The greatest FIFA World Cup upsets
FIFA –
In its near 100-year history, the FIFA World Cup™ has seen many shock results, with several unfancied teams pulling off unlikely wins against illustrious opponents.
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The FIFA World Cup™ has produced some major shock results over the years
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Argentina and France have both lost opening matches as reigning champions
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Cameroon, Senegal, USA, Norway and Costa Rica among the tournament’s most famous giant killers
First contested nearly 100 years ago, the FIFA World Cup™ has grown in popularity with football fans thanks in part to its ability to throw up unexpected results on a regular basis. Some of these upsets have since entered football folklore. FIFA+ explores the tournament’s most famous shocks, which include opening match stumbles for a couple of defending champions.
France 0-1 Senegal, Korea / Japan 2002
How big a shock was it? 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. What happened next? The defeat put the French under pressure and, after a draw with Uruguay, they rushed a clearly unfit Zidane back into the side for the final group match against Denmark. The gamble did not pay off and France were unexpectedly dumped from the tournament. Meanwhile, Senegal made history by qualifying for the Round of 16, where they beat Sweden before going out to Turkey in the quarter-final. One-hit wonders? The Senegalese have returned to the World Cup just once since 2002, at Russia 2018, when they went out in the Group Stage despite collecting four points. What became of the heroes? Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal of the game against France and became a national icon. Sadly, the former midfielder died in 2020 after a long illness. Aliou Cisse, who also played in the memorable defeat of the French, is now Senegal’s head coach.
