FIFA World Cup - A History 1962 to 2002

1962 Hosts for the 1962 edition were Chile despite1982 in Spain. Eight more teams participated bringing
recently having suffered a devastating earthquake.the total to 24. The idea was to allow the lesser
Brazil were favorites to retain the trophy but Chilefootballing countries to enter the tournament. The
thought they had a world-beating plan of action.idea was vindicated by impressive displays by Algeria
Before they played Italy they ate spaghetti and won.and Cameroon. Italy proved to be unstoppable that
Before they played Switzerland they ate Swissyear and defeated the strong West German side 3-1
cheese and won. Before they played Russia theyin the final even after Antonio Cabrini of Italy
drank vodka and won (must have been an interestingbecame the first player to miss a penalty in a World
game). So when they came up against Brazil in theCup final.Statistics Host Country: SpainCountries:
semi finals, what did they do? Did they eat BrazilAlgeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon,
nuts? No, they drank coffee and promptly lost 4-2.Chile, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, France,
Brazil once again claimed the trophy by beatingHonduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand,
Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final.Statistics Host Country:Northern Ireland, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, USSR,
ChileCountries: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile,West Germany, YugoslaviaFinal: Italy 3, West
Colombia, Czechoslovakia, England, Hungary, Italy,Germany 1Top goal scorer: Paolo Rossi, Italy (6)1986
Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR, WestColombia had been chosen to host the 1986 World
Germany, YugoslaviaFinal: Brazil 3, CzechoslovakiaCup but was unable to due to economic
1Top goal scorer: Drazen Jerkovic, Yugoslavia (5)1966considerations so the venue was switched to Mexico
In 1966 the World Cup came back to where thedespite strong efforts by Holland and the United
modern game of football began in 1863, England andStates to have the competition on home soil. Brazil,
the trophy was destined to stay there for fourthe favorites were knocked out in the quarter finals
years. It might have stayed there permanentlyby France on penalties. Another quarter final saw
because when it was put on show at theArgentina's Diego Maradona famous "hand of God"
Westminster Central Hall in London four monthsgoal against England. Several billion TV viewers saw
before the tournament was to start it was stolen.him use his hand to punch the ball into the back of
Seven days of acute embarrassment ensued whilethe English goal but the referee did not. It was a
authorities tried to find the missing cup without anyblatant cheat that still rankles with English fans today
result. Eventually a black and white dog called "Pickles"as it saw their team go home. In the final against
found it underneath a hedge wrapped in newspaperWest Germany he showed that he didn't need to
whilst doing what dogs do under hedges. Pickles shotcheat to win as he brilliantly led his country to a hard
to stardom and the English Football Association had afought win by 3 goals to 2.Statistics Host Country:
replica of the trophy made - "just in case". TheMexicoCountries: Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil,
replica can still be seen at the English National FootballBulgaria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Hungary,
Museum.The 1966 World Cup was memorable forIraq, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Northern Ireland,
several reasons. It was the first World Cup to have aParaguay, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, South Korea,
mascot - "World Cup Willie", a lion dressed in theSpain, Uruguay, USSR, West GermanyFinal: Argentina
English strip. It was a World Cup marred by vicious3, Germany 2Top goal scorer: Gary Lineker, England
tactics on the field and by poor refereeing that saw(6)1990 The 14th World Cup was without doubt the
Brazil literally kicked off the pitch in the first round.most boring so far. Every team was so scared of
The final against West Germany was also memorablelosing that games became low-scoring brutal chess
due to one of the most controversial goals in Cupmatches. Both semi finals went into extra time and
history. In extra time Geoff Hurst of Englandthen went on to be decided by penalty kicks. The
launched a shot that hit the underside of the goalfinal contested by West Germany appearing in its last
crossbar and bounced down. The referee ruled that itWorld cup before unification and Argentina. In a dour
had landed behind the goal-line and was therefore aand dirty struggle with two sendings off. West
goal. The West Germans protested that it did not goGermany won 1-0 by way of a penalty.Statistics
behind the line but the linesman upheld the refereeHost Country: ItalyCountries: Argentina, Austria,
and the goal stood. Hurst put the matter beyondBelgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica,
doubt in the last minute by scoring.Statistics HostCzechoslovakia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Italy,
Country: EnglandCountries: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria,Netherlands, Romania, Scotland, South Korea, Spain,
Chile, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, NorthSweden, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United
Korea, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR,States, USSR, West Germany, YugoslaviaFinal: West
West GermanyFinal: England 4, West Germany 2Germany 1, Argentina 0Top goal scorer: Salvatore
(after extra time)Top goal scorer: Eusebio, Portugal"Toto" Schillaci, Italy (6)1994 FIFA saw the United
(9)1970 Mexico 1970 was Brazil's and Pele's WorldStates as an untapped market as far as football (or
Cup. After 1966 when Brazil were knocked out in thesoccer as the Americans call it) was concerned and
first round, Pele had vowed never to play in theso decided to award the 1994 tournament to them.
