World Cup 2022 – Ahead of the draw, here are the biggest death squads in history

1970 World Cup: Brazil, England, Czechoslovakia, Romania

The first time that we mentioned the notion of group of death in a final phase of the World Cup. Mexican journalists had spoken of “grupo de la muerte” following the draw for the first round of “their” World Cup. In Group C, Brazil, the big favorite of the event, inherits England, defending champion, and two other European teams: Czechoslovakia, still solid and finalist in 1962, as well as Romania. Of the four groups, this one appears by far the strongest. The group of death was born.

1986: FRG, Denmark, Uruguay, Scotland

Two years after missing the Euro in France, the FRG fell on a bone in the first round of the World Cup. The West Germans find themselves in the pool of Uruguay, champion of South America and, above all, the Danish scarecrow. With the dynamite Danish generation (Eljkaer-Larsen, Laudrup, Arnesen, the two Olsen, Lerby, Busk…), Denmark have a favorite sign stuck on their back. Add to that Scotland which, if it has still not passed a round in the World Cup, presents some real sizes of the moment, like Strachan, Souness, Leighton, Archibald and is managed by a certain Alex Ferguson. Difficult to do more homogeneous, except that Denmark will fly over the first round by beating their three opponents and making an impression against Uruguay thrashed 6-1. Steeped in talent, the Danes will not go much further. They will be pulverized by Spain in the eighth. Steeped in realism, the West Germans will go – almost – to the end.

1990: England, Netherlands, Eire, Egypt

This group is a unique case in the history of the World Cup. Not so much by its composition, more by its epilogue. Netherlands, England and Eire know each other quite well since before pulling the plug on the side of southern Italy, the three teams clashed in the first round of the Euro, two years earlier. A Euro won by the Netherlands of Rinus Michels. Leo Beenhakker took over. It will be less successful than its predecessor. England, for its part, is being reborn with a certain Paul Gascoigne, who carries the hopes of a nation. Eire is the small power on the rise. As for Egypt, it is proof of unfailing solidity. The group is super tight until the end. The proof ? Only one team will win a match: England against Egypt (1-0). The rest are 1-1 or 0-0 draws. So that at the end of the story, it will be necessary to decide between the Dutch and the Irish, in perfect equality. How? ‘Or’ What ? By lottery. At the time, the four best third in the first lap continued the adventure. There will be no elimination. But a big blow since the loser of the draw will rub shoulders with the Germans, who have become favorites in the competition after an impressive first round. It is the Netherlands who will lose the coin toss. And will be eliminated a few days later. Eire will reach the quarters.

2002: Argentina, England, Sweden, Nigeria

In the history of the World Cup, no group has been stronger than the one between Argentina, England, Sweden and Nigeria. The Argentinians land in Korea and Japan with a label of favorites, far behind the Blues all the same, who already had the second star embroidered on the shirt even before the start of the competition. The result, we know it… For the Argentinians, it was not more flamboyant. Winners of Nigeria (1-0) in their first match, Marcelo Bielsa’s players, with proven playing methods, fell to England in yet another revenge of the Falklands War (1-0) then share the points against Sweden (1-1), presumed small thumb of the group and big final winner since Olof Mellberg’s friends will come out on top, ahead of England.

2006: Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia, Ivory Coast

On paper, it is difficult to make it more brilliant, more enticing. More terrible also for a team from Côte d’Ivoire who discovered the supreme competition during the German edition. Imagine, a double world champion, a double runner-up and Serbia-Montenegro, whose individual talents were legion. On arrival, this group of death will be quickly dispatched by the two big favorites Argentinian and Dutch. Two victories in the first two matches, including a memorable 6-0 that the South Americans inflicted on Serbia-Montenegro. Côte d’Ivoire will have only passed through. Or almost since Drogba and his friends will beat the Serbo-Montenegrins on the last day (3-2).

2014: Italy, England, Uruguay, Costa Rica

A group of three former world champions, admit that it throws. In this hen, Costa Rica was destined to be eaten raw, more than Giorgio Chellini elsewhere. And yet… it was the Ticos who came out on top of this terrible group D. With Uruguay in their wake. Italy and England have been asked to look elsewhere. The English, beaten from the start by the Italians, sank body and soul. As for the Italians, despite this initial success, they took the door after an epic last game and a game that went down in history due to a (new) blow from fangs from Luis Suarez, suspended for four months on the pitch and nine matches. of selection after this planetary misconduct.

BONUS: The Death of Death Group

A special case because it was a second phase, not a first round. But impossible not to mention it. It was the last time that the World Cup was orchestrated around two group stages before the semi-finals. We are in 1982, in Spain. The formula is convoluted: 24 teams at the start, six groups of four in the first round and then four groups of three in the second. During this second phase, Brazil, big favorite of this Spanish World Cup, finds itself with Argentina, world champion in title, and Italy, future winner. A mind-blowing group while the Blues, polished, are with Northern Ireland and Austria. The fate of this group of death will be sealed during a fantastic Italy-Brazil in Barcelona, ​​​​won by the Squadra, 3-2, via a hat-trick from Paolo Rossi.