Neymar, Ronaldo and Figo, Kanu, Griezmann: hosts beaten at home like Morocco | OneFootball

Morocco were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Senegal in Sunday’s AFCON final. L'Équipe notes that other hosts have suffered similar heartbreak in major finals.

At the 1950 World Cup, Brazil needed a draw in the final group. Friaça scored on 47 minutes, Schiaffino equalised on 66 and Ghiggia won it on 79, a defeat forever labelled the Maracanazo.

AFCON 2000 in Lagos saw Cameroon go 2-0 up via Samuel Eto'o on 26 and Patrick Mboma on 31. Nigeria hit back through Chukwu on 45 and a thunderous Jay-Jay Okocha strike on 47, before a 2-2 draw and penalties. Kanu’s kick was saved, Marc-Vivien Foé missed, then Victor Ikpeba’s effort crossed the line but was not given, and Cameroon won 4-3.

At Euro 2004, Portugal lost 1-2 to Greece in the opener and met them again in the final. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first international goal as a substitute and became a starter alongside Porto’s European champions, yet Greece had topped qualifying ahead of Spain and Shevchenko’s Ukraine.

At the 2004 Asian Cup, hosts China faced Japan in their second final. The rivalry spilled into the stands, Japan’s team bus was chased, and Zico’s side were jeered throughout.

Copa America 2021 was moved to Brazil, with only 8,000 at the Maracana for Brazil v Argentina. Angel Di Maria lobbed Ederson on 22 minutes, ending Argentina’s 18-year wait and delivering Messi a senior trophy, with mass celebrations in Buenos Aires. One year later, they were world champions.

Bonus, Euro 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo departed injured and in tears, then later exulted as captain as Portugal beat France 1-0 after extra time. André-Pierre Gignac hit the post on 90+2 and Antoine Griezmann, player and top scorer of the tournament, struggled, before Eder’s 109th-minute strike beat Hugo Lloris. Two years later, Didier Deschamps’ France lifted the World Cup.

Source: L'Équipe