Top 5 forgotten upsets in World Cup history

1. Poland 1-0 Brazil: 1974

Lato would finish top scorer in 1974

Long before the emergence of Robert Lewandowski, Poland had a team capable of beating any nation in the world. The 1970s saw the plucky Eastern Europeans win an Olympic Gold medal at Munich '72 and a Silver medal at Montreal '76.

Sandwiched between the two tournaments came the 1974 World Cup where the Poles underlined their credentials once again. They had made an impact during qualification itself, eliminating England to secure a berth in the finals.

The 16 nation tournament saw the Poles being drawn in a tough group alongside Argentina and Italy. They announced their arrival by taking a 2-0 lead over the Argentines within eight minutes of their opening game, eventually winning 3-2. A 7-0 demolition of Haiti followed and the final game saw the Poles eliminate Italy from the tournament courtesy of a 2-1 win.

The strike partnership of Andrzej Szarmach (5) and Grzegorz Lato (4) had already scored 9 goals between them in the first round. Lato would step up in the second group stage phase as well, scoring decisive goals against Sweden and Yugoslavia, setting up a winner takes all encounter against the Germans for a place in the finals.

Despite all their attacking talent, the Poles would taste defeat at the hands of a solitary Gerd Muller strike. This would consign them to the third-place playoff against Brazil rather than the final against the Netherlands. The Brazilians had won three out of the past four World cups and were expected to soften the blow of their own exit by taking third place, but the Poles had history to make.

Lato would score his seventh of the tournament to beat the defending champions and Poland would celebrate the best finish in their World Cup history - made even sweeter by the fact that Lato would win the Golden Boot with his seven goals.

Eight years later, the ageing duo of Lato and Szarmach would have another crack at the World Cup, and they would repeat the performance of the 1974 team. Poland would win third place yet again, this time beating favourites France in the playoff.