Saudi dump Messi’s Argentina: 4 other big first-match upsets in World Cup history

Algeria defeated West Germany, becoming the first African nation to beat a European opposition in a World Cup. Unfortunately, Algeria was not able to qualify out of the group as Germany and Austria played the infamous, allegedly fixed 1-0 game at Dijon on the final day of the group stages. The “Disgrace of Dijon”, as this game would later be called, would lead FIFA to hold the final stage of group games at the same time from the next tournament onwards.

Argentina 0-1 Cameroon (1990)

The world expected defending champions Argentina to enthral in the opening match of Italy 1990. After all, the champions boasted of the great Diego Maradona and Cameroon’s best player was the 38-year-old Roger Milla, who had a very respected career in France but would never reach the heights of football superstardom that many Argentines had.

However, the Argentinians never got going and were defeated narrowly by Cameroon in their second World Cup appearance. Both the teams would eventually qualify out of the group with the Argentines making the final which they lost to West Germany.

Spain 2-3 Nigeria (1998)

Nigeria was an up-and-coming team in Africa, playing their second World Cup. Even though they surpassed expectations in their previous appearance, reaching the Round of 16, no one expected them to defeat a star-studded Spanish team boasting of the likes of Raul and Luis Enrique. Spain began well, taking an early lead which they lost almost immediately. They would then score at the stroke of half time and the game seemed done and dusted with a dominating performance from Spain in the second half.

However, two quick goals in the 72nd and 78th minutes by Nigeria stunned the Spaniards who would not pose much of a threat in the final stages of the game.

France 0-1 Senegal (2002)

France won the World Cup in 1998 with arguably one of the greatest football teams of all time. They then convincingly won the Euros in 2000. The 2002 World Cup was supposed to be France’s stage to shine once again.

Coming into the game, the French team had a combined 652 international caps. The Senegalese, only 30. Though deprived of the services of their talisman Zinedine Zidane, the French were expected to trounce debutants Senegal. However, Senegal played a solid game, driving at the French with ferocious pace and skill through the wings and depriving France of any clear chances.

Senegal was rewarded with a goal in the 30th minute and they managed to hold on. France would be headed to an early exit while Senegal made it out of the group stages, beating Sweden in the round of 16 and suffering a narrow defeat to Turkey in the Quarter Finals.