Results of Defending Champions
Until 2002, defending champions were granted an automatic spot in the World Cup finals. Since 2006, they have to enter qualifying as well.
| Year | Defending champions | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Uruguay | Did not enter |
| 1938 | Italy | Champions |
| 1950 | Italy | Group Stage |
| 1954 | Uruguay | Fourth Place |
| 1958 | West Germany | Fourth Place |
| 1962 | Brazil | Champions |
| 1966 | Brazil | Group Stage |
| 1970 | England | Quarter-Final |
| 1974 | Brazil | Fourth Place |
| 1978 | West Germany | Round 2 (top 8) |
| 1982 | Argentina | Round 2 (top 12) |
| 1986 | Italy | Round of 16 |
| 1990 | Argentina | Runners-up |
| 1994 | Germany | Quarter-Final |
| 1998 | Brazil | Runners-up |
| 2002 | France | Group Stage |
| 2006 | Brazil | Quarter-Final |
| 2010 | Italy | Group Stage |
Read more about this topic: National Team Appearances In The FIFA World Cup
Famous quotes containing the words results, defending and/or champions:
“There is not a single rule, however plausible, and however firmly grounded in epistemology, that is not violated at some time or other. It becomes evident that such violations are not accidental events, they are not results of insufficient knowledge or of inattention which might have been avoided. On the contrary, we see that they are necessary for progress.”
—Paul Feyerabend (1924–1994)
“The law is only one of several imperfect and more or less external ways of defending what is better in life against what is worse. By itself, the law can never create anything better.... Establishing respect for the law does not automatically ensure a better life for that, after all, is a job for people and not for laws and institutions.”
—Václav Havel (b. 1936)
“Did all the lets and bars appear
To every just or larger end,
Whence should come the trust and cheer?
Youth must its ignorant impulse lend—
Age finds place in the rear.
All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys,
The champions and enthusiasts of the state:”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)