Sepp Blatter thinks that this is the best ever World Cup – but there again he would.

Meanwhile a number of columnists, commentators, and bloggers have already taken this World Cup to the garbage dump. Maybe it is premature either way given that we are only at the quarter final stage.

My first vivid memories of a World Cup was 1966 and here is how I would rate the past editions (best to worst):

1974 - Memories - The Dutch and Cruyff.

Outstanding games - Brazil vs. Scotland, Poland vs. Argentina, Netherlands vs. Argentina, West Germany vs. Sweden, West Germany vs. Netherlands.

1986 - Memories – Maradona, Peter Beardsley.

Outstanding games - Denmark vs. Uruguay, Denmark vs. Spain, England vs. Poland, Denmark vs. Spain, Argentina vs. England, Brazil vs. France, Argentina vs. W. Germany

1970 -  Memories – Brazil, Bobby Moore, Uwe Seeler, the first British TV panel of experts on ITV.

Outstanding games - England vs. Brazil, W. Germany vs. England, W. Germany vs. Italy, Brazil vs. Peru.

1982 – Memories – Northern Ireland, the French midfield, Paulo Rossi, Falcao.

 Outstanding games – England vs. France, Northern Ireland vs. Spain, Brazil vs. Scotland, Italy vs. Brazil, W. Germany vs. France.

1966 - Memories – North Koreans, Eusebio, Beckenbauer and Geoff Hurst.

Outstanding games W. Germany vs. Switzerland, Portugal vs. Hungary, Portugal vs. Brazil, North Korea vs. Italy, Portugal vs. North Korea, England vs. West Germany

2002 – Memories – South Korean fans, Oliver Kahn, and Ronaldo.

Outstanding games – France vs. Senegal, Senegal vs. Uruguay, Costa Rica vs. Brazil, Argentina vs. England, USA vs. Mexico, South Korea vs. Italy, England vs. Brazil.

1994 - Memories – Romario and George Haghi.

Outstanding games - USA vs. Colombia, Spain vs. South Korea, Nigeria vs. Bulgaria, Bulgaria vs. W. Germany.

 1998 – Memories – Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desaily, Dennis Bergkamp.

Outstanding games – Nigeria vs. Denmark, Argentina vs, England, Netherlands vs. Argentina, Brazil vs. Netherlands, France vs. Brazil.

1978 - Memories - Ossie Ardilles, Mario Kempes and Leopoldo Luque.

Outstanding games - Italy vs. France, Italy vs. Argentina, Sweden vs. Brazil, Netherlands vs. Scotland, Netherlands vs. Italy.

1990 – Cameroon and Group F (F for frigging awful, 7 goals in 6 games).

Outstanding games – W. Germany vs. Netherlands, Republic of Ireland vs. Romania, England vs. Cameroon.