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In terms of recent memory, you could easily make an argument that the ongoing 2018 World Cup has been the most exciting edition of the competition to come around in decades. And the key to that is the fact that so many supposed underdogs have pulled off the impossible and sent some of world football’s biggest nations out of the tournament – most notably host nation Russia sending the mighty Spain crashing out on penalties in the last 16.
Throughout the history of the World Cup, part of the competition’s charm is the propensity to serve up a classic underdog story. Let’s face, who doesn’t love an underdog story, after all?
With that in mind, here are five of the greatest shocks to take place during the World Cup’s knockout stages.
#5 World Cup 1994 Last 16: Romania 3 – 2 Argentina
Of course, the Romanian national team of the 1990s was famed for having the mercurial Gheorghe Hagi in their ranks. Romania’s greatest ever player, Hagi amassed 125 international caps throughout a career in which he regularly dominated games. But still, nobody gave Hagi’s Romania a chance of toppling the almighty Argentina when the sides met in the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup.
That was an Argentina team that had megastars such as Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Caniggia, Ariel Ortega, Fernando Redondo, Diego Simeone, Roberto Sensini, and Jose Chamot in their ranks. Granted, disgraced captain Diego Maradona had been sent home after failing a drugs test, but this was an Argentina side overflowing with quality.
Romania had quietly gone about their business in Group A, defeating Colombia and the USA, yet getting turned over 4-1 by Switzerland. Gheorghe Popescu, Dan Petrescu, Illie Dumitrescu, and Florin Raducioiu had impressed alongside Hagi throughout the group stages, and it was a double from Dumitrescu and a Hagi strike that saw the Romanians shockingly knock Argentina out in the last 16 after a 3-2 victory that is still talked about to this day.
#4 World Cup 2014 Semi-Final: Germany 7 – 1 Brazil
Was it a surprise to see Germany defeat Brazil to progress to the final of the 2014 World Cup? Not a massive one, no. What the surprise here was, though, is the manner in which the Germans absolutely decimated their opposition.
Brazil had been at their free-flowing best throughout the tournament, and the nation as a whole was embracing the side and cheering them on at every turn. Emotions were high, energy levels were up, and expectations were huge. Then, along come the Germans with one of the greatest performances in World Cup history.
By the time the whistle was blown at the end of 90 minutes, Germany had romped home to an emphatic 7-1 win over the host nation.
Thanks to a Mario Gotze goal, Germany would defeat Argentina in the final and take home the iconic World Cup trophy. As for Brazil, the nation was left in mourning after their jaw-dropping defeat.
#3 World Cup 1998 Quarter-Final: Croatia 3 – 0 Germany
To many, Croatia first made their mark as an impressive footballing nation during Euro ’96. During that tournament, names like Davor Suker, Robert Jarni, and Zvonimir Boban became household names – and the 1998 World Cup only saw the Croatian side further enhance their status as an exciting football side.
At World Cup ’98, Croatia would ultimately finish third, knocked out by host nation and eventual winners France in the semi-finals. But it was their quarter-final match-up with Germany that proved to be one of the most clinical (and shocking performances) in World Cup history.
Going into the match as huge underdogs, the Croatians simply blew their more prestigious opponents away with their guile, their movement, and their cohesion. Germany had no answer, and goals from Jarni, Goran Vlaovic, and Suker saw a 3-0 victory for Croatia.
Ever since that tournament, football fans have harked back to the 1998 Croatia team as a “golden generation”, and it now remains to be seen whether the current Croatian team can match or eclipse that famed side as they look to make their own mark at the 2018 World Cup.
#2 World Cup 1994 Quarter-Final: Bulgaria 2 – 1 Germany
To many of a certain age, the 1994 World Cup is viewed as one of the greatest in the competition’s history. Held in the USA, it was a vibrant tournament filled with exciting performances, captivating moments, and some truly stunning kits. And in amongst all of the excitement, there was the little-engine-that-could component of Bulgaria.
Going into USA ’94, everybody knew that Hristo Stoichkov was an unquestionable world-class talent, with him having wowed football audiences across the globe with his performances for Barcelona. But World Cup ’94 showed that there was far more to the Bulgarian national team than merely Stoitchkov and his magical left foot.
Having been decimated 3-0 by Nigeria in their opening group game, Bulgaria recovered to qualify from Group D after defeating both Greece and Argentina. In the last 16, Mexico were beaten on penalties by the Bulgarians, and that set up a huge quarter-final game against the all-powerful Germany.
In a memorable match at Giants Stadium, a trademark Stoichkov free-kick canceled out Lothar Matthaus’ opener, and then Yordan Letchkov popped up with a diving header that sent shockwaves across the footballing world. Little ‘ol Bulgaria had toppled the mighty Germany!
Unfortunately for the Bulgarians, a Roberto Baggio double would see Italy knock them out in the semi-finals, but they had still cemented their place in World Cup history.
#1 World Cup 2002 Last 16: South Korea 2 – 1 Italy
The 2002 World Cup was the most successful edition of the tournament ever for the South Korean national team. Despite many expecting an early exit for South Korea, the side would actually manage to finish fourth once the competition came to a close. And key to that was a famous 2-1 victory over Italy in the last 16.
Having topped a Group D that featured Poland, Portugal, and the United States, the South Koreans showed no fear when drawn against Italy in the last 16. Even more impressive, that fearless approach was again on display as they went 1-0 down in that match to an early Christian Vieri effort.
An 88th minute equaliser from Seol Ki-hyeon took the game to extra-time, and then an Ahn Jung-hwan strike three minutes from the death saw South Korea shock the Italians and the watching footballing world.
As the co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup with Japan, many were hoping for South Korea to do well – but nobody could have predicted just how well they’d end up performing.
