FIFA World Cup: Only 8 countries claimed trophy so far
Brazil won 5 times, Germany and Italy each claimed 4 titles
By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA
The FIFA World Cup is the most coveted title in football, with only eight countries winning the trophy in 20 tournaments.
The tournament's history saw the title going to only two continents so far, with five European countries and three South American countries winning.
Brazil is won the most World Cup titles (five). They last won in 2002, when the tournament was held in South Korea and Japan.
Germany and Italy are just behind Brazil, winning the title four times. While Germany enter the tournament as the reigning World Cup champions, Italy failed to book their ticket to Russia after being eliminated by Sweden in qualifying playoff matches.
While Germany and Brazil participated in the finals a total of 15 times, their only match against each other in the World Cup final was in 2002, when Brazil won 2-0.
Argentina and Uruguay both won the tournament twice, while England, France and Spain brought home the trophy once.
Netherlands' unlucky finals history
The Netherlands have historically been one of the more exciting teams to play in the World Cup but they have never won the title despite three final appearance.
The Dutch football team managed to advance to the World Cup, first in 1974 against hosts West Germany. Their second chance came in the very next tournament in 1978, when they lost to the hosts Argentina.
The Netherlands last lost to Spain in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Then-Czechoslovakia and Hungary both advanced to the final two times, but failed to claim the trophy. Sweden also lost in their only World Cup final appearance.
Here are the World Cup finals results:
Date | Winners | Runners-up | Result |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | 4-2 |
1934 | Italy | Czechoslovakia | 2-1 (ET) |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | 4-2 |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | 2-1 |
1954 | West Germany | Hungary | 3-2 |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | 5-2 |
1962 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | 3-1 |
1966 | England | West Germany | 4-2 (ET) |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | 4-1 |
1974 | West Germany | Netherlands | 2-1 |
1978 | Argentina | Netherlands | 3-1 (ET) |
1982 | Italy | West Germany | 3-1 |
1986 | Argentina | West Germany | 3-2 |
1990 | West Germany | Argentina | 1-0 |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | 0-0 (3-2 on pens) |
1998 | France | Brazil | 3-0 |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | 2-0 |
2006 | Italy | France | 1-1 (5-3 on pens) |
2010 | Spain | Netherlands | 1-0 (ET) |
2014 | Germany | Argentina | 1-0 (ET) |