Top Ten World Cup Shocks
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
With fans of the All Whites hoping that their team will be able to cause a massive upset at the 2010 World Cup, tvnz.co.nz continues it Top 10 build-up to the tournament by taking a look back at the some of the biggest World Cup shocks
Senegal vs France 2002 - The defending champions had taken the 2000 European Championships and had a tough, experienced squad. But they were stunned by Cup debutants Senegal in the opening game and never recovered, failing to progress beyond the group stages and crashing out of the tournament without scoring a single goal.
Cameroon vs Argentina 1990 - Cameroon had never played in a World Cup before and their inexperience and nerves showed with a series of rash, even crude tackles that saw them end the contest with nine men. But still they somehow ended up on the right side of the ledger, beating the Diego Maradona captained South American side by a single goal.
North Korea vs Italy 1966 - It was David versus Golitah as the squad from the East took on double World Champions Italy in Middlesbrough. The North Koreans were 1000-1 outsiders at the start of the tournament but their against-the-odds victory took them into the quarter-finals where they notched three goals before eventually losing to a Eusebio - inspired Portugal.
Spain vs Denmark 1986 - Denmark looked like one of the teams to beat after the first round of the 1986 World Cup. Pitched into the group of death with Scotland, West Germany and Uruguay they dismantled their opposition with ease and drew comparisons with Holland's total football of the 1970's. Spain were set to be tough opposition but nobody expected the 5-1 hammering that was dished out, with Emilie Burtageno grabbing four goals.
West Germany vs Hungary 1954 - This match is still celebrated to this day in Germany as the miracle of Berne. A Hungary star-studded team - featuring one of the game's true immortals in Fernc Puskas - had beaten their European rivals 8-3 in the group stages. In the final Hungary were 2-0 up after ten minutes before a stunning comeback which eventually resulted in the unheralded Germans winning 3-2 to take the match and the World Cup.
Ireland vs Italy 1994 - Jack Charlton's Irish side had gone all the way to the quarter finals of the 1990 World Cup and arrived in the United States four years later in fine fettle. But this team of journeyman, assembled from across Britain were not expected trouble the Italian team featuring football icons such as Roberto Baggio and Roberto Donadoni. But a brilliant long range goal from Roy Houghton and some dogged defending saw the men in Emerald Green hang on for a memorable 1-0 truimph over one of the pre-tournament favourites.
USA vs England 1950 - England were making their World Cup debut in Brazil, after deigning not to enter the previous three editions. They boasted a formidable post-war record and the world's best player in Stanley Matthews while the American side consisted of semi-professional players. England were 3-1 favourites to win the World Cup but somehow lost to the USA (500-1 rank outsiders) who scored with their only chance of the match. With the loss England failed to progress beyond the first round while the USA would not be sighted again at a World Cup until 1990
Argentina vs Italy 1990 - Not the strict recipe of a minnow beating a superpower, but a result that no one dared to predict. Diego Maradona and Argentina had been entirely unconvincing in their road to the last four, needing more than their fair share of luck to advance. The Azzurri on the other hand had set the tournament alight and the host nation were riding a wave of fanatical support. Italy led early but could not consolidate and the South Americans grabbed a late equaliser before prevailing in the penalty shoot out.
South Korea vs Italy 2002 - The World Cup had never seen celebrations like this. The Asian side, expertly coached by Guus Hiddink, had performed way above expectations at their home World Cup. They were definitely aided by some woeful officiating in their victories over both Spain and Italy, but nevertheless produced an incredible performance of skill and energy to defeat a star-studded Italian team.
Germany vs Bulgaria 1994 - After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991, this was the first tournament played with a unified Germany. The defending champions had retained most of their squad from 1990 and were red-hot favourites to defeat the men from the Balkans. Hristov Stoickhov netted a sensational free kick from 30 yards to equalise and when Iordan Letchkov stooped to score a header the 72,000 crowd at Giants Stadium knew they were witnessing one of the great World Cup boilovers of all time. {@}
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