Which country holds the record for appearances in the FIFA World Cup Final without winning?

Which country holds the record for appearances in the FIFA World Cup Final without winning?  The FIFA World Cup was established in 1930 and, in the 21 tournaments staged so far, a total of five countries have appeared in the final without winning. Sweden and Croatia have made just one appearance apiece, but Sweden, as hosts, were beaten 5-2 by Brazil at the Rasunda Stadium in Solna in 1958, while Croatia were beaten 4-2 by France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in 2018.

Similarly, two countries have experienced double heartbreak in the World Cup final, losing on both appearances. Hungary had the dubious distinction of scoring twice in normal time on both occasions, but lost 4-2 to defending champions Italy at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris in 1938 and 3-2 to West Germany at the Wanksdorf Stadium in Bern in 1954. Long before the country split to become the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, Czechoslovakia experienced a comparable fate, losing out 2-1, after extra time, against hosts Italy at Stadio Nazionale del PNF in Rome in 1934 and 3-1 to defending champions Brazil at Estadio Nacional in Santiago in 1962.

Arguably the unluckiest country in the history of the World Cup, though, is the Netherlands, who have made three appearances in the final and finished runner-up on all three occasions. In 1974, the Netherlands, captained by Johann Cruyff, faced hosts West Germany and took the lead after just two minutes, courtesy of a Johan Neeskens penalty. However, they conceded twice later in the first half and eventually lost 2-1. In 1978, a late equaliser from Dutch forward Dick Nanninga took the match against Argentina at the Estadio Monumental into extra time, but the hosts scored twice in the first period to make the final score 3-1. Oranje, as the team is known colloquially, made it third time unlucky with a 1-0 defeat, again after extra time, against Spain at Soccer City, Johannesburg in 2010.

Which player has made most appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals?

At the time of writing, the player who has made the most appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals is the former captain of Germany – and, before that, West Germany – Lothar Matthäus. Matthäus has the distinction of being the most capped German player of all time, having represented his country on 150 occasions, including 23 prior to German reunification in October, 1990. Over two decades after his retirement, Matthäus remains one of just six players to have played in five World Cups and his 25 appearances at the global showpiece remain a record.

Matthäus made his World Cup debut at Estadio El Molinón in Gijón, Spain on June 20, 1982, replacing Paul Breitner after 61 minutes during a 4-1 victory over Chile in the first group stage. He also replaced Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after 66 minutes of a controversial 1-0 win over Austria at the same venue five days later, subsequently dubbed the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’, but took no further part in the second group or knockout stages.

Four years later, Matthäus was a regular starter in Mexico, scoring a late winner against Morocco in the round of 16 and again in a penalty shoot-out against the hosts in the quarter-finals. West Germany reached the final, as they had done in 1982, but lost 3-2 to Argentina. At Italia ’90, which was the last World Cup to feature a team from West Germany, Matthäus, as captain, enjoyed his finest hour. He scored twice in the opening fixture against Yugoslavia – once with his left foot and once with his right – to lay the foundations of a unbeaten run to the final, which West Germany won 1-0, courtesy of a late Andreas Brehme penalty.

In 1994, in the United States, featured as a sweeper, although he did score a penalty against Bulgaria in the quarter-final, which Germany ultimately lost 2-1. In 1998, in France, Matthäus fulfilled a similar role, at the age of 37, to cement his reputation as one of the most talented, versatile and intelligent footballers of all time, both in midfield and defence.

4 Horse Racing Events You Shouldn’t Miss Out On In 2023

If you are one of those horse racing enthusiasts prepping for next year, you probably don’t want to miss out on a single amazing event. Thankfully, 2023 is expected to be another exciting year for horse racing fans, which means you will have the chance to fill up your calendar with plenty of incredible festivals to look forward to. Today we will take a look at some of the most popular horse racing events you should keep an eye out for in 2023. From Cheltenham Festival to Dante Festival in York, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes.

