KEY POINTS:
After the Kiwis' win in Saturday night's league World Cup final, we thought it would be a good time to review our Sport Team's selection of Ten of the Best.
Steve Deane, Dana Johannsen and Winston Aldworth rate 10 of the more memorable World Cup finales.
1: Soccer, 1966
They think it's all over
"Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now!"
BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme's description of Geoff Hurst's third goal at the end of extra time in the 1966 World Cup Final is probably the most recognisable piece of sports commentary in history. In many ways it was the perfect end to a game that had everything. An early goal to Helmut Haller put West Germany ahead but Hurst equalised four minutes later to calm the nerves of 98,000 expectant fans at Wembley Stadium in London. With 12 minutes of regulation time remaining, Martin Peters looked to have won it for England but, with a minute remaining, Wolfgang Weber poked in a free kick to equalise and send the game into extra time.
In the 101st minute, Hurst drilled a shot into the German crossbar that bounced down on to or near the goal line. Debate has raged since about whether the ball crossed the line - it didn't - but Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst had no hesitation in awarding the goal. German players crowded around the linesman, who was best placed to call whether the ball had crossed the line. They appealed to the Soviet official - a veteran of World War II - in the name of fair play. Legend has it he replied: "Stalingrad."
In the final minute, with Hurst bearing down on goal, jubilant English fans began invading the pitch, prompting Wolstenholme's famous commentary. Hurst buried his shot to become the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Gracious England fans have taunted Germany since with chants of "Two World Wars and one World Cup".
2: Soccer, 1954
The Miracle of Berne
Played at the Wankdorf Stadium (honestly), the 1954 final pitted the underdog West Germans against Hungary's legendary Mighty Magyars. Widely regarded as one of the most-talented and revolutionary football teams in history, the Hungarians had belted England 6-3 at Wembley the previous year to become the first non-UK team to win on the hallowed west-London turf. Just before the World Cup the English confidently imagined they would reverse that anomalous scoreline when the teams met again in Budapest. The score: Hungary 7 England 1.
The Germans fared little better during their match against the Ferenc Puskas-inspired Hungarians in pool play, going down 8-3. Injured against the Germans, Puskas didn't return to the side until the teams met again in the final. It took him just six minutes to open the scoring and when the Hungarians added a second two minutes later the game looked as good as over. But the Germans, wearing revolutionary Adidas boots that allowed them to change their studs to suit the wet conditions, clung in and by half-time the game was tied 2-2.
The Germans went in front midway through the second half. Two minutes from the end Puskas looked to have equalised but the goal was ruled out by a linesman and the 64,000 people crammed in to the Wankdorf had witnessed the unthinkable.
3: Rugby, 1995
Suzie poisons the All Blacks
Two very different images sum up the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Johannesberg's Ellis Park. One is of a beaming, Springbok shirt and cap-wearing Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis trophy to captain Francois Pienaar, the other is of Jeff Wilson on his hands and knees, retching his guts up on the sideline. The game was drab. Jonah Lomu was expected to be the dominant figure. But the South Africans had a wing star of their own in borderline nutcase James Small, who was tasked with - and succeeded in - shutting down Lomu. Two Joel Stransky penalties and a drop goal versus two Andrew Mehrtens penalties gave the Springboks a 9-6 half-time lead. Mehrtens levelled the match with a second-half drop goal but missed with another attempt that would have won it in regulation time for the All Blacks. A long-range Mehrtens penalty put the All Blacks briefly ahead in extra time but Stransky levelled with a penalty and won it for the hosts with a droppie seven minutes from the end.
It wasn't until after the game that the All Blacks offered their "food poisoning" explanation for the strange scenes involving Wilson and several other clearly unwell players. Team manager Colin Meads later said: "We didn't want South Africa knowing that we were crook."
All Blacks coach Laurie Mains later fingered a mysterious woman called Suzie for doctoring the team's food, but the decision to keep the matter secret left the All Blacks open to accusations that it was sour grapes following their defeat that had upset their stomachs.
4: Rugby, 1987
First of, er, many
On a glorious, sunny day in June 1987, David Kirk's All Blacks re-united the nation behind a cause damaged by the Boks saucy jaunt in 1981, the Cavaliers' dirty return trip in 85 and the testicular sufferings at Nantes in 86. The Brian Lochore-coached 87 All Blacks won the inaugural World Cup playing with pace, precision and brutality. The most-balanced Rugby World Cup-winning side ever boasted some of the game's greatest names: Shelford, Kirwan, Jones, Fitzpatrick... Some bloke called Z.V. Brooke sat on the bench. We played France in the final, but it was daylight that finished second. And suddenly New Zealand had a trophy to prove what all Kiwis already knew: we are the best in the world at rugby. The following summer, Kiwis eased back in their sun-loungers reflecting on a job well done and the apparent certainty that we would hold the Webb Ellis Trophy in perpetuity. Were we really so naive?
