Back-to-back World Cup winners: Argentina seek to join elite group

Argentina are one game away from becoming just the third team to successfully defend the World Cup, with European champions Spain standing in their way.

AFP Sport looks at how previous winners fared if they reached the final at the following tournament.

Italy, 1938

Italy were the first team in World Cup history to retain their title, beating Hungary 4-2 in the final of the 1938 tournament in France.

Four years earlier they had edged past Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome.

The Italians wore black shirts and gave a fascist salute before kick-off in the Paris suburbs.

On the eve of the final, the Italian players reportedly received a telegram from their leader Benito Mussolini that simply said: “Win or die.”

“I may have conceded four goals, but I saved their lives,” said Hungarian goalkeeper Antal Szabo.

Brazil, 1962

The Brazilians swept Sweden aside 5-2 in the 1958 final — with teenager Pele scoring twice.

Injury in the group stage four years later ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.

Garrincha featured in the final even though he had received a red card in the semi-final — Chilean supporters led a petition to allow the exhilarating winger to play.

Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1, with goals from Amarildo, Zito and Vava.

Argentina, 1990

Diego Maradona had almost single-handedly inspired Argentina to glory in Mexico in 1986 and he was back with several of his trusted lieutenants for the defence of the crown in Italy.

The South Americans faced West Germany in both finals but in 1990 they came unstuck.

An uneventful match was decided by the awarding of a late penalty, which Andreas Brehme tucked away.

Argentina were reduced to nine men by the final whistle.

Brazil, 1998

Mario Zagallo’s team reached the final in France four years after Brazil had triumphed in the United States.

The South Americans boasted a star-studded line-up including Roberto Carlos, Dunga, Rivaldo and Ronaldo.

But they were swept aside by an inspired France team.

Zinedine Zidane scored twice in a comprehensive 3-0 win in front of an ecstatic home crowd at the Stade de France as they lifted the trophy for the first time.

France, 2022

France came agonisingly close to retaining the World Cup crown they won in Russia in 2018.

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Didier Deschamps’ side twice came from behind to pull level at 3-3 in Doha’s Lusail Stadium.

But Randal Kolo Muani missed a glorious chance in the final moments and Argentina won on penalties as Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup.

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