The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup is just 25 days away. This time, there might be a marked difference in the mood, given that it is going from flamboyant Brazil to stoic Russia. This will be the first ever World Cup in Eastern Europe. Indeed, over the last two decades, the World Cup has expanded like never before. In 2002, it was held in Asia for the first time and in 2010, it was time for Africa.
The five previous editions of the World Cup also saw five different champions. This was also a first in World Cup history. So, here's looking back at this exciting phase in world football.
France 1998: Home of heroes
Winner: France
Runner-up: Brazil
Golden ball (Best player): Ronaldo (Brazil)
Golden boot (Top goal scorer): Davor Suker (Croatia)
Golden glove (Best goalkeeper): Fabien Barthez (France)
Best young player: Michael Owen (England)
Fair play award: England, France
Most entertaining team: France
The 16th edition saw the expansion from 24 teams to 32. This meant more opportunities for teams from Asia, Africa and CONCACAF and eventually led to the World Cup debuts of Japan, South Africa and Jamaica.
European giants Spain continued their poor performance at major tournaments with their group stage exit. Romania topped Group G ahead of Colombia and England.
The match of the Round of 16 was played out between England and Argentina. After a dramatic 2-2 draw (think David Beckham being sent off), Argentina prevailed in the penalty shootout. France needed an extra time golden goal from Laurent Blanc to beat Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.
The hosts then beat Italy in a shootout to advance to the semis, where they faced the tournament's dark horses Croatia, who had beaten Germany 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Right-back Lilian Thuram scored his first and second goals for France as they rallied from falling behind to a Davor Suker goal.
In the other semifinal, Ronaldo put Brazil ahead against The Netherlands, only for Patrick Kluivert to draw the Dutch level. The game finished 1-1 and Brazil went through on penalties.
The cloud of Ronaldo's 'illness' hung over the final and El Fenomeno (The Phenomenon) was a shadow of his usual self. The French, despite Blanc's absence through suspension, soon wrested control. Zinedine Zidane headed home from two corners and France won 3-0 despite Marcel Desailly's second-half red card.
(File) Brazil captain and defender Cafu lifts the 2002 World Cup trophy at the International Stadium Yokohama, Japan, following the team's 2-0 victory against Germany | AFP
Korea-Japan 2002: High-five Brazil
Winner: Brazil
Runner-up: Germany
Golden ball: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
Golden boot: Ronaldo (Brazil)
Golden glove: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
Best young player: Landon Donovan (USA)
Fair play award: Belgium
Most entertaining team: Korea Republic
The 2002 World Cup in a new continent had a series of surprises in store. None bigger than reigning champions France losing 1-0 to debutants Senegal and then going home, finishing last in Group A, without scoring a goal. Portugal, fielding the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, were eliminated thanks to losses to two surprise packages—the USA and co-hosts South Korea. Argentina was also sent packing after losing to England (Beckham overcame the ghosts of France 1998 by netting the lone goal of the game from the penalty spot) and drawing against Sweden.
Senegal had a fine run, including a golden goal win against Sweden in the Round of 16. But they eventually fell to another golden goal in the quarterfinal against Turkey. South Korea exceeded all expectations by beating Italy through a golden goal in the Round of 16. Guus Hiddink's charges then got a lucky break as they beat another strong but underachieving Spain side on penalties to reach the semis.
Co-hosts Japan topped their group. But their adventure ended in the Round of 16 against Turkey. In the semifinals, Turkey faced Brazil, who had beaten them in the group stages (the match with Rivaldo's infamous 'dive'). Brazil, who had overcome England in the quarterfinal thanks to Ronaldinho's brilliance, beat Turkey again to reach the final.
Germany had reached the final thanks to Michael Ballack's goals and Oliver Kahn's goalkeeping. But Ballack missed the final through suspension and Ronaldo found redemption by putting two past Kahn. Though full of surprises, Korea-Japan 2002 ended with a familiar sight—Brazilians lifting the World Cup. It was an unprecedented fifth win for the Selecao.
(File) Italy's Fabio Grosso celebrates after scoring the winning penalty during the penalty shootout in their World Cup 2006 final against France in Berlin | Reuters
Germany 2006: An Italian renaissance
Winner: Italy
Runner-up: France
Golden ball: Zinedine Zidane (France)
Golden boot: Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Golden glove: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Best young player: Lukas Podolski (Germany)
Fair play award: Brazil, Spain
Most entertaining team: Portugal
The 2006 World Cup was a story of two contrasting styles. Exemplary defence by the Italians and high-tempo attack by the Germans. The two sides clashed in the semifinals where the Italians managed to hold the high-flying Germans at bay before scoring twice in the last two minutes of extra time.
