Rivelino, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostao and Pele in his showiness. Defeat champions England, won every game in style and ending with the demolition of Italy and that wonderful team goal from Carlo Alberto.
Grandness rating 10/10
GERMANY 1974
Germany’s splendid side of Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller are right up there in the pantheon, if only for their final downing of Johan Cruyff and his incredible Dutch side, the world still remembers total package of the orange far more lovingly.
Grandness rating 8/10
ARGENTINA1978
Has home benefit counted for more at a World Cup (other than 1966, observably)? Could not beat Brazil and lost to Italy, but carried on a ton of tickertape, advantageous kick-off times, a impressionable Peru and the encouragement of Mario Kempes, they were very unforgettable.
Grandness rating 7/10
ITALY1982
Junior, Falcao, Socrates, and co was wondrous but Italy’s dazzling competence and Paolo Rossi’s deadly finishing make them one of the best champions in the world cup 1982.
Grandness rating 8/10
ARGENTINA 1986
It is so unmerited that a team’s performance should be so overshadowed, but Argentina did have all the think of a one-man show. Maradona’s hand of God and this was followed by his goals from paradise against Belgium and England. The last team to win without option to extra time or penalties.
Grandness rating 7/10
GERMANY 1990
Germany shone early on in Italy but, in a Cup of depressed quality, they needed penalties to beat England and then succeed against Argentina in the most suspicious, miserable final of all. Not grand.
Grandness rating 6/10
BRAZIL 1994
Brazil of Carlos Alberto Parreira went home after their fourth victory to an indifferent welcome. They had won but so had simplicity, personified in hard-hearted captain Dunga. One breathtaking win over Holland could not remove the memory of an dreadful final.
Grandness rating 6/10
FRANCE 1998
A marvellous French side, with Zinedine Zidane at his boasting finest, but the suspicion remained that they might not have crushed Brazil if the Ronaldo implosion had not happened. Well, how grand can a team be with Stephane Guivarc’h as their organized?
Grandness rating 7/10
BRAZIL2002
Most likely the undervalue squad of all, the only crime for the three Rs – Ronaldinho, Ronando and Rivaldo – was not to have anybody to beat. England, Turkey, Belgium and a ordinary Germany in the knockout stages.
Grandness rating 8/10
ITALY 2006
Italy of 2006 always did seem a fairly colourless lot, apart from one outstanding win over Germany in the semi-finals. We will always memorize Zidane ahead of Fabio Cannavaro.
