10 Most Humiliating World Cup Defeats

10. Northern Ireland 1-0 Spain

Peter Robinson/EMPICS SportPeter Robinson/EMPICS SportThis win remains Northern Ireland's biggest-ever achievement at a major tournament and one of the World Cup's most shocking results. Needing a win to progress to the second round of group matches, nobody gave the Irish a chance against 1982 hosts Spain. Spain's fans were in boisterous mood, and created a cacophony of sound at the Estadio Luís Casanova, now the Mestalla Stadium. But they fell silent at full-time. The Spain goalkeeper came out to collect an Irish cross, made a hash of it and parried it only as far as Gerry Armstrong, who lashed in from inside the area to secure a 1-0 win for his country. The win represented the first time Northern Ireland had ever beaten Spain, and while the Irish celebrated their most famous of wins, for Spain it was a dark moment indeed.
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Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.