[Other Sport] The Biggest Shock in Sports History

[stewart12]

Denmark 1992 because they hadn't qualified for the finals and only came in when Yugoslavia were thrown out.

Denmark were actually a fairly good side though, the Euro's was only 8 teams back then so not qualifying wasn't as big a deal as it would be now for example

 

[stewart12]

Greece winning in 2004 was outrageous. They'd only scored 1 goal previously at European Championships. They qualified from a group containing Portugal, Spain and Russia before knocking out France- who were WC runners up 2 years later, and a really really good Czech side.

They then beat the hosts Portugal who had many of the Porto side that won the CL that year, plus Figo, Ronaldo etc.

And they did it all with having about 3 shots on target all tournament

 

[Easy 10]

I voted for Japan beating South Africa, absolutely magical moment when they went over the line, and the place erupted.
So lucky to have witnessed that, and have a beer in my seat, I will never forget that day.

I dunno if its the biggest shock in sporting history, but magical is exactly the word for it. The clock on 0.00, the final play of the match, they could have drop-kicked a goal and drawn the game, but instead they relentlessly and so skillfully kept the move going until they got over the line. Brilliant.

I was watching it in the Font & Firkin in the Lanes and went mad, and I'm not even that fussed about eggchasing.

 

[Greeko]

Has to be Leicester they were 5000/1 at the start of the season to win the league none of the other sporting shocks come close to that

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

NY Giants beating the juggernaut that was the New England Patriots in Superbowl XLII.

Tom Bradys Patriots were undefeated on the year, had set multiple NFL records along the way, while the Giants were 10-6 on the regular season, and had to battle through the playoffs without playing a single game at home. New England should've won easily & made NFL history, but the Giants sneaked it 17-14.

My mates brother played that game, and was the one who broke up Tom Bradys 'Hail Mary' pass on 4th & 20 to seal the game for NY.

 

[el punal]

BHAFC 0 Leatherhead 1

BHAFC 0 Walton & Hersham 4



In more recent times

ROI 3 France 1 (Womens Euro qualifier. France ranked 2nd in world. ROI ranked 25th)

Oh thanks for that! I’ve spent the last 50 plus years trying to erase from my memory those two Albion games and the 8-2 stuffing by Bristol Rovers. But no, you have to bring it all back.

 

[MJsGhost]

How about Sri Lanka winning the cricket WC in '96?

They beat India (in Delhi) in the group stage, England in the quarters, then India again in the semi.

107 from Aravinda de Silva (what a player he was) helped see off the Aussies by 7 wickets and with about 4 overs to spare.

It's sad to see the demise of Sri Lankan cricket now

 

[Toongull]

I went for Emma Radacanu as it came completely out the blue and she’ll never come close again to winning another one.

As improbable Leicester’s title was it could happen again.

 

[kevo]

I think the USA win over England in 1950 has to be the greatest shock single result. The USA team were literally a bunch of hastily-assembled college kids. England at the time were regarded as the best team in the world. I read somewhere that England hit the woodwork THIRTEEN times during the game! When the result appeared in the papers, a lot of people thought it was a typo - and the score was actually England 10, USA 1.

 

[Giraffe]

Cameroon beating Argentina?

 

[kevo]

Cameroon beating Argentina?

Nowhere near as much as a shock as USA beating England in 1950.

 

[MJsGhost]

Nowhere near as much as a shock as USA beating England in 1950.

Indeed. Probably not even Argentina's biggest shock defeat... I'd say the defeat to Saudi Arabia in Qatar was bigger.

North Korea beating Italy in '66 was also HUGE

 

[A1X]

I feel like there's a difference between a shock over a competition (e.g Leicester / Greece / Raducanu) where momentum builds over days / weeks / months, and a single one-off "any given day" type shock (e.g. Wigan beat Man City in the cup final / Miracle at Medinah) and judging the two against one another is tough.

Obviously the biggest upset on paper has to be Leicester, it's a phenomenal achievement which will probably (sadly) never be beaten.

As a one-off, it's a much tougher field. I'd also throw in Ireland beating England at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, for example.

 

[keaton]

Greece win, as i recall they were quite shit, relied on bus parking and occasional long ball to 1 upfront, got lucky enough times.

So like France, England and Portugal for the last 8 years?

 

[jrbha]

It has to be Leicester. A lot of the events listed took place in one off scenarios or with significantly fewer matches and therefore variables. A small element of luck can have a big impact in competitions like that whereas over the course of 38 matches luck plays a much smaller part. Not like they stumbled over the line either, they ended up winning it by 10 points!

An honourable mention should go to India's win in Australia in 2021. Bowled out for 36 in the first test and coming back to win 1-2 with a decimated squad. Arguably a watershed moment in cricketing history cementing India as the dominant force on and off the pitch, and yes I'm well aware their white ball teams have underachieved in World Cups for years.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Those chaps from Australia beating England at cricket. I seem to recall a few wags got together, burnt some bails and offered up the ensuing ashes to symbolise the death of cricket. All rather unsettling, what?

 

[Pavilionaire]

A huge one that hasn't got a mention yet is 17-year old Boris Becker winning Wimbledon in 1985.

This is an era of tennis that included such greats as McEnroe, Lendl, Connors, Wilander, Cash and Edberg.

The kid came from nowhere, he was fresh and exciting but also - confusingly - German.

I would argue it was a bigger shock than Raducanu at the US Open because of the quality of the field he was facing. There, fellow finalise Leylah Fernandez has since only reached one Slam singles QF in 10 attempts.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

I think amateur club Calais getting to the French cup final in 2000 is worth a mention.

 

[5Ways Gull]

Those chaps from Australia beating England at cricket. I seem to recall a few wags got together, burnt some bails and offered up the ensuing ashes to symbolise the death of cricket. All rather unsettling, what?

I actually think Headingly '81 is worth amention.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

I actually think Headingly '81 is worth amention.

Yes and no. It was a tremendous and legendary come back certainly, but if you asked before the game would England winning a game of cricket against Australia be the most shocking event ever then, no.

Maybe there should be categories here? The most shocking single match victory, the most shocking league or series win, the most shocking knockout Cup win. And maybe the most shocking come back (where beefy and co come in as strong contenders)?