TOP FIVE......ABIDING IMAGES OF THE WORLD CUP

This is very personal, and of course depends very much on age and how many World Cups we remember. I'm 38, and my 'live' World Cup memories go back to Spain in 1982. Three of my 'abiding images' come from these live memories, the other two are pre-82 and find their place in my list based on what I have seen and read myself, and heard from others. More difficult than deciding on what my top five memories were was deciding on the order in which to place them, as each in its own unique way says so much about the World Cup, and the ways that the drama that unfolds on the field of play reflects the scope of experience of human life. A tough task. Here's mine anyway, in ascending order.

5. Zidane's headbutt - 2006

The World Cup Final of 2006 between France and Italy was finally poised at 1-1 and extra-time was being played. The French, inspired by Zinedine Zidane, were starting to impose some authority on the game and boss the midfield. Then an unthinkable occurence in the 110th minute. Zidane, running back up field, suddenly turned back on himself to viciously headbutt Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. The two players had been the two goalscorers, and a verbal exchange had taken place between them to prompt Zidane's extraordinary attack. A red card is shown, and France have lost their talisman at the most crucial of moments. The image of Zidane leaving the greatest football stage and disconsolately walking past the trophy, taking the hopes of a nation with him, is pure pathos.

4. Hurst's crossbar goal - 1966

England boss Al Ramsey had made the decision to play Geoff Hurst up front in the World Cup Final against West Germany owing to the questionable fitness of first-choice striker Jimmy Greaves. The rest is history. Hurst scored a hat-trick, but his crucial second goal in the eleventh minute of the first period of extra-time remains one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history. His shot hit the underside of the crossbar and appeared to bounce down on the line. The incident led to the referee consulting with his linesman, and to the dismay of the Germans the goal was given. Fourty four years later, and the reality is that the same thing could happen again this summer - technology still has no place in football.

3. Maradona's "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" - 1986

Surely the ultimate juxtaposition of football irony. Six minutes into the second-half of Argentina's quarter-final against England, Diego Maradona clearly punches the ball over Peter Shilton's head into the net with his left hand. Incredibly, the officials fail to spot the misdemeanour and the 'goal' stands. Maradona would later make his infamous and ambiguous claim that the the goal was scored by the "Hand of God". Four minutes later, Maradona picks up the ball in his own half and weaves his way up-field, leaving player after player in his wake to score what would later be voted the best goal of the century in a FIFA poll. One moment of cheating and another of pure genius by the same player, within a four-minute spell of World Cup madness, were enough to dump England out and send Argentina marching on towards their destiny with glory.

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2. Tardelli's celebration - 1982

Marco Tardelli scored the second Italian goal against West Germany in the 1982 World Cup Final in Madrid. It was the goal that effectively sealed triumph for his country as it gave Italy a 2-0 lead against a tired German side. After crashing his shot past Schumacher from the edge of the area he turned with a trance-like expression, shaking fists and mounting tears and set off on a run to the Italian bench. Such moments are the priviledge of so very few players, and Tardelli's show of passion will always be one of those lasting World Cup memories. Fabian Grosso's celebration four years ago after scoring in the last minute against Germany in the semi-final was strikingly similar.

1. Alberto's goal - 1970

My favourite team goal ever, and many will share the view. It was the ease with which the Brazilians stroked the ball around, there was a laziness to it that was arrogant, a self-belief in a collective ability that belonged to another world. No team in history could have lived with Brazil that day, the occasion was the World Cup Final of 1970, and Italy were the opponents who were crushed 4-1 in Mexico City. Carlos Alberto's goal was the last of the four, and the one that so gloriously epitomized everything about the Brazil team of the 1970 World Cup.