Taffarel raises his arms to the skies as Roberto Baggio hangs his head. The Italy forward had just hit Italy’s fourth spot-kick in the USA 1994 final shootout over the crossbar, giving Brazil a 3-2 success at the Rose Bowl.
“When I was preparing to save Baggio’s penalty, I got this feeling in my head that the World Cup was ending right there,” Taffarel told FIFA. “If Baggio had scored, Bebeto still had a penalty to win it for us. I didn’t know if I would save it or he would miss, but I just knew that Baggio would kick the last ball at that World Cup. It was an incredible sensa.tion. I thanked God for giving me such a moment. There’s a really cool photo of Baggio with his head down, devastated, and me on my knees euphoric. It’s always like that in football – one player is sad and the other happy.”
Taffarel: I’m very proud Brazil won the World Cup for Senna
Bebeto: Me and Romario were football’s greatest double act
Highlights: Brazil 0-0 Italy (3-2 PSO)
The USA 1994 quiz
France players embrace in ecstasy as their Brazil counterparts look broken. Les Bleus had beaten the Seleção 3-0 in the 1998 final in front of their own fans at the Stade de France.
The France ’98 quiz
Every France goal in 1998
Highlights: Brazil 0-3 France
Sol Campbell, Paul Scholes and David Beckham express their elation upon the final whistle of England’s 1-0 win over Argentina in a Sapporo grudge match at Korea/Japan 2002. It served as revenge for ‘Becks’, who had been sent off following a clash with Diego Simeone, en route to a penalty-shootout defeat, in the last 16 at France 1998.
Beckham’s redemption strike
Highlights: Argentina 0-1 England
Highlights: Argentina 2-2 England (4-3 PSO)
Watch: Cosmic Diego’s extraterrestrial exhibition
Seol Kihyeon’s smile says it all in front of a distraught Sergi Conceicao. Park Jisung’s goal had secured Korea Republic victory over Luis Figo and Portugal and a knockout-phase place in Incheon.
Golden Ahn slays Italy
Highlights: Portugal 0-1 Korea Republic
Henri Camara dances as Niclas Alexandersson despairs. The Senegal striker had just ended a last-16 showdown against Sweden with a golden goal at Korea Japan 2002.
The Korea/Japan 2002 quiz
Highlights: Sweden 1-2 Senegal (GG)
Every golden goal at the World Cup
Diao’s Daegu dash
Diop and Diouf star as Senegal slay France
Roberto Acuna bows his body in anguish as the Sweden players celebrate in the Berlin background. A goalless draw would have been a good result for Carlos Gamarra, Roque Santa Cruz and Los Guaraníes at Germany 2006, but Freddie Ljungberg’s last-gasp header eliminated them with a group game to spare.
The Germany 2006 quiz
Highlights: Sweden 1-0 Paraguay
Arjen Robben crouches in desolation as Luis Figo and team-mates celebrate. Portugal had edged the Netherlands in ‘The Battle of Nuremberg’, in which referee Valentin Ivanov handed out four red cards and 16 yellows – both World Cup records.
Highlights: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands
World Cup wonder goals: Cristiano completes a tremendous treble
Watch: Electric Arjen shocks Spain
Zinedine Zidane celebrates as Gilberto Silva and Ze Roberto lay on the turf distraught. ‘Zizou’ had turned in one of the greatest performances in World Cup history to inspire France to a 1-0 win over Brazil in the Germany 2006 quarter-finals in Frankfurt.
Watch: Zizou’s Broadway show in Mainhatten
Breathtaking Zizou unravels Brazil
Highlights: Brazil 0-1 France (2006)
Aliou Diarra and Florent Malouda look devastated as Italy players celebrate. France had just lost on penalties in the Germany 2006 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Cannavaro: 2006 transformed us into legends
Grosso: I will always rememberended Italy’s shootout curse
Highlights: Italy 1-1 France (5-3 PSO)
Stephen Appiah holds his head in his hands in devastation as Mauricio Victorino rejoices. The Black Stars had been on the cusp of becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals at South Africa 2010. However, Luis Suarez’s handball denied the Black Stars a last-gasp winner in extra time, Asamoah Gyan smacked the resulting spot-kick against the crossbar, and La Celeste won on penalties at Soccer City Stadium.
Suarez ‘Hand of God’ leaves Ghana heartbroken
Highlights: Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (4-2 PSO)
Robin van Persie shows his sorrow as Spain players celebrate after Howard Webb’s whistle finished the final. The Netherlands had been minutes away from a penalty shootout until Andres Iniesta struck an extra-time winner at South Africa 2010.
Highlights: Netherlands 0-1 Spain (AET)
Iniesta: Paying tribute to Dani was magical
Algeria players celebrate reaching the knockout phase for the first time as Russia’s Aleksandr Kokorin sits shattered at elimination. The latter’s goal had put Fabio Capello’s charges ahead in Curitiba, but Islam Slimani got Les Fennecs the point they required.
Highlights: Algeria 1-1 Russia
Highlights: Germany 2-1 Algeria (AET)
Sergio Aguero lies devastated as Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger of celebrate Germany’s 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina. Innumerable Argentinian supporters had watched the Brazil 2014 final inside the Maracana and in other spots in Rio de Janeiro.
Germany hit Brazil for seven in sport-shaking shock
Highlights: Germany 1-0 Argentina (AET)
Robert Lewandowski clasps his head in his hands despondently as Wilmar Barrios points to the skies in Kazan. Colombia had won 3-0 in their second outing to get off the mark at Russia 2018 and leave Poland pointless.
Highlights: Poland 0-3 Colombia
Luka Modric shows his sorrow as Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez embrace. Argentina had beaten Croatia 3-0 in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals at Lusail Stadium.
Highlights: Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Watch: Lionel Messi | Golden Ball winner | Qatar 2022
