Five of the best

France captain Michel Platini kisses the ball before having a go from the spot during the 1986 quarterfinal against Brazil. The captain of the reigning European champions missed his kick, but his goalkeeper made sure France would move into the final.

The World Cup, over its nineteen previous editions, has produced quite numerous memorable encounters. Some of which have left such an everlasting impression on our memory, that no matter how old they get and no matter how blurry the video footages become, they appeal to our senses as if those matches took place just yesterday.
Although a very difficult task and a very subjective one, here are five special games picked, regarding the sheer quality of the performance from a team or an individual, and the vivacity of the emotions that they create even today.

5. 1966 Quarterfinal
Portugal 5 – 3 North Korea
This one will always be remembered as one of the best individual performances in a World Cup match. The unknowns from North Korea had sent Italy packing before they almost knocked out Portugal from the quarterfinals by taking a 3-0 lead within twenty five minutes. But then Eusebio, who had already bagged three goals in the tournament, scored four times within the next 35 minutes to stage the most remarkable comeback in World Cup history. Then Jose Augusto's header sealed the victory and a first-ever semifinal appearance for Portugal.

4. 1974 Group Stage
Netherlands 0 – 0 Sweden
This is the odd one out. The scoreline looks flattering for Sweden, because they could have conceded a double digit scoreline had the Dutch strikers not spurned the countless chances that Johan Cruyff set up for them.
The individual statistics of matches from that era are hard to get, but we at least have the benefit of the blurry video footages, which show how much the Dutch legend dictated terms on the day. The Swedish players were left chasing their shadows as Cruyff pulled the strings -- at the centre of midfield, from the right wing and from the left, shuffling his position every now and then.
Swedish right-back Jan Olsson, who was on the receiving end of one of those outrageous skills from Cruyff on the day, later recounted his experience.
"A ball was played into the corner and my first thought was to be aggressive and get after him and win the ball," Olsson said. "I was happy, because I had him in the corner.
But Cruyff held off Olsson and flicked the ball between his own legs and totally bamboozled Olsson.
"I've got to be honest -- I didn't understand what happened next. I thought I had the ball, then the next moment realised I didn't. I'd never seen anything like it. People in the crowd, my teammates - they were all laughing at what they had seen. After the game, it's all anyone wanted to talk about and it's been that way ever since."

3. 1970 semifinal
Italy 4 – 3 Germany (AET)
This match was such an epic battle of attrition that they built a monument outside the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City where it was played. The monument reads: The Azteca Stadium pays homage to the National Teams of Italy (4) and Germany (3), who starred in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, the 'Game of the Century'.
In fact it wouldn't have been dubbed the match of the century had there not been five goals scored in the 30 minutes of extra time. In normal time though, Italy took the lead in the eighth minute through a thunderous strike from Roberto Boninsegna. The Italians defended manfully, only to be denied by a stoppage time volley from West German defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger.
The match went into extra time and Gerd Mueller put the Germans ahead, but Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva pulled Italy back in front. Mueller brought the Germans back in level terms again in the 110th minute. But straight from the kick-off, Gianni Rivera gave Italy the lead once more, which they held on for the rest of the game. The match was also memorable for a heroic performance from German captain Franz Beckenbauer, who played through extra-time with a broken shoulder.

2. 1986 Quarterfinal
Brazil 1-1 France (France winning 4-3 on penalties)
This one was one of the best ever World Cup matches, in terms of for sheer quality and skill and the emotions the match evoked.  France were the reigning European champions, blessed with the likes of Platini, Tigana and Giresse. Brazil, on the other hand, had Zico, Socretes, Junior; who were appearing in their last ever World Cup and they would finish their careers without winning a World Cup.
After a brief period of France dominating possession through playing one-touch football, Brazil took the lead in the 17th minute when Junior played in Careca, who smashed the ball at the roof of the net. Platini, though, got the French on level terms in the 40th minute.
Brazil coach Tele Santana brought on the crowd favourite Zico and the star made his impact felt by conjuring up a penalty. Zico stepped up, but inexplicably saw his spot-kick saved by France keeper Joel Bats.
The game rolled into penalty shoot-out and there was more drama awaiting as Platini missed from the spot too. But Bats was having an incredible day and he would save his captain's blushes by bringing out two brilliant saves to see his side into the semifinal.

1. 1982 Second Round
Italy 3-2 Brazil
This is the greatest World Cup stories of all. A Brazil side teeming with brilliance, playing the most artistic brand of Jogo Bonito, were unlocked by a man who had just retuned to football after having served two years of suspension.
Paolo Rossi had looked quite lethargic throughout the groups stages in the first round and continued in the same fashion against Argentina in the first match of second group phase. Under heavy pressure from the media and fans, coach Enzo Bearzot decided to give the Juventus forward one last chance. The 26-year-old Tuscan lad made the most of it, to write his name into Italian football's folklore.

Italy striker Paolo Rossi shields the ball from Brazil left-back Junior during the 1982 World Cup second round group phase match at the Sarria Stadium in Barcelona. Photo: Daily Star Archive

Rossi's opportunist header gave Italy the lead in the fifth minute, only to be cancelled by an exquisite finish from Socrates seven minutes later. Rossi replied again, thirteen minutes later, pouncing on a weak pass in the Brazilian half before unleashing a thunderous shot at the back of the net. Once more, the Brazilians drew level, in the 68th minute, this time through Falcao who dribbled past a defender before driving the ball home from 18 yards. As it stood at 2-2, Brazil were going through to the semifinals as they only needed a draw to emerge group champions.
But it was to be Rossi's day. Six minutes later, Rossi was there at hand to poke in a weak clearance on a corner kick to grab his and Italy's third. There was still time for a Antonogni goal controversially disallowed and for 40-year-old Dino Zoff to make an incredible save, but Rossi's hattrick in the end proved enough knock the favourites out and send Italy through towards their third World Cup triumph.