Six sips of Cup heartbreaks

Still, it was a marauding Spanish Armada that routed Bulgaria in that do-or-die battle at Lens, only to see theirs sails fold up towards the end. The second-ranked team in the world learnt that Paraguay, who had not scored any in the two games, had pumped three past a complacent but comfortbale Nigeria.

Scotland have seen it all, as always. This time there was a slight twist to the tale. The Scots, the World Cup’s biggest groupies, were at the receiving endof a desperate Moroccan team who threw everything in attack to notch up a stylish 3-0 win.

But then, Norway suddenly chose to throw their recent World Cup history out of the window and opted to keep their record against Brazil straight. So the tallest team who always appeared short on ambition, came from behind to upset a Brazilian side that played more with a sharp sense of smugness than achievement. The Moroccans, who had earlier drawn with the Norwegians had to go, even if they did claiming that the match-winning penalty which Rekdal put across was a result of an American conspiracy against them.

Here are other tales of woe

Spain are not the first team to go out after winning 6-1. In 1958, Czechoslovakia were given no chance against Argentina having thrown away a 2-0 lead against the holders West Germany while their opponents had just beaten Northern Ireland 3-1. In the event, Czechoslovakia inflicted the heaviest defeat Argentina have ever suffered, the speed of their forwards destroying anold-fashioned defence. Unfortunately for the Czechs, Northern Ireland surprised everyone by holding West Germany to a 2-2 draw, forcing a play-off which the Czechs lost in extra time after having a player sent off.

Scotland had gone to Argentina as one of the favourites, highly rated by respected coaches such as Rinus Michels and Miljan Miljanic, and their chances trumpeted by their vociferous manager, Ally MacLeod. They began with two famously dreadful performances, losing 1-3 to Peru and drawing with Iran. But against the talented Dutch we were suddenly reminded that Jekyll and Hyde was written by a Scot. Needing to win by three goals, they went a goal down, but Kenny Dalglish equalised, and when Archie Gemmill dribbled through for one of the great World Cup goals to make it 3-1 they needed only one more to qualify. Holland scored instead, and the Scots were out. It was the last time anything was expected of them in the World Cup.

After squandering chances in a goalless draw with Brazil, the Spaniardswere worthy winners against the tough Swedes and would have gone through if Austria, who’d won their first two matches, could draw with Brazil, who hadn’t won either of theirs. Unfortunately for the Spanish, Brazil ground their way to a 1-0 win, eventually coming within a match of the final. Spain were even more of a disappointment in the World Cup held at home four years later.

Before this game Algeria had sprung one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history, beating the reigning European champions West Germany 2-1. Against Chile they led 3-0 at half time, thanks to the skills of Lakhdar Belloumi and Rabah Madjer, but the two goals they conceded in the second half cost them dearly. They were eliminated when West Germany defeated an Austrian team that made no effort to win. Convinced that there had been colusion, Algerian fans waved banknotes through the wire fencing in tearful fury, and had to suffer watching the Germans reach the final.

In 1982, the resilience of the Irish upset yet anothercountry’s progress. Yugoslavia, the surprise packet of the group, defeated Honduras with a controversial penalty three minutes from time and seemed to have done enough to go through. But the following day Northern Ireland caused the shock of the tournament by beating hosts Spain thanks to a Gerry Armstrong goal, and despite having Mal Donaghy sent off. Yugoslavia were out, and didn’t even reach the finals of the 1986 tournament.

Another example of a 6-1 scoreline being in vain. Against Cameroon, Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored five times, a World Cup record. But Russia had lost their two previous group matches and were eliminated when Italy held on for a draw with Mexico. Salenko is the only player to finish as leading scorer despite playing for a team that didn’t reach the second round. The result bore an uncanny resemblance to events four years earlier, when the Soviet Union lost their first two matches before thrashing Cameroon 4-0.

Unfortunately, results elsewhere made them the first team to beeliminated.