TEN CLASSIC GAMES

1968 - 1995

July 1982  WEST GERMANY 3-3 FRANCE  aet. West Germany won 5-4 on penalties
One of the most memorable World Cup matches ever.  For their inventiveness, sheer brilliance and @
artistry France had won the hearts of the neutral observers.  A midfield comprising of Giresse, @
Tigana and Platini was always going to create chances. However, nobody ever underestimated the @
resolve and mental toughness of the Germans.  It was 1-1 at half time, Littbarski scoring for the @
West Germans, Platini equalising from the penalty spot.  The match was not without controversy, @
the West German keeper's cynical assault on Battison amazingly and scandalously went unpunished.  @
France in the first period of extra time looked dead set for a final appearance against Italy when @
they went 3-1 up with goals from Tresor and Giresse.  The French got sloppy, Rummenigge brought @
it back to 3-2, and then Fischer equalised with a spectacular bicycle kick.  The game went to @
penalties, the French cracked first, Germany were through to the Final.

May 1989 LIVERPOOL 0-2 ARSENAL
The build up of tension, the electric atmosphere, the sense of witnessing history in the making, not @
the football played elevated this game to classic status.  Arsenal took the titlein the most @
dramatic finish to a title race ever.  Liverpool were red hot favourites to win the title, with Arsenal @
needing to win by two clear goals to win it themselves..  All season Arsenal haded the way, at one @
stage Arsenal were 19 points clear, but Liverpool had clawed their way back into contention.  @
Putting the Gunners task into perspective, Arsenal had not won at Anfield in 15 years and LIverpool @
had been undefeated in the League since January.  In the 52nd minute, Alan Smith put Arsenal one @
up with a glancing header.  The title looked to be staying at Anfield when in the 91st minute, 21 year @
old midfielder Michael Thomas slipped the ball past Grobbellaar to send the League trophy to @
Highbury for the first time in 18 years.

June 1970 BRAZIL 4-1 ITALY
Brazil capped a memorable World Cup with a 4-1 victory over Brazil at the Aztec Stadium in front @
of 107,000 fans.  Throughout the tournament, Brazil's deadly attack had thrilled hundreds of millions @
of TV fans.  The heat and altitude in Mexico combined to produce an excellent tournament, with @
goals being scored from outrageous angles and distances.  In the final Pele had put the Brazilians @
one up with a powerful header.  Boninsegna equalised for the talians to make it all square at half @
time.  Brazil took control in the second half, relentlessly pursuing a second goal. After 65 minutes @
Gerson drove past Albertosi, then Pele set up Jairzinho for a third.  For the next 20 minutes Brazil @
relaxed and played some absolutely fabulous football, climaxing with a goal which ranks as one of @
the best ever - Clodoaldo salsaed past five Italians before passing to Rivelino, onto Jairzinho, onto @
Pele who casually laid the ball off to his captain Carlos Alberto who unleashed a piledriver of a @
shot past the goalkeeper.  The Jules Rimet Trophy was rightfully Brazil's.

June 1982 ITALY 3-2 BRAZIL
Brazil, the hot favourites to win the 1982 World Cup became a cropper in a classic match against a @
rejuvenated Italian side.  Brazil had swept into the second phase of the World Cup with three @
comprehensive victories, in stark contrast Italy had struggled through on goal difference with three @
mundane draws. Whoever won this clash would go to the semi finals. Brazil's only discernible @
weakness was a suspect keeper - a weakness soon seized upon by Paolo Rossi. Twice Rossi put @
the Italians ahead, twice Brazil came back as the pendulum swung back and forth.  With 74 minutes @
gone, Rossi struck for the third time.  The Italians held on and the best team in the competition were @
out.

May 1987 COVENTRY CITY 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 aet 
Coventry City triumphed against all odds to win the F.A. Cup - their first ever trophy on a glorious @
afternoon at Wembley.  The scene was set for Glen Hoddle, playing in his last ever match for Spurs.  @
Spurs with a record of seven F.A. Cup wins breezed into the lead after 2 minutes when Clive Allen @
scored his 49th goal of a remarkable season.  The walkover that many critics predicted looked a @
distinct possibility.  However Coventry City came back with a Bennet goal in the 9th minute.  With @
Hoddle and Waddle tearing the Coventry City defence apart it came as no surprise when Spurs @
regained the lead just before half time.  Coventry were not to be denied, a spectacular diving @
header from Keith Houchen made it 2-2.  A pulsating final was decided early in extra time in a cruel, @
cruel way as Mabbutt deflected a cross into his own net to send the F.A. Cup to Coventry.

