Can you lose and win a FIFA World Cup in the same year? The answer is yes. It happened to England in 1966, when they were the host nation of the World Cup.
Just a few months after the games were played, someone stole the trophy and demanded a rescue. The tournament organizers were so desperate that they secretly asked silversmith George Bird to make a replica.
When on July 1966 England thrashed 4-2 to the selection of West Germany, became the world champion. Luckily, that day the iconic image of English captain Bobby Moore raising the cup was left for posterity. The real one.
1966
And it was all thanks to a half-breed collie called Pickles (“Pepinillos” in Spanish).