France could be the third team to retain the World Cup without the threat of Mussolini or Pele

This Sunday, France has the chance to become the only third country in history to retain the World Cup, which gives me an indispensable license to bore.

Apologies in advance, but the fault lies with Orbis, who released a folder and sticker album before Italia 90. As a 13-year-old I was obsessed with waiting outside the East Belfast newsagent for the next issue to hit the shelves.

While all my friends were trying to buy Razzle, I was dazzled by this collection that documents the history of the greatest show on Earth. Since then I’ve been bothering people with useless knick-knacks, but now I get paid for it.

The first World Cup in 1930 is a treasure trove of facts and fables, my favorite being that different footballs were used in each half of the final. Argentina in the first half, hosts Uruguay in the second. The hibernation? 2-1 Argentina. full-time? 4-2Uruguay.

Sorry, I digress. The 1934 World Cup was won by host Italy, ruled by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Already in qualifying, the opponent was eliminated in the first leg after a 4-0 win in the first leg against Greece. The reasons given are now being questioned and it is quite possible that a telephone call was made in addition to a donation.

As a host, losing just wasn’t an option. The quarter-final draw with Spain was so painful that an injury forced Spain to make seven substitutions in the replay, which remarkably took place the following day.

After the Azzurri took the lead, two goals were disallowed for Spain. Well, even if you forgive the first for a controversial offside, the second was disallowed after the referee called the game back…for a free kick for Spain!

Rene Mercet was sacked by the Swiss Football Association and FIFA on his return home. Clearly nothing to see here.

The semi-final and final official, Swede Ivan Eklind, is said to have previously met with Mussolini. One can only assume that he wished him well and urged him to remain impartial at all times.

Four years later, Italy were the villains. If you skip the history lesson, it’s worth retelling the story of the finale. According to legend, Mussolini sent a telegram to the Italian team with a simple message: “Victory or die”.

It was a phrase somewhat lost in translation, but after the 4-2 win over Hungary, defeated goalkeeper Antal Szabo mused: “I might have conceded four goals, but at least I saved their lives.”

Italy’s back-to-back World Cups are undeniably star-studded, which brings us to Brazil’s 1958 side and a 17-year-old Pelé finally revealing himself to the world as he didn’t really play in the first two games.

Once popped, he did not stop and scored six goals in four games. There was a great turnaround against Wales in the quarter-finals in what could have been had Wales missed their star striker, John Charles.

Then came his hat-trick against the French in the semi-final, I could have scored the first and broken my back in the third.

Then two in the final against Sweden, the first of which was without a doubt one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time.

Fun fact. This remains the only World Cup where England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have qualified. Okay, that wasn’t so funny.

The main controversy in 1962 was the Battle of Santiago between Chile and Italy, described by David Coleman as “the most stupid, abhorrent, disgusting and embarrassing football demonstration possible in the history of football”.

In a tournament marred by fierce encounters, Pele was injured in the group stage and retired from playing, but other stars emerged to play. Didi was still there, Amarildo shone and of course Garrincha set the world on fire as Brazil defended the title.

So to you, France. The only thing standing between you and a rare piece of World Cup history is Argentina and a little boy named Lionel Messi.

You have the chance to become just the third person to host the World Cup and the first to do so without the help of a fascist dictator or the greatest player of all time.

@ColinMurray