Let’t have a look since 1970.
1970 : Brazil. Felix was not considered a star goalkeeper.
1974 : Germany. Maier was one of the best goalies the National Mannschaft ever had.
1978 : Argentina. Fillol was un fenomeno.
1982 : Italy. Zoff. No comments needed.
1986 : Argentina. Pumpido? Didn’t leave many memories…
1990 : Germany. Illgner. Good but not outstanding.
1994 : Brazil. Taffarel. Good at stopping penalties but I wouldn’t qualify him in the A-list
1998 : France. Barthez was France’s best ever goalie.
2002 : Brazil. Was it Marcos or Dida? Asling the question already gives the answer…
2006 : Italy. Buffon. Same as for Zoff. Unbeatable.
Out of the last 10 World Cups, I would say that 50% of the winning teams had outstanding goalkeepers. Let’s look at the current lineup of teams already qualified for the eighth finals :
Uruguay : Muslera. Young but promising!
Mexico : Perez. I have my doubts…
Unites States : Howard. Not bad!
Ghana : Kingson. Don’t know enough about him.
Germany : Neuer. Could be.
England : James. Calamity is his surname…
Argentina : Romero. Not decisive.
Japan : Kawashima. Don’t know enough about him.
Slovakia : Mucha. Don’t know enough about him.
Brazil : Julio César. Excellent.
Netherlands : Stekelenburg. Don’t know enough about him.
Paraguay : Villar. Average.
The other 4 teams are not known yet so I won’t make any comments except if Spain qualify. Casillas is great even though he had a complicated season with Real Madrid.
So do you think this year’s World Cup winner will have a great goalkeeper? Do you think a team can win without one?
Maracanazos think that goalkeepers have one of the toughest positions in a team.
Enjoy one of the most memorable goalkeeper saves ever : Banks vs Pele!