IT'S a universally acknowledged truth that the World Cup is an unparalleled sporting competition.

For one whole month football dominates on a global scale and consumes the interests of billions of fans worldwide.

Regardless of your nationality, the World Cup is an immersive experience that keeps you enthralled throughout and sparks endless debate among friends, families and work colleagues.

Sadly, Wales won't find themselves among the 32 teams vying for glory in Russia after Chris Coleman's side fell agonisingly short in qualification.

Like many Welshmen, I've never seen my own country play on the biggest international stage but even that fails to diminish the magic of the 88-year-old tournament.

GREAT AND DANES AND THE HAND OF GOD: MEXICO 86

You can't not mention Diego Maradona in a World Cup best ever write-up.

He scored the sublime and the ridiculous against England where his infamous 'Hand of God' goal outshone the other wonderful one where he danced around half of the England team.

Maradona was Argentina's match-winner in Mexico but they weren't the best team to watch. That accolade went to Denmark especially after their 6-1 thrashing of Uruguay.

The game kicked off at 10.30pm on a Sunday night. The only problem was I had my English Literature O-Level exam the next morning.

I should have been reading the antics Bottom and his friends got up to in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream but actions speak louder than words and it was the likes of Laudrup, Larsen and Lerby who everyone was waxing lyrical about that night.

Denmark lost out to Spain in the quarter-finals and I got a B!

GAZZA'S TEARS OF A CLOWN

Fed up of hearing that phrase...football doesn't have any characters in the game anymore.

Well at Italia 90, England had Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne - the cheeky Geordie who was a nuisance on and off the pitch if the latest World Cup documentary on that tournament is anything to go by.

A player that brought a divided nation together - and enticed a few floating British fans to wander over to the dark side and back England's bid to reach the final.

Gary Lineker was magnificent upfront with the goals but it was his face and his reaction to Gazza getting booked against Germany, that will always stick in the memory.

England's penalty hoodoo struck again as Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce joined Gazza's crying game.

ARCHIE GEMMILL'S GOAL AT ARGENTINA 78

Amidst all that ticker-tape, the Buenos Aires buzz and BBC's best World Cup signature tune ever, little Archie Gemmill stole the show with my favourite World Cup goal of all-time.

The pint-sized Scotland midfielder led the Dutch defence a merry dance as he waltzed past three Holland players before dinking the ball over the keeper with an ice-cool left foot finish.

It was a goal of top class and one that he had great joy reliving in the freezing cold outside Rotherham's Millmoor dressing rooms some years later.

His Rotherham team had just beaten Wrexham and in a post match conference, I just dropped in a line that he'd scored one of my favourite goals ever.

Great goal, great man!

BEST GAME EVER: ITALY V BRAZIL AT SPAIN 82

Best game ever. It kicked off about four o'clock so we had to tell the bus driver to plant the boot on his way back to Bangor-on-Dee from Penley School.

Now aged 12, this was a tournament where I don't think I missed a match - and this was one not to be missed.

Paolo Rossi did the Italian job to beat the boys from Brazil scoring a superb hat-trick in an end-to-end thriller that finished 3-2 to the Azzurri.

Socrates and Falcao scored stunners for Brazil but Italy were brilliant in Barcelona and went on to deservedly lift the World Cup with Rossi scoring again in a 3-1 final victory over Germany.

No-one wanted Germany to win after their keeper had Harald Schumacher had taken out France's Patrick Battiston in the semi-finals.

Schumacher knocked Battiston unconscious and forced him from the game with two missing teeth, three cracked ribs, and damaged vertebrae but the referee gave nothing.

France, with the magical Michel Platini pulling all the strings, went out on penalties. Justice was done a week later as Germany lost to deserved winners Italy.

PAYBACK TIME FOR LES BLEUS: FRANCE 98

Sixteen years after the pain in Spain, there were tears of joy as France lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1998.

France were superb from start to finish where Zinedine Zidane with his monk-like hairstyle, showed off his more fashionable football skills in a tournament that saw the emergence of Michael Owen.

England's Owen scored the goal of the tournament but the French won everyone over with their attacking brand of football.

They inflicted the second-heaviest World Cup defeat on Brazil - only better last time out by Germany's 7-1 stunner - as Zidane scored twice in a 3-0 win.

NICK HARRISON

JAPAN AND KOREA 2002 - DAVID BECKHAM'S REDEMPTION

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. After Michael Owen invitingly fell over the outstretched leg of Argentina's Maurico Pochettino, Beckham thumped the resulting penalty straight down the middle.

The celebrations were memorable with Beckham rushing off with tears filling up as he exorcised the demons of four years previous when he was sent-off against the same opponents for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

FRANCE 1998 - THAT MICHAEL OWEN GOAL

After Euro 96 expectations were high and Owen duly obliged with a strike that will forever be etched in World Cup folklore.

