10 Most Humiliating World Cup Defeats

9. South Korea 2-1 Italy

Greg Baker/AP/Press Association ImagesGreg Baker/AP/Press Association ImagesAs you're about to find out, the Italians have a pretty dreadful track record against the Koreans. In 2002, joint-hosts South Korea were in buoyant mood as they staged the World Cup alongside Japan, and had the home advantage as the Azzurri came to town. Still, the unfancied Asian nation were expected to be rolled over here. It never happened. Christian Vieri set Italy on the way to what many expected to have been a routine victory for the Europeans, until Seol Ki Hyeon pounced in the 88th minute with the most unlikely of levellers. Frustrated and unable to break the determined Koreans down, Italy were forced into extra-time. Ahn Jung-hwan, who incidentally had missed a first-half penalty for South Korea, made amends with a dramatic winner three minutes from the end of extra-time and, as if to make things more humiliating, Italy striker Francesco Totti was sent off after normal time.
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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.