Argentina received the 2022 World Cup regardless of dropping their opening match in Qatar. Likewise Spain at South Africa 2010.
Being crushed within the World Cup is just not the identical as getting knocked out. On the flipside, remaining unbeaten can be not a assure of success.
Fairly a couple of nationwide groups have remained undefeated en path to the trophy. Others have been eradicated with out dropping.
Right here, a take a look at the groups that went unbeaten at a males’s World Cup and the way they bought on…
* Signifies an undefeated staff knocked out on penalties
19. Republic of Eire (2002*)
Robbie Keane celebrates his late equaliser for the Republic of Eire towards Germany on the 2002 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Regardless of Roy Keane’s controversial exit on the eve of the match, the Republic of Eire impressed on the 2002 World Cup.
The Boys in Inexperienced drew with Cameroon and Germany earlier than beating Saudi Arabia to seal second spot in Group E. Within the final 16, Robbie Keane’s late leveller pressured additional time towards Spain, however Mick McCarthy’s facet went on to lose 3-2 within the shootout.
18. Switzerland (2006*)
Switzerland gamers throughout their staff’s penalty shootout towards Ukraine on the 2006 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
After a goalless draw towards France of their opening recreation on the 2006 World Cup, Switzerland beat Togo and South Korea to advance to the final 16 as group winners.
However the Swiss had been unable to take the following step, dropping out on penalties to Ukraine in a shootout after a 0-0 attract Cologne.
17. Denmark (2018*)
Denmark in motion towards Croatia on the 2018 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
After beating Peru, Denmark drew with Australia and France to complete second behind Les Bleus in Group C on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Danes went on to attract 1-1 with Croatia within the final 16, however had been edged out 3-2 by the eventual finalists in a penalty shootout in Nizhny Novgorod.
16. Costa Rica (2014*)
Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz celebrates a aim towards Italy on the 2014 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Costa Rica topped a bunch additionally that includes Uruguay, Italy and England on the 2014 World Cup, advancing to the final 16 with two wins and a draw.
The Central Individuals then beat Greece on penalties following a 1-1 attract Recife, however misplaced in a shootout to the Netherlands within the final eight following a goalless recreation in Salvador.
15. Mexico (1986*)
Mexico in motion towards West Germany on the 1986 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Mexico beat Belgium and Iraq and drew with Paraguay to high their group on the 1986 World Cup and superior to the quarter-finals after a 2-0 win over Bulgaria.
Within the final eight, the hosts drew 0-0 with West Germany, however ended up dropping out to the eventual finalists in a 4-1 defeat on penalties on the Estadio Azteca.
14. Netherlands (2014* and 2022*)
Netherlands gamers react to defeat on penalties towards Argentina within the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The Netherlands reached the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, finally dropping out to Argentina on penalties within the final 4.
Louis van Gaal’s facet had been in any other case undefeated and went on to beat hosts Brazil within the third place play-off. And in 2022, with Van Gaal again in cost for a 3rd spell, and a second World Cup marketing campaign, the Dutch misplaced solely on penalties as soon as extra – once more towards Argentina.
13. Spain (2002* and 2018*)
Spain in motion towards Russia on the 2018 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Spain received the World Cup in 2010, however La Roja misplaced their opening match in South Africa to Switzerland.
Unbeaten in regulation time within the 2002 and 2018 World Cups, Spain had been eradicated on penalties in these tournaments by South Korea and Russia, respectively.
12. Austria (1938)
Austria and Hungary in motion in a pleasant match, circa 1930. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Austria withdrew from the 1938 World Cup as a result of Anschluss, the nation’s annexation into the German Reich in March of that 12 months.
That noticed Sweden given a bye to the quarter-finals and Austria subsequently went out with out defeat, though technically the nation had not competed in any respect.
11. Belgium (1998)
Belgium (in pink) in motion towards Mexico on the 1998 World Cup in France. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Belgium went out within the first spherical of the 1998 World Cup in France, regardless of not dropping any of their three matches.
The Crimson Devils completed third in Group E after attracts towards the Netherlands, Mexico and South Korea left them two factors behind the Dutch and El Tri.
10. New Zealand (2010)
New Zealand’s Winston Reid celebrates after scoring towards Slovakia on the 2010 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Just one staff went unbeaten on the 2010 World Cup and it was not champions Spain, however unfancied New Zealand.
The All Whites bowed out within the group phases after attracts towards Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay noticed them end in third place in Group F because the Azzurri got here in final.
9. Cameroon (1982)
Cameroon in motion towards Italy on the 1982 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Cameroon appeared on the World Cup for the primary time in 1982 – and the Indomitable Lions had been knocked out of the match with out dropping a match.
