Unreal statistics - the European champion has not won at the start of the World Cup in the 21st century

The football world is still in shock after Spain's big blunder at the start of the World Cup.

The European champion played only 0:0 against total outsider Cape Verde.

However, this mistake by the Spanish was just an extension of a negative tradition that follows the champions of the Old Continent. In the 21st century, not once has the current European Championship winner won at the start of the World Cup.

It all started in 2002 when France lost to Senegal (1:0). Four years later, Greece failed to qualify for the World Cup, while in 2010, Spain was defeated by Switzerland (1:0), but went on to win the world championship.

In Brazil 2014, the "red fury" came out on top again - a debacle against the Netherlands (5:1). Portugal's draw with Spain (3:3) in 2018 can hardly be called a blunder, but the victory certainly wasn't. Four years ago in Qatar, Italy, like Greece, failed to qualify for the World Cup.