Write The Future

[MGoldman]

The day is December 31, 1999 and football is bravely entering a new century. Sudden death “golden goals” are still in effect, Ronaldo is Brazilian (not Portuguese), and Zinedine Zidane has never considered using his head as a weapon. Starting at the outset of the 21st century, this is an FM story of what may have been…and what may come to pass in the future. “Write the Future” will attempt to recount every World Cup of the 21st century in journalistic fashion, as played out in Championship Manager 01/02. Football Manager is largely a game that forecasts the future of football, but sometimes we must glance back to eventually look forward.

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Logistics

*Each World Cup will be recounted in three parts.

Intro + Group Stage

Second Round + Quarterfinals

Semifinals + Finals + Epilogue

*The database is being run on maximum

*Leagues from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Holland, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina have been included

*I am synthesizing the gameworld’s “records” with those of the actual World Cup through 1998. Combined, this data will provide a true set of milestones that give player/team achievements greater context

*I will be happy to answer non-World Cup questions about the gameworld, whether it be transfers, club results, etc.

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2002

Korea/Japan

Part 1 of 3

Asia welcomed the globe for the first time, as South Korea and Japan joint-hosted the 2002 World Cup. Though the host nations entered the tournament with modest expectations, a formidable pool of contenders had begun to emerge. Defending champions France were at the top of the list, having won both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. With talisman Zinedine Zidane and star strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet leading the way, Les Blues arrived in the Far East with every opportunity to repeat. Their main competition would come from Argentina, who finished atop South American qualifying and boasted starmen Gabriel Batistuta and Juan Sebastian Veron.

Despite their earlier stumbles, Brazil would join their rivals at the tournament. They hoped Ronaldo and Rivaldo, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, could fire the Selecao to a third straight appearance in the finals. Germany and Euro 2000 finalists Italy also solidified themselves as front-runners with their strong qualification campaigns, as did darkhorses Spain and Portugal. Failing to reach the party, Holland, Mexico, and England would have to watch from home as debutants like China, Ecuador, Senegal, and Ukraine graced the world stage for the first time.

Group Stages

Group A: (France, Cameroon, Sweden, Paraguay)

Les Blues got their title defense off to a sputtering start, but eventually recovered to top a difficult Group A. Millions watched shocked during the tournament opener, as Freddie Ljunberg’s 14th minute strike had Sweden poised to upset the defending champions. However, an injury time equalizer by Zidane spared French embarrassment on opening day. It would take an impressive 3-1 victory over Cameroon on the final matchday to secure qualification for France, while the Indomitable Lions placed second with four points. Sweden narrowly missed the knockout rounds, despite three goals from emerging 20 yo. striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paraguay anchored the group, even after draws with Cameroon and France.

Group B: (Germany, Croatia, Russia, Senegal)

Germany impressed in their opening three group games, finishing with a perfect nine points. 23 yo. midfielder Christian Timm was the breakout star of the squad, pacing the team with four goals through the opening round. Among their victims, Die Mannschaft exacted revenge on Croatia, who had eliminated Germany from France 98, but now found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline. The Croatians would regroup and make a return trip to the knockout rounds, thanks to a win over Senegal and a draw with Russia. Their Eastern European counterparts would have to settle for third, while an unheralded Senegal returned home with a point from their debut World Cup.

Group C: (Romania, South Korea, Honduras, Ecuador)

Hosts South Korea played an adventurous brand of football in the group stages and were rewarded with a spot in the knockout rounds. After losing their opening match to Romania, 2-1, the Red Devils tied Ecuador and earned a famous victory in Seoul on the final matchday. Their 3-2 win over Honduras put South Korea into the final 16 for the first time, right behind group winners Romania. Honduras could not build on an opening victory over Ecuador and finished third on three points, one more than the South American debutants.

Group D: (Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Tunisia)

Italy signaled their intent to the rest of the field, winning Group D with 9 points. The Azzurri defeated Portugal, 1-0, in the most high-profile encounter of the opening round. Vicenzo Montella’s 20th minute strike was enough to decide the contest, as Francesco Totti and Paolo Maldini also proved to be instrumental in wins over Belgium and Tunisia. Portugal experienced little resistance for the second spot, easily dispatching their opponents, 4-0 and 2-0, in their final group games. Tunisia received the Wooden Spoon for an overall last placed finish at Korea/Japan 2002.

