Brazil were well-equipped to become the first side to win the World Cup on the `other' continent when they arrived in France, with Leonidas the brightest star at the competition. He grabbed the first of 11 goals in an incredible match in Strasbourg's Meinau Stadium. The game finished 4-4 after 90 minutes and by the end of the added period Leonidas had scored a hat-trick, team-mate Peracio had two and poor Ernest Wilimowski had hit four, but his team were out of the tournament.

As for Brazil, they decided to rest Leonidas for their semi-final against Italy in readiness for the final. But the South Americans never made it and in pre-substitute days the star striker looked on as his team lost 2-1.

1954 final: West Germany 3 Hungary 2

A Ferenc Puskas-inspired Hungary had hammered the Germans 8-3 in the first phase and were expected to waltz to World Cup glory in Berne.

Puskas suffered an ankle injury in his side's quarter-final victory over Brazil and looked far short of fitness, but nevertheless another drubbing looked on the cards as the Magic Magyars raced into a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes. Ten minutes later though Germany were back on level terms thanks to goals from Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn, and the latter scored the winner six minutes from time to seal one of the World Cup's great shocks.

1966 final: England 4 West Germany 2 (aet)

England's finest two hours in football got off to an inauspicious start when a poor Ray Wilson header put a chance on a plate for Helmut Haller. The hosts roared back with a Geoff Hurst header and a scrambled Martin Peters goal and were seconds from glory when a free-kick caused confusion in the box and Wolfgang Weber equalised. "You've beaten them once, go out and beat them again," Sir Alf Ramsey told his players, and inspired by the tireless running of Alan Ball England scored twice more. Hurst's first effort has been the source of controversy ever since over whether his shot crossed the line after bouncing down off the underside of the crossbar, while his second late on in the added period was defined by Kenneth Wolstenholme's immortal commentary: "Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over. It is now."

1970 first round group match: Brazil 1 England 0

The reigning champions came up against a Brazil side poised for greatness in a titanic struggle played out in intense heat in Guadalajara, Mexico. Both sides had excellent chances - Jeff Astle missing a glorious opening for England, while it took one of the greatest saves of all time from Gordon Banks to claw out Pele's powerful downward header. A patient move climaxed with Jairzinho scoring the only goal, and the famous photograph of Pele and Bobby Moore swapping shirts at the end encapsulated the mutual respect between the teams.

1970 semi-finals: Italy 4 West Germany 3 (aet)

West Germany gained revenge on England by coming from two down to beat them 3-2 in the quarter-finals but this last-four clash looked set to be a routine win for Italy thanks to Roberto Boninsegna's early goal. However, a 90th-minute strike from Karl-Heinz Schnellinger took the match to extra-time. Suddenly the game burst to life as Gerd Muller edged the Germans ahead but by half-time of the added period Italy were 3-2 in front thanks to Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva. Muller drew his side level again in the 110th minute, as Franz Beckenbauer battled on with a broken collarbone and the momentum was with Germany again. However, Gianni Rivera had other ideas and sidefooted what proved to be the winner seconds later.