The FIFA World Cup took almost four and a half years to return to the fans, as the world's most popular sporting event takes precedence over other sports around the world. Fans are ready to lend their support to their favourite teams, but at the back of their heads, will be hoping that there are also no major upsets involving their favourite teams.
Over the 22 editions of the World Cup, there have been a plethora of shock results. From favourites and defending champions being knocked out in the group stages to irreversible results that display utter dominance, minnows who make it to the mega event always have a voice of their own.
The 2022 edition has already witnessed two upsets, after Saudi Arabia’s stunning 2-1 victory over Argentina in Qatar, and then Japan's 2-1 victory over 2014 champions Germany. Here, we take a look at other such major upsets that have rocked the World Cup.
USA 1-0 England — 1950
An England team with stars like Alf Ramsey, Tom Finney and Billy Wright were among the favourites to lift the coveted trophy in their World Cup debut. Meanwhile, the Americans sent a bunch of part-timers, including a dishwasher, a letter carrier and a teacher, to Brazil for the mega event. All cards were on England's table but the money was won by the USA. Joe Gaetjens scored a 38th-minute header to put his team ahead. Their goalkeeper Frank Borghi then prevented the Englishmen from scoring the equaliser to etch his team’s name in history books.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary — 1954
Boasting a side with football’s first superstar Ferenc Puskas, Hungary were known as the Mighty Magyars in the 1950s. Hence, when they lost to a lesser-known West German side, it was a major upset. Hungary went to the Switzerland World Cup as favourites, registering a 9-0 drubbing over South Korea, before thrashing West Germany 8-3. But when the two sides met in the final again, things went differently.
Hungary scored two goals in the first half and were cruising to victory, that was until the opponents scored two. With the game tied, Helmut Rahn scored his second goal 84th minute to break Hungarian hearts. The German comeback against one of the best teams in football’s history was termed 'The Miracle of Bern'.
North Korea 1-0 Italy — 1966
The English FA considered rejecting the North Korean team’s visa because of their cold war affiliations. During their match against Italy, the side were held together by Giacomo Bulgarelli but the midfielder was injured during the match which reduced the Italian side to 10 men (substitutions were not allowed at the time). Seven minutes later, Pak Doo Ik scored the winning goal that knocked out the two-time world champions.
Algeria 2-1 West Germany — 1982
West Germany entered the 1982 World Cup as European champions, former two-time winners and favourites with stars like Hansi Mueller, Wolfgang Dremmler, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthaus in their ranks. Facing minnows Algeria, everyone expected them to win but it was not to be. Rabah Madjer scored for Algeria in the 54th minute and after Rummenigge’s goal brought Germany level, a goal that would shock West Germany came from the now-legendary Algerian forward Lakhdar Belloumi.
Cameroon 1-0 Argentina — 1990
Argentina and Diego Maradona had a seemingly easy opening match at the 1982 World Cup. Heading into the tournament as defending champions, they face debutants Cameroon, the only sub-Saharan African country to participate in the tournament. Although Argentina started well, the Cameroonians grew in confidence and in the second half, Francois Omam-Biyik gave his team the lead with a header that would leave the footballing world shocked.
France 0-1 Senegal — 2002
The opening game of the 2002 World Cup saw defending champions France facing Senegal in what many believed was a one-sided affair. A 30th-minute goal from Papa Bouba Diop saw Senegal on top of the group at the end of 90 minutes. It was a decisive performance as France’s journey ended after another loss and a draw. Senegal went on to become only the second African country to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Netherlands 5-1 Spain — 2014
The opening game of Group B at the 2014 World Cup saw the 2010 finalists lock horns. Spain entered the tournament as the reigning European and world champions and after Xabi Alonso opened the scoring in the 27th minute, all seemed to be going well for the Spanish side. But a minute before half-time came the most iconic goal in the modern history of the tournament.
Robin van Persie was 15 yards from the goal when he latched on to a looping ball and scored a stunning header to baffle Iker Casillas and the rest of the Spanish side. The Dutch went on to score four more goals to hand Spain their second-biggest loss in a World Cup. It was also the biggest loss margin for defending champions in a FIFA World Cup. Spain were knocked out of the group after another loss to Chile, while the Dutchmen finished the World Cup in third place.
Germany 7-1 Brazil — 2014
The 2014 World Cup seemed like the perfect opportunity for Brazil, with dominant performances against all their opponents heading into their semifinal clash against Germany. However, they lost their star forward Neymar Jr. to injury in the quarterfinals and captain Thiago Silva to yellow card accumulation. After Germany opened the scoring in the 11th minute they never looked back. Between 23 and 29 minutes, the Germans scored four more goals to stun the Brazilians in the stadium.
The match finished with a scoreline of 7-1, Brazil’s biggest defeat since 1920, and brought on titles such as 'the Agony of Mineirao' and was termed a national humiliation for the football-mad country. Germany went on to win the final against Argentina for their fourth title.
South Korea 2-0 Germany (2018)
Keeping in tandem wit the ‘defending champions curse’ South Korea's victory over Germany was the third consecutive World Cup where the holders were knocked out in the group stages. The Diemannschaft came into their final group game with a win imperative to progress. South Korea were all but out of the tournament. When the match seemed to be heading to a goalless draw, the Germans amassed all their efforts on scoring a winning goal that would see them through. But two minutes into injury time South Korea’s Kim Young-Gwon scored from a corner. Manuel Neuer, the German captain and goalkeeper, came out all the way into the Korean half to enforce the attack. South Korea capitalised by collecting the ball from Neuer’s miscued pass and slotting it into an empty net to seal Germany’s fate.
It was the first time since 1938 that Germany failed to advance beyond the first stage and their first-ever defeat against an Asian country in a World Cup match.
