Icon4s:


Personally, that was the very World Cup!

To me maybe because of Nigeria's participation. There is something differently special about that WC.

Right from the quality and standard of player to the quality of the venues and also the timing. Venues for USA 94 set the stage for modern WC stadium designs. Most games were played between 9 and 12pm GMT, which is the prime time of TV viewership across Europe and Africa. That will also co-incide with Afternoon to Early evening in North and South America and Early the next morning in Far East Asia. So you got the whole world watching at very convenient times.

People stayed glued to their TV sets to see their Super Stars and heroes as the tournament was best attended by a host of Super stars! I don't think I have seen such quality of players packed in one tournament ever since.It also marked the end of an era of big name footballers of the 1980s. All top footballing nations except England and France were present. The standards of participating teams were so high. I still feel if we had presented the quality of our Super Eagles then in this recent WC we would at least get to the semis.

The 1994 WC was the very WC.

tbaba1234:


I cried so much that night vs Italy... No football match has made me cry that much since...

Luckyroro:
Watched a FIFA world Cup documentary on Supersports yesterday and they described the 1994 World Cup as the best edition since inception. They said it had the best followership across the globe. Oldies in the house, please can you shed more light on this assertion?

TheGoodJoe:


If I was to pick the best World Cup, it would be France 98. It was action packed with lots of great games and star studded teams. From Raul, Hierro, Enrique, Alfonso, Zubizarreta, Campo of Spain, to Okocha, Oliseh, Finidi George, Oruma, Ikpeba, Taribo, Uche of Nigeria, Laudrup Brothers, Sand of Denmark, Baggio, Del Piero, Albertini, Vieri of Italy, Thuram, Zidane, Djorkaeff, Lizarazu, Dugarry, Deschamps, Desailly, Barthez of France, Klinsmann, Bierhoff, Jeremies of Germany, Seedorf, Kluivert, Bergkamp, Zenden, De Boer twins, Reizeiger, Hoijdonk, Cocu of Holland, Ronaldo, Carlos, Sampaio, Dunga, Bebeto, Leonardo, Denilson, Cafu of Brazil, Davor Suker, Bilic, Boban of Croatia, Beckham, Scholes, Shearer, Owen of England, Batistuta, Ortega, Diego Simeone of Argentina and a host of other stars in the competition.

With cracking games like Nigeria vs Spain, Spanish demolition of Bulgaria 6-1, Nigeria vs Denmark another demolition course, Argentina vs England had the best first half in the competition 2-2 first half with the game getting ruined after Beckham kicked Diego Simeone and got sent off. Croatia vs France, Denmark vs Brazil, Brazil vs Holland one of the best star studded World Cup games, France vs Italy and lots of other great games.

To me, France 98 ranks the best when it comes to onfield display. Can't talk about followership and support.

Luckyroro:
Thanks for this informative post. My point is the followership and not the Stars who played. 1994 was the end of an Era in terms of stars, 1998 was the beginning/ twilight of an Era to some extent but I'm talking about followership and popularity here. I guess you will agree with us that 1994 has it.

Luckyroro:
Thanks for this informative post. My point is the followership and not the Stars who played. 1994 was the end of an Era in terms of stars, 1998 was the beginning/ twilight of an Era to some extent but I'm talking about followership and popularity here. I guess you will agree with us that 1994 has it.

Luckyroro:
Sir, If you don't mind pls share your experience too. I would really love to picture it from your own perspective. As old as that World cup tournament is, the footages are still evergreen. It might not be in ultra HD but watching the clips will make you see something more unique than the recent ones. To me, another tournament close to that one in terms of followership was Korea/Japan 2002 (To me oh!). Unfortunately other editions haven't lived up to my expectations. They are just so ordinary and random. Pls don't forget to share like I earlier requested Sir. Thanks

Luckyroro:
Wow! Thanks a lot for this explanation. That's to say we younger ones missed the opportunity to witness one of the memorable World events. Sir, let me tell you again, I noticed that even women and children followed football then because it was so popular. I was still a kid as at that time but I noticed the shouts and everything then. Atalanta 1996 was also like that. People brought their TV sets outside for everyone to watch the matches in unity. I can tell you that almost everybody comes out to watch Nigeria play on match days. It's unbelievable but during match days everything would be on standstill, no businesses, no schooling activities etc. I have never seen Nigerians unite like that again. Women could mention at least 7 Nigerian players then. It's quite unfortunate that things have changed a lot. Nobody even remembers there's a big tournament as the world cup coming up. If you ask me, modernization has done more harm than good to us. I miss the good old days!

