Ahead of the World Cup and as a part of our “Gracias Fútbol” project, we asked colleagues, family, one famous soccer commentator and readers of the Latinx Files newsletter to share a few of their favorite memories related to the tournament. Here’s what that they had to say.
I used to be within the press section of Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the thrill was that Diego Maradona’s first goal had been scored along with his hand. From high we clearly saw he outjumped Peter Shilton and saw him rating a header. Some nearby monitors offered a number of nonconclusive replays, so we didn’t pay an excessive amount of attention to it. Then five minutes later got here the goal of the century, essentially the most impressive, best goal I even have ever witnessed in all the goals I even have called in my life. When Diego began his slalom past midfield, I do not forget that I and my colleagues from El Gráfico magazine for which I used to be working that June 22 day began a slow-motion, synchronized move out of our seats that concluded after the goal was scored with a large hug between all of us. I had tears, a whole lot of tears, in my eyes, some friends were outright crying, we kept hugging prefer it was the stroke of midnight on Recent Years’ Eve or a birthday celebration. All of us knew we had witnessed history. A lot in order that it’s so vivid in my mind as if it might have happened last weekend.
— Andres Cantor, Telemundo’s chief World Cup commentator
::
Mexico vs. Italy in 2002. No one was betting on Mexico to get out of the ‘Group of Death.’ Everyone thought we were the weakest team, but we ended up being a surprise. Mexico finished first within the group. I remember the Jared Borgetti goal, a header. It was among the best goals I’ve seen. We didn’t win, but we also didn’t lose like everyone thought.
— Fidel Mártinez Sr.
::
Considered one of the primary fútbol moments that had a definitive impact in how I see the sport was Senegal’s win over France within the 2002 World Cup. I still remember El Hadji Diouf’s gambeta and speed, and Papa Bouba Diop’s dance after scoring what ended up being the winner. Senegal’s performance in that World Cup taught me that anything is feasible on the world’s biggest stage, as they went all of the approach to the quarterfinals. I just hope that in the future it would be El Tri’s turn.
— Nayib Morán Rivera
::
Edgar Navarro and friends watch a Mexico vs. Germany match within the 2018 World Cup in Moscow.
(Edgar Navarro)
2018. It was my first time in Europe and I used to be traveling with some fraternity brothers. After we got to Moscow for the sport against Germany, it was as if every variety of Mexican that God has ever created was there. You had people from places like California, Recent York, Texas, Michoacán and Jalisco. Immediately all of us just bonded. You can feel the energy as we walked to the stadium, and once inside all you saw was a sea of green. That’s when it hit me that we were the house team. Sure, we were playing Germany in Europe, but we outnumbered them. After which the national anthem began playing. I just got goosebumps. It made me take into consideration growing up and being with my parents and family as we watched the 1986 World Cup. I’ve been to big collegiate games on the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum but nothing in comparison with this. When Chucky Lozano scored, things went to a different level. We cheered, but that’s when the nervousness set in. We’re Mexico fans, in spite of everything, so we were all just waiting for something bad to occur. But nothing ever did. We actually won. I remember the enjoyment of everyone leaving that stadium, the train ride back. All of us celebrated well into the night.
— Edgar Navarro
::
I’m going to share my happiest and saddest World Cup memory. By the best way, this can also be an act of contrition.
This story starts with a horrifying green pair of lucky socks I own. They’re ancient — the colour of rotten vegetables and have avocado prints on them. But when I wear them, Argentina has a greater probability of winning.
Now that you understand that, I’m going to take you to the World Cup final of 2014. Led by Leo Messi, Argentina was going against Germany. I remember feeling this mixture of joy and melancholy: My grandpa would have been so completely happy about this.
But I also remember it being extremely popular outside that day, and I made a split-second decision: I made a decision not to place the socks on.
So me and a friend went to a bar to look at the match. The sport was very contested, and went to penalties.
Lionel Messi missed.
As soon as he missed, I walked out, crying, looking silently at my unsocked feet.
You higher consider those socks are coming out of storage this weekend.
