If you are a true soccer enthusiast, you know that the FIFA World Cup starts this month. This is the perfect reason to discuss things like betting odds for the 2022 World Cup for example. It will definitely be interesting to guess the winners of many games during the FIFA World Cup, but we are not going to discuss the odds for this competition. Instead, we are going to take a stroll down memory lane and discuss some of the most surprising FIFA World Cup matches that happened in the previous competitions. Here are the interesting matches that went against the odds at FIFA World Cup.
Cameroon Vs Argentina At the 1990 World Cup
As you know, Argentina is one of the most successful national teams when it comes to soccer. This is definitely what makes this story surprising. It was the opening game of the 1990 World Cup and Argentina, the defending champions, played against Cameroon, who were one of the weakest teams at that cup. At least, that is what people thought.
On paper, Argentina had more experience and talent. But, the African team got to half-time without conceding a goal. But, then André Kana-Biyik was shown a straight red card in the 61st minute and everyone thought that Argentina would simply get the job done.
But, everyone at the stadium was surprised just six minutes later when Omam Biyik who scored after a goalkeeping error to give his team an advantage. The Cameroon national team managed to win in the end and they became the first African side to reach a World Cup quarter final.
Argentina recovered to reach the final before losing to West Germany.
West Germany Vs Hungary At The 1954 World Cup
When people discuss and analyze the World Cup final, there are usually no surprises. But, that was not the case back in 1954. Most of the soccer experts considered Hungary to be the best team in the world at the time. After all, they have beaten England 6 – 3 at Wembley and then humiliated them 7 – 1 in Budapest in the rematch. They simply ruled the world of soccer back then. They were also Olympic champions. At the beginning of the competition, Hungary played West Germany in the group phase and beat them 8 -2.
When the Germans conceded two goals after just eight minutes in the final, people at the stadium were sure that Hungary would win the World Cup. But, then the Germans managed to equalize. Then, Helmuth Rahn scored the winner in the 84th minute.
This game became known as the “Miracle of Bern.”
South Korea Vs Italy At The 2002 World Cup
It is safe to say that this is one of the biggest surprises in the World Cup history. If not the biggest.
South Korea missed an early penalty and then Christian Vieri scored a goal for Italy not much longer after that. Everyone at the stadium was silent. But, the home team did not give up.
Sure, the officiating was questionable, especially when it comes to the perfectly good Italian goal that was ruled out for offside, but the team of South Korea was brave and they managed to equalize in the 88th minute.
In the extra time, Francesco Totti was sent off for diving, even though replays showed he did not do it. Then, the nightmare for Italy. It was the 117th minute, Lee Young got above his marker, despite being shorter than him, and scored the winning goal.
This was one of the most beautiful victories in the history of the South Korea national team.
Those are some of the biggest surprises at the FIFA World Cup. Will we see something like that at this World Cup?
