Brazil national football team

The Brazil national football team are the most successful team in world cup history. They have won the world cup a record five times and are the only national team to have played at every world cup finals.

They are the only nation to have won the world cup on four different continents. Twice in North America, once in Europe, once in South America and once in Asia. It is often said that if the English invented football, the Brazilian’s perfected it. It is easy to see why.

The iconic yellow shirt of the Brazilian national football team is something even those oblivious about football will recognise. It is interesting to know, however, that it has not always been the national team’s home playing colours. After a poor performance in the 1950 world cup it was thought the white and blue colours were not patriotic enough. A competition began, won by a 19 year old. The famous yellow tops have been worn ever since.

Brazil again hosted the world cup in 2014. Things didn’t improve compared to 1950. A 7-1 hammering in the semi-final destroyed a nation’s hopes. Will we see another kit change before the 2018 world cup.

World cup history

1930

Uruguay

The world cup in 1930 was the first ever edition of this prestigious tournament. Played in Uruguay it was by invitation only that participants were selected. Many European teams declined because of the amount of travel that would be involved for them. Played in South America it was the hosts who won, beating Argentina in the final. The Brazil national football team did not make it out of their group. They lost to Yugoslavia before beating Bolivia 4-0, but it wasn’t enough.

1934

Italy

Four years after Uruguay the tournament was held in Italy. This time teams had to qualify to enable them to take part. As was the case four years previously the tournament was again won by the hosts. They defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in the final. Unlike in 1930 the tournament format was a straight knock-out competition instead of having groups. The Brazil national football team were eliminated at the first stage, losing 3-1 to Spain.

1938

France

In 1938 the world cup stayed in Europe, this time being held in France. This was much to the displeasure of the South American nations who believed it was to alternate between the two continents. Uruguay and Argentina actually withdrew from the tournament because of this. The tournament was retained by Italy as they beat Hungary in Paris, in the final.

The Brazil national football team did far better this time around. After an exciting 6-5 win over Poland in the opening round they then beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in a replay. The first game was drawn 1-1. In the semi-final they were defeated narrowly by the eventual champions. The team ended up finishing third after they defeated Sweden in the play-off.

1950

Brazil

It was 12 years until the next world cup was held. This was due to the outbreak of World War Two. This time the tournament was held in South America and it was Brazil themselves that staged it. For the first time since 1930 the group stages were reintroduced into the competition. Brazil won their group after two wins and a draw. In the process they gained some revenge on Yugoslavia by eliminating them.

This version of the tournament was not decided by a one off final. The winners of the respective groups all went into a final group phase, from which the deciding match was between Uruguay and Brazil. Held in the iconic Maracana stadium and played in front of an expectant home crowd, it was not to be for the hosts as they lost 2-1. It is a defeat which still haunts the Brazil national football team to this day.

1954

Switzerland

The world cup in 1954 was back on European soil. It was also won by a European team in West-Germany. They were actually underdogs going into the final as their opposition Hungary were favourites for the whole tournament before a ball had been kicked. After being 2-0 down West-Germany fought back to win 3-2. Runners-up four years previously Brazil topped their group after a win and a draw. They were then drawn to play Hungary in the quarter-final and were eliminated after a 4-2 defeat.

1958

Sweden

Once again we were back in Europe as the world cup came to Sweden. The Brazil national football team came through their group finishing top once again. This time they had to play three games but came away unbeaten none the less after two wins and a draw. They also did not concede a single goal in the group.

In the quarter-finals Brazil went on to play Wales where a single Pele goal was enough to see them progress to the semi-final. They now faced France and Pele once again was the hero as he scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 win.

So Brazil were in the final and looking to banish memories from 1950. In a strange reversal of 1950 Brazil played the hosts in the final and once again the home fans were disappointed. Brazil overwhelmed Sweden with a 5-2 victory. Pele scored two more goals in the final which completed a remarkable sequence after the striker was injured for all but one of the group fixtures. He was also the youngest player in the tournament and the youngest ever goalscorer. It was Brazil’s first world cup win and still the only time to date that a non-European team has won in Europe.

1962

Chile

In 1962 the world cup returned to South America. Held in Chile the Brazil national football team went into the tournament as champions. Their defence started well with two wins and a draw against Czechoslovakia in the group stage. They finished top of their group.

