To say that the level of emotion surrounding a World Cup game is high would be an understatement. For starters, people care about their national teams to the point that it can be irrational. Players who lead their teams to glory become national heroes while disappointment is inevitably heaped upon a scapegoat or two (1998 David Beckham, I'm looking at you England fans). Combine this with the fact that the World Cup happens only once every 4 years, and hopes/anxieties/expectations have come to a boil by the time the tournament starts. It's part of what makes the World Cup great although it won't feel that way if your team is on the wrong end of a match like one of these 10 shockers.
#10 - Italy 2, Germany 0 (ET), 2006 Semi-final
Italy may not strike you as a team found on the right end of a "shock" result, but in their 2006 semi-final they found themselves facing Germany. In Deutschland. The Germans are no slouches, and home field advantage in the World Cup can lead to impressive results. France won the 1998 World Cup as host. In 1994, USA advanced past the group stage for the first time since 1930. As co-host with Japan in 2002, South Korea made a historic and, yes, shocking run all the way to the semi-finals. I could go on.
Even though there were open questions about the German squad heading into the 2006 World Cup, they were undoubtedly a threat. Led by USA fans' new friend Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany's 2006 coach), Germany breezed through their group undefeated. After their quarterfinal victory over Argentina in a penalty shootout, Die Mannschaft looked to be marching inexorably towards Berlin and their 4th World Cup trophy. On July 4, 2006, Italy stood in their way. Although their reputation precedes them, Italy was something of an unknown heading into the game as their path to the semi-final went through Australia and Ukraine. Not exactly murderer's row.
The match was an absolute cracker. Both teams played high-quality football, and the rhythm was back-and-forth. Italy's two midfield maestros, Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo, pulled the strings all night putting teammates behind the German defense on several occasions. German keeper Jens Lehmann was huge smothering the breakaways and generally commandeering anything that came near his goal, ball or player. Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon was every bit as good seemingly matching Lehmann save for save.
The match went to extra time goalless. Often, extra times are a dull affair with teams offering little going forward due to fatigue and/or a preference for their chances in a penalty shootout. Not the case in this one. Italy hit the post twice in the first extra time, and in the second extra time only a world class reflex save by Buffon prevented Germany's Lucas Podolski from opening the scoring. It seemed the game was destined for penalties. The clock ticked towards 120 minutes as Italy won a corner kick 1 minute from time. Step forward Fabio Grosso.
Hearts were broken throughout Dortmund, and when Alessandro Del Piero added the second with the last kick of the game, it was all over for Germany but the crying.
#9 - Nigeria 3, Spain 2, 1998 Group Stage
By 1998, it's not as though African football was a complete unknown; Roger Milla and Cameroon had won the hearts of many with their run to the quarterfinals of Italy 1990, and Nigeria surprised at USA 1994 topping their group ahead of Argentina. It was also true, though, that African teams in general weren't considered a serious threat at France 1998. Nigeria may have been the best of the bunch, but they had drawn a difficult group with Paraguay, 1994 semi-finalists Bulgaria and European power Spain.
Despite their history of under performing relative to their talent, the Spanish were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites. Their defense was anchored by Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique roamed the midfield, and the attack was led by the crown prince of Madrid, Raul. When Spain and Nigeria were drawn together for the teams' first match of the tournament, the Spanish were expected to ease past Nigeria and establish a pecking order for the group.
Spain came out with intent nearly scoring in the first 30 seconds and again 5 minutes later. They did open the scoring on 20 minutes when Hierro curled a free kick into the corner of the goal. Nigeria was level only 4 minutes later when Mutiu Adepoju's header found the back of the net. A surprise equalizer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but Spain seemed to restore order 1 minute after halftime when Raul side footed a delicious volley past the helpless keeper. Still, Spain had trouble coping with Nigeria's raw power. In the 72nd minute, an aerial challenge left a Spanish defender crumpled near midfield, and Nigeria found themselves with a 4 on 3 break. They worked the ball for a cross, and Spain goalie Andoni Zubizarreta had a horrendous moment deflecting the ball into his own net. 2-2. Five minutes later, Nigerian midfielder Sunday Oliseh came into the picture and scored probably my favorite World Cup goal of all time.
"OH WHAT A GOAL! SUNDAY OLISEH WITH A WONDER STRIKE! NIGERIA HAVE TURNED IT AROUND!" Indeed they had. Nigeria held on to win 3-2, and they would go on to advance into the knockout stages, the only African team to do so. Spain responded with a tie in their second match and a 6-1 thrashing of Bulgaria in the final group game, but it wasn't enough. A massively disappointing World Cup for the Spaniards.
