Before Morocco, other teams slipped in as ‘unexpected’ semifinalists in World Cups

Since USA in the first edition, in 1930, to South Korea and Turkey in 2002, other teams gave the surprise by reaching the semifinals of a World Cup, before Morocco in 2022.

Although he reached the semifinals only once, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) of the legendary archer Lev Yashin, it was not a surprise in 1966, since she was European champion in 1960 and runner-up in 1964.

Morocco wants to ‘win the World Cup’, says their coach Walid Regragui

1930: the first era of football in United States

In the first decades of soccer, the football knows a certain boom in the United States and lives a short golden age in the 1920swith a first federal championship, the American Soccer League, which collapsed in 1933. With white shirts and pants and blue socks, the US team was essentially made up of recently naturalized British playersfive Scots and one English.

The initial whistle of the USA-Belgium (3-0) It sounds at the same time as France-Mexico. These are the first two games in a World Cup.

In view of Paraguay (3-0)United States striker Bertram Patenaude, signs the first hat-trick, but in the semifinals Team USA would suffer the law of Argentina (6-1).

1962: Chile promoted by its public

Encouraged by her fans, La Roja curdled a historic World Cup under the stellar performance of its striker Leonel Sánchez (4 goals). She emerged gracefully from a fearsome group by defeat Switzerland (3-1) and then Italy (2-0) in a very tough match that went down to posterity as the Battle of Santiago. The two teams multiplied the unsportsmanlike actions, two Italians were sent off and the police had to intervene on several occasions to separate the players. In the quarterfinals, the Chileans beat the USSR (2-1) before seeing cut his way through Brazil (4-2) with doubles for Vavá and Garrincha.

They garnered third place at the last minute against Yugoslavia (1-0).

1994: Bulgaria, Stoichkov generation

With an exceptional generation, Bulgaria reached the semifinals in the United States. the leader was Hristo Stoichkov, top scorer of the tournament together with the Russian Oleg Salenko (6 goals). But behind Johan Cruyff’s Barça star appeared players like Emil Kostadinov, Krasimir Balakov, the emblematic bald Yordan Lechkov, Germany’s executioner in the quarterfinals (2-1) with a head shot, or the center back with long hair and beard Trifon Ivanov. The adventure ended against Roberto Baggio’s Italy (double) in the semifinals (2-1), and the Bulgarians ran out of energy in the match for third place, lost 4-0 to Sweden.

2002: South Korean Folly and Turkish Surprise

Turkey, in their second appearance since 1954, brought other hosts Japan to tears (1-0) in eighths, then Senegal (1-0 after extra time) in the quarterfinals with a goal from Ilhan Mansiz, before handing over their weapons against Ronaldo’s Brazil (1-0).

the turks won the match for third place (3-2) with the fastest goal in the history of the World Cup, signed by Hakan Sukur after 10.8 seconds.

Carried away by a dedicated public and in the midst of arbitrations considered by some to be domestic, Guus Hiddink’s South Korea became the first semi-finalist from the Asian continent.

Defeated Italy (2-1 after extra time) round of 16 with a golden goal from Ahn Jung-hwan, then Spain on penalties (0-0; 5-3) prior to lose against Germany 1-0. (D)