In the quarter-final Brazil faced England. It was a close contest until the second half where Brazil scored two goals to eventually win 3-1. The semi-final was against hosts Chile and in a competitive fixture it was Brazil who prevailed with a hard fought 4-2 win. In the final Brazil faced Czechoslovakia for the second time in the tournament. In the group the two sides drew 0-0 but this time it was the reigning champions who had too much for the Europeans as they emerged 3-1 winners.

1966

England

After winning back-to-back world cups Brazil were looking for an unprecedented treble when they travelled to England in 1966. It was not to be as the hosts went on to win their home tournament, beating West Germany in the final. The Brazil national football team began well as they defeated Bulgaria in their opening fixture. That was as good as it got for the side however as they slumped to two defeats against Hungary and Portugal. Two goals from eventual top scorer Eusebio in the final group match saw the champions eliminated at the first stage.

1970

Mexico

The 1970 world cup was a landmark competition. It was held in North America in Mexico, which made it the first edition to be held outside of South America or Europe. The Brazil national football team went into the tournament having won all of their qualifying fixtures. After struggling in England four years previously the side were looking to regain their title.

The group phase went well this time as they won all three of their games. This included a 1-0 victory over reigning world champions England. In the quarter-final they beat Peru and then were victorious against old rivals Uruguay in the semi-final. They faced experienced world cup campaigners Italy in the final but overwhelmed them 4-1 to lift the world cup for the third time. With this third win the Brazil national football team were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. The 1970 Brazil world cup team is often referred to as the greatest world cup side of all time.

1974

West Germany

The world cup in 1974 returned to Europe and was held in West-Germany. It was eventually won by the hosts as they defeated the total football of the Netherlands 2-1 in the final. The Brazil national football team struggled a little in the group phase but managed to progress in second place. Yugoslavia, Brazil and Scotland all finished on four points but Scotland missed out in third with one less goal difference. Two group phases were back in fashion in 1974 and this is where Brazil faltered. After two wins by themselves and the Netherlands it all came down to a decider between the two. Brazil lost 2-0 so went into the third placed play-off which they also lost.

1978

Argentina

The 1978 edition of the world cup was held in Argentina and won by the hosts. For the second tournament in a row it was the Netherlands who were beaten finalists, losing 3-1 after extra time. Also similar to 1974 was Brazil’s faltering group performance. After two draws from the opening two games it took a win in the final fixture to see them progress in second place.

The second group was a little smoother but the side still only managed to finish in second and go into the third placed play-off. It all came down to goal difference with more than a little controversy surrounding Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Peru. With Argentina knowing the required amount of goals needed it is suggested that Peru purposely lost to progress the hosts. This time Brazil won the play-off beating Italy 2-1.

1982

Spain

The world cup travelled to Spain in 1982 and it was won by another European side Italy. It was their third world cup win as they overcame West Germany 3-1. Brazil had a very successful group phase, winning all three fixtures and finishing with a plus eight goal difference. It was the second group phase that things went wrong for the Brazil national football team. Despite beating Argentina they lost their decider with Italy 3-2, although as we know, it was a loss to the eventual champions.

1986

Mexico

We were back in North America for the 1986 world cup. We were also back in Mexico. It was Argentina who eventually won the tournament thanks in part to Diego Maradona. It was West-Germany who lost again in the final, going down 3-2. Brazil again won all three of their group fixtures. This time it was their defence which was the strong point as they did not concede a single goal. In 1986 the single group followed by a knockout phase returned as the format. Brazil cruised passed Poland 4-0 in the round of sixteen but it was in the quarter final where they finally came unstuck. After a 1-1 draw with France, where they conceded their one and only goal of the tournament, they were then eliminated on penalties.

1990

Italy

In 1990 Italy became the second nation to host the world cup twice. The tournament was eventually won by West Germany in a repeat of the final four years previously. This time it was reigning champions Argentina who lost, going down 1-0 in a very scrappy final. For the third tournament in a row Brazil had a faultless group stage performance. It could be described as functional if not entertaining as they only scored four goals in the three games, but also only conceded one. Argentina only made it through as one of the best third placed teams and as such were drawn to face South American rivals Brazil in the last sixteen. As you can guess Brazil lost. They went down 1-0 to an 80th minute goal.

