| > World Cup 2002 Korea Japan Special Index |
| In this document you can browse through
the tournament in chronological succession.
#1-#16 (1st group
matches)
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| World Cup 2002 Korea Japan Special: All matches chronological | ||
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| France - Senegal 0:1
1st half -('1) Senegal start with a nice free kick idea, intercepted by Barthez -('3) Senegal have started well, but now France win the first challenges and launch a first attack -('6) El Hadj Diouf breaks through on the right hand side, makes a backpass from the ground line and Fadiga puts Barthez to a first test with the outside of his foot -the match has shifted into the expected position now: all players are in the Senegalese half, the Senegalese play with a very careful basic formation, the Senegalese intercept the ball and try long balls on El Hadj Diouf who is alone upfront -('14) El Hadj Diouf, agent provocatuer par excellance wins one of his free kicks, but it has no effect -('17) characteristic scene: Senegal close gaps in their half, intercept the ball, and llaunch a promising counter attack which is stopped by offside -El Hadj Diouf takes chances at the verge of offside, he is speculationg that once he might be just once onside and through -('20) Suddenly a chance for France as the ball is quickly played back into attack: Sylva (the Senegalese keeper) comes out just in time -('23) France become dangerous because a through ball is played into attack where Henry and Trezeguet are one on one against the defenders, Trezeguet fires and hits the goalpost -almost the patient approach of FRance has already paid off -('26) El Hadj Diouf Diouf wins his second free kick within two minutes, but the cross is directly on Barthez -('28) another offside situation with Diouf almost through -('29) Sylva intercepts a long ball by head outside his penalty area -('30) Diouf brakes through on the left hand side against LeBoeuf makes a pass in front of the goal where Bouba Diop is running into the penalty area. Petit reaches the ball first but cannot clear properly. The ball bounces on Barthez body, rolls to the feet of Diop who scores into the empty goal - 0:1 -France mount pressure now on the Senegalese who see more defensive action -('37) another close offside for Diouf, but France answer right away: the attacks of the Europeans become more and more dangerous -('38) Sylva saves a Djorkaeff free kick -('39) Trezeguet is stoped in the last moment, the counter is stopped by a small foul against - El Hadj Diouf -('42) Djorkaeff fires across the bar -('43) Sylva saves against Wiltord -('44) Diouf seems to win a free kick but does not get it halftime 0:1
2nd half
final score 0:1
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| Cameroon - Ireland 1:1
1st half
halftime 1:0
2nd half
final score 1:1
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| Danmark - Uruguay 2:1
1st half: The match started with a quarter of surprise attacking fireworks. Especially Uruguay approached the match daring, while Denmark were trying to rely on counter attacks from a more careful position. The match settled more in midfield in the following although still with a high pace. A bit out of the blue, a brilliant combination by the Danish provided for the Danish lead in the 45th minute, scorer Jan Dal Tomasson, who has just completed his move from feyenoord to Milan. 2nd half: Uruguay opened the second half with a stunning 18 meter volley by Dario Rodriguez, a Penarol Montevideo midfielder, into the triangle to equalise the score. From the goal on the match took another surprising turn: Denmark entirely dominated the match with attacking football when the Uruguayan midfield could make no impact neither attacking nor defending, perhaps thanks to a tactical shift by danish coach Olsen(?). Uruguay remained dangerous now only in few individual scenes. It took until th 83rd minute before Tomasson eventually scored the match winner, his second goal of the day, by a perfectly timed header, soft but very precise. Although Danmark lost their grip more and more thanks to nervousness, Uruguay could not force any clearcut chances in the remaining 10 minutes (including injury time). |
| Germany - Saudi Arabia 8:0
1st half: The match confirmed what has been written in the previews: Saudi Arabian football, located in a hot desert area, has not progressed since 1994 while European football has become even more intense, especially physically. The German style is especially damaging to the Saudi Arabians, with making use of the flanks, crosses and headers extensively, what Saudi Arabian are not used to in their domestic game, adding to it a relentless pressure which is poison for the much slower, usually more often and longer interrupted Arabian games. And Germany proved to be in top form from the first minute, leaving the Saudi arabians no space to breath and no time outs to take. the two goals by attacking hope Miroslav Klose and the two more goals by Michael Ballack and Carsten jancker were the logical consequence and it could have been even more has several attempts came close and a Jancker goal was only denied by the referee. Not more than a 45 minute training session for the three time world champions. 2nd half: The training session continued, not in the same intensity but again successful when late in the game the Saudis got more tired. Typical situation when Klose easily just by a small physical approach shoves aside two defenders to unleash a shot (which was eventually saved). The second half goals were scored by Klose, Linke, Bierhoff, and Schneider. The match and the bad second half of Uruguay against Danmark raise the question: How many chances do teams who consist of players not playing in a European professional league have at all? Attention Cameroon anyway! The African style suits the Saudi Arabian game much better than the German one. |