World Cup again. Fortunately he was persuaded toItaly were on song with their play-maker Roberto
make a final appearance in 1970. Hopes were high inBaggio playing some sublime football. Argentina were
England for a repeat of the 1966 success buthopeful that a newly re-called Maradona could steer
matters were not helped when the England captainthem to success but the hope evaporated when he
was jailed for four days on manufactured charges ofproved positive for a banned substance and was
stealing a bracelet in Guadalajara a couple of weekssent home in disgrace. The U.S. on home ground had
before the opening game. Those, the humid playinga better than expected tournament finally going out
conditions and Gerd Muller in devastating form, wereto Brazil. Earlier they had beaten Colombia thanks to
enough to see West Germany take their revenge inan own goal by Colombian Andres Escobar who was
the quarter final for the defeat in the previousshot dead when he arrived back home. The final
competition's final. But Brazil seemed unstoppablebetween Brazil and Italy was an absorbing game of
thanks to their magnificent attackers but theirBrazil's irresistible attacking force meeting Italy's
defense was questionable. Could the Italian front lineimmovable defensive force. Predictably the match
turn this to their advantage? At half time it seemedended 0-0 after extra time so it went to the
that they could with the score line at 1-1 and thepenalties and sudden death. Roberto Baggio of Italy
Brazilians obviously demoralized. But after half timesent his kick high over the cross-bar and Brazil were
Pele took charge laying on passes that led to twothe winners.Statistics Host Country: United
Brazilian goals and finding the net himself. Brazil hadStatesCountries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
won the World Cup for the third time and thereforeBulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Germany, Greece,
was allowed to keep the Jules Rimet TrophySouth Korea, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco,
permanently. Some year later it was stolen and neverNetherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Russia, Saudi
recovered. It is presumed it was meltedArabia, Spain, USA, Sweden, SwitzerlandFinal: Brazil 1,
down.Statistics Host Country: MexicoCountries:Italy 0 (3-2 on penalty kicks)Top goal scorer (Joint):
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador,Oleg Salenko, Russia and Hristo Stoitchkov, Bulgaria
England, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania,(6) 1998 France, played host to an expanded World
Sweden, Uruguay, USSR, West GermanyFinal: Brazil 4,Cup with the number of participants brought up to
Italy 1 (after extra time)Top goal scorer: Gerd Muller,32. Nobody thought that France had a chance of
West Germany (10)1974 In 1974, West Germanywinning and everyone was very surprised when the
played hosts for the competition for the new trophy,made it to the final. Amazement took the place of
the FIFA World Cup. West Germany had asurprise when the managed to destroy Brazil 3-0 in
tremendously strong side but then so did Holland withthe final. To this day nobody who isn't French can
its brand of "total football" and Poland. Holland beatexplain how they did it. Serious hooliganism reared its
Brazil 2-0 to face West Germany in the final in Berlinugly head during the early stages of the tournament
but the German ultra efficient football machine heldwhen English fans rampaged through Marseille and
out against the inspirational Dutch to grab a lateGerman fans attacked a police officer with an iron
winner.Statistics Host Country: Westbar and left him permanently brain
GermanyCountries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria,damaged.StatisticsHost Country: FranceCountries:
Chile, East Germany, Haiti, Italy, Netherlands, Poland,Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon,
Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay, West Germany,Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, England, France,
Yugoslavia, ZaireFinal: West Germany 2, NetherlandsGermany, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico,
1Top goal scorer: Grzegorz Lato, Poland (7)1978 1978Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay,
saw the FIFA World Cup being held in Argentina andRomania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, South
it was one of the most controversial with veryKorea, Spain, Tunisia, United States, YugoslaviaFinal:
strange refereeing and organizational decisionsFrance 3, Brazil 0Top goal scorer: Davor Suker,
seeming to favour the home country. In aCroatia (6)2002 For the first time the World Cup had
second-round match Argentina needed to score atco-hosts in Japan and South Korea. It was also the
least four goals against Peru. It scored six and Perufirst to be held on the continent of Asia. Fears of
were heavily criticized for giving the game away. Inmajor rioting due to hooligans proved unfounded due
the final Argentina seemed to have an extra man into the superb preparations by the co-hosts and the
referee Sergio Gonella. His decisions were so blatantlywhole tournament had a party atmosphere. It was
pro Argentina that there were calls (particularly byalso a tournament of upsets. In 1998 the United
the Dutch) for the match to be re-played in a neutralStates had finished last but in 2002 they sailed into
country - calls that fell on deaf ears.Statistics Hostthe quarter finals before being knocked out by
Country: ArgentinaCountries: Austria, Argentina, Brazil,Germany. France, the holders were eliminated in the
France, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands,first round without scoring a single goal and Italy left
Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Westthe tournament early after some poor refereeing. In
GermanyFinal: Argentina 3, Netherlands 1 (after extrathe end it was Brazil and Germany who contested
time)Top goal scorer: Mario Kempes, Argentinathe final with Brazil winning by two goals.
(6)1982 An expanded World Cup was launched in