Down memory lane — World Cup football finals that thrilled
THE World Cup is the most prestigious competition in world football, with the best teams competing for honours. Since the inaugural competition, when it was called the Jules Rimet Trophy, the tournament has produced eight different champions. Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, England and Spain have won the trophy. Brazil has the most wins, lifting the trophy a record five times- 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Nicknamed ‘La Selecao’, Brazil is the only team to compete in all the 21 editions.
Ronaldo behind Brazil’s 2002 win
The story of the 2002 World Cup is dominated by one of the most heartwarming stories in the history of the World Cup- the astonishing, triumphant return of Ronaldo who roared with eight goals, including the one in the semi-final against Turkey and both in the
2-0 win over Germany in the final. Ronaldo carried Brazil to their fifth and most recent World Cup victory. Brazil won all seven games to the title, and the tournament belonged to Ronaldo. Since that epic win, Brazil has yet to reach the final of the World Cup.
Italy secures 2002 title
The 2006 World Cup final was contested between Italy and France, and was won by the Azzurri 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out, following a 1-1 draw at the conclusion of extra time. The match had been surrounded mostly around France’s Zinedine Zidane and Italy’s Marco Materazzi as Zidane was sent off after he head-butted Materazzi. Italy’s Andrea Pirlo was awarded Man of the Match, and Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tour- nament. Italy’s victory was its first world title in 24 years.
Spain’s moment of brilliance in 2010
The 2010 World Cup final was played at Soccer City in Johannesburg,
South Africa, and was contested by the Netherlands and Spain. Sergio Ramos had a chance to score for Spain early in the first half when his shot was saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, while Arjen Robben had a chance for the
Netherlands when he hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area shortly before half-time, which was saved by Iker Casillas. With the match goalless after 90 minutes, it went to extra time. Four minutes before the end, Andres Iniesta gave Spain the lead, with a volleyed shot in the corner. Spain’s win was its first World Cup title, as well as the first World Cup win by a European team outside Europe.
Germany wins 2014 title in extra time
There was magic in the decisive moment of the 2014 World Cup final, but it didn’t belong to Lionel Messi. It was instead conjured by a pair of Germany substitutes to ensure the most complete team lifted the coveted trophy. Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the title at Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. The match remained scoreless into extra time when Mario Gotze scored a superb goal in the 113th minute after receiving a cross from Andre Schurrle. The victory was the fourth World Cup triumph for Germany which last won in 1990, defeating Argentina in another cagey final.
France beats Croatia to lift 2018 title
The 2018 World Cup was over, and 20 years after capturing France’s first World Cup on home soil in 1998, the Les Bleus took the trophy back home with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia. It was the usual suspects scoring, with Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and an own goal, gifting France the 4-2 victory over a Croatia team that had an amazing run. The final was an exciting spectacle, with France reeling away winners. The 90 minutes brought the joint highest goal tally in a final since 1958.
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