| 0530 GMTArgentina - Nigeria 1:0 (final
score)
1st half -Argentina in dark blue, Nigeria in neon green -Argentina with a blitz start and a couple of attacks, Nigeria answers after four minutes and has two scenes inside the penalty -Argentina look extremely focussed and the small players like Ortega can hardly be stopped by the Nigerians -('10) Kanu has injured himself but seems to be able to continue -('13) Ortega wins a free kick, he will be a major threat today, it seems. The Argentinians will give Nigeria a tough time, they are famous for the intensity they fight the one on one challenges and the art of winning them also against bigger guys. -the Argentinians look strong but the Nigerians seem focussed nevertheless, yet no clearcut chance for the South Americans despite their good beginning -('16) Ortega wins another free kick, he is a player who falls immediately after contact -('19) error by Nigerian keeper Shorunmu who kicks a kick off right into the feet of Batistuta but saves his shot then -('21) Claudio Lopez and Batistuta play through but Shoronmu is out in time to clear by his foot -('22) Kanu is down again, he seems to have difficulties to continue with some pain in the back -('25) great midfield work by Okocha who wins space against three players and suddenly creates a good counter situation (which fades without effect) -('27) the new attacking hope for Nigeria, Ogbeche from Paris Saint Germain, has a first conspicious scene -the Nigerians play from a defensive basis, looking for fast counter attacks - at least most of the time the players are in the Nigerian half -('29) Shoronmu saves a dangerous Ortega shot from just outside the penalty area for a corner -it is a strange atmosphere: like in a circus the crowd is rather silent, talking, and applauding then to individual scenes. For most of the two fan groups the expensive trip (and stay) had been inaffordable. -('32) Okocha with a huge scene but the Argentinian keeper can deflect his 20 meter shot to a corner, which eventually sees another attempt by Yobo, just wide -('37) Argentina: dangerous corner by Veron finds Battistuta at the second goal post, but the angle is too tight for him to get the header on target -('38) Aghahowa tries a bycicle kick but it takes the wrong direction --nothing happens until halftime halftime 0:0
2nd half
final score 1:0
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| 0730 GMT South Africa
- Paraguay 2:2 (final score)
1st half
halftime 0:1
2nd half
final score 2:2
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| 0930 GMT England
- Sweden 1:1 (final score)
1st half England focusssed, Sweden harmless. Sol Campell provided for the score as he reached a cross before the swedish keeper. 2nd half Sweden now with a great run while England disappeared. After the equaliser in the 59th minute (Alexandersson) several huge occasions for the Swedisch who suddenly start to play very good looking football. Beckham substituted after 60 minutes. In the following an exciting match developed in which both had opportunities when, not at last thanks to their substitutions, England found back into the match. Premier League football at its best, not perfect technically but with high impact. Then two minutes into extra time Hendrik Larsson has the match ball after a defensive error but fires wide |
| 1130 GMT Spain-Slovenia
3:1 (final score)
1st half It took until deep into the half before Spain found into the game while Slovenia looked quite safe in the beginning. But the Spanish game improved and eventually Raul found the net in the 44th minute. 2nd half The second half was more entertaining with the Slovenians still resilient. The match seemed decided when Valeron added the second Spanish goal in style after 73 minutes. But Slovenia came right back into the match (Citirotic, '80) before the referee gifted Spain with a penalty which Hierro converted for the decider ('87). A first weak match of a referee who seemed to judge several scenes wrong, at least in the end all critical decisions were in favor of Spain. |
| Jun 3 0630 GMT Croatia
- Mexico 0:1
Is it a fairytale or an anachronism thatt this Mexican footbal, which has kept so much of the innocence of the game children play, again and again plays its part in those world tournaments? Mexico, in height and size even more inferior to Craotia than the Saudi Arabians to Germany passed the ball around, tired the Croats and won the match by a genius artist who often appears everything else but a modern footballer, Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Both halfs featured the same pattern: Croatia intented to apply their physical advantage but got tired in the climate and the Mexicans more and more took over the game and chased the Europeans around with their passing sequences. The match was predecided when Blanco, after a fine one-two, broke through into the penalty area and was fouled by Zivkovic with the logical consequence of penalty and red card. Blanco himself converted the penalty and the Mexicans were able to keep the score. |
