As mentioned in our last article, World Cup 2022 promises some thrilling matches – all of which we’ll be reviewing here at ClickPlay.  

Will this year’s tournament live up to some of the tournamanents of the past however? Below, we roll back the years and review some of the best World Cup matches of all time and ask what makes them iconic and why they have become legendary over time.

Argentina vs England, 1986

The 1986 quarter-final clash between Argentina and England is one of the most well-remembered games in football history. Two goals stood out in this game, and while one is viewed as historically brilliant, the other remains highly controversial.  

Maradona’s so called ‘Hand of God’ was either a stroke of genius, or one of the greatest sporting scams ever pulled, depending on your perspective!  

Prior to the goal in question, Argentina’s Diego Maradona had wrested control of the ball in midfield before dribbling it down the pitch in the way only South American football knows how. This fancy footwork saw him gliding by five of England’s top players. Once he reached the goal, there was little England goal keeper Peter Shilton’s could do to stop it.  

Once again England’s World Cup hopes were dashed, and Maradona sealed his place amongst the football legends.

England vs West Germany, 1966

It wasn’t always this way for England. In 1966 captain Bobby Moore and iconic player Bobby Charlton were hoping for a home win, but this was far from a sure thing.  

While the match looked to be tied between the two sides, Geoff Hurst eventually led England to an astounding victory that is still spoken about in reverent tones to this day.

Uruguay vs Brazil, 1950

Way back in 1950, the first ever World Cup final saw Uruguay take on Brazil in Maracana Stadium. Both teams were seen as having a huge amount of talent and skill, but Brazil being viewed as having the edge. The Brazilian team was confident - and so were their fans. In fact, after excellent wins over Sweden and Spain, Brazil would only need to draw with Uruguay in order to be crowned the champions.

With congratulations from politicians, celebrations planned, and a sure win in mind, it was a shock to everyone when Uruguay stole the show. As the game progressed, Uruguayan player Alcides Ghiggia sank an impressive goal in the 79th minute of the match.

The silence in the stadium was deafening… but this controversial match emerged as a true victory for Uruguay and is a real joy when it comes to surprising wins.

West Germany vs Hungary, 1954

In 1954, the West Germans were something of an underdog in the match, and the chance of a win was considered slim. Especially against the Hungarian side, which was considered one of the world’s best at the times, beating great teams regularly (including England, Uruguay and Brazil in non-World Cup matches).

However, this was the year of the ‘Miracle of Bern’.  

Hungary dominated during the first half, but just before halftime, Germany’s Helmut Rhan sank an impressive goal. He performed a similar feat in the last few minutes, and Hungary couldn't regain the ground.

This was an early instance of the incredible German prowess we have since become extremely familiar with.

Do these World Cup matches stand out to you as some of the best, or do you have your own memories that make a certain game the greatest? Whether due to the awe-inspiring goals or the way the game was played, these games are too incredible to be forgotten.

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