Sport
Dave Tindall’s World Cup memoirs
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Spain 1982
1982 (a) – I’m a football-mad kid. England are playing in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1970. Excitement levels are through the roof. First up are France. Early throw, it’s flicked on and Bryan Robson scores after 27 seconds!! My god. Following England in World Cups is going to be brilliant isn’t it……. Hmmm.
1982 (b) – I’m old enough now to know that Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winners represented an exotic and incredible peak. I just wish I had a time machine so I could have watched those finals live. However, this 1982 version has echoes of Pele and co. Zico, Socrates, Eder and Junior all have magic in their boots and I’m bedazzled by their brilliance. Surely no-one can stop them. And then Brazil come up against Italy in the quarter-finals and every time they do something amazing, they concede a sloppy goal at the back. Paolo Rossi smashes in a hat-trick, Brazil crash out and I’m absolutely devastated.
Italy 1990
I’m a student in Leeds now and my summer timetable consists of watching games in various locations around Headingley and Hyde Park. The early draw against Ireland is horrible to watch but then England go on a quite wonderful journey. We outplay classy Holland in a 0-0 draw as Bobby Robson switches to a sweeper system, beat Egypt 1-0, go wild as David Platt hooks in an extra-time winner against Belgium and survive a potential shock against Roger Milla’s Cameroon thanks to two Gary Lineker penalties. And then that semi-final against Germany. A thrilling end-to-end encounter before the heartbreak of Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle’s penalties. Gazza cries. We cry.
France 1998
1998 (a) – I’m in Vegas. A friend is getting married there and we’ve hired a big tent next to a swimming pool at The Mirage for England’s last 16 clash with Argentina. The two sides exchange early penalties and then Boy Wonder Michael Owen picks the ball up on the halfway line, sprints towards goal and pings a right-foot drive into the top corner. 2-1! We go berserk. What a moment. We’re celebrating like lunatics and then Argentina equalise on the stroke of half-time, Beckham is sent off and England lose on penalties. At least someone in a white shirt lifts the mood as my friends are later wed by a fat 70s Elvis impersonator.
1998 (b) – Along with England, of course, I’ve also become a fan of Nigeria thanks to the beguiling skills of Jay Jay Okocha. There’s that Pele quote from way back about an African team winning the World Cup before the end of the century and I’ve decided that Nigeria will fulfil his prophecy. They start out against Spain and look sure to lose 2-1 but an own goal from the Spanish goalkeeper and a 78th-minute strike from Sunday Oliseh gives Nigeria a thrilling 3-2 win. With Okocha displaying some incredible skills, they cruise to the last 16 and, in a wonderful piece of timing, I get to watch their clash with Denmark at a bar at Chicago airport after waiting for a connecting flight. Let the party continue. It doesn’t. The Danes thrash them 4-1.
South Korea & Japan 2002
I’ve got into spread betting ahead of this World Cup and have a great time backing Brazil players’ goal minutes. I’ve also been lucky enough to write the outright World Cup preview for the Sporting Life website. Perhaps it’s bias, but I decide that Brazil are way overpriced at 15/2, as is a returning-to-fitness Ronaldo for the Golden Boot. I love viewing the games in Japan and South Korea – eating cornflakes whilst watching World Cup action is my idea of bliss – and everything works out beautifully. Brazil win whilst playing exciting football and even though Ronaldo cuts a stupid triangle in his hair he bags eight goals to finish as top scorer. Ronaldinho lobs David Seaman from a mile out with a free-kick as England find a new way to lose.
Germany 2006
After getting all nostalgic and completing my Panini album for the first time since 1982, I make a bit of a killing on the famous faces at this World Cup. Man of the Match awards are decided by a fan vote so it’s simply a case of backing the most famous player as he’ll poll the most regardless of doing anything special. David Beckham puts in a very modest display against Trinidad & Tobago but, perhaps aided by a cross for Peter Crouch’s opener, gets the nod at a ridiculous 10/1. Of course, England go out on penalties, to Portugal this time, and there’s that Ronaldo wink when Wayne Rooney is sent off for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho. There’s also a massive controversy surrounding the Golden Ball for best player. I think I’m quids in when my pick Zinedine Zidane scores the opener in the final with a Panenka penalty but I tear my slip up when he headbutts Marco Materazzi and is sent off in shame. However, stories then circulate that the Golden Ball vote took place at half-time before Zidane lost his rag. Thankfully, Zidane wins it and I end my World Cup in profit.
South Africa 2010
England somehow can’t win a group featuring the United States, Slovenia and Algeria although at least we go through unlike a squabbling France who fall apart and finish bottom of theirs. Finishing second in the group means we play Germany in the last 16 though and despite the howls of being conned when Frank Lampard’s chip is about five yards over the line, England are thrashed 4-1. Embarrassing. I still have this desire to see an African team get to the final and Ghana are doing me proud by reaching the last eight. They have a penalty to win their quarter-final against Uruguay with virtually the last kick after Luis Suarez cynically handles on the line and sees red but Asamoah Gyan blazes it over and the South Americans win the shootout.
Brazil 2014
A World Cup finals in Brazil. I’m a pig in muck! England start against Italy and despite a great equaliser from Daniel Sturridge, pantomime villain Mario Balotelli nods in the winner. Another baddie, Luis Suarez, then smashes two past Roy Hodgson’s men as we lose to Uruguay and a 0-0 against Costa Rica means England finish bottom. A new low. Suarez bites Giorgio Chiellini sending Twitter into overdrive while I’m still happy cheering on my usual favourites Brazil. Neymar is strutting his stuff for the hosts but then, tragedy, as he gets a knee in the back and is ruled out. Brazil look fragile now and, in the most remarkable World Cup game I’ve ever seen, the ruthless Germans thrash them 7-1 in the semis.
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