Confederations Cup - US join underdogs pantheon

Eurosport - Thu, 25 Jun 10:04:00 2009

The United States' 2-0 victory over European champions Spain in the Confederations Cup semi-finals earned a place on the list of great international upsets.

FOOTBALL USA - 0

"We all know about the US beating England back in the World Cup in 1950 but this result, in the semi-finals of a major FIFA competition watched by millions around the world, has to rank right up there among the greatest upsets of all time," said US goalkeeper Tim Howard.

"On Sunday we thought we were going home, now we are heading into the final. No-one gave us a chance on Sunday, no-one thought we could turn it around, but you have to believe."

The result ranks alongside North Korea's 1-0 win over Italy in the 1966 World Cup finals, Cameroon's 1-0 win over then world champions Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup and Senegal's 1-0 victory over then world champions France in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Denmark's astonishing success in the 1992 European championship, when they won the tournament in Sweden a few weeks after reassembling from their holidays and being given a place in the finals when Yugoslavia were disqualified, also takes its place as does Greece's win in Euro 2004 when they started the tournament as rank outsiders.

Two successive World Cup finals also produced huge shocks. In 1950 Brazil were odds-on favourites to beat Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro to become world champions for the first time but lost 2-1.

Four years later Hungary's "mighty Magyars", who had not lost for more than four years, met West Germany in the final, a few weeks after beating them 8-3 in the group stage. Hungary, one of the greatest sides ever assembled in world football, led 2-0 early in the game but ended up being beaten 3-2.

It is not the first time Spain have been the victims of an upset: they surprisingly lost 3-2 to Nigeria in the 1998 World Cup finals in Nantes after Nigeria scored two late goals.

This upset surpasses that though as Spain are currently number one in FIFA's world rankings, had been unbeaten for nearly three years and 35 matches and had won their previous 15 games.

"It might not be the last upset here either," said Howard.

"If we can beat the world-ranked number one side, what can we do against Brazil or South Africa ?"

Brazil play the hosts on Thursday to decide who will meet the US in Sunday's final.

Reuters

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  1. This result goes back to the days of Phil Woosnam and­ his effort to get the game moving stateside.
    This was­ carried on via Pele, Marsh, Best, Chinaglia, The kiser­ Frans, etc with good American players along the­ way.
    Just goes to show the Football world is getting­ smaller This can only be good for the game.
    What has to­ be done now is to clean up the rules! We have now got a­ situation where Fouls, OBSTRUCTION, shirt tugging are­ acceptable to FIFA and other federations this is not­ good for the game and until this is sorted out the Refs­ cannot have control and respect of the lovely­ game.Regards BB

    From banfield850, on Thu 25 Jun 10:05AM

  2. I hear Barack Obama asked the players this question­­ "Do you think you can qualify to the final?"­­ and am told the players answered "YES WE­­ CAN!". It was a semi final I never expected.­­ Previously, I despised Egypt for allowing the­ "YES­ WE CAN! men beat them by 3 goals. My­ apologies to Egypt­ for my mistake. I have nothing to­ offer the YES WE CAN!­ boys than wishing them all the­ luck!

    From Geoffrey, on Thu 25 Jun 10:02AM

  3. I think Beckham did a good job in american history of­ football. People are not commenting on his contribution­ to american improvement in soccer. Its not about­ infrastructure as people thought American have got the­ best infrastructure in the world as soccer is­ concerned. Well done boys

    From brian, on Thu 25 Jun 9:50AM
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