3. Belgium 4-3 USSR 1986
Mexico wasn’t even supposed to host the 1986 World Cup. But an earthquake in Colombia meant that Mexico stepped in at late notice and delivered a feast of football. Though best remembered for Argentina’s triumph, the tournament offered much to admire throughout, including this classic from the second round. The Soviet Union had undergone something of a reboot, thanks to coach Valeri Lobanovsky, who modeled the national team on the club side he had made one of Europe’s most successful, Dinamo Kiev — seven of its players, including star man Igor Belanov, played in the 1982 Soviet World Cup team. But not even Belanov’s hat-trick on the day was enough to overcome a spirited Belgium outfit, who kept drawing level to take the game to extra time at 2-2. A fine time to take the lead then, which they duly did through Stephane De Mol. The classy Nico Claesen volleyed his team further ahead and, despite Belanov both winning and converting a penalty kick, the Belgians held on. Belanov had the dubious distinction of becoming only the third player in World Cup history, after Ernest Wilimowski of Poland in 1938 and Josef Huegi of Switzerland in 1954, to score a hat-trick and finish up on the losing side. Belgium would reach the semi-finals before being knocked out by Diego Maradona’s all-conquering Argentina.
4. Brazil 3-2 Holland 1994
This quarter-final from USA 1994 burst into life during the second half. It was the teams’ first competitive meeting since 1974, and Brazil wanted to avenge that year’s semi-final defeat. Brazil, playing in their changed jersey of blue, uncharacteristically needed a quick counterattack to take the lead, with Bebeto taking full advantage of Frank Rijkaard’s sloppy pass to play in Romario for the finish. And when Bebeto himself rounded the goalkeeper to give his side a two goal cushion — and then showed the world the wonderful baby-cradling dance with which players who’ve recently become dads have since celebrated scoring — the game appeared over. Not so. Within a minute, Holland halved the deficit thanks to Denis Bergkamp’s stunning solo effort. Ten minutes later, they thought they should have been awarded a penalty after the ball hit the hand of Marcio Santos. But from the ensuing corner, Aron Winter beat the goalkeeper Taffarel to the ball and the sides were level. Extra-time loomed but Brazil’s winner came from an unexpected source: Defender Branco struck a sumptuous 25-yard free kick into the far corner, but he was only playing that day as a replacement for Leonardo, who was suspended because of an earlier red card against the United States.
The Beautiful Games
- 1. Italy 3-2 Brazil 1982
- 2. Italy 4-3 West Germany 1970
- 3. Belgium 4-3 USSR 1986
- 4. Brazil 3-2 Holland 1994
- 5. West Germany 3-2 Hungary 1954
- 6. Portugal 5-3 North Korea 1966
- 7. West Germany 3-3 France 1982 (West Germany wins on penalties 5-4)
- 8. France 1-1 Brazil 1986 (France wins on penalties 4-3)
- 9. England 4-2 West Germany 1966
- 10. Brazil 4-1 Italy 1970
