First World Cup is the sweetest . . .

WORLD CUP FINAL: FIRST-TIME WINNERS:A potted, even plotted history, of breakthrough World Cup successes

1930

Uruguay 4 Argentina 2

AS THE Sports Editor kindly pointed out, unless something went seriously awry, there was always going to be a first-time winner here. And where better to start than the hosts, with Uruguay proving a nation of just over three million could indeed provide world beaters. This was no flash in the pan, as La Celeste came into the inaugural event as the reigning Olympic champions.

Having overcome Peru and Romania in the group stages, Uruguay walloped Yugoslavia 6-1 in the semi-finals to set up a clash with their bitter rivals from across the River Plate.

A World Cup wouldn’t be a World Cup without some discord about the ball, and the final was delayed when both teams insisted on using one of their own choice. When a compromise was agreed, Uruguay came from 2-1 down to land the new Jules Rimet trophy in front of 90,000 adoring fans.

Did You Know?Just 300 paid to watch Romania and Peru, still the lowest attendance at any World Cup match.

1934

Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1 (after extra-time)

WHEREAS Uruguay profited from some marginal decisions four years earlier, Il Duce and the powers that be in Rome were determined to leave nothing to chance when it came to seeing their boys crowned world champions. Amid accusations of blatant corruption, Mussolini is believed to have personally chosen officials and met the referees in question for private “chats” before games.

As such, the fascist dictator must have been apoplectic when Czechoslovakia, all guile and craft, went in front with just 20 minutes left in the final. The Czechs might even have sealed victory with Frantisek Svoboda’s shot coming back off the bar. To the relief of Mussolini, and perhaps even the Swedish official, Raimundo Orsi equalised nine minutes from time. Sensing their chance was gone, Czechoslovakia conceded another in extra-time as Italy, and Mussolini, rejoiced.

Did you know?Luis Monti played for Italy in the final. Four years earlier he had been on the losing Argentina side.

1954

West Germany 3 Hungary 2

WHILE Germany will always celebrate the “Miracle of Berne”, the rest of the footballing world still views the tournament as the one Hungary let slip. Led by the incomparable Ferenc Puskas, the Mighty Magyars rode into the tournament on a wave of euphoria having made mugs of most teams throughout the previous two years.

Their confidence was hardly dented as they inflicted a 9-0 drubbing on South Korea in their opening game before hammering West Germany 8-3 in their next group match. But Puskas was kicked off the park and would not feature again until the final when both sides met again.

Despite Puskas’ injury, few gave the Germans a prayer. Yet, as they continue to prove, you write the Germans off at your peril. Already 2-0 down after 10 minutes, Germany launched a miraculous comeback to break Hungarian hearts.

Did you know?Supporters were treated to an amazing 5.38 goals-per-game, still by far the highest average. Fans in South Africa have had to make do with just 2.24.

1958

Brazil 5 Sweden 2

BRAZIL finally got their hands on football’s greatest prize in a tournament that would enter the history books as Edson Arantes do Nascimento’s World Cup. But although the 17-year-old Pele (inset, below) announced his arrival on the world stage in style, including a 20 minute hat-trick in the semi-finals, the emergence of Garrincha was just as vital.

Bizarrely, Brazil’s no-nonsense coach Vicente Feola kept both players in reserve until the third group game, when Garrincha’s wizardry helped earn a 2-0 win.

Wales would fall under the Little Bird’s spell in the quarters before France (for whom Just Fontaine scored a remarkable 13 goals) met a similar fate in the last four. An aging Swedish side were no match for Brazil’s young stars.

Did you know?Brazil's group 0-0 draw with Englandwas the first scoreless match at a World Cup.

1966

England 4 West Germany 2 (after extra-time)

ALTHOUGH they don’t like to talk about it, England won the World Cup back in 1966. We’ve consulted the record books. It’s true. In fairness to them, Alf Ramsey’s wingless wonders hardly had an easy passage and faced France, Uruguay, Argentina and Portugal en route to a final against West Germany.

Ramsey left goal-machine Jimmy Greaves (injured during the group stages) out of the side for the final and stuck with Geoff Hurst. Greaves would never forgive his manager but it paid off in spades as Hurst found the net three times (well, at least twice). England, who gave football to the world, finally brought it home.

Did you know?Tofik Bakhramov, the Russian linesman who awarded England's infamous third goal, was not Russian at all; he was from Azerbaijan.

1978

Argentina 3 Netherlands 1 (after extra-time)

NOT SINCE Italy’s win way back in 1934 has a tournament been so tainted by allegations of political interference and corruption. With the country in turmoil and led by a murderous military regime, the Argentine masses craved a World Cup win. The ruling Junta demanded it.

Argentina still went into their final group game needing to beat Peru by four clear goals to reach the final. Peru duly rolled over, conceding an extra two goals for good measure. The 6-0 rout, still one of the most insidious results in World Cup history, saw Argentina advance at Brazil’s expense to a final against the Netherlands. The Dutch (without Johann Cruyff, who refused to travel to South America because of fears for his personal safety) made a decent fist of it in the decider, but extra-time goals from Mario Kempes and Daniel Bertoni secured the trophy for Argentina. Cue the confetti.

Did you know?The Netherlands' defeat saw them become the first side to lose successive finals. Four years earlier they were beaten by West Germany, who went on to lose the '82 and '86 finals to Italy and Argentina respectively.

1998

France 3 Brazil 0

A DIVIDED nation was not even fully behind Les Bleus, with right-wing politicians bemoaning the number of black players on the team. But all that changed as the team, led by the inspirational Zinedine Zidane, marched inexorably to a final with Brazil.

The final itself was a curious affair and to this day nobody really knows what happened to Ronaldo. Rumours circulated the striker suffered a seizure the night before and was in no fit state to play, only for Nike executives to insist otherwise. The Brazilians were in disarray and mere bystanders as France reunited the nation.

Did you know?Laurent Blanc's extra-time winner for France against Paraguay in the second round was the World Cup's first Golden Goal.