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 No other sporting event captures the world's imagination like the
FIFA World Cup. Ever since the first tentative competition in
Uruguay in 1930, FIFA's (Federation Internationale de Football
Association) flagship has constantly grown in popularity and
prestige.
A group of
visionary French football administrators, led in the 1920s by
the innovative Jules Rimet, are credited with the original idea
of bringing the world's strongest national football teams
together to compete for the title of World Champions. The
original gold trophy bore Jules Rimet's name and was contested
three times in the 1930s, before the Second World War put a
12-year stop to the competition.
 When
it resumed, the FIFA World Cup rapidly advanced to its
undisputed status as the greatest single sporting event of the
modern world. Held since 1958 alternately in Europe and the
Americas, the World Cup broke new ground with the Executive
Committee's decision in May 1996 to select Korea and Japan as
co-hosts for the 2002 edition.
Since 1930, the
16 tournaments have seen only seven different winners. However,
the FIFA World Cup has also been punctuated by dramatic upsets
that have helped create footballing history - the United States
defeating England in 1950, North Korea's defeat of Italy in
1966, Cameroon's emergence in the 1980s and their opening match
defeat of the Argentinean cup-holders in 1990....
 Today, the FIFA
World Cup holds the entire global public under its spell. An
accumulated audience of over 37 billion people watched the
France 98 tournament, including approximately 1.3 billion for
the final alone, while over 2.7 million people flocked to watch
the 64 matches in the French stadium.
After all these
years and so many changes, however, the main focus of the FIFA
World Cup remains the same - the glistening golden trophy, which
is the embodiment of every footballer's ambition.
Fifa World Cup Tournament History
2002 in Japan / Korea
Final: Germany 0 - 2 Brazil
The first time the world cup is held
in Asia and this was a world cup full
of upsets with holders France, Argentina,
and Portugal going out in the group
stages. It was left to the 'Ronaldo
show' to win the cup for brazil in
a average final against Germany
The biggest shock of the finals was
South Korea making it all the way
to the semi finals beating Spain and
Italy on the way
1998 in France
Final: France 3-0 Brazil
This World Cup featured a record
32 teams, including South Africa,
who made their debut at the 1998 event
and did not disgrace themselves with
some good individual performances.
France completely outplayed Brazil
in a one-sided final in Paris to win
their first World Cup title on home
soil. They were superbly marshaled
by their playmaker, Zinedine Zidane,
who scored two goals in the final
and had a brilliant tournament.
1994 in the USA
Final: Brazil 0-0 Italy (Brazil
won 3-2 on penalties)
The United States was uncharted
territory for the footballing world,
but this turned out to be a great
tournament, full of drama, suspense
and action.
Oleg Solenko scored five goals for
Russia within 60 minutes of their
match against Cameroon to set a new
World Cup record. Roger Milla scored
a consolation for the Indomitable
Lions so set another record as the
oldest scorer in World Cup finals.
Bulgaria and Sweden were surprise
semifinalists in this tournament,
but it was the giants of the international
game, Italy and Brazil, who would
contest what turned out to be a disappointing
final.
It was the unfortunate Roberto Baggio
of Italy who missed the decisive penalty
and Brazil were crowned world champions
for the fourth time.
1990 in Italy
Final: West Germany 1-0 Argentina
Despite the fantastic atmosphere
generated by the Italian public, this
was a dull, ponderous World Cup with
teams taking the defensive route over
attacking football.
The hopes of the home side rested
on their super-sub, Salvatore "Toto"
Schillaci, who ended up with the Golden
Boot after scoring 6 goals. But ultimately
the boring, clinical football of the
Germans won through and they claimed
their third title.
1986 in Mexico
Final: Argentina 3-2 West Germany
Originally awarded to Columbia,
the 1986 tournament was moved to Mexico
after their South American neighbours
announced in 1983 that they could
not afford to host the event.
There was more heartache for the
West Germans as they lost their second
final in a row. This tournament will,
however, always be remembered for
the brilliance of Diego Maradona,
and his ‘hand of god’ that put England
out in the qurterfinals.
1982 in Spain
Final: Italy 3-1 West Germany
The 1982 World Cup was expanded
to involve 24 teams for the first
time, rather than the usual 16, and
involved one of the most talked about
matches of all time.
Italy comfortably beat Poland in
the one semifinal, but in the other
game, France and West Germany had
a ding-dong battle that was ultimately
won 5-4 on penalties by the Germans.
This after a Michel Platini inspired
France were leading 3-1 in extra time.
