Eight great World Cup adverts

As well as the kits, the songs and the mascots, another quirk of World Cup season is the big-brand adverts that came along with it. 

This year we have the latest offering from Adidas that features an all-star cast, including Jude Bellingham and Hollywood star Timothee Chalamet, so we've gone back through the archives and dug out eight classic TV ads from World Cups gone by. 

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The World Cup that berthed everyone's favourite ad 

All the best goals from France '98 

 

 

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1994 - Nike 'The Wall' 

Starting with the last time the tournament headed to North America and one of Nike's early ads, that was a sign of things to come. 

Remember this is 1994, so the somewhat patational graphics are very much of its glorious time. Yet, what it lacks in crisp, cool tech, it more than makes up for it with star names as Ian Wright, Marco van Basten, and more can be seen smashing through walls and across continents to get to the finals. 

1994 - McDonald's familiar face 

Keeping it 94, and way before they told you to start 'loving it', McDonald's was more about the 'practice' in the run-up to the finals in the States. 

So much so, they used a fresh-faced future Premier League player and manager to show how practising your keepy-uppies can pay off in the end. 

Pity we never saw much of these skills from Burnley this season, eh Scott?  

1998 - Nike, Brazil and the airport 

Ask anyone of a certain vintage what their favourite football advert is, and it's bound to drum up images of Brazilians, airports and French jazz. 

Sounds like a footballing fever dream, and it was for any young fan, as he got to watch the likes of Ronaldo, Denilson and Roberto Carlos freestyle their way through an airport run. 

It became the catalyst for all massive ads to follow, but its catchy tune and unbelievable skills still make it the best. 

 

2002 - Nike's secret tournament 

Four years later, Nike doubled down on the new dawn for football ads and got a selection of the world's best players together for a game of cage football...on a boat!

Rio Ferdinand, Raul, Hernan Crespo and Ruud van Nistelrooy are just some of the names involved in what must have been the best kickabout of all time. 

They even had Eric Cantona as compere...you don't get that down the fives on a Monday night. 

 

2002-  Pepsi power 

All the big brands were not getting in on the act, and drinks giant Pepsi brought together its own dream team for its campaign. 

Led by David Beckham, Juan Veron, Emmanuel Petit and Rivaldo joined the England captain for a game against giant Sumo wrestlers. 

And obviously, footballing prowess prevailed, whilst wearing some striking Pepsi threads.

 

2006 - Carlsberg's Old boys 

An ad that brought tears to the eyes of any fans who had to endure the heartbreak of England's exit in 1990, as Carlsberg got the band back together and then some!

The Three Lions alumni all got together for an ad that you could well imagine would be just how they'd act if the cameras weren't rolling. As well as Waddle and Butcher from Italia '90, the team also featured England heroes from '66 and even Bobby Robson in charge. 

And it ends with them playing a Sunday league game, after they put together probably the best pub team in the world. 

2006 - Adidas dream teams 

Another selection of greats was included in Adidas' ad for Germany, but instead of rolling them out as they are, they were recreated from the prime days. 

Two young locals got to pick their World Cup dream teams, and it saw the likes of Kaka, Beckham and Lampard line up alongside Beckenbauer and Platini. 

Even Jermain Defoe got a shout, but was, for some reason, made to go in goal. 

2010 - Nike, write history 

Now we're talking, this is what we've come to expect from our adverts in the 2010s and beyond, as Nike once again broke barriers with their campaign.

Again, it featured all their star names, battling it out and reimagining history in every kick. It sees Fabio Canavarro as an Italian TV star, Cristiano Ronaldo appearing in The Simpsons and Ronaldinho's skills going viral. 

But perhaps it's best remembered for Wayne Rooney's fear of what might be, which sees him living in a caravan and looking like he hasn't washed in years. 

 

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