10 Most Shocking Underdog Victories In Football History

10. North Korea 1-0 Italy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhiYjKWsMq4 19/7/1966FIFA World Cup Group Stage, Ayresome Park. 1966 was North Korea's first World Cup. Drawn in a group with two time World Cup winners Italy, a Soviet Union side which had won the 1960 European Champions and 1962 World Cup bronze medalists Chile, the Koreans were not expected to pull up trees during the tournament. A 3-0 loss to the Soviet Union in the opening game shocked nobody, but a last minute goal against Chile gave them a 1-1 draw in the second. If they beat Italy they would be through to the quarter finals. Spearheaded by Sandro Salvadore and featuring Gianni Rivera, who would later be voted the 19th greatest player of the 20th century, the Italians had won one of their two games before facing North Korea. A 2-0 victory over Chile was followed by a 1-0 loss against the Soviet Union. A draw was all the Italians needed heading into the final group game in Middlesbrough to advance. Confounding expectations, the North Koreans dominated play throughout. Playing quick, attacking football they were able to match the two-time World Cup winners, quickly winning the regard of the local fans. Just before half time a Pak Doo-ik goal put North Korea one ahead. After the break it was much of the same and to the shock of the world, when the referee blew the final whistle, the first time entrants from North Korea had beaten Italy, sending themselves through to the quarter finals. The attractive nature of the Korean play endeared them to the locals so much that 3,000 Middlesbrough fans followed them to Goodison Park for the quarter final tie, where Eusebio scored four as they lost 5-3 to Portugal, despite taking a 3-0 lead. North Korea would not qualify for another World Cup until 2010. 36 years later, Italy would lose 2-1 to South Korea in the 2002 World Cup.