Host: Italy
Winners: West Germany
Runners-up: Argentina
Third Place: Italy
Fourth Place: England
Top Goalscorer:  Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) – 6 Goals
Participants: 24 (Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia)

It was the Italians who got their opportunity to assert themselves on home soil but failed to match the expectations of the home fans as they finished the tournament in third place. However, their downfall left the door open for Germany and they did so with a-plum. Their may of narrowly edged out Argentina in the final but their victory in the final meant they levelled with Brazil andItaly on three World Cup titles.

Their was a bit of controversy surrounding the tournament after two nations were disqualified from competing. Mexico were punished for fielding an overage player in a prior youth tournament while Chile were given the boot after goalkeeper Roberto Rojas faked an injury after a firework was thrown from the stands which led to the match being abandoned. FIFA threw the book at Chile though and also disqualified them from the 1994 World Cup as well.

There were a few new nations with North Americans Costa Rica played their first part in the finals while Republic of Ireland and The United Arab Emirates also participated in their first World Cup’s.

Final:

Argentina 0 – 1 West Germany

Goalscorers:

Argentina –
West Germany – Brehme

Third Place Play-Off:

Italy 2 – 1 England

Goalscorers:

Italy – Baggio, Schillaci
England – Platt

Host: Mexico
Winners: Argentina
Runners-up: West Germany
Third Place: France
Fourth Place: Belgium
Top Goalscorer: Gary Linekar (England) – 6 Goals
Participants: 24 (Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Northern Ireland,  Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Soviet Union, Uruguay, West Germany)

The 1986 World Cup seen Mexico host their second World Cup after they held the tournament back in 1970. Mexico failed to make an impression though with Argentina securing their second title with West Germany coming close as Runners-up. The final was an enthralling encounter but one the Germans won’t be fond off after losing 3-2.

Mexico’s decision to host the finals came at short notice after FIFA elected Mexico as the hosts in 1983, just three years before the tournament was set to begin. Forutnatly, Mexico already had the necessary requirements to host a World Cup after they held the tournament back in 1970. However, this all came about after Colombia withdrew their bid after they were intially elected as the hosts for the 1986 World Cup. Colombia declared that they could not afford to host such as prestigious event. However, Mexico were more then happy to play the hosts once more and with that they became the first nation to host two World Cups.

Final:

Argentina 3 – 2 West Germany – Estadio Azteca ~ 114,600 Attendance

Goalscorers:

Argentina – Brown, Valdano, Burruchaga
West Germany – Rummenigge, Voller

Third Place Play-Off:

France 4 – 2 Belgium (After Extra-Time)

Goalscorers:

France – Ferreri, Papin, Genghini, Amoros
Belgium – Ceulemans, Claesens

Host: Spain
Winners: Italy
Runners-up: West Germany
Third Place: Poland
Fourth Place: France
Top Goalscorer:  Paolo Rossi (Italy) – 6 Goals
Participants: 24 (Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, France, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Soviet Union, Spain, West Germany, Yugoslavia)

The 12th World Cup was to be held in Spain, which considering their lacklustre displays in qualifying in recent years, was a godsend to Spanish followers. However, they could not do what others have done before them which was win the tournament as hosts. In fact, they didn’t even get close as they lost out in the quarters.

Italy were eager to regain their status as one of the World biggest forces in international football and did this by winning theirthird World Cup title and gain revenge over Germany by avenging their 1970 final defeat against West Germany and beating the Germans 3-1 in the show-piece. With this, Italy drew level with Brazil on three World Cup crowns and shared the status as the most successful nation in World Cup history.

The tournament was marked as one of the greatest tournaments in history, second after the 1970 finals, after  some memorable encounters. This was also the first World Cup to feature 24 countries, with the tournaments preceding having 16 teams or less.

