THE best football match I have ever watched on television was the 1970 World Cup Final live from Mexico City.
I was a small kid sitting in awe as Brazil turned on a dazzling masterclass to defeat Italy 4-1. This global occasion attracted lots of football betting action.
Furthermore, the fourth Brazilian strike is the finest team goal I have witnessed in a World Cup.
It was a seven man passing move that originated from deep inside their own half before culminating in Pele nonchalantly setting up Carlos Alberto for a thunderous finish.
I can still hear the immortal words of commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme in my head: “And it’s four! Oh that was sheer delightful football!”
It instantly made me become a lifelong football fan. Anyway I decided to ask my social media followers for recollections of their own favourite TV games.
And I received some wonderful replies concerning an assortment of fixtures including those featuring in Premier League betting…
Brin Jones @CliffordBucks
1966 World Cup Final in black and white. I had to go and see the film GOAL at the cinema to see it in colour.
Inter Alty FC! @Inter_Alty1977
1982 WC Semi Final France 3-3 West Germany (AET). France led 3-1 in ET but W Germ won on pens. NB 1st ever pen shootout in World Cup history!
Barry St Germain @BarryStGermain1
1982 World Cup. Italy 3 Brazil 2. I was 11 at the time and remember my dad getting home from work just before the end and me telling him it was the best game I’d ever seen. Nothing has changed my mind since then!
Dave Jones @disco_kkcc
Wales 3-1 Belgium. The defining game of that era.
Guevara @fdr170220
1978 World Cup Scotland 3 Holland 2. Was 12 at the time when Archie Gemmill scored that famous goal. Went out in the garden following day pretending to be the Dutch players though - what a team.
Paul Jeater @EssexWomble
I will never forget: Liverpool 0 v Arsenal 2, 88-89 - "Thomas right at the end".
Richard Clarke @trickieclarke16
Just take a pick of nearly any FA Cup Final game in the 80’. Nearly all produced goals, excitement, drama & the odd upset.
Off The Line Blog @OffTheLineBlog
Histon vs Torquay play-offs in 2009. Remember being crammed into the front room of a #TUFC fan’s house watching the game. Nervy. Scrappy. Booked our spot at Wembley on a 2-1 aggregate. Started my love affair with #TUFC.
Gareth's Football Writing @Gareth19801
Chesterfield 3-3 Middlesbrough. F.A. Cup Semi Final in 1997. Can remember feeling shattered after watching what was an amazing rollercoaster of a game!
Bren Clarke @brenclarke67
Liverpool 4 v 3 Newcastle…1996 (Fowler 2, Collymore 2)… I’d broken my leg three weeks before so couldn’t go the game; watched it at my house with my brother who broke his ankle the week before my leg break.
Victor @curtiz58
1970 World Cup Final. Watching the greatest Brazil team there has ever been beating Italy in a fantastic game.
Darren Rogers @1965Djr
The Champions League Final Liverpool v AC Milan 3-3 after ET & with the Reds losing 3-0 at HT then the Reds winning on pens is hard to beat.
Cam @CamKirk263
2022 World Cup Final. The story line…Messi going for the only trophy he hasn't won and Mbappe looking to win b2b world cups. The game was unbelievable. Messi scoring, Mbappe hat trick, Martinez save. Pen shootout. It had everything. Comms from BBC was great as well I thought.
Garreth Aspinall @GarrethAspinall
Blackpool versus Yeovil Town in the FA Cup 2000/2001 - watched it in the Hobgoblin in Bristol - Nick Crittenden scored the Yeovil winner on the stroke of half time….. whilst Crittenden’s goal was great it was the heroics between the sticks from Tony Pennock that won us the game. #YTFC
Darren Nugent @nugeyboy08
A neutral point of view Liverpool losing the league to Arsenal in the last minute with the immortal line “it’s up for grabs now ‘. Also Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005 game had it all. And even though I’m a Coventry fan the semi final against United was special.
Paddy Donoghue @Don1Pad
Italy v Brazil 1982 World Cup in Spain. As a teenager, having rushed home from school, it was just brilliant to see those stars at a time when there wasn't so much live football on TV.
