The Greatest Under Achievers !!!!!!!

[Drummer]

I just decided to post a few ideas at the one time.. Here is my list of the biggest and best under achieving teams. I think that most people would agree that Holland are the biggest under achievers generally in World cup history but which teams have under achieved in specific tournaments????

1. I think that this was a toss up between France 1982-1986 and Holland 1974-1978. But I have to go with the dutch masters. Arguablty the most excitingf team ever not to win the tournament, the great Johann Cruyff (cant spell) couldnt save them.
2. Thefrench team in 1986. I dont know about anybody else but I think that the 1986 French team would put it up to any World cup winners. They were destined for failure as everything seemed against them, they should have beaten the Brazilians but some uncomprehendable decisions from the ref didnt help them. Then they met the Germans in the Semi's after what had happened in 1982 (the goalkeeper schumakers kung-foo kick!!!) this was set to be explosive and everybody thought that the French would nick it. Personally i think that an Argentina France final would have been the greatest game in modern World cup history and the best Final ever. As it was it was a great final but one cannot but think what might have been !!!!

3. Its hard to find anybody near to the above two. I think that Brazil 1998 shocked us all by the way they folded like a cheap hore to France. Also alot of people wont remember this but Columbia were 1994 favourates for the W.C. remember Escobar??? Denmark 1986 flattered to decieve well (6-0 against uruguay) as did Spain that year (butrageaniou 5). Spain have really surprised most people by always failing on the big stage.. How?????

Anyway I know my 3rd isnt quite that clear but there is noi denying the talent of the 1st two.. Anybody think they can find any better????

[FreeKicker]

The greatest underachiever of all is Cruyff's Holland. Platini's france comes in third. The second greates team that DIDN'T win the Cup was 1982's Brazil, with Zico, Sócrates, Falcão, Cerezzo, Junior, Leandro, Eder, a powerful team that could face any other in history.

[england66]

That was a great Brazil 82 team. Probably the best in recent years. 86-94 have been down years in my opinion. Socrates was the man. I was so excited to hear that his bro was on the soccer scene but he was nowhere as good as socrates.

[Garrincha]

Let's not forget the Hungary team from WC '54, with the "Galloping Major" Puskas. They won the Olympics by a landslide, and were undefeated for over two years (if I remember correctly, which isn't likely). They were a powerful and dominating squad, who usually were winning by 3 x 0 by the 30th minute of the first half, every game, against any opponent - impressive facts, I think you guys agree. From what's written about them, they passed through the opposition like a hot knife through butter.

They lost the WC final to Germany, in a match most observers analyze as sad and unfair - I think we've all seen stronger teams meet unpredictable defeats delivered by lesser squads, it's just more dramatic when it's a WC final. The sad truth is, the best doesn't always win in soccer.

Of course, they played before matches were widely recorded, so we don't have tapes of them - which makes most older superstars be disregarded unfairly, IMO. It's not fair to dismiss great squadrons simply because there's no films of their performances.

[Drummer]

Im afraid that my knowledge of W.C football doesnt stretch much further then Brazil 58.. I have heard about that Hungary team , they beat england at wembly (the 1st team to ?) I think, not that thats much!!! Ah no i heard that they were a bit of a legend team but thats as far as it goes. The name puskas is familiar. he didnt play for Madrid did he????

[Garrincha]

Yeah, Puskas played in that Real superteam from the '60s that was Euro Champs 5 times in a row, with Di Stefano, Gento and Didi - quite the awesome squad.