Group E: (Argentina, Austria, China, South Africa)

Argentina waltzed through an underwhelming Group E with 7 points, buoyed by Hernan Crespo’s four goals and justifying their front-runner status. The South Americans dispatched Austria, 4-1, and China, 4-0, before tying gritty South Africa, 2-2. China almost pulled one of the shocks of the tournament, finding themselves only minutes away from making the knockout stages of their first ever World Cup. However, an 87th minute penalty and 90th minute winner by Austria saw the Europeans advance instead. South Africa attempted to make up for their opening two losses in their final match, coming back from 2-nil down to tie Argentina.

Group F: (United States, Yugoslavia, Japan, Saudi Arabia)

Japan made dubious history in 2002, becoming the first host country to not advance from the group stage of a World Cup. The cautious Japanese did well to earn two scoreless draws from their first Group F encounters, but needed a victory against the United States in a politically-charged final fixture. The 1-1 draw consigned the Samurai to elimination with three points, one goal, and no victories from their World Cup on home soil. Meanwhile, the USA enjoyed a surprising and impressive run in the opening round, topping Group F. After finishing dead last in France 98, the Americans finished first with 7 points, defeating Saudi Arabia and Yugoslavia. Their European opponents would also secure qualification after a victory over the Saudis on the final matchday.

Group G: (Uruguay, Spain, Poland, Costa Rica)

Uruguay exceeded expectations and won Group G over a talented Spanish side. Their six points and hard-fought, 1-0 victory over “La Furia Roja” proved the difference-maker. Spain would have to settle for second…and a knockout meeting with Brazil.

Group H: (Brazil, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Nigeria)

Brazil predictably topped Group H with 7 points, as manager Luiz Felipe Scolari adeptly blended high-profile stars with a skilled supporting cast. Elber upstaged some of his more famous countrymen with three goals in a group stage which did not lack drama. 21 yo. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the potential winner against Nigeria in the 77th minute of their match, only to be sent off for a headbutt two minutes later. The game finished 1-1 and it looked like the tempermental starlet had cost his country a spot in the next round. However, a 1-0 victory over Ukraine would advance the Bulgarian Lions, who hoped to repeat their heroics of 1994.

[Elrithral]

Looking forward to this, the past 8 years from a CM perspective should be interesting

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2002

Korea/Japan

Part 2 of 3

Round of 16

France 3-0 Croatia: In a sequel to their 1998 semifinal, Les Blues marched to a decisive victory over hapless Croatia. An injury time strike by Stephane Dalmat sent France into halftime with a deserved lead. After the break, it was Marcel Desailly and Philipe Christanval with the insurance markers, while Croatia failed to muster a shot on target. A comprehensive victory had put France back in the quarterfinals and suggested they might just retain their crown.

Italy 2-0 South Korea: The World Cup’s hosts were unable to pull a historic upset, as South Korea crashed out of the competition to Italy. Totti continued his fantastic tournament with a first half brace (12’, 19’), while the resolute backline of Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, and Alessandro Nesta recorded their fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Argentina 4-0 Yugoslavia: The Argentines continued to put on a show for the world’s fans, demolishing Yugoslavia, 4-0, in Kobe. The rout began early, kickstarted by Crespo’s 5th goal of the tournament in the 8th minute. Then, a sublime 35-yarder from Veron and a pair of goals from Batistuta put Argentina 4-0 up before the half-hour mark. Batistuta’s strikes were particularly historic, as the 33 yo. attacker equaled French legend Just Fontaine’s goalscoring mark at the finals. Having netted his 13th career World Cup goal, Batistuta now needed only one goal to tie Gerd Muller’s all-time record.

Spain 2-1 Brazil: In the clash of the round, Spain shed its “underachiever” label and knocked out Brazil, 2-1. After Lucio’s 28th minute goal, it looked like an upset was not on the cards, but Gerard’s 39th minute equalizer evened things up before the break. Spain then caught a major break, as Brazil’s Roger was sent off midway through the second half. Valencia’s Vicente would then turn hero in the 80th, as his shot hit the back of the net and denied Brazil a third straight appearance in the World Cup Final.

Germany 3-0 Cameroon: The methodical Germans wore down a promising Cameroonian side, winning 3-0 and claiming their usual spot in the World Cup quarterfinals. Miroslav Klose continued his emergence on the world stage with a 22nd minute strike, but their African opponents refused to give in prematurely. It would then take a Marco Bode goal in the 72nd minute to put the game out of reach, followed by Jorg Bohme’s penalty kick in the 88th.

