Top 8 Biggest World Cup Shocks Ever

1 year ago

Right after Saudi Arabia's "great" achievement of defeating Messi's Argentina on the evening of November 22nd at the 2022 World Cup, FIFA immediately released a series of statistics about the "shocking" matches. Among them, unknown teams had triumphed over the "giants." In this article, we'll take a look into the top 8 biggest World Cup shocks.

Follow ANZ Football for the fastest access to live football today.

1/ Brazil 1950: England - USA (0-1)

In a crucial group stage match during the 1950 World Cup on June 29th, an extraordinary moment unfolded as Joe Gaetjens, the forward for the USA, etched his name in football history. With England widely regarded as the birthplace of football and the USA still in the early stages of establishing its footballing legacy, Gaetjens' remarkable goal became the sole defining moment of the entire match. This historic achievement forever left an indelible mark on the annals of the World Cup.

2/ England 1966: Italy - North Korea (0-1)

During the third group stage match on June 19th, Italy experienced a defeat against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The decisive goal was scored by player Pak Doo-ik, leaving the Italian team empty-handed. This loss, coupled with their previous 0-1 defeat against the Soviet Union, spelled elimination for the Italian players, regardless of the outcome of their match against Chile. Despite their best efforts, Italy's hopes of progressing to the next stage of the tournament were dashed.

3/ Germany 1974: East Germany - West Germany (1-0)

East Germany made their debut in the World Cup on June 22nd and caused a sensation by defeating the host nation, West Germany, in an exhilarating group stage match. The match ended with a score of 1-0, thanks to a brilliant goal scored by Jurgen Sparwasser.

Both teams advanced to the second round and continued their journey in the tournament. However, it was West Germany who eventually emerged as the champions, securing the coveted title for themselves. This historic victory by East Germany over their renowned rivals remains a memorable moment in World Cup history.

4/ Spain 1982: West Germany - Algeria (1-2)

During the opening match of the group stage in Spain on June 16th, 1982, West Germany, who had previously finished as the runners-up in the World Cup, experienced a memorable setback. They were dealt a 2-1 defeat by Algeria, a team making its tournament debut.

Algeria's goals were scored by Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi in the second half. This unexpected outcome reverberated throughout the football world, leaving a lasting impression on the German team and creating a significant stir.

5/ Italy 1990: Argentina - Cameroon (0-1)

In a remarkable turn of events on June 8th, Argentina, led by the legendary Maradona, faced an unexpected defeat at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan. Their formidable opponents, the determined African Lions, emerged victorious with a solitary goal by the talented Francois Omam-Biyik. The passionate atmosphere at the stadium was electric as fans witnessed this surprising upset, which left the football world in awe.

6/ France 1998: Brazil - Norway (1-2)

During the summer of 1998 in France, Brazil faced a surprising 1-2 defeat against Norway in their final group-stage match. Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored Norway's two goals. Despite this remarkable achievement, only Brazil and Norway advanced to the next round. In the end, Brazil reached the final match against the host country, France, finishing as the runners-up.

7/ Korea/Japan 2002: France - Senegal (0-1)

In the opening match of the 2002 World Cup group stage on May 31st, the French team, who were the reigning world champions from 1998 and European champions from 2000, experienced their inaugural World Cup defeat. They were overthrown by the Senegalese team, with Papa Bouba Diop scoring the sole goal that sealed their victory.

8/ Qatar 2022: Argentina - Saudi Arabia (1-2)

In the group stage's inaugural match on November 22nd, Saudi Arabia achieved a remarkable upset by triumphing over Messi's team with a score of 2-1, despite initially falling behind.

The winning goals for Saudi Arabia were expertly scored by Al Shehri and Al Dawsari during the 48th and 53rd minutes of the second half, respectively. This surprising victory sent shockwaves through the tournament, leaving fans and pundits in awe of Saudi Arabia's remarkable performance.

---

ALSO READ: Top 10 Most Impressive Goal Celebrations in Football