He has already started shooting the ball in Russia, which means the twenty-first edition of the World Soccer Championship. And is that without a doubt the great event, not only of football, but of sport on the planet, has generated over the decades moments of madness, passion and of course, glory.
However, of the twenty editions prior to the appointment in the European country, there are some that stand out above the rest thanks to their epic contests, legends that led their nations, extraordinary organization and moments that will remain in the retina of the lucky ones. who could enjoy it, either live or years later.
Therefore, I will take you on a tour of history and show you my Top 5 of the best World Cups. Accompany me…
Italy 1990
Despite all the controversies surrounding the organization, Italy 90'is considered one of the best world championships in history. And it is that great selections gave shine to the appointment in the country of the Bota. The Argentina of Maradona, champion of the previous edition, a great Italy with the plus of playing at home, the Germany of Brehme, Voller, Rummenigge, among others, plus a powerful England gave the Cup shine. On the other hand, selections They arrived at their peak performance but did not shine as expected, as they were Colombia and Belgium.
The semi-final between Italy and Argentina at San Paolo was marked as one of the most exciting matches in history, in addition to that clash between the own albiceleste and Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals.
Edition: 14
Matches: 52
Goals: 115
Average Goal: 2.2
Champion: Germany
Sub-Champion: Argentina
Third place: Italy
Fourth Place: England
Top scorer: Salvatore Schillaci (6 goals)
Best match: Italy-Argentina (Semifinal)
France 1998
Marked as the world cup with the most goals in history, France 98 saw stars such as Zidane, Trezeguet, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bergkamp, Batistuta, among others. Young people like Patrick Kluivert and Michael Owen brought that much-needed fresh air to these dates. In addition, selections such as Chile with Zamorano and Salas, Croatia with Davor Suker and Paraguay with Chillavert generated pleasant surprises.
In the end, France took the championship that it had already deserved for many years defeating a depleted Brazil with Ronaldo decimated physically. Great venues in a very footballing country, good players and the crowning of a giant of the world football made the World Gaul won the number 3 in this top.
Edition: 16
Matches: 64
Goals: 171
Average Goal: 2.67
Champion: France
Sub-Champion: Brazil
Third place: Croatia
Fourth Place: Holland
Top scorer: Davor Suker (6 goals)
Best match: Brazil-Holland (Semifinal)
Switzerland 1954
Perhaps little known to most football fans, Switzerland 54 'could easily be the best World Cup ever played. In fact, he has the best goal average of all editions with a very high 5.38 per game. But it was definitely not exactly what made the Swiss country event spectacular, but it has not one or two, but up to three of the best matches in the history of the world.
First, the so-called "Battle of Bern", starring in the quarterfinals between Brazil and Hungary. Then, already in the semifinals, the very selection of the "Magic Magicians" faced the Uruguay that four years earlier had starred in the "Maracanazo" and that was led by Juan Alberto Schiaffino, but could not with his captain Obdulio Varela, sanctioned The so-called "Party of the century" before the Italy-Germany of 70 'was won by the Hungarians by 4-2 in overtime after the Charrúas managed to tie a 0-2.
However, the story would remind that Celeste as the selection that would truly take the title of world champion to a selection that seemed invincible as the wear produced in that semifinal game would settle in the loss of the title.
And is that only 4 days later, on July 4, would take place the best final in the history of the world, the so-called "Miracle of Bern." In that rainy afternoon in the Swiss capital the Hungarians arrived as very wide favorites against a Germany that had eaten 8 in its first game, precisely before the Magical Magyars. With the 2-0 on the scoreboard the title seemed imminent for the Hungarians.
However, a double by Rahn and another by Morlock led to one of the greatest surprises in the history of football. 29 games unbeaten and almost 4 years without losing had Hungary of Puskas, Czibor, Kocsis, Hidegkuti, Lantos, Grocsis, among others. However, she has been remembered for being the best team that did not win the World Cup, scoring up to 27 goals in that edition, a record that seems increasingly difficult to break.
