World Cup is a nasty business. It is in your hands and it is not, one hand, one rookie, and everything can change. It tears apart to reach the FIFA World Cup Final and go back with no trophy.
More than a couple of teams have reached the FIFA World Cup Final and never won. Scroll down to read who tops the list of countries with the most final appearances without a win.
Croatia (1)
The underdogs of the footballing history. The team that has braved it all. The Croatians began their World Cup run in 1998 when they shocked the World by entering the semi-finals. In the semi-finals they lost to France, the eventual winners.
Twenty years later, from a tight group, they joined France in the finals. France once again walloped the underdogs and won their third trophy.
In 2022, they reached the semi-finals. They lost to Argentina in the semi-finals by 3-0.
Also, Read FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi shatters several records in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Croatia
Sweden (1)
Sweden is one of the most successful teams in the history of the World Cup. The Scandinavian nation has reached the top four on four occasions. The Swedes reached the final once, in 1958 when they lost to their rivals Brazil, who won their first-ever World Cup.
The World Cup was the first ever to be hosted in Nordic Country. Sweden joined in Group D. They defeated USSR in the Quarter-Finals and West Germany in the semi-finals. In the final, they lost by 5-2.
The closest they have come t a final ever since is in 1998. They went down to Brazil in the semifinals. However, they secured a bronze medal by eliminating Bulgaria in the bronze medal match.
Czechoslovakia (2)
Czechoslovakia, once a famed knight in the field is now defunct and broken into two: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The team represented the country of Czechoslovakia until its dissolution in 1993.
The team has been football’s mightiest warrior for a very long time. They won the 1974 Euros and the Olympics of 1980 in Moscow.
The team reached the finals for the first time in 1934. In the final, Italy lifted the cup for the first time by defeating the Czechoslovaks by 2-1 in additional extra time.
The Czechoslovaks reached the finals for the second time in 1962. They faced the same fate as the first appearance as they went down to Brazil. They never crossed the QFs again.
Hungary (2)
The Magyars. The Hungarians have reached the finals on two occasions.
The Magyars, once routed as the World’s best reached their first finals in 1938. In the heavily watched Stadium in Paris, Italy triumphed over the Magyars to become the first team to win consecutive trophies.
In 1954, West Germany, first-time finalists defeated the Hungarians mercilessly 3-2. The world congratulated the Germans and the Hungarians for the wonderful show of football throughout the tournament.
They lost the golden charm afterward. The Hungarians for a fact have been missing from the World Cup for a record 22 years now.
The Netherlands (3)
The Dutch. If one word was there to describe the Orange in World Cup, it would be unfortunate. They have reached the most final appearance without winning a single one – 3.
They reached the finals in consecutive years, in 1974 and 1978. Coincidentally, the Dutch lost both times. And that against the home nations. In 1974, West Germany defeated them by 2-1 and, in 1978 Argentina by 3-1.
The Dutch reached finals after years of wait in 2010. The match, touted as one of the World Cup classics of all time, ended in a La Roja victory. The Spanish men defeated the Dutch by an Andres Iniesta screamer.
They finished third in 2014, did not qualify in 2018, and lost to eventual finalists Argentina in the QFs in 2022.
Read about why Mason Mount has four dots on his arm and other tattoos he has inked here
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