Every FIFA World Cup Ranked From Worst To Best

19. Italy 1934

Pele Brazil
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Italy’s first World Cup win was far from a classic. Things got off to a bad start before the tournament began with reigning champions Uruguay refusing to take part in retaliation at the European sides who refused to travel to South America for the finals in 1930.

The early exits of Brazil and Argentina in a knockout-only format hardly helped things, while Italy’s progress to the title was not exactly the stuff of World Cup legend.

The Azzurri defeated the USA 7-1 in the first round, but needed a replay to beat Spain in the next, before a dour 1-0 win over Austria sealed their place in the final. Though rumours persisted that Benito Mussolini picked pro-Italian referees, Italy still required extra time to beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final.

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Former Loaded magazine staff writer with additional credits for FourFourTwo, ScreenRant, Planet Football and Den of Geek. A man with an unhealthy interest in the film career of Hulk Hogan.