Icon4s:


He is just a back up. Shehu is more than capable.

Mujtahida:

The US is not overrated except it's your own personal opinion (which does not accord with the facts). First thing to note is that the word overrated means that it is given more credit than is due to it. It's a comparative word. For every possible important indices you can think of the US will either be in the first ten or it would fare averagely.

So what's your basis for saying that the US is overrated?

Omanbala1 wasn't being hypocritical. He knows that inspite of his personal opinions on blackman and white man issues he cannot deny that the US is a top top nation. To deny it would be plain ignorance or mischief.

Luckyroro:
Watched a FIFA world Cup documentary on Supersports yesterday and they described the 1994 World Cup as the best edition since inception. They said it had the best followership across the globe. Oldies in the house, please can you shed more light on this assertion?

tbaba1234:
I remember trying to guess the scores of matches by the number of goal screams, i heard.. It can be tricky, you have to know the difference between goal scream, close chance scream and opponent score scream... Hahaha..

Things have changed a lot.

Hahaha! This is very true, and very funny too. Needless to say I was also part of the screamers

Football ehn!

safarigirl:
so, Iwobi lives in Arsenal. The day he has a game against Manchester United, won't he leave London for Manchester?

Kog45:
Chief don't start Shehu vs Ebuehi debate o.Shehu is more capable?Good to have the two

Martz101:


He will, but he will come back just like every man that go to work, london to manchester is about 4 hours by road.

Icon4s:


Shehu is more dependable and he is first choice.

safarigirl:
it is still the same thing.

Work is different for every man. It is not about coming back, it is about what goes on before he comes back.

Same risk applies to marrying a pilot, a doctor or an actor. All high risk jobs for married men

Luckyroro:
Woke up now to several mentions. Thanks to Sir Tbaba1234 icon4s Rockyrascal Asha80 TheGoodJoe for taking their time to elucidate more on an experience most of us (younger generation) would have loved to have. Truly, no hype and performance can match those of the 90's. I think commercialization of football is also a causative factor in the steady decline the game has witnessed so far. These days, football isn't as thrilling as it used to be. There were dribbles, funny displays and other interesting features that made the game fanciful to fans. Today, it's about 90 mins. Also, too many rules by governing bodies aren't helping. From banning players from displaying inscriptions on their inner wears to introducing innovations that kill the fun of the game (eg VAR). Do you know that part of the reasons football is popular is when there's controversy and arguments follow. The Nigeria Vs Cameroun Afcon 2000 penalty miss generated such massive popularity cos of the awareness by the International community that the ball actually crossed the line hence it was a subject of massive discussion for a very long while. My point exactly? In trying to advance the game and make it more interesting, We have killed the fun attached to it. Not forgetting there's a UCL final coming up this week, not too many are even aware. This time 2005 wasn't like this. Times and tides have changed mehnnn

safarigirl:
the ideea of development is a two-edged sword.

You see, you say the controversial calls made football interesting, while that may be true, bear in mind, it also denied people a lot of glory. Someone never got a World Cup because there was no VAR twenty years ago and even though his ball crossed the line, it was cancelled.

Someone else got a world cup from an erroneous call, it's all fine and good, but the beauty of the game was tainted by ugly occurrences.