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival is due to return in March, and it is one of the most important events on next year’s horse racing calendar. It is also one of the most popular sporting events in Britain, so it’s guaranteed to be full of action and excitement. You will get to see some of horse racing’s greatest stars, as they test their agility and strength in various ways. Moreover, rising stars are often discovered on this day, which means that you may be there to see legends being made. To ensure you have the best time at Cheltenham Festival, it’s advisable to book a VIP hospitality package, which will bring you as close as possible to the action and electric atmosphere of the event.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is an iconic horse-racing event which is set to take place in June next year. It offers guests an opportunity to dress up in formal attire and have an amazing experience during the summer season. If you are one of the biggest horse-racing fans out there, you may also consider betting on the day. To hone your gambling skills, it can be a good idea to try different online casinos, such as Jackpot, a South-African casino where you can find plenty of great bonuses and promotions. They can help you get better at online gambling and ensure you are ready for the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.

Dante Festival

Another great place horse-racing fans wouldn’t want to miss out on is York, where you can check out the Dante Festival. Many stars have found success at the York Racecourse, so you can expect to see some world-class horse-racing action there. This festival spans over three days in the middle of May and offers a fun atmosphere, helping you kick off your summer. There are some amazing package options to consider, which are designed to suit all tastes and budgets. As a result, you will have the opportunity to combine horse racing with fine dining, complimentary drinks, and much more.

Coral Scottish Grand National

If you have never attended the Coral Scottish Grand National meeting, next year may be the perfect time to do it. You can expect to see some of the best performers tackling a number of obstacles in front of huge crowds. This makes for one of the best days of the year, as you will also get some amazing entertainment before and after the event. The event takes place in April every year, lasting two days at Ayr Racecourse. However, be sure to get your tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Which Top WWE Wrestlers Were Born in Ohio?

Which Top WWE Wrestlers Were Born in Ohio?  The state of Ohio has been the birthplace of a good number of professional wrestlers. From the legendary Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage to Perry Saturn, Al Snow and Bobby Fulton. The current WWE roster also has a lot to thank Ohio for. Those included on this list will be doing all they can in January 2023 to earn title shots at WrestleMania 39 in April. It will be possible to bet on favorites in top sports events from January 1, 2023, according to sports betting aggregator Ohio.Bet.

Alexa Bliss

Alexa Bliss was born in Columbus, Ohio and has won several titles in WWE. To say she’s had an interesting career is a massive understatement. Bliss may be only 155cm high and weigh 46 kg but never take her lightly.

Her target in January will be to win the Women’s Royal Rumble on January 28. Doing so will earn her a title shot at WrestleMania. The past few years have been rather interesting for Bliss. One crazy storyline saw her team up with The Fiend and somehow gain supernatural powers. Then there was her association with a demonic doll called ‘Lily.’

Thankfully those storylines are history now. 2022 has seen Bliss win and lose the tag team titles. 2023 will hopefully see her win the Raw Women’s title for the first time since 2018

Dolph Ziggler

Another Ohio wrestler who has had a great deal of success in WWE is Dolph Ziggler. He was born in Cleveland and fell in love with professional wrestling when attending matches at the Richfield Coliseum.

After a successful amateur career, he joined WWE in 2004. His time in the company has seen him win many titles. He’s been the world heavyweight champion on two occasions, won tag team titles and earlier this year, he held the NXT title.

He may not be in the title picture at present but always seems to be involved in some feud or another. January 2023 will see him attempting to win the Royal Rumble and give him the chance to get more gold around his waist.

His life isn’t all about professional wrestling though. He’s also a stand-up comedian and an actor.

The Miz

One wrestler born in Ohio who is likely to play a prominent role in WWE in the coming months is The Miz.. He was born in Parma and like Zigger, has been in WWE since 2004. He’s been in the main event at WrestleMania in the past and has held the WWE title twice in the past.

He’s another WWE performer who has found success away from the wrestling ring. Along with his wife Maryse (also a wrestler), he stars in the reality TV series ‘Miz & Mrs.’ The Miz has appeared in several movies and also in ‘Dancing With the Stars

The Miz has feuded with everyone from Bad Bunny to John Cena. With his outlandish costumes and continual high opinion of himself, he’s one of the most irritating villains in WWE history.

Dana Brooke

Born in Seven Hills, Ohio, Dana Brooke has had a varied career. The 34-year-old has been a gymnast, bodybuilder and fitness competitor. and in the past year held the now discontinued WWE 24/7 title on 15 occasions. That’s a bizarre WWE title that has been held by everyone from Bad Bunny to Santa Claus (honestly he won the belt). Next year sees her celebrate 10 years in WWE

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