FIFA World Cup Group Stage has come to a thrilling end. Most world cup favourites – England and Brazil- may have escaped their groups, despite not being a smooth ride for most teams. There have been some spectacular performances and some shocks and stunning upsets.
Let’s look at the top upsets in this world cup:
Saudi Arabia VS Argentina Biggest Upset in WC 22
Saudi Arabia shocked the football world as it made off one of the biggest shocks in FIFA World Cup history. By beating Argentina by 2-1 in the first fixture of their Group C in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Argentina looked weak in front of an inspired Saudi Arabia team, as they couldn’t break through their defences. Argentina did start the game on the right track as Lionel Messi, their captain, in the 10th minute of the match, scored a penalty kick.
The goal led 1-0 at the end of the first half.
The Saudis team arose from the second half as a different side as they took on the attack on Argentina. Saleh Al-Shehri benefited from a wobbly Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi Argentina’s defence. In the 48th minute, He struck a stunning finish in the bottom right corner to level the scores.
Just a few moments after the equalizer, Saudi Arabia struck again with a series of attacks by the Saudia Arabia team. The Messi-led side looked rattled. This time, Salem Al-Daswari scored one of the tournament’s goals. The ball was put past Emiliano Martinez’s at the top right-hand corner to give the Saudis a far-fetched 2-1 lead.
Argentina could not test the Saudi defence as they maintained their lead to hand them a stunning win.
Germany VS Japan
FIFA said that captains of teams wearing rainbow-coloured ‘OneLove’ armbands would receive a yellow card. They want to avoid politics and social issues involving the beautiful game. While the Qatar authorities appreciated the decision, it caused a significant uproar in Europe.
The German team didn’t like the decision, as they covered their mouths and posed for a team photo in protest before their match against Japan.
Germany’s protest did not sit well with their hypocrisy was pointed out by most football fans. Because of their treatment, their star Mesut Ozil. Who did not receive any support when he was supporting Uyghur Muslims in China. Also, they didn’t protest the World Cup in Russia.
Germany’s protest did not have as much impact, as they lost the match with Japan. The Samurai Blue made an epic comeback to win the match by 2-1. Germany’s antics at the start of the game backfired, which provided a perfect opportunity for football fans worldwide to brutally troll the team for their antics.
Fans of Japan were at the forefront of mocking Germany as a picture of them covering their mouths went viral on social media. The image has over 18,000 retweets, and 155k likes as fans pounced on the chance to troll the four-time winners.
Iran 2-0 Wales
Iran made a famous 2-0 win over 10-man Wales on Friday. Iran’s men scored two goals in the additional time to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The Iran players sang their national anthem before kickoff. Iran’s thousands of fans at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium were thrilled by defeating a Europe side in a World Cup for the only time.
Defeat would have eliminated Iran instead, climbed to second in Group B behind England, from whom they had lost 6-2 in their opening match.
A draw-considered game burst into life when Iran scored two goals in additional time when no one expected something to happen.
Earlier Iran was given an enormous boost in their push for a winner when Hennessey hurriedly hurried out of the goal and banged into Mehdi Taremi in the game.
Mario Escobar, the Guatemalan referee, only initially booked the ‘keeper, but after a VAR review corrected that, Hennessey was dismissed. He became the first player and keeper to be given a red card in the Qatar tournament for banging into Mehdi Taremi late in the game.
Morocco VS Belgium
Another major shock in the World Cup of surprises in Qatar as Morocco stunned World No. 2 Belgium 2-0 in their second Group fixture at the Al Thumama stadium on Sunday. Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal, Two substitutes, Scored to give the Morroco side an essential boost in their hopes of making it into the knockout stage FIFA World Cup 2022.
The win, in 24 years, their first World Cup win, took Morocco top of the group standings with 4 points after two games., ahead of Belgium, who is at second in the group standings table with 3 points.
Belgium enjoyed better control, but the Moroccan side was more threatening in front of the goal in the game. Morocco was refused a goal in the last kick of the first half when VAR disallowed Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick goal. But Sabiri put them forward with a matching goal in the 73rd minute before Aboukhlal closed the game with a goal in stoppage time.
