Soviet Union 3-4 Belgium (1986)
The Soviet Union impressed in the group stage of the 1986 World Cup, holding France to a 1-1 draw and beating Hungary (6-0) and Canada (2-0) to take top spot. They were favourites to beat a Belgium team who had only progressed to the last 16 as one of the best third-place finishers, but the underdogs pulled off an upset in thrilling fashion.
Ihor Belanov scored both of the USSR’s goals in normal time, but an additional 30 minutes was required thanks to Belgian efforts from Enzo Scifo and captain Jan Ceulemans. Stephane Demol and Nico Claesen struck either side of half-time of extra time to put the Red Devils 4-3 ahead, with Belanov’s hat-trick-clinching penalty not enough to prevent defeat.
Portugal 3-1 Brazil (1966)
Five World Cup holders have fallen at the first hurdle four years later: Italy in 1950, France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, Brazil in 1966. The Selecao won three out of four tournaments between 1958 and 1970, but a 3-1 loss to Portugal in their final group game in England sealed their fate.
Knowing Hungary were likely to beat Bulgaria at Old Trafford, Brazil knew they had to emerge victorious at Goodison Park to stand a chance of progression. Simoes and Eusebio put Portugal 2-0 up to leave Brazil on the brink, and although Rildo’s deficit-reducer in the 73rd minute offered a slight glimmer of hope, Eusebio struck again before the end to send the defending champions packing.
Uruguay 3-2 Sweden (1950)
The denouement of the 1950 World Cup is well known: hosts Brazil only needed a point against Uruguay in their final game to scoop the trophy, but they contrived to throw away a one-goal lead and hand the title to their neighbours.
That was not the only time La Celeste came from behind in that tournament, however. In their previous game, they trailed 2-1 to Sweden with 13 minutes left – had that scoreline remained the same, Uruguay would have had no chance of winning the competition and Sweden would have gone into the final round of games two points behind group leaders Brazil. Oscar Miguez’s late double changed everything, though; the rest, as they say, is history.
Netherlands 2-2 West Germany (1978)
When the Netherlands took the lead in the 1974 World Cup final before West Germany had even touched the ball, it felt like they had one hand on the trophy. Yet that glorious side ended up empty-handed after efforts from Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win, and the Dutch – this time without star man Johan Cruyff – also fell short in the showpiece against Argentina four years later.
That tournament brought the chance for revenge, with the Netherlands and West Germany pitted against one another in the second group phase, with the table-toppers advancing to the final. Die Mannschaft again led 2-1 heading into the closing stages, but a late Renevan de Kerkhof goal earned the Dutch a point and it was they who progressed after Austria beat West Germany a few days later.
Belgium 3-2 Russia (2002)
With co-hosts Japan expected to see of Tunisia – something they duly did – in their final first-round game in 2002, second spot in Group H was a straight tussle between Belgium and Russia. The latter held a one-point advantage ahead of the showdown in Shizuoka and therefore only required a draw, with victory the only outcome which would send Belgium through to the last 16.
They got off to the ideal start thanks to Johan Walem’s seventh-minute opener, but Russia got back on level terms early in the second half. Quick-fire goals from Wesley Sonck and Marc Wilmots then put Belgium 3-1 up, and although Dmitri Sychev’s effort in the 88th minute made for a nervous finale, the Red Devils held on to progress to the knockout stage.
