsey and supporting the Home Nations.
The moment that really stuck with me was, as a 13-year-old, seeing Northern Ireland beating Spain in 1992, when Gerry Armstrong scored the goal against Spain, smashing it past Luis Arconada. A close second was Scotland beating Netherlands 4-1 in 1978. That was pretty special with Archie Gemmill's worldy.
Paul Merson - Rossi breaks Brazilian hearts
It's got to be from the 1982 World Cup. Paolo Rossi's hat-trick against Brazil in what was probably the best games I've ever seen.
Brazil, who probably had the best side not to win it, just needed a draw in the final second-round group stage game, so for Rossi to do that was just remarkable.
Phil Thompson - Robson's 27-second stunner
I will go for Bryan Robson's goal against France at Spain '82, one of the quickest strikes in the tournament's history and the start of our World Cup campaign in Bilbao. It doesn't get much better than that, so has to be my personal favourite, besides Sir Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in 1966.
We only conceded one goal and didn't lose a match, so the competition ended with 'what could have been', but that moment was quite astonishing.
I remember our left-back Kenny Sansom had a really good long throw, so we practised that the day before the game. And then right-back Steve Coppell turned out to have one as well, so I told Terry Butcher to get forward from this one and then he flicked it on and Robbo scored a great volley.