1994

United States

In 1994 the world cup was held in the United States. The Brazil national football team won their opening two games in the tournament comfortably. They included a 2-0 win over Russia and a 3-0 win over Cameroon. With qualification from the group secured they played out a 1-1 draw in the final game with Sweden.

In the last 16 they played the hosts who had qualified thanks to being one of the best third placed teams. Brazil eventually prevailed 1-0 and went on the face the Netherlands in the quarter final. In an exciting game the Netherlands fought back from 2-0 down only to lose 3-2 after conceding in the 81st minute. In the semi-final Brazil once again faced Sweden who they drew with in the group stage. This time the side won 1-0 to make it through to the world cup final. Here they met Italy and the sides could not be separated until the game went to penalties. Brazil came through it and lifted the world cup for a record fourth time. It was the first world cup final to be decided on penalties.

1998

France

The world cup in 1998 was held in France and was won by the hosts. They played reigning champions Brazil in the final and won 3-0. The competition started well for Brazil as they beat Scotland and Morocco before losing to Norway when top spot in the group was already secured.

Brazil cruised past Chile 4-1 in the last 16 before squeezing past Denmark 3-2 in the quarter final. The Brazil national football team once again found themselves prevailing on penalties, this time in the semi final after a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands.

Brazil’s preparation before the final was upset by the illness surrounding star striker Ronaldo. He was left out of the starting line-up only to be added shortly before kick-off. Like Ronaldo Brazil were not themselves in the final and ended up with a heavy defeat, despite the fact France were reduced to 10 men in the second half.

2002

Japan and South Korea

In 2002 the world cup found itself in Asia for the first time. Japan and South Korea jointly staged the tournament. After winning the competition in 1994 and coming so close four years previous, the Brazil national football team were in good form going in to this edition. This good form continued as they won all three of their group fixtures with a healthy +8 goal difference.

Two second half goals were enough to see off Belgium in the last 16 and a floated free kick from Ronaldinho defeated England in the quarter final. In the semi final the side played Turkey who they had beaten in the group stage 2-1. They again prevailed against them, this time by one goal to nil. A third final in a row for the Brazil national football team this time ended in success. Ronaldo banished any lingering nightmares from the final in France by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Germany. Brazil extended their record to five world cup wins with four of them coming on different continents.

2006

Germany

The world cup was back on familiar ground in 2006 as it returned to Europe. Germany hosted the tournament and it was Italy who claimed their fourth win with a penalty shoot-out victory over France. The reigning world champions Brazil won all of their group fixtures in an admittedly weak group from which Australia qualified in second place. In the last sixteen Brazil cruised past Ghana in a game which was notable for Ronaldo. He scored his fifteenth world cup goal to become the then highest ever goalscorer in world cup history. A poor performance in the quarter final saw Brazil’s tournament come to an end. They lost to France 1-0 and only managed a single shot on goal.

2010

South Africa

2010 was another first for the world cup as it visited an entirely new continent in Africa. South Africa were chosen to host the tournament. Spain claimed their first ever world cup win after beating the Netherlands with a single goal in extra-time. The Brazil national football team topped their group with two wins and a draw from their three games. They went on to play the impressive Chile in the last sixteen and emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. It was in the quarter final where Brazil were again eliminated. Although starting well and scoring first against the Netherlands the side crumbled and conceded two second half goals to lose out 2-1 in the end.

2014

Brazil

Brazil hosted the world cup in 2014 but were unable to win the tournament. It was Germany who eventually won the tournament after beating Argentina in the final. As hosts the pressure was really on the side. Two wins and a draw with Mexico represented a steady start for the side as they topped the group and progressed to the last 16.

Here they faced Chile, and after a 1-1 draw the game went to penalties. Brazil held their nerve to triumph 3-2. In the quarter-final the team faced a rampant Colombia team. An improved performance resulted in a 2-1 win and set up an exciting semi-final with Germany. This is where the team imploded. Key players were missing but this was no excuse for one of the worst performances in world cup history. After 30 minutes they were losing 5-0. The game eventually ended 7-1 to put the side into the third place play-off. A 3-0 loss to the Netherlands followed to leave the Brazil national football team in disarray.

Brazil national football team