Top 4 upsets on the biggest stage in football

As the British women’s football team pulled off a shock 1-0 victory over Brazil at Wembley on Tuesday,  the writer can’t help but turn back the clock to some really great football matches in the past, where ‘David prevailed over Goliath!’

Glory for Team Britian!

The matches that first come to mind are Senegal beating former colonial rulers France in the 2002 World Cup opener and of course, the United States beating England in the 1950 World Cup.

1. Senegal beat France 1-0 (2002 World Cup) : 

‘French fry’ for Senegal and Dioup!

Starting with the former first, as France were to play Senegal in their Cup opener, the end result was already a foregone conclusion – a victory for France. But Papa Bouba Dioup and Co. had other plans, as Dioup scored past Fabian Barthez at the half hour mark, to send a ‘Zidane-less’ France to a shock defeat. The defeat scuppered Frances’ chances of qualifying for the knockout phases (inspid performances against Uruguay and Denmark ensured that the French went home early) and turned Dioup and the Senegelese team into overnight stars (Senegal went on to reach the quarters, where they lost to a strong Turkish side).