FIFA World Cup 2002

The FIFA World Cup 2002 was staged in Japan and Korea in June of 2002, the ultimate football competition in the world managed by FIFA . It was the first time in history that Asian countries were chosen to host the tournament. During the first rounds of the World Cup 2002 there were a lot of surprises when African teams such as Senegal upset heavy favored France. Senegal ended up making it all the way to the quarter finals before being defeated by Turkey. Another upset occurred when the United States national soccer team beat Portugal by a score of 3-2. However the biggest match of the opening rounds of the 2002 World Cup was Argentina vs. England as they competed in order to advanced past the group of death.

During the knockout rounds of the tournament co host Korea tried their best in order to stay in the FIFA World Cup 2002. After defeating Italy 2-1 and Spain in a penalty kick shoot out, the Korean National Team lost to Germany and was not able to advance into the next round of the 2002 World Cup.

The Brazilian National Team and Germany were having better luck in the tournament. Germany played for three consecutive 1-0 victories in order to advance into the finals of the World Cup 2002. Brazilian strikers Ronaldo, who became the top scorer of the 2002 World Cup with 8 goals and won the Golden Boot Award, and Kaka, led their country in the finals of the World Cup.

While the knockout rounds followed a more predictable pattern than the startling group stage with the favourites making their way through, the co-hosts Korea did their best to keep the dream alive. In the Round of 16, they faced famous 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.

2002 World Cup Finals

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.

The final match of the FIFA World Cup 2002 was held in Yokohama, Japan at Yokohama International Stadium, as the Brazilians faced the Germans for the most prestigious trophy in international football. Ronaldo, “The Phenomenon”, teamed up with Rivaldo in order to score twice past German goalie Oliver Kahn. Brazil ended up winning their fifth World Cup in Japan as they defeated Germans in an exciting final match by a score of 2-0.

After a full month of passion filled with exciting matches, previously unknown heroes, and even more unexpected victims, the World Cup finals ended with a most familiar end – the yellow-shirted 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 ever hosted the event.