Only 7 teams won FIFA world cup in last 80 years. Only 5 teams won soccer world cup in last 43 years. Only 5 teams won football world cup more than once. So, world cup winners should have special attributes like mental strength, consistency in standard of play and a bit of luck. Talent is not enough to win world cup. That’s why great teams like Spain, Holland and Portugal failed to win world cup even once.
History of World cup winners:
1. Brazil: 5-time winner of world cup. It won FIFA World cup in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Except in 2006, Brazil is either winning or reaching finals since 1994.
2. Italy: 4-time winner of world cup. It won FIFA world cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. Italy is now defending champion.
3. Germany: 3-time world cup winner. It won FIFA world cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990. Irrespective of form, Germany generally plays well at soccer world cups.
4. Argentina: 2-time world cup winner. It won FIFA world cup in 1978 and 1986. Its performances at recent world cups are patchy despite having great footballers.
5. Uruguay: 2-time world cup winner. It won FIFA world cup in 1930 and 1950. Uruguay is no longer considered as a favourite to win football world cups.
6. England: It won world cup in 1966. Its failure to beat top class teams is an obstacle. It generally reaches quarter-finals.
7. France: It won world cup in 1998 and reached finals in 2006.
Characteristics of world cup winners:
1. You need to have bench strength – unexpected injuries, red cards and substitutes will change course of many matches.
2. World class goal keeper: In knock out stages, penalties sometimes decide fate of team.
3. Coach: A bad coach can spoil fortunes of a strong squad and a good coach can motivate an above average team to do miracles.
4. Team: Stars are not enough to win games. They need to play like a unit. Top 5-6 teams generally participate with stars but they need to play as a unit.
Who are favourites?
Note: No European nation ever won FIFA world cup outside their continent. No nation won world cup with a foreign coach. Argentina and Brazil are the only nations who won world cups outside their continent.
1. Brazil: Strong favourite. It is very difficult to score goals against this defence. They play like a unit. But, mid-field has some weaknesses.
2. Spain: Squad has capability to win soccer world cup for first time. But, they need to play as in Euro 2008 but not as in 2009 Confederations cup.
3. England: Exceptional coach and world class players. But, can they beat teams like Brazil/Spain/Holland etc?
4. Netherlands: Best chance for them to win FIFA world cup for fist time. But, they need to beat Brazil in quarter-finals.
5. Argentina: Despite weak coach and bad selections, team has too many good players to create sensation.
6. Germany: They have exciting team of young players. If they can show traditional “German attitude”, they can surprise opponents.
Other teams:
7. Italy: Defending champions have very little chance.
8. France: Unless their stars shed egos and play as a unit, no chance.
9. Portugal: Tough draw. No chance.
10. African countries: May create some upsets but no chance to win world cup.
Share your views.
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i think Spain can win this world cup