Football

07th Mar 2022

John Motson reveals his top ten football matches in history

JOE

Sponsored by Fanz

Motson recently announced his top 5o games

John ‘Motty’ Motson – who has commentated on over 2000 games on television and radio – announced his full retirement from BBC commentary in 2017.

During his time in football, as both a fan and a commentator, Motty has witnessed some truly special moments.

For someone that has commentated on 10 FIFA World Cups, 10 UEFA European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals, he is blessed with a portfolio of incredible memories.

Motty recently spoke to JOE and identified his 50 top games in history, which will be turned into NFTs with Fanz.com.

His chosen 50 games will soon be available as 10,000 unique NFTs, with the collection – a 3D designed fully animated NFTs – featuring his voice on the club traits.

Fans will be able to that secure a memory personal to a game that they may have attended or have close to their heart – and one that will last forever on the blockchain.

Now, Motty has revealed his top ten matches in football history. But which games did he go for?

Motty’s top 10 games in history:

10. FA Cup Final, Liverpool 3-1 Everton, 1986, Wembley Stadium

The Merseyside derby is a special fixture, with the 1986 FA Cup final well and truly living up to the hype. The fixture came just seven days after the Reds had won the league title and the Toffees finished as runners-up.

Liverpool won the match 3-1 and in turn, completed the double in Kenny Dalglish’s first season as a player manager. Gary Lineker put Everton in front, but the Reds responded well with Ian Rush scoring twice and Craig Johnston once in the second-half.

It was Liverpool’s third FA Cup Final triumph, and their first since 1974. On the other hand, it was Everton’s second consecutive defeat in the final of the competition after losing to Manchester United the year before.

9. FA Cup Semi-final replay, Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United, 1999, Villa Park

Very few people expected the semi-final clash between Arsenal and Manchester at Villa Park to go to a replay, but the teams drew 0-0 after extra-time and a replay was indeed needed.

The match, which was replayed at Villa Park, was heading for another draw – thanks to goals from David Beckham and Dennis Berkgamp respectively. It came as a surprise that Ryan Giggs didn’t start the game, but he was less than convincing when he did enter the game.

That was, however, until he picked up the ball on the halfway line, beat five Arsenal defenders and unleashed an unstoppable strike past David Seaman to win it for the Red Devils in the 109th minute – sparking *that* celebration.

8. UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 1999, Nou Camp

Manchester United and Bayern Munich had faced-off earlier in the competition – with the German side winning the group, and United finishing second. It was almost an impossible game to call, and the events of the match backed that up completely.

Mario Basler opened the scoring and gave Bayern the lead in the final, however, his early strike was very quickly forgotten – even if it did take until added-time for United to level, and eventually take the lead. Teddy Sheringham scored in 90+1 before Ole Gunnar Solskjær completed the remarkable turnaround with the winner in 90+3.

The triumph completed a treble-winning season for United, after they had won the Premier League and FA Cup in an incredibly successful campaign.

7. UEFA Champions League Semi-final 2nd leg, Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona, 2019, Anfield

Liverpool did the unthinkable by overcoming Barcelona with a spectacular second-leg fightback on a special night at Anfield. The Reds produced a flawless display to claw back and then ultimately overturn their 3-0 deficit from the Nou Camp with an unanswered four-goal thrashing of the Catalan giants.

Divock Origi tapped home from close range after seven minutes, before substitute Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice in the space of 122 seconds after half-time to truly swing the tie in Liverpool’s favour. Origi’s night was from over, though.

The Belgian slotted home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner, which caught the visitors’ defence napping. ‘Corner taken quickly, ORIGIIIIII’ will live long in the memory. Jurgen Klopp’s also men won the final, beating Spurs 2-1 in Madrid.

6. Premier League, Manchester City 3-2 Queens Park Rangers, 2012, Etihad Stadium

The 2011/2012 Premier League title race went all the way to the final day of the season, where it would either be won by Manchester United or Manchester City. It was, ultimately, City’s to lose – boasting the better goal difference.

