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#3 The Netherlands (1974 and 1978)
Modern football owes a lot to the Dutch, and particularly to Rinus Michels, the Ajax coach at the time who revolutionized football as we know it. He actively propagated his theory of 'Total Voetbol' or Total Football, wherein defenders would also attack while attackers defended from the front. No one understood his vision better than his protege, Johan Cruyff.
Michels built his virtually unprecedented 4-3-3 formation around Cruyff with astounding results. Ajax won the European Cup in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and the silky midfielder became a legend overnight. The hopes of a nation were pinned on Cruyff's back as he sought to reproduce his club success on a national level at the 1974 World Cup.
And reproduce it he did. The world looked on, amazed, as The Netherlands, in their bright orange kits, played football like never before. They eased past the first round and dumped out defending champions Brazil in the second round to set up a mouthwatering final against the hosts, West Germany.
Johann Neeskens converted a second-minute penalty to give the Dutch the advantage in the summit clash and the revolution was almost complete. The Germans, however, were in no mood to give up, and Paul Breitner equalized with a penalty of his own before legendary striker Gerd Muller struck to hand the advantage to the hosts.
Cruyff was barely allowed any space in the second half by German defensive duo Beckenbauer and Schwarzenbeck, and they held on to win the World Cup for the second time in their history.
The Dutch, though disheartened, were at it again in 1978, dazzling opposition after opposition with their fluid interplay and movement. Once again arguably the best team of the tournament, they waltzed their way into a second successive final, once again facing the hosts, Argentina, who took the lead through their star Mario Kempes. Kempes scored again in extra time - after the Dutch had equalized - to earn Argentina their first world title.
But while the Dutch had no titles to show for their efforts, they practically invented football as we know it, while also giving the world Johan Cruyff, one of the most celebrated players to take the field.