APRIL 1990 CRYSTAL PALACE 4 LIVERPOOL 3 aet
This F.A. Cup semi fi nal proved to be one of the all time greats.  Played on a Sunday at noon and @
televised live for the first time, this semi gripped millions of viewers. Liverpool were playing some @
exquisite football on their way to another league trophy and seemingly another F.A. Cup final.  @
They had already inflicted a 9-0 defeat on Palace earlier in the season, everybody was predicting @
another rout.  Rush put Liverpool one up after 14 minutes.  Palace came out for the second half like @
men possessed drawing level just 16 seconds into the second half.  O'Reilly put Palace 2-1 up with @
20 minutes to go.  With just 9 minutes to go, Liverpool drew level from a McMahon goal and then @
went 3-2 up through a Barnes penalty.  Liverpool looked dead certs for a third F.A. Cup final @
appearance in a row.  Amazingly with just two minutes left Andy Gray stole in to equalise for Palace.  @
As the game went into extra time Palace began to take control, Alan Pardew scoring the winner @
at the near post in the 109th minute of one of THE great cup games.

JULY 1990  WEST GERMANY 1 ENGLAND 1 aet West Germany won 4-3 on penalties
England reached the end of the World Cup road on a humid Italian day.  Despite playing their best @
football of the tournament, England just couldn't break down the Germans.  Gascoigne, who had @
been the England's inspiration in second phase victories over Belgium and Cameroon was once @
again the driving force.  West Germany took the lead when a Brehme free kick took a Paul Parker @
deflection and went past Shilton.  Lineker turned on a sixpence and shot past Illgner ten minutes @
from time to level up the scores.  Gascoigne wept when he collected a second booking for a foul, @
meaning he would miss the final.  Gazza's tears were in vain, no other goals were scored and the @
match went to penalties. Pearce usually such a reliable penalty taker for Nottingham Forest failed @
to score.  When Waddle blasted over the bar, England knew that their Italian dream was over.

MAY 1979  ARSENAL 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Arsenal put the disappointment of last year's cup final defeat against Ipswich to triumph in the @
1979 Cup Final.  With five minutes of this match to go Arsenal were 2-0 up through goals from @
Talbot and Stapleton and were cruising to victory.  Arsenal's concentration was then broken as @
their manager Terry Neil made a late substitution.  Gordon McQueen brought it back to 2-1 with 4 @
minutes to go.  Still it seemed little more than a consolation.  In the 88th minute, Sammy McIlroy sent @
the United fans into ecstacy when he levelled the scores. It now looked like the match would go @
into extra time.  However with just 60 seconds left, Arsenal's star man Liam Brady collected the @
ball in his own half, caused mayhem in the United defence, passed to Rix who swung in a cross @
which United keeper Bailey missed, Alan Sunderland was at the far post to make it 3-2 and settle @
this dramatic final for once and for all.

MAY 1968 MANCHESTER UNITED 4-1 BENEFICA aet
A memorable evening at Wembley saw Manchester United become the first English team to win the @
European Champions Cup.  BobbyCharlton, veteran of the 1958 Munich air crash and United captain @
was the driving force yet again.  A Charlton header put United one up eight minutes after half time.  @
But the Portugese team came back with an equaliser nine minutes from time.  Benefica nearly won @
it in the last minute, but Stepney miraculously saved from Eusebio.  United really came into their @
own in extra time.  George Best wriggled past two Benefica defenders to slide in a second, Kidd on @
his 19th birthday headed a third goal and then made a fourth for Charlton.  The scoreline did not @
reflect what a struggle it was.

JUNE 1970 WEST GERMANY 3-2 ENGLAND
Gordon Banks indisputably the best keeper in the world was ruled out of this crucial World Cup @
quarter final with an attack of 'Montezuma's revenge' Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti came in and @
in some quarters is still blamed for this defeat - England's last World Cup match for 12 years.  @
England were cruising at 2-0 with goals from Mullery and Peters and seemed likely to go into the @
semis.  England seemed to lose concentration in the second half and West Germany began to take @
control, Beckenbauer pulling one back for the Germans.  Sir Alf Ramsey then substituted Charlton @
and Peters, a decision which seemed to backfire, when Seeler equalised with a back header.  @
England tired in extra time, and Muller who ended up top scorer in the finals with 10 goals volleyed @
in to break England hearts.
