On one hand, the probability of these unlikely nations winning their association trophy may actually have been quite high. More and more nations are trying to expand the great game by ploughing large sums of money into their domestic leagues and youth set ups. The game is becoming more multi-cultural, with many foreign players getting the opportunities to ply their trade in some of the worlds top leagues. However, toppling continental greats such as Brazil (CONMEBOL), Germany (UEFA) and Egypt (CAF) just seemed to be to big of an ask for FIFA's mediocre nations. But recent winners are proving that with a committed FA, the right manager at the helm, a bunch of hard working players, and a little bit of luck, upsets can be achieved, and winning trophies may no longer be a foregone conclusion for FIFA's powerhouses.
The first upset of the millennium came in its first year. North America's continental trophy, The Gold Cup, has been dominated by Mexico and USA. Since 1991, eleven competitions have been held, with Mexico winning six and USA winning four. The only team to buck the trend was Canada with their Gold Cup win in 2000.
Nevertheless, Canada had qualified and were drawn in Group D with Costa Rica and Asian invites South Korea. The group was very tight, with all three games ending in a draw. Costa Rica topped the group on goals scored, as they had drawn both their games 2-2. Canada and South Korea drew 0-0, resulting in the unlikely scenario of both teams being tied on points, goals scored, goals conceded and of course head to head record. Controversially, the second team to proceed from the group would be decided by a coin toss. Canada won the toss and proceeded to face Mexico in the quarter final.
It must also be said, remarkably, Canada progressed from their group in the following Gold Cup, by the same virtue. All they needed to do in their final group game was draw with Ecuador, in fact a 1-0 defeat would have even seen Canada through on goal difference. But a comical capitulation in the last two minutes saw Ecuador grab the two goals they needed to force the coin toss. Canada ultimately won the coin toss for a second consecutive tournament.
But back to 2000, and Canada faced Mexico in the quarter finals. Mexico were ranked 10th in the world and were expected to make cannon fodder of the Canadians. And after taking the lead after half an hour, it was surely a foregone conclusion.
But with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, Northampton Town striker Carlo Corazzin equalised, meaning the game went into the dreaded golden goal. Cue an unlikely hero in the shape of Inverness Caledonian Thistle left back Richard Hastings.
Hastings was playing second division football in Scotland and had never previously scored for his country. But after a counter attack stemming from a rather over indulgent Mexico corner, Hastings found himself one on one with the opposition goalkeeper, and subsequently scored the winning goal. It would be Hastings only ever international goal in 59 appearances. He was partial to a cup upset that year, going on to be a part of the famous 'Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious' Inverness team that went onto beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
Canada would face a rather handy Trinidad and Tobago side in the semis, who had the likes of Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and Arnold Dwarika in their starting line up. The match would ultimately be one of those where the goalkeeper grabbed crosses, shots and the headlines. A penalty save in the 35th minute from West Ham goalkeeper Craig Forrest, was the highlight of a stunning display, which was capped off with a win, thanks to a goal from Oldham defender Mark Watson; a player I doubt much of Oldham will have known at the time, let alone now.
Against all odds, Canada were in the final, where they would now face pre-tournament favourites Columbia. The South American's would later go on to lift the Copa America the following year with the likes of Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla to call upon. Therefore, they were a real force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
However, the final was somewhat of an anti climax. It was expected to be one way traffic, with Columbia dominating. It was quite the opposite to be honest. Dundee United defender and Canadian captain Jason De Vos scored on the stroke of half time to give Canada a deserved lead, before Carlo Corazzin grabbed his fourth of the tournament to secure the win. Forrest saved a penalty for the second consecutive match, but it was the only time Columbia threatened the Canadian goal.
Canada were crowned champions of North America by Sepp Blatter for the first time in their history. However, it would be the peak for Canada, who failed to qualify for the next World Cup and struggled to match the results they achieved at the 2000 Gold Cup.
The world of football would have to wait just four years before the next big upset occurred. This time it was UEFA that would oversee one of the biggest shocks in football history. I am, of course, talking about Euro 2004 and it's unlikely winners, Greece.
