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Best WC teams not to get out of group

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    Best WC teams not to get out of group

    Which teams in the World Cup have been good but have not gone past the group stage?

    It has often been the case that who qualifies from the group is not decided until the final round of group matches, and that teams have narrowly missed out on going through by goal difference, etc.

    Are there any cases of excellent teams who played good stuff, but somehow did not get through the group?

    #2
    Well, Algeria were famously robbed by the West Germany-Austria stitch-up in 1982, having beaten the former.

    In the same tournament, Hungary won their first game 10-1 but didn't qualify, and Cameroon went out undefeated including a draw with the eventual World Champions.

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      #3
      Shouldn't this be in the World Cup forum?

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        #4
        Ivory Coast in 2006, pig of a group, surely played well enough to have qualified from any of the others. Not so much in 2010 when they were archiects of their own downfall, then in 2014 they fucked up the easiest group imaginable

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          #5
          I would think it would be a team from a 16 team World Cup, therefore probably France 1978 or Scotland 1974.

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            #6
            1978: Italy, France, Argentina, Hungary. The strongest group in the history of the World Cup FACT FACT.

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              #7
              Brasil in 66 having had the shit kicked out of them.

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                #8
                Spain in 1998 were packed with talent as so often, were the better side in all three games, but wobbled at crucial moments against a strong Nigeria and couldn't bteak down an extremely solid Paraguay. Beating Bulgaria 6-1 in the last game was a reversion to the mean.

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                  #9
                  Algeria, definitely. Bloody shameful that.

                  I'll nominate Scotland in 1974 - okay, they scuppered themselves by failing to put Zaire to the sword, but they looked the better side for much of the matches against both Brazil and Yugoslavia. I think Willie Ormond's mob were the first-ever eliminated from a tournament undefeated - and indeed the only unbeaten side in 1974.

                  As tee rex suggests, France were very unfortunate in 1978.

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                    #10
                    South Africa in 2002. Level on points, level on goal difference, level on head to head, knocked out on goals for.

                    Even worse for Senegal in 2018. Level on points, level on goal difference, level on head to head, level on goals scored, knocked out on fair play points.

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                      #11
                      Egil Olsen's Norway in 1994 must be the best from the 24 team, best third placers era. But somehow failing to inspire much sympathy

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                        #12
                        Watching that team (as I did twice live) caused one to pine for a root canal

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                          #13
                          Just seen that there's an Ireland v Norway rematch tonight at the Aviva, what a game, what memories

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                            #14
                            One of the two.

                            I still have flashbacks.

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                              #15
                              Much made of their 74 & 78 exploits but Scotland were damned unlucky in 82 as well. Turned over NZ, took the lead briefly against that awesome Brazilian side and a were a defensive calamity away from beating the Soviet Union. Their group in 86 is surely one of the toughest groups of all time.

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                                #16
                                Originally posted by Nesta View Post
                                Just seen that there's an Ireland v Norway rematch tonight at the Aviva, what a game, what memories
                                The amazing thing about that tournament's Ireland team is that they strung together one of the greatest pieces of passing football ever pulled off by an Ireland team, against international football's greatest defence. From a position of pressing high up the field. It was Barca 2011 stuff. Just a shame it hit the crossbar. If it had gone in it would have been goal of the tournament. From 1:26:25 in the clip below. Jack Charlton was working with some very good footballers.

                                Last edited by anton pulisov; 17-11-2022, 13:56.

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                                  #17
                                  Just noticed that there is a MOTD "Best Teams That Didn't Win the World Cup" programme on iPlayer.

                                  I like these programmes, cringey bantz notwithstanding.

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                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by Foot of Astaire's View Post
                                    Much made of their 74 & 78 exploits but Scotland were damned unlucky in 82 as well. Turned over NZ, took the lead briefly against that awesome Brazilian side and a were a defensive calamity away from beating the Soviet Union. Their group in 86 is surely one of the toughest groups of all time.
                                    Had 1982 followed the format of all subsequent 24 tournaments, Scotland would have qualified as one of the best third placed sides (alongside Algeria, Hungary and Yugoslavia). Assuming that the last 16 was drawn on the same basis as the 1986 to 1994 tournaments, Scotland would have gone onto meet England in the next round.

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                                      #19
                                      Could you post all the brackets? When would Brazil and Italy have met?

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                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by Foot of Astaire's View Post
                                        Much made of their 74 & 78 exploits but Scotland were damned unlucky in 82 as well. Turned over NZ, took the lead briefly against that awesome Brazilian side and a were a defensive calamity away from beating the Soviet Union. Their group in 86 is surely one of the toughest groups of all time.
                                        That a brave call for a 1986 group that saw 2 of the 3 qualifiers exit in very next round-the Danes by 5-1 however much they were best team for most of first half. In actual terms of overall progress Group B saw Mexico & Belgium both reach quarter finals with Belgium going one stage further.

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                                          #21
                                          Morocco 1998 - unlucky to only draw with an outclassed Norway, lost to Brazil, thrashed Scotland but went out anyway as Brazil (who'd already won the group) phoned in their last game against Norway and lost 2-1.

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                                            #22
                                            I make it


                                            Poland v Yugoslavia
                                            Austria v USSR

                                            Northern Ireland v France
                                            Belgium v Algeria

                                            England v Scotland
                                            Italy v Argentina

                                            West Germany v Hungary
                                            Brazil v Spain

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                                              #23
                                              Originally posted by lackedpunch View Post
                                              Just noticed that there is a MOTD "Best Teams That Didn't Win the World Cup" programme on iPlayer.

                                              I like these programmes, cringey bantz notwithstanding.
                                              Hungary 1954 seem to be acknowledged as the leading candidate for that unwanted title. Brazil 1950 also get plenty of mentions. Of the tournaments I have seen Brazil 1982 is the standout though appreciate many feel Holland the best team in 1974 & 1978 and South Korea in 2002.



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                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by Southport Zeb View Post

                                                Had 1982 followed the format of all subsequent 24 tournaments, Scotland would have qualified as one of the best third placed sides (alongside Algeria, Hungary and Yugoslavia). Assuming that the last 16 was drawn on the same basis as the 1986 to 1994 tournaments, Scotland would have gone onto meet England in the next round.
                                                Can see how the the four best placed third sides of 1982 have been arrived at. But not yet grasped how the tournament format 1986-1994 would have guaranteed England Scotland match up in next round.

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                                                  #25
                                                  Hungary 1954 were the team that was most superior to the rest of the world. Holland 1974 were tactically miles above any team that had gone before but were probably level with West Germany in that tournament. I'm just not convinced by Brazil 82, given that it had a joke keeper and a malfunctioning centre forward, and Junior was really poor at defending. I think France 1982-86 have a stronger case.

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