C&SC WORLD CUP

Eight countries have won the FIFA World Cup so far, but does success on the pitch equate to motoring prowess?

-  CHARLIE CALDERWOOD/SIMON HUCKNALL

As we approach the final stages of the 22nd FIFA World Cup, we're reminded that, while football might be the world's pastime, only eight nations have won the sport's top title. Those winners have reached the peak of the people's game', but which one of them has provided the best automotive hero to its people? All eight victors have histories of vehicle production, albeit some more extensive than others. In gathering their motoring representatives, we've chosen cars that were relatively affordable in their day and certainly not into the realm of the supercar - that's not quite in the spirit of the game. To keep a reasonably level playing field, we've picked cars that were all on sale in the 1960s or early '70s.

The success of South American teams in the World Cup has required some creativity - the number of Uruguayanbuilt cars in the entire Northern Hemisphere can likely be counted on one hand, after all-but, fortunately for us, the mid-century trend for license-building and import tariff-dodging local subsidiaries gives plenty of close approximations that are more readily found here in the UK. A player making a switch in nationality as they move from junior to senior international football, if you will.

We'll select our overall victor via an eight-nation knockout tournament, judging a winner of each match-up on best-of-seven criteria. So, which nation's champion will win the Classic & Sports Car World Cup?

RENAULT 8 GORDINI

Les Bleus' have a reputation for blowing hot and cold, only able to achieve true brilliance when united by a rare mercurial talent. France's successes, first in the European Championships and then in two World Cups, have coincided with the careers of Platini, Zidane and Mbappé for no small reason. Fortunately for Renault, they hit upon a similar sporting genius in Amédée Gordini, Le Sorcier.