In fairness Greece were ranked in the top thirty teams in the world and they did top their qualifying group which contained Spain. But, 2004 was their first tournament in 24 years and the European Championship was normally dominated by big guns such as Germany, France and Italy.
Greece were drawn in Group A with hosts and much fancied Portugal, Spain and Russia. Thanks to goals from Karagounis and Basinas, Greece stunned the hosts in the opening game of the tournament, winning 2-1. They would then go on to draw with Spain, in what was very much a backs against the wall performance from the Greeks. Heading in to the final group game against Russia, Greece just needed a draw to qualify for the next round. But they got off to the worst possible start, conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history after just 68 seconds. The match was a tightly contested affair, which Russia won 2-1. That meant that anything other than a draw in the other group game between rivals Portugal and Spain, would see Greece through. Indeed, Portugal won the other match and Greece were preparing for the quarter finals.
They would face the defending champions France in the quarter finals. France were undefeated in the tournament and had won all eight qualifying matches. But Greece now feared no one and under the lead of German coach Otto Rehhagel, they were proving very hard to beat.
They frustrated France in an enthralling quarter final encounter, and deservedly took the lead with a trademark Angelos Charisteas header after 65 minutes. It was enough to see Greece through, in what was one of the most remarkable results in the history of European football.
The Czech Republic were the semi final opponents for Greece. Under the alias of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic had won the tournament in 1976 and were now one of Europes strongest teams. However, Greece made winning 1-0 a habit, as Roma centre back Dellas powered home an extra time header that was enough to secure the win by the virtue of silver goal. The Czechs had their fair share of chances, but couldn't convert. Greece would romp on into the final, where they would face hosts Portugal.
Everyone was expecting a Portugal win. They were very much a team on form with Phil Scolari in charge and with home advantage their name was basically on the trophy before the final kicked off. But lets not forget, Greece had beaten them in the opening game of the tournament.
It was obviously a good omen for the Greeks, as they once again laboured to a 1-0 win, again thanks to a Charisteas header. Portugal were stunned by the goal and struggled to get into the game thereafter. Just like Canada, against all odds, Greece were crowned the champions of their continent.
Fast forward three years, and this time it was the turn of Asia to witness a surprise winner. It was no secret to any one in the world, that Iraq were a country riddled with trouble and disaster. Infact, just days before their triumph in the Asian Cup, 50 people were killed in the capital city of Baghad, as people took to the street to celebrate their semi final win over South Korea. Terrorists saw the mass gathering of members of the public as a chance to cause havoc, and havoc they caused.
Iraq were grouped with pre-tournament favourites Australia, who were participating in the tournament for the first time after newly becoming an Asian member. Co-hosts Thailand and Oman completed the group.
Iraq topped the group after drawing with Thailand and Oman, and incredibly making easy meat of Australia, beating them 3-1. They would progress to face unlikely opponents in the shape of Vietnam. It was a very kind draw for Iraq and they moved into the semi finals with a comfortable 2-0 win.
The final saw Iraq play Saudi Arabia in what was billed as a contest of the tournaments best attack, Saudi Arabia, and the tournaments best defence, Iraq. Therefore, goals were not heavily expected, and they were ultimately not delivered either, well all but one.
One goal was enough to secure victory for the Lions, sparking mass celebrations back home in Baghdad, despite a government plea to vacate the streets due to the bloodshed after the semi final celebrations. It didn't stop jubilant Iraqis, who celebrated well in to the night, thankfully this time with no bloodshed.
One of the most recent continental cup upsets occurred in February this year, and accompanying it was a fairytale story that would not look out of place in Hollywood.
The story is based around Zambia and their stunning African Cup of Nations win. At the beginning of the year they were ranked 71st in the world and went into the tournament as unlikely winners. They were drawn in a group with Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal, a group which they topped with two wins and a draw.
