Why are World Cup underdogs doing so well?
Summary
This World Cup has seen lower-ranked teams like Cape Verde, Curacao, Ghana, and South Africa perform well against top-ranked teams such as Spain, England, and South Korea. These underdog teams used smart defensive strategies, like staying compact and not chasing the ball too aggressively, to stop stronger teams from creating chances.Key Facts
- The World Cup has expanded to 48 teams, allowing more lower-ranked countries to compete.
- Cape Verde (ranked 64th) drew 0-0 against Spain (ranked 3rd), a major surprise in the tournament.
- Cape Verde and Ghana used a defensive formation called 4-5-1, keeping their midfield and defense lines close together.
- These teams avoided pressing aggressively, letting opponents keep possession but blocking dangerous areas.
- The tactic prevented high-possession teams from finding space and making dangerous plays inside the defense.
- Statistics show Cape Verde allowed many passes before defending, meaning they waited patiently rather than attacking the ball early.
- Ghana used a similar approach against England, staying compact and marking key attacking players closely.
- In contrast, Saudi Arabia's defense was less effective because their defenders got drawn out of position too often despite having five at the back.
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