OF ALL TIME.

Italy and Brazil are more impressive for me in the way they won the world cup twice in a row each.

I was expecting this poll result but here is more difficult one.

Second poll: who is greater World Cup team in history?

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Brazil is more impressive because they play in style with their famous samba football not to mention 1970s World Cup final when they thrashed italy 4-1!

But 1934 and 1938 only had 16 World Cup participants... and the footballing scene wasn't as covered as post-WWII World Cups so we know very little about the first three events. I personally don't take them into consideration due to it being nearly a century ago and not a fair comparison to football post-1960.

Despite being a supporter of Germany, I think Brazil have influenced football the most and they did so with the World Cup as their medium, so they must be crowned the greatest World Cup team. Many of the World Cup's greatest heroes are Brazilian as well. Germany are certainly the modern epitome of World Cup success, as they have seen the most success since the Dutch revolutionized football under Michels (winners in 1974, 1990, 2014; runners up in 1982, 1986, 2002; third place in 2006, 2010).

I'd say the Brazilians have had the greatest impact on football as a whole via the World Cup, but the Germans have been the model of success since the Total Football era began.

Semi-final appearances since Total Football era began in 1974 (out of 11 World Cups, including the '74 edition)...

Germany - 8 (winners in 1974, 1990, 2014; runners-up in 1982, 1986, 2002; third-place in 2006, 2010)
Brazil - 6 (winners in 1994, 2002; runners-up in 1998; third-place in 1978; fourth-place in 1974, 2014)
Netherlands - 5 (runners-up in 1974, 1978, 2010; third-place in 2014; fourth-place in 1998)
Italy - 5 (winners in 1982, 2006; runners-up in 1994; third-place in 1990; fourth-place in 1978)
Argentina - 4 (winners in 1978, 1986; runners-up in 1990, 2014)
France - 4 (winners in 1998; runners-up in 2006; third-place in 1986; fourth-place in 1982)

@Dynastian Thats actually a very good point, didn't actually take that into consideration. Still, from what I heard, that Italy national team was pretty badass.

Italian catenacio has influenced football just as much and still quiet popular strategy. Brazil doesn’t have much strategy but that is what makes them simply unpredictable with some free flowing style.

I thought italy was a bigger football influencer than Germany. Germany didn’t give us unique Football style other than incredible work rate and endurance.

Other than Spain, i've always viewed Germany as the pinnacle footballing nation Europe had to offer. But Brazil has always been THE football nation.

Spain as pinnacle of football in Europe? I think more like they hit their luck with pool of talents who played mostly for Barcelona and had a good run of 6 years while these players in their prime.

Well they did win everything, not just in the European stage, but in the world stage as a nation, did they not? How much more pinnacle can you get when you've won everything? Lol

But anyways, that's not exactly my point. I said Germany at first because unlike the other two that was mentioned in the title, they never failed to make to the semi-finals in the World Cup. So yeah..

@iHEARTfootball: Germany has failed to make the semi's before. '38, '62, '78', '94, '98.

Oops, I meant in the recent decades. Forgive me when I thought we're talking about the current World Cup teams instead of best World Cup teams of all time, smh.

Unfortunately, victors write the history but how they won it, doesn't matter. Therefore, your point is valid when you judge based on plain end results.

German football is just pure efficiency though. How many clubs have adopted their style of football? Not many but Italian and Brazilian is widely accepted as exemplary.

@iHEARTfootball I saw the title with All Time, but maybe that was edited before you answered? No worries either way, I know Germany is always one of the top teams no matter the year. :)