Best team never to win the World Cup?

[Guest Nikica]

Doubt this will receive much debate as most people on here are fairly young, but figured I'd ask anyway. It's always entertaining to speculate. There are some full games available of the older teams. Some candidates:

 

The Brazilian team of 1950. Played in white at the time, and were expected to win the World Cup on home soil. They hammered everyone. The final stage was a group, and Brazil only needed to draw with Uruguay to win the title - they lost 2-1 after being 1-0 up. It is known as 'Maracanazo' and some Brazilians actually committed suicide in the aftermath as a result. The goalkeeper Barbosa should possibly have saved the winning goal and was made a pariah in his own country for the rest of his life.

 

The Magical Magyars/Golden Team of Hungary, 1954. Built around a core of players such as Puskas, Hidegkuti, Kocsis. Inflicted England's first ever defeat at Wembley by destroying them in 1953 by playing a somewhat revolutionary and confusing (to the English players) formation, then hammered them again in the rematch. Total football has its roots in their style. They destroyed West Germany in the group stage in 1954 but lost the final, but they still hold the record for most goals scored in a single World Cup. Interesting little story about Adidas from that game for anyone willing to look it up.

 

England, 1970. Argued to be even stronger than the team which won the WC on home soil four years previously, they matched the legendary Brazil side all the way in the group stage, losing a tight game 1-0. They really threw away the knockout game with West Germany. Possibly don't belong on this list simply because arguably the greatest international team of all time won the tournament.

 

Holland, 1974. Tactical master Rinus Michels's team. Tactical principles were built on 4-3-3 & total football, which went on to be staples of Barcelona. Had great players such as Krol, Rensenbrink, Haan, and of course Cruyff. Lost the final to home team West Germany despite going 1-0 up with a first minute penalty. It's interesting that two of West Germany's three titles came when they were the underdog going into the final.

 

Brazil, 1982. Amazing team with players such as Eder, Socrates, Falcao and the star of the team, Zico. Played sensational and entertaining football but a Paolo Rossi hat-trick eliminated them.

 

France, 1986. Had some great players such as Tigana, Giresse and Platini, but probably one of the weaker teams on this list.

 

Brazil, 2006. Heavily fancied to retain their title, despite playing on European soil. Had the so-called 'magic quartet' of Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldo and - the best player in the world at the time - Ronaldinho. Played a 4-2-2-2 to try and accommodate all four of them. It proved foolish and the team flattered to deceive, being eliminated by France in the QF, where Zidane (whom Ronaldinho had usurped) rolled back the years.

 

Spain could be added to this list this year, but given that they're playing in South America, that they've won three tournaments in a row, and the heart of their team (Xavi) is in decline, that would be pretty harsh. The law of averages says they have to lose some time.

 

 

Another notable shout may be the Austrian team of the 1930s, but that's going wayyy back. They were known as the Wonderteam. Some argue that they actually played total football before the Magyars.

Edited June 12, 2014 by Nikica

[Matt]

how about your best XI

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27699398