Was England’s loss to Afghanistan the biggest upset in English sporting history.

[Jedi boro]

I was thinking about this earlier and bearing in mind they had only ever won 1 game previously in a World Cup snd that against Scotland in 17 games only 1 win plus they are a nomadic nation with no real base or infrastructure.

I’d say it must be ad yes in football we’ve had our moment ms but never really lost to a true Minnow like a Faroe or San Marino ?

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

The loss to Ireland in 2011 world cup was bigger, as was the defeat to USA in the 1950 football World Cup.

 

[Jedi boro]

defeat to USA in the 1950

Yes That’s prob the closest I’d agree but heat was prob a factor in that as well.

 

[Kowalski]

I was thinking about this earlier and bearing in mind they had only ever won 1 game previously in a World Cup snd that against Scotland in 17 games only 1 win plus they are a nomadic nation with no real base or infrastructure.

I’d say it must be ad yes in football we’ve had our moment ms but never really lost to a true Minnow like a Faroe or San Marino ?

England as World Cup holders lost to Scotland 3-2 in 1967.

 

[Jedi boro]

England as World Cup holders lost to Scotland 3-2 in 1967.

Meant nothing to us though and it was their cup final. I mean in a competition.

Eng USA would be a contender.

 

[Jedi boro]

The fact we’re current cup holders maybe edges it though

 

[The Card Cheat]

Losing to Iceland in 2016 felt more of a seismic shock, because that knocked us out immediately in a game we thought we'd walk. At least with this game against Afghanistan England can still qualify. Same in 1950 I think, we could have still qualified after the USA game.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

The fact we’re current cup holders maybe edges it though

No, the other two were bigger shocks.

 

[Jedi boro]

No, the other two were bigger shocks.

Bigger shock than a country without a country no infrastructure that has only played 17 games in their history only winning 1 v scotland beating England current holders.

Really

 

[AytonMews]

Not even close.

Afghanistan have 2 world class spinners and another very good one, plus some decent batsman who are always capable of a “day out” in white ball cricket.

 

[TeaCider]

Definitely seems the biggest to me.

The Afghan team have far worse conditions to contend with compared to any of the other upsets.

Quality of the players might be a difference, but Iceland, Ireland and the USA were not suffering off the field.

 

[Muttley]

The "Miracle on Ice" they called it

1980 Winter Olympics the USA team was made up of college players and "nobodies" in the semi-final they came up against the USSR, at the time Communists couldn't be "professional" sportsmen/women so this was in essence a full national team against a bunch of amateurs.

If not that, then I would rank Hereford beating Newcastle in the FA cup for the laughter of the whole nation at the "mighty" Nya-cass-ull.

 

[aytonstrummer]

They may not have a country but all play on the t20 or one day circuit. Rashid Khan, naveen and possibly nabi would walk into our team.
Not surprised they beat us, they were always gonna take at least one scalp. we are probably the most over rated of the big 4 teams and we are on the downward slope now as far as this team is concerned.

 

[Zoophonic]

Absolutely no. In fact Afghanistan are ranked 9th in the world - we lost to Ireland when they were ranked 12th.

In fact Afghanistan have the highest international t20 score in history too - ironically against Ireland.

 

[Capybara]

Meant nothing to us though and it was their cup final. I mean in a competition.

It was in the Home International Championship which absolutely meant something to England at the time. It also doubled as the qualifiers for the 1968 Euros so was in a competition. Not that big a shock, though, as Scotland had a very good team.

 

[Kowalski]

Meant nothing to us though and it was their cup final. I mean in a competition.

Eng USA would be a contender.

And yet you question why they feel English fans are arrogant. Oh, the irony.

 

[the_dormouse]

Iceland I've never forgiven Woy.

 

[JHS1]

No chance! They are a decent team and will win more matches in this group stage. Not even the top 50 of England sporting losses.

 

[Jedi boro]

And yet you question why they feel English fans are arrogant. Oh, the irony.

Btw It was a joke,

I know exactly what it was but Scotland do make out it was somehow this great upset when as you say back then we played each other alot.

 

[Jedi boro]

The "Miracle on Ice" they called it

1980 Winter Olympics the USA team was made up of college players and "nobodies" in the semi-final they came up against the USSR, at the time Communists couldn't be "professional" sportsmen/women so this was in essence a full national team against a bunch of amateurs.

If not that, then I would rank Hereford beating Newcastle in the FA cup for the laughter of the whole nation at the "mighty" Nya-cass-ull.

I meant England but yes that was up there great film btw.

It was quite a feat to beat The red machine