These new calls came in as a result of the many complaints and controversies that have riddled the game. You find them to be part of what makes it good, but many others don't share that view. People get angry, people have lost their lives based on controversial calls. One refree is safer because VAR will determine if it was a goal or not, so, he won't be held accountable for anything


Evolution must happen in every part of human life. We are in an era of technology, there will come a time when the football of this period will be seen as beautiful. That is life for you.

joelayomide:
Could the nff and coaching crew organize or arrange all the matches played or featured in since the inception of worldcup till date.
I think if this tournament is really or actually about us making a different i think this is one of the kind of psychological motivation this young talented guy might need.

Because football has become a team game. Look at the Leicester before or prio to their last English title we saw fable men few talents with strong focus, goal, determination, energy and a set of individuals aiming great hights. My opinion tho

Icon4s:


Shehu is more dependable and he is first choice.

AIG07:
Chai! The communal lifestyle has really declined over the years. Today, Man now live more Isolated than then.

Technological advancement is destroying social behaviour of man and it is reflecting in all our endeavours.

The ecstatic that comes with victory in football is far gone and I'll attribute it to commercialization of the sport.

The Chelsea-Man U FA cup final played yesterday was so dull that even the celebration that came with the goal was dead and cold and makes one wonder if it was really a final.

In short, Football seems to have lost it's glory.

safarigirl:
did I state that the whole world said the US is overrated? Jesus Christ! Even you sef cannot understand. I even stated why I thought it was overrated and you are still quoting me to defend what?

Someone else agreed with me, someone else in the US. So, is he also wrong? Or do you guys not understand what a perspective is?

And why would Omanbala add that nonsense line like "Just because you were not privileged to be born there......", what does that mean? That we who were not born in the US are unfortunate? Does he know anybody's history on this thread that he would drop such trash? Abi you did not see that part? He did not need to throw shade to make his point and that is why I called him a hypocrite. He is not better than black Americans who look down on black people or racist whites. That comment was downright discriminatory and uncalled for


The US IS overrated TO ME. Since, you people need me to elaborate


Mujtahida this is Sunday morning in the land of the less privileged and downtrodden, don't annoy me more than the comment of that fellow already did.


If he wants to talk about people who are proud of their ancestry, he should come and talk to my father that refuses any of his kids to travel out despite having numerous chances to. My father that dropped his English name and gave all his kids strictly native names. Omanbala is a joke compared to him.

Danielnino00:



Indeed the match was so dull.. I almost regret watching it, but I needed to see my man Vicmo win d cup...
My guess is that most of d world cup bound players were being cautious so they don't pick any injury... funny enough,some of these players (the Africans in particular ) might still play with more caution at d world cup so as not get injured before the start of the football season...

Luckyroro:
Woke up now to several mentions. Thanks to Sir Tbaba1234 icon4s Rockyrascal Asha80 TheGoodJoe for taking their time to elucidate more on an experience most of us (younger generation) would have loved to have. Truly, no hype and performance can match those of the 90's. I think commercialization of football is also a causative factor in the steady decline the game has witnessed so far. These days, football isn't as thrilling as it used to be. There were dribbles, funny displays and other interesting features that made the game fanciful to fans. Today, it's about 90 mins. Also, too many rules by governing bodies aren't helping. From banning players from displaying inscriptions on their inner wears to introducing innovations that kill the fun of the game (eg VAR). Do you know that part of the reasons football is popular is when there's controversy and arguments follow. The Nigeria Vs Cameroun Afcon 2000 penalty miss generated such massive popularity cos of the awareness by the International community that the ball actually crossed the line hence it was a subject of massive discussion for a very long while. My point exactly? In trying to advance the game and make it more interesting, We have killed the fun attached to it. Not forgetting there's a UCL final coming up this week, not too many are even aware. This time 2005 wasn't like this. Times and tides have changed mehnnn

Mujtahida:

Are you always angry? I've read that statement from you more than once. Anyway relax. It's a conversation we having.

If you say that in your opinion the US is overrated well well. That's your opinion. I recall you even used the word 'feeling'.

I wanted to reply bolowolo and ask him to point out ten important indices in which at least ten countries are better than the US in all ten. The country as great as it is, is not perfect but compared to others the facts point out that it's not overrated.