'They have talent' - how will England do in Qatar?
Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details

Only one country can win the men's football World Cup every four years.

The best team always wins the trophy. Some magical sides have fallen just short of winning the game's ultimate prize.

From the Dutch masters of Total Football in the 70's to the brilliant Brazilians of the 80's.

Which team isn't the best to win the World Cup. In the latest Match of the Day: Top 10 show, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards discuss that topic.

Ranking your choices at the bottom of the page will allow you to have your say on the show.

  • Listen to the Match of the Day Top 10: Best teams

Belgium 2018 (Richards: 10, Shearer: 5)

Belgium line up before losing the World Cup 2018 semi-final to France
Belgium have never reached a World Cup final, twice losing in the semis - to Argentina in 1986 and France in 2018

Heading into the World Cup in Russia, Belgium was the top ranked team in the world, but they had to fight back from 2-0 down to beat Japan and then beat Brazil in the quarter-finals. They didn't reproduce that form in the semi-finals, losing to France by a single goal.

Richards thinks that there were better teams at the time. I did not believe they had enough.

We have been saying for a long time that Belgium can win something with the players they have had.

Argentina 2006 (Richards: 9, Shearer: 9)

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Argentina against Serbia at the 2006 World Cup
Lionel Messi's only World Cup final appearance - to date - ended in defeat by Germany in 2014

In the 2006 World Cup, Lionel Messi scored one of the all-time great World Cup team goals with a 24 pass move, but Argentina were beaten on penalties in the quarter- finals.

Hernan Crespo, what a goal scorer. Remember Riquelme? That is a good player.

France 1982 (Richards: 8, Shearer: 10)

Michel Platini in action for France against Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup
France were beaten by West Germany in successive World Cup semi-finals in 1982 in Spain and 1986 in Mexico

France won the European Championship on home soil in 1984 and had some silverware to prove it. The best chance they had was when they lost to West Germany on penalties after a 3-3 tie.

Lineker said he would have liked them very much. They were robbed in the semi- final against Germany. The Germans came back and won on penalties after the goalkeeper smashed Patrick Battiston.

England 2002 (Richards: 7, Shearer: 8)

David Seaman is beaten by Ronaldinho's lob for Brazil
England would have faced Turkey in the semi-finals in 2002 had they beaten Brazil in the last eight

In qualification, England thrashed Germany 6-1 and then beat Argentina in the group stages to reach the group stages of the World Cup. Michael Owen put them ahead against Brazil in the quarter-finals, only for Ronaldinho to break their hearts again.

He gave you all the confidence but maybe didn't give them that extra they needed.

It was supposed to be the generation. There were some top players. Sweden and Nigeria played in a group game. Was the players fond of him?

France 2006 (Richards: 6, Shearer: 6)

Zinedine Zidane headbutts Marco Materazzi
The 2006 World Cup final was Zinedine Zidane's last match as a professional footballer, having announced his intention to retire before the tournament began

After squeezing through the group stage in Germany, Les Blues grew into the tournament as they eliminated Spain, Brazil and Portugal in successive knockout rounds, only for the star player to be sent off in the final for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

Richards said that the team was a good one. ilian Thuram was a really good player.

England 1990 (Richards: 4, Shearer: 7)

Terry Butcher and Paul Gascoigne after England's World Cup 1990 penalty shootout semi-final defeat by Germany
England's loss in 1990 would be the first of seven penalty shootout defeats they have suffered in major tournaments

The curse of the penalty shootout would strike for the first time against West Germany, leaving Paul Gascoigne and a lot of other onlookers in tears.

As the tournament went on, Lineker believed we could win. I think we would have won the World Cup in 1986 or 1990 if it weren't for Gazza. We came very close.

Shearer asked if the best days for a few of the players had passed.

West Germany 1986 (Richards: 5, Shearer: 4)

West Germany would gain revenge on Argentina in the 1990 final, Andreas Brehme (front, second from right) scoring the winner
West Germany would gain revenge on Argentina in the 1990 final as Andreas Brehme (front, second left) scored the winner and skipper Lothar Matthaus (front, right) lifted the trophy

The West Germans, including a young Lothar Matthaus and Rudi Voller, reached the second of three successive World Cup finals, but lost to Diego Maradona's Argentina.

Diego won it on his own, but they were a really good team. They were the favorites to win that final. I prayed Diego wouldn't score because I got six goals and he got five. The Golden Boot was won by me because West Germany did not allow Diego to score.

The Netherlands 1974 (Richards: 3, Shearer: 2)

Johan Cruyff
The Netherlands would lose a second successive World Cup final in 1978, again to the hosts, this time Argentina

The Netherlands swept into the 1974 final in style, trouncing Argentina and Brazil in the first two rounds. After West Germany touched the ball, the host nation fought back and won the game.

It was the time when you started to understand Total Football. The team was like a coaching team for him. I remember thinking "woah" when I watched that turn.

Brazil 1998 (Richards: 1, Shearer: 3)

Ronaldo scored four goals at France '98 but would win both the Golden Boot and World Cup four years later
Ronaldo scored four goals at France '98 but would win both the Golden Boot and World Cup four years later

1994 winners Brazil seemed to have a good chance of retaining their crown four years later. They beat the Netherlands on penalties to reach the final but fitness and health concerns overRonaldo overshadowed the loss.

Richards used to be a big fan of Dunga. It was a group of people.

They had some top players, but France destroyed them.

Brazil 1982 (Richards: 2, Shearer: 1)

The Brazil 1982 World Cup team
Socrates (front, second from left) and Zico (front, second from right) were among the stars of the Brazil '82 side

The concept of the second group stage was abandoned by Brazil after they were defeated in Spain. They beat Argentina but lost to Italy in the final of the 'group of death'.

Shearer had some good players.

They didn't have a center forward. The rest of the team did a great job. Brazil beat them but Italy scored three. ZICO was amazing.

BBC Sport app banner

Get the latest results and goal notifications for any team at the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple - Android - Amazon

BBC Sport banner