Since the Beginning - Interesting Facts

Championship

Only seven countries have won the championship since 1930 (17 World Cup games) :-   
Brazil (5),  Italy (4),  Germany (3),   Uruguay (2),  Argentina (2),   England (1),  France (1)

 

SN	Year	Winner	Score	Runner Up	Host
1	1930	Uruguay	4-2	Argentine	Uruguay
2	1934	Italy	2-1	Czechoslovakia	Italy
3	1938	Italy	4-2	Hungary	France
4	1950	Uruguay	2-1	Brazil	Brazil
5	1954	Germany	3-2	Hungary	Switzerland
6	1958	Brazil	5-2	Sweden	Sweden
7	1962	Brazil	3-1	Czechoslovakia	Chile
8	1966	England	4-2	Germany	England
9	1970	Brazil	4-1	Italy	Mexico
10	1974	Germany	2-1	Netherlands	Germany
11	1978	Argentina	3-1	Netherlands	Argentine
12	1982	Italy	3-1	Germany	Spain
13	1986	Argentina	3-2	Germany	Mexico
14	1990	Germany	1-0	Argentine	Italy
15	1994	Brazil	3-2	Italy	USA
16	1998	France	3-0	Brazil	France
17	2002	Brazil	2-0	Germany	Korea/Japan
18	2006	Italy	(5-3)	France	Germany

* Score in brackets are from Penalty kicks.

Highlights of 2006 Soccer World Cup, Germany

Switzerland had not conceded in the last four FIFA World Cup matches, but it could not prevent it in 2006 against Ukraine and it lost the game.

Zidane, the French Captain, who was retiring from Soccer this year, received the Golden Ball, but later it was taken back from him. He exited from the match in disgrace as he hit the chest of Italy's Marco Meterazzi while playing in the final match.

32 countries participated in this match from six continents.