First 'away' World Cup win for Europe guaranteed
A European victory in Sunday's final at Soccer City, Johannesburg, means they will have 10 World Cup successes, one more than South America.
Netherlands' 3-2 victory over Uruguay on Tuesday ensured that a European team will lift the World Cup on a foreign continent for the first time. Germany or Spain, who play the second semi-final in Durban on Wednesday, will meet Netherlands in the second successive all-European final after Italy beat France on penalties four years ago in Germany. Brazil and Argentina are the only teams to have won the trophy on a foreign continent with Brazil successful in Sweden in 1958, Mexico 1970, the United States in 1994 and Japan in 2002, while Argentina won in Mexico in 1986. A European victory in Sunday's final at Soccer City, Johannesburg, means they will have 10 World Cup successes, one more than South America.The tournament was first contested in 1930.