Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Every World Cup comes with its fair share of upsets. Some of the most magical World Cup moments are when the Goliaths are felled by Davids. Here's a look at some of the biggest World Cup shocks, surprises and miracles.
Brazil 1-2 Uruguay (Brazil, 1950)
The mother of all World Cup upsets, Brazil’s defeat to neighbours Uruguay in front of close to 2,00,000 rabid fans was one of the biggest shocks in football history. Playing on home soil, Brazil was so confident that they would win their first World Cup that some early editions of domestic newspapers hit the streets, proclaiming victory at halftime. Having dominated the early stages of the tournament with crushing victories over Spain and Sweden, Brazil were clear favourites to lift the coveted trophy. However, it was not to be as Alcides Ghiggia beat Gilmar at his near post sending an arrow into the heart of every Brazilian fan. In the aftermath of the defeat, Brazil promptly burnt, and changed the colour of their jerseys forever. The humiliation of the Maracamazo can be rivalled only by their 7-1 thrashing at the hands of the Germans, some 60 years later and will forever be a black mark in Brazil’s otherwise vibrant football history.
USA 1-0 England (Brazil, 1950)
Going into the match, England were heavy favourites to destroy an American team made up of part-time players and a few hastily selected non-US citizens, such as Haitian striker Joe Gaetjens, whose goal produced one of the biggest upsets in English football history. USA were 500-1 to beat England, mainly because their team was made up entirely of amateurs that included a mailman, a dishwasher and a hearse driver. The result was so shocking that some newspapers in England, on hearing about the result, refused to print it, assuming they had received an erroneous score.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary (Switzerland, 1954)
When West Germany met the most dominant team in the world—Hungary—in the final of the 1954 World Cup, they were not given even the slightest chance of winning. The Hungarian team, led by the inspirational Ferenc Puskas, was unbeaten for four years. West Germany, on the other hand, were still reeling from the political and economic fallout of World War II. In what is now fondly remembered as the “Miracle of Bern”, West Germany came back two goals down to produce one of the greatest World Cup upsets ever.
North Korea 1-0 Italy (England, 1966)
The first ever Asian country to qualify for the World Cup, North Korea went to England 1966 as an unknown team just to make up the numbers. On the contrary, the Azzurri were one of the favourites to win the tournament. Needing only a draw to advance to the quarterfinals, Italy were feeling good about their chances. However, Pak Doo-Ilk, who scored the game’s maiden goal, had other ideas. North Korea were later thrashed 5-3 by Portugal in the quarters. The Italians were attacked with rotten fruit by their supporters for the early exit.
Algeria 2-1 West Germany (Spain, 1982)
Prior to their victory, no African side had ever defeated a European side in the World Cup. Algeria arrived in Spain with zero expectations and at 1,000/1 to win the tournament. Germany, on the other hand, were one of the favourites at 3/1. However, despite the odds, Algeria secured a historic 2-1 victory over the mighty Germans. The “Desert Foxes” were eventually knocked out of the group after Germany and Austria, in their last group game, played out a 1-0 result which sent them both through and showed Algeria the door. Known as the “Disgrace of Gijon”, this incident remains one of the most reprehensible episodes in football history.
Argentina 0-1 Cameroon (Italy, 1990)
Similar to France in 2002, reigning world champions Argentina went into Italy 1990 as heavy favourites. Led by the legendary Diego Maradona, they shocked the world when they fell to a lowly Cameroon side, who were down to nine men for most of the match, due to two red cards. Through a combination of robust defending and some exquisite skills, the “Indomitable Lions” managed to neutralise Maradona and also score the game’s only goal, thanks to a François Omam-Biyik header, cementing their place in World Cup history.
Bulgaria 2-1 Germany (USA, 1994)
‘A genuine giant-killing at Giants Stadium’ screamed the English daily The Independent the day after outsiders Bulgaria toppled the mighty Germans in a historic comeback. Led by superstars like Lothar Matthaus and Jurgen Klinsmann, Germany was expected to steamroll a relatively unknown Bulgarian side. However, goals from Hristo Stoichkov and a diving header from Yordan Letchkov were enough to see Bulgaria complete their epic comeback, after going down early in the second half.
Senegal 1-0 France (Japan and South Korea, 2002)
Fresh from their success in the 1998 World Cup and the Euro 2000, France were looking to continue their dominance in world football. Despite missing their talisman Zinedine Zidane, France had an array of world-class players to choose from.
Senegal, a former French colony, shocked the world when Papa Bouba Diop’s strike gave them a lead against the defending champions. The goal proved to be enough to see them through. The holders eventually crashed out of the group stages without scoring a single goal. Senegal, on the other hand, managed to reach the quarterfinal.
Italy 1-2 South Korea (Japan and South Korea, 2002)
Prior to hosting the World Cup in 2002, South Korea had never made it past the group stages. However, against all odds, they made it to the second round where they would face Italy on home soil. Tournament favourites Italy took the lead and it looked like South Korea’s fairytale run would come to an end. However, the co-hosts managed the unthinkable, when Ahn Jung-Hwan scored the golden goal, sending home fans into euphoria. Despite being marred with controversy as Italy were denied a goal that should have stood, the match will remain etched into the minds of every South Korean football fan.
Netherlands 5-1 Spain (Brazil, 2014)
In a repeat of the 2010 finals, world champions Spain were drawn against a Netherlands side that had largely gone under the radar heading into Brazil 2014. Spain, who still retained the core members of their famed 2010 dream team, were heavy favourites to win not just the match, but the tournament. While the final was a tense nervy match decided by a solitary goal in extra time, this encounter was anything but that. After an even first half which saw Robin Van Persie cancel out Xabi Alonso’s early penalty with a flying header, the Netherlands let the floodgates open in the second half, smashing four goals past a helpless Iker Casillas. Spain eventually crashed out in the group stage, whereas the Netherlands made it all the way to the semifinals.