July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nDeep into stoppage time, the Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claimed a corner. Eleven seconds later, Nacer Chadli tapped the ball into the back of the net at the other end \u2014 a wonderful counter-attack that completed a remarkable turnaround, as Belgium became the first team to come from two goals down to win a World Cup knockout match since 1970.<\/p>\n
Stuart James<\/p>\n
West Germany 3 England 2, 1970 quarter-final (AET)<\/p>\n
To England fans of a certain age, their quarter-final defeat to West Germany in 1970 is one of the most dramatic comebacks of all time.<\/p>\n
England were 2-0 up and cruising in Leon with just 22 minutes left. But Franz Beckenbauer pulled one back, driving a shot from distance through the arms of goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who was only playing because Gordon Banks was ill. To this day there are still conspiracy theories about how Banks, who had produced that famous save against Pele in the group stage, missed the game.<\/p>\n
With eight minutes left, Uwe Seeler looped a clever header over a stranded Bonetti. Gerd Muller\u2019s close range volley completed the turnaround in extra-time. England fans were so miserable that they surprisingly voted out the government of Harold Wilson a few days later. West Germany went on to lose 4-3 to Italy in the \u2018Game of the Century\u2019 in the semi-final.<\/p>\n
Jack Pitt-Brooke<\/p>\n
North Korea 3 Portugal 5, 1966 quarter-final<\/p>\n
North Korea were based in Middlesbrough during their first World Cup appearance in 1966. Despite the Cold War, it sparked a love affair between the north-east industrial town and a team from a communist dictatorship. The 1,000-1 outsiders caused a stir in their final group game at Ayresome Park, with Pak Doo-ik scoring the only goal to eliminate two-time world champions Italy.<\/p>\n
Like Middlesbrough\u2019s football team, North Korea wore red. They were unfailingly polite too. And good to watch. Their speed on the break inspired 3,000 Boro fans to travel to Goodison Park to cheer them on in the quarter-final against Portugal.<\/p>\n
In the first minute, they were ahead. It was 2-0 after 22 minutes. Just as the crowd began chanting, \u201cWe want three\u201d, it arrived after 25 minutes. And then came greatness.<\/p>\n
Eusebio, who rivalled Pele and Bobby Charlton as the best player on the planet at the time, scored four times as Portugal won 5-3.<\/p>\n
The bond between Middlesbrough and North Korea lasts to this day. In 2003, members of the 1966 team returned to raptures in the Riverside Stadium and in 2010, Middlesbrough\u2019s women\u2019s side played two friendlies in Pyongyang.<\/p>\n
Peter Carline<\/p>\n
West Germany 3 Hungary 2, 1954 final<\/p>\n
The Hungary team of 1954 is regarded as one of the greatest international sides in history and one of the best not to win the World Cup. It took a herculean effort of resilience to deny them the crown.<\/p>\n
Hungary were unbeaten in 31 matches and had thrashed West Germany 8-3 in the group stage, so when they took a two-goal lead inside eight minutes thanks to the great Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor, only one outcome seemed plausible.<\/p>\n
But the West Germans picked themselves off the floor, scored two goals in the next 10 minutes to draw level and survived 26 shots across the encounter. Then, in the 84th minute, Helmut Rahn scored the winner, his second of the match, to ensure the \u201cMiracle of Bern\u201d would forever be remembered in World Cup folklore.<\/p>\n
George Edwards<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-53312343-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n West Germany celebrate the Miracle of Bern (Bongarts\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Austria 7 Switzerland 5, 1954 quarter-final<\/p>\n
This remains the highest-scoring match in World Cup history and ranks as one of its most dramatic, too \u2014 with Austria fighting back from three goals down to advance to the semi-finals at the expense of the host nation.<\/p>\n
With temperatures above 40C (104F), nine goals were scored in the space of 23 first-half minutes \u2014 a sequence of play that first saw Switzerland go three up before Austria netted five times without reply. Then, the Swiss pulled one back to go in at the break 5-4 down.<\/p>\n
Austria, who were playing in their first World Cup after being forced to withdraw from the 1938 edition as a result of being annexed into Nazi Germany, eventually beat their neighbours 7-5 \u2014 with the match the last time a player from both teams scored a hat-trick in a World Cup game: Theodor Wagner for Austria and Josef Hugi for Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Will Jeanes<\/p>\n
West Germany 3 France 3 (West Germany won 5-4 on penalties after extra time), 1982 semi-final<\/p>\n
France seemed to have broken West Germany in extra time.<\/p>\n
Pierre Littbarski and Michel Platini exchanged first-half goals before West Germany goalkeeper Schumacher\u2019s brutal collision with substitute Battiston left the Frenchman unconscious, missing teeth and with serious rib and spinal injuries. No foul was awarded and a goal kick was given to the Germans.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-989838474-scaled-e1783506088557.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n The brutal clash between Harald Schumacher and Patrick Battiston (picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Manuel Amoros hit the bar before defender Marius Tresor\u2019s volley and Alain Giresse\u2019s finish off the post swept France 3-1 ahead. Their first World Cup final was suddenly within touching distance. Then, injured substitute Karl-Heinz Rummenigge pulled one back and Klaus Fischer\u2019s overhead kick made it 3-3.<\/p>\n
In the first penalty shootout in World Cup history, Schumacher saved from Didier Six and Maxime Bossis before Horst Hrubesch converted the decisive kick. West Germany reached the final and France were left with the bitterness of the \u201cNight of Seville\u201d, a match they had seemingly won before it was torn away.<\/p>\n
Amelie Claydon<\/p>\n
And the greatest comeback that never was\u2026 Argentina 3 France 3 (Argentina win on penalties 4-2 AET), 2022 final<\/p>\n
This final was one for the ages \u2014 it\u2019s almost too recent to be fully appreciated. It was one of the best games of all time, period, and very nearly the greatest ever comeback.<\/p>\n
France seemed dead and buried heading into the final 15 minutes, 2-0 down against Messi\u2019s Argentina. But, led by the talismanic Kylian Mbappe, they fought back with two late goals. Mbappe\u2019s equaliser, a sweetly struck volley while falling backwards, is one of the best World Cup goals of all time, even outside the context of this game.<\/p>\n
For UK viewers:<\/p>\n
For U.S. viewers:<\/p>\n
France then again came from a goal down to level in extra time and were inches away from winning the game 4-3, only for an outstanding sprawling save from Emiliano Martinez to deny Randal Kolo Muani a 123rd-minute goal.<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s penalty shootout victory made it feel like the trophy was cosmically destined to be theirs, no matter the best efforts of Mbappe and his France team. Every ebb and flow, every decisive moment that was then overwritten, were felt by a wild crowd at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, and it was a privilege to experience in person.<\/p>\n
Luke Bosher<\/p>\n