Now that we’re inside of the 48 hour mark before the first kickoff of this year’s World Cup and if you’re like us, you’re getting really twitchy, possibly irritable and having a really hard time concentrating at work or school. For those of you rooting for the US MNT or rooting against England (we’re looking at you Scotland) ESPN Classic is serving up a great line up of classic World Cup matches that should at least get you through today.
The theme today… great US victories and brutal England defeats. We likey! On to the lineup…
2:30 PM – 2002 USA vs. Mexico
Brian McBride and Landon Donovan each netted a goal as the US beat Mexico when it counted to advance to the quarter-finals in a gritty match that ended with 10 yellows and a red.
4:30 PM – 2002 USA vs. Portugal
The US surprise the soccer world with a massive 3-2 win over Portugal in their opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
6:30 PM – 1998 England vs. Argentina
England lose in penalty kicks in a match famous for the red card that Diego Simeone goaded David Beckham into and the disallowed goal in the dying minutes.
8:30 PM – 1994 USA vs. Columbia
Hosts US eliminate Colombia from the World Cup with a 2-1 victory that was aided by an Andres Escobar own-goal. Sadly Escobar was murdered not long after his return to Medellin.
10:30 PM – 1986 England vs. Argentina
Hand of God. Need we say more? Well we will… this is also the match when Diego Maradona scored the greatest goal in World Cup history marauding 60 meters to score having started from inside his own half.
(All times are US EDT)
