Image source, Getty Images

Throwing up with nerves in the Hampden toilets. Finding out the opposition team days before the game. Celebrating with a five-day bender, while being treated like Take That.

Hearts' 2012 Scottish Cup final meeting with Hibernian was certainly an eventful occasion, but they could not have wished for the game itself to go any better, running out 5-1 winners at Hampden Park to seal their eighth triumph in the competition.

Goals from Ryan McGowan, Darren Barr, Danny Grainger and two from Rudi Skacel gave the Tynecastle faithful a day that they will never forget - a crushing win over their city rivals in a major cup final.

BBC Sport Scotland caught up with some of the key men from that unforgettable day in 2012.

Check out this wonderful piece that was published in May 2019.

Paul Allen: Heart of Midlothian 5-1 Hibernian. Scottish Cup Final 2012.

Excellent choice Paul. Here's a trip down memory lane for you...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Whenever I am asked about the game and occasion I could attend again if given the chance, this would be my pick.

Brazil’s 2014 World Cup was about redemption, cleansing their sporting soul from the wounds of the defeat inflicted on them by Uruguay in the final in their own iconic Maracana Stadium 64 years earlier.

We had been dispatched to Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s sixth largest city, for the semi-final with Germany in the Estadio Minerao. The areas around the stadium were packed hours before kick-off. It was fever-pitch.

Brazil lost poster boy Neymar Jnr. to injury against Colombia in the quarter-final and whole nation was high on emotion and expectation.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari led his team off the coach wearing a white 'Forca Neymar' baseball cap while Neymar’s number 10 shirt was held up during a thunderous Brazilian national anthem.

It was all too raw for Brazil.

Ice-cool Germany were 5-0 up inside 29 minutes. Countless Brazil fans, young and old, were reduced to tears inside the stadium.

The final score was 7-1, Brazil’s first competitive home defeat in 39 years.

It was night that will never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed in and I wrote about it in greater detail here.

Not too many international games have been mentioned - though a few from the 2014 World Cup have popped up.

Here's one that Phil remembers...

Dan Oldershaw: The greatest live game I saw was Inter Milan vs Atalanta in 2009. Ibrahimovic scored a ridiculous back heeled goal to win the game 4-3, and the Nerazzurri (led by Mourinho) then collected the scudetto. It was also Figo’s last professional game!

Kenneth Wilson: I'll have McFaddens goal against France too.

Dan Rear: Newcastle’s amazing comeback against Arsenal in 10/11 season. Capped off with an amazing strike by the late great Tiote.

Lucas Moura on his heroics in the semi-final win over Ajax: "Always believe in this moment. We gave everything on the pitch and deserved this moment - we are family.

"It's impossible to explain, a big gift from God I'd like to share with team-mates, friends and family.

"It's about not only me but my team-mates and teamwork. Everyone worked really hard. It's difficult to play here against Ajax but I always believed in my team-mates. Even without key players we did really well. We need to fight in every game like this.

"The football is amazing - it gives us a moment like this. We cannot imagine. It's the best moment in my career."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Spurs had a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final collision of Premier League superpowers.

No-one could have predicted the scale of this drama.

Five goals inside the first 21 minutes reflected the chaotic brilliance that was reflected by the ever-changing mood inside Etihad Stadium.

Raheem Sterling first for City. Two from Son Heung-min for Spurs. Bernardo Silva and Sterling again for City. Suddenly it was 3-2 at half-time.

Sergio Aguero, who else, gave City an 4-2 lead and the advantage before the hour only for substitute Fernando Llorente to bundle in another to give Spurs a foot in the semi-finals.

And then it all happened in stoppage time.

Sterling scored again. Etihad Stadium exploded in celebration, City manager Pep Guardiola ran down the touchline in jubilation. Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino and his players slumped to the floor.

City were in the semi-final – or were they? Time stood still as VAR delivered its verdict.

Sergio Aguero was in an offside position because of Bernardo Silva’s feather touch on Christian Eriksen’s pass.

Spurs were through again. Manchester City were out.

It was a night to scramble the senses on and off the pitch. A magnificent football match.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

You're right Daniel. There's nowhere near enough mention of Lucas Moura and Tottenham's heroics in the Champions League last season.