The Atlas Lions get a massive win over Belgium.@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1669561016000
The Moroccon supporters gave the game a vintage World Cup feel in boiling conditions at the Al Thumama Stadium. Sabiri twisted a wide free-kick past, Thibaut Courtois before Aboukhlal earned it in stoppage time. To put Morocco top of Group F, four points ahead of Belgium.
Morocco’s first World Cup win since they beat Scotland in 1998. They exited the 2018 tournament with a single point.
Belgium, which scraped a 1-0 win over Canada in their beginning game, again looked like a faint shade of the team who finished third in 2018 and rose to second in the world rankings.
The Red Devils’ lacking show even propelled Roberto Martinez, Belgium’s coach, to send the burly striker Romelu Lukaku. for the last 10 minutes in a frantic attempt to salvage a point., even though he had been struggling with a hamstring problem.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1669561811000
In a positive start, Morocco looked comfortable sitting and waiting amid the loud whistles of their fans. However, bouts of extreme pressing led to several dangerous counter-attacks, with the main threat being Hakim Ziyech.
Kevin De Bruyne couldn’t find his range, and Eden Hazard stayed largely inefficient; the Moroccans were not worried.
Belgium was defeated when Ziyech blasted a free kick into the pack and rolled past the goalkeeper at the near post at the stroke of halftime.
Romain Saiss was marginally offside, and Carlos Ramos, the referee, ruled the goal out after a VAR check as the Besiktas defender was blocking Courtois’ view.
Limbs. 🇲🇦 https://t.co/4hOeIL7NlB
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1669561301000
Morocco began to fancy their options and was more on the attack, with Sofiane Boufal’s hit from inside the box going wide after the break.
Belgium was out of sorts, and Martinez sent Dries Mertens and Youri Tielemans to replace Amadou Onana and Eden Hazard.
Mertens had a direct effect, causing El Kajoui, who stood in minutes before the start of the game for Yassine Bounou, into a fantastic save with a powerful shot.
Morocco substitute Sabiri broke the gridlock in the 73rd with a curved free-kick similar to the one which led to the Ruled-out goal in the first half. Court. It could only fumble the ball into the goal.
Saiss was also in the way but at this time. Morocco defended until they found another goal. Aboukhlal clipped Ziyech’s cross into the top of the goal as the stadium burned over.
Samurai Blue VS Red Devil Spain
Japan achieved a controversial victory as they produced another fantastic World Cup recovery to top Group E ahead of Spain and advanced to the last 16.
Ao Tanaka declared Japan’s second goal after the VAR ruled the ball had not reached out of play before substitute Kaoru Mitoma knocked it from the byeline., even though, on the first view, it seemed to have done so.
It confirmed the decisive moment in a sensational execution against a Spain side who were lucky to join Japan in the knockout stage.
In a tournament full of upsets, this was possibly the most dramatic night, with Spain depending on the outcome of Germany’s match with Costa Rica to progress.
All four teams had begun the evening with a possibility of advancing. Still, with Spain requiring only a tie to qualify, they were not desired to need any favours from elsewhere.
La Roja moved at the break after Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from near range. Still, Japan would fast turn the game – and the total of Group E – on its head.
Japan team sent on substitutes Ritsu Doan and Mitoma at halftime. They had created an enormous effect within six minutes of the restart.
Doan balanced with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. A few seconds later, Mitomo retrieved Doan’s low cross and saw Tanaka bundle home from close range in surprising circumstances.
The assistant referee initially ruled out the goal and signalled the ball had gone out of line, but the VAR judged Mitomo had caught it in time.
To the human eye, it seemed over the line. Still, VAR determined that the ball curvature was hanging over the line, to the joy of Japan’s players.
Things got even more spoiled for Spain when Costa Rica took a shock lead over Germany minutes later because, at that stage, they were going out.
Khalifa International Stadium revealed the updated group table on big screens, to the disbelief of the Spain supporters and everyone else.
Luis Enrique’s side was in big problem. It delivered few signs of knowing how to save themselves, with only Germany’s late victory sending Spain through as group runners-up on goal difference.
