Morocco is undoubtedly the great surprise of the World Cup in Qatar, a semifinalist against all odds. The Maghrebis have slipped into the select group of teams that have made history in a World Cup event far from the spotlight, making their players go from being mere troupes in the tournament, awaiting irremediable elimination, to becoming heroes. That same feeling was once experienced by other footballers from countries that have not enjoyed football glory. These are the most prominent:
Modern Croatia has barely existed since the 1990s, following the Balkan War, and in just two decades its soccer team has reached the semifinals of a World Cup three times, the last time in Qatar. The Sukers, Boban and company surprised the world in the 1998 edition, where they eliminated Germany in the quarterfinals (0-3) and only the hosts France (2-1) barred them from reaching the final. They consoled themselves with a third place (they beat the Netherlands) that was celebrated in style on the streets of Zagreb.
Twenty years after that magnificent Croatian generation, he took over in the team led by Modric and Rakitic, who in the previous World Cup in Russia reached a new milestone by sneaking into the final after beating England in the semifinals (2-1). France, once again, ultimately separated them from the champions' trophy (4-2). Now, in Qatar, their presence in the semifinals is no longer a surprise, especially after beating Brazil in the quarterfinals, although they were not in the group of favorites before the championship.
In their second participation in a World Cup and the first since 1954, the Turkish team won a creditable third place in the 2002 edition in Korea and Japan. The Turks began the championship by losing in the group stage against Brazil, which would ultimately be their executioner in the semifinals, where they lost with a solitary goal from Ronaldo. That Ottoman team, executioner in the round of 16 against Japan (0-1) and in the quarterfinals against Senegal (0-1), was led by Hakan Sukur, who scored the fastest goal in the consolation game against South Korea (2-3) of the World Cups at 11 seconds.
The hostess was a prophet in her land, although her success was shrouded in controversy. The Asians were able to eliminate Italy in the round of 16 after extra time (2-1) and Spain in the quarterfinals on penalties, but both Italians and Spaniards complained bitterly about the refereeing. In the case of 'la roja', the most controversial action was a disallowed goal for Morientes when both the linesman and the referee, the Egyptian Al Ghandour, determined that the ball had crossed the end line before Joaquín's cross, which later he missed the decisive shot in the penalty shootout. In the repetition it was observed that not even a part of the ball had passed the margins of the field of play. Korea subsequently lost in the semifinals to Germany (1-0) and was again defeated by third place against Turkey (2-3).
The Bulgarian team took advantage of the best batch of players in its history, led by Stoichkov, to reach the only semifinals in its history at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The former Barça player propelled the Eastern European team with seven goals, who beat Germany in the quarterfinals (2-1) but in the semifinals they were defeated by Italy (1-2). In the match for third place, far from their best version, they were thrashed by the also surprising Sweden (4-0). Bulgaria has not participated in a World Cup since 1998.
The 1986 World Cup in Mexico will always be remembered for the triumph of Argentina and the role of Diego Armando Maradona, but in the background the Belgium team shone, with Gerets, Ceulemans and Claesen as outstanding players. The Belgians, who until then had only reached the round of 16 in 1934, reached the semifinals after beating the Soviet Union after extra time (4-3) and Spain on penalties. The albiceleste, with two goals from 'Pelusa', beat them in the semifinals (2-0) and finally finished fourth after losing in extra time against Platini's France (4-2).
Brazil reached the 1974 edition in Germany as world champion and after practicing what for many is the best football in history, but in German lands, without Pelé, they fell before the final and with a sad fourth place after losing against Poland (1-0), which was the revelation of the tournament. The Poles began their journey in the World Cup by beating Argentina (3-2) and Italy (2-1) in the first phase. In the second round, also in a league format and the two finalists were already decided, only Germany, with a single goal from 'Torpedo' Müller', kept them out of the final against the Netherlands. They retaliated in the consolation match by beating the Brazilians and achieving third position with a goal from Lato, who finished as the top scorer with 7 goals.
The great feat of the Czechs, at that time Czechoslovakia (annexed with Slovakia), was in the 1962 World Cup in Chile thanks in large part to its star, Josef Masopust, who won the Ballon d'Or that year. The Central Europeans started the tournament beating Spain (1-0), made up mostly of a Madrid that had dominated Europe, and then they drew 0-0 against Brazil, who lost Pelé due to injury in that game. The Brazilians and the Czechs met again in the final, but this time the Canarinha won (3-1) without O Rei starting. Czechoslovakia had defeated the powerful Hungary (1-0) in the quarterfinals, Yugoslavia (3-1) in the semifinals and in the title game they dreamed of being champions with Masopust's opening goal.
60 years ago Chilean soccer experienced its most resounding success. In nine participations in World Cups, he has not passed in five of the group stage and in three he fell in the round of 16, but in the 1962 edition, held in his country, he finished in third place. The tournament began in a particularly difficult group in which they beat Italy (2-0), eliminated with that defeat, and in the quarterfinals they beat the extinct Soviet Union (1-2). Pelé's Brazil prevented them from reaching the final (4-2) and in the consolation match they beat the defunct Yugoslavia (1-0), which had previously reached the semifinals for the second time.
The Americans do not have a soccer culture and yet they surprised the world in the first edition of a World Cup, held in 1930 in Uruguay. The North Americans passed the group stage as first after beating both Paraguay and Belgium 3-0. In addition, Patenaude had the honor of scoring the first hat-trick in history in a World Cup, against the Belgians. In the semifinals, which was the next round at that time (there were only 13 participants), they were thrashed by Argentina (6-1).
