Sunday, May 3, 1998 Published at 17:41 GMT 18:41 UK

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Certain games stick in the memory - classics of the greatest game. Here are 10 of the best from the World Cup.

1950 - USA 1 England 0

Tom Finney

In the first World Cup after the war the USA pulled off one of the most amazing giant-killing acts in the tournament's history. No-one expected the United states to be able to compete with England.

Tom Finney: "You wanted the ground to open up and swallow you" [1'11'']

With stars like Tom Finney the English were thought of as one of the best teams in the world but were beaten in Brazil after a goal from Larry Gaetjens.

1954 - Uraguay 7 Scotland 0

The Scottish team suffered a humiliating defeat

The Scots team had lost their opening game 1-0 to Austria. But the mauling that they received at the hands of Uraguay was the worst in Scottish international football. Scotland had trouble off the pitch before the tornament even started.

7:0, "A score that Scotland won't forget for a long time" [33'']

Their manager, Andy Beattie, resigned before the game which some say upset the team. Uraguay did go on to the semi-finals of the tournament before losing to Austria in the third place play-off.

1962 - Italy 0 Chile 2

The game was "out of control"

Known as the "Battle of Santiago". In the seventh minute Italy's Ferrini was dismissed but he refused to leave the pitch for almost ten minutes; he was eventually escorted off by the police.

The Battle of Santiago: "That was one of the neatest left hooks I've ever seen" [42'']

The Chilians became increasingly aggressive and just before half-time one of their players laid out Mario David with a punch. One minute after the interval David himself was sent-off for kicking a Chilian in the throat. The nine man Italian defence held out until goals in the 74th and 86th minute settled the tie.

1966 - N Korea 3 Portugal 5

The Korean team celebrate their goals against Portugal

The Koreans stunned the fancied Portuguese by storming into a three goal lead in less than 20 minutes at Goodison Park. The rank underdogs were on course for a major World Cup shock.

Eusabio saves the Portuguese from "the most desperate trouble", against North Korea [1'42'']

But up stepped Euseibio who almost single-handedly took on the Koreans scoring four goals in the process. It was one of the great individual World Cup performances of all time. The Portuguese player also ended up winning the 'Golden Boot' for scoring a total of nine goals in the competition.

1966 - England 4 W Germany 2 (AET)

That controversial goal from Hurst

Famous for the "Russian linesman" incident when Geoff Hurst's shot crossed the line of the underside of the bar. Or did it? England eventually triumphed after a closely fought game and brought the phrase "They think it's all over ... it is now" to international attention.

"They think it's all over, it is now" [1'54'']

The incident has been a talking point in football for over 30 years and despite slow-motion video and computer mock-ups no-one really knows if the ball really went over the line. The ball from the match was recently given to Geoff Hurst who scored a hat-trick in the game.

1978 - Holland 2 Scotland 3

Joe Jordan

Scotland had already had a dull 1-1 draw with Iran and had lost 3-1 to Peru before having to take on a great Dutch side. They went into the tournament with a new manager and after two bad results were expected to be well beaten by the Dutch.

Joe Jordan: "There was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel" [1'10'']

Scotland were looking down and out but goals from Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jord plus a real classic from Archie Gemmill saw Scotland beat the finalists but still go out of the tournament.

1978 - Argentina 6 Peru 0

Tarantini scores for Argentina

Argentina - who went on to win the competition - played with little conviction and received the benefit of generous refereeing. After playing badly for most of the early part of the tournament the result against Peru was 'surprising' to say the least.

Argentina knock Peru and Brazil out of the tournament simultaneously [58'']

In the key group match they drew against Brazil and the hosts went into the Peru game needing to win by four goals to make it to the final. Their opposition, Peru, were pathetic and the 6-0 scoreline was the subject of much speculation of match-fixing.

1982 - N Ireland 1 Spain 0

Gerry Armstrong becomes a hero

Northern Ireland for so long the nearly men of world football were taken to the finals twice by manager Billy Bingham. As a small nation they were not expected to be able to compete with a much-fancied Spanish side.

Gerry Armstrong takes his place in Irish folklore with a goal against host nation Spain [19'']

But thanks to a fine goal from Gerry Armstrong they pulled off a fantastic upset beating the hosts. Northern Ireland failed to go further in the competition but did qualify for the next World Cup in Mexico in 1986.

1990 - Argentina 0 Cameroon 1

The Cameroon team celebrate their victory

The 1990 World Cup finals got off to a stunning start when Argentina were beaten by the unfancied Cameroon team. Argentina went on to the final of the tournament but the result of the opening game shook the football world.

Argentina crash to Cameroon [1'34'']

The African side's tackling was competitive to say the least and they ended the tie with only nine men. Argentina went on to lose to Germany in the final but it's the physical Cameroon side that people remember.

1994 - Columbia 1 USA 2

Escobar met a tragic end, after he scored an own goal

The tournament hosts the USA had struggled their groups but beat Columbia, one of the pre-tournament favourites. No-one - apart from the hoard of Team USA fans that came to every game thought the their team had a chance.

Escobar of Columbia scores a tragic own goal [45'']

But the Columbians were under massive domestic pressure to succeed and only two weeks after returning home having finished bottom of their group a defender, Pablo Escobar, who had scored an own goal against the USA was shot dead.

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