ADVENTURE

Jack Charlton 

England defender, World Cup winner, 1966
‘My best moment? It was 3-2 near the end of our game against Germany. The ball hit Bobby Moore’s chest and dropped to his feet, right in front of our goal. I was yelling at him to get rid of it, honk it into the crowd, anything. But he took no notice and went off up the field. He saw Geoff Hurst and dropped the ball over his shoulder to him. Geoff scored and the referee blew the final whistle. I ran to give Geoff a hug, but he went in a different direction. I sank to my knees 
– and someone took that photo. People asked if I was praying, but I was just knackered. We’d played extra time and I’d run 150 yards flat out. It was a magic moment. Geoff said later that he didn’t intend to score. He was trying to get the ball away.’

Carlos Alberto
Brazil captain, World Cup winner, 1970
‘Scoring the winning goal in the 1970 final – it is the goal that I am still remembered for all these years later. Even young people know me because that goal is still shown all the time on television in Brazil. I remember saying thanks to Pelé on the pitch because he passed to me to score. It was my first and my only goal in the World Cup and it was good because it was in the final.’

Kenny Dalglish
Scotland forward, World Cup qualifier, 1986
‘It was Scotland versus Spain, the World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park in Glasgow 1985. We took a throw-in. I got control of the ball and worked my way into the penalty box. I shot into the top right-hand corner with my left foot and scored. When I turned around to the main stand to celebrate, I saw my father sitting in the front row wearing his cloth cap with his hands in the air.’

Pierluigi Collina
Referee at five World Cup matches including the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany
‘I had several priceless moments during 
the years I spent on the pitch, but the most vivid is the ceremony after the World Cup 2002 final I refereed in Yokohama. I went 
on the stage with the runners-up, and the Fifa president surprised me by putting a medal around my neck as well, as I was one of the main characters of the match. After that, he presented us to the spectators and there was a huge applause. Few seconds, very emotional.’

Wayne Rooney 

England forward, World Cup quarterfinalist, 2006, and World Cup squad, 2010
‘My favourite World Cup moment was seeing Michael Owen score that goal against Argentina in 1998. I was only a young boy at the time watching with my family round at my nan’s. It is a dream to play for your country in anything – so to now be part of the squad competing in South 
Africa this summer will 
be unbelievable.’

Desmond Lynam
Football commentator
‘Although England lost in the penalty shoot-out, the semifinal against West Germany in 1990 stands out as the most dramatic World Cup occasion for me. I was presenting for the BBC, and the outcome left me and my fellow broadcasters drained. I could feel the emotion of the viewers coming back through the screens to me. It was a match that took a great deal of recovering from, for manager, players and those of us watching.’

Thierry Henry
France forward, World Cup winner, 1998
‘Winning the World Cup 
in France was without doubt my greatest professional achievement. Very few players get the privilege of winning a World Cup, and to win 
it in your own country 
made it extra special. Words cannot justify how I felt that day, and although the moment went very quickly, the memories will remain forever.’

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