With the big tournament just around the corner, the Soccer Saturday panel share their memories of the best World Cup players and matches they've ever seen.
Click here to read why Jeff and the boys love the World Cup...
What is your first memory of the World Cup?
JEFF: My first World Cup memory gives away a lot about my age because it was watching the 1966 Final, England beating West Germany as they were called back then, on a black and white TV with my dad in the living room and thinking 'it's not going to get any better than this'. And it hasn't!
CHARLIE: My first World Cup memory was 1970 in Brazil. I was eight-years-old and I was sat watching the greatest at that time, probably, which was Pele. There were so many great teams that played then, Peru were another very good side. But Brazil in those days were just outstanding and I would have to say World Cup 1970 has yet to be beaten.
THOMMO: My first World Cup memory is Eusebio in 1966. What a World Cup, the first one that I remember and a sensational experience. Seeing some of those players so close and playing there - although I didn't go to Goodison Park - to watch some of them, Eusebio in that Portuguese side was just absolutely wonderful and whetted my appetite for football even more. It was a fantastic time, wonderful that it was in England, but Eusebio and Portugal were my big, big memories.
LE TISS: My first World Cup memory was 1978 in Argentina, watching Archie Gemmill score that brilliant goal when Scotland beat Holland 3-2 but it wasn't quite enough to qualify for the next round.
KAMMY: My first World Cup memory is the 1970 Brazilian team that played against Italy. Absolutely wonderful, wonderful team. I can name most of them - the goalkeeper Felix, Carlos Alberto was the right-back, Gerson was centre midfield. Absolutely wonderful. Pele up front with Tostao. Absolutely fantastic team and I'll always remember Pele - the first time I'd ever seen it from a footballer - where a ball was knocked towards him and he dummied it and he had to stick the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately he hit the side-netting but it probably would have been the best skill that I'd ever seen. That's the best World Cup team I have ever seen.
MERSE: My first World Cup memory is Mario Kempes in 1978 when he used to score his goals and run off with his arms up in the air! That's my first memory.
Who is your World Cup hero?
JEFF: My World Cup hero goes back a long way as well, and it comes from the same sort of era in my favourite game. Eusebio, the great Portuguese forward, who was the silkiest and most graceful mover on the pitch but was the most graceful man off the pitch as well. He troubled every defence and he played in one of the biggest upsets of any World Cup when Portugal played North Korea at what was then Airsone park in 1966 and trailed by three goals to nil - it was unheard of! But Eusebio inspired the comeback and Portugal won 5-3.
CHARLIE: My World Cup hero is, without doubt, Pele. Although there's many players that would probably be judged against him - Maradona - but in 1970 I go back to my memory of that when Pele was dummying goalkeepers, was trying 'a Beckham' from the half-way line. Way before any other player was trying these things, Pele was trying them at a fairly young age and he was breathtakingly good. He was strong, he was quick, he was great in the air and, of course, he was a superstar footballer as well as a true gentleman.
THOMMO: My World Cup hero is Pele. In 1966 we didn't see enough of him - kicked out of the tournament. But in 1970 that great Brazil side, what an absolute genius he was. Always played with a smile on his face, fantastic in the air, great touch, great control, scoring wonderful goals. He epitomised the World Cup. Pele is my World Cup hero.
LE TISS: My World Cup hero would have to be Gary Lineker. Top scorer at the 1986 World Cup. Fantastic finisher, I'll never forget that hat-trick that he scored to send England through to the next round just when we needed it.
MERSE: I don't think people are going to like this but my World Cup hero is Diego Maradona! I just think he won the World Cup single-handedly and if you can do that you're the best player in the world, and he's the best player I've ever seen.
What's the best World Cup match you've ever seen?
JEFF: The greatest World Cup match I've ever seen - I was there at the time - in pure footballing terms it probably wasn't the greatest but it was when England beat Argentina 1-0 in Sapporo in Japan. I was sitting in the stadium alongside Chris Kamara and when we were awarded the penalty and Beckham scored it, it was just a delirious feeling against the old enemy! There was a huge clock behind us and seemed to be moving inextricably slowly - it just wouldn't go to the full-time whistle - but the joy at the end was just wonderful.
CHARLIE: The greatest World Cup match I have ever seen again goes back to 1970 cup final where Brazil played Italy. And Italy, at the time, were a very strong defensive side who were difficult to beat. But Brazil blew them away in the final and anybody who can remember that far back. It was 4-1, Pele with a header to start with but also the brilliance of Jairzinho, Rivelino and Gerson. Carlos Alberto scoring the winner with a little bobble just before it comes to him and he drills it for the fourth goal was absolutely breath-taking. It was the greatest final I've ever seen and what a final.
THOMMO: The greatest World Cup match that I have ever seen would have to be in 1970, England against Brazil. Absolutely sensational game. England - who were still a great team - against the Brazilians, Tostao, Gerson, Rivelino, Jairzinho who goes on to score the winning goal. My goodness what a wonderful match, I still remember it to this day. Yes it hurt so much when Jairzinho scored the only goal but my goodness I think everyone will remember the embrace between Pele and Bobby Moore after that game - sensational.
LE TISS: Greatest World Cup match I've ever seen would have to go down as one of the greatest upsets when I saw Northern Ireland beat Spain in 1982 with Gerry Armstrong - that man, Gerry! - scored the winning goal.
KAMMY: The greatest World Cup match I have ever seen is the 1966 England vs West Germany game. I watch it now on DVD every now and again - I haven't watched it for the past couple of years but I used to watch it a lot. People look at tactics in this day and age and think that back in '66 tactics were very different. Sir Alf Ramsey would have a structured back four, four in midfield and two up front. In the first five minutes of that game, if anybody goes out and gets it on record, you will see Jack Charlton (the centre-half who played alongside Bobby Moore) careering down the right wing and trying to cross the ball into the box. So Sir Alf Ramsey was a genius, even in those days.
MERSE: The greatest World Cup match I ever saw was 1982, Brazil v Italy, when Paolo Rossi got the hat-trick to beat, probably, the best Brazil team never to win the World Cup.
Why do you love the World Cup?
JEFF: I love the World Cup because of its colour and the fact that it brings the nation together. I love all the flags on the cars and the bunting outside the houses and if England do well it's a bonus! It's a fantastic festival, it's a fiesta!
CHARLIE: I love the World Cup because it's the greatest tournament in the world. I've been fortunate to play in it (in Mexico in '86) but my memories of the old days when we didn't have too much football on TV were all about the greatest players on the planet playing in the World Cup. Of course, my national team Scotland were almost always involved then. But the greatest players on the planet were always worth seeing.
THOMMO: I love the World Cup because it's usually the best of the South Americans and the best of the Europeans but how much it's changed now where we get some of these wonderful African teams who are making the World Cups special. Every four years one has to look forward to this absolutely wonderful competition.
LE TISS: I love the World Cup because it only happens once every four years and it's the best football festival you can ever get - shame about the muppets that run it!
KAMMY: I love the World Cup, basically, because I get to go to every competition and I will do that until I'm no longer able to do it. It's absolutely fantastic, the occasion is absolutely brilliant, it makes it even better if England do well. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case of late but I'm hoping that one day, before I pop my clogs, that we might win the final!
MERSE: I love the World Cup because it's all the best players in the world, all at one tournament, and you're playing against the best of the best in that country.
