Gordon Banks saves from Pele (Allsport).

By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

1 1974: ZAIRE'S FREE-KICK FARCE

Mwepu Ilunga is the best known Zairean footballer of all time, but unfortunately for him, his fame has everything to do with his lack of talent.

Zaire were hopelessly outclassed in their three Group Two games, falling 2-0 to Scotland, 9-0 to Yugoslavia and finally 3-0 to Brazil.

While they showed some nice touches their tactical naivety was nothing short of astounding. Mwepu summed this up against the Brazilians, by charging out of the wall at a free-kick and hoofing the ball downfield, before Rivelino had even started his run-up.

Mwepu, none the wiser, looked truly astonished when referee Nicolae Rainea promptly booked him.

2 1990: NINE MEN STUFF DIEGO

Whether it was Benjamin Massing waving and bowing to the cheering crowds after being sent off for brutally assaulting Claudio Caniggia, Francois Omam Biyik's 67th-minute headed winner, or the English newspaper headline the following morning - "Nine Men Stuff Diego" - the opening game of the 1990 World Cup had everything.

Despite having two men sent off, the African minnows clung onto their lead and beat defending champions Argentina in front of a disbelieving San Siro crowd. It was a final score which reverberated around the football world.

3 1994: LETCHKOV...YES!

Germany looked well on their way to another World Cup final, but the Bulgarians, unheralded and unknown but for their playmaker Hristo Stoichkov, produced one of the seismic shocks in the competition's history.

Germany's demise was completed 12 minutes from time when balding midfielder Yordan Letchkov leapt highest to meet Zlatko Yankov's right-wing cross, and steered the ball past German goalkeeper Bodo Illgner.

"Letchkov...yes!" screamed a possibly slightly biased John Motson down his BBC microphone. The Germans were out, Bulgaria now just two games away from possible World Cup glory.

4 1994: WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

The frying midday heat of Orlando was clearly taking its toll not only on the Republic of Ireland but on their volatile manager Jack Charlton.

The Irish were panting to Group E defeat against Mexico when Big Jack finally boiled over.

Infuriated by FIFA's insistence that no water be taken onto the field while play was in progress, Charlton clashed with touchline officials and was seen by millions around the world in all his finger-jabbing, Geordie-cursing glory.

Sadly Charlton's brave bid to take on the world's governing body and lubricate his players' throats did not pay off. Mexico won 2-1, and he was banished to the stands for the second round.

5 1982: TARDELLI'S TEARS

Nobody would have dared to try telling Marco Tardelli in 1982 that football is not a matter of life and death.

The Italian striker had just put Italy two goals up in the final against West Germany and turned to begin the most famous and passionate goal celebration in World Cup history.

Charging towards the corner flag, sparkling eyes almost popping out of his head, mouth contorted in a grimace of unrivalled glory, Tardelli clenched his fists and showed the world all it meant to be an Italian World Cup winner.

By the time Alessandro Altobelli had added Italy's third 10 minutes from time, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.

6 1982: PLUCK OF THE IRISH

Northern Ireland were faced with a seemingly impossible task going into their last first-round game, but at least the facts were straightforward - they had to beat hosts Spain in the cauldron of Valencia to progress to the second phase.

Billy Bingham's men did just that thanks to a display of fierce commitment, unstinting focus, and a nerveless second-half finish from Gerry Armstrong.

Billy Hamilton pulled the ball back from the goalline and Armstrong swept it home past Luis Arconada, and Northern Ireland had completed the best and unlikeliest result by a British team in World Cup history.

7 1994: YEKINI'S NET-BUSTER

Nigeria thrilled the 1994 World Cup with their uninhibited approach to the game and the relaxed demeanour of their players on and off the pitch.

They would go on to take Italy to extra-time in the second round, but the moment which encapsulated not only their glorious game, but the tournament as a whole, happened in their first game.

Nigeria were simply wonderful in their opening match against Bulgaria, and took only 21 minutes to score the first of their three goals, from Rashidi Yekini.

Yekini responded with the most famous goal celebration since Tardelli in 1982, following the ball into the net, which he held with outstretched hands while gazing joyously at the heavens.

8 1986: A SPOT OF AUDACITY

In his penultimate World Cup match, Socrates amply summed up the exuberance of all the great Brazilian teams with one simple moment of audacious skill.

Poland were giving the favourites as good as they got in their second-round match, so Socrates' 29th minute penalty, after Careca had been fouled, would prove vital.

To the astonishment of all those present in Guadalajara, not least Polish goalkeeper Jozef Mlynarczyk, Socrates took the penalty without a run-up, curling his right foot under the ball and lofting it straight into the top centre of the net.

In the quarter-final against France, Socrates took the first penalty of the shoot-out, with a run-up this time, and missed. Brazil were out, and Socrates was never capped again.

9 1970: BANKS TO THE RESCUE

Half-way through England's first-round group game against eventual winners Brazil, Gordon Banks pulled off the save commonly regarded as the greatest of all time.

Jairzinho crossed from the right and Pele rose high above the England defence to head the ball towards goal.

Banks, on the opposite side of the goal, had no chance. But somehow he stretched down and to his right, getting his fingertips to the net-bound ball and incredibly diverting it up and over the crossbar.

Banks shrugged off his moment of glory afterwards. Pele and Tostao had other ideas, simply staring at the place where moments earlier the miracle had happened. They were not the only ones.

10 1970: THE FINAL JUDGEMENT

The astute Italians in their deep blue shirts, the Brazilians bedecked in glorious yellow; a searing Mexico City sun; Pele, Jairzinho, Riva; the 1970 World Cup final was as good as football gets.

The Brazilians were glorious, their five-pronged front line the equal of any which had come before.

The poor Italians tried their best but they were ultimately swept aside by the dazzling yellow tide.

Pele opened the scoring on 18 minutes, and after the Italian equaliser through Roberto Boninsegna had levelled matters at half-time, Brazil went into overdrive.

Gerson put them back in front, Jairzinho increased Brazil's advantage and Carlos Alberto thundered home the sublime fourth four minutes from time.

It put the beautiful back into the beautiful game.