World Cup History
Ten World Cup finals classics
The 32 qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals have been confirmed, the Football Association of Ireland's best efforts notwithstanding, and as attention turns to next summer's showpiece event in South Africa, ESPN Soccernet casts an admiring eye over some of the greatest games to grace the competition.
• Watch some of these matches, and many others, on ESPN Classic (available in the UK on Sky 429 and Virgin Media 533). Click here for more info
From unforgettable finals to seismic shocks, these were the matches that captured the imagination of the watching world; showcasing some of history's finest players, the competition's greatest goals and more than a hint of drama and controversy.
Brazil 1-2 Uruguay - 1950
As hosts of the tournament, Brazil were substantial favourites to secure their first World Cup triumph and, given the structure of the competition - never used before or since - required only a draw in their final group game against Uruguay to lift the trophy.
The Brazilian nation was completely convinced of imminent glory and the estimated 210,000 who packed into the brand new Maracană stadium were infused with confidence, especially when Friaca gave Brazil the lead after 47 minutes.
But then came the response that no-one in South America's most populous nation had anticipated. Juan Schiaffino netted after 66 minutes and Alcides Ghiggia completed the turnaround with 11 minutes remaining.
The largest crowd in World Cup history was left stunned. Disbelieving. As FIFA president and father of the World Cup Jules Rimet said: "The silence was morbid, sometimes too difficult to bear." Uruguay's winning captain Obdulio Varela was quietly handed the trophy before his side hid in their dressing room.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary - 1954
Dubbed 'The Miracle of Berne', West Germany's victory over Hungary in the 1954 final was a shock to rival any in World Cup history.
Hungary had beaten their opponents 8-3 in the group stages and, when they took a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes - with the great Ferenc Puskás and Zoltán Czibor beating Toni Turek - another hammering looked on the cards. But the German side that suffered the previous defeat had been substantially weakened and, at the Wankdorf Stadium on July 4, Herberger's full-strength side demonstrated real reserves of spirit as they clawed their way level through Max Morlock (10) and Helmut Rahn (18). Nándor Hidegkuti hit the woodwork and Turek repelled wave after wave of Hungarian attacks, but Rahn struck with six minutes remaining and even Puskás could not rescue his side as a late effort was ruled out for offside.
Portugal 5-3 N Korea - 1966
Unheralded North Korea had already produced one of international football's greatest shocks when Pak Doo-Ik's goal defeated Italy in the 1996 group stages at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park, but few gave them any chance when meeting a Portugal side boasting the great Eusébio in the quarter-finals. Incredibly, North Korea took the lead inside the first minute when Pak Seung-Zin fired a shot in off the underside of the crossbar. A shell-shocked Portugal somehow found themselves 3-0 down when Li Dong-Woon (22) and Yang Sung-Kook (25) opened up a 3-0 lead to widespread astonishment.
But North Korea could not contain the talent that was Eusébio, the man who would end the tournament as top scorer with nine goals. The North Koreans were powerless in the face of a force of nature: Eusébio claimed four goals and an assist to power Portugal through.
Brazil 4-1 Italy - 1970
Not only was the 1970 final one of the best World Cup matches in history, it also showcased one of the most famous goals of all time scored by arguably the greatest team of all time. This was the Brazil of Pelé, Tostăo, Jairzinho and Rivelino, and their crowning glory was an unforgettable 4-1 win over Italy in Mexico's Azteca Stadium. Pitting a thrillingly fluid attack from the nation most synonymous with attacking football against the country that gave us catenaccio, it was always destined to be a memorable contest and did not disappoint as Brazil claimed the Jules Rimet Trophy for keeps, having triumphed for the third time.
Briefly pegged back by a Boninsegna goal after Pelé's opener, Gerson and Jairzinho put Brazil on the road to victory before right-back Carlos Alberto came charging in to blast a Pelé pass past Albertosi to ensure immortality for a uniquely talented crop of players.
Scotland 3-2 Netherlands - 1978
Despite the confident prediction of manager Ally MacLeod that Scotland would return from the 1978 World Cup with "at least a medal", only a victory by at least three goals in their final group game - against the total footballers of the Netherlands - would get the Scots out of the group.
Rob Rensenbrink scored from the penalty spot after 34 minutes, but 'Ally's Army' rallied and Kenny Dalglish drew his side level a minute before half-time when converting from Joe Jordan's header.
Two minutes after the restart, Graeme Souness was fouled in the area and Archie Gemmill scored from 12 yards. Qualification for the knockout stages was still unlikely at best for Scotland, but on 68 came the goal that gave them real hope. Collecting the ball on the right-hand side of the Dutch box, Gemmill jinked his way past three markers before dinking the ball over the advancing Jan Jongbloed to score one of the great World Cup goals, later immortalised in the film Trainspotting.
But the script was not written for Scotland and, four minutes later, Rep unleashed a brilliant shot from 25 yards that knocked McLeod's side out of the competition.
France 3-3 West Germany - 1982
As the first World Cup semi-final to be settled on penalties, this meeting in Seville on July 8 was historic enough. But in the endeavour of both sides, the drama that permeated the game and one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history, it was truly unforgettable.
An intense encounter poised at 1-1 exploded in the second half when West German keeper Harald Schumacher rushed recklessly off his line and turned his body in midair to thump his hipbone into the face of Patrick Battiston. The Frenchman lost two teeth and was unconscious for around half an hour, but one of the most blatant assaults in football history went unpunished as Germany were awarded a goalkick.