5: Netball, 1999
Loffhagen bottles it
The Silver Ferns have suffered some cruel losses over the years, but the 1999 world champs final in Christchurch stands out. Up by six goals at three-quarter time, the Silver Ferns looked to have the match sewn up. But Aussie coach Jill McIntosh made a gutsy call to remove captain and legendary shooter Vicki Wilson in the final quarter, bringing on Jennifer Borlaise and Australia whittled away their lead to level the score.
Kiwi shooter Donna Loffhagen had the chance to put the Ferns in front with seconds left on the clock. But she blew her shot from right under the post, giving Australia a chance. Naturally, Sharelle McMahon calmly slotted the winner in the final second of the match - Australia 42, New Zealand 41.
6: Soccer, 1994
Divine Ponytail is pony
Italy were rubbish at USA94. They scraped through the group stage as the final third-placed side. In the knockout phase, Roberto Baggio, the reigning world and European player of the year, stepped up. Il Divin Codino (the Divine Ponytail) stole victory against Nigeria, Spain and Bulgaria.
The final against Brazil was a dull-as-dung 0-0 draw that seemed destined to go to penalties right from the kick-off. Italy's hopes ultimately rested squarely on the shoulders of Baggio, one of the most technically gifted players ever to grace the game. The moment was made for the man.
Baggio calmly ran in and shanked the ball high over the crossbar and into the stands. A devout buddhist, Baggio, it seems, may well have been a donkey - or Gareth Southgate - in a previous life.
7: Netball, 2003
Temepara's comeback
It had been 16 years since the Silver Ferns won the world title - all too often, it seemed, they had to settle for second behind arch-rival Australia. But in Jamaica in July of 2003, they were back on top of the world. Temepara George was sent off for two centre pass-offs for continual offside in the dying minutes, an unprecedented move - one that hasn't been seen in international netball since. The Kiwis hung in and when George returned she nabbed the crucial intercept. Final score: New Zealand 49 Australia 47.
8: Cricket, 1996
Short, fat men beat Australia
The joke side of world cricket since their entry into the big time in 1982, Sri Lanka came of age at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium in the 1996 World Cup final against the Aussies. Captain Mark Taylor's patient 74 anchored a fair-to-middling first innings effort of 241/7 by the Australians. With Aravinda De Silva having taken 3-42 with his part-time off-spin pies, the Australian's were sure leg-spinning superstar Shane Warne would bowl them to a win on the turning pitch.
The Sri Lankans began their chase badly with man of the tournament Sanath Jayasuria run out for nine. Romesh Kaluwitharana also went cheaply before De Silva and Asanka Gurusinha put on 125. Gurusinha went for 65 with the score at 148 to give the Aussies brief hope but the next man in was their nemesis, the rotund Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
His habit of calling for a runner early in his innings despite clearly not being injured hadn't exactly endeared Ranatunga to the Aussies but the more they chirped him the better he tended to play. With De Silva in sublime form on his way to an unbeaten 107 at the other end, all Ranatunga had to do was survive. He did so, blunting Warne, who returned figures of 0-58, and scoring an undefeated 47 as Sri Lanka cruised to victory with 20 balls to spare.
9: Cricket, 2007
Night cricket without lights
Last year's World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka in Bridgetown should be remembered for Adam Gilchrist's blazing 149 from 104 balls after rain reduced the match to 38 overs. But it will be remembered more for its farcical finish, when Sri Lanka opted to play out three overs in the gathering gloom.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor - on the advice of match referee Jeff Crowe and third umpire Billy Bowden - refused to award the game to the Australians when it was stopped for the third time with Australia comfortably ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis method.
With his side needing 61 from 18 deliveries, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene ordered Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga back to the crease. Malinga was stumped, allowing Dilhara Fernando to bat and score a single off six balls before Australia were belatedly confirmed as the victors. Far from a great game, it was a farce for the ages, the likes of which only cricket can produce.
10: Soccer, 2008
Axis of Evil 2, Friends of Freedom 1 (AET)
From its freakish opening goal to the joy on the face of the winners after extra-time, the Under-17 women's soccer World Cup final was a joy and a top advertisement for the sport from start to finish.
The 16,000-strong crowd at North Harbour Stadium watched as North Korea chased the game following a "pass-the-rulebook" opening goal just two minutes into the match.
American Cloee Colohan biffed a long throw Rory Delap-style into the North Korean box where it bobbled about untouched before looping high over goalkeeper Hong Myong Hui. The luckless keeper got the slightest of touches on the ball as it went into the net. If she hadn't touched it, the goal would not have counted - instead she had conceeded an own goal.
But they ran their little legs off and, in the 76th minute the Koreans got their reward, Kim Un Hyeng putting a looping header over the US goalie. Jang Hyon Sun's winner from the edge of the box in the eighth minute of extra time was a strike worthy of a World Cup win.
So the North Koreans returned home with a taste of Kiwi sunshine and more glory to share with their Dear Leader. A handy sportsman himself, Kim Jong-Il scored 11 holes-in-one in his first-ever round of golf, finishing a par 72 course in just 34 strokes.