Diego Maradona - 1986

Euro 96 was the last one IMO 

The Fat Tony types as far as I'm aware 

It's quite possible to cast an objective eye 

I don't believe it's a case of everything seeming better when you're young - that does happen, because it's human nature, but it also doesn't mean you can't cast an objective eye

Like, no objective eye can say that the popular music scene now is remotely close to the quality or cultural significance of what was being produced in the 1980s, or back to the 1960s of 1970s for that matter, when I wasn't alive

1990 was the first World Cup I properly remember and it's precious to me for all sorts of reasons, but that hasn't fooled me into thinking it was a good World Cup in football terms - it wasn't - in football terms it was the worst World Cup of the television age, certainly up to that point it was

However I think it was the last of the old school World Cups where everything was novelty

The pop culture that surrounded the 1990 World Cup was amazing and that's what most people remember - and that only happened because the World Cup then was such a big deal, I'd been waiting three and a half years for it because I just missed the 1986 one in terms of real memory, which to this day I feel regretful, angry and cheated by

But the pop culture that surrounds World Cups now is no big deal - the real pop culture or what remains of it now surrounds the club game

Even by '94 this had gone somewhat because live television had already changed the game

The truth is we'll almost certainly never have a World Cup like '86 or '82 again - those were different times and the World Cup meant simply meant more then than it does now

The World Cup up to '86 was the pinnacle of football not just in terms of excitement but in terms of standard - tactical systems were nowhere near as advanced in the club game as they are now

That began to change around the time of Sacchi's Milan - they were better than the West Germany team which won the World Cup, Capello's Milan were better than Brazil in '94

 

The best team in the world were no longer the team that won the World Cup, it was the team which won the European Cup

In the old days the World Cup was the cutting edge of football tactics - it was a less globalised world, players generally played in their home leagues, teams would bring different styles, and the game was slower, therefore there was more time for playmakers

Now, club tactics are so much more advanced, because they are finely tuned attacking systems which cannot happen at international level because there is no time to rehearse them - this is why Stephen Kenny has a big problem in what he is trying to do

World Cups now are just more football in a sea of never ending football - that's why they're not as special

Another thing that changed about major finals tournaments was the sense of local flavour, it has declined significantly - all the stadiums now are corporate lookalikes, all seater, they could be anywhere

Another thing about '86 that makes it special was that what Maradona did was achieved in the greatest World Cup venue ever, the Azteca Stadium

People invaded the pitch after the final, there was much more of a sense of realness about it all, like the crowds didn't seem nearly as corporate, nothing seemed as corporate and soulless

Italy-Brazil 1982 was not just memorable because it was such a great match, but because of its setting, Sarria in Barcelona, a cauldron with flags and klaxons blaring and real supporters, not corporate types

France-Portugal '84 was similar - even '88 in Germany was similar, in Italy in 1990, we saw the first of the soulless FIFA bowls - Bari and the Delle Alpi in Turin

The novelty factor World Cups had in the 1970s and 1980s has actually moved to things like elections in politics now, which are way more exciting than they were in the 1980s and 1990s, they're media extravaganzas

It's the Star Wars effect. Grown men geting upset that the follw ups were childish. The originals were childish ffs, they're kids' movies! 

World Cups are definitely better when you're a kid especially the first you remember. 

Although the ones I went on the p1ss at were great as well tbf.

I've never seen anybody dominate a game of importance like Maradona dominated that game against Belgium

Messi has come close on a few occasions 

The 10 minute highlights package with BBC commentary is always worth watching

Some of John Motson's best ever commentary on it as well with lovely interjections from Jimmy Hill, the BBC at its very best - Jimmy Hill had a great World Cup in '86

Speaking of the BBC, the programme where Gary Lineker went to Argentina to meet Maradona in 2006 is on at 10pm tonight, I've already set record

What I remember coming across in the programme was that even for Lineker, just getting to meet Maradona was a huge thrill, he has an almost child like sense of wonder at the prospect

It seems everybody who ever met him feels the same in that regard

It seems everybody who ever even saw him play in the flesh feels like this

But how am I missing the point, whatever that is?

The "point" apparently being made is that it's impossible to evaluate World Cups you experienced as a child compared to other World Cups - if that's not the attempted "point", I'm not sure what the point is

That point is horsesh*t