History no 19: the fifa world cup has been staged 19 times. This would be the 20th time and brazil is the only country to have taken part in all editions to date. And with seven finals, five triumphs and two runner-up medals, they are also the best performing team. Their 1st final came in 1950 against uruguay(coincindentally they were host), in which they lost to the albiceleste 1-2. Then 8 years later in sweden, they stormed into the world scene by dismantling the hosts 5-2 in the final to claim a 1st world title. They wouldnt wait much longer for a 2nd to come as just in the next edition in chile 1962, they were again victorious over the now defunct czechslovakia. 3-1 they won to go level on 2 world cups with uruguay and italy. Then in 1970 in mexico and boasting the best squad football has ever seen to date, they ran all the way to the final before tearing apart italy 4-1 to take home the jules rimet trophy for a 3rd time and surpass the azurris. A period of drought then followed as brazil failed to make the final till 24 years time in U.S.A. 1994, were they came up against italy( yes, those azzurris again) but it wasnt any easy this time around as only a penalty shootout miss from star italian roberto baggio handed the trophy for a 4th time. Four years later in france, against france at the stade de france, they were well beaten 3-0 by a zidane inspired les blues to lose a final for just the 2nd time. A 3rd consecutive final appearance followed and in yokohama, japan 2002, they defeated Germany 2-0 courtsey of two ronaldo goals to clinch a record 5th title in seven final apearances. They have not made the final since then but this might just be the year to finally break the yoke as history somtimes repeats itself, though they wont be champs if this gets to happen( remember 1950). Five days to go anyway.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 16:32:57 +0000
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