The Most Shocking Upsets in Football History
Every year, there are countless matches played, with the majority of them going according to plan. However, there are also times when the underdog manages to pull off an unlikely upset, like a jackpot at live casino, causing shockwaves throughout the footballing world. Let’s take a look at some of the most shocking upsets in football history.
1) Leicester City winning the Premier League (2015-2016)
Leicester City's triumph in the 2015-2016 Premier League season is arguably the greatest upset in football history. The Foxes, who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season, were given odds of 5000-1 to win the title at the start of the campaign. However, they defied all odds to finish top of the table, seven points ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. This was truly a remarkable achievement and one that will be remembered for years to come.
2) Greece winning Euro 2004
Greece's triumph in Euro 2004 is another major upset in football history. The Greeks had never won a match in a major international tournament before, and were given odds of 80-1 to win the tournament. However, they managed to shock everyone by defeating France, the reigning champions, in the quarter-finals, before going on to beat the likes of the Czech Republic and Portugal in the knockout stages to lift the trophy.
3) Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005
Liverpool's victory in the 2005 Champions League final is widely regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in football history. The Reds were 3-0 down at half-time against Italian giants AC Milan, but managed to stage a stunning comeback to win the match on penalties. This was a truly remarkable achievement, especially given that Milan had some of the best players in the world at the time.
4) USA defeating England in the 1950 World Cup
The 1950 World Cup was a tournament that was dominated by European teams, with many people expecting the likes of England, Spain, and Italy to go far in the competition. However, the USA managed to shock everyone by defeating England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets in football history. This victory is still remembered as one of the greatest moments in American soccer history.
5) Wigan Athletic winning the FA Cup in 2013
Wigan Athletic's victory in the 2013 FA Cup final was a major shock. The Latics, who were playing in the Championship at the time, defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy. This was a remarkable achievement, especially given that Wigan were relegation candidates in the Premier League that season.
6) Cameroon defeating Argentina in the 1990 World Cup
Cameroon's victory over Argentina in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup was a major upset. Argentina were the defending champions and had some of the best players in the world, including Diego Maradona. However, Cameroon managed to beat them 1-0, with Francois Omam-Biyik scoring the winning goal.
7) South Korea reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup
South Korea's run to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup was a major shock. The Koreans had never gone past the group stages in a World Cup before, and were given little chance of progressing in a group that included the likes of Portugal and the USA. However, they managed to win all three of their group matches, before defeating Italy and Spain in the knockout stages. This was a remarkable achievement for a team that was not considered among the favorites at the start of the tournament.
8) Denmark winning Euro 1992
Denmark's victory in the 1992 European Championship is another major upset in football history. The Danes only qualified for the tournament after Yugoslavia was disqualified due to the Balkan conflict. They were given little chance of winning the tournament, but managed to defeat Germany 2-0 in the final to lift the trophy.