Every FIFA World Cup Ranked From Worst To Best
5. Germany 2006
Played out in near-permanent sunshine, the 2006 World Cup was a goalfest, with the tone set from the off with Germany’s thrilling 4-2 win over Costa Rica.
Argentina were the pace-setters, with Juan Roman Riquelme pulling the strings to sublime effect from midfield. A 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro was a highlight, featuring the goal of the tournament - a 25-pass move finished off by Esteban Cambiasso that had shades of Carlos Alberto for Brazil in 1970.
Alas, Argentina failed to make good on that early promise, exiting to Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals. England suffered a similar fate, going out on spot kicks in the last-eight to Portugal, who had overcome Holland in a game dubbed the Battle of Nuremberg after four red cards and 16 yellows.
They eventually lost to France and Zinedine Zidane in the semis, playing in his last professional competition before retiring and proving pivotal in wins over the Portuguese and a disorganised Brazil in the quarter-finals. In the other semi, Germany came up against their World Cup bogey side Italy, going down 2-0 after extra time in a thrilling encounter.
Italy once again had started the tournament slowly before coming to their own in the business end, with victory over France on penalties in the final following a 1-1 draw best remembered for Zidane’s infamous red card for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi. It was dramatic to say the least.