FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 5 upsets in World Cup history

In football, like in life, you don’t always get what you want. Uncertainty is its virtue. And if it is the biggest spectacle in world football, upsets are a given. Much like the David and Goliath story, an underdog, in its quest for glory, defies the conventional wisdom to get the better of the favourite.

But how often do you see it? Not often, right? That’s why they are interesting.

Accomplishment for one, shameful for the other, these games easily make it to the history books. As the new edition of the FIFA World Cup is upon us, let’s take a look at the top five upsets in World Cup history.

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#1 1950 World Cup Final: Uruguay 2-1 Brazil

Uruguay upset Brazil

History remembers it as “Maracanazo”. Translated as “The Maracana blow”, it remains one of the most shocking moments in Brazillian football till date.

On home soil, in the Maracana stadium, the Samba boys were made to suffer by their South American peers as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss in 90 minutes.

Prior to the final, the Brazilian press and public had almost declared their team as winners and they had every reason to do so. The Selecao had romped to the final on the back of two comfortable victories whereas Uruguay, with the help of a draw against Spain and a narrow victory over Sweden secured the final showdown.

Much to the amusement of the home fans, Brazil opened the score-sheet with a goal by Friaca just after half-time. But fate had other ideas as Juna Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia scored two goals within a span of fifteen minutes to enter the history books and effect what is perhaps the biggest World Cup upset in a final.

#2 1954 World Cup final: West Germany 3-2 Hungary

FIFA World Cup 1954

Next up in our list is the 1954 World Cup final, played at the Wankdorf stadium in Switzerland which saw West Germany beat Hungary 3-2.

One might wonder, how come a German win, over the Hungarians, qualify as an upset! Well, it does, for two simple reasons.

One, in 1954, the Germans, still reeling from the political and economic fallout of World War II, weren't the force in world football as they are today.

And two, Hungary, in the five years prior to the World Cup, was unbeaten; hence, were the favourite to win the tournament.

Led by the legendary Ferenc Puskas (you've heard about the Puskas awards, right? Yeah, that's the man), the Hungarian side had decimated both the finalists of the last edition (Brazil and Uruguay) in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively to enter the final as an overwhelming favourite.

West Germany, though, showed promise by beating strong sides like Yugoslavia and Austria, however, were not given even the slightest of chance of winning in the final by the media.

But what transpired on 4th of July inside that stadium in Bern, was nothing short of a miracle. The Germans came back from two goals down to produce one of the greatest heists in World Cups ever as they downed Hungary 3-2 in the end.

#3 1966 Group stage match: North Korea 1-0 Italy

Korea's Pak Doo Ik scored to create one of the biggest World Cup shocks of all time

Pak Doo-ik – is perhaps the most infamous name registered in the bitter memory of every Italian soccer fan. Why? Well, let me explain.

North Korea had gone into the 1966 World Cup in England as the only Asian side. Things didn’t look good for them as they were drawn in a difficult group with the likes of the Soviet Union, Chile and Italy. Predictably, they lost 3-0 to the Soviet Union and went on to draw against Chile in the following match.

Equation before them was pretty clear. They had to beat the mighty Azzurri to qualify for the quarterfinal and to everyone’s surprise, that’s what they did. Skipper Doo-ik’s 42-minute strike turned out to be the difference between the sides as Italy was ousted from the World Cup.

#4 1990 World Cup Group stage match: Cameroon 1-0 Argentina

Forward Francois Omam-Biyick from Camero scored the only goal of the match

The number 4 in our list of "World Cup upsets" is Cameroon’s 1-0 win against the then reigning World Champions, Argentina. Unlike the three previous ones listed, this result didn’t turn out to be critical for the aggrieved party (Argentina in this case) in terms of their pursuit of the coveted World Cup trophy.

But it was an upset by all means as nobody gave a chance to the African side against the mighty Albiceleste, led by a diminutive magician called Diego Maradona.

It was their opening game. Francois Omam-Biyick from Cameroon scored the only goal of the match to give the South Americans the shock of their life.

The loss was a much-needed trigger for Maradona’s side as they shifted gear and made it to the final, eventually losing to West Germany in Rome.

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#5 2002 World Cup Group stage match: France 0-1 Senegal

31st May 2002. France 0 v Senegal 1

France came to the 2002 World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan, as defending champions and with players like Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry in their ranks, they looked a solid ensemble, hoping to go all the way once again.

But it was not to be. Their first match was against the minnows Senegal. “Walk in the park” thought many.

But the African side, in what was one of the biggest upsets since the turn of the millennium, put in a spirited performance to hand the Frenchmen a 1-0 loss. Thanks to the only goal by Papa Boupa Diop.

Consequently, the Senegalese made all the way to the quarterfinals.

Call it complacency or over-confidence; the Les Bleus were just not good enough on that fateful night and a goalless draw against Uruguay in the subsequent match meant they were eliminated in the group stages.