If you weren’t paying attention to Cape Verde before this World Cup, you sure are now. A tiny island nation with a population smaller than most U.S. counties just held Spain to a 0-0 draw in their first ever World Cup match. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha went from 40,000 Instagram followers to 15 million overnight. That’s the kind of story that makes this tournament what it is.
But Cape Verde isn’t the first team to crash the party and make us all fall in love. Here are nine other World Cup underdog runs that still stick with us.
Poland’s 1974 Surprise Party
Poland showed up to their second World Cup ever and just wrecked things. They beat Argentina 3-2 in their opener, demolished Haiti 7-0, then took down Italy 2-1. They made it to the semifinals, lost only to eventual champions West Germany, and then beat 1970 winners Brazil in the third-place game. Grzegorz Lato led the tournament with seven goals. Not bad for a team nobody was talking about.
Croatia’s 2018 Magic
We all remember Croatia breaking English hearts in the semifinals. Luka Modric ran that midfield like he owned it, and they beat Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland in group play before squeaking past Denmark and Russia on penalties. That extra-time win over England sent them to the final, where France was just too much. Modric took home the Ballon d’Or that year. Deserved.
Turkey’s 2002 Run
South Korea’s semifinal run that year gets most of the attention. But Turkey’s story deserves some love too. First World Cup since 1954, and they finished fourth. They knocked out Japan and Senegal before falling to Brazil in the semis. Then they beat South Korea in the third-place game. Turkey wouldn’t see another World Cup until 2026, and they’re already out in the group stage. That 2002 run was lightning in a bottle.
Bulgaria’s 1994 Cinderella Story
Bulgaria had never won a World Cup game before 1994. Then Hristo Stoichkov happened. They got out of a group with Nigeria, Argentina and Greece, then beat Mexico and Germany in knockout play before falling to Italy. Stoichkov scored in all three knockout games. They lost the third-place game to Sweden, but nobody expected them to be anywhere near the semis.
Cameroon’s 1990 Indomitable Lions
Cameroon became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals. A 38-year-old Roger Milla was the heart of that team. They topped a group that included defending champions Argentina, then beat Colombia before pushing England to extra time. Gary Lineker’s penalty ended the dream. But that team changed how the world saw African football.
Costa Rica’s 2014 Group of Death Escape
Remember when Costa Rica topped a group with Uruguay, Italy and England? Nobody saw that coming. They beat both Uruguay and Italy, then knocked out Greece on penalties. They took Netherlands to penalties in the quarters too until Louis van Gaal subbed in Tim Krul specifically for the shootout. Krul saved two penalties. Cruel ending for an incredible run.
Morocco’s 2022 History
Morocco went further than any African team ever had, reaching the semifinals. They topped a group with Croatia, Belgium and Canada. Then they beat Spain on penalties and Portugal 1-0. France stopped them in the semis, but they captured the imagination of an entire continent. That defense was something else.
Croatia’s 1998 Debut
Before Modric, there was Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban. Croatia’s first World Cup and they finished third. They beat Romania and Germany in the knockout stage before falling to hosts France. Then they beat Netherlands for third place. That golden generation set the standard.
Ghana’s 2010 Heartbreak
Ghana was one penalty kick away from becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals. Then Luis Suarez handled the ball on the line, and Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick. Uruguay won the shootout. Ghana didn’t beat any giants that tournament — just Serbia and the USA. But that’s not the point. They were this close, and the whole continent felt it.
This article was originally published by Planet Football.
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