From Greece's Euro triumph to Saudi Arabia's World Cup match win, these historic moments remind us that in sports, the impossible becomes reality, leaving fans and players alike in awe.
We have heard people saying, “Cricket me kuch bhi ho sakta hai.” Let’s extend this to a broader sense and say anything can happen in sports, and not just in cricket. It's a statement echoing the unpredictability of athletic contests. There are moments when the most unexpected contenders and teams emerge victorious. Certainties crumble, and surprises steal the spotlight. The script flips, catching everyone off guard. Sometimes, it is hurtful for the supporters of the team who loose unexpectedly. Let us talk about some underdog unexpected wins in the history of sports.
Greece clinched an unexpected triumph in the UEFA Euro (primary association football tournament) 2004 Final against Portugal at Luz Stadium on July 4, 2004, lifting the trophy despite being considered underdogs in the tournament. Despite lacking renowned players and employing a defensive strategy, Otto Rehaggel's team surprised everyone by securing victories over Spain, Czech Republic, and France in the knockout stages. Their extraordinary journey culminated in a fairy-tale 1-0 win against Portugal, with Angelos Charisteas scoring the decisive goal, marking one of soccer's most remarkable displays by a team in history. This momentous achievement defied all odds and solidified Greece's place in football history.
During the Semifinal clash at Qizhong Stadium on October 14, 2017, in Shanghai, China, Roger Federer faced an unexpected challenge against Juan Martin del Potro. Federer, eyeing his sixth consecutive US Open title, was surprisingly defeated by the Argentine, seeded sixth at the time. Despite being the crowd favourite, Federer couldn't anticipate del Potro's relentless push, resulting in a five-set match that ended in del Potro's favour, claiming the final set at 6-2. This upset marked a turning point for Federer, leading to a series of less successful tournament outcomes with only one Slam championship victory. The remarkable nature of del Potro's victory over Federer, coupled with his own subsequent inability to secure another major title, continues to astound fans and remains a memorable event in tennis history.
In the 2013 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Wigan, the odds heavily favored the star-studded City squad despite their prior loss of the league title to Manchester United. With notable players like Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, and David Silva, City stood as the expected victors against the underdog Wigan. However, in classic FA Cup fashion, Wigan's spirited performance eclipsed City's dominance that day. Despite City's star power, Wigan's fervor on the field remained evident. City struggled throughout the game and survived mainly due to Wigan's missed opportunities. Ultimately, Wigan's perseverance paid off when Ben Watson's stoppage-time goal secured their victory, defying expectations and etching a memorable triumph in FA Cup history
Mike Tyson's dominance in the ring during his prime was undeniable, consistently delivering knockouts to his opponents. His bout against Buster Douglas carried overwhelming predictions of an easy victory for Tyson, with odds against Douglas soaring over 50-1. Yet, the unforeseen unfolded when Buster Douglas, seemingly out of the shadows, stunned the world by knocking Tyson out cold and claiming the world championship. Despite being considered a massive underdog at 42-to-1 odds, Douglas achieved the unthinkable, sealing his victory with a single decisive blow against his formidable opponent.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, everyone wondered about Saudi Arabia's odds against Argentina. Despite Argentina's disallowed goals and an early penalty by Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia turned the tables in the second half. They leveled the score through Salman Al-Faraj and then took the lead with a goal by captain Salem Al-Dawsari, pulling off what's likely the biggest upset of the twenty-first century in the World Cup.
