Football is one of the most popular sports in the world (watch matches on 해외축구중계), and the FIFA World Cup is the biggest event in the sport. Every four years, 32 national teams come together to compete for the coveted trophy. Over the years, there have been some memorable matches that have captured the imagination of fans around the globe. Some of the memorable FIFA matches include:
1) The 1998 World Cup Final – France vs. Brazil
This truly historic match saw two of the biggest footballing nations go head to head in the final. France were the underdogs going into the match, but they had a stunning performance to beat Brazil 3-0. The victory was even more impressive as it came against a Brazilian team that included some of the greatest players of all time, such as Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
2) The 2002 World Cup Final – Brazil vs. Germany
This was a rematch of the 1998 World Cup final, seeing Brazil come out on top. This time around, Germany got their revenge, winning 2-0. The match is remembered for its great drama and the fact that it was the first World Cup final to be decided by a golden goal.
3) The 2006 World Cup Final – Italy vs. France
Another classic World Cup final saw two European giants go head to head. Italy eventually won the match on penalties, but not before France had equalized in the dying moments of extra time. The match is also remembered for the sending off of France’s Zinedine Zidane, who was shown a red card for headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi.
4) The 2010 World Cup Final – Spain vs. the Netherlands
Another classic World Cup final that will live long in the memory was the 2010 edition, which saw Spain triumph 1-0 over the Netherlands after a dramatic extra-time goal. This was a rematch of the previous year’s UEFA Champions League final, which Spain also won. Andres Iniesta’s late goal was enough to secure victory for the Spaniards, who became the first team to win both the World Cup and the European Championship in the same year.
5) The 2014 World Cup Final – Germany vs. Argentina
Four years later, Germany faced off against Argentina in another classic final. This time, Germany emerged victorious after a 1-0 win in extra time. The match’s only goal came courtesy of a sublime volley from Mario Gotze, which sealed a fourth World Cup triumph for the Germans.
6) The 2018 World Cup Final – France vs. Croatia
The most recent World Cup final was another gripping affair, with France coming out on top 4-2 against Croatia. It was a game that had everything, from an own goal to a stunning strike from 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe. France’s victory meant that they became the second team to win both the World Cup and the European Championship, following in Spain’s footsteps.
These matches were notable for being the most memorable finals ever played. Football fans will never forget these classic World Cup matches.