FIFA World Cup: 5 Best Underdog Stories in History

#4 North Korea (1966)

North Korea players celebrate after their remarkable victory over Italy

North Korea is a nation generally in the news for all the wrong reasons. But in 1966, their prowess and tenacity shook the world - in a good way.

Drawn alongside former European Champions Soviet Union, Chile and Italy, North Korea were widely expected to travel back home within days. That notion was further cemented after the Soviets blanked the Asians 3-0 in their first encounter in Middlesbrough.

Their second game saw them take on Chile, who took the lead within half an hour. The North Koreans were on the brink of elimination. The plucky side, however, refused to give in, and with two minutes remaining on the clock, got an improbable equalizer to remain afloat in the tournament. This result obviously meant that nothing less than victory against the mighty Italians would do.

And sure enough, just before halftime in the last group game, North Korea took the lead through Pak Doo-Ik, to everyone's disbelief. With their one-goal advantage, they held firm with perseverance that surprised everyone. Italy, one of the favourites to win the World Cup, had been defeated by a bunch of Asians playing in the tournament for the very first time. Their 1-0 victory remains one of the most famous scorelines in World Cup history.

North Korea had hence become the first Asian team to ever play in a World Cup knockout game, but they were up against stylish Portugal, led by the prolific Eusebio.

A packed Goodison Park, however, were shocked to their very core as North Korea raced into a 3-0 lead with only half an hour being played. At halftime, the Asians were just 45 minutes away from a semifinal berth in what was turning out to be an unbelievable story.

The second half, however, belonged to Portugal, and to Eusebio. He scored four goals alone as Portugal staged one of the most celebrated comebacks in the tournament ever. Three goals down at the break, they turned it around to emerge 5-3 victors. The North Koreans had no answer to the blitz that undid them, and their fairytale run came to an end, but not before they won over the hearts of all football fans with their brave displays.