Quotes About Football

I was called up by England twice. Once for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia and later for a friendly against Germany.

I've always dreamed of playing in the World Cup and wearing the Selecao jersey, but I knew how difficult that was, what with me playing in Ukraine for Shakhtar.

My dream is to play with the selecao in the World Cup in Brazil and I will have more chance to realise the dream if I play for a big team.

Of course Lothar Matthaus is always going to be associated with the 1990 World Cup. But does everyone immediately remember what titles Gunter Netzer, Johan Cruyff or Luis Figo won? Or do they also think about how those players played their football and how they led their teams?

Sometimes when you have difficulties qualifying, you can still go and play a good World Cup.

We're trying to win a World Cup for our country, and I think everyone who supports football can get behind that.

I didn't start out wanting to be a defender. Who would want to be in the back-line after having watched striker Paolo Rossi score six goals in the 1982 World Cup?

I want to win the Euros. And the World Cup and the Champions League.

A World Cup without Argentina isn't good.

To me, it's just another game of football - 11 players, a grass pitch. Regardless what shirt I have on, it's important you win the game, and I'm competitive as anyone, and I want to win every game, whether it's a Sunday league game, a five-a-side tournament, or a World Cup qualifier.

It cannot be a coincidence that a European team couldn't win a World Cup held in South America.

I don't know about the 2026 World Cup. But I would love to see Anirudh Thapa sending a cross to Jhingan and I would love to watch it from the stands.

There have been times when I've reflected on my international career and just thought: 'Well that was a massive waste of time.' Sorry for sounding sour, but my best mate, David Beckham, got butchered after the World Cup in 1998, then my brother, Phil, after Euro 2000.

To be the first player in the world to take part in three successive World Cup finals is very important.

Of course Neymar is someone that is very important, not only for Brazilian football but for the world of football, and it will be amazing to see him playing in a World Cup and showing all of his skills.

For Spain, the more I play, the more goals I score, the more chance I have of making the World Cup and starting games.

The important thing for me was that the World Cup should travel round the world.

There is always a group of death in any World Cup. And it's a complement in a way to be in a group of death because it means that you're a good team also.

The athlete of the century, he scored more than 1,000 goals, and won the World Cup three times. He was complete. I don't need to say anything more. Pele is Pele. No one can beat him.

Without a doubt, winning the World Cup is the highest prize in football. It's the peak - the maximum that you can reach.

Of all the players at the World Cup I don't think it is too much to compare Ronaldinho with the great Pele.

Some have said it is the easiest group at the World Cup, but we realize it won't be like that. Germany are a tremendous side, but to be honest I don't know much about Cameroon and Saudi Arabia.

I think that the World Cup is a big factor for this increased interest. I don't believe all of this is a result of just myself but also because of the others who are playing abroad.

We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.