Going into a FIFA World Cup, there are always expectations for some nations to get further in the competition than others. However, there's always one or two favoured countries that struggle to live up to their billing.

Top 10 shock exists in World Cup history

10) Spain - World Cup 1978

A picture taken on April 21, 2016 in Paris, shows the jersey of the Spanish national football team for the UEFA Euro 2016 European football championships. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Back in 1978, Spain wasn't anywhere near the calibre of the glory days of the late 2000s, but they were still expected to get out of the group.

Their campaign kicked off with a shock 2-1 defeat to Austria after a goal in the 76th minute from forward Hans Krankl.

Spain followed up with an impressive draw against Brazil and finally secured a win in the final matchday against Sweden thanks to a goal from Juan Manuel Asensi.

However, the good results against Brazil and Sweden proved not enough as they finished third.

Since 1978, Spain has only been knocked out of the World Cup in the group stages three times in 11 tournaments.

9) Colombia - World Cup 1994

22 JUN 1994: THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM OF COLOMBIA LINE UP PRIOR TO THEIR 1994 WORLD CUP MATCH AGAINST THE USA AT THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT

Going into the 1994 World Cup, Colombia was one of the most in-form nations in the world, with a 30-game unbeaten streak.

The Colombian side featured the likes of Faustino Asprilla, Adolfo Valencia, Oscar Cordoba, Carlos Valderrama and more.

On paper Colombia should have had a place in the top two and entered the round of 16, as they had to play in Group A alongside Romania, Switzerland and USA.

However, matchday one saw Colombia lose their 30-game unbeaten streak to Romania, with goals coming from Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Raducioiu.

The same happened in matchday two as the Colombians lost to the host nation USA, confirming their exit from the competition after two games.

Colombia did get a win in their final game against Switzerland, but after all the excitement surrounding them leading into the competition, they ultimately failed to deliver.

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8) Spain - World Cup 1998

13 Jun 1998: Spain celebrate during the FIFA World Cup Finals 1998 Group D match against Nigeria played in Nantes, France. Nigeria won the match 3-2. \ Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport

The 1998 World Cup saw Spain as one of the dark horses due to the calibre of players in their team, such as Raul, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes and Ivan Campo.

Spain would play in Group D alongside Bulgaria, Paraguay and Nigeria. Therefore, they were expected to book their place in the knockout stages.

Matchday one saw the first shock for Javier Clemente's side as they suffered a 3-2 loss to Nigeria after a late comeback from the African nation.

Spain still couldn't find a win in their next game as they drew with Paraguay, but were able to cement an emphatic 6-1 victory over Bulgaria in the final game. 

However, Paraguay's shock win over Nigeria saw Spain eliminated as the South American side finished second.

7) England - World Cup 2014 

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL - JUNE 24: England pose for a team photo prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Costa Rica and England at Estadio Mineirao on June 24, 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

England were by no means in great shape going into the 2014 World Cup. Most of the Golden Generation had either retired or ventured well into their 30s, while youngsters like Ross Barkley, Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would ultimately fail to live up to their potential.

Nonetheless, it was still a shock to see England fail to escape the group stages.

A matchday one loss to Italy after a late Mario Balotelli winner saw England in a tough situation.

Matters got worse as England was dumped out of the competition in matchday two, suffering a 2-1 loss to Uruguay, with star man Luis Suarez scoring a brace.

England finished the competition with one point after drawing with Costa Rica in the final game.

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6) Italy - World Cup 2014

NATAL, BRAZIL - JUNE 24: Matteo Darmian (L) and Giorgio Chiellini of Italy look dejected after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas on June 24, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Group D of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was considered one of the groups of death that year, featuring the likes of England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Italy was one of the favourites due to the squad's depth of world-class talent. The Italy team featured Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Candreva, Marco Veratti and Leonardo Bonucci. Likewise, only two years prior they'd reached the Euro 2012 final, beaten by a supremely talented Spain side.

The Italians' campaign started well after goals from Marchisio and Balotelli saw them defeat England 2-1. But they then suffered back-to-back losses against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

As a result, they finished third in the group and missed out on qualification.

