The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14- July 15,2018 will be the 21st edition
FIFA World Cup Winners from 1930 to 2014
| Year | Host Country | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Germany beat Argentina 1-0 |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Spain 1-0 Netherlands |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | Italy 1-1 (5-3) France |
| 2002 | Japan / S. Korea | Brazil | Brazil 2-0 Germany |
| 1998 | France | France | France 3-0 Brazil |
| 1994 | US | Brazil | Brazil 3-2 Italy |
| 1990 | Italy | Germany | Germany 1-0 Argentina |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | Argentina 3-2 Germany |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | Italy 3-1 Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Argentina 3-1 Holland |
| 1974 | Germany | Germany | Germany 2-1 Holland |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Brazil 4-1 Italy |
| 1966 | England | England | England 4-2 Germany |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Brazil 5-2 Sweden |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Germany | Germany 3-2 Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Uruguay 2-1 Brazil |
| 1946 | not held | ||
| 1942 | not held | ||
| 1938 | France | Italy | Italy 4-2 Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Uruguay 4-2 Argentina |
This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 FIFA WC held in Germany,the first ever to be held in Eastern Europe and the 11th time that it has been held in Europe.
2018 FIFA World Cup tournament will involve 32 national teams, which include 31 teams determined through Qualifying Competitions and the automatically qualified Host Team - Russia
Of the 32 teams, 20 will be making back-to-back appearances following the last tournament in 2014, including defending champions Germany
Iceland and Panama will both be making their first appearances at the 2018 FIFA WC in Russia.
A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities
Match 04 Group B Portugal Vs Spain - Match Preview
When the draw for the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was made, the match between Spain and Portugal on the borders of the Black Sea looked as if it would decide which of the two sides would finish top of Group G.
However, 24 hours before kick-off it has taken on a whole new significance. Real Madrid announced that the Spanish national side coach Julen Lopetegui would take charge of the club in July 2018
The Spanish football federation, RFEF wasted no time in sacking him on Wednesday. A few hours later, RFEF director of sport Fernando Hierro was named as his replacement, reports Xinhua news agency.
Hierro was a great player for Real Madrid and Spain in his day, but has only one season's experience as the first team coach of second division Oviedo.
With less than 48 hours before Spain kick off their World Cup campaign against the 2016 European champions, it is hard to imagine what changes Hierro can make to the tactics Lopetegui had been using in preparation for Russia.
The first obstacle for Spain is Portugal, who will be making their seventh appearance at the World Cup and their fifth in a row.
Their best performance came on their debut in 1966, when they finished third after losing to hosts England in the semi-finals.
But their title win at the Euro 2016 has been their best moment in recent years. But after the euphoria of winning Euro 2016, even the most ardent aficionado of Portugal would admit that their victory was largely unexpected and was achieved in a pragmatic, attritional style under the guidance of Fernando Santos.
Portugal's playing style totally contrasts Spain, who like to play technical, skillful and free-flowing football.
Santos will also be under pressure, having dropped the ever-present Nani (the third most capped player in Portugal's history), the hero of the Euro 2016 final, Eder, and the Barcelona pair of Nelson Semedo and Andre Gomes. A Portugal team without these four would have been unthinkable a few short months ago.
New attacking talent comes in the form of Andre Silva and Goncalo Guedes, who will be hoping to replace the likes of Nani and Quaresma in the near future.
Portugal's system is built on a solid defence with relatively few goalscoring chances being created, in the hope that Ronaldo will need just half a chance to score. The 33-year-old talisman has formed an impressive partnership with Silva and their link-up play will be vital if Portugal are to have a successful tournament.
As Portugal's all-time record appearance maker and goalscorer, Ronaldo is unquestionably the leader of the team, and has scored for his country in their last seven major tournaments.
Ronaldo will be up against some of his Real Madrid clubmates, who will be eager to get Spain back on track after the coach's change.
No. of matches played (number): 26
No. of matches won: 13
No. of matches lost: 9
No. of times lost in finals (Number): 0
No. of times world cup won (number): 0
No. of goals scored in WC: 43
Top 3 players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Pepe
Road to WC (text): Portugal booked their spot after narrowly finishing top of Europe’s Group B on goal difference, edging out Switzerland on the final day to avoid the play-offs.
Player who has played most world cups (appearances): Cristiano Ronaldo:16
Player who has scored most no. of goals (Player:No. of goals): Eusebio da Silva Ferreira: 9
No. of times team has played in WC (number): 14
No. of matches played (number): 59
No. of matches won: 29
No. of matches lost: 18
No. of times lost in finals (Number): 0
No. of times world cup won (number): 1
No. of goals scored in WC: 92
Top 3 players to watch: Andrea Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets
Road to WC (text): South Africa 2010 winners Spain earned their place at Russia 2018 by topping Group G, with a game to spare ahead of Italy.
Player who has played most world cups (appearances): Iker Casillas: 11
Player who has scored most no. of goals (Player:No. of goals): David Villa: 9
Match 04 Group B Portugal drew with Spain 3-3
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Portugal and Spain drew a thrilling World Cup Group B game 3-3 in Sochi on Friday night.
Ronaldo's last goal was a spectacular free kick, just when it looked as if two goals from Diego Costa and a volley from Nacho Fernandez would give Spain a winning start to their World Cup campaign, just two days after Fernando Hierro replaced Julen Lopetegui as coach.
Despite Ronaldo's late goal the Spanish can take heart that the change of coach doesn't appear to have had any negative effects on their play and both sides look much stronger than both Iran and Morocco, who played each other in Group B earlier in the day.
New Spain coach Fernando Hierro decided to play Costa in attack, while Koke partnered Sergio Busquets in midfield and Nacho Fernandez was given the task of stopping his Real Madrid clubmate, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal meanwhile fielded an attacking line up with Ronaldo, Goncalo Guedes and Bernardo Silva in the starting 11.
The game was only 4 minutes old when Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot after drawing a foul from Nacho, though TV replays implied it was the Portuguese striker who had looked for the contact.
Spain began to dominate possession but failed to turn that into chances until the 23rd minute when Costa won a high ball, twisted and turned and then beat Rui Patricio with a low shot.
A minute later Isco hit the bar from 25 yards and Spain were clearly on top, with their mobile midfield quintet causing Portugal problems with their pace and mobility as Iniesta shot just wide in the 35th minute.
However, on the stroke of halftime a dreadful error from Spain keeper David de Gea allowed Ronaldo to put Portugal back in front with a left foot shot from outside of the penalty area, which the keeper should have easily saved.
The second half began with a similar pattern to the first with Spain dominating possession and they were level 10 minutes after the break after Sergio Busquets nodded a Silva free kick across goal for Costa to score his second of the night from close range.
Three minutes later Spain were ahead when Nacho's volley from outside the area went in off the post and in the 69th minute Thiago Alcantara replaced Iniesta, moments before Costa fired wide from a low Jordi Alba cross as Spain continued to move the ball fluidly.
Portugal substitute Ricardo Quaresma hit a shot over the Spain bar and a run from Ronaldo had De Gea struggling as he came off his line, but Spain looked as if they were going to hold on until Ronaldo produced a moment of magic with an 87th minute free kick which left De Gea rooted to the spot.
2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia June 14-July 15,2018 - Match Results
Match 01 Group A Hosts Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0
Match 02 Group A Urugua beat Egypt 1-0
Match 03 Group B Iran beat Morocco 1-0
Match 04 Group B Portugal Vs Spain - Match ended in a 3-3 draw
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