1)Italia 90 Song - To Be Number One
My first World Cup was Italia 90. Though it wasn't really the best World Cup especially in terms of goals per tournament, it is still very memorable for World Cup novice fan like me at that time. I can always remember the ear-catching tune of the 1990 World Cup Italian theme song. The English version is call "To Be Number One". Back in those days, there was a daily world cup highlight programme on channel 5 at 7.30pm (if I remember correctly), covering all the action & goals from the previous night matches. This song would be play at the start of the programme. Even channel 8 variety show have a World Cup segment daily with Qiu Sheng Yang being the sports presenter. I remember it because he made a comment about Roberto Baggio , "Ba Jiao Chi Xiang Jiao" on the programme and this translates to Baggio eat Banana. He was a comical host.
Italia 90 World Cup Memories:
Where was I : A Sec 3 student watching his first World Cup on Channel 5. My World Cup heroes are Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker. Learn to like Des Walker too in the tournament, what an important player for England. Witness the era of great playmakers Stokojvic, Scifo, Gazza, Mattheus, Hagi, Maradona,etc
While World Cup Fever is on, there is another fever in Singapore at the same time. The Malaysia Cup fever. Two of Singapore finest foreign imports Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards scored their first ever goals for the Lions during the June 90 World Cup against Sarawak at the National Stadium.Abbas and Alistair scored two goals each in that game which ended 4-2 in Singapore favour. Jalil Ramli scored the two goals for Sarawak.Another Malaysia Cup game at National Stadium during Italia 90 was Singapore vs Perlis. Singapore attack and attack but couldn't score in the first half against lowly Perlis until supersub D Devaraj came on in the 2nd half.He set-up two goals and scored one. 1990 was a very good year for Singapore football and myself personally.
Italia 90 World Cup Semi-finals Result:
a) Favourite Italy 1 Argentina 1 (After extra time)
Argentina won on penalty kicks to advance
b) England 1 West Germany 1 (After extra time)
West Germany won on penalty kicks to advance
2) France 98 World Cup Song - The Cup of Life by Ricky Martin
I like the fast beat and energy of this Ricky Martin hot number which seems tailored made for the exciting game of football & its biggest showcase, the World Cup.
Samba e Gol - Another popular hit of France 98. Frequently play in pubs like Mdm Wong, Wong San along the once popular late 90s nightspot @ Mohamed Sultan Road.
France 98 World Cup Memories:
Where was I: Fresh from NS & learning my trade in Sony as an Asst Engineer. Watch the world cup from Channel 5 and also in room of Hotel Seruni, Batam (Indonesia) during frequent weekly trips to PTSN factory.
My Denmark team was doing very well with both Michael and Brian Laudrup playing together.They cause a big upset in the 2nd round by beating favourite Nigeria 4-1. They also narrowly lost out 3-2 to Brazil in the q-final. The Brazilian were stunned by Laudrup & company and only Rivaldo magic saves them. Michael Owen goal against Argentina was the most talk about goal of the tournament. Dennis Bergkamp also scored a gem against the Argentinians. The Dutch were the best team of the tournament in my thinking. David Beckham became a villian for England for his stupidity. Prior to start of the World Cup, I predicted Brazil to win it but I was wrong and almost right. Emmanuel Petit display the most sportsmanship moment of the tournament.Roberto Baggio making a great comeback. Two Singapore S-league players Hamid Reza Estili and Mohd Khakpour played for Iran in this world cup and they beat the USA with Estili scoring. Davor Suker was scoring goals for fun. Ricky Martin was the most popular singer with Gol Gol Gol, Ah le Ah Le Ah Le.
France 98 World Cup Semi-finals:
a) Favourite Brazil 1 Holland 1
Brazil win on penalties (I was watching from Batam)
b) Favourite France 2 Croatia 1
3) Germany 2006 - Hips Don't Lie By Shakira
Shakira was my favourite singer of the 21st century and Hips Don't Lie is definitely my favourite Shakira hit. Listen to it over thousand times over and still crave for it. Great song to be associated with the FIFA World Cup.