5) Portugal - World Cup 2002

Portugal line up for a team photo, 14 June 2002 at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, prior to first round Group D action between Portugal and Korea in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. From L above: Vitor Baia, Paulo Bento, Pauleta, Fernando Couto, Jorge Costa, Beto. From L bottom: Sergio Conceiçao, Petit, Joao Pinto, Rui Jorge, Luis Figo. AFP PHOTO/EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Portugal went into the 2002 World Cup as favourites to top Group D ahead of the USA, Poland and host nation South Korea.

Matchday one saw Antonio Oliveira's Portugal side lose 3-2 to the USA after going 3-0 down in 40 minutes.

Portugal fought back with a 4-0 win over Poland, but a shock 1-0 loss to South Korea in the final game saw Portugal's World Cup journey cut short.

Park Ji-Sung's goal against Portugal remains one of the great World Cup moments.

4) Germany - World Cup 2018

TOPSHOT - Germany's team players react at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between South Korea and Germany at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 27, 2018. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

After an incredible 2014 campaign in Brazil which saw Germany lift their first World Cup since 1990, fans and pundits were certain Germany would be one of the tournament's favourites.

Joachim Low's side was in Group F alongside Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.

Germany shockingly lost their first match to Mexico courtesy of a Hirving Lozano goal, but did win their matchday two fixture against Sweden after a last-minute Toni Kroos freekick.

It wouldn't be good enough as two goals in added time from South Korea saw them dump the reigning champions out of the competition and ensure qualification for Mexico and Sweden.

It was the first time Germany had been knocked out of the World Cup in the group stages since 1978.

3) Brazil - World Cup 1966

A dejected Pele leaves the field after the Group C match between Brazil and Portugal at Goodison Park during the 1966 World Cup in England, 19th July 1966. Portugal won the game 3-1 with two goals from Eusebio. (Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Going into the 1966 World Cup, Brazil were looking to win the tournament for the third time in a row. They hadn't lost a game in the competition for 12 years, and Pele was aiming to hold the trophy again. 

Group 3 of the 1966 World Cup consisted of Brazil, Portugal, Bulgaria and Hungary.

Brazil won matchday one 2-0 against Bulgaria after goals from Pele and Mane Garrincha. But the shocks came in the next two games as Brazil lost to Hungary and Portugal, eliminating them from the competition.

Brazil's shock exit also saw Pele vow he would never play for the Brazil national team again.

2) France - World Cup 2002

INCHEON - JUNE 11: France team group taken before the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Group A match between Denmark and France played at the Incheon Munhak Stadium, in Incheon, South Korea on June 11, 2002. Denmark won the match 2-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

After an incredible 1998 winning campaign, France looked to be one of the favourites due to the strength of their squad.

It featured the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Emmanuel Petit, Fabien Barthez, Lillian Thuram and Marcel Desailly.

France also had Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Djibril Cisse, who were all top goalscorers in their respective leagues.

France played in Group A alongside Denmark, Senegal and Uruguay.

Their campaign got off to a nightmare start as a goal from Papa Bouba Diop secured a 1-0 win for Senegal over the reigning champions.

The disappointment continued as France drew 0-0 with Uruguay before losing 2-0 to Denmark.

France's World Cup 2002 saw them fail to score a single goal in the competition.

1) Spain - World Cup 2014

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas (C) reacts as Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli shows a yellow card during a Group B football match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

From the late 2000s to the early 2010s, Spain dominated international football, lifting the European Championships twice and the World Cup in 2010. 

Having been drawn into a group alongside the Netherlands, Chile and Australia in 2014, Spain was expected to have another impressive international run.

However, matchday one against the Netherlands proved that Spain's time at the top was coming to an end as they lost 5-1. Their World Cup journey seemed over by matchday two when they lost 2-0 to Chile and now held a -5 goal difference.

Spain defeated Australia 3-0 in the final game, but it wasn't enough as Chile and the Netherlands advanced to the knockout stages.