The first four champions were from Pool B, overall there are 7 champions from Pool B and 6 from Pool A. On 4 occasions the group topper could not win the tournament. Pakistan won after finishing behind Spain in Pool B in 1971, while all the 3 wins of Netherlands have come when they finished 2nd in their group. In fact when in 1994 they topped the group, they could not win the tournament. In half of the editions so far, the pool toppers have reached the finals too. Can 2014 World Cup be the first such event where the finalists comprise of a pool topper and a runners up from other pool!!
History of Hockey World Cup
2014 Hockey World Cup: Pool and Schedules
Squads of All Teams in 2014 WC
Hockey World Cup: Result of Pools and Participants in Every Edition
In the previous 12 editions, none of the final was played between a pool topper of one pool and a runners up of other pool. While on 3 occasions both the group toppers failed to reach the final, and on other 3 occasions both the finalists belonged to the same pool, on remaining 6 occasions both the group toppers clashed in the final, and since the last three world cups the group toppers and finalists are Germany and Australia only.
When both the finalists belonged to the same Pool
- 1971 Pakistan, Spain were from Pool B.
1978 Pakistan, Netherlands were from Pool B.
1982 Pakistan, West Germany were from Pool A.
When both the Pool Toppers failed to reach the Final
- 1973 India vs Netherlands
1990 Netherlands vs Pakistan
1998 Netherlands vs Spain
When the final was played between Pool Toppers
- 1975 India vs Pakistan
1986 Australia vs England
1994 Pakistan, Netherlands
2002, 2006, 2010 Germany vs Australia
Champion (Pool Name)
| Year | Pool A Leader | Pool B Leader | Champion |
| 1971 | India | Spain | Pakistan (B) |
| 1973 | Germany | Pakistan | Netherlands (B) |
| 1975 | Pakistan | India | India (B) |
| 1978 | Australia | Pakistan | Pakistan (B) |
| 1982 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan (A) |
| 1986 | England | Australia | Australia (B) |
| 1990 | Australia | Germany | Netherlands (A) |
| 1994 | Pakistan | Netherlands | Pakistan (A) |
| 1998 | Germany | Australia | Netherlands (A) |
| 2002 | Germany | Australia | Germany (A) |
| 2006 | Australia | Germany | Germany (B) |
| 2010 | Germany | Australia | Australia (B) |
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