My first World Cup

My first memories of World Cup finals go back to 1974. That year Iran failed to make it to the finals, so the football crazed Iranian fans were divided in two, one half supported the Dutch team and their captain Johan Cruyff, and the other FR Germany and their captain Franz Beckenbauer.

I did not know much about the Dutch team, but I knew the Germans. I don’t remember why; perhaps the magazines and newspapers that I found in our household covered the German team more extensively. So I found myself supporting the Germans.

I remember having arguments with my friends over whom we thought had the best team, and the best players. Of course these arguments were never settled. To this day, when I talk football with old friends the same exact arguments get repeated all over again. The only difference is that I have more ammunition now. The Germans coached by Franz Beckenbaur, my favorite player from 1974, won again in 1990.

I have watched every single World Cup game (live and taped) since 1974, but memories from my first World Cup are the ones that I cherish most.

What about you? Which one was your first World Cup?