Beckham, Fernandinho, Casillas: The 10 worst individual performances in World Cup history | OneFootball

The World Cup can make or break a career, and often, it’s, unfortunately, the place for many forgettable displays – ones players will be keen to get rid of.

Making one mistake in a game is normal but having a bad game for your country on the biggest stage is something hard to ignore and for those that have been there, they’ve regretted it for years.

Here are 10 of the worst individual displays in World Cup history, including a few from coaches and referees.

10. Fernandinho vs Germany 2014

The semi-final between Germany and Brazil in the 2014 World Cup is arguably the most famous game in tournament history. Brazil were the hosts and were confident ahead of the final, but were missing stars such as Neymar and Thiago Silva for that match. Germany were getting better as the tournament went on and had a point to prove themselves.

The Germans scored early on, and then again, and then three more times to go in with 5-0 half-time lead. the game finished 7-1 and the Brazilian back line was in disarray. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar had a disaster, David Luiz looked lost, but it was Fernandinho who kept losing the ball and contributed to the German goals. He had an evening to forget.

9. Rob Green vs USA 2010

Going into the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, expectations around England were high and they felt they had a comfortable group to get through, with the USA, Algeria and Slovenia to face. In the opener, they would face their rivals from across the pond and having taken the lead through Steven Gerrard early on, they felt they were in for a good month.

However, just before half-time, Rob Green had a howler, letting in a speculative Clint Dempsey shot and the US would equalise. The scores would remain 1-1 and set the tone for the rest of England’s tournament: slow and lethargic. Green was dropped for the rest of the tournament, didn’t play for England again and the Three Lions suffered a Round of 16 exit at the hands of Germany.

8. Christian Worns vs Croatia 1998

By 1998, Germany were a fading force in world football, despite winning the European Championships just two years prior. Their football was outdated, the team was old but there was still an expectation they could do well. That was proven wrong by a younger, more dominant Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France.

The Croats ended up winning 3-0 in a complete display and Christian Worns, sat in the German defence, struggled with the pace of the game. In fairness, anyone on that German side could’ve been picked out, but Worns had a horrible day, and Germany were told they needed to improve.

7. Iker Casillas vs Netherlands 2014

Iker Casillas will go down in history as one of the all-time great goalkeepers. He spurred his country on to victory in the 2010 World Cup, and going into 2014, things were different for him, but he was still confident. The opening match didn’t set a good tone. Spain took the lead against the Netherlands, but then conceded five in a humiliating defeat.

Casillas made a mistake for one of Robin van Persie’s goals and didn’t look good for the other four. The defending champions got off to a horrible start and they weren’t better in the rest of the group stage as they crashed out in the first round.

6. The referees, Italy vs South Korea 2002

A lot went wrong in this match, Italy’s Christian Panucci had a horrible game, but it was the referees that stole the show as South Korea beat the three-time world champions to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. In one of the most controversial World Cup matches ever, referee Byron Moreno was the talking point.

He first disallowed a legitimate Italy goal for offside, then sent off Francesco Totti for diving and the Italians were furious as they crashed out of the tournament. It wasn’t the last time South Korea would get favourable decisions as in the next round, Spain suffered the same fate.

5. Graham Poll, Croatia vs Australia 2006

There’s a hat trick on this list and it’s from a referee and it’s not a good one. Graham Poll was one of the world’s top referees and was largely expected to take charge of the World Cup final in 2006, had England not reached it. However, in a group stage match between Croatia and Australia all hope was lost for the Englishman.

Dario Simic picked up his second yellow in the 85th minute and Brett Emerton went off two minutes later but when Josip Simunic collected his second booking in the 90th minute, Poll had lost count and didn’t send the Croat off. Earlier in that game, he had missed two strong penalty shouts as well in a disastrous night for the referee.

4. Mwepu Illunga vs Brazil 1974

In the summer of 1974, Zaire entered the World Cup for the very first time and what should’ve been a momentous occasion ended up being one clouded in controversy. There was a political element to it, and when Zaire played Brazil in the tournament, there was a moment of madness from right-back Mwepu Illunga.

The Brazilians were handed a free-kick and Illunga, stood in the wall, broke from it and kicked the ball away. He later said: “I panicked and kicked the ball away before he had taken it,” he said. “Most of the Brazil players, and the crowd, too, thought it was hilarious. They didn’t understand the pressure we were under.”

3. Ademar Pimenta, Brazil vs Italy 1934

Brazil squared off against Italy in the 1934 World Cup semi-final as both were looking to become the second-ever winners of the tournament. Both teams went into it with confidence having shown their strength in previous matches in the tournament. However, the Brazilians showed a bit of cockiness and that cost him at the end.

Leonidas had scored five goals for the Brazilians throughout the tournament and was its leading scorer, however, he was dropped for the semi-final, with coach Ademar Pimenta saying the player was being rested for the final. Brazil ended up losing, as Italy went all the way that summer. The coach later said he couldn’t play due to injury, as theories about that selection rage on.

2. Rene Higuita vs Cameroon 1990

Rene Higuita widely remembered for his flamboyance for both club and country and going into the 1990 World Cup the same was expected. However, he had a disaster in their second round match against Cameroon that year and ultimately cost his nation the tournament.

Colombia were 1-0 down in extra-time and Higuita, 35 yards from his goal, attempted a Cruyff turn which didn’t turn out well, as he lost the ball and Roger Milla took advantage. Cameroon ended up winning 2-1 and sent Colombia packing.

1. David Beckham vs Argentina 1998

Once again, expectations around England were high going into 1998 and they had a fine group of young and old, with Michael Owen starring early in the tournament. They faced old rivals Argentina in the Round of 16, and throughout David Beckham struggled, with his performance barely memorable.

To top it off, his childish kick on Diego Simeone got him sent off as England were on the back foot in one of the most memorable World Cup games in recent times. The Three Lions ended up losing on penalties after a 2-2 draw, and their wait to win the World Cup would carry on. For the next three years, Beckham was largely vilified by the England faithful, until his free-kick helped secure qualification to the 2002 tournament.