— Jasmine Garsd, criminal justice correspondent at National Public Radio and the host of “La última copa/The Last Cup”
::
This was an especially big one. It was in 1994 when the U.S. hosted the games. I worked for La Opinión then, sponsors of the World Cup, so I had access to many games on the Rose Bowl. To be honest with you, I’m unsure if it was the sport between Argentina and Romania. Perhaps it was the ultimate between Italy and Brazil. It was in considered one of those games that Pete Wilson got as much as the mic and the entire stadium literally booed him so loud they drowned out whatever he was attempting to say. Goosebumps ran up and down my body. I clapped and applauded in joy!! No surprise, on condition that the [campaign for] anti-immigrant Prop. 187 was in full swing, which Pete Wilson solidly supported. Perhaps someone who’s an actual fútbol aficionado will remember at which game this happened.
[Editor’s note: Wilson was booed at the group match between Colombia and Romania.]
— Susanna Fránek
::
My passion for the World Cup is rooted in my parents, each of whom are Mexican immigrants. As latest residents of this country, their old flame became baseball, because of their proximity to Dodger Stadium within the Nineteen Seventies.
But what was already of their DNA was their love of soccer.
And for his or her generation, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was a formative event. The semifinals featured all former World Cup champions (Brazil, Uruguay, West Germany and Italy) and had an epic West Germany-Italy showdown, referred to as “The Match of the Century” that my father talks about endlessly (there’s a reason there’s a plaque outside Estadio Azteca commemorating it).
The enduring image of that World Cup, in fact, is Pelé celebrating triumphantly after Brazil won its third championship by routing an exhausted Italy.
So it was those seeds that were planted in me within the Nineteen Eighties as I got here of age and have become aware of the spectacle and the pageantry of sports. The primary World Cup I remember vividly was 1986, one other one hosted by Mexico after Colombia needed to back out. Argentina, no matter the way you felt about Diego Armando Maradona, was a worthy champion that yr.
For the remaining of my life, the World Cup became appointment viewing and an event by which I marked the passage of time. By sheer coincidence, I used to be at all times in a distinct location for every final.
Whether it was my grandfather’s rancho in Jalisco (1990, on a family vacation), the press room in Madison Square Garden (1998, after I was an intern on the Recent York Times), the Washington Post newsroom (2010, working because the sports desk’s copy chief), or my lounge in Seattle (2018, watching intently with teenage sons), the World Cup has never been removed from my sports-loving heart.
And it was at all times reinforced by my parents, those individuals who introduced me to this event so a few years ago. Irrespective of where I used to be situated, we were at all times watching it together. For the last several finals, that meant talking plenty on the phone — marveling on the artistry of Brazil, the precision of Spain, the youthful exuberance of France.
As we embark on one other edition, I stay up for the brand new memories — and the numerous phone calls with my parents.
— Ed Guzman, Los Angeles Times deputy sports editor
::
Germany 2006. My son and I had tickets to look at the U.S. play Italy in Kaiserslautern and Ghana in Nuremburg within the group stage. For per week and a half, we did nothing but eat, sleep and football. Germany was buzzing — flags in all places, official and unofficial fan fests in every city and city. The high point for me was the Italy vs. USA match. The stadium was old and small and steep, and also you felt like all the crowd was on top of the pitch. The U.S. was coming off an intensive 3-0 drubbing by the Czechs and needed a result. Italy was on its approach to winning the World Cup, beating France within the Zidane head-butt match. But not on that day — it was the one match that Italy didn’t win within the tournament. There have been three red cards — one for Italy and two for the U.S. — so Italy had one extra player for all the second half and the rating was tied at 1. Kasey Keller at goalie had a day only surpassed by Tim Howard against Belgium in 2014. A continuing cheer of “Ka-sey Kel-ler” rang out while beers were thrown toward the sphere. I’ve been to Super Bowls, Stanley Cup games and March Madness, and I’ve never seen a crowd as torqued up — and the players responded. National pride on the road will try this. As we walked out at the top, I told my son, then 12 years old, that in a way I felt sorry for him because I used to be pretty sure he had seen the best live sporting event of his life, and he was still so young. Then I reached over to tousle his hair and located it was completely wet. Mine was, too. We had been soaked by the constant rain of beer.
— Scott Burt
::
My fondest memory of my favorite team on the World Cup took place in 1994. I used to be with my family and we saw the best save. Mexico was playing Bulgaria and there was a penalty kick. Jorge Campos, Mexico’s goalie, blocked the kick! I remember how completely happy my family was. I hold that memory near my heart. Now in 2022, I still cheer for Mexico and for his or her goalie, Memo Ochoa. I hope to create the same memory with my husband and son!
