| 1. |
Brazil
1970
Often described
as the best football team of all time. It had individual world class players
overall in midfield and attack. Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino,
the list goes on and on. They won all their six games in the cup of 1970. |
| 2. |
West Germany
1974
This was also
a superb team. Beckenbauer as leader in defence and behind him was Sepp
Maier, one of the best goalkeepers of all time. Overath and Bonhof also
were quality players and of course the notorious Gerd Müller up front,
who averaged more than a goal a game for the Germans, and scored the winning
goal in the final itself. |
| 3. |
Italy 1982
They started
the tournament with three draws, but then found form and beat Argentina,
Brazil, Poland and West Germany in consecutive matches. They based their
team on defensive strength. 40 year old Dino Zoff was the captain and goalkeeper
and he had Gentile and Scirea as leaders in defence. Dangerous winger Bruno
Conti was instrumental as well as midfielder Tardelli. Up front was Paolo
Rossi in top form as the tournament progressed, and scored six times in
Italy's last three matches. |
| 4. |
Brazil
1994
Brazil had
in 1994 for once a solid defence, and that was the main reason why they
for the first time in 24 years managed to win the World Cup. Romario was
their outstanding player, and he had Bebeto as colleague up front. Other
great players were Leonardo, Dunga and Jorginho. |
| 5. |
Holland
1974
They didn't
win the World Cup, but they still deserve a place on the Top 10 list of
great teams. They scored 15 goals in the cup and only let in one goal on
their way to the final and that was an own goal. Cruyff, Neeskens, Rep,
Rensenbrink and van Hanegem thrilled the world, and could with a little
more luck have won the cup. They had all the qualities. |
| 6. |
West Germany
1990
Definitely
a worthy champion of the dull tournament in Italy in 1990. They were one
of very few teams who relied on attacking skills, rather than defensive
safety and were rewarded with the cup. Matthäus was their great player,
alongside attacking left-back Brehme who scored the winning goal in the
final itself. Other great names were Klinsmann, Völler and Kohler. |
| 7. |
France
1998
The latest
champions had their strength in a central line with Blanc and Desailly
in defence to Petit and Deschamp in midfield. The team was built around
those players. Attacking fullbacks Lizarazu and Thuram helped in attack
as France lacked world class strikers. This was tactically a very strong
team. |
| 8. |
Hungary
1954
Another team
who failed to win the cup, but had all the qualities. Scored an incredible
27 goals in the 1954 cup. They beat both Brazil and defending champions
Uruguay 4-2, but lost 3-2 in the final to West Germany. This team had legends
like Puskas, Kocsis and Hidegkuti and hadn't lost in 30 games before the
final. |
| 9. |
Argentina
1986
This team
of course had Maradona and that made them automatically a great team. But
other players contributed as well, among them were Burruchaga, Valdano
and the great centerback Ruggeri. They helped Argentina win the cup in
1986. This team was also the last team so far to become champions without
needing extra-time or penalty shoot-outs on their way. |
| 10. |
Brazil
1958
This class
of '58 invented the famous 4-2-4 system. It also saw Pelé emerge
as a 17 year old having started the tournament on the bench. Garrincha,
Vava, Didi and Zagallo were other famous names in Brazil's first ever World
Cup triumph. |
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