Phil McNulty wasn't at that game against Ajax but he was at the Etihad for the eventful quarter-final win over Manchester City.

That makes the cut! Here's what he had to say...

Nicholas Clark: Beating Real Madrid in 1983 Cup Winners Cup final...greatest football match ever!

Daniel Harris: Why am I just seeing Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool? Like that Spurs comeback vs Ajax wasn't better?...which it definitely was.

Warren Pilkington: The Aguero moment was three days after my 40th birthday, so what a present it proved to be. From despair to delight in three minutes or so at the end. And to see that clock wind back to 00 years, perfect. (and cheers to the Sunderland fans doing the Poznan too)

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

There were plenty of others under consideration for the top ten but didn't quite make the cut for my piece.

This one for starters.

This one did not make my either list but was one of the more bizarre games I've covered. Both teams up then down from the Premier League during the game. A plane flying over the ground. A manager sacked moments after the game. Other than that...

Speaking of 'classic' matches...

Football highlights are set to return to BBC One on Saturday nights with Match of the Day showing highlights of classic Premier League games.

Matches will be chosen by pundits as the show adopts the new name of 'Match of Their Day'.

First up is Alan Shearer, who will pick three classic matches in the first episode on 4 April at 23:00 BST.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Bloomfield: Greatest game ever was Charlton vs Sunderland Playoff Final 1. 4-4 AET and 7-6 on penalties. No words to describe the rollercoaster of emotions on that day.

Martin Brophy: Newcastle 5 Sunderland 1 shearers last game and goal in Premier league.

Jake Shakey: Greatest footballing moment United come back and beating PSG against the odds - by far the most enjoyable game I've ever seen. Obviously the last three minutes of the 99' Euro final. The Liverpool comeback against AC, or Watford v Leicester are up there.

Who would of thought when I watched Wes Morgan playing at the City Ground for a few years while I lived in Nottingham, he would go on to lift the Premier League trophy?

I didn't.

Just for you, Foxes.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Not the game but the occasion.

This was a spine-tingling day, the climax of one of the greatest stories British sport has ever know as The Foxes, 5,000-1 and relegation favourites before the start of the season (I tipped them to go down) won the title under their charismatic and popular manager Claudio Ranieri - the day the trophy was presented amid scenes of pure theatre at The King Power Stadium.

The great Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, blind since the age of 12, fulfilled a promise to Ranieri to perform at the stadium should Leicester City win the title and even those of us who are fairly immune to the emotions surrounding a sporting event were choked at these wonderful moments before kick-off.

Bocelli was accompanied to the centre circle by Ranieri, who demanded and was given silence before a truly wonderful rendition of 'Nessun Dorma'. Black storm clouds gathered over the stadium to add to the drama as the tenor took off his tracksuit top to reveal a Leicester City shirt.

The formalities of the trophy presentation were completed after the game on a day that now has added poignancy as Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who helped built that title side, was one of five people killed when his helicopter crashed outside The King Power Stadium on 27 October 2018.

Ah, a Leicester mention finally!

That obviously made Phil McNulty's top 10. He was there the day Leicester sealed the greatest underdog Premier League title victory in history.

Rob Stewardson: It can only be Jimmy Glass. Carlisle United sold their only goalkeeper on deadline day. Two loan ‘keepers came and went. 94th minute of the final game of the season and the goalie scores to keep us in the football league. Fairytale stuff!!

Michael: Leicester City taking Premiership by storm, a thing of beauty.

Some great games there! Keep them coming.

Greg Morter: Watching Grimsby beat Forest Green 3-1 in the 2016 National League Playoff Final, gaining promotion back to the football league after a long 6 years absence.

Lance: Greatest match - Ipswich 5 Bolton 3 play off semi final in 2000. We went behind three times, missed a penalty, Jim Magilton scored a hat trick, Bolton had 2 sent off, and Martijn Reuser scored the fifth! What a night, still gives me goosebumps.

Mustbe_Ry: Charlton v Sunderland Playoff Final 1998! So much drama, so much passion and what a player Super Clive was!