City, who simply needed to match United’s result to win the league, went 2-1 behind to QPR. United, understandably, thought they had won the title, until the Blues scored twice in stoppage time. The winner was scored by Sergio Agüero to clinch City’s first league title since the 1967–68 season.

Aguero’s goal is often discussed as the greatest moment in Premier League history. You’ve probably heard Motson’s fellow commentator Martin Tyler shout “Agueroooooo”, which entered Manchester City folklore for ever. 93:20 on the clock, wow.

5. World Cup Quarter Final, Argentina 2-1 England, 1986, Estadio Azteca

At the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, England faced-off against Argentina. The Three Lions went 1-0 down through a highly controversial goal from Argentina’s star player Diego Maradona, who palmed the ball into the England net with his hand.

Despite the understandable complaints from the England players, the referee gave the goal – which was later dubbed the “Hand of God goal” following Maradona’s tongue-in-cheek description of how it was scored.

Maradona’s second of the game was a simply spectacular solo goal, which secured a 2-1 victory. Argentina went on to win the tournament, beating West Germany 3-2 in the final.

4. European Cup Final, Manchester United 4-1 Benfica, 1968, Wembley

It was Manchester United’s first time in a European Cup final, and Benfica’s fifth. The first-half was nervy from both sides and ended goalless. However, the second-half took just eight minutes to spring to life, thanks to Bobby Charlton’s smart header.

The trophy appeared as though it was heading to Manchester for the first time, only for Jaime Graça’s 79th minute equaliser forcing the match into extra-time. United could’ve been excused for feeling slightly sorry for themselves, but their response was emphatic and ruthless.

George Best put the Red Devils back in front with a superb solo goal, before 19-year-old Brian Kidd headed home on his birthday to make it 3-1. Charlton bagged his second in the 99th minute as United became the first English club to win the European Cup.

3. World Cup Finals 2nd round, Argentina 2(4p)-2(3p) England, 1998, Geoffroy Stadium

Argentina, who opted to change kit as they believed it had provided them luck in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between the two sides, broke English hearts with their penalty shootout victory. With the tie level at 2-2 at half-time, both teams put on a spectacle for the supporters in attendance.

However, the tie turned when David Beckham retaliated after being fouled by Diego Simeone – which led to him being sent off. With England’s talisman off the field, the momentum swung in Argentina’s favour.

In the shootout, David Seaman saved Argentina’s second penalty from Hernán Crespo to give England the advantage, but it was short-lived as Carlos Roa saved from Paul Ince. Argentina won thanks to Roa’s save from David Batty – his first ever penalty.

2. World Cup Final, England 4-2 West Germany, 1966, Wembley Stadium

It is the game, for those that were lucky enough to witness it and the people who have since re-watched it, that put English international football on the map. It was the first (and currently only) time the Three Lions won the World Cup – beating West Germany 4-2 after extra-time.

Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in the final is one of the most famous in the history of the sport, and is the only one ever scored in a World Cup final. England’s fourth goal was controversial to say the least, but it was awarded following a discussion between the referee and linesman.

Not only were 96,924 people in attendance at Wembley Stadium, but the British television audience peaked at 32.3 million viewers as football came home.

1. UEFA Champions League Final, AC Milan 3(2p)-3(3p) Liverpool, 2005, Atatürk Olympic Stadium

Motty’s favourite ever football match, and for good reason, too. AC Milan came into the game as heavy favourites and took the lead in the first minute – captain Paolo Maldini opening the scoring. Hernán Crespo scored twice to put Milan 3-0 up at the interval and dent the Reds’ hopes of European glory.

However, Liverpool came out of the changing room a different team, scoring three times in six minutes to level the tie at 3-3. Steven Gerrard began the comeback, before Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso both got on the scoresheet. Neither team could find a winner in extra-time, so penalties were needed to decide the winners.

Liverpool won the shootout 3-2, with Jerzy Dudek’s denying Andriy Shevchenko to spark wild celebrations. By winning their fifth European Cup, the Reds were awarded the trophy permanently. The triumph, against one of the strongest sides in recent history, is often regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football.