By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
Last updated February 27 2006
The World Cup provides a platform for the greatest players to compete, and something special occurs when great players have an understanding in the same team. Here we look at the most successful teams at the biggest tournament in the world:
1958 – Brazil
Pele made his name in this tournament and helped Brazil win their first World Cup. Unknown to the footballing world, he was just 17 - and known as Edson Arantes do Nascimento - when he made his World Cup debut against the Soviet Union.
Brazil comfortably progressed from Pool 1 without conceding a goal and they marched almost unopposed towards a semi-final clash with France, when Pele's hat-trick capped off a 5-2 win.
Brazil faced hosts Sweden in the final - but a partisan crowd could not prevent them securing their first tournament success.
Sweden took the lead in the fourth minute courtesy of captain Nils Liedholm, but the Brazilian machine soon kicked into gear and they were level after some fine wing play by Garrincha. He surged down the right flank before squaring for Vava to smash the ball home.
Vava combined with Garrincha again in the second half to give Brazil the lead before Pele made it 3-1. Pele and Mario Zagalo added further goals to round off a memorable campaign by the talented Brazilians.
1962 – Brazil
Brazil showed their strength in depth to retain the World Cup without the flamboyant skills of Pele.
The world's top player, who made a name for himself as a raw teenager in the previous tournament, looked irresistible in the opening match before a torn thigh muscle forced him to watch from the sidelines.
However, the star-studded South Americans were simply too strong for England in the quarter-finals. Garrincha took centre stage and opened the scoring before Gerry Hitchens equalised for England. Vava then restored his side's lead before a wicked, swerving shot from Garrincha wrong-footed goalkeeper Ron Springett and earned his side a semi-final showdown with Chile.
The hosts, who staged the tournament despite being devastated by the earthquakes the previous year, proved no match for Brazil.
Garrincha and Vava both scored a brace to secure a 4-2 success - but the game ended on a sour note when Garrincha was dismissed for retaliating. Despite Brazil's fears that he would miss the final, Garrincha was not suspended because he had been provoked throughout the match. Brazil faced Czechoslovakia in the final and, despite conceding the first goal, the South Americans clinched a 3-1 success.