— Belinda Campos Bresnahan
Ahead of the World Cup and as a part of our “Gracias Fútbol” project, we asked colleagues, family, one famous soccer commentator and readers of the Latinx Files newsletter to share a few of their favorite memories related to the tournament. Here’s what that they had to say.
I used to be within the press section of Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the thrill was that Diego Maradona’s first goal had been scored along with his hand. From high we clearly saw he outjumped Peter Shilton and saw him rating a header. Some nearby monitors offered a number of nonconclusive replays, so we didn’t pay an excessive amount of attention to it. Then five minutes later got here the goal of the century, essentially the most impressive, best goal I even have ever witnessed in all the goals I even have called in my life. When Diego began his slalom past midfield, I do not forget that I and my colleagues from El Gráfico magazine for which I used to be working that June 22 day began a slow-motion, synchronized move out of our seats that concluded after the goal was scored with a large hug between all of us. I had tears, a whole lot of tears, in my eyes, some friends were outright crying, we kept hugging prefer it was the stroke of midnight on Recent Years’ Eve or a birthday celebration. All of us knew we had witnessed history. A lot in order that it’s so vivid in my mind as if it might have happened last weekend.
— Andres Cantor, Telemundo’s chief World Cup commentator
::
Mexico vs. Italy in 2002. No one was betting on Mexico to get out of the ‘Group of Death.’ Everyone thought we were the weakest team, but we ended up being a surprise. Mexico finished first within the group. I remember the Jared Borgetti goal, a header. It was among the best goals I’ve seen. We didn’t win, but we also didn’t lose like everyone thought.
— Fidel Mártinez Sr.
::
Considered one of the primary fútbol moments that had a definitive impact in how I see the sport was Senegal’s win over France within the 2002 World Cup. I still remember El Hadji Diouf’s gambeta and speed, and Papa Bouba Diop’s dance after scoring what ended up being the winner. Senegal’s performance in that World Cup taught me that anything is feasible on the world’s biggest stage, as they went all of the approach to the quarterfinals. I just hope that in the future it would be El Tri’s turn.
— Nayib Morán Rivera
::
Edgar Navarro and friends watch a Mexico vs. Germany match within the 2018 World Cup in Moscow.
(Edgar Navarro)
2018. It was my first time in Europe and I used to be traveling with some fraternity brothers. After we got to Moscow for the sport against Germany, it was as if every variety of Mexican that God has ever created was there. You had people from places like California, Recent York, Texas, Michoacán and Jalisco. Immediately all of us just bonded. You can feel the energy as we walked to the stadium, and once inside all you saw was a sea of green. That’s when it hit me that we were the house team. Sure, we were playing Germany in Europe, but we outnumbered them. After which the national anthem began playing. I just got goosebumps. It made me take into consideration growing up and being with my parents and family as we watched the 1986 World Cup. I’ve been to big collegiate games on the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum but nothing in comparison with this. When Chucky Lozano scored, things went to a different level. We cheered, but that’s when the nervousness set in. We’re Mexico fans, in spite of everything, so we were all just waiting for something bad to occur. But nothing ever did. We actually won. I remember the enjoyment of everyone leaving that stadium, the train ride back. All of us celebrated well into the night.
— Edgar Navarro
::
I’m going to share my happiest and saddest World Cup memory. By the best way, this can also be an act of contrition.
This story starts with a horrifying green pair of lucky socks I own. They’re ancient — the colour of rotten vegetables and have avocado prints on them. But when I wear them, Argentina has a greater probability of winning.
Now that you understand that, I’m going to take you to the World Cup final of 2014. Led by Leo Messi, Argentina was going against Germany. I remember feeling this mixture of joy and melancholy: My grandpa would have been so completely happy about this.
But I also remember it being extremely popular outside that day, and I made a split-second decision: I made a decision not to place the socks on.
So me and a friend went to a bar to look at the match. The sport was very contested, and went to penalties.
Lionel Messi missed.
As soon as he missed, I walked out, crying, looking silently at my unsocked feet.
You higher consider those socks are coming out of storage this weekend.