I was supposed to be doing to homework, but England v Argentina took priority, certainly after Ince had found Beckham, who set Owen free.

At just 18, Owen raced from just inside the Argentina half, shrugged off two challenges and fired impressively into the top corner. Magic.

It's just a shame that England couldn't finish the job. I still can't see what was wrong with Sol Campbell's header.

JAPAN AND KOREA 2002 - RONALDO PROVES HIS CLASS

Having been a shadow of himself in the 1998 final and one the back of two knee injuries the jury was out as to whether Ronaldo was still able to cut it at the top level.

The striker showed his class, scoring eight times in the competition, including twice in the final against Germany as Brazil won the Jules Rimet for a fifth time.

Ronaldo walked off with the World Cup trophy and golden boot having tied Pele's record of 12 goals in the competition.

GERMANY 2006 - ZINEDINE ZIDANE'S HEADBUTT

The most memorable way to bow out. Having won every prize there is to win in the game, Zidane was famously sent-off for headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final.

Both men had scored, but that's long forgotten as Zidane took offence to something that Materazzi said and subsequently saw red - in more ways than one.

Without Zidane, France lost the final on penalties, Materazzi scoring his spot-kick.

USA 1994 - RAY HOUGHTON

The first tournament I remember, albeit vaguely, thanks in the main to Houghton.

It wasn't the prettiest build up to the goal as Ireland tackled eventual finalists Italy, but Houghton, who wasn't expected to start, fired a left-footed effort over Gianluca Pagliuca - who should have made more of an effort in all honesty - to hand his side a memorable win.

Houghton's goal, along with Roberto Baggio's famous missed penalty, which could still be in orbit, and Diego Maradona's crazed celebration after scoring against Greece, will be the only memories I take from this edition of the competition.

TOM NORRIS

MEXICO 1986 - JOSIMAR V NORTHERN IRELAND

The first World Cup finals that I remember watching avidly as a 10-year-old boy.

There were lots of memorable matches in a tournament that gripped me as the Mexican wave made its first appearance at football stadiums.

Spectacular goals were hardly in short supply as teams attacked at will and made games hugely entertaining.

It's easy to label Diego Maradona's famous solo goal in the quarter-finals against England as the best, but little-known Brazilian right-back Josimar's stunning strike against Northern Ireland in the group stages from long range - giving experienced goalkeeper Pat Jennings no chance - was my favourite.

Everyone likes a 30-yard screamer and this was a belter.

MEXICO 1986 - DIEGO MARADONA

A tournament that is close to my heart and, along with Italy 1990, the best I have seen.

So many memories and while lots of players and teams played their part in a superb summer of football, Diego Maradona was undoubtedly the star of the show.

It would be unfair to say Maradona singlehandedly won Argentina the competition on his own, but the little maestro played a huge part in their success.

Everyone will talk about Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England and subsequent solo effort that left England's defence as mesmerised as the rest of the world, but his goal in the semi-final win against Belgium wasn't bad either.

There have been so many legendary players but unlike countryman Lionel Messi, Maradona did it on the big stage.

ITALY 1990 - DAVID PLATT V BELGIUM

As a proud Welshman thrilled to see his country play at the 2016 European Championships, I've been deprived of a World Cup finals adventure.

In Wales' absence I haven't turned into an England supporter but there is no doubt that David Platt's goal at Italy 1990 was special.

The technique from Platt as the ball dropped over his shoulder from Paul Gascoigne's ball into the box was impeccable.

Coming in the last minute of extra-time, it sealed England's place in the quarter-finals, but you can't have everything!

BRAZIL 2014 - BRAZIL 1 GERMANY 7

We've had shock results at World Cups with the likes of Cameroon stunning defending champions Argentina at Italy 1990, but Brazil shipping seven goals in their home tournament was a massive surprise.

So many Brazil teams have won many admirers and while this wasn't their greatest side, they reached the semi-finals but that is where they suffered a humiliating exit.

Germany led 5-0 inside 30 minutes and totally outplayed Brazil. Anyone who wasn't watching wouldn't have believed the scoreline!

GERMANY 2006 - DENNIS LAWRENCE

There wasn't one specific moment, but just seeing a Wrexham player take part in a World Cup finals was brilliant to see.

'Big Dennis' was still plying his trade at The Racecourse when he headed to Germany with Trinidad and Tobago for the 2006 finals.

The Soca Warriors failed to win a match, losing to England and eliminated at the group stage, but Lawrence had played on the biggest stage and made every Wrexham fan proud.

RICHARD WILLIAMS

FRANCE 98 – ZIDANE’S MASTERCLASS

The first World Cup I remember was France 98 and the hosts were simply magnificent that summer. Brazil were equally fantastic, with Ronaldo vying with Zidane as the best player on show. The final was all set up to be a classic, but Ronaldo faltered after a will-he-wont-he play build-up while Zidane produced an unbelievable solo display, scoring twice in a 3-0 rout.

