The 1994 tournament - even with increasing the field from 24 to 32 teams for 1998 - still remains the most attended World Cup. Playing it in a nation where soccer was considered a niche sport. The tournament was an overwhelming success, despite concerns over
FIFA 2010 FINALISTS TV
World Cup: 11 greatest players to never win 1994: Brazilįinal: Brazil over Italy, 0-0 (Brazil won penalty shootout, 3-2)Ī generation before soccer games the world over could be found on multiple national TV networks, the game was still a bit of a curiosity when this World Cup was played in the U.S. World Cup: Top 10 best moments in tournament history For France, this started an impressive run that also featured a 2000 Euro win and that infamous 2006 World Cup final appearance for a core of players that included Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Fabien Barthez. Until Germany's 7-1 rout of Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, the 3-0 loss in the final to France was Brazil's most lopsided World Cupĭefeat. 1998: Franceįrance became the sixth nation to win the World Cup as a host nation, joining Uruguay, Italy, England, Germany and Argentina. Featuring Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo - who scored both goals in the final - Brazil cruised to the title. Turkey and South Korea each reached the semifinals, with Turkey - which was playing in its first World Cup since 1954 - winning the third-place game. Neither did Portugal, which was upset in its opener by the U.S., which had its best World Cup performance since 1930. Upsets highlighted the group stage, as defending World Cup champion France and another tournament favorite, Argentina, did not make it to the round of 16. Sure, the final featured two bluebloods, but this was a wild World Cup. Even 12 years later, people are still making memes about Zinedine Zidane's shocking head-butt of Italy's Marco Materazzi in extra time of the World Cup final. In the most unforgettably crazy World Cup moment since Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" play in 1986, one of the greatest to ever play the game was sent off in shame after being red carded for a head-butt.
It's one of the most indelible moments in sports, a "where were you when?" experience that separates the final of this World Cup from any other. 2006: Italyįinal: Italy over France, 1-1 (Italy won penalty shootout, 5-3) Spain's winĪlso marked the first time a European nation had won the World Cup when it was hosted outside of Europe, a feat matched four years later by Germany. The only blemish for Spain was losing to the U.S. Over a four-year span, Spain won the 2008 Euro, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro. This is the crowning achievement of an incredible run of success for Spain. 2010: Spainįinal: Spain over Netherlands, 1-0 (extra time) That also means that three nations have won 13 of 20 World Cups. Germany collected its fourth World Cup win, tying it with Italy with the second most behind Brazil's five championships. presidents appear to age rapidly while in office? Yeah, that seemed to happen to Bastian Schweinsteiger in the final. A stunner of a semifinal against Brazil - a 7-1 dump trucking of the hosts - was followed up by a grind-it-out extra-time win over Lionel Messi and Argentina. 2014: Germanyįinal: Germany over Argentina, 1-0 (extra time)Īfter knocking on the door of greatness for nearly a decade (two third-place World Cup finishes, one runner-up finish in the Euro), Germany finally earned that elusive championship.
Here's a look at every World Cup, a trip through the world's biggest sporting event's history that includes a wild bit of U.S.
Will France win its second World Cup title, becoming just the third nation to collect two World Cup wins? Or, will Croatia become just the ninth different nation to win the tournament? The 2018 World Cup final is set, with France taking on Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday. Watch Video: Why do Americans call it 'soccer?' (Blame the Brits)
0 kommentar(er)
