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In the past 7 World Cups dating back to 1982, none of the eventual winners encountered ANY defeats in the entire tournament.

The last time a winning team lost in the group games was Argentina in 1978. They lost to Italy 1-0, in the final group game (when Argentina was already assured of a place in the next round).

Judging purely by this statistic, and although I have my money on Spain, we can assume that early favourites Spain and Germany will not be winning this World Cup!

But good news for England and Italy fans.

Italy is the only team to have NOT won a group game, but still managed to win the 1982 World Cup. The drew all their group games against Poland, Peru and Cameroon and barely made it out of the group through the skin of their teeth, on goal difference ahead of Cameroon. They then went on to beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and West Germany to clinch the trophy.

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World Cup Results for All Winning Teams since 1978:

2006: Italy

vs Ghana (win 2-0)
vs United States (draw 1-1)
vs Czech Republic (win 2-0)
vs Australia (win 1-0)
vs Ukraine (win 3-0)
vs Germany (win 2-0)
vs France (draw 1-1, win 5-3 on penalties)

2002: Brazil

vs Turkey (win 2-1)
vs China (win 4-0)
vs Costa Rica (win 5-2)
vs Belgium (win 2-0)
vs England (win 2-1)
vs Turkey (win 2-1)
vs Germany (win 2-0)

1998: France

vs South Africa (win 3-0)
vs Saudi Arabia (win 4-0)
vs Denmark (win 2-1)
vs Paraguay (win 1-0)
vs Italy (draw 0-0, win 4-3 on penalties)
vs Croatia (win 2-1)
vs Brazil (win 3-0)

1994: Brazil

vs Russia (win 2-0)
vs Cameroon (win 3-0)
vs Sweden (draw 1-1)
vs United States (win 1-0)
vs Netherlands (win 3-2)
vs Sweden (win 1-0)
vs Italy (draw 0-0, win 3-2 on penalties)

1990: West Germany

vs Yugoslavia (win 4-1)
vs UAE (win 5-1)
vs Colombia (draw 1-1)
vs Netherlands (win 2-1)
vs Czechoslovakia (win 1-0)
vs England (draw 1-1, win 4-3 on penalties)
vs Argentina (win 1-0)

1986: Argentina

vs Korea Republic (win 3-1)
vs Italy (draw 1-1)
vs Bulgaria (win 2-0)
vs Uruguay (win 1-0)
vs England (win 2-1)
vs Belgium (win 2-0)
vs West Germany (win 3-2)

1982: Italy

vs Poland (draw 0-0)
vs Peru (draw 1-1)
vs Cameroon (draw 1-1)
vs Argentina (win 2-1)
vs Brazil (win 3-2)
vs Poland (win 2-0)
vs West Germany (win 3-1)

1978: Argentina

vs Hungary (win 2-1)
vs France (win 2-1)
vs Italy (lose 1-0)
vs Poland (win 2-0)
vs Brazil (draw 0-0)
vs Peru (win 6-0)
vs Netherlands (win 3-1)

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