Ranking every World Cup Final in history

10) 1974: West Germany 2, Netherlands 1

The Dutch’s famed Total Football fell just short of a world championship as they fell to host nation West Germany in the 1974 Final.  Both teams traded penalties early on before Gerd Muller’s winning strike just before halftime.

9) 1934: Italy 2, Czechoslovakia 1 (AET)

The second World Cup Final was the first that needed extra time to settle matters.  And for the second time in as many tournaments, the host nation emerged victorious.  Angelo Schiavio scored the game-winner in the 95th minute for the Azzurri.

8) 2010: Spain 1, Netherlands 0 (AET)

Spain’s golden generation cemented their status as one of the great all-time teams by following up their Euro 2008 victory with their first ever World Cup title.  It didn’t come without a fight though as the Netherlands tried to scratch and claw their way through tiki-taka.  Eventually, the Dutch couldn’t keep the irresistible force off the scoreboard and Andres Iniesta scored the cup winning goal in the 116th minute.  As much as this game will be remembered as the crowing achievement in Spain’s soccer dynasty, it’s also blighted by an insane 14 yellow cards dished out.

7) 1970: Brazil 4, Italy 1

Although the final score was lopsided, this game reaches #7 on our countdown because of the brilliance 1970 Brazil team.  Of all the great Brazilian teams, 1970 is generally regarded as the best of their championship sides.  Furthermore, it’s generally listed among the greatest ever international teams ever.  The fourth and final goal scored by Carlos Alberto is the pinnacle of what Brazilian soccer is all about and still stands as one of the best team goals ever scored.

6) 1978: Argentina 3, Netherlands 1 (AET)

The two sides who met in the 2014 World Cup semi were both looking for their first championship in 1978.  Unfortunately for the Orange and their famous Total Football, they fell in the final for the second year running to the home nation.  Before Maradona, it was Mario Kempes who played the role of hero.  The Argentine #10 won the Golden Boot in ’78 and scored two goals in the final, including the match winner in extra time in a great contest.

5) 1986: Argentina 3, West Germany 2

When you think of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, you immediately think of Diego Maradona’s two epic goals against England.  It’s a shame that the final gets overshadowed somewhat, because it was one of the most exciting in history (which is all the more amazing considering these two teams met again four years later in the worst WC Final on record).

Argentina took a 2-0 lead and looked well on their way to victory.  Then, West Germany scored 2 goals in 7 minutes deep in the second half to tie the game from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voller.  Then with just 6 minutes left, Maradona found Jorge Burruchaga behind the defense for the decisive strike.  Although he gained fame for his goals during the tournament, it was that pass that sealed Maradona’s destiny.

4) 2006: Italy 1, France 1 (Italy wins 5-3 on penalties)

There may be no more insane, controversial, shocking championship match across the world than the 2006 World Cup Final.  With the score tied 1-1 well into extra time, French captain Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi (ironically enough the two goalscorers on the day) and received a red card in his final game.

Here was the best player of the tournament, a three-time World Player of the Year, and one of the all-time greats VIOLENTLY HEADBUTTING SOMEONE IN THE CHEST IN HIS LAST GAME.  Oh, and it just happened to be in the World Cup Final. Even though it happened 8 years ago, I don’t think we still can wrap our minds around the gravity of how shocking that moment truly is.  Imagine the Lakers making the NBA Finals next year and Kobe Bryant punching LeBron James in the 4th Quarter of Game 7 to end his career.  Imagine Peyton Manning playing his final game in next year’s Super Bowl and being ejected for kicking Richard Sherman in the groin.

Italy happened to win the penalty shootout, but it will always be a footnote in history to the Zidane headbutt, one of the first truly great internet memes.

3) 1966: England 4, West Germany 2 (AET)

The 1966 World Cup Final had it all.  Excitement, storylines dripping with drama, late goals, and controversy.  For as much as England professes to be the physical and spiritual home of football, 1966 has proven to be their only world championship.  The English had homefield advantage at Wembley Stadium, and perhaps that helped with the most disputed goal scored in a World Cup Final.

After Wolfgang Weber’s 89th minute equalizer, England and West Germany went into extra time.  In the 101st minute, England striker Geoff Hurst turned and fired a shot that bounced off the crossbar and straight down.  It was called a goal in spite of German protests.  Even to this day there is doubt over whether the ball crossed the line.  You can watch the video and judge for yourself.  What can’t be disputed is the amazing fashion statement made by German goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski.

With England up 3-2, Hurst etched his name into the history books with a last second goal as fans were storming the pitch.  He completed the World Cup Final’s only hat trick in one of the most iconic scenes in sports.

2) 1950: Uruguay 2, Brazil 1

It’s one of the greatest upsets in the history of world soccer.  The first time Brazil hosted the last game of the World Cup at the Maracana it was supposed to be a coronation.  The 1950 tournament was unique in that the final wasn’t a traditional knockout tournament, but rather a final group.  Brazil met Uruguay in the final deciding game only needing a draw to win the tournament.  Uruguay had to win the game away from home in front of 170,000+ loyal Brazilians.  Brazil had won the first two games in the final group by a combined 13-2 scoreline.  Fans and the Brazilian press were already were claiming victory.

Brazil led 1-0 with a goal after halftime, but Uruguay stunned the world with two goals to completely flip the script.  Alcides Ghiggia scored the winner for Uruguay in the 79th minute as he slid a shot past goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa.  The result changed Brazilian soccer forever and has been called the country’s “irrevocable national catastrophe.”  The game and Barbosa’s tragic downfall are the subjects of a recent ESPN documentary that is highly recommended.

1) 1954: West Germany 3, Hungary 2

Hungary’s Golden Team is the greatest team ever assembled that you may not have heard about.  Although it’s hard to imagine Hungary being a world soccer power these days, in the 1950s they were the kings of the sport.  They revolutionized the sport with their offensive firepower and tactical brilliance.  Their list of accomplishments are unparalleled in the history of the sport.  1952 Olympic champions, 1953 Central European Champions, the first continental team to beat England at Wembley Stadium (a 6-3 victory in what was dubbed the Match of the Century), and the highest rated team of all-time.  In a span from 1950-1956, they only lost one game.

The one was the 1954 World Cup Final against West Germany.

In spite of losing the final, Hungary 1954 still holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup (27) and highest goal difference (+17).  West Germany had met Hungary in the group stage of the tournament and lost 8-3.  Their rematch in the final was supposed to be a fait accompli as Hungary was riding a then-record 31 game unbeaten streak.

After just 8 minutes, Hungary was up 2-0 thanks to goals from Ferenc Puskás and Zoltán Czibor and another comprehensive victory should have been a formality.  But the West Germans fought back, making scores level after just 18 minutes.  Then in the 84th minute Helmut Rahn scored the goal that turned the soccer world upside down and gave West Germany their first World Cup.

The impact of this game can’t be overstated, both from a soccer and cultural standpoint.  Of course, Hungary and Germany would see their footballing prowess continue to go in opposite directions from this moment onward.  Hungary would never again reach the heights of the Golden Team and Germany would go on to win two more World Cups and become one of the preeminent forces in the sport.

But this game meant much more than any on-the-pitch legacy.  The West German victory came less than a decade after the end of World War II in Europe.  In fact, the 1954 World Cup represented the first time West Germany had been welcomed back to the tournament after being banned in 1950.  The 1954 World Cup triumph has been cited as a turning point in post-war German history.  It was a moment that inspired national pride for one of the first times since the war.

Der Spiegel put it best when describing the importance of The Miracle of Bern in German history, “In one 90 minute match against Hungary, modern-day Germany was born.”

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