FIFA WC 2022: Where do the big upsets stand as Argentina & Germany left scratching heads?

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been nothing short of carnage for the big teams as Argentina and Germany have seen the castle of reputation collapse in round one.

Argentina on Tuesday (November 22) and then Germany on Wednesday have fallen victim to the giant-killers like Saudi Arabia and Japan respectively. So where do these big upsets lie in the history of the FIFA World Cup?

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia

While much talk before the tournament was about how Lionel Messi could win the tournament, the debate has now shifted to how his Argentina side can now stay in the competition. Tuesday’s upset will go down as one of the biggest in the history of the World Cup. A 2-1 win for Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium could have far-lasting consequences on the careers of big names like Messi and Angel Di Maria.

The defeat has left Argentina on the brink of elimination if they lose on Saturday against Mexico. The win just did not have effects on the South American side, but also saw joy erupt in the opposition camp. The excitement in the Saudi camp was so much so that the national government declared a public holiday on Wednesday to honor their national team. The upset indeed goes down as one of the biggest upsets that could see Messi end his career with no World Cup trophy in hand.

Germany 1-2 Japan

If the champion team facing embarrassment was not enough, Germany then joined Argentina in the category of big upsets on Wednesday. Having faced defeat at the hands of South Korea in their last World Cup match, Germany were expected to avoid the same mistake here in Qatar, but lightning struck twice as the four-time champions lost to Japan.

The embarrassing defeat for Germany saw Japan write a golden chapter in its history as they defeated a world champion in the World Cup finals. The upset is also expected to have big consequences on the careers of players like Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller as another defeat in the World Cup would see them drop curtains on their illustrious World Cup careers.

Cover credits: FIFAofficial