World Cup sees unexpected semis in history, teams go beyond their duties

By Emre Asikci and Can Erozden
ISTANBUL (AA) - Every four years, the FIFA World Cup has left fans in awe and bewilderment at the most unexpected match outcomes through the tournament's history of more than nine decades.

In the 2022 World Cup, Morocco were the dark horses as the Atlas Lions displayed a heroic performance to amaze the authorities after they reached the semifinals in Qatar.

Led by Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi, Morocco beat European football heavyweights Portugal 1-0 on Saturday to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal.

But it is not the first time that an underdog did more than expected in a World Cup.

Bulgaria and Sweden (1994), Croatia (1998), South Korea, and Türkiye (2002) previously went beyond their duties in separate World Cup tournaments to spice up the contest.

- Sweden, Bulgaria write history in USA 1994
Sweden and Bulgaria were not expected to be in the latter stages of the 1994 World Cup, but both performed well to be in the final four in the US.

The Swedish national team advanced to the last 16 after they finished second in Group B where they battled former winners Brazil, Russia, and Cameroon.

Sweden then beat Saudi Arabia 3-1 in the Round of 16 and eliminated Romania on penalties to reach the semifinals.
In the 1994 semis, Sweden faced familiar opponents, Brazil.

Brazil eliminated Sweden 1-0 at Pasadena's Rose Bowl to march to the final where the South American team would then beat Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout to be crowned the 1994 champions.

Sweden's fairy tale in the US ended but they returned home with a bronze medal over a 4-0 win against Bulgaria, another dark horse of the 1994 World Cup.

The Swedish were the 1958 World Cup runners-up. Between 1958 and 1994, they missed several World Cups or were eliminated from the groups. But Sweden gifted big names to the football world in the 1990s – such as forwards Kennet Andersson and Henrik Larsson.

A nation from Europe's southeast, Bulgaria were the other dark horses in the USA 1994.
The Bulgarian team included star forward Hristo Stoichkov, who played for Spain's Barcelona and Italy's Parma in his club career.

In their Group D opener, Bulgaria were beaten by group winners Nigeria 3-0.

However, Bulgaria bagged the last 16 ticket after winning against Greece and Argentina, who last won the World Cup in 1986.

Bulgaria then eliminated Mexico on penalties, and stunned Germany 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Their run, however, was halted by Italy in the semifinals.

A 2-1 defeat against Italy sent Bulgaria to the third-place playoff in the USA 1994, where Sweden hammered Bulgaria 4-0.

Bulgaria were fourth in the tournament, their best so far, but they were appreciated for their performance.

Bulgaria last appeared in the 1998 World Cup but they were unable to repeat their success in the US.

- Croatia take bronze in World Cup debut

The 1998 World Cup in France is remembered as a tournament in which several nations, including Croatia, made their debut.

It was Croatia's first World Cup as an independent nation.

Croatia were among the UEFA EURO 1996 participants but the country was part of Yugoslavia in the previous years.

With several key players in the squad – such as Davor Suker, Slaven Bilic, and Zvonimir Boban, Croatia qualified for the last 16 behind Group H winners Argentina.

In the group stage, Croatia beat Jamaica and Japan but lost to Argentina in the last match of this stage. Meanwhile, Argentina won all their three matches to win the group.

Croatians eliminated Romania 1-0 and Germany 3-0, respectively, on their way to the semifinals.

But France, the 1998 champions, beat Croatia 2-1 in the semifinals at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Miroslav Blazevic's men upset the Netherlands 2-1 to come third in the France 1998, returning home with a bronze medal.

Like Croatia, Suker, the team's main goal threat, experienced a successful tournament during the France 1998.

Suker, a former Real Madrid and Arsenal forward, was awarded the Golden Boot after scoring six goals in seven World Cup matches in France.

- Türkiye, S. Korea secure 3-4 finish in 2002

South Korea were the 2002 World Cup's co-hosts with Japan to have automatic qualification for the tournament.

But the Asian team usually compete in the World Cup finals. From 1986 to 2022, South Korea appeared in all 10 World Cups.

In 2002, South Korea came fourth after losing the third-place playoff against Türkiye 3-2. It was still a significant victory for the Asian nation.

A World Cup qualification is a rare habit for Türkiye as the European football nation only played in the 1954 World Cup before its 2002 edition.

In South Korea and Japan 2002, Türkiye qualified for the last 16 after finishing second in their group won by Brazil.

Türkiye lost to Brazil 2-1, drew with Costa Rica 1-1, and beat China 3-0 to proceed to the knockout stage.

The Crescent Stars eliminated hosts Japan 1-0 in the Round of 16, then beat Senegal in the quarterfinals with a golden goal scored by Ilhan Mansiz.

Extra-time striker Mansiz scored to send Türkiye to the World Cup semis. It was among the memorable golden goals in the competition.

However, Brazil ended Türkiye's World Cup dreams with a 1-0 win. Ronaldo scored the winning goal to take Brazil to the final stage.

Türkiye beat South Korea 3-2 to win a bronze medal.

Hosts South Korea won their group after beating Poland and Portugal and drawing with the US.

Dutch head coach Guus Hiddink's men stunned Italy 2-1 in the last 16 after Ahn Jung-hwan's golden goal.

In the quarterfinals, South Korea beat Spain on penalties to carry on their heroic run, but Germany toppled South Korea 1-0 to send the hosts to the third-place game that they lost to Türkiye.

Ronaldo-led Brazil won the 2002 World Cup with a 2-0 victory against Germany in the final.

- Brave Morocco reach semifinals in Qatar 2022

The ongoing 2022 World Cup has also seen many failures of big teams.

Several title contenders such as record holders Brazil and Europe's England, Spain, Germany, and Portugal were no more in the tournament.

But Morocco, an underdog in Qatar, survived and reached the semifinal stage to amaze the globe.

Morocco played in six World Cup tournaments – 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, and 2022. They have so far done their best in Qatar 2022.

The Atlas Lions unexpectedly won Group F after they shocked 2018 bronze medalists Belgium 2-0 and beat Canada 2-1.

Morocco had a goalless draw with Croatia, who ended the group phase in a second position to join them in the last 16.

The Atlas Lions went on to roar in the latter stages as Morocco eliminated 2010 champions Spain on penalties in the Round of 16, and then knocked Portugal out of the Qatar 2022 with a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals.

In the 2022 semifinals, Morocco have another difficult task as they will play against defending champions France on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

Before the France vs. Morocco clash, Argentina will face 2018 runners-up Croatia at Al Daayen's Lusail Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The losers will vie for a bronze medal for consolation on Saturday, and the final will be held on Sunday.