After goalless video games towards Peru and Poland, Cameroon drew 1-1 with Italy and the African facet had been edged out on objectives scored by the eventual champions.
8. Scotland (1974)
Scotland’s Kenny Dalglish takes a shot in a recreation towards Brazil on the 1974 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Scotland have by no means made it to the knockout phases of a significant match – however the Tartan Military did go unbeaten on the 1974 World Cup.
The Scots drew with Yugoslavia and Brazil and beat Zaire 3-0, however went out on aim distinction as three groups completed on 4 factors.
7. Argentina (1986 and 2006*)
Diego Maradona celebrates with team-mates and followers after Argentina’s World Cup closing win over West Germany on the Estadio Azteca in June 1986. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Argentina received the World Cup for a second time in 1986 as Diego Maradona led the Albiceleste to victory in Mexico, famously beating England within the quarter-finals and edging out West Germany 3-2 within the closing on the Estadio Azteca.
Unbeaten in that marketing campaign, Argentina additionally received the trophy in 1978 on house soil and in Qatar in 2022, however misplaced to Italy within the group phases of the primary match and surprisingly went all the way down to Saudi Arabia of their opening recreation on the latter. In 2006, José Pekerman’s in any other case unbeaten facet went out on penalties to hosts Germany.
6. England (1966, 1982 and 2006*)
England captain Bobby Moore kisses the Jules Rimet trophy after the Three Lions’ victory over West Germany within the 1966 World Cup closing. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
England received the 1966 World Cup on house soil, beating West Germany 4-2 within the closing after additional time to assert the trophy at Wembley.
The Three Lions went unbeaten by means of the match and likewise remained undefeated in 1982, edged out by West Germany after back-to-back attracts within the second group stage. In 2006, the Three Lions misplaced solely on penalties to Portugal within the final eight.
5. France (1998, 2006* and 2018)
France gamers rejoice with the World Cup trophy after victory within the closing towards Croatia in July 2018. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
France’s first World Cup win got here on house soil in 1998 and Les Bleus went unbeaten en path to the title, claiming the trophy in some fashion with a 3-0 victory over Brazil within the closing.
In 2018, Didier Deschamps’ facet additionally went unbeaten, taking the trophy once more with a 4-2 win over Croatia within the closing in Moscow. And in 2006, France had been edged out on penalties by Italy within the closing in an in any other case undefeated marketing campaign.
4. Uruguay (1930 and 1950)
Uruguay captain Obdulio Varela receives the World Cup trophy from Jules Rimet after the nation’s shock win over Brazil on the Maracana in July 1950. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Olympic champions in 1924 and 1928, Uruguay received the inaugural World Cup on house soil in 1930, beating South American rivals Argentina 4-2 within the closing.
And in 1950, the Celeste famously upset Brazil, beating the hosts 2-1 within the match’s decisive match on the Maracanã to assert the trophy – as soon as once more with out dropping a recreation.
3. Germany (1990 and 2014)
Germany gamers rejoice their World Cup closing win towards Argentina in July 2014. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
West Germany received the World Cup for a 3rd time in 1990 and, in contrast to of their 1954 and 1974 triumphs, Die Mannschaft claimed the trophy with out defeat on this event.
It was the nation’s final World Cup as West Germany and as a unified nation, Germany took the trophy once more at Brazil in 2014, edging out Argentina after additional time within the closing following an unbelievable 7-1 win over the hosts in an undefeated marketing campaign.
2. Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 1990*, 1998* and 2006)
Italy gamers and coach Marcello Lippi rejoice with the trophy after their World Cup closing win over France on penalties in July 2006. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
All 4 of Italy’s World Cup wins – in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 – featured unbeaten campaigns for the Azzurri.
Italy beat Czechoslovakia after additional time within the 1934 closing, overcame Hungary to retain the trophy 4 years later, defeated West Germany within the 1982 showpiece and edged out France on penalties in 2006. The Azzurri misplaced solely on penalties within the 1990 and 1998 World Cups.
1. Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1978, 1986*, 1994 and 2002)
Rivaldo holds the trophy aloft as Brazil gamers rejoice their World Cup closing win over Germany in June 2002. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Brazil are five-time World Cup winners and the South Individuals have gone unbeaten in every of their match victories – in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
On the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Brazil had been edged out within the second group section on aim distinction by the hosts, regardless of not dropping a match. Cláudio Coutinho’s facet went on to beat Italy within the third place play-off. And in 1986, Telê Santana’s facet misplaced solely on penalties to France.
