Each year football produces some of the most unexpected tales in the sporting world. These underdog performances are magical for fans, and for some lucky punters.
Here are highlights of grit and determination over the last several years, presented to you by 1xbet.
2010 World Cup In South Africa
Coming into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa few expected Uruguay to achieve much. Their glorious America’s Cup victories were almost 40 years past and there was little indication those heights could ever be recaptured.
But, after progressing through the group stage without conceding a goal, Uruguay charged through to the semi finals, before eventually falling to the Netherlands.
Cyprus Based Club APOEL FC Exploded
Little known Cyprus based club APOEL FC exploded into the limelight in the 2011 Champions League, downing powerhouse teams such as Porto and Lyon along the way.
Eventually falling to Real Madrid in the quarterfinals did little to diminish the well deserved Cypriot pride in an astonishing performance.
Winner of Africa Cup of Nations Tittle 2012
Zambia won their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012. Making the success even sweeter was the fact that they had been written off by many pundits.
After prevailed over Ivory Coast in a tough penalty shootout the Zambian squad finally tasted glory.
2013 FA Cup Winner
Wigan won the 2013 FA Cup in a grand underdog performance after defeating Manchester City at Wembley in the final.
Nobody could begrudge this fairy tale story of a team that overcame all obstacles to lift the trophy.
2014 World Cup Highlight
The highlight of the 2014 World Cup came in the form of Costa Rica’s surge to the quarterfinals.
Little faith was put in the team, even in the group stages, but the squad continued to impress all the way up to their heartbreaking loss to The Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
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Leicester’s Victory In 2014/2015
Perhaps one of the most famous sensational performances in history came from Leicester when they won the 2014/2015 English Premier League title.
With many predicting relegations at the beginning of the season, this win encapsulates the amazing possibilities of sport.
Euro 2016 Winner
Wales made their tournament debut at Euro 2016 and under the leadership of Gareth Bale, they turned heads after progressing to the semi-finals before losing to Portugal.
AS Monaco’s Victory
In the 2016/2017 season many people still believed that AS Monaco was out of their depth in Ligue 1, but not only did they win it, but they also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
This performance silenced critics and firmly entrenched them as a top-tier team.
Croatia Team at the 2018 World Cup
2018 was the year of Croatia, with the tiny nation battling all the way to the World Cup final.
Falling at the last hurdle to France, the team nonetheless shone brightly in a tournament performance that will be long remembered.
Tottenham Didn’t Go Down Without a Fight
Tottenham Hotspur seemed destined to exit the 2019 Champions League on quite a few occasions, but each time they defied the odds and progressed.
This was capped by their stunning win in their away semi-final against Ajax which overcame a goal deficit.
Their painful loss in the final to Liverpool did little to diminish the pride of Spurs fans.
Concluding Notes
Each of these amazing feats is a testament to the potential surprises that await soccer fans each year.
These sensations also all come at long odds if you find the right betting site. At 1xBet you can find incredible odds on underdogs to progress to certain stages of all tournaments and leagues.
Just identifying one team with form on the upswing can provide you with a massive win. So, which team will rise through the ranks with an incredible performance?
Do your homework, follow your instincts and find the best odds at 1xBet!
