By Jason Hughes, PA International, Yokohama

The history of Brazil and the World Cup go hand in hand.

As the only country to have been at all 16 finals before this one, they have thrown up some wonderful memories.

Here PA Sport reminisces about the boys from Brazil and football's most famous competition.

URUGUAY 1930

Brazil first ever World Cup finals match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Yugoslavia. Preguinho scored a hat-trick as they hammered Bolivia 4-0 in their next game, but they still went out in the first round.

ITALY 1934

Their second World Cup was even less successful. After sending a weakened squad to Italy, they were heading home after one game following a 3-1 defeat to Spain.

FRANCE 1938

Four goals from Leonidas, who even played in bare feet for a spell, gave Brazil an opening 6-5 extra-time win over Poland. He went on to score eight goals in the competition, but they lost 2-1 to eventual champions Italy in the semi-finals, with Leonidas rested - presumptuously and wrongly as it turned out - for the final.

BRAZIL 1950

They had high hopes as they hosted the first World Cup after the Second World War. But it was not be as Brazil lost to 2-1 to Uruguay in front of over 200,000 fans at a still-to-be completed Maracana Stadium.

SWITZERLAND 1954

Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals in the infamous 'Battle of Berne' with Ferenc Puskas' Hungary. Three Brazilian players were sent off with players, coaches and officials from the two sides fighting in the changing rooms afterwards.

SWEDEN 1958

A 17-year-old Pele inspired Brazil to their first World Cup triumph. His quarter-final winner against Wales made him the youngest player to score at the finals. He hit a hat-trick in the semis and two in the final, including the famous chip over the defender and volley home, as they beat the hosts 5-2.

CHILE 1962

Their second triumph soon followed. Although Pele was injured in the first game, goals from Garrincha and Vava took them through the tournament. They beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final.

ENGLAND 1966

Brazil suffered the ignominy of being only the second defending champions to go out in the first round as Pele was again subjected to an over-physical approach from defenders.

MEXICO 1970

Pele, Rivelino, Tostao, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto - probably the greatest team to grace the World Cup. Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning it for a third time. Their success, which included a 1-0 win over England on the way, was rounded off by Carlos Alberto's famous strike in a 4-1 win over Italy.

WEST GERMANY 1974

Brazil met their match as they went out 2-0 to Holland, with the likes of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Johnny Rep introducing the world to the concept of 'Total Football'. However the Dutchmen were outwitted in the final 2-1 by Franz Beckenbauer's West Germany.

ARGENTINA 1978

The Brazilians finished third after beating Italy 2-1 but South American supremacy was handed over to Argentina, who walked out for the final against Holland under a shower of ticker tape and went on to win 3-1.

SPAIN 1982

Brazil produced probably the best side never to win the World Cup. Socrates, Zico, Falcao, Eder and Junior went home empty-handed after they lost one of the World Cup's greatest matches. Paolo Rossi's hat-trick gave the Italians a 3-2 second-phase win.

MEXICO 1986

The class of '86 could not match the feats of their Brazilian predecessors in Mexico 16 years earlier. After cruising through to the quarter-finals without conceding a goal, they went out on penalties to France after a pulsating 1-1 draw.

ITALY 1990

After another impressive group campaign, they went out in the second round with a 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Argentina.

USA 1994

The wait for a fourth World Cup crown was finally ended, although when it finally arrived it was in rather unspectacular style. After a goalless draw after extra-time in the final, Roberto Baggio's missed penalty in the shoot-out meant the trophy was Brazil-bound again.

FRANCE 1998

Brazil had looked destined for an unprecedented fifth crown until they came up against the hosts in the final. Their cause was not helped by Ronaldo suffering a seizure on the eve of the match, which they lost 3-0 with their star striker a shadow of the man who won player of the tournament.