| 1. |
Brazil 1970
Often described as the best
football team of all time. It had individual world class players overall in
midfield and attack. Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, the list goes on and
on. They won all their six games in the cup of 1970. |
| 2. |
West Germany 1974
This was also a superb team.
Beckenbauer as leader in defence and behind him was Sepp Maier, one of the
best goalkeepers of all time. Overath and Bonhof also were quality players
and of course the notorious Gerd Müller up front, who averaged more than a
goal a game for the Germans, and scored the winning goal in the final
itself. |
| 3. |
Italy 1982
They started the tournament
with three draws, but then found form and beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and
West Germany in consecutive matches. They based their team on defensive
strength. 40 year old Dino Zoff was the captain and goalkeeper and he had
Gentile and Scirea as leaders in defence. Dangerous winger Bruno Conti was
instrumental as well as midfielder Tardelli. Up front was Paolo Rossi in top
form as the tournament progressed, and scored six times in Italy's last
three matches. |
| 4. |
Brazil 1994
Brazil had in 1994 for once a
solid defence, and that was the main reason why they for the first time in
24 years managed to win the World Cup. Romario was their outstanding player,
and he had Bebeto as colleague up front. Other great players were Leonardo,
Dunga and Jorginho. |
| 5. |
Holland 1974
They didn't win the World
Cup, but they still deserve a place on the Top 10 list of great teams. They
scored 15 goals in the cup and only let in one goal on their way to the
final and that was an own goal. Cruyff, Neeskens, Rep, Rensenbrink and van
Hanegem thrilled the world, and could with a little more luck have won the
cup. They had all the qualities. |
| 6. |
West Germany 1990
Definitely a worthy champion
of the dull tournament in Italy in 1990. They were one of very few teams who
relied on attacking skills, rather than defensive safety and were rewarded
with the cup. Matthäus was their great player, alongside attacking left-back
Brehme who scored the winning goal in the final itself. Other great names
were Klinsmann, Völler and Kohler. |
| 7. |
France 1998
The latest champions had
their strength in a central line with Blanc and Desailly in defence to Petit
and Deschamp in midfield. The team was built around those players. Attacking
fullbacks Lizarazu and Thuram helped in attack as France lacked world class
strikers. This was tactically a very strong team. |
| 8. |
Hungary 1954
Another team who failed to
win the cup, but had all the qualities. Scored an incredible 27 goals in the
1954 cup. They beat both Brazil and defending champions Uruguay 4-2, but
lost 3-2 in the final to West Germany. This team had legends like Puskas,
Kocsis and Hidegkuti and hadn't lost in 30 games before the final. |
| 9. |
Argentina 1986
This team of course had
Maradona and that made them automatically a great team. But other players
contributed as well, among them were Burruchaga, Valdano and the great
centerback Ruggeri. They helped Argentina win the cup in 1986. This team was
also the last team so far to become champions without needing extra-time or
penalty shoot-outs on their way. |
| 10. |
Brazil 1958
This class of '58 invented
the famous 4-2-4 system. It also saw Pelé emerge as a 17 year old having
started the tournament on the bench. Garrincha, Vava, Didi and Zagallo were
other famous names in Brazil's first ever World Cup triumph. |
