Favorite Moments as a World Cup Spectator

[luckizuchinni]

As the World Cup is upon us, what has been your favorite, or at least most memorable moment as a spectator? Being in Germany during the World Cup in 2006 was great, even if I couldn't score a ticket to an actual match. The party scene was fantastic.

However, my most memorable moment was during the 2002 World Cup, I think. I was in Costa Rica at the time, so I wandered over to the Sheraton to watch the USA-Mexico match (the tv in my hotel got horrible reception for the games). I went into the bar, and they had a pretty good spread there. I helped myself, took a seat at the bar, then settled down to watch. The game went to the USA 2-0, and I cheered every USA advantage while the rest of the people in the bar cheered for Mexico. I was the only one for the USA there. At the conclusion of the match, I asked the bartender how much I owed for the food and drink, and he pointed to one of the other guys. I thought he was the manager, maybe, who had just been watching the match. No, he was the Mexican ambassador, and this was the official Mexico game-day party. I had just crashed it, took their food and drink, and cheered for all their misfortunes.

I was pretty highly embarrassed, but the ambassador was very gracious, thank goodness.

[Travel2003]

Every time Brazil is eliminated is my favorite moment.

[TheWizardofRnR]

The Year I cannot remember but the play I can ! It was the USA getting screwed over in their game against Germany,

It's not clear but I do think it was 2006 or 2010....I grew up in Brooklyn NY we played both kinds of Football in my

neighborhood , which was predominantly Polish - Irish - Italian - but Brooklyn was a very ethnic Borough of NYC !

The area is called Greenpoint - The Garden Spot of the World ! Most every house had a Garden in back of the building ,

I used the building alongside our house to practice kicking my football (soccer ball) into !

[bonobo]

The Year I cannot remember but the play I can ! It was the USA getting screwed over in their game against Germany,

It's not clear but I do think it was 2006 or 2010....I grew up in Brooklyn NY we played both kinds of Football in my

neighborhood , which was predominantly Polish - Irish - Italian - but Brooklyn was a very ethnic Borough of NYC !

The area is called Greenpoint - The Garden Spot of the World ! Most every house had a Garden in back of the building ,

I used the building alongside our house to practice kicking my football (soccer ball) into !

That was 2002 with the handball by another player (not the goalkeeper) already in goal being batted out without the goal being counted.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Mine has to be when an 18 year old Michael Owen did this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPC6Yv3BPVY

Apart from Gazza's goal against Scotland in Euro 96, Owen's goal is probably the only other time I've been genuinely excited as an England fan.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Or then there is this volley from David Platt, which has to be one England's best World Cup goals

[surfinglife]

New Zealand being the only unbeaten team in South Africa 2010:)

[ggt]

My favorite moments...are right after the celebration of a goal...and the official throws a flag...and takes away the point...priceless...can hear the moan all the way to Thailand...

[RickBradford]

Stadio delle Alpi 20/06/1990, Group Stage, Brazil v Scotland.

Scotland only needed a draw to go through to the knockout phase, and for 81 minutes took everything that Brazil, (Romario, Dunga and the rest) who had already qualified, could throw at them.

Then, as the clock wound down, a speculative shot by Alemao from 25 yards, Leighton, who had been immaculate all night in goal, couldn't hold it, and Brazil bundled in the rebound.

Rescued the whole evening.

[islandguy]

Grew up in America but in a Hispanic neighborhood, so futbol was something I enjoyed. In 1974 I was in Latin America and because of that I got to see some of the world cup on television there. The final between the Dutch and the Germans (West Germany then) promised a dream matchup between free flowing and disciplined styles. At the start of the match the Dutch held the ball with wonderful passing until the great Cruyff made a fantastic run through the defense to score their first (and only) goal. While the Germans went on to win, that was a mesmerizing moment.

[Travel2003]

My favorite moments...are right after the celebration of a goal...and the official throws a flag...and takes away the point...priceless...can hear the moan all the way to Thailand...

Goals, points and flag throwing?

Which sport are you talking about?

[Travel2003]

Every time Brazil is eliminated is my favorite moment.

Yeah baby!!!

[boomerangutang]

As a little boy, around 1960, I recall watching the WC with my dad, and once in awhile a corner kick would bend in to the goal - without being touched by anyone. My dad and I would look at each other and smile.

[Chicog]

Watching Korea go from a country where I had to ask them to turn the TV to the opening World Cup game, to a country that went absolutely bat shit crazy about football overnight was quite an experience, and lots of fun.

I've never experienced an atmosphere like their first World Cup Finals game on home soil.

[boomerangutang]

watching a Brazil vs Denmark game on my own at a taco bar in the US. Within the 1st couple minutes, Denmark scored first. I let out a loud yelp of joy. The managers thought I'd fallen down and hurt myself. Brazil went on to win.

[Travel2003]

Norway beating Brazil in the WC group play in 1998.