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Some history:

1982 SPAIN

Final: July 11 1982 ITALY 3 WEST GERMANY 1

An expanded World Cup of 24 teams included an increase in the number of finalists from Asia, Africa and the CONCACAF region of North and Central America but it was the Europeans who dominated the competition.

However, the format left much to be desired.

After the teams were split into six groups of four, the top two in each advanced to a second round of 12 with four groups of three.

The four group winners advanced to the semi-finals and in the event Italy, Poland, West Germany and France battled through.

Hosts Spain were eliminated in the second phase after losing 2-1 to West Germany and drawing 0-0 with England, who also went out despite being undefeated in their five matches.

Champions Argentina went out in the second phase, too, losing to Italy (2-1) and Brazil (3-1), when Diego Maradona was sent off. His day, though, was to come.

Italy battled through to the last four after starting the tournament poorly with three draws in their opening group matches against Poland (0-0), Peru (1-1) and Cameroon (1-1).

But they came to life in the second phase, following up a 2-1 win over Argentina with a 3-2 victory over Brazil in one of the best World Cup matches of all time.

Paolo Rossi, who only returned to the side a few weeks earlier at the end of a suspension for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal, which he has always strenuously denied, scored a hat-trick against Brazil and then two more against Poland in the semi-finals as Italy reached their first final since 1970.

The Germans arrived after their epic victory over France in the semis in Seville when they battled back from trailing Michel Platini's side 3-1 in extra-time to force a 3-3 draw and then win on penalties.

But they went into the final with their best player, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge not fully fit. He went off soon after Italy took a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute of a game which they eventually won 3-1 to become world champions for the third time.

Rossi maintained his scoring form with the opening goal early in the second half while Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli added the others. Paul Breitner's late consolation meant he became only the third player, after Brazilians Vava and Pele, to score in two finals following his penalty in 1974.