— Jasmine Garsd, criminal justice correspondent at National Public Radio and the host of “La última copa/The Last Cup”
::
This was an especially big one. It was in 1994 when the U.S. hosted the games. I worked for La Opinión then, sponsors of the World Cup, so I had access to many games on the Rose Bowl. To be honest with you, I’m unsure if it was the sport between Argentina and Romania. Perhaps it was the ultimate between Italy and Brazil. It was in considered one of those games that Pete Wilson got as much as the mic and the entire stadium literally booed him so loud they drowned out whatever he was attempting to say. Goosebumps ran up and down my body. I clapped and applauded in joy!! No surprise, on condition that the [campaign for] anti-immigrant Prop. 187 was in full swing, which Pete Wilson solidly supported. Perhaps someone who’s an actual fútbol aficionado will remember at which game this happened.
[Editor’s note: Wilson was booed at the group match between Colombia and Romania.]
— Susanna Fránek
::
My passion for the World Cup is rooted in my parents, each of whom are Mexican immigrants. As latest residents of this country, their old flame became baseball, because of their proximity to Dodger Stadium within the Nineteen Seventies.
But what was already of their DNA was their love of soccer.
And for his or her generation, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was a formative event. The semifinals featured all former World Cup champions (Brazil, Uruguay, West Germany and Italy) and had an epic West Germany-Italy showdown, referred to as “The Match of the Century” that my father talks about endlessly (there’s a reason there’s a plaque outside Estadio Azteca commemorating it).
The enduring image of that World Cup, in fact, is Pelé celebrating triumphantly after Brazil won its third championship by routing an exhausted Italy.
So it was those seeds that were planted in me within the Nineteen Eighties as I got here of age and have become aware of the spectacle and the pageantry of sports. The primary World Cup I remember vividly was 1986, one other one hosted by Mexico after Colombia needed to back out. Argentina, no matter the way you felt about Diego Armando Maradona, was a worthy champion that yr.
For the remaining of my life, the World Cup became appointment viewing and an event by which I marked the passage of time. By sheer coincidence, I used to be at all times in a distinct location for every final.
Whether it was my grandfather’s rancho in Jalisco (1990, on a family vacation), the press room in Madison Square Garden (1998, after I was an intern on the Recent York Times), the Washington Post newsroom (2010, working because the sports desk’s copy chief), or my lounge in Seattle (2018, watching intently with teenage sons), the World Cup has never been removed from my sports-loving heart.
And it was at all times reinforced by my parents, those individuals who introduced me to this event so a few years ago. Irrespective of where I used to be situated, we were at all times watching it together. For the last several finals, that meant talking plenty on the phone — marveling on the artistry of Brazil, the precision of Spain, the youthful exuberance of France.
As we embark on one other edition, I stay up for the brand new memories — and the numerous phone calls with my parents.
— Ed Guzman, Los Angeles Times deputy sports editor
::
Germany 2006. My son and I had tickets to look at the U.S. play Italy in Kaiserslautern and Ghana in Nuremburg within the group stage. For per week and a half, we did nothing but eat, sleep and football. Germany was buzzing — flags in all places, official and unofficial fan fests in every city and city. The high point for me was the Italy vs. USA match. The stadium was old and small and steep, and also you felt like all the crowd was on top of the pitch. The U.S. was coming off an intensive 3-0 drubbing by the Czechs and needed a result. Italy was on its approach to winning the World Cup, beating France within the Zidane head-butt match. But not on that day — it was the one match that Italy didn’t win within the tournament. There have been three red cards — one for Italy and two for the U.S. — so Italy had one extra player for all the second half and the rating was tied at 1. Kasey Keller at goalie had a day only surpassed by Tim Howard against Belgium in 2014. A continuing cheer of “Ka-sey Kel-ler” rang out while beers were thrown toward the sphere. I’ve been to Super Bowls, Stanley Cup games and March Madness, and I’ve never seen a crowd as torqued up — and the players responded. National pride on the road will try this. As we walked out at the top, I told my son, then 12 years old, that in a way I felt sorry for him because I used to be pretty sure he had seen the best live sporting event of his life, and he was still so young. Then I reached over to tousle his hair and located it was completely wet. Mine was, too. We had been soaked by the constant rain of beer.
— Scott Burt
::
My fondest memory of my favorite team on the World Cup took place in 1994. I used to be with my family and we saw the best save. Mexico was playing Bulgaria and there was a penalty kick. Jorge Campos, Mexico’s goalie, blocked the kick! I remember how completely happy my family was. I hold that memory near my heart. Now in 2022, I still cheer for Mexico and for his or her goalie, Memo Ochoa. I hope to create the same memory with my husband and son!
— Belinda Campos Bresnahan
