FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 5 Opening day upsets in the history of the tournament

#2 Argentina 0-1 Cameroon (1990)

Cameroonians celebrate the only goal of the match

In Italia’90, Maradona and Argentina were again on the receiving end of an opening day upset, eight years on from their defeat to Belgium.

Just as eight years earlier, Argentina’s world cup defence began in the worst possible fashion as they lost 1-0 to a Cameroon side led by 38-year old Roger Milla.

Midway through the second half, journeyman striker Francois Omam-Biyik netted the winner, after a mistake by Argentinian goalie Nery Pumpido who allowed a weak effort to cross the line.

Cameroon defended heroically for the rest of the match, having been forced to play with nine men for large periods of the second after Andre Kana-Biyik and Benjamin Massing had been sent off.

Argentina performed rather poorly during the group stages, finishing third behind Cameroon and Romania, but qualified for the knockout stages by virtue of being one the best third-placed sides.

Argentina, still led by Maradona, came into their own during the knockout rounds, defeating Brazil, Yugoslavia and Italy on their way to a second consecutive final showdown against West Germany.

The West Germans, however, had the last laugh as they avenged their 1986 loss by defeating Argentina 1-0, scored by Brehme in the 85th minute from the penalty spot.