Croatia's run to the World Cup final defies explanation by Graham Ruthven Croatian soccer had been rocked by scandal leading into the World Cup, but the team have excelled against the odds in Russia. It was the highest-scoring World Cup final since England beat Germany, 4-2, in extra time in 1966 and the most in regulation since Brazil’s 5-2 triumph over Sweden in 1958.

• World Cup Final 2014 Bracket 2017
• World Cup Final 2014 Bracket Bracket
• 2014 Fifa World Cup Final Bracket

World Cup Final 2014 Bracket 2017

The inaugural World Cup was staged in Uruguay, with a nation celebrating the centenary of its first constitution and boasting the reigning Olympic football champions selected as hosts. Uruguay, Argentina, Yugoslavia and USA topped their groups in a 13-team tournament to make the semi-finals. There, Uruguay and Argentina each recorded convincing 6-1 wins, over the Yugoslavs and the Americans, respectively, before the hosts took the trophy with a 4-2 victory in front of more than 68,000 people at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

World Cup Final 2014 Bracket Bracket

2014 Fifa World Cup Final Bracket

The Albiceleste did claim one honour, though,as Guillermo Stabile ended up as the tournament’s top scorer, with eight goals. The 1934 World Cup was the first in which teams had to qualify, while 16 nations graced an expanded tournament. Uruguay refused to participate, though, in protest at the fact that just four European teams had accepted invites to play in the inaugural tournament, which they had hosted.