| Jun 3 0900 GMT Brazil
- Turkey 2:1
A very good match. Turkey at their best with a lot of running fighting and playing and good number of some very impressive players. Brazil with a lot of attacking potential but without a determining grip on midfield. Their captain Emerson, a key midfield player, had injured himself the day before the kick off and will be missing out the entire World Cup. After the very good Turkish keeper Rüstü had saved several good opportunities for the record world champions from South America, Turkey took the surprise lead at the end of the first half when the won the ball against the Brazilian build up and stroke a brilliant counter attack, Bastürk set up Hasan Sas. But Brazil came back with Ronaldo who is already in relative very good form, regarding his long absence. Nevertheless Turkey might have got away with the draw if not ironically Rüstü had played a ball directly into the feet of the Brazilians. Defender Alpay tried to hold Luizao?, who was running at the goal, at his shirt and got the red card. A controversial decision was the penalty as many wanted to have seen the foul outside the penalty area. Rivaldo converted and Brazil won. |
| Jun 3 1130 GMT Italy
- Ecuador 2:0
Italy began very concentrated and mastermind Totti set up Vieri already after 6 minutes for the first goal. Vieri then displayed his power and looked unstoppable in a one one chase for a long through ball which he eventually converted for the second goal after 28 minutes. In the second half Italy concentrated on keeping the scoreline. Ecuador were showing some nice moves and should not be counted out yet. Italy looked like a World Cup favorite, just doing the necessary. |
| Jun 4 0630 GMT China
- Costa Rica 0:2
A very concentrated first half by both teams. There were only few big chances, to some extend a credit to the rather defensive Chinese tactics. The Asians always attacked the player with the ball with at least two players and tried counter attacks on their fast forward Chen Yang. Costa Rica, similarly concentrated, applied a pressing already on the Chinese defenders at their build up and continously attacked when in possession, yet unsuccessful. When in second half Chinese lost some concentration, perhaps due to their energy consuming game, Costa Rica were ready to punish any errors and two strikes within a few minutes ('61, '65) decided the match. The Chinese confidence was obviously shattered and after a sole quick chance to get back into the game, the Asians seemed to resign. China seemed potent on set pieces which hardly occured because of the originally defensive approach. Costa Rica had more opportunities against a Chinese defense, now in shambles, but did now seem unconcentrated in shooting. |
| Jun 4 0900 GMT Japan
- Belgium 2:2
Japan went into the match as slight favorites but they faced a determined Belgium squad from the first minute. The Belgians looked like a copy of the Germans in their match against Saudi Arabia, applying their physical advantage, using flanks, crosses and the edge in the air, playing similarly strong as they did at Paris when beating France in the preperation match shocker in May. In 1999 Japan won the silver medals at the World Youth (Under 20) Championships at Nigeria thanks to a stunning short pass festival and a striker from rare physical impact for a Japanese player. Takahara, the striker, is a surprise absentee from this squad and the short passing game, with which the Mexicans yesterday frustrated the physically inferior Croats, seems abandoned for a more diverse approach. This might also be credited to some nervousness among the Japanese players and the very agressive Belgian pressing. The logical consequence sooner or later had to be the Belgian lead after one of the inoumerous high balls flying into the Japanese penalty area. Wilmots was successful with a spectacular bycicle kick. But just as the match seemed decided the home team got a huge confidence boost when a big error in the Belgian defence gifted Suzuki with the equaliser after 57 minutes. Suddenly Japan was free of all the nervousness that characterised their actions before and when Inamoto broke through on the left hand side after 65 minutes he scored the second goal by a sharp diagonal shot into the second corner. Now the Japanese, who had been lucky early in the second half that Morioka did not see his second yellow card, seemed to fly away. But it was in the aftermatch of an again dangerous corner that the Belgians beat the offside trap of the Japanese and Vanderheyden scored by a beautiful lob after 74 minutes. Japan were unlucky when another Inamoto goal was ruled foul and lucky when Belgium striker Sonck fell over the feet of a defender and the keeper in a difficult to rule situation inside the Japanese penalty area so that both went away with a point each from a game that would have rather deserved two points each. |
| Jun 4 1100 GMT Korea
- Poland 2:0
