The Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup is the most awaited event of the year in the world. Fans are gearing up to see which team wins the coveted trophy, who scores the most goals, and who are the biggest performers on the grand stage. While there is a lot of interest in who will win the competition, upsets on the field are another feature that never fails to astound onlookers. In some shock results at the World Cup, defending champions have been knocked out in the group stages, minnows have thrashed historical giants of the game and, on some occasions, the shock has not been at the result but at the sheer lack of effort, and the resulting score. We look at some of the biggest upsets in the history of the continental showpiece.

 

France 0-1 Senegal (FIFA 2002 World Cup)

This game is famous for Senegal going against all odds to emerge victorious after the blow of the whistle in the 90'. It was a game between World Cup holders vs debutants, former colonizers vs colony, the opening game of the tournament, and finally, holders were knocked out in first. 
It was the opening game of the 2002 World Cup and had all the possible subplots to make for an interesting match. But what the pundits and the French team failed to anticipate was the meticulously planned Senegalese stifling of the French attack. Senegal found themselves on top of the group at the end of 90 minutes, thanks to a 30th-minute goal from Papa Bouba Diop. France’s journey ended after a draw and another loss. Senegal eventually advanced to the quarterfinals, becoming just the second nation from Africa to do so. 


Germany 7-1 Brazil (FIFA 2014 World Cup)

The 2014 World Cup seemed like the perfect opportunity for Brazil to become glorious on its own soil. The stage was set for football’s biggest party to light up the samba nation with the crowning of Brazil as champions for the sixth time. It was only a matter of two more matches. Or so thought the Brazilians. Up against them were Germany, never to be underrated in a World Cup knockout match. Both teams had a similar path to the semi-finals: Topping their groups and having close encounters in the knockouts. However, Brazil lost their star forward Neymar Jr to injury in the quarterfinal and captain Thiago Silva to yellow card accumulation. In the semi-final, Germany opened the scoring in the 11th minute and never looked back. Between 23 and 29 minutes, the Germans scored four more goals to stun the Brazilians on the pitch, in the stands, and in the country. It didn’t get better after half-time as Brazil’s defenses were breached twice before the home team scored a consolation goal in the last minute. The final scoreline was termed a national humiliation for the football-mad country. Germany went on to win the final against Argentina for their fourth title.

South Korea 2-0 Germany (FIFA 2018 World Cup)

Some of the biggest upsets in the World Cup have involved the defending champions being handed first-round defeats and the 2018 World Cup was no different. It was the third consecutive World Cup where the holders were knocked out at the first hurdle. Germany came into their final group match needing a win to progress. South Korea were playing for pride as they were all but out of the tournament. Germany have historically been one of the teams that can never be counted out in a World Cup match. The match seemed to be heading to a goalless draw so the Germans amassed all their efforts on scoring a winning goal that would see them through. However, two minutes into injury time South Korea’s Kim Young-Gwon scored from a corner. Manuel Neuer, the German captain and goalkeeper, came out all the way into the Korean half to enforce the attack. South Korea capitalized by collecting the ball from Neuer’s miscued pass and slotting it into an empty net to seal Germany’s fate. It was the first time since 1938 that Germany failed to advance beyond the first stage and their first-ever defeat against an Asian country in a World Cup match.