Biggest World Cup heartbreaks

RobinLFC

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In response to the greatest Worldcup memories thread, what are your most heartbreaking WC memories?

For me, Wilmots’ disallowed goal against Brazil in the Round of 16 WC 2002. I was also gutted when Lampard’s goal wasn’t given against Germany.

Without being emotionally invested, Gyan and Ghana in the quarter-finals against Uruguay springs to mind, I really felt for them at the time.
 
Not memories per se but 1954 (and perhaps 1974) finals, although I grew to love that German side of the 70's.

But Hungary, that trashed West Germany in the group stages 8:2 or 8:3 and haven't lost literally in years, lost the final to them with injured Puskas (who also scored a late equalizer that was disallowed).
 
Probably the whole Suarez handball incident. I can't fathom how shite Gyan's summer must have been.
 
Zidane's headbutt. I was really rooting for France, and the image of him walking past the World Cup Trophy one last time, after having single-handedly taken France to the final, was heartbreaking.
 
When Rivaldo got hit by a ball vs Turkey in 2002 and almost tore his ligaments, as well as some facial damage. Thankfully the legend recovered and was able to walk again.
 
I'll never forget Ghana in 2010, we almost made history in the first WC held in Africa.

Honestly, feck Suarez for life.
 
Italy and Spain vs South Korea, 2002.

I’m not a fan of any of them but the first two were properly cheated out of the tournament.
 
England vs Germany 1990 penalty shoot out. 12 years old and I was crying like a baby.
Not helped by my dad saying 'what did you expect.'
 
England V Argentina

At the time, the amount of abuse Suárez got after the Ghana game, like anybody would have let that go in and get KO of the World Cup, Show me someone who would and I will show you a liar. Not his fault Gyan bottled the penalty
 
Brazil in the last WC. Probably the most painful match iv ever seen. And I'm Irish lol
 
Argentina losing 2014 final...wanted Messi to lift the trophy so that "But he hasn't won the WC" gang would have no more excuses to not recognize his as the GOAT
 
Italy vs Australia 2006, they cheated their way to a world cup. Grosso can go f##k himself.
 
Robben missing that chance in 2010 and Iniesta scoring.

I know Nigel de Jong should've been send of, but just before Iniesta scored, Sneijder shot a freekick into the wall Spain put up resulting in an obvious corner. However, Webb gave a goal kick and Spain scored the winner in the 118th minute. Feck you Howard Webb.
 
1994 when Roberto Baggio skied it. Back then I only got to watch the Italian league and it was a highlights show and 1 full match almost everyday. The only heroes I knew then were the 3 Holland greats in Ac milan, Roberto Baggio, along with sampdorias keeper who seemed unbeatable at the time with my limited football knowledge. When he skied the penalty its like a god lost his powers and was just a mere mortal. Would never have thought that'd happen.

Didn't knew much about everything else since i was like 9 at that time but one of my first recollections of watching football and was one of my biggest disappointments.
 
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Suarez incident against Ghana is among the most disgusting in the whole WC history.
Also, large part of South Korea campaign in 2002. This game against Italy was a joke.
 
Red Star One said:
Suarez incident against Ghana is among the most disgusting in the whole WC history.
Also, large part of South Korea campaign in 2002. This game against Italy was a joke.
Click to expand...
That match proved to me there is no such thing as karma.
 
Italia '90
Cameroon vs England
First time ever (and only so far) to get to the quarters at a WC losing 2-3 in extra-time from two late penalties, after leading 2-1.
Massive heartbreak.
 
Suarez might be a prick on the field but you'd be stupid not to do exactly what he did in that situation. I nevertheless felt for Ghana.
 
anant said:
Argentina losing 2014 final...wanted Messi to lift the trophy so that "But he hasn't won the WC" gang would have no more excuses to not recognize his as the GOAT
Click to expand...
Honestly that's my favorite memory.

I don't really support such teams where the whole fanbase exists only because of one person. Ask an Argentina fan to name an entire lineup and 7/10 would fail to do so. Obviously this is what I believe and it can be wrong for various reasons.
 
Red Star One said:
Suarez incident against Ghana is among the most disgusting in the whole WC history.
Also, large part of South Korea campaign in 2002. This game against Italy was a joke.
Click to expand...
I don't get whats so "disgusting" about intentionally touching the ball, he got red carded and sent off, thats the rules. Its not like he bit someone or punched the ref at the world cup or something like that.
 
So many being English tbf
Hand of god in 86 and Italia 90 being the big stand outs
But, even more heartbreaking are the tournaments when England just didn't turn up, of whichthere are far too many.
 
User 72192 said:
oh shit, I completely forgot that! Good shout, it really felt like a big insult for whole Africa when Suarez made one of the most cnutish moves ever in world cup history
Click to expand...
The main thing I remember was him standing at the tunnel jumping up and down celebrating them missing the penalty. And him saying he made the save of the tournament. What a bastard.
 
1990 Germany vs Argentina, hoping Argentina to win it.
 
Italy vs Australia in the round of 16 stage of the 2006 World Cup stands out like a sore thumb for me.
 
In terms of England - definitely the 1998 World Cup exit to Argentina... Losing on penalties was pretty heartbreaking for 12 yr old me... especially as I thought we were robbed with the Becks red and the Sol disallowed goal.

No England... Uruguay vs. Ghana from South Africa... I was as devastated by that as if United had lost... again, probably heightened because of the sense of injustice about it.

EDIT - Oh and Zidane as well of course.
 
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France-Portugal semi in 2006. After losing the final in 2004 we outplayed France in the semifinal but missed too many chances, don’t think I’ll ever get to see us in a WC final.

I’ll never forgive Ricardo Carvalho for that penalty and I'll never forget how certain everyone was that there was absolutely no chance Zidane would have missed it.
 
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In my time, losing to Germany at Penalties in 2006.

I'd bet my house that team would've won the WC if they went through germany.


And of course the final. But that one in 2006 hurt me more.
 
I remember 86 and even worse in terms of a kick in the nuts, Italia 90. We deserved to win that semi-final.....
More recently, 98 vs Argentina. Was watching the game in the pub and when Campbell scored, everyone went ballistic, pints everywhere, people falling over, jumping on each other. Took about a minute of celebrations and everyone picking themselves up, when someone noticed that the score hadn't changed from 2-2 and Argentina almost scored whilst England players were still celebrating.
Was fecking heartbreaking!
 
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