|
 The
first round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan reflected
a changing football world as upsets and surprises thrilled
right from the start. In the end however, it was two
familiar faces, Germany and Brazil, who played for the world
championship, and it was the South Americans who won their
unprecedented fifth FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo, who suffered a
famously poor final four years earlier, was the hero for the Seleçao, scoring both in the 2-0 victory. He ended up
with eight goals in the tournament – the most in a FIFA
World Cup since Gerd Müller scored ten times at Mexico 1970.
Opening shocks
The tone of the group stage was
set in the opening match as African debutantes Senegal
shocked the holders France with an impressive 1-0 victory. Les Bleus never really recovered from the loss,
failing to escape Group A without even mustering a goal.
Though the disappointment was extreme for the French, it was
a wonderful match and  tournament for the Senegalese. The Lions of Teranga made it to the second round, beating
Sweden on a golden goal, and then only fell to a Turkish
golden goal in the quarter-finals.
Group D also saw a monstrous
upset as the United States opened their tournament by
beating fancied Portugal 3-2. The Golden Generation of
Portuguese came back to beat Poland, but then fell to the
group’s other surprise package, Korea Republic, as another
high-profile European power went home far earlier than
expected.
Europe got its revenge in
what was termed “The Group of Death,” where England and
Sweden went through at the expense of powerful Argentina and
always dangerous Nigeria. The most hotly anticipated match
of the entire opening stage was perhaps the Argentina v.
England rematch in Sapporo, Japan. England captain David
Beckham, who was sent off in the corresponding contest at
France ’98, successfully put his ghosts to rest as his
penalty kick was the only goal in the always fascinating
confrontation between the teams. Argentina, a pre-tournament
favorite for many, could only manage a draw in their last
match against the Swedes, and they joined the ranks of
big-names on their way home earlier than expected.
Fantastic
finals for first co-hosts
 While the knockout rounds
followed a more predictable pattern than the startling group
stage, co-hosts Korea Republic did their best to keep the
dream alive. In the Round of 16, they faced illustrious
Italy and claimed an electrifying 2-1 victory from Ahn Jung
Hwan’s golden goal. Even more unlikely was what followed
next -- a penalty shootout win in the quarter-final over
hardened and excellent European side, Spain.
A 1-0 loss in the semi-final
to Germany could not dampen the incredible enthusiasm of the
Korean people, who flooded the streets like a sea of red
during and after every match. The first FIFA World Cup
hosted in Asia, fellow co-hosts, Japan were busy having a
party of their own. The frenzied blue hoard no doubt helped
the Japanese on the way to a first-ever victory at the
finals. That the three points came against a mature and
expert Russian team is testament to the growth of football
in the Far East. Impressive Turkey knocked out
the Japanese in the second round on their way to the
semi-finals.
 Germans work way into
final
Traditional powers Germany were
actually not on the tongues of most as favorites before the
tournament. But in typical Germanic fashion, they recorded
three consecutive 1-0 victories over their rivals in the
knockout rounds to book a spot in their seventh final.
Ironically, it was the
previously flawless Kahn who gifted Ronaldo the final’s
decisive opener. That single mistake was quickly dampened in
the memory however by “The Phenomenon” and his Brazilian
team mates showing that they still comfortably lay claim to
planet football’s greatest team. A Kleberson run and a
brilliant Rivaldo dummy freed up just enough space for
Ronaldo, who - powerfully, simply - stroked the ball past
Kahn.
After a full month of
passion, filled almost without cease by unforeseen heroes
and even more unexpected victims, the finals ended with its
most familiar conclusion – the yellow-clad South Americans
holding aloft the FIFA World Cup trophy. By claiming their
fifth world championship at Asia’s first finals, Brazil kept
alive their extraordinary record of having won the FIFA
World Cup on every continent that has hosted the event. |
Soccer Media