1st half: Poland began very focussed like Germany and Belgium had tought and had several opportunities in the opening of the match. But the Koreans did what was the lessons of the games so far: if you are smaller your only chance is to monopolise the ball and ochase the others around by short passing. (The Koreans are still a lot taller than the 'smallest' team Mexico) More and more they took over the match and punished a defensive mismatch by a masterly directly played goal. After the goal, fired up by an ecstatic crowd, they played on in a terrible pace, seeking chances rather too fast, obviously tiring themselves, too. 2nd half: In the beginning of the half Korea remained in control and their best player Sang Chui Yoo provided the second goal. Unfortunately he injured himself a few minutes later and had to be replaced. Poland now began to take the initative and pressured the Korean goal. In the final 10 minutes the Koreans freed themselves again of the pressure and were closer to a third goal. |
| Jun 5 0630 GMT Russia
- Tunisia 2:0 (final score)
1st half: -'1-'10 Both teams have begun the match with very entertaining attacking football and scenes in front of the goals on both sides. An encouraging start for the Tunisians who start the match everything else than shy and show some good combinations. They have a little more of the game yet but they cannot stop the Russian counter attacks and look nervous in defence. -'11-'20 Russia have found better organisation in midfield and dominate the match now. The number of goalscenes has decreased as the Tunisians are further drawn back and are exclusively on the russian side now. The Tunisian defence still looks nervous. -('21) Tunisia: Most exciting scene yet, through ball on Gabsi, two defenders challenge him, deflect the ball which just rolls wide with the keeper beaten. Russia answer with a long range shot, saved by Boumnijel. -'21-'40 Slight Russian dominance, but the most conspicious scene was a foul against Tunisian attacker Jaziri that was rewarded a yellow card -'41-'45 It could have been predicted that the weather factor speaks for the North Africans but an alarming scene shows the Tunisian defenders outnumbered when their midfield colleagues do not run back to support defensive work against a this time unconventional Russian attacking formation. Also the Tunisian keeper seems easy to provoke. A nice through ball attempt is all Tunisia achieve in the rest of the half while Russia have a huge opportunity when Karpin despite a crowded penalty area is free at the 16 meter line but targets narrowly wide halftime 0:0 1st half: -'45-'55 Russia with the first attacks, but it is Tunisia who have two very good chances within two minutes ('52)('54) -('59) one big mistake spoils the Tunisian match just when it looked like the North Africans could take over the match: Tunisians in possession of the ball after a corner, easily give it away to the Russians who catch Tunisia on the way forward, so that Titow unchallenged scores from 16 meters - 1:0 -('63) a Russian counter, contact between Jairi and an attacker, penalty: Karpin converts - 2:0 -'65-'75 the match now more open, Tunisia attacking and Russia with counter attacks -('75) the cynisms of football play tough on the Tunisians: Jaziri starts to get a through ball, is pulled at his shirt, makes a dive so that the foul should become more obvious for the referee and sees the yellow card for diving -'75-'90 Tunisia take chances by replacing Badra with Zitouni and run some nice attacks but it is Boumnijel who almost gifts the Russians with a third goal. Jaziri falls again in the Russian penalty but it remains unclear whether it was a dive or a penalty. Best chance for Tunisia in the 90th minute after one of a few inspired attack but the crowded Russian defence always has a leg in. final score 2:0 In a match between two almost equally strong sides the one lost who made the more costly mistake(s). |
| Jun 5 0900 GMT Portugal
- USA 2:3 (final score)
1st half: USA confident and positive, surprising an unsettled Portuguese defence right in the beginning with the first goal (O'Brien '4) and a few more attacks. Portugal began to take over the match but the hard working Americans defended their lead until they had all the luck on a now rare counter attack when a cross was deflected by a Portuguese defender into his own goal ('29). The Portuguese who were quoted to target a win with 'many goals' before the match were obviously surprised by the American confidence in scoring themselves and had little to answer against the now repeatingly damaging American attempts. A great but almost unchallenged third goal by McBride, a header after a cross from the right, was almost logical. The Portuguese, aware of their attacking potential, did not seem to resign and scored immediately by Beto after a corner ('39). They had three opportunities but the Americans escaped into halftime. They will know that three goals might not be enough to defeat those very dangerous Portuguese and continue attacking themselves. Portugal have paid for their arrogance in defence (reminded of the match Danmark-Nigeria at 1998) and have to change their attitude here. 2nd half: Just when the Portuguese seemed completely frustrated, an own goal by the Americans came to their help ('71). Although hardly with a chance the Americans resisted the following pressure. In the last 10 minutes they gained a physical superiority, won the ball repeatingly in midfield and kept it perfectly in the Portuguese half. The Portuguese obviously were totally exhausted and did not only lose the points but also consumed a lot of energy in this match. The Americans, a typical cup team, always with a positive approach about trying it. |
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