They were drawn against Sudan in the quarter final, and comprehensively beat them 3-0. They then met Ghana who were one of the tournament favourites. Zambia rode their luck at times, highlighted by Asamoah Gyan's penalty miss in the first half. But Zambia stood firm in defence and nicked a goal in the 78th minute, enough to see them through to the final.
The final, against Ivory Coast, was a tight affair, with the Didier Drogba led men edging it in normal time. Infact the former Chelsea man missed a spot kick in normal time, meaning the game went to penalties after finishing 0-0.
It gave Zambia hope, as Ivory Coast had a rather rotten record in penalty shootouts. The first nine penalties were scored, then drama struck. Zambia's Mweene had to score and he did. Although he was made to retake it. He got the better of the pressure and forced the shootout to sudden death. As Arsenal forward Gervinho missed and Sunzu scored, Zambia were crowned African champions for the first time. The result meant so much to Zambia, with the win being dedicated to the tragic victims of the Gabon air disaster.
In 1993 the Zambian national football team, dubbed the golden generation, were travelling to Senegal for a world cup qualifier. They were one of the finest teams in Africa at the time and were one of the favourites to win the African Cup of Nations the following year.
Tragically, the plane crashed off the coast of Liberville, Gabon, killing all 25 players and coaching staff on board. Their golden generation had been wiped out, and Zambia never really recovered, until now. The scene of this years triumph was ironically in Liberville, Gabon, making success all the more sweeter for Zambian people.
The latest in the list of striking international victors, and possibly the most unbelievable of the lot, is Tahiti. The island, representing French Polynesia, has a population under half a million and, although they are one of the stronger teams in the Oceania region, they had never previously won the OFC Nations Cup.
The tournament had only ever been won by Australia and New Zealand. But with Australia opting to move into the Asian federation, New Zealand were by far the only realistic winners of the tournament. The Kiwis are miles ahead of any other Oceania team in terms of footballing prowess, highlighted when Tahiti found themselves at the wrong end of a 10-0 mauling from New Zealand just a few years ago.
But this summer Tahiti managed to stun everyone by winning the OFC Nations Cup, beating Solomon Islands in the semi final and New Caledonia, the conquers of New Zealand, in the final.
Although Tahiti qualified for the Under 20 World Cup in 2009, proving they have a decent batch of young players, It was still a remarkable achievement for a country ranked 138th in the world. Although it must be said that the quality of football in Oceania is nothing short of horrendous. If New Zealand were to follow Australia and switch regions to Asia, you cant help but feel it would signal the end of competitive football in the continent, that's if you can even call it competitive just now.
The unlikely victories of Canada, Greece, Iraq, Zambia and Tahiti are what keeps the romance in football. Everyone loves to see an underdog triumph, but with success, comes expectation. Everyone expects to see an underdog progress. And apart from Greece, who without setting the world alight, have been consistent within Europe, the others have failed to use their wins as a platform for better things. Canada failed to produce quality players as predicted, struggled in following Gold Cups and have failed to qualify for a World Cup since. Likewise, Iraq have failed to qualify for a World Cup, but did make a decent account of themselves at the Confederations Cup, conceding just one goal in three games, but scoring none. Just last week they were thrashed by Brazil 6-0 and have struggled to remain consistent. Zambia looked less than impressive against Uganda in a qualification playoff for the next African Cup of Nations, going through on penalties. Although it is maybe too early to judge their project.
As for Tahiti, I fear the worst. They recently competed in the Coupe de I'Outre-Mer, a tournament contested by French colonies. They entered as favourites, but went out at the group stage after an embarrassing defeat to Mayotte, a colony not even recognised by FIFA. Their latest qualification fixtures have seen them slump to defeats against Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Zealand, failing to score and conceding eight. Next year they will travel to Brazil to represent Oceania in the Confederations cup. There they will face the likes of Brazil, Spain, Italy and Uruguay. I cant help but feel they will be decimated by such quality sides. I wouldn't even be surprised if they withdrew, to preserve the national sides limited funding and decreasing confidence.
No comments:
Post a Comment