Back-to-back World Cup winners: Argentina seek to join elite group
This article reviews the history of teams attempting to defend their World Cup title, focusing on past performances by Italy, Brazil, and Argentina. It highlights the pressure and historical context surrounding these repeat championship bids.
Why it matters
Provides historical context for Argentina's current attempt to join the elite group of back-to-back World Cup winners.
Argentina are one game away from becoming just the third team to successfully defend the World Cup, with European champions Spain standing in their way.
We look at how previous winners fared if they reached the final at the following tournament.
Italy were the first team in World Cup history to retain their title, beating Hungary 4-2 in the final of the 1938 tournament in France.
Four years earlier, they had edged past Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome.
The Italians wore black shirts and gave a fascist salute before kick-off in the Paris suburbs.
On the eve of the final, the Italian players reportedly received a telegram from their leader Benito Mussolini that simply said: "Win or die."
"I may have conceded four goals, but I saved their lives," said Hungarian goalkeeper Antal Szabo.
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