Brazil national football team. The Brazil national football team (Portuguese: Seleção Brasileira) represents Brazil in international men's football. Brazil is administered by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the governing body for football in Brazil. They have been a member of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) since 1923 and member of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) since 1916. Brazil is the most successful national football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with five championships: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. They are also the most successful team in the FIFA Confederations Cup with four titles. Brazil are the current holders of the FIFA Confederations Cup after winning the 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013 edition of the tournament. The national team are currently ranked number 1 in the World Football Elo Ratings[4] and 6 in the FIFA World Ranking. Brazil are the hosts of the 2014 World Cup and therefore automatically qualified for the tournament.
Spain national football team. The Spain national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de España)[a] represents Spain in International association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque. The Spanish side is commonly referred to as La Roja ("The Red [One]"), La Furia Roja ("The Red Fury"), La Furia Española ("The Spanish Fury") or simply La Furia ("The Fury").[4][5] Spain became a member of FIFA in 1904 even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909.
Spain's national team debuted in 1920. Since then the Spanish national team have participated in a total of thirteen of nineteen FIFA World Cup and nine of fourteen European Championships. It has a total of 73 international titles in senior and youth teams. Spain are the reigning World and European champions, having won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. History[edit] Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Argentina national football team. The Argentina national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Argentina) represents Argentina in football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro Sabella. The team is currently third in the FIFA World Rankings.[4] La Selección (national team), also known as the Albicelestes (sky blue and whites), has appeared in four World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay.
Argentina won in their next final appearance in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3–1. Argentina, led by Diego Maradona won again in 1986, a 3–2 victory over West Germany. Argentina has been very successful in the Copa América, winning it 14 times and also winning the 'extra' South American Championships in 1941, 1945 and 1946. In March 2007, Argentina reached the top of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time.[10] Notes: Germany national football team. The Germany national football team (German: Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft) is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908.[2] It is governed by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund), founded in 1900.[6][7] Ever since the DFB was reinaugurated in 1949 the team has represented the Federal Republic of Germany – until the German reunification in 1990 commonly referred to as West Germany in informal usage.
Under Allied occupation and division, two other separate national teams were also recognized by FIFA: the Saarland team (1950–1956) and the East German team representing the German Democratic Republic (1952–1990). Both have been absorbed along with their records[8][9] by the current national team. The official name and code "Germany FR (FRG)" was shortened to "Germany (GER)" following the reunification in 1990. Nicknames[edit] History[edit] Early years[edit] Three German teams[edit] West Germany[edit] Saarland[edit] Italy national football team. The Italian national football team (Italian: Nazionale italiana di calcio) represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is considered to be one of the best national teams in the world. It is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup behind Brazil (5), having won 4 titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), also appearing in two finals (1970, 1994), reaching a third place (1990) and a fourth place (1978).
They have also won a European championship (1968), as well as appearing in two other finals (2000, 2012), one Olympic football tournament (1936) and two Central European International Cups. Italy's highest finish at the Confederations Cup was in 2013, when the squad achieved a third place finish. The team does not have a designated "home stadium" like certain national teams.
History[edit] Origins and first two World Cups (1910–1938)[edit] England national football team. England contest the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, which alternate biennially. England won the World Cup in 1966, when they hosted the finals, defeating West Germany 4–2 in extra time in the final. Their best performance since has been a semi-final appearance in 1990.
England have never won the UEFA European Football Championship – their best performances being semi-final appearances at the 1968 and 1996 Championships. History The England team before playing a match against Scotland at Richmond in 1893. In the 1954 World Cup, two goals by Ivor Broadis saw him become the first England player to score two goals in a game at the World Cup finals. Although Walter Winterbottom was appointed as England's first ever full-time manager in 1946, the team was still picked by a committee until Alf Ramsey took over in 1963. Sven-Göran Eriksson took charge of the team between 2001 and 2006 and was the first non-English manager of England. Steve McClaren was appointed as head coach. United States men's national soccer team. Netherlands national football team. The Netherlands national football team (Dutch: Nederlands nationaal voetbalelftal) represents the Netherlands in international association football. It is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), the governing body for football in the Netherlands.
History[edit] Dutch squad for their first international match The Netherlands played their first international match in Antwerp against Belgium on 30 April 1905. The Netherlands made their first appearance at the World Cup final tournament in 1934. [edit] The 1970s saw the invention of Total Football (Dutch: Totaalvoetbal), pioneered by Feyenoord and Ajax and led by playmaker Johan Cruyff and national team coach Rinus Michels. In 1974, the Netherlands beat both Brazil and Argentina in the second group stage, reaching the final for the first time in their history. By comparison, Euro '76 was a disappointment. Failure: 1982–86[edit] European champions[edit] Rinus Michels returned to coach the team for the Euro '88 tournament.