'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The FIFA World Cup is a dream for so many, isn't it? Yet, there are only a handful of footballers who have been able to realize the images that flashed their minds during sleep.
For those who love to play and watch the beautiful game, no other heartbreak can overshadow the one a man faces after losing in the finals of the FIFA World Cup. After all, reaching the finals and winning it is a one-time opportunity, since you don't know whether you'll reach the same stage next time.
Throughout the competition's illustrious history, the melancholy of players as a result of losses is a common scene and watching it is nothing short of a heartache for the spectators.
Not all teams that lose in the greatest show on earth deserve to do so. Let's have a look at 5 such teams who deserved to win the famous golden trophy.
#5 Argentina (2014)
Simply put, 2014 was the start of their cursed campaigns on the international stage. Followed by their World Cup despair, La Albiceleste would go on to lose the Copa America in the next two years.
Coming back to the World Cup, Argentina started the tournament with 3 wins out of 3 in the group stages. En route to the final, they got the better of Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands before facing Germany in the finals.
With Leo Messi in top form for his country, Argentina had shown great consistency throughout the tournament, not losing a single point in any of the games they played. In the finals too, they gave tussled hard against Germany, eventually conceding a goal in the extra time and finishing runners-up for the third time in the history of the competition.
A win for Argentina would have ended a 28-year barren spell after they clinched the trophy in 1986. More importantly, a victory would have marked Lionel Messi as arguably the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game.
#4 West Germany (1966)
As much as they have had the pleasure of lifting the FIFA World Cup, the Germans are no strangers to experiencing the grief that comes with a final loss.
Germany had been impressive throughout the competition, winning 2 games and drawing 1 in the group stage before putting 6 past Uruguay(4-0) and Soviet Union(2-0) to make it to the final.
Die Manschafft faced hosts England in the final, only to see themselves lose by a wrong call for a goal.
With the score tied 2-2 at the beginning of extra time, Geoff Hurst scored a goal which actually wasn't a goal, as replays showed how the ball had failed to cross the goal line. He added another in the second half to make it 4-2, as a result of Germany's failure to retain the ball while pressing hard to find an equalizer.
In spite of a two-goal loss, Germany finished with a better goal difference. They certainly deserved to win back then but had to wait for another 4 long years before savoring the chance of lifting the golden trophy.
#3 France (2006)
French magician Zinedine Zidane chose to honor coach Raymond Domenech's ardent requests when he decided to return to international football after France qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2006.
Les Blues didn't have a glorious start to the tournament; they secured qualification to the last 16 after edging South Korea just by a point in the second place. However, with Zinedine Zidane weaving his magic, the Frenchmen marched to the finals after beating the likes of Spain(3-1), Brazil(1-0) and Portugal(1-0) to face Italy.
The Italians had had a comparatively easy route, beating Australia, Ukraine, and Germany to reach the final, after winning the group stage by beating Ghana, Chez Republic and the United States.
However, Italy were far from being the worthy finalists. They emerged unscathed in the quarterfinals after a couple of officiating decisions went their way, beating the US by a 1-0 margin. Even in the finals, Zidane managed to get France on the lead with a beautiful penalty, before he was given the marching orders following the world-famous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
Italy went on to win the penalties with a 5-3 scoreline, leaving the Frenchmen in tears as they claimed the 4th World Cup in their history.
Having faced tougher competitors than their opponents en route to the final, don't you think France deserved the glory that year?
#2 The Netherlands (2010)
It seems that the Netherlands just can't get over their curse of not succeeding in the tournament. The Dutch have lost 3 finals in 1974, 1978 and 2010 and they were more than just worthy of having the winners' medal down their necks.
Back in 2010, the Netherlands kickstarted their bid for the title by beating Japan, Denmark, and Cameroon in the group stage. Later, they faced Slovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay to book a berth in the final - against mighty Spain.
Here's a fun fact: Both the Netherlands and Spain emerged with a loss after the tournament. Spain lost their very first game while the Dutchmen were unbeaten until the finals.
The Spanish team that consisted a mixture of players from Real Madrid and Barcelona were too much to handle for any team back then, but the Oranje kept them at bay to take thr game into extra-time. In what seemed to be a cruel manner, they lost the game after Andres Iniesta scored the winner in the 116th minute.
The Netherlands had displayed superb consistency throughout the tournament and put up a tough tussle against the Spaniards. Not saying that La Roja weren't deserving candidates, but the Oranje, who lost their 3rd World Cup final in history, were equally worthy of the honor.
#1 Hungary (1954)
Frankly speaking, no nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup has had a campaign as rampaging as that of Hungary in 1954. Ferenc Puskas and co were no less than a group of hungry Hungarian Horntails (that dragon from Harry Potter!) aiming to find solace after their defeat in the 1938 World Cup.
To start with, they annihilated South Korea with a 9-0 scoreline. They humiliated Brazil and Uruguay with a 4-2 scoreline against both countries.
What's more, they also shattered eventual winners West Germany 8-3 en route to the final. However, in the last game, it was the Germans who emerged victorious in the last game of the competition.
Hungary had already scored twice in the first 8 minutes. However, they lost the lead eventually and allowed Helmut Rahn to score a winner, remaining the best team ever that failed to win a World Cup.
What do you make of the list? Have your say in the comments section.
