Ukraine drowned out by frog chorus
When Ukraine got heavily beaten by a magnificent Spain side at the 2006 World Cup, Ukraine got creative with their excuse. They cited frogs croaking outside of their idyllic hotel as the reason for their poor play, prompting German newspapers to call it, “The worst World Cup excuse of all time”.
Oklahoma’s haunted hotel
After suffering a heavy defeat to Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks accused the Skirvin Hilton hotel they were staying in of being haunted. The ghost is apparently affectionately known as “Effie the Housekeeper”, what could possibly have scared them?
Casillas scores own-goal, of sorts
The Spain team are not exempt from embarrassing excuses however. During a 1-0 loss to minnows Switzerland, Iker Casillas’s girlfriend, news reporter Sara Carbonero, was accused of distracting the goalkeeper for the crucial goal.