Germany 2006 World Cup Memories :
Where was I: A FAE in love. Watch World Cup from McDonalds and Kopitiams.
The 2006 World Cup Final between France and Italy was the best world cup final in the 5 World cup finals that I have watch. Both team played out an evenly contested final with excitement & not too much defensive burden. It was the Zinedine Zidane finale and a most memorable one. It help to recover all my betting losses in one single game. When Italy won the penalty shootout, I received an congrats SMS from Italy, I do not know the person at all. Took MC after world cup final. The Portugal team is damn dirty.
Germany 2006 World Cup Semi-finals:
a)Favourite Germany 0 Italy 2 (after extra time)
b)France 1 Portugal 0
4) USA 94 - Gloryland
I don't really recall the USA94 World Cup theme song at all. I found it purely by doing an intended search for it on youtube. It is call Gloryland. I do recall the images of USA94 on the video though.
USA94 World Cup Memories:
Where was I: A Ngee Ann Polytechnic student doing vocational attachment at Tampines Century square construction site. Every morning, take more than one hour to work via bus 24 from AMK. Work together with Malaysian, Thai and Indian workers. Foreman like me, sometimes allow me to come later to work because I can give him soccer updates to place his bets.
I predict Brazil to win the World Cup prior to start of tournament and I was right. Hate it though because this is Roby Baggio World Cup.He was superb after a slow start. Italy make it to the final solely because of him. This was a very exciting world up with many upsets such as Saudi Arabia 1-0 win over Belgium with a solo Owairan goal, Ireland 1-0 win over Italy,Korean draw with Spain etc, Romania is the dark house team and played very exciting football which include the outstanding match of the tournament against Argentina. Columbian defender Escobar was killed after he scored an own goal against USA. Bebeto start the rock a baby celebration after scoring against Holland. "Di Zhong Hai" Yordan Letchkov of Bulgaria headed the winner to kick out defending champion Germany in the q-final. Outstanding Bulgarian player was Hristo Stoichkov.Sweden Henrik Larsson was a lion king with his hairdo. On the Sunday morning of the World Cup final, play a friendly soccer game at Whitley Secondary School @ Bishan. Highlight of the game was when our star striker nicknamed "Ah Chui" (Duck Mouth) made a spectacular sliding tackle that drifted himself all the way from the field onto the nearby drain. It look painful but his teammates can't help but broke up in laughter. I was one of the guilty ones. Ah Chui was ok after the game, no serious injury.
USA94 World Cup Semi-finals:
a) Favourite Brazil 1 Sweden 0
b) Favourite Italy 2 Bulgaria 1
5) Japan/Korea 2002 - Anthem by Vangelis
Wonder why the Asian World Cup is just a instrumental music tune with nobody singing. Don't they have faith in our English ?
Korea/Japan World Cup Memories:
Where was I: A undergrad student in Brisbane @ the University of Queensland. Watch the world cup from my landlord house @ Toowong, Project teammate house @ Macquarie street & GP South lab computer.
It wasn't a great Asian world cup based on my opinion but I do remember these moments. A big upset opening game with Senegal beating France 1-0. They made it to the q-final while France crashed out at 1st round. South Korea amazing run to semi-final against the might of Italy, Portugal and Spain. Beckham revenge against Argentina and Ronaldino loop over David Seaman. Robbie Keane superb performances for Ireland against Germany and Spain. Rushing back from grocery shopping @ Sunnybank to catch the world cup final and seeing Ronaldo with funny haircut scoring twice against Oliver Khan. Turkey was the darkhorse of the tournament with Hakan Suker, Hasan Sas and their super goalie playing a big part in their success.
Korea/Japan World Cup Semi-finals:
Favourite Germany 1 South Korea 0
Favourite Brazil 1 Turkey 0
6) South Africa 2010 Songs - I absolutely love the songs in this World Cup. Superb!
Official song of the 2010 World Cup : Waving Flags by Knaan
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