Germany
The match ended in extra time when the Dutch were reduced to 10 men after Dutch midfielder John Heitinga was sent off for a second yellow card.
The Football World Cup Winners of 1982
teams
Qualification tournaments are held to thin out the field before the final tournament.
difficulties
In the early World Cup tournaments, South American teams were limited by war and intercontinental travel difficulties.
South American
Few South American teams wanted to travel to Europe for the 1934 and 1938 tournaments, and Brazil was the only South American team to compete in both tournaments.
Olympic medals
South America has rarely won any Olympic medals. In fact, only two cities in South America have ever bid for the Olympics. However, the South American focus on football.
Spain
Having made it to every World Cup since 1978, Spain are no strangers to the tournament.
They have reached the final twice, but failed to progress past the group stage on three other occasions. Spain has only finished higher than fourth in one World Cup, in 1950, and in 2010. A few of their most memorable World Cup performances include their 2010 and 2014 campaigns, when they reached the quarter-finals and won the tournament.
continent
This is because the continent has many talented players and the sport is growing in popularity among South Americans.
cancelled
World War II caused the competitions to be cancelled in 1942 and 1946. These teams are often known for their energetic atmosphere.
face notorious
Spain has drawn a tough group, where they will face notorious rivals Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica.
playoff
They will also face the winner of the intercontinental playoff. Both teams are capable of advancing to the knockout round.
Spain's group
Spain’s group contains a few young players who could provide a spark to the team. Carles Puyol and Gonzalo Garay both have international experience, while the Barcelona trio of Pedri, Gavi, and Ferran Torres have been impressing on the international stage.
competition
Spain made their World Cup debut in 1934, and they dominated the competition. There were 16 teams in total and the tournament was played in a knockout format. Spain beat Brazil 3-1 in the first round, and Italy in the quarterfinals. In the first game, Luis Regueiro scored the opening goal for Spain, but Italy hit back just before halftime. The two teams could not separate themselves at the time.
England
During the 1962 World Cup in Mexico
During the 1962 World Cup in Mexico, England was one of the underdogs, but that didn’t stop them from winning the competition. After losing the group stage to Uruguay, England beat Portugal and Argentina, and then beat West Germany in the final. Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, and Gordon Banks are still among the greatest players to represent England in international football.