PELITA DAILY — Morocco have achieved the unexpected by reaching the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ semi-finals after beating both Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds. If little was expected of them prior to the tournament, the Atlas Lions have overcome every obstacle thrown in their way and have shocked the world in the process.

Yet they are not the first team to upset the odds and travel deep into the competition. Remember Iordan Letchov’s flying header taking Bulgaria past Germany and into the semi-finals of USA 94? Or Croatia blazing a trail on their World Cup debut at France 98?

We look back on some of the more surprising semi-final participants in recent memory.

USA 94 is remembered as a tournament at which several nations made their World Cup debuts, as well as being a competition replete with upsets.

Neither Bulgaria nor Sweden were expected to reach the latter stages, but they both defied those expectations. Sweden advanced to the round of 16 after finishing second in their group, picking up five points along the way including a win over Russia and draws with Cameroon and Brazil.

The Scandinavians continued their World Cup fairy tale by eliminating Saudi Arabia in the round of 16, and then defeating Romania in a quarter-final penalty shootout. They were finally brought to a halt in the semis, narrowly losing to Brazil.

Bulgaria’s World Cup, meanwhile, was fuelled in part by the brilliance of star Hristo Stoichkov. After winning twice in the group stage they defeated Mexico on penalties in the round of 16 and then produced an almighty upset by defeating Germany 2-1 in the quarter final.

Their journey eventually came to an end after narrowly losing to a Roberto Baggio-inspired Italy in the semi-final, before being beaten 4-0 in the third place play-off by Sweden. ●Editor/Fifa/Assyad