Portugal 2-0 Romania: Portugal’s “golden generation” returned the country to the World Cup quarterfinals, seeing off a strong Romanian side. The Eastern Europeans kept things level going into halftime, but a Nuno Gomes strike after the break and an 81st minute effort from Helder settled matters.

Austria 0-0 United States (Austria advances on PKs, 4-3): Austria continued to defy the oddsmakers, booking their spot in the quarterfinals at the expense of the USA. In truth, it was a drab affair for 120 minutes, with the Americans enjoying more of the chances to win the tie. However, the dullness of regulation gave way to the drama of penalty kicks, as final US shooter Eddie Pope had his attempt saved by Alex Manninger. It was then up to Gunther Neukirchner to send his side the final eight, scoring and continuing Austria’s Cinderella run through the World Cup.

Bulgaria 2-1 Uruguay: The Bulgarians continued their overachieving exploits with a win over former champions Uruguay. Though the South Americans arguable played the stronger match, it was Bulgaria’s finishing that made the difference. Georgi Donkov’s 2nd minute opener was followed up by Zdravko Lazarov’s second half winner. The Uruguayans could only claw a consolation goal back in the 89th minute, one of the final contributions from veteran stalwart Gus Poyet.

Quarterfinals

France 1-0 Italy: Having met four years earlier at the same stage of the competition, France and Italy squared off once again for a place in the semifinals. History repeated itself in Tokyo, as Les Blues finally prevailed on a 79th minute header from Henry to settle a highly even encounter.

Argentina 4-1 Spain: Marcelo Bielsa’s Argentina side continued to build its case as perhaps the greatest team of all time, thrashing Spain, 4-1. Julio Arca, Walter Samuel, Crespo, and Javier Zanetti all struck before the half-hour mark in Daegu, going 4-nil up at halftime for the second straight game. Though the Albicelestes had already put up a quartet of goals against Austria, China, and Yugoslavia, this demolition came against a highly-touted Spanish side, still on a high from eliminating Brazil. The win set up a tantalizing semifinal with fellow favorites France, posing the toughest test yet for an exceptional squad.

Germany 1-1 Portugal (Germany advances on PKs, 5-3): The Germans demonstrated why they are an excellent tournament team once again, eliminating Portugal in a hard-fought encounter. The three-time winners would face adversity in Pusan after Sa Pinto put the Portuguese in front in the 26th minute. Things looked grim deep into the second half, but fate smiled on Germany as Lars Ricken buried his 83rd minute penalty kick. With scores level, both teams entered the penalty shootout for a place in the final four. German stopper Oliver Kahn saved Luis Boa Morte’s spot kick, while Carsten Jancker’s conversion sent Berlin into a frenzy. Germany was back in familiar territory: the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.

Austria 2-2 Bulgaria (Austria advances on PKs, 4-1): Cinderella continued to dance in Korea, as Austria miraculously advanced to the 2002 World Cup semifinals. Bulgaria took the early advantage in the 12th minute, but captain Andreas Herzog’s second half brace had the Austrian back in charge as fulltime loomed. Two minutes into injury time, Milen Petkov found the ball with his head and leveled affairs with a dramatic equalizer. It looked as if Bulgaria could improbably reach its second semifinal in three World Cups, but the gods of the penalty shootout once again favored the Austrians. With two critical Bulgarian misses, Thomas Winklhofer stepped up and put Austria back in the final four for the first time in 48 years.

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2002

Korea/Japan

Part 3 of 3

Semifinals

Argentina 2-0 France: In a titanic clash of the pre-tournament favorites, Argentina emerged as deserved victors and brought the French title defense to an end. It was a night when the legendary Zidane roamed the pitch for Les Blues, but it was Veron who gave the masterclass and won the high-stakes match. It didn’t take long for the Argentines to assert their dominance, as Veron’s low drive found the back of the net after only four minutes. The Manchester United playmaker continued to terrorize the France’s defense, heading home for his second goal and fourth of the tournament in the 14th minute. For a high-profile semifinal against the reigning European and World champions, Argentina once again demonstrated they were on another level and were one of the best teams in recent memory.

Austria 1-0 Germany: Pulling off their greatest Houdini act yet, the resilient Austrians defeated heavily-favored Germany and booked their first ever trip to the World Cup final. Die Mannschaft consistently looked the more threatening side in Tokyo, but could not convert their superior play into goals. After a scoreless first half, the Germans would pay for their futility as Herzog turned hero once again for Austria. His 61st minute blast into the top corner sent “Das Team’s” supporters into ecstasy, presumably in disbelief over proceedings. The 33 yo. captain’s goal would eventually stand up with Germany failing to equalize. Austria were onto the final, where they would face their toughest challenge yet: Argentina.