#8 - Sweden 1, Argentina 1, 2002 Group Stage
By 1998, it's not as though African football was a complete unknown; Roger Milla and Cameroon had won the hearts of many with their run to the quarterfinals of Italy 1990, and Nigeria surprised at USA 1994 topping their group ahead of Argentina. It was also true, though, that African teams in general weren't considered a serious threat at France 1998. Nigeria may have been the best of the bunch, but they had drawn a difficult group with Paraguay, 1994 semi-finalists Bulgaria and European power Spain.
Despite their history of under performing relative to their talent, the Spanish were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites. Their defense was anchored by Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique roamed the midfield, and the attack was led by the crown prince of Madrid, Raul. When Spain and Nigeria were drawn together for the teams' first match of the tournament, the Spanish were expected to ease past Nigeria and establish a pecking order for the group.
Spain came out with intent nearly scoring in the first 30 seconds and again 5 minutes later. They did open the scoring on 20 minutes when Hierro curled a free kick into the corner of the goal. Nigeria was level only 4 minutes later when Mutiu Adepoju's header found the back of the net. A surprise equalizer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but Spain seemed to restore order 1 minute after halftime when Raul side footed a delicious volley past the helpless keeper. Still, Spain had trouble coping with Nigeria's raw power. In the 72nd minute, an aerial challenge left a Spanish defender crumpled near midfield, and Nigeria found themselves with a 4 on 3 break. They worked the ball for a cross, and Spain goalie Andoni Zubizarreta had a horrendous moment deflecting the ball into his own net. 2-2. Five minutes later, Nigerian midfielder Sunday Oliseh came into the picture and scored probably my favorite World Cup goal of all time.
"OH WHAT A GOAL! SUNDAY OLISEH WITH A WONDER STRIKE! NIGERIA HAVE TURNED IT AROUND!" Indeed they had. Nigeria held on to win 3-2, and they would go on to advance into the knockout stages, the only African team to do so. Spain responded with a tie in their second match and a 6-1 thrashing of Bulgaria in the final group game, but it wasn't enough. A massively disappointing World Cup for the Spaniards.
Argentina is always dangerous, but in 2002 they were favourites. This was the Argentine team of Gabriel Batistuta (Batigol!), Juan Sebastian Veron, Ariel Ortega and Hernan Crespo. They were at #2 in the FIFA rankings going into the tournament, and many pundits were picking La Albiceleste to raise the trophy over Brazil, Italy and the holders France.
Argentine fans had their sights set on the late stages of the knockout rounds with qualification from the group stage a mere formality. It didn't matter that Argentina had been drawn into 2002's so-called "Group of Death" pairing them England, Nigeria and Sweden. This was a case of Argentina making it a nightmare draw for those other three teams rather than vice versa.
All seemed to be on schedule when Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 in their first game. It wasn't overly convincing, but three points is three points. Some eyebrows were raised when David Beckham and England topped the Argentinians in the second game extracting some revenge for France 1998. That, however, was to be discounted. A bump in the road yes, but England was the other team expected to advance out of the group. It left Argentina needing to beat Sweden to guarantee a spot in the next round. For their part, the Swedes had been impressive taking four points from their first two games, but surely this would be the end of their road.
It certainly looked like that would be the case early in the game. Argentina played as if they were on a downhill slope to the Swedish goal, but they couldn't turn their pressure into a breakthrough. That wastefulness cost Argentina when, in the 59th minute, Sweden's Anders Svensson drew a foul some 30 yards from the Argentine goal; Svensson assumed responsibility and delivered one of the best free kicks in recent World Cup history.
Argentine fans had their sights set on the late stages of the knockout rounds with qualification from the group stage a mere formality. It didn't matter that Argentina had been drawn into 2002's so-called "Group of Death" pairing them England, Nigeria and Sweden. This was a case of Argentina making it a nightmare draw for those other three teams rather than vice versa.
All seemed to be on schedule when Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 in their first game. It wasn't overly convincing, but three points is three points. Some eyebrows were raised when David Beckham and England topped the Argentinians in the second game extracting some revenge for France 1998. That, however, was to be discounted. A bump in the road yes, but England was the other team expected to advance out of the group. It left Argentina needing to beat Sweden to guarantee a spot in the next round. For their part, the Swedes had been impressive taking four points from their first two games, but surely this would be the end of their road.
It certainly looked like that would be the case early in the game. Argentina played as if they were on a downhill slope to the Swedish goal, but they couldn't turn their pressure into a breakthrough. That wastefulness cost Argentina when, in the 59th minute, Sweden's Anders Svensson drew a foul some 30 yards from the Argentine goal; Svensson assumed responsibility and delivered one of the best free kicks in recent World Cup history.
After the goal, Sweden actually looked more likely to add a second than give up an equalizer. Argentina did draw level in the 88th minute thanks to a debatable penalty, but they couldn't find a second. Sweden went top of the group, England went through in second, and Argentina went home.
To see Part II (#7-5), click here. To see Part III (#4-1), click here.