Matthew Dickinson on Gary Lineker, Maradona, Zico and his World Cup memories

By Richard Siddle

Published: 01 July, 2014

Today wine consultant, Matthew Dickinson, who by living in Avignon can still claim to be partly in the World Cup with France looks back over the years to give his World Cup memories. If you would like to share your World Cup best and worst moments with the trade then simply answer the same questions as below and emaile richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

World Cup Gary LinekerEngland’s greatest World Cup player according to Matthew Dickinson

Favourite World Cup and why?

Tough call between 1982 in Spain and Italia '90. The football in 1982 was better; it had one of the best Brazil teams ever with the likes of Zico and Socrates; it had one of the best matches in history, between Italy and Brazil, so I would say 82 gets it

Best overall World Cup game and why?

1982 - Brazil v. Italy - Fantastic game with the best Brazil team of my lifetime (I missed the Pele 1970 team). Brazil only needed a draw to reach the semi-finals, Italy needed a win. The Brazil team was a wonderful attacking team who didn't really concern themselves with defence, assuming that if the opposition scored four then they'd just score five. Italy went ahead twice, each time getting pegged back. But a third Italian goal, giving Paolo Rossi a hat trick, was enough for the win. That Brazil team was probably the best ever team not to win the World Cup and now Paolo Rossi's name is forever associated with the 1982 World Cup.

Greatest World Cup goal?

Most people go with Maradona's goal against England in 1986 when he dribbled past everyone, but for me the best was by Cambiasso for Argentina in 2006. Twenty five uninterrupted passes strung together, culminating in a back heal and shot into the net. Very sexy.

Favourite all time player in the World Cup and why?

Pelé. This is from clips and highlights since I'm a young thing. The debate always rages between Pelé and Maradona. I go with Pelé because he won three World Cups to Maradona's one, he was part of the greatest team in history in the 1970 Brazil team, with which he has multiple moments of sheer genius and because Maradona is a contemptible, cheating, drug addict little oik

Earliest World Cup memory?

Argentina winning the 1978 final against Holland - I guess in hindsight I could have chosen a better moment! But they deserved it, more or less

Best all time English World Cup player?

Gary Lineker. Key here being "World Cup player". Paul Gascoigne comes close and was a far better player. Possibly the best. Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in a World Cup final, so has to be worth a mention. But Lineker has 10 goals over two World Cups, more than twice the next guy. He made a major difference in two World Cups. His hat trick against Poland in a game England had to win to progress was vital in 1986. He won the Golden Boot that year (award for highest goal scorer in a World Cup). In 1990 he scored several more, including one in the semi-final against Germany to take it to extra time and penalties. Definitely the best English World Cup player

Worst all time English World Cup player?

David Batty - 1998. There have been a tremendous number of dreadful England players in my lifetime, but using the strict definition of "World Cup players" one is limited to ones who actually played in a World Cup, not just qualification matches. Most of the truly awful players of my lifetime came when Graham "Turnip" Taylor was manager, but since he failed to get England into the World Cup in 1994 his really awful selections never got to the World Cup stage. David Batty was part of the 1998 squad and was an all-around crap player. More of a thug who liked to decapitate people with tackles than an actual midfielder. And to cap it all he missed the penalty that knocked us out against Argentina

Ideal wine or spirit/cocktail to drink whilst watching World Cup Final?

Apart from beer, which would always be my first choice (brand and type irrelevant) it would have to be a pale, delicate Cotes de Provence - very diverse, and all-round crowd pleaser!

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