Third Place Match

France 2-1 Germany: Les Blues finished their World Cup campaign on a high note, defeating Germany, 2-1, in the Third Place Match. Roger Lemerre’s men dominated possession and were good value for the win after 22 yo. Marama Vahirua’s two first half strikes. Germany pulled one back in the 52nd, thanks to Jens Nowotny, who continued his high level of play in the consolation match. Nevertheless, it would be France who walked out of Korea/Japan with the bronze, so close to a repeat, yet so far.

Final

2002 World Cup Final

Argentina vs. Austria

The 2002 World Cup Final emanated live from Tokyo, as one of the best squads in World Cup history collided with one of the most improbable finalists ever. Argentina would play the role of Goliath in this football drama, having dominated through the group stage and continuing their free-scoring exploits into the later rounds. In the process of scoring 20 goals in their six tournament matches, the Albicelestes had swept aside Yugoslavia (4-0), Spain (4-1), and France (2-0) to reach the showpiece match. Their opening match of the group stage was against fellow finalist Austria, winning comfortably, 4-1. With four goals and five assists, Veron was the engine that drove Argentina’s prolific attack. His Gold Ball candidacy would be rivaled only by Crespo, who had already netted six times in Korea/Japan, almost ensuring the Golden Boot. In an equally compelling sub-plot, Batistuta would need one goal in the final to tie Gerd Muller’s career scoring record at the World Cup. A brace would give him 15 tallies and the record outright.

With all the hype surrounding Argentina, Austria were a compelling underdog playing on the game’s biggest stage. Having barely survived a group that included South Africa and China, the Austrians were outplayed by the Americans in the Round of 16, only to prevail on penalties. Das Team would also need spot kicks to get past Bulgaria in the quarters, which led to their improbable upset of Germany in the semifinals. Hardly convincing in any contest, but displaying great heart and fighting spirit, Austria were now only one win away from completing the greatest Cinderella story in World Cup history. If David could defeat Goliath, they would need captain Herzog to deliver one more heroic performance from the midfield.

The final got off to a cracking start, as defender Pablo Rotchen pounced on a rebound in the 3rd minute and found net for Argentina. It looked like a potential rout was on the cards, but Austria flipped the script once again, equalizing only five minutes later. Mario Hass dribbled past Javier Zanetti and scored a lovely goal, leveling matters at 1-1 in the 8th minute. From there, Argentina reasserted their dominance and showed their true class with a two-goal salvo before halftime. Holding midfielder Matias Almeyda was picked out by a great cross from Javier Zanetti, finding himself unmarked and scoring the go-ahead goal in the 29th minute. Argentina would make it 3-1 four minutes later, as Crespo scored his tournament-best seventh goal of the World Cup. The 33rd minute penalty kick sent Manninger the wrong way and the South Americans went into halftime with a two-goal margin. The outclassed Austrians offered little threat to come back in the second half, as Argentina held on for a 3-1 victory and their third World Cup title. Their team of stars had arrived in Korea/Japan as favorites and more than lived up to their billing. Arguably the greatest World Cup side of all-time, Argentina and captain Diego Simeone lifted the famous trophy in Tokyo. They had never been seriously challenged in the competition, outscoring their opponents 13-2 in the knockout rounds. As the curtain fell on the World Cup, “Argentina 2002” not only won the tournament, but impressively surpassed “Brazil 1970” as the gold standard of footballing excellence.

Argentina 3-1 Austria

(Rotchen 3, Almeyda 29, Crespo pen 33 - Hass 8)

Awards

Champions: Argentina

Runners-up: Austria

Third Place: France

Golden Ball: Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina MF, 27 yo., 4 goals & 5 assists)

Silver Ball: Jens Nowotny (Germany DF, 28 yo., 2 goals)

Bronze Ball: Hernan Crespo (Argentina FW, 26 yo., 7 goals & 1 assist)

Golden Boot: Hernan Crespo (Argentina FW, 26 yo., 7 goals)

Silver Boot: Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina MF, 27 yo., 4 goals)

Bronze Boot: Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina FW, 33 yo., 4 goals)

Best Goalkeeper: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Japan GK, 26 yo., 2 MOTM)

Winning Captain: Diego Simeone (Argentina)

Winning Manager: Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina)

[Elrithral]

Batistuta still playing <3 Crespo at his peak <3 A younger Veron, Zanetti etc how did that Argentina team not win anything?!?