South Korea VS Portugal
South Korea stunned Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-1 to reserve their spot in Round 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022. They finished above Luis Suarez’s Uruguay despite their 2-0 win over Ghana.
Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the match-winning goal for South Korea in injury time to save them from the possibility of elimination in an exciting 2-1 win over Ronaldo’s side., who had already qualified for the knockout stage.
A much-changed Portugal side had grabbed the lead in the fifth minute through Ricardo Horta, .who received the ball at the edge of the box from Diogo Dalot and shot it on the first touch into the far corner.
Portugal’s early lead left South Korea to reinforce their approach to stand a chance in the qualification race. And hit back in the 27th minute through Kim Young-Gwon after Ronaldo failed to clear the corner. The ball deflected into the defender’s path, who did the rest on the volley.
With the scores settled at 1-1, Portugal continued to repeat the procedure – dominating control and passing the ball – but South Korea kept going for the tie-breaker.
The Asian side finally found one in the stoppage time when Son Heung-min grabbed the ball and ran almost 70 yards. Before precisely timing his pass to Hee-chan, who shot the winner.
Despite stunning Portugal 2-1, the Korean players stood in a huddle on the pitch. Watching the other Group H encounter between Uruguay and Ghana on a mobile phone as they awaited their place in the last 16 to be secured.
Meanwhile, Georgian De Arrascaeta double led Uruguay to a 2-0 win over Ghana. Still, it turned out to be short for the South American side to book a spot in the knockouts as South Korea’s late winner saw them leapfrog Suarez’s men.
Tasting wins in their last group games, South Korea and Uruguay ended the initial Round with four points each. Still, the former advanced into the Round of 16 on goals scored.
South Korea will now take on Group G winners in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. In contrast, Portugal, who topped Group H despite a bitter loss against South Korea, will take on Group H runners-up on Wednesday.
Brazil VS Cameroon – A Upset That Went In Vain
Cameroon upset much-changed Brazil 1-0 but in vain. Switzerland’s 3-2 victory over bottom-ranked Serbia powered them to advance into the Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2022.
Switzerland became the last team to advance for the Round of 16 with leaders Switzerland following their nervy 3-2 victory over Serbia that powered them to finish second in Group G.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored the first goal in the 20th minute when Djibril Sow gave the ball to Shaqiri, who hit home with his left foot to put Switzerland ahead.
Switzerland’s early lead, yet, could not last longer as Aleksander Mitrovic soon fired an equalizer to keep Serbia in pursuit.
Serbia shifted things around and took charge ten minutes later when Shaqiri gave the ball away in midfield. Dusan Tadic slipped the ball to Dusan Vlahovic, who shot back across the goal to put Serbia ahead of Switzerland.
Switzerland was fast to respond and equalized a minute before the half time as Sow picked out Silvan Widmer in acres of ground on the right. Breel Embolo turned in his driven low cross.
Three minutes into the second half, a team-effort goal let Switzerland retake the lead when Shaqiri clipped in a softball after Embolo won it high up. Ruben Vargas’s cushioned backheel left Remo Freuler to guide in from around the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, in another Group G game, Cameroon stunned much-changed Brazil 1-0 to become the first African side to beat the five-time champions Brazil. But to no avail, as they ended behind Switzerland with four points.
Vincent Aboubakar connected substitute Jerome Ngom Mbekeli’s cross. He performed a scintillating header in the stoppage time to break the deadlock, which was enough for Cameroon to seal a historic win.
Cameroon registered a famous win, but Switzerland’s 3-2 win over Serbia simultaneously meant that Switzerland rose from Group G along with already-qualified Brazil.
Having won their beginning two group stage matches, Brazil topped the Group with six points despite taking an upset defeat from Cameroon. They will face South Korea in the last 16 when several vital players that rested in the game will return.
The bitter loss against Cameroon marked Brazil’s first loss in the group stages of a world cup after 1998 when they lost to Norway.
Meanwhile, Switzerland, who ended as the runners-up of Group G, will take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Wednesday.
