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Home / Sport / Football

Top 5: Greatest comebacks at the Fifa World Cup

NZ Herald
3 Jul, 2018 12:38 AM2 mins to read

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Belgium's Nacer Chadli, center, scores his third side to beat Japan. Photo / AP

Belgium's Nacer Chadli, center, scores his third side to beat Japan. Photo / AP

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Belgium's comeback victory over Japan today was the first time since 1970 that a side has won a knockout game after trailing 2-0.

It joins a list of the greatest comebacks at the tournament. Here's a look at some of the other contenders.

Austria 7 Switzerland 5 - 1954
The 1954
quarter-final in Lausanne featured nine goals in 23 minutes as Switzerland squandered an early 3-0 lead to go into halftime down 5-4. Austrian Turl Wagner completed a hat-trick shortly after the break to make it 6-4 but Switzerland again closed the gap before it finished 7-5.

Austria then lost their semifinal 6-1 to West Germany.

Portugal 5 North Korea 3 – 1966
Coming into the game, Portugal had beaten Brazil in group play while North Korea denied Italy a spot in the last 16. After 25 minutes the North Koreans held a 3-0 lead of Portugal at Goodison Park including a goal in the opening minute of the quarter-final. However Portugal fought back, with an Eusébio double making it 3-2 at the break. He then scored two more after halftime as Portugal cruised to a remarkable 5-3 win.

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West Germany 3 France 3 (AET) – West Germany won on penalties - 1982
Few French fans could forgive the World Cup semifinal in 1982 when a physical West German team beat France in the first ever penalty shootout. German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher became a national hate figure in France after charging into France's Patrick Battiston, leaving him unconscious and with multiple injuries. The referee gave a goal kick. Despite that France scored twice in extra-time to take a 3-1 lead before Germany scored in the 102nd and 108th minute to send the game to penalties. Germany won the shoot-out 5-4.

Australia 3 Japan 1 - 2006
Not your conventional comeback considering Japan only held a 1-0 lead but it was the lateness of Australia's victory in Kaiserslautern that stands out. Tim Cahill came off the bench to equalise in the 84th minute and then added the winner five minutes later. For good measure fellow sub John Aloisi added a third in injury time to secure Australia's first ever win at the World Cup.

All Whites 1 Slovakia 1 – 2010
Come on, everyone loves a late 1-1 draw.

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