[stoehrst]

Interesting how CM played that one out! You should know, though, that your semifinal scoreline actually reflects France as winners, not Argentina.

I love this idea though, seeing how FM predicts and enacts the future is a favorite little hobby of mine

[MGoldman]

Thanks, Stoehrst! I fixed the typo. FM certainly predicts some interesting things

Also, I'm with you, Elrithral. How that team lost at the group stage irl is beyond me.

[MGoldman]

The following is the first of a continuing feature of Write the Future, entitled "World Cup Legends". When a great player who has left his mark on the tournament retires, his career and World Cup heroics will be recounted here. The first entry will be a man familiar to most of you, but as time passes, expect to see some new faces and eventually some newgens!

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World Cup Legends

Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)

Tournaments Played: 1994, 1998, 2002

World Cup Honors

World Cup Winner: 2002

Bronze Boot: 2002

Career Goals: 13 (tied for second all-time)

Other Honors

FIFA World Player of the Year: 2002/2003

Champions League Winner: 2002, 2003 (Roma)

Serie A Winner: 00/01, 02/03 (Roma)

Copa America Winner: 1991, 1993, 2003

Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Fiorentina, Roma, Elche

One of the players of his generation, Gabriel Batistuta was like a fine Argentine wine…he only got better with age. “Batigol” announced his arrival on the scene as a 22 yo. youngster, winning Copa America 1991 with Argentina and finishing the competition as top scorer. He would eventually move from South America club football to the big leagues in Europe, landing first at Fiorentina. While with the Viola, Batistuta emerged as one of Serie A’s top hitmen over the course of the ‘90s, but his 2000 transfer to Roma ushered in the most successful portion of his career.

Batistuta reached the apex of his career during his stay with Roma, winning two Serie A titles and two Champions League titles in his three seasons with the club. With one last season left in his battle-tested body, Batistuta left Roma on a free transfer to join recently-promoted Elche in La Liga. The fact that Roma just missed winning their third consecutive European crown and that Elche narrowly survived in the top flight that year speaks to the Argentine’s influence.

As esteemed as his club career was, Batistuta left his greatest mark on the international stage and the FIFA World Cup. He scored a hat trick in his first ever World Cup match and eventually finished with four goals at USA 1994, despite Argentina being eliminated in the Second Round. “Batigol” then became the first player to ever score hat tricks at multiple World Cups when he repeated the feat against Jamaica in 1998. Finishing with five goals at France 98, Batistuta still suffered disappointment, as Holland eliminated Argentina in a dramatic quarterfinal.

At age 33, World Cup 2002 proved to be the crowning moment of Batistuta’s career. His four goals and lethal partnership with Hernan Crespo led Argentina deep into the tournament. With Juan Sebastian Veron at the controls, the Argentines advanced to the final in Tokyo, where they defeated Austria, 3-1, for their third World Cup title. Batistuta received the Bronze Boot for his exceptional play and finished the tournament with 13 career World Cup goals, tied for second all-time with Just Fontaine. For his stellar play in helping Roma repeat to the 2003 Champions League title and guiding Argentina to the World Cup crown, Gabriel Batistuta received the FIFA World Player of the Year award for 02/03. It was the ultimate compliment to the 34-year old striker, the oldest ever recipient of the award. After a final triumph at Copa America 2003, Batistuta retired from the national team, finishing with 95 caps and a record 63 goals for Argentina. One of the great strikers of his (or any) generation, Gabriel Batistuta remarkably played his best football at the end of a distinguished career. He would enter into management in his homeland and one would not put it past the Argentine legend of one day gracing the World Cup stage again…perhaps in a tracksuit.

[ollie laaaaaaaad]

what a brilliant story!! will follow closely

[ScottT!]

Excellently written review of 2002. I look forward to 2006 a great deal

[Harryseaess]

This is brilliant, really enjoying reading it.

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2006

Germany

Part 1 of 3

The FIFA World Cup returned to Europe in 2006, as Germany hosted football’s showpiece event. The host country would look to repeat the heroics of 1974, when a German team led by Franz Beckenbauer lifted the famous trophy on home soil. Led by captain Oliver Kahn, veteran centerback Jens Nowotny, and clinical striker Miroslav Klose, Die Mannschaft entered the cup with a solid collection of talent. Rudi Voller’s side lacked a bonafide superstar, but home-field advantage and a positive team ethos would be called on to overcome any potential shