England's 2003 Rugby World Cup
triumph

For over a year leading into the Rugby world cup, England had been by far the best team in the world. However, it was evident that Clive Woodward's team may have been loosing some built up steam throughout the World Cup.

England made it through to the final via a series of sloppy performances but they were surely aware that the heart and determination of the Australian team on home turf would require a great deal of focus and quality play. England did have the advantage of the boot of the famed Johnny Wilkinson. Wilkinson was a master converter and field goal scorer and many believed that England's laurels rested upon his shoulders.

Australia, however, managed to score the first try through the swift Lote Tuquiri. England replied quickly with a try to Jason Robinson. Eventually, the game was sent into extra time. Matt Dawson made a final charge, setting up Johnny Wilkinson to send through what was an inevitably beautiful drop goal.

England confirmed their debated stance as the best team in the world and Martin Johnson  claimed victory, proudly raising the Web Ellis trophy above his head.



Diego Maradona

Many followers of football are of the belief that Diego Maradona topped Pele as the sports' all time best. Maradona's dynamic and innovative approach to the World Game made him not only comparable to the great Pele but in many eyes superior.

What was truly a defining moment in the career of Maradona was in essence not based upon his skill of foot. Instead, his 'Hand of God' has proved to be one of the most recognized attributes of his great career. That moment in which Maradona defeated the English goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, by literally punching the ball into the goal net was both awe-inspiring and unbelievable. Argentina, lead by the brilliance of Maradona continued on to claim the 1986 World Cup in a little less controversial fashion.

England's Penalty Malfunction

Southgate after his penalty miss

In the 1990's England fans believed in their teams' ability to really dig deep when it mattered, to overcome the stress and pressure and end up on top. In a World Cup semi-final penalty shoot out against Germany, their beliefs were proven wrong. Stuart Pearce, a tough  defender but not a master of subtle precision, had the support of his whole country. His attempt was always going to be a shoot and pray. Alas, his shot went astray. The ballooning follow up shot by Chris Waddle not only forced England to concede defeat but forced their fans to have a dimished belief.

Continue on to Euro 96' and more heart-ache was destined for the English. Once again facing Germany in the semi-final, a hard-fought draw eventuated and it was back to the penalty shoot out. Gareth Southgate stepped up for his shot at the back of the net as the crowd at Wembley fell silent and held its breath. Again, as if it were Dejavu, he failed.

Manchester United take the Hatrick

'History is made, Manchester United are the champions of Europe again and nobody will ever win a European Cup final more dramatically than this.'

Commentator Clive Tyldesley

David Beckham celebrating the 1999 Champions League win.

The 1999 Champions League trophy had already been decorated in the colours of Bayern Munich before the final whistle blew. Manchester were 1-0 down and were begginning to fall victim to the taunts and jeers of their German counterparts.

However, it must have only done more to spur them on. Teddy Sheringham scored an injury time equaliser, putting worry in the eyes of Bayern and hope in the hearts of Manchester.

United gained a corner, Beckham sent in a beauty, Sheringham headed back across the goal for Gunnar Solskjaer to stab the ball straight into the net. United claimed the treble.

Seoul Olympics 1988

Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson

Johnson crossing the line in first place at Seoul.

Everybody around the world was talking about the showdown between the two kings of the 100m dash, the American Carl Lewis and the Canadian Ben Johnson.

Lewis was coming off a four gold medal haul at the previous Olympics in Los Angeles whilst Johnson and been continually developing in speed....and size! It was the size factor that had many in doubt of whether Johnson was a natrual athlete or if he had succumb to the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Lewis and Johnson had become somewhat of a contrast, Carl was a tall, thin and graceful runner whilst Ben was a bulked-up hulk-like giant who simply pounded his way down the track using pure brute force and power.

Both men lined up alongside their various team mates. The gun went and Johnson, with his enormous legs, hammered down the track over the first 50 metres. As a generalisation, Carl Lewis would build up speed to the 50 or 60 metres mark and then simply glide through to the finish with effortless pace.

However, it did not come off for Carl this time round. Ben Johnson powered home to claim the gold medal in a time of 9.79 seconds.

Johnson was in for a big wake up call. He was later tested for drug usage and was found to have traces of an anabolic steriod, stanzonol, in his body. Dramatically, Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and it was awarded to Carl Lewis. Sadly, Carl never got the true impact of really having won gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics as it is always any runners dream to actually cross that line ahead of all the competition.