France could have won the game when Manuel Amoros rattled the crossbar, but a period of extra time was ushered in that was to be even more dramatic than the 90 minutes that had preceded it.
Goals from Marius Tresor (92) and Alain Giresse (98) looked to have given Les Bleus an unassailable lead, but substitute Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (102) and Klaus Fischer (108), with a tremendous bicycle kick, ensured penalties would decide the contest. Uli Stielike saw his effort palmed away by Ettori and France looked to be on their way, but Schumacher, the villain of the piece, then denied Didier Six and Maxime Bossis as Germany prevailed.
France 1-1 Brazil - 1986
Four years on from their heart-breaking defeat to West Germany, France again found themselves at the mercy of spot-kicks when facing Brazil in a quarter-final tie in Guadalajara, but this time the outcome was to favour Michel Platini and his team-mates in a game that would capture the imagination of the watching world.
A wonderfully-crafted move put Brazil in front when Careca scored after 17 minutes. With half-time looming, Platini tucked home a loose ball at the far post. Still the chances came thick and fast in the second period - Careca hitting the woodwork again for Brazil - before the introduction of the unfit Zico as a substitute appeared to turn the tide in favour of the South Americans.
The man known as the 'White Pelé' made his first contribution with a typically brilliant pass to release Branco, Bats bringing him down for a penalty. The stage was set for Zico but, from 12 yards he saw his effort turned away by the French keeper.
In extra time, Brazilian keeper Carlos somehow escaped censure for a blatant foul on Bruno Bellone as he charged through on goal and, in the overbearing Mexican heat, the game was to be decided on penalties. Socrates casually took the first spot-kick and saw his effort saved by Bats, but France surrendered control when Platini, of all people, skied their fourth kick over the bar. Brazil slipped up immediately when Julio Cesar then hit the post, meaning Fernandez had the honour of erasing the hurt of four years previous by converting the final kick.
Cameroon 1-0 Argentina - 1990
The opening game of the 1990 World Cup in Italy witnessed one of the biggest shocks in football history when unfancied Cameroon defeated reigning champions Argentina - Diego Maradona and all - despite finishing the game with only nine men.
After soaking up early pressure from Argentina, Cameroon's hopes seemed to have evaporated when André Kana-Biyik was dismissed after 61 minutes for a challenge on Claudio Caniggia.
But the exuberant African side could not be subdued and just six minutes later, François Omam-Biyik, brother of the dismissed André, produced a remarkable leap to soar above the Argentina defence and power a header under Nery Pumpido and into the net, sparking acrobatic and unrestrained celebrations from his team-mates.
Cameroon could even afford to lose a second player to a red card when Benjamin Massing committed a horrible foul on Caniggia. It was an ugly conclusion to a game that showcased the beautiful unpredictability of football.
Senegal 3-3 Uruguay - 2002
While the watching world focused on the shock demise of defending champions France in their 2-0 defeat to Denmark, 35 miles away in Suwon, a bone-fide classic was taking place between Senegal and Uruguay as Group A reached a dramatic conclusion. Needing a draw to reach the knockout stages, Senegal cruised into a 3-0 lead by half-time only for Uruguay to fight back to set up the possibility of one of the finest comebacks in World Cup history. Unfortunately for them, Richard Morales was to produce an awful miss in stoppage time.
Having shocked France in their opening game and then drawn with Denmark, Senegal were bursting with confidence and established an early lead on 20 minutes when El Hadji Diouf won a disputed penalty, allowing Khalilou Fadiga to score from 12 yards. Six minutes later, Papa Bouba Diop sidefooted home and it was the same player, despite appearing offside, who converted the third off the underside of the bar.
Seemingly beaten and heading out of the World Cup, Uruguay introduced Diego Forlán and Morales at half-time and the latter scored within 20 seconds of the restart. Hopes of a stunning turnaround were given further impetus on 69 minutes when Forlán produced a remarkable chest and volley from outside the box.
Morales proved influential again when winning a dubious penalty that Alvaro Recoba converted with two minutes remaining. By this point, Senegal had abandoned all pretence of poise or control and in added time, and with Senegal keeper Tony Sylva stranded, the ball dropped into the path of Morales. With the goal at his mercy and glory beckoning, the Nacional striker headed agonisingly wide.
Italy 2-0 Germany - 2006
Two countries so intimately associated with the long history of the World Cup contrived to produce a largely unremarkable 90 minutes as the first semi-final of the 2006 tournament took on a typically cagey form. That was to change entirely during an exhilarating period of extra-time. When the dust finaly settled on a thrilling contest, it was Italy who progressed to the final, thanks to two perfectly-executed goals as the clock approached 120 minutes.
Italy had been somewhat fortunate that the game had got that far after Fabio Cannavaro brought Lukas Podolski down in the box after 81 minutes, only for the referee to signal for a free-kick rather than a penalty. That shaky moment behind them, the Azzurri took the game to Germany in extra time, no doubt fearing the outcome should the tie be decided by penalties.
Alberto Gilardino, Gianluca Zambrotta and Lukas Podolski had all gone close but, with penalties looming, two moments of magic settled the tie. After 119 goalless minutes, Andrea Pirlo produced a sumptuous, disguised pass to find Fabio Grosso in the box and the left-back hit a first-time, curling effort that evaded Jens Lehmann. With Germany in disarray, Italy charged forwards once more and another beautiful pass from Gilardino released Alessandro Del Piero, who clipped a fine shot past the despairing Lehmann. Cue hearts breaking across the host nation.