There was silence, shock and joy and euphoria on the other. It felt as if the scoreboard had some glitch because it didn’t make sense. Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia. The Asian team had just executed one of the biggest upsets as it defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina to start their World Cup with a bang.
It leaves Argentina with a mountain to climb as their two remaining matches come against Mexico and Poland, two sides far better than Saudi Arabia. However, the World Cup is where shock results like these have often happened. Time and again, a minnow and underdog has defied the odds to beat a bigger and better team and become part of football’s history.
It is one of the reasons why the FIFA World Cup remains the pinnacle of football. So, look at the top 10 shocking underdog victories in FIFA World Cup history without further ado.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia 1-2 2022 FIFA World Cup
Before the 2022 World Cup, Saudi Arabia had lost its last five opening matches at the World Cup by a combined scoreline of 24-0. However, all that changed that day at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina started the game brilliantly and won a penalty within ten minutes, which Lionel Messi duly converted. They scored free times in the first half but, every time, were caught in the offside trap laid by the Saudis. Nevertheless, the Asian team reached half-time, only one goal down.
Blood & Sweat. Body & Soul. Literally Everything! 😤
This Saudi Arabia defense literally gave everything on their 1st World Cup appearance since 1994 🧱🔥#WorldCup2022 #FIFAWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/jRuv6W3mSw
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) November 22, 2022
However, in the second half, the Saudis were a changed side pressing Argentina in their half. Their first goal came through Salah Al Sheehri. But Argentina still felt confident as they had the star power to turn around the match. But what happened next is a moment that has already been immortalised in Saudi football history. After a goal-bound shot from the Saudis was saved and went high in the air and fell to Salem Aldawsari, who controlled the ball with a magical first touch and then chopped and cut his way through the Argentine defence like a hot knife to butter before blasting the ball past a hapless Emiliano Martínez. Saudi held on for the rest of the match to become part of football folklore.
Uruguay vs Brazil 2-1, 1950 World Cup
Imagine a team being favoured so much in the final that a newspaper announces them as…
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