FIFA World Cup: 5 Best Underdog Stories in History

#3 South Korea (2002)

South Korea beat Italy in the pre-quarterfinals.

Three and a half decades after North Korea’s heroics, it was the turn of their Southern counterparts to steal the show.

The World Cup was being hosted in Asia for the very first time, and South Korea, co-hosting with Japan, ensured that it was a memorable one. Under the tutelage of the wily Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, they captured the imagination of fans all over.

They got the party started with a 2-0 win over Poland and followed it up with a gritty 1-1 draw against the United States, leaving them in pole position to qualify. However, their last game was against Portugal, who could boast of Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes in their lineup. The Koreans, however, paid no heed to the star names in their opposition’s ranks and stunned them 1-0, sparking delirium across the joint host nation.

The round of sixteen saw them drawn against Italy, runners-up in the 2000 European Championship. Once again, South Korea laughed in the faces of their celebrated opponents and edged them 2-1. The beleaguered Italians didn’t take the defeat lying down, alleging refereeing bias towards the Koreans. Not that the latter cared, as they took on Spain in the quarterfinals, with most expecting their fascinating run to come to an end.

Clearly, South Korea had other plans as they forced extra time after an entertaining 0-0 draw, where Spain were twice disallowed their goals. With no goals in the extra half hour either, it was down to penalties. Spain could convert only three of their allotted quintet, while the Asians scored with all five. South Korea had hence become the first Asian team to make it to the last four of a World Cup.

Between them and a spot in the final lay Germany. In a hotly contested encounter, the game swung both ways but the inexperience of the likes of Lee Woon-Jae and Ahn Jung-hwan showed, and the Europeans took advantage, with a Michal Ballack goal sending them through to the final, where they lost to Brazil.

South Korea’s magical run had come to a belated end, and with the wind knocked out of their sales, they were pipped to third place by fellow surprise packages Turkey.

South Korea, however, remain the only Asian team to have played a World Cup semifinal, and it was undoubtedly their finest hour. They even got sweet revenge for their loss in the semifinals by beating the Germans in this year’s edition, to dump the 2014 winners out.