JAPAN AND KOREA 2002 – BECKHAM’S MAGIC, BRAZIL HEARTACHE!

The World Cup headed to Asia and there were a host of wonderful moments for England supporters, with Beckham’s spot-kick winner vs Argentina and the 3-0 knockout victory over Denmark giving genuine hope from a team with outstanding credentials in what was a weak tournament. The two best teams in the entire tournament met in the quarter-finals but it was Brazil who broke English hearts as Ronaldinho famously left David Seaman red-faced.

GERMANY 2006 – THE BEST GAME I’VE EVER SEEN!

Anyone who thinks international football is boring obviously never saw the 2006 semi-final between host nation Germany and eventual winners Italy. An absorbing 120-minutes of football between two wonderful teams, who attacked at will but couldn’t find the breakthrough in normal time. Both went hell-for-leather in extra-time and penalties were just 90 seconds away when Grosso and Del Piero broke German hearts, leaving their players and coach Jurgen Klinsmann crestfallen.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 – SUAREZ HANDBALL SENDS GHANA PACKING

With the host nation knocked out, the whole of Africa was rooting for Ghana in their quarter-final tie against Uruguay in a wide-open tournament. Ghana thought they’d won it in the last seconds, but Luis Suarez punched the ball off the line. A penalty was awarded, Suarez saw red, but Asamoah Gyan hit the bar and Uruguay won 4-2 in a shootout. Suarez celebrated Gyan’s miss and became public enemy number one, but I’d argue it was passion for his country rather than malice.

BRAZIL 2014 – GERMANY DISMANTLE THE HOST NATION

The Brazil side who went into the 2014 tournament on home soil weren’t blessed with the talent of their predecessors but had built serious momentum with their knockout round wins going into a pivotal semi-final clash with the Germans. What followed was quite incredible. Brazil capitulated, overcome by the huge occasion, and Germany took full advantage in ruthless fashion, going 5-0 up after just 30 minutes. It finished 7-1, it was stunning, scarcely believable, and I felt desperately sorry for the Brazilian fans.

CHARLIE CROASDALE

ITALIA 90 - ROGER MILLA VS COLUMBIA

With a litany of stellar performers on show - Matthaus, Gascoigne, Scillachi, Maradona and Baggio among them - it was Cameroon's 38-year-old striker Roger Milla who achieved cult status.

Milla's infectious enthusiasm and corner shuffle goal celebration lit up the tournament and he excelled in extra-time of his nation's second round clash with Columbia.

On as a second half substitute when the game was goalless, Milla broke the deadlock with a powerful left footed finish.

Three minutes later he netted a second when Colombian keeper Rene Higuita embarrassed himself with an attempted step-over when 35 yards from his goal, with Milla summarily dispossessing him and slotting home.

FRANCE 98 - OWEN'S GOAL V ARGENTINA

While I'm in no way anti-English, I don't subscribe to the idea that you must support a home nation if your own country failed to qualify.

That said, I cheered Owen's world-class strike as loudly as any Three Lions fan because of it's sheer brilliance.

Aged just 18, Owen announced himself to the world in thrilling style, latching onto Beckham's through ball from midfield and as his pace took him beyond the two chasing defenders he buried a superb right-footed effort into the top corner.

FRANCE 98 - BERGKAMP V ARGENTINA

There were so many moments of real class in the 98 tournament; none more so than Dennis Bergkamp's masterful 88th winner that took Holland past Argentina into the semi-finals.

In a moment of instinctive brilliance, Bergkamp collected Frank De Boer's raking 50-yard pass, deftly controlling the ball and stepping inside defender Roberto Ayala before stroking the ball into the top corner to seal a 2-1 win. Sublime.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 - LUIS SUAREZ IS IN THE NEWS

A competition marred horribly by the drone of the infamous Vuvuzela, the drama of the quarter-final between Uruguay and Ghana was a highlight.

With the game poised at 1-1 in the last minute of extra-time, serial offender Luis Suarez cast himself as the villain of the piece as he saved Dominic Adiyiah's goalbound header with his hand.

Asamoah Gyan failed to convert the resultant penalty and the game eventually saw the South Americans prevail 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.

BRAZIL 2014 - MESSI'S MASTERCLASS

Not strictly a 'moment', but Lionel Messi's efforts for Argentina are well worthy of praise.

Four goals might seem like a modest return for a player often vaunted as the greatest player ever, but his all-round contribution to the Argentine cause was magnificent.

Messi created more chances than anybody else and with the highest dribble completion rate too he showed the world his genius.

Despite being unable to steer Argentina to glory in the final against Germany, it was no surprise that he was named FIFA's outstanding player of the tournament.

DAN HEALD