One of the greatest upset ever in a FIFA competition
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U.S. victory over Spain joins list of great upset.
BLOEMFONTEIN, June 24 (Reuters) - The United States' 2-0 victory over European champions Spain in the Confederations Cup semi-finals on Wednesday earned a place on the list of great international upsets.
"We all know about the U.S. 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," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard told reporters.
"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."
FIFA's own website (www.fifa.com) posed the question: "Is this the greatest upset ever in a FIFA competition?"
It left the answer open, but 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 U.S. in Sunday's final.
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i seriously laugh like a fag when i saw the news
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To be honest, I don't think anybody takes this competition seriously.
If you win it, be happy for a while.
If you lose it, ah well, get ready for a month or 2 of summer break.
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Lolx
USA play so well like IRAQ? -
cb yst i saw the USA 1x2 odds $10.50
imagine those who bet USA
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U can never believe Spain. They have the king of underachiever for many years. Now it still stand.
I rather trust Italy than Spain.
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The US manager said that if they shut down Xavi, they shut down the whole of Spain. I'm beginning to believe that is also the way to shut down Barca...
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Biggest upset? How about war-torn Iraq winning the AFC Championship?
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Originally posted by charlize:
To be honest, I don't think anybody takes this competition seriously.
If you win it, be happy for a while.
If you lose it, ah well, get ready for a month or 2 of summer break.
yes this is a mickey mouse off season FIFA's competition. I believe the players rather have the holidays now than playing in this mickey tournament, especially next year this time as world cup year -
Originally posted by -Wanderer-:
The US manager said that if they shut down Xavi, they shut down the whole of Spain. I'm beginning to believe that is also the way to shut down Barca...
now then you realise meh lol :) you cant allow Barcelona to play its passing football, if you did, Barcelona will thrash you. not only stopping xavi, but also iniesta lar. -
Originally posted by CannyOng:
U can never believe Spain. They have the king of underachiever for many years. Now it still stand.
I rather trust Italy than Spain.
ya, but they have the players to kill any teams. torres and villa one of the best tag team strikers to score goals. midfielders have xavi, iniesta and febregas and alonso. what an attacking lineup as a matter of fact -
Originally posted by gunner77:
cb yst i saw the USA 1x2 odds $10.50
imagine those who bet USA
but how many dare to bet USA win? not much I would say. -
Spain probably wanted to win this game badly and became nervous when the US scored first... They wanted to beat the old Brazil record of 35 match but in the end, too bad...
It was a remarkable upset on a freezing night that not only ended Spain's record of 15 consecutive wins but also prevented them from surpassing Brazil's 35-match unbeaten run.
Spain will have to be content with going into the history books level with the South Americans after their first loss since November 15, 2006.