Let’s follow the fate of the stars that made it possible.
2022. Argentina – Saudi Arabia – 1: 2
The winner of these matches does not always play beautifully, but the wards of Herve Renard, known for working with African teams, did their best. The chance of winning was estimated at 8.7%, a miracle happened. He granted a day off to all of Saudi Arabia, the king declared today a national holiday. Argentina were the clear favourites, but their opponents chose tactics bravely. The top line of defense canceled out one goal after another from Argentina for offside. They played with fire, but this is the only way to intimidate the tiger. Messi didn’t win, Saudi Arabia now expects to reach the playoffs, because Mexico and Poland have signed a world cup. But Argentina will be fun. Conspiracy theorists will say Messi’s team is trying to avoid Brazil in the playoffs, so they benefit from being second in the group, but let’s remember the story. It was not always possible to block sensational defeats. The favorite was stupid, Saudi Arabia’s victory is a sensation.
Result for favourite: loading.
2010. Switzerland – Spain – 1: 0
Just don’t judge the Swiss by their current status in world football. For the World Cup South Africa The European champions Spaniards became the main favorites and their opponent was in twenty-fourth place in the table Fifa – two positions more than the Israeli team. And thirteen positions less than the Russian team, which, after Maribor, flew over the final part world Cup. Spain lost to a fine team, but clearly unrelated to one particular game. Switzerland won’t even leave the group after their initial victory, the Chileans will be stronger, but Del Bosque has summed up. Pragmatic Spain will beat Chile, Paraguay, Germany and the Netherlands by one goal. Casillas, Ramos, Xavi and Iniesta will lift the World Cup over their heads. There will be a boring champion, but deserved, that rose is a fairy tale.
Result for favourite: championship.
2002. France – Senegal – 0: 1
At the tournament in South Korea and Japan, two losers will perform successfully at the same time. Tournament hosts Team Hiddink and the Turkish team will both reach the semi-finals. But if the Korean success overshadows the officiating, Senegal’s victory over France in the opening match of the tournament is one of the main sensations of the story. world Cup. Remember the state of Roger Lemerre’s team. World and European Champions. Let’s remember the squad: Zidane didn’t play against the Senegalese, but there were Barthez, Lizarazu, Thuram, Desailly, who brought the World Cup to the Qatari field on Sunday, Leboeuf, Vieira, Petit, Djorkaeff, Wiltord, Henry and Trezeguet. The Legends succumbed to Senegal under Frenchman Bruno Metsu. The only pity is that the author of the only goal, Papa Bouba Diop, will no longer be able to talk about that game. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with sclerosis and neuropathy, the young man passed away two years ago, Diop was only 42 years old. In Senegal he will always be remembered. Diop’s national team, after draws with the Danes and Uruguayans, will leave the group. The Swedes will pass, but they will fly out of Turkey. But Zidane and company expect a total failure, the defeat against Denmark will send them to the bottom of the group.
Result for favourite: last place in the group.
1990. Cameroon – Argentina – 1: 0
Four years later in United States of America the Italians in the first match will lose to the Irish, but this is clearly not an analogue of the match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia. The class difference is not the same as the team of Maradona and the Cameroonians. Valery Kuzmich Nepomniachtchi was taken to an African country when the union was in its final years. The coach was late, he went to the World Cup. According to the opponents’ plan, he culturally had to lose three matches in a row. He bet on the 38-year-old Mill, what feeling are we talking about? But the Cameroonian gang opened the hunt for Kanidzha, stopped Maradona and caused a sensation. Like Saudi Arabia, the Cameroonians played well despite two red cards in the second half. Among them was a goal from Omam Biyik, Nepomniachtchi beat Bilardo. After a sensation, the Argentines rallied against the Soviet team – 2:0, and then, after a draw with the Romanians, got into the playoffs from third place. Goalkeeper Goikochea will save several times in a row, only the Germans will stop Maradona’s rational team. But Cameroon overcame Colombia and were blown out to extra time by the English in the quarter-finals. So far, the highest level for African teams world Cup.
Result for favourite: defeat in the final.
1982. Algiers – Germany – 2:1
At the tournament in Spain, the hosts lost to Northern Ireland, after which both teams advanced to the next stage. Then there weren’t the usual playoffs, but there were two group stages. Northern Irish manager Jack Charlton awaited the last place in the trio with France and Austria. Spain will also be last, but in the company of England and Germany. It was the Germans who shocked the world in the group stage when they lost to the Algerian team. Keep in mind that forty years ago the status of African teams was different, in the final part in Spain only two teams from this continent played, Algerian and Cameroonian. The second will play three World Cups and fly away, but Algeria will start more tragically. Victories over the Germans did not allow Rummenigge to save the favorite, and Chile was not enough, because then two points were given for the victory. Three teams each scored four points, and the national team went further in additional indicators Germany. They will reach the final, having played, among other things, a great duel against France – 3:3 and penalty shootout. But the cup will go to Italy. Rossi, Tardelli and Altobelli each scored one late goal, Breitner’s left-footedness changed nothing in every sense.
Result for favourite: defeat in the final.
If Argentina, having broken their historic streak of 36 games without defeat, will face Mexicans and Poles, they will leave the group. Maybe from first place. Then the theory of unwillingness to see Neymar before the final will dissipate like smoke. But the second mistake will be fatal. Saturday’s match of the heroic Ochoa against Messi became a hundred times more interesting. And in history world Cup another shocking result. We recall the achievements of the 50s – United States of America beat England and the 60s: the North Koreans conquered the Italians. A World Cup classic, Messi lost to a team where all the players represent Saudi Arabia’s weak league.