Edition: 5
Matches: 26
Goals: 140
Goal Average: 5.38
Champion: Federal Germany
Sub-Champion: Hungary
Third place: Austria
Fourth Place: Uruguay
Top scorer: Sandor Kocsis (11 goals)
Best match: Hungary-Federal Germany (Final)
Mexico 1970
A super footballing country hosted the World Cup for the first time at the right time. And it is that Mexico 70 'would probably see the best selection in history led by the considered best player of all time. Of course I talk about the Brazil of Pele, Jairzinho, Gérson, Clodoaldo, Rivelino, Tostao, Carlos Alberto, among others.
Stars like Bobby Charlton, Gerd Muller, Frankz Benkenbauer, Gianni Rivera and Teófilo Cubillas formed a great constellation that shone at the event. However, the highlight of Mexico 70 'was the amount of broken records. For example, Jairzinho became the first and so far only player to score in every World Cup match. Also, Brazil is the only team that won each of their matches.
As if this were not enough, in this Cup took place what was known as the "Party of the Century", we speak of the best match in the history of the World Cup played between Germany and Italy. With a 1-1 on the scoreboard, the semifinal would be resolved in extra time, and then, the best: A total of 5 goals were scored in the aggregate 30 minutes, dictating the pass of the Azzurra to the grand final of the contest.
Already in the final, Brazil swept the Italians with a plethoric Pele, who became the first player to score 3 goals in two final matches of the world championships. With the 3-1 on the scoreboard would be considered the best goal of the final game: An almost unseen assistance from the King left alone the locomotive Carlos Alberto who shot razante beating Albertosi and give Canarinha his third world title.
Edition: 9
Matches: 32
Goals: 95
Goal average: 2.97
Champion: Brazil
Sub-Champion: Italy
Third place: Federal Germany
Fourth Place: Uruguay
Top scorer: Gerd Muller (10 goals)
Best match: Italy-Federal Germany (Semifinal)
Spain 1982
The majority of analysts, statisticians and lovers of world football agree, without any objection, that the event in the Iberian country is the best of the 20 editions to date. The fall of the most favored Brazil, the madness of Tardelli, the Molinón scam, among other historical events took place in Spain.
In addition, a wonderful and unrepeatable constellation of stars gathered at the twelfth edition of the world championships. Zico and Sócrates commanded the favorite Brazil, a young Maradona and Passarella to the albiceleste, Paolo Rossi and the captain Dino Zoff to the Azzurra, Matthaus and Rummenigge to the Manschatf, Platini and Giresse to France in addition to Lato and Boniek leading Poland.
Just in the first phase took place one of the biggest polemics in the world cups when Germany Federal defeated Austria 1-0 in a result that qualified both squads, leaving out automatically to Algeria. During the commitment it was clear that neither Germans nor Austrians wanted to dispute the match: They only made time and passed the ball until the referee blew the final of the match.
Already in the second phase, there was one of the biggest surprises of the world championship, and, without a doubt, the best exhibition of a player in a comparison of the dates: Paolo Rossi, with a Hack Trick left out to the surprise of million to the best Brazil in history (Said by Pele himself) with Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Toninho Cerezo, among other figures. The game is remembered as the greatest part of the history of soccer, as it changed to a great extent the way teams play later.
Once in the semifinals we find another game to remember: France-Germany, without doubt one of the most exciting in history. With a 1-1 on the scoreboard, Patrick Batiston entered, and with only a few seconds on the court was run by the German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher, losing 3 teeth and being unconscious on the lawn of the Santiago Bernabéu. Ironically, the hero of that night was precisely the Teutonic goalkeeper since with a 3-3 after the extension he stopped two penalties that gave him the pass to the grand final at the Germanos.
In the match for the championship, Paolo Rossi returned to shine and opened the scoring for Azzurra. Then took place the most iconic celebration of history when Marco Tardelli put the second unleashing his madness and that of all Italy. Alessandro Altobelli put the 3-0 and Paul Breitner made up the result. In that way, Italy achieved its third conquest in the best World Cup in history.
Edition: 12
Matches: 52
Goals: 146
Goal average: 2.8
Champion: italy
Sub-Champion: Germany
Third place: Poland
Fourth Place: France
Top scorer: Paolo Rossi (6 goals)
Best match: Germany-France (Semifinal)
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