@gonoles08

5mo

World Cup winners missing the knockout rounds

From 2010-2018, the defending World Cup champion missed the knockout rounds all three times. In 2010, defending champions Italy went out in the group stage with two 1-1 draws against Paraguay and New Zealand and a 3-2 loss to Slovakia finishing bottom of the group with two points (France, who they beat in the 2006 final also finished bottom of their group too with one point). Then in 2014, Spain crashed out of the group stage with a 5-1 loss to the Netherlands and a 2-0 loss to Chile before getting a meaningless 3-0 win against Australia to finish with 3 points. In 2018, Germany lost 1-0 to Mexico before bouncing back against Sweden, then got upset by South Korea 2-0 and finished bottom of the group with 3 points.

FIFA

Replies:

The worst World Cup final to make

In 2006 Italy and France played each other in the World Cup final, with Italy going on win in penalties after a Zidane headbutt. But the most surprising part might be both teams performances in the next World Cup. Both teams got a total of three points in the 2010 group stage and finished dead last in their respective groups. Italy tied 1-1 against Paraguay and New Zealand, then lost 3-2 to Slovakia. France tied 0-0 with Uruguay in their opening match, then lost 2-0 to Mexico and 2-1 to South Africa. France would end up bouncing back after that and win the World Cup in 2018 and finish runner ups in 2022. But Italy hasn’t recovered since and has won only one World Cup game since 2006 and has missed the World Cup three consecutive times

@Landon

NO NO NO NOT TODAY

Emiliano Martínez, the two time goalkeeper of the year award winner has the game of his life making 11 saves almost single handily carrying Argentina to a second World Cup in 8 years. The Aston Villa goalkeeper play every game this tournament with a broken finger!! His heroics will be remembered even though he came up just short.

@Landon

Spain Are Champions Of The World!

Spain is you 2026 FIFA World Cup Champions! They take down FIFA number one ranked defending champions Argentina down 1-0 in extra time. This is Spains second World Cup championship in their second appearance. They won the tournament against the Netherlands in 2010 also 1-0. They are not just champions of Europe but champions of the world!