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5 Great Highlights from the World Cup

by Valeria Di Meglio |

image 5 Great Highlights from the World Cup
While the Russian edition of the World Cup is coming slowly but surely, here we present a close-up of past matches that have marked the last five editions of the World Cup football.

If you like the FIFA World Cup so much, it's because it gives us four years of emotions all more intense than each other over the course of one summer. Hope, sadness, joy, anger ... every football fan obviously lives these things when the best players meet to compete for the World Cup title. Emotions that will be in abundance once again this summer, we are certain, and that will give even more taste to your sportsbook. While you wait, here is a taster of what could be in store upon the return of the World Cup. We look back on five meetings which marked the last editions of the infamous competition. With lots of good memories ... and some not so good ones.

France 3-0 Brazil - Final - 1998 (France)France Brazil 1998

Since it is the oldest meeting of this Top, but also and especially because it leaves imperishable memories with all the French, let's start with the famous July 12, 1998. Unbeatable since the beginning of the competition hosted on their own turf, the Blues of Aimé Jacquet faced Ronaldo’s Brazil at Stade de France. After defeating Paraguay, Italy narrowly and Croatia in elimination rounds, Zidane and company did not take long to impose their pace to a Seleçao exceeded by the event. Zizou, with two reaction goals, then Manu Petit whom registered the most important goals of their careers to offer  rance the most beautiful trophy of its history (3-0). Unforgettable.

Italy (5) 1-1 (3) France - Final - 2006 (Germany)

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Not so happy this time around, the grand finale of the 2006 edition in Germany. The last match of Zinedine Zidane's career, the duel between the French and Italians has long held memories for fans around the globe. Quickly in the lead on the scoreboard thanks to a memorable panenka of Zizou, the men of Raymond Domenech ended up being joined by a well placed head of Marco Materazzi. We all know the rest of the story, masterful judgments of Buffon, red card for Zidane and failure of David Trezeguet during the penalty shoot-out. After 1934, 1938 and 1982, the Squadra Azzurra capsized Italy with happiness and gleaned their fourth star. A horrible memory for the French, magic for the Italians.

England (1) 0-0 (3) Portugal - Quarter Final - 2006 (Germany)

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Shortly before the famous Italy-France final, the 2006 edition of the World Cup was also marked by a memorable duel between Wayne Rooney's England and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Then teammates at Manchester United, the two stars, English and Portuguese did not hesitate to go blow for blow in a tactical and tense opposition, until the prodigal child of Everton saw red. Driven, the Three Lions resisted at first before cracking under the pressure during the terrible penalty shoot-out. Where Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher failed, Simão, Helder Postiga and Cristiano were not shaking to gain the last semi-final spot at La Seleção. Knocked out by France, the Portuguese finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Germany in the match for third place (3-1).

Netherlands 0-1 (ET) Spain - Final - 2010 (South Africa)

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 After the Italian victory in 2006, another Latin team was honored with the next edition, Spain. Considered by far the best team in the world at the time, La Roja found international success two years after their European champion title. Led by an exemplary Carles Puyol and Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Casillas de Gala, the group of Vicente Del Bosque first passed the French quietly, before moving onto Portugal in the last eighth, Paraguay in the quarters and Germany in the semi-finals. Finally opposed to the Netherlands with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, the Spanish selection ended up winning at the end, thanks to a goal from Iniesta after extra time (116 '). Viva Espana. 

Brazil 1-7 Germany - Semi-final - 2014 (Brazil)

Brazil 2014 

Finally, the last major game of these last editions, the beating received by the Brazilians against the Germans during the last FIFA World Cup in 2014. After a less than ideal tournament and without their superhero Neymar, injured, the Seleçao quickly went from the dream potential to the nightmare of a lifetime. At the Belo Horizonte stadium, Marcelo, David Luiz and company did not hold them off for long. Miroslav Klose, who scored a hat-trick and became the top scorer in the history of the competition, responded in particular to Müller's opener, before Khedira punctuated the half-hour mark of 0-5, then André Schürrle left his  mark after the break. Despite an Oscar goal late in the game the damage was already done (1-7), the biggest footballing country was humiliated and Germany adulated. Winner over Argentina a few days later, Joachim Löw's group then logically regained a title of World Champion which had evaded them since 1990, and clearly became the team to beat for the next installments. Hoping that 2018 is just as spectacular.

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