Danny Peacock @dannypea
Liverpool v Newcastle 4-3. The late winner, the Keegan meltdown, the celebrations of Liverpool fans winning the league for Manchester United but what a game of football! Best I ever watched!
Maidstone Len @LenMaidsto67782
Not one individual game but I was obsessed with the Brazil ‘82 side. The flamboyant characters and style of football won me over early on and I remember how gutted I was when Italy put them out.
Lew Doc @LewyDoc
1/1/1992. Man Utd 1 QPR 4 - NYD massacre at Old Trafford. Dennis Bailey hat-trick.
Jack @JackCBellamy18
For the actual match and not a result - Liverpool 4-3 Leeds 20/21.
Alain Harper @alain_harper
Torquay v Crawley FA Cup no fans due to COVID - 6-5 to the Red Devils after extra time - 22 minutes added time at 90 minutes due to an injury to the Crawley keeper - Crawley 3 -1 and 5-3 down then winning 6- 5 in the second half of extra time.
Dave Wilson @davwillie
Nottingham Forest 2.0 Liverpool European Cup Weds 13th September 1978.
Barton FM @barton_fm
2005/2006 UEFA Cup Quarter Final Second Leg - Middlesbrough 4 Basel 1. Incredible game, Middlesbrough had lost the first leg 2-0 and then went behind in this game (3-0 down on aggregate), then the comeback Viduka got 2, Hasselbaink got Boro’s 3rd then Maccarone won it in the 90th.
Me @bigcbeat
Has to be the first Liverpool v Newcastle 4-3 match. Best game of football in Premiership history. Still watch it now and again. Had absolutely everything. It took a long time to get over Newcastle losing. Still don’t think I have tbh.
Jonathan Evans @TheGothSpecial1
Seeing West Brom thrash Wolves 5-1 at Molineux when Peter Odemwingie scored a hat trick in what turned out to be Mick McCarthy’s last game in charge of Wolves.
TurfScout @TurfScoutUK
Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool. Champions league 08/09 season. Chelsea still had work to do at home after a 1-3 away win at Anfield. Absolutely incredible back and forth match with a screamer of a free kick by Alex the Chelsea centre back. Seemed like every attack was a goal that night.
Daz Smith @TopChefDarren
England beating Germany 5-1 in Germany under Sven. What a night.
David Hanly @DavidHanly4
Leeds v Liverpool at Elland Road when Mark Viduka ran riot.
Chris Russell @MrNeet
Anfield 1989. Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal. Michael Thomas wins title for Gunners and I get my first ever AFC League win at 16 years old. Dad took me down the local. He pulled the lights from ceiling when last minute goal went in.
Ged Maloney @gedmaloney
“There’s some people on the pitch - they think it’s all over……….it is now” - classic commentary and half decent game.
MrSpannersTheNuts @MrSpannersNuts
Newcastle-Liverpool when Keegan had meltdown
Grumpy Cabbie @GrumpyCabbie
The Champions League Final Bayern Munich v Man Utd and I’m an Arsenal supporter. Last 5 minutes Utd 0-1 down then bang 2-1 brilliant game.
Dean Raven @DEANRAVEN7
99 treble final. As a Utd fan I thought it was over until that corner for Sheringham’s equaliser. I just knew with the luck we had that season it was our trophy and that next corner with Becks’ perfect delivery. The line "And Solskjaer has won it!" was echoing all over my house.
Bob @Trebor0501
As a fellow QPR supporter I am duty bound to say the play off against Derby. I watched it when I got back from Wembley.
Nick @NickP982
1981 England beat Hungary 1-0 at Wembley to qualify for World Cup 82. Paul Mariner with the close range finish.
Bovril & Oligarchs @bovriloligarchs
England 1 Poland 1. World Cup qualifier 1973. I was 7 and I was immediately a fan of Poland with their exotic names.
Wsgunner @wsgooner71
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2 May 26th 1989. Thomas charging through the midfield, it’s up for grabs now! Need I say more?
OldPompeyPics @OldPompeyPics
Crystal Palace 4 Liverpool 3, FA Cup semi final, 1990.
Stephen Smith @Stephen56855935
FA Cup Final 1979 Arsenal v Manchester United 3 -2, one of the best FA Cup Finals I’ve seen.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*
