Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

[G-Man]

Aside from the sides that were eliminated unbeaten in the group a stages, there aren't that many sides that have exited the World Cup unbeaten -- if you disregard a loss in a penalty shoot-out as a defeat. I count ten (or twelve) since the first penalty shootout in the World Cup in 1982.

Of course, if there is a penalty shoot-out in the semis, we might be able to add to this list

2014: Costa Rica (P5 W2 D3 L0)
2006: Argentina (P5 W3 D2 L0)
2006: England (P5 W3 D2 L0)
2006: Switzerland (P4 W2 D2 L0)
2002: Spain (P5 W3 D2 L0)
2002: Ireland (P4 W1 D3 L0)
1998: Italy (P5 W3 D2 L0)
1990: Italy (P7 W6 D1 L0)
1986: Brazil (P5 W4 D1 L0)
1986: Mexico (P5 W3 D2 L0)

Netherlands were undefeated in 1998 when the were beaten by Brazil in the semi on penalties, but they lost their third-place play-off to Croatia.

England in 1990 lost to Germany on penalties in the semis and to Italy in the third-place play-off. After 90 minutes, England won one, lost one, and drew FIVE!

[Janik]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

I can't imagine there are many who have gone out unbeaten in the group stage, either. New Zealand and ?
Back in the era of two points for a win and/or some third placed sides advancing, three draws would surely have seen you through.

You don't have to discount penalty shoot-out defeats for New Zealand, either, unlike those on your list. They were truly unbeaten in 2010, maybe the only non-winners ever who have been able to say that?

[Duncan Gardner]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Scotland were unbeaten in 1974.

[Janik]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Also Cameroon in 1982 and Belgium in 1998.
Scotland are the only team to have been unbeaten, won a game, and still been eliminated.

[G-Man]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Oh, all that was already dealt with HERE.

To recoup:

Sides eliminated without losing:

Four sides went out unbeaten, all but Scotland drew their three games: Scotland 1974, Cameroon 1982, Belgium 1998 and New Zealand 2010.

Ireland or Netherlands would have joined that list if not for the absurd third-placed sytstem.

England in 1958 finished second, having drawn all three games, but lost the play-off with third-placed USSR, who had won, drawn and lost their three games.

[SydneyToon]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

England went home unbeaten in 1982

[Borracho]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Italy in 1990 take some beating. Six wins, one draw, no defeats. Let in two goals in those seven games, and one was in the third-place play-off.

All very amusing at the time.

[Jah Womble]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

One might argue that France and India 'exited' the 1950 tournament undefeated, given that both withdrew citing travel issues.

[Geoffrey de Ste. Croix]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Jair Womble wrote: One might argue that France and India 'exited' the 1950 tournament undefeated, given that both withdrew citing travel issues.

You can add Scotland to that list as well. Having qualified for 1950, the SFA withdrew in one of the finest hissy fits in WC history.

[Jah Womble]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Yes, quite - however, India and France's withdrawals were made after the groups and fixtures had been drawn up (ie, just a month before the competition was due to begin). Inconsiderate b*stards.

[Gangster Octopus]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Janik wrote: Scotland are the only team to have been unbeaten, won a game, and still been eliminated.

SydneyToon wrote: England went home unbeaten in 1982

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

France themselves were invited (to 1950) to replace Turkey, who had also qualified (from a group involving Syria and Austria) but withdrew due to cost.

[Diable Rouge]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Geoffrey de Ste. Croix wrote:

One might argue that France and India 'exited' the 1950 tournament undefeated, given that both withdrew citing travel issues.

You can add Scotland to that list as well. Having qualified for 1950, the SFA withdrew in one of the finest hissy fits in WC history.

Ireland were invited to fill one of the 1950 vacancies, but declined, also citing the prohibitive travel costs.

[Satchmo Distel]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

It must be possible to go out of the qualifiers unbeaten, such as losing a play-off on penalties; or finishing second in a qualifying group with a lot of draws.

[G-Man]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Jair Womble wrote: Yes, quite - however, India and France's withdrawals were made after the groups and fixtures had been drawn up (ie, just a month before the competition was due to begin). Inconsiderate b*stards.

Surely by not showing up, all their games should be regarded as defeat by forfeit.

[Southport Zeb]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

satchmo76 wrote: It must be possible to go out of the qualifiers unbeaten, such as losing a play-off on penalties; or finishing second in a qualifying group with a lot of draws.

Israel managed to finish third in their group in the 2006 qualifiers without losing (four wins, six draws). They finished level on points with runners up Switzerland who had the same record. Group winners France were also unbeaten (five wins, five draws). Israel and Switzerland finished a point clear of Ireland, who won four, drew five and losing one. Bringing up the rear were Cyprus and the Faroe Islands who took points from each other but both otherwise lost all eight matches against the rest of the group.

[Jah Womble]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Surely by not showing up, all their games should be regarded as defeat by forfeit.

Good spot.

[N est à?]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Belgium were unbeaten in the 1974 qualifiers, in fact, they didn't concede a goal. Edged out on goal difference by their great friends and rivals, the Netherlands (and had a legit looking winner disallowed in the decisive match with them. I'm sure no-one is bitter though).

[blameless]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

The Belgians got their revenge by bouncing the Dutch from the Mexico 86 playoffs with goal 5 minutes from time.

[Satchmo Distel]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

There's also quite a few EC finals examples: Holland 1992; France, Spain and England in Euro 96

(one reason why the Euro 96 tournament felt unsatisfactory; nobody was crap but nobody was particlarly outstanding, so there was a lot of stalemate; the tournament felt like it was leveling down not leveling up; teams like France and Portugal arrived with good reputations but did very little without being necessarily poor).

[Southport Zeb]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

The complete list (I think!)

1970
Tunisia. Beat Algeria over two legs in their first tie then drew both legs against Morocco. A third match was also drawn, after which Morocco advanced on toss of a coin.

1974
Belgium. Level on points with Netherlands, behind on goal difference.
Colombia. Level on points with Uruguay, behind on goal difference.

1978
East Germany. One point behind Austria.
Morocco. Two draws in tie with Tunisia, lost on penalties.

1982
Somalia. Two draws in tie with Sierra Leone, lost on away goals.

1986
Tanzania. Two draws in tie with Sudan, lost on away goals.

1990
Honduras. Two draws in tie with Trinidad & Tobago, lost on away goals.

1994
Tunisia. Finished one point behind Morocco.
Syria. Finished level on points with Iraq in first group stage, behind on goal difference.

1998
St Kitts & Nevis. Defeated St Lucia before two draws in tie with St Vincent & Grenadines, lost on away goals.
Angola. Beat Uganda in first round tie before finishing four points behind Cameroon in final group.
Australia. Undefeated through Oceania section before two draws in playoff with Iran. Lost on away goals.

2002
Cuba. Beat Cayman Islands and Suriname in first two rounds before two draws with Barbados in third round, lost on penalties.
Bermuda. Beat British Virgin Islands before two draws in tie with Antigua & Barbuda, lost on away goals.
Kazakhstan. Finished level on points with Iraq in first group stage, behind on goal difference.

2006
Israel. Finished third in group behind France on points and behind Switzerland on goal difference.
Cuba. Beat Cayman Islands in first round before two draws in tie with Costa Rica, lost on away goals.
Morocco. One point behind Tunisia.

2010
British Virgin Islands. Two draws in tie with Bahamas, lost on away goals.

As far as I can see three teams have twice failed to qualify despite not losing a match. These are Morocco and Tunisia, who both lost out to the other on each occasion. The third is Cuba.

[Satchmo Distel]

Going out unbeaten in a World Cup

Awesome work