The 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar was iconic for a number of reasons. Lionel Messi climbed to the mountaintop at long last, winning the World Cup at the fifth time of asking after a slew of scintillating displays throughout the tournament, including two goals in the final. Kylian Mbappe became just the second player in history to score a hat trick in the final, although it wasn’t enough to get France over the line. But the final was also monumental as it meant that Les Bleus didn’t fall victim to the vaunted Champion’s Curse; they made it past the group stages and to the final, even if they didn’t win.
Now, Argentina heads to North America in the hopes of emulating the team they beat in the Arabian Gulf four years ago. And luckily for Messi and his beloved Albiceleste, online betting sites are big on their chances. New betting outlet Lucky Rebel currently makes the reigning champions an 8/1 contender to become the first team in 64 years to successfully claim back-to-back trophies. But before they can even think of that, they must find a way to break the curse.
So, what is the World Cup Champions’ Curse? Here is all you need to know about one of the biggest hoodoos in modern sports.
The Beginning of the Curse
Back in 2002, France headed to Japan and South Korea as the reigning World Champions. They had claimed the famous gold trophy for the first time ever four years prior, winning as hosts after a brace from Zinedine Zidane downed favorites Brazil in Paris. Fast forward to the Far East, and Zizou was at the peak of his powers, as were the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Marcel Desailly.
They were expected to breeze through Group A before potentially marching their way toward a second straight title. Debutants Senegal weren’t expected to provide any threat at all in the opening game of the tournament, but Les Bleus were shockingly in trouble from the get-go. Giant midfielder Papa Bouba Diop gave the Lions of Teranga a shock first-half lead, and it was a lead that they wouldn’t surrender, clinging on to a 1-0 win.
From then on, the pressure was on, and a goalless draw against Uruguay in France’s second game ramped up the stakes for the final group game against Denmark. A France win would see them progress, but anything else would see them shockingly dumped out at the first hurdle. And unbelievably, the unthinkable happened. Goals from Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson sealed a famous 2-0 win for the Danes, sealing top spot in Group A and consigning France to a shocking group stage exit.
Italy and Spain Fall Victim
Brazil would go on to lift the trophy in 2002, and they managed to avoid the curse in their title defence four years later as they reached the quarterfinals. Italy, the team that would go on to reign supreme in Germany in 2006, wouldn’t be so lucky.
The Azzurri shocked the world that year as they beat the hosts in the semis before taking full advantage of Zidane’s moment of madness in the final to defeat France on penalties. However, their title defence in South Africa was an embarrassing one.
The Italians could only manage draws in their tournament openers against Paraguay and lowly New Zealand, meaning that they had to dispatch Slovakia in their final game to progress. Much like France eight years prior, though, they were unable to live up to the billing, and a brace from striker Robert Vittek sent the Azzurri packing.
But Italy weren’t the only ones to fall victim. Spain headed to Brazil in 2014 as the reigning world and back-to-back European champions. With a stellar cast led by the supremely talented Barcelona midfield trio of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets, La Roja were considered one of the favorites to contend again. Then, they were shockingly destroyed 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opening game before slumping to a 2-0 loss to Chile days later, confirming their exit with a game to spare.
Germany’s Russian Adventure Ends in Disgrace
And who could forget Germany? Die Mannschaft famously triumphed to glory in Brazil, thumping the Selecao 7-1 in the semifinals before dispatching their archrivals Argentina in the Rio de Janeiro final. However, their trip to Russia couldn’t have gone any worse.
The Germans still possessed a squad that contained the likes of Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, and Thomas Müller, but they crumbled in front of the eyes of the world in Moscow. Firstly, they were stunned by Mexico, with Hirving Lozano netting the game’s only goal to pile the pressure on. Then, it seems as though Die Mannschaft had responded when Kroos’ stunning last-minute free kick downed Sweden in the second game.
All Germany needed to progress was a victory against South Korea in their third and final group game. Instead, they capitulated, and late goals from Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min sealed a stunning 2-0 defeat. Not only had Germany been dumped out at the group stage for the first time, but they had also finished rock bottom of the group, stricken by a curse that demands the reigning champions bow out at the first hurdle in the most embarrassing fashion possible.
