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These teams have all achieved the highest honour in world football. But not always are they at their best from the beginning of the FIFA World Cup. Here are the top 5 bizarre records, some glorious, most of them not, that have been created by Spain, England, Germany, Argentina and Uruguay in the opening fixtures of their World Cup campaigns over the years.
#5 Spain have lost their opening fixtures since 2010
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Everyone remembers this record as the 5-1 defeat at the hand of The Netherlands is still fresh in our mind. Spain also began their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland. What makes this worth mentioning is the fact that they ultimately went on to win the World Cup in South Africa. Keeping your cool when stakes are so high is definitely something most teams should learn from Vicente Del Bosque’s men. This is also why no one should take them lightly after the defeat.
#4 England have always scored 1 goal in each opening fixture since 2002
England have never been short on individual talent in their squad. But somehow, things haven’t been a fairy tale for them in World Cups. They have made sure to score just one goal in each of their opening fixtures since 2002 registering 1 win, 1 loss, and 2 draws.
| Year | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | South Korea-Japan | England 1-1 Sweden |
| 2006 | Germany | England 1-0 Paraguay |
| 2010 | South Africa | England 1-1 USA |
| 2014 | Brazil | England 1-2 Italy |
#3 Germany have always scored 4 or more goals since 2002
Maybe they haven’t won a trophy in a long time, but they sure make an entry with a bang. Who doesn’t remember the 8-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia in 2002 or the most recent 4-0 steam-rolling of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
| Year | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | South Korea-Japan | Germany 8-0 Saudi Arabia |
| 2006 | Germany | Germany 4-2 Costa Rica |
| 2010 | South Africa | Germany 4-0 Australia |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany 4-0 Portugal |
#2 Argentina have always won by a one-goal margin since 1998
Argentina always have had a good squad. While they have made sure to begin their campaign with a win, they haven’t had the luxury of a comfortable victory since 1998, winning by a single goal everytime. They also have been unable to win the World Cup during this period. This edition of the World Cup isn’t over though.
| Year | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | France | Argentina 1-0 Japan |
| 2002 | South Korea-Japan | Argentina 1-0 Nigeria |
| 2006 | Germany | Argentina 2-1 Cote d’Ivoire |
| 2010 | South Africa | Argentina 1-0 Nigeria |
| 2014 | Brazil | Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina |
#1 Uruguay have never won since 1974
This one dates back to the 10th FIFA World Cup in West Germany 1974. Uruguay defeated Israel in their opening fixture of World Cup 1970 in Mexico. SInce then, they have never managed to win, registering 3 defeats and 3 draws. Surely they aren’t a team worthy of such a record.
Year | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | West Germany | Uruguay 0-2 Holland |
| 1986 | Mexico | Uruguay 1-1 West Germany |
| 1990 | Italy | Uraguay 0-0 Spain |
| 2002 | South Korea-Japan | Uruguay 1-2 Denmark |
| 2010 | South Africa | Uruguay 0-0 France |
| 2014 | Brazil | Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica |
Uruguay didn’t qualify for World Cup in 1978, 1982, 1994, 1998 and 2006