This World Cup was also notable for some brilliant individual performances. Zidane rolled back the years in his final appearance at the World Cup, helping France reach the final. Cristiano Ronaldo shone, as Portugal, coached by 2002 Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, reached the semifinals for the first time since 1966.
Argentina played some good football before losing to Germany on penalties in the quarterfinal.
The African teams gave a good account of themselves. Ivory Coast pushed both Argentina and the Netherlands before losing to both teams. Angola held Mexico and Iran to draws and Ghana reached the Round of 16, where they lost to Brazil. Switzerland kept four clean sheets in their four matches before losing to Ukraine on penalties in the Round of 16.
Brazil's Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal to overtake West Germany's Gerd Muller (14) as the leading goal scorer in World Cups. But Brazil faced a disappointing quarterfinal exit. The final saw France and Italy exchanging goals within the first 20 minutes. The game stayed level and in extra time, an altercation between the two goal scorers Zidane and Marco Materazzi saw the French maestro being sent off for headbutting the Italian defender.
Italy won 5-3 on penalties to claim their fourth World Cup.
(File) Spain's Andres Iniesta holds up the 2010 World Cup trophy after winning the final against the Netherlands in Johannesburg, South Africa | AP
South Africa 2010: The red rising
Winner: Spain
Runner-up: The Netherlands
Golden ball: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Golden boot: Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Golden glove: Iker Casillas (Spain)
Best young player: Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Fair play award: Spain
The FIFA World Cup finally came to Africa. And Spain finally won the biggest prize in football after generations of underperforming. Despite becoming the first host nation to fall in the group stages, South Africa's determined performance was well-received. The Netherlands lost their third final after 1974 and 1978, thanks mainly to two brilliant one-on-one stops by Iker Casillas off Arjen Robben.
Germany impressed once again with some scintillating football, scoring four against England and Argentina in the knockout stages. But they were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the semifinals. The tournament's dark horses were Uruguay who reached the semifinals after 40 years. All five South American sides reached the knockout stages—a first in the World Cup. After Brazil beat Chile, four South American teams remained in contention after the Round of 16.
But three of them lost to European opposition and Uruguay had to rely on a Luis Suarez handball to deny Ghana a semifinal spot. After Suarez was sent off, Uruguay beat the Black Stars on penalties.
Mexico played exciting football and minnows New Zealand remained undefeated during their first round exit.
In the end, despite the early South American dominance, Europe took its first World Cup in another continent. Africa was also celebrating, with Nelson Mandela in attendance.
(File) Germany's Mario Goetze holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AP
Brazil 2014: Germany reign supreme
Winner: Germany
Runner-up: Argentina
Golden ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Golden boot: James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Golden glove: Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Best young player: Paul Pogba (France)
Fair play award: Colombia
After 64 years, the FIFA World Cup returned to the land that made football 'the beautiful game'. Brazil 2014 saw passionate crowds (as expected) and a record-equalling tally of goals (171), including three that were nominated for the 2014 Pushkas Award.
The tournament ended in heartbreak for the home team with the horror of a 7-1 semifinal drubbing by the Germans. Germany built on their impressive performances at the last two editions to become the first European team to triumph in the Americas. In the process, they maintained Europe's grip on the World Cup.
Spain's golden run—winning three major trophies in four years from 2008 to 2012—came to an abrupt end. Two African teams survived the group stages for the first time. Costa Rica were the other surprise package, topping a group consisting of England, Italy and Uruguay, before going down to the Netherlands on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Despite being a high-scoring tournament, Brazil 2014 saw some brilliant goalkeeping from the likes of Manuel Neuer, Keylor Navas and Sergio Romero. Tim Krul came off the bench to win the quarterfinal in a shootout for The Netherlands. Luis Suarez looked ready to wipe away the stains of South Africa 2010, with a brilliant brace against England. However, in the last group match, he bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini to earn himself a four-month ban. Paul Pogba and James Rodriguez (chest-volley-goal!) impressed and Mario Gotze scored a goal worthy of winning any World Cup.
Miroslav Klose beat Ronaldo's record to become the all-time leading scorer at tournament and Germany drew level with Italy on four World Cups.