FIFA World Cup 2022: 5 biggest upsets in the history of FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2022: With Saudi Arabia upsetting Argentina in the FIA World Cup opener on Tuesday, here is a list of five biggest shocks in the history of the game

France 0-1 Senegal, Korea / Japan 2002 This upset came in the opening match of the tournament. Though deprived of the services of the injured Zinedine Zidane, defending world champions France looked to have an even stronger side than the one that had lifted the world title on home soil four years previously. Les Bleus were also reigning European champions, having won the continental title in 2000. As for Senegal, this was their first-ever World Cup finals match.

Argentina 0-1 Cameroon, Italy 1990 While the world expected Diego Maradona and his team-mates to put on a show in the opening match in Milan, the defending champions never got into gear and went down to a side making only their second World Cup appearance. he Indomitable Lions went on to win the group and reach the quarter-finals, where they lost to England in a thriller. Argentina recovered from the setback to qualify from the group in third place, going on to beat Brazil and Italy to reach the Final, where they lost to West Germany.

Italy 0-1 Costa Rica, Brazil 2014 Costa Rica were seen as rank outsiders in a group containing three former world champions. Defying expectations, the Costa Ricans kicked off with a win over Uruguay in their opening game and then showed it was no accident by overcoming for Italy in their second match. Italy duly went out in the group stage, while Costa Rica topped the section and went on to produce their best World Cup performance ever, eclipsing their run to the Round of 16 at Italy 1990 by reaching the quarter-final. Netherlands put an end to their heroics with a penalty shoot-out win.

Brazil 1-2 Norway, France 1998 The Norwegians’ comeback came in the last match in Group A, with Brazil having won their first two matches and Norway drawn theirs. It was only the Scandinavians’ second victory in a World Cup match. Norway went through to the Round of 16 but were beaten by Italy. Brazil advanced as group winners and made it to the final, only to lose to hosts France.

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia, Qatar 2022 Argentina began Qatar 2022 as the second favourites to lift the trophy behind Brazil. Furthermore, the first two Asian teams to play at this competition were beaten soundly, with Ecuador cruising to victory over the hosts and England thumping IR Iran 6-2. And when Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Co went 1-0 up, it seemed more a question of how many they’d win by rather than what the result would be.