How defending champions have fared at the World Cup

(Agencies) Updated: 2014-06-19 08:37

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Here is a list of how defending World Cup champions have fared Following Spain's elimination from the tournament on Wednesday.

How defending champions have fared at the World Cup

Defending champions?who suffered early exit?at group stage:

Italy: 1950, 2010

Brzail: 1966

France: 2002

Spain: 2014

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1934 - Uruguay: declined to participate

1938 - Italy: successfully defended title

1950 - Italy: knocked out in first round

Players from Italy and Paraguay, watch as the ball rises high into the air during their pool match in the soccer World Cup Finals, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 16, 1950. Italy defeated Paraguay by 2 goals to nil.?[Photo/IC]

1954 - Uruguay: lost in semifinal, lost match for third place

1958 - West Germany: lost in semifinal, lost match for third place

1962 - Brazil: successfully defended title

1966 - Brazil: lost in first round

Eusebio of Portugal heads the ball past goalkeeper Manga to score the second goal for his team in the World Cup match against the champions, Brazil at Goodison Park, Liverpool July 19th 1966.?[Photo/IC]

1970 - England: lost in quarterfinal

1974 - Brazil: knocked out in second group stage, lost match for third place

1978 - West Germany: knocked out at second group stage

1982 - Argentina: knocked out at second group stage

1986 - Italy: knocked out in round of 16

1990 - Argentina: lost in final

1994 - Germany (had won title as West Germany): lost in quarterfinals

1998 - Brazil: lost in final

2002 - France: knocked out in first round

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, right, loses balance while chasing the ball with Denmark's Martin Laursen (4) during their World Cup Group A match at World Cup Stadium in Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2002.?[Photo/IC]

2006 - Brazil: lost in quarterfinal

2010 - Italy: knocked out in first round

Italy's Fabio Cannavaro waves as he leaves the pitch during the World Cup group F soccer match between Italy and New Zealand at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Sunday, June 20, 2010. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. ?[Photo/IC]

2014 - Spain: knocked out in first round

Spain's Sergio Busquets reacts after missing a chance to score a goal during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match against Chile at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 18, 2014.??[Photo/Agencies]