TOP 5 SMALL NATIONS IN WORLD CUP HISTORY

D. Ray Morton, 22nd June 2014.

With Bosnia & Herzegovina having been, somewhat cruelly, eliminated from the World Cup last night and Costa Rica excelling in a way no-one expected with wins against Italy and Uruguay, it got me thinking. Who are the best small nations in World Cup history? When I mean small, I do not mean geographically. I mean population-wise. The Netherlands, for example, is a small area but has a population of over 16 million. Here, we will look at countries with less than five million people inhabiting them. This is the top five run-down of small nations in World Cup history.

5. Northern Ireland

 

Though "Norn Iron" have not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, their record in the tournament for a nation of only 1.2 million people is somewhat remarkable. The country did not enter the first three World Cups and failed to qualify in 1950 and 1954. They did get through in 1958 and performed admirably, getting past their group via an additional play-off against Czechoslovakia which they won 2-1 after extra-time. This paved the way to the quarter-finals where they fell to Just Fontaine and France in a 4-0 defeat.

Between 1962 and 1978, they could not get in but they managed to qualify for two World Cups in a row in 1982 and 1986, the "golden age" of Northern Irish football. In 1982, they famously beat Spain on Spanish soil with Gerry Armstrong as the hero as they got out of their group again. This led them to a second group phase of three teams, which was the format at the time. Unfortunately, another heavy defeat to France sent them packing.

Gerry Armstrong's winner against Spain in 1982

Making it to Mexico in '86, this time they failed in the group stage when they were pitted against Brazil, Spain and Algeria. Nevertheless, for such a small nation to qualify for three World Cups and to overcome the initial stage twice, is a superb achievement.

4. Costa Rica

 

 

Though Costa Rica did not first qualify for a World Cup until 1990, their record in the competition is stellar for a country of 4.5m people. Indeed, they raised many an eyebrow in that first World Cup by reaching the round of sixteen eventually falling to Czechoslovakia. They qualified in 2002 and 2006 but were twice eliminated from the group stage but they make this list because of their exploits in this current World Cup where they have shocked Uruguay and Italy and are on top of Group D, the supposed "group of death" with six points from two games. A stunning achievement for a team with winning odds of 2500/1 before the competition began. They deserve credit for being a surprise package. A victory against a hapless English side next Tuesday would be the icing on a very delicious cake.

3. Republic of Ireland

 

Like Costa Rica, the Republic of Ireland did not qualify for their first World Cup until 1990 where Jack Charlton lead the boys in green to an unexpected quarter-final appearance in a dour tournament where defensive football was king. This suited Big Jack's "put 'em pressure" tactics as they escaped the group stage thanks to three draws against England, Egypt and the Netherlands respectively. They drew 0-0 with Romania in the second round but went through on penalties thanks to Pat Bonner's famous save. Into the quarter-finals they went, without winning a single match, where they were knocked out by Italy and Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci's winner.

They would have their vengeance against the Italians four years later when they upset the pre-tournament favourites with a heroic 1-0 victory in Giants Stadium, New York after Paul McGrath had the game of his life following Ray Houghton's speculative long-range opener. They got through their group despite being humbled by Mexico and were then eliminated thanks to the Dutch in the second round.

Reflections on the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win against Italy in 1994

Their third World Cup appearance did not come until South Korea and Japan in 2002. Managing to get out of their group containing Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia, even without Roy Keane, they faced Spain in the last sixteen. They managed to drag the Spanish all the way to a penalty shoot-out but came up short. A shame considering a quarter-final place would have meant facing a beatable South Korea (provided Byron Moreno was not in charge). Still though, three World Cups and never a group stage exit is a fine record.

2. Croatia

 

Since Croatia could enter World Cups from 1998 onwards, they have failed to qualify just once in 2010. That means they have qualified for four out of five tournaments, an indicator of the country's excellence in the sport. They made a huge impact in their début World Cup, getting all the way to the semi-finals and then winning the third/fourth place play-off to secure the bronze medals. It took hosts and eventual winners France to knock them out in extra-time in the semi. Davor Šuker was the star of the show scoring six goals in seven matches winning the Golden Boot in the process.

Šuker was Croatia's goal machine in 1998

The next two campaigns were disappointing with two group stage eliminations but this year, they look good to get out of their group despite losing their opening game to Brazil thanks to some poor officiating. They look capable of advancing provided they can beat Mexico and could go far with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic in their ranks. Croatia's seemingly constant supply line of highly technical players should be an inspiration to any small nation attempting to climb the international football ladder.

1. Uruguay

 

Uruguay's triumphant 1950 team

With a population of only 3.3 million, Uruguay are surely the ultimate small nation in World Cup history. Not only did they win the 1930 and 1950 editions of the tournament (they did not enter in '34 and '38), they have qualified for eight other World Cups and only failed to qualify five times. They are World Cup regulars when their population would indicate that they have no right to be that. Of all those tournaments they got in to, they were only knocked out in the group stage three times and finished fourth three times in 1954, 1970 and in 2010 to many peoples' surprise. Their overall record is having played 47, won 18, drawn 12 and lost 17 with 76 goals scored and 65 conceded. That is simply incredible considering the World Cup's greatest team, Brazil, has a population of 198 million which is over 66 times that of Uruguay. Remarkable.