The 1960's were a simpler, more straight forward time when opening ceremonies only consisted of schoolboys parading in the stadium wearing the kits and bearing the flags of the sixteen participating nations
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Alf Ramsey's prediction that his 'wingless wonders' would win the tournament looked ambitious after an inauspicious opener against Uruguay at a packed Wembley. Hurst and Peters, England's goalscorers in the final, watched from the bench
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It may be a new decade but somethings have stayed the same - the ceremony consisted of a parade, flags and small children wearing replica kits. The big change for the 1970's was the addition of balloons, lots of balloons
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Played in merciless midday heat, hosts Mexico were unable to break down a dogged USSR team in a game distinguished by the first World Cup substitution, by Russia at half-time
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The German's try something different this time around - adults in national dress - and attempt a bit of spectable with collapsing balls
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The curse of the opening game continued as refashioned holders Brazil failed to convert a glut of chances, including two Jairzinho shots that flashed just wide. The Yugoslavs almost won it with a late header that came back off a post
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A packed stadium watches in awe as artists show off their spelling ability
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A skilful Poland side had much the better chances in yet another goalless draw on the opening day. Holders West Germany were a team in transition, winning just one game in the tournament
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Local pride takes pride of place as the Spanish bring a more local take to the global tournament with their huge and impressive figures in the traditional dresses of the Spanish provinces that will host the matches
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After a 20-year wait, the World Cup finally had something to cheer about on day one. Erwin Vandenbergh's second-half strike in Barcelona upset an Argentina side containing Diego Maradona, Osvaldo Ardiles and Mario Kempes
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It's 16 years since the World Cup was last in Mexico and things are a bit more raunchy than last time
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Defending champions Italy dominated unheralded Bulgaria in the Azteca Stadium but a late Nasko Sirakov header cancelled out Alessandro Altobelli's first-half volley. Italy scraped through the group behind eventual winners Argentina but were beaten by France
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Scantily clad ladies are the order of the day again, but seeing as this is Milan, they are a little bit more classy
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The San Siro in Milan witnessed a huge upset when Francois Omam-Biyik's header squirmed under goalkeeper Nery Pumpido. Cameroon's robust approach meant they finished the game with nine men
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America, home of the brave, and of celebrity. Big guns Oprah Winfrey and soul diva Diana Ross are wheeled out to entertain the crowd. Especially entertaining was Diana Ross' attempt to slot home the ball from 2 yards out which she inexplicably managed to slice well wide of the goal
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Striker Jurgen Klinnsman slipped the ball into an empty net after some comical goalkeeping to give Germany a routine win over Bolivia in Chicago
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Rather than big names at the 1998 Opening Ceremony, the French organisers opted for big words instead - like existentialism and pretentious Photograph: AP
Scotland full-back Tom Boyd's own goal broke Scottish hearts after a heartening performance against the defending champions Cesar Sampaio opened the scoring with a near post header but John Collins's coolly-taken penalty levelled matters just before half-time
Photograph: Remy de la Mauviniere/AP
Over to the far east and the ceremony gets a bit wild, wacky and fun in Seoul. It may also have unwittingly provided inspiration for the 2012 Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville
Photograph: Sipa Press / Rex Features
Papa Bouba Diop's scrambled finish after fine work from El-Hadji Diouf was enough to beat France in another opening day bombshell. The stunned holders, missing talisman Zinedine Zidane through injury, were decidedly lacklustre and failed to get past the group stage
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You can't have a good time in Bavaria without Lederhosen as these Bavarian music band performers prove
Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP
Germany's Philipp Lahm set the 2006 opener alight with a magnificent strike from the edge of the area. Goals from Miroslav Klose and another pile driver, this time from Torsten Frings, were enough to see off Costa Rica who replied with two from Paolo Wanchope
Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP
