MY ACCOUNT
The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France takes place on Sunday in what could be a thrilling encounter between generational talents Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
All the ingredients are there. The champions from South America, taking on the World Cup holders, with the greatest player of the modern era Messi, facing the young Paris Saint-Germain colleague Mbappe who is looking to usurp him.
Over the years there have been some World Cup finals that have lived up to the hype and delivered a truly memorable game.
With the 2022 showpiece game almost upon us, we have taken a look back at five stunning tournament deciders.
2006: Italy 1-1 France (aet, 5-3 pens)
We start with a modern classic from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. This final did not provide us with a particularly spectacular match, but the drama will always live on.
The first half was lively enough, with Marco Materazzi adjudged to have fouled Florent Malouda in the box and Zinedine Zidane converting the resulting penalty in the seventh minute. Materazzi made amends by heading home from a corner, 12 minutes later.
In extra-time, the two goalscorers were involved in the critical moment of the match that everyone remembers. Materazzi exchanged words with Zidane and pulled at his shirt, prompting the French captain to headbutt the defender in the chest.
The centre-back went down, Zidane was sent off and Italy won the penalty shootout.
Materazzi later described what happened during the clash: “I frowned and he retorted ‘I’ll give you my shirt later’. I replied that I’d rather have his sister than his shirt.”
1954: West Germany 3-2 Hungary
From the most recent final on this list of classics, we move to the oldest, the 1954 World Cup final in which West Germany were crowned champions for the first time.
Held in Switzerland, it was Hungary, the Olympic champions known as the Golden Team, that were expected to live up to their reputation.
Led by the genius of Ferenc Puskas, the Mighty Magyars had thrashed West Germany 8-3 during the group stage, before defeating Brazil in the quarter-finals and the holders Uruguay in the semis.
When Puskas and Zoltan Czibor put Hungary 2-0 up within eight minutes, the favourites seemed assured of victory, but the West Germans were level soon after.
The underdogs withstood heavy pressure, until Helmut Rahn grabbed his second goal with six minutes remaining, to win the World Cup for West Germany.
1966: England 4-2 West Germany (aet)
The next time that West Germany reached the final of the World Cup was in 1966, when they met hosts England at Wembley.
This was a game that had everything. In regular time it was the West Germans that took the lead through Helmut Haller after 12 minutes.
Geoff Hurst quickly equalised and it then looked like Alf Ramsey’s men had won the World Cup when Martin Peters put them ahead with 12 minutes to go.
An 89th-minute equaliser from Wolfgang Weber instead sent the game into extra-time. Then came the most controversial goal in World Cup final history, when it was decided that Hurst’s effort had crossed the line.
There was absolutely no uncertainty regarding the fourth goal, when Hurst drilled the ball high into the West German net to both complete his own hat-trick — still the only treble in a World Cup final — and the Three Lions’ sole victory.
1970: Brazil 4-1 Italy
When you think of the World Cup you think of Brazil and in particular their spectacular side from 1970, that perhaps turned in the most complete performance in a final.
Brazil won all five of their matches at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico prior to the final, which included a group-stage victory over the holders England.
In the final against Italy, their star player Pele headed home to give the Selecao an early lead. Roberto Boninsegna equalised for the Italians before half-time, but the Brazilians were too strong after the break.
Goals from Gerson and Jairzinho restored their lead in the second half, before Mario Zagallo’s side ended with a flourish, as Carlos Alberto delivered a devastating finish to a beautifully worked move.
1986: Argentina 3-2 West Germany
The next World Cup to be held in Mexico was in 1986 and once again there were South American champions led by a genius.
This time it was Argentina and Diego Maradona, who was the best player of the tournament, establishing his reputation as the greatest talent in the world.
He scored five goals en route to the final, including the infamous Hand of God against England, which was quickly followed by a stunning solo effort.
Goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano gave La Albiceleste a healthy lead in a match in which Maradona was closely marked, before late efforts from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voller brought West Germany level.
With time running out, Maradona produced the perfect pass in the 86th minute to find the run of Jorge Burrachaga, who slid the ball into the net to give Argentina their second World Cup win.