1978 in Argentina
Final: Argentina 3-1 Holland
This proved another victory for
the team hosting the tournament as
Argentina won their first ever World
Cup. The build-up to this tournament
was filled with controversy as teams
debated whether or not to boycott
the tournament in protest against
Argentinean General Videla's tyrany
and his violation of human rights.
1974 in West Germany
Final: West Germany 2-1 Holland
The Dutch had a fantastic World
Cup, beating Argentina 4-0, East Germany
2-0 and the mighty Brazil 2-0 in the
final group stage. But they were no
match for the superbly organised West
Germans in the final, led by the "Kaiser",
Franz Beckenbauer.
This tournament also featured a
new trophy as the Jules Rimet trophy
was given to Brazil as recognition
of them having won the World Cup three
times in 1958, 1962, 1970. The new
solid gold statuette, still around
today, is known simply as the "FIFA
World Cup".
1970 in Mexico
Final: Brazil 4-1 Italy
Amazingly, not one player was
sent off during the 1970 World Cup
as the countries returned to providing
us with great entertainment. Brazil
won their third title in style, with
Pele once again playing a major role
in his fourth tournament.
One match which stood out and was
entered into football folklore was
the semifinal between Italy and Germany
where the two teams were locked at
1-1 after 90 minutes. Both teams forged
ahead at different times in a heart-stopping
battle.
Franz Beckenbauer remained on the
field even with a dislocated shoulder,
his arm in a sling strapped to his
body. In the end, the Italians won
4-3 after 120 minutes of gruelling
cut-and-thrust football.
1966 in England
Final: England 4-2 West Germany
“They think it is all over……it
is now.” England secured their one
and only World Cup triumph in controversial
circumstances as a dubious goal by
Geoff Hurst in the final set them
on the way to victory.
The ball struck the bar and dropped
straight down. The referee consulted
his Russian linesman and gave what
has proven to be the most controversial
goal ever scored.
This was also the tournament where
the World Cup was stolen whilst on
display, but never fear, for Pickles
is here! The beagle dog found the
trophy in a suburban front garden
in south London a few days later.
1962 in Chile
Final: Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia
By now Brazil were the major
force in international football and
one there second tournament in a row,
this despite losing Pele through injury
in their opening match of the campaign.
The event also saw one of the most
notorious matches in World Cup history
- the Battle of Santiago between Italy
and Chile, in which two Italians were
sent off and one had his nose broken
by a solid punch from a Chilean player.
1958 in Sweden
Final: Brazil 5-2 Sweden
The mighty Brazil won their first
ever World Cup tournament, inspired
by a 17-year-old named Edson Arantes
Do Nascimento, or “Pele” to his friends.
He scored two goals in the final but
the Golden Boot for the tournament
went to Frenchman, Just Fontaine,
who scored a massive 13 goals in 6
matches, a record which still stands
today for a single goals haul in a
World Cup.
1954 in Switzerland
Final: West Germany 3-2 Hungary
This tournament is viewed as
one of the best ever after sensational
high-scoring games, such as Austria’s
7-5 victory over Switzerland in the
quarterfinals and Hungary’s 8-3 defeat
of West Germany in the preliminary
rounds. The Germans would get their
revenge in the final and be crowned
eventual champions.
1950 in Brazil
Winners: Uruguay beat Brazil,
Sweden and Spain in a group format
World War II meant that the next
World Cup would only be played in
1950, and this one took on a slightly
different format from the last. The
qualifying was chaotic with teams
withdrawing at the last minute - and
teams already eliminated being offered
places. India did not play because
Fifa would not let them play in bare
feet.
As their were only 13 teams involved,
it was decided the winner would be
decided by the final four teams all
playing each other in a group format
with the top team being declared the
champion. Uruguay won two and drew
one of their matches to win the tournament
for the second, and last, time in
their history.
1938 in France
Final: Italy 4-2 Hungary
As war clouds gathered over Europe,
for the second tournament in a row,
Italy defeated eastern European opposition
in the final. Highlight of the tournament
was undoubtedly Brazil’s 6-5 extra
time triumph over Poland, thanks to
four goals from Leonidas, who played
barefoot for a spell.
1934 in Italy
Final: Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia
Italy staged the second the second
World Cup tournament and once again
it was the host nation who proved
victorious. This time there were sixteen
teams involved, although for the first
time, teams were made to qualify for
the finals.
1930 in Uruguay
Final: Uruguay 4-2 Argentina
The very first World Cup competition
was played in South America, much
to the annoyance of the European nations
who had a long boat journey to reach
the Uruguay. Subsequently, only 13
nations took part with the hosts running
out the eventual winners. |
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