Final:

Italy 3 – 1 West Germany – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu ~ 90,000 Attendance

Goalscorers:

Italy – Rossi, Tardelli, Altobelli
West Germany – Breitner

Third Place Play-Off:

Poland 3 – 2 France

Goalscorers:

Poland – Szarmach, Majewski, Kupcewicz
France – Girard, Couriol

Host: West Germany
Winners: West Germany
Runners-up: Netherlands
Third Place: Poland
Fourth Place: Brazil
Top Goalscorer:  Grzegorz Lato (Poland) – 7 Goals
Participants: 16 (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, East Germany, Haiti, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay, West Germany, Yugoslavia, Zaire)

West Germany were the hosts for the 1974 World Cup and were handed the honour back in 1966, the same year they lost in the World Cup final against England. However, it as West Germany who put their differences a-side when they went on to win in front of their home and expectant fans, beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the final. This was West Germany’s second World Cup title with many German’s expecting future success at international level.

For a second successive World Cup both France & Spain failed to make the cut although they were amongst England who also failed to qualify. This opened the door for some new potential world beaters with East Germany, Haiti, Australia and South African Zaire all bracing the World Cup for the very first time.

Final:

Netherlands 1 – 2 West Germany – Olympiastadion ~ 74,100 Attendance

Goalscorers:

Netherlands – Neeskens
West Germany – Breitner, Muller

Third Place Play-Off:

Brazil 0 – 1 Poland

Goalscorers:

Brazil –
Poland – Lato

Host: Argentina
Winners: Argentina
Runners-up: Netherlands
Third Place: Brazil
Fourth Place: Italy
Top Goalscorer:  Mario Kempes (Argentina) – 6 Goals
Participants: 16 (Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, West Germany)

The 1978 saw once again the value of home advantage as Argentina won the finals after beating the Netherlands, who consequently lost their second successive final. This was Argentina’s first title and they became the fifth country to win while hosting the tournament.

Once again it was English fans who suffered World Cup heartache as England failed to qualify for the second time in succession. Czechoslovakia were the biggest name not to make the finals while Iran and Tunisia enjoyed their first over several stints in a World Cup but failed to make any real inroads.

Final:

Netherlands 1 – 3 Argentina – Estadio Monumental ~ 71,438

Goalscorers:

Netherlands – Nanninga
Argentina – Kempes x2, Bertoni

Third Place Play-Off:

Brazil 2 – 1 Italy

Goalscorers:

Brazil – Nelinho, Dirceu
Italy – Causio

Host: Mexico
Winners: Brazil
Runners-up: Italy
Third Place: West Germany
Fourth Place: Uruguay
Top Goalscorer: Gerard Muller (West Germany) – 10 Goals
Participants: 16 (Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Sweden, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany)

For the first time in the World Cup’s history it was to be held on the North American continent after FIFA granted Mexico as acceptable hosts for the 1970 World Cup. Not only was it the first world cup on North American soil but it was the first World Cup to be held outside either South America or Europe so it was a well though out decision by FIFA as it clearly showed that the World Cup was becoming popular all over the globe.

The final was the perfect match on paper as two-time Champions Brazil took on two-time Champions Italy in the Estadio Azteca. The eventual winners was hardly surprising as Brazil registered their third World Cup success and were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet trophy as a reward. The Brazilian side at that time was touted as the ‘best attack ever’ with the Brazilians boasting the likes of Carlos Alberto, Gerson, Rivelino and Pele (who played it fourth and last World Cup).

Several big names failed to make the cut for Mexico with France, Portugal, Spain, Argentina and even Hungary all failing to qualify for the finals. However, Morocco did their bit for Africa and were the only country from the African continent to partake in the 1970 World Cup.

Final:

Brazil 4 – 1 Italy – Estadio Azteca ~ 107,412 Attendance

Goalscorers:

Brazil – Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto
Italy – Boninsegna

Third Place Play-Off:

West Germany 1 – 0 Uruguay

Goalscorers:

West Germany – Overath
Uruguay –

Host: England
Winners: England
Runners-up: West Germany
Third Place: Portugal
Fourth Place: USSR
Top Goalscorer: Eusébio (Portugal) – 9 Goals
Participants: 16 (Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, North Korea, Portugal, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, West Germany)

1966 was to be a year to remember for English supporters. Not only were they set to host the World Cup for the first and last time to date but they were also destined to go on and record their biggest achievement in football when they won the competition on home soil. The final saw two old bitter foes battling it out in what turned out to be a slogging match of the highest proportion. England won the highly anticipated final but it took more then 90 minutes to decide the winner. The game went into a gruelling 30 minutes but it was England who scored two goals ion Extra-Time to record an heroic World Cup win.

Over 1.5 million attended the 32 matches played during the finals with nearly 100,000 watching the final alone. Goodison Park (Everton), Hillsborough (Sheffield Wednesday), Roker Park (Sunderland), White City Stadium, Villa Park (Aston Villa), Old Trafford (Manchester United), Ayresome Park(Middlesborough) and of course, Wembley, where all the stadiums used during the 19 day tournament.

Another record, amusing but unique nonetheless, was the arrival of the very first World Cup mascot in the form of World Cup Willie. He was a Lion which was a typical symbol of United Kingdom.

Final:

England 4 – 2 West Germany (After Extra-Time) – Wembley Stadium ~ 88,000 Attendance

Goalscorers:

England – Hurst x3, Peters
West Germany – Haller, Weber

Third Place Play-Off:

Portugal 2 – 1 USSR

Goalscorers:

Portugal – Eusébio, Torres
USSR – Malofeyev

Host:Sweden
Winners: Brazil
Runners-up: Sweden

Third Place: France
Fourth Place: Germany
Top Goalscorer: Just Fontaine (France)– 13 Goals
Participants: 16 (Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Hungary, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Scotland, Sweden, USSR, Wales, West Germany, Yugoslavia)

1958 seen Scandinavia embrace the World Cup for the first time in the tournaments history as Sweden were granted the opportunity to host the finals. 35 games were played in total with nearly a million fans attending the matches throughout the tournament. Although the home nation did their very best to get behind their country, they couldn’t drive their team towards what would have been their first World Cup title but came ever so close. Sweden surpassed as expectations by reaching the final but succumbed to a 5-2 defeat in the final to Brazil who evidentially won their very first World Cup title.

There were a few new entries for the 1954 World Cup. The Soviet Union took part in their début World Cup while all of the British Isle’s participated in the finals with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all making the cut for Sweden 1958.

The format of the tournament was changed slightly. There was still 16 teams competing in four groups of four but for the first time countries played each other at least once with a draw equally a sharing of the spoils instead of the usual Extra-time policy. However, some a tad strange for the modern day fan was their level points policy. If second and third were to finish on the same amount of points then a play-off match would be needed to decide who went through instead of modern rules which say it would go down to goal difference and head-to-head results.

Final:

Sweden 2 – 5 Brazil – Råsunda Stadium ~ 51,800 Attendance

Goalscorers:

Sweden – Liedholm, Simonsson

Brazil – Vava x2, Pele x2, Zagallo

Third Place Play-Off:

West Germany 3 – 6 France

Host: Uruguay

Winners: Uruguay

Runners-up: Argentina
Third Place: United States
Fourth Place: Yugoslavia
Top Goalscorer: Guillermo Stabile – 8 Goals
Participants: 13 (Argentina, Belgium, Boliva, Brazil, Chile, France, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, United States, Uruguay, Yugoslavia)

1930 saw the very first World Cup take place with just 13 teams participating  with Uruguay winning their very first World Cup title against Fellow South Americans Argentina. Uruguay were given the honour of hosting the very first World Cup finals due to the fact that the country were celebrating the centenary of their independence.

13 is unlucky for some and certainly a bizarre number of participants for a World Cup. There was nine countries from South America in action while just four from Europe made the trip around the world to Uruguay. Many European countries simply could not afford to travel across the globe just for a football tournament, hence why so many South Americans took part.

Lucien Laurent of France has the unmatchable honour of claiming the first ever goal in a World Cup when they beat Mexico 4-1 to also claim the first ever victory in a World Cup.

Final: Uruguay 4 – 2 Argentina – Montevideo 93,000 Attendance

Goalscorers:
Uruguay – Dorado, Cea, Iniarte, Castro
Argentina – Peucelle, Stabile