Spain coach Vicente del Bosque heads into his team's opening Group H game against Switzerland on Wednesday believing South Africa's tournament can still be remembered as the best World Cup of all time.
Del Bosque said he and his players are determined to help make the tournament a success so the people in the host country, and all of Africa, have something to be proud of.
He said: "We have to help because this is the first World Cup in Africa. So if there are any logistical problems or any other issues, we have to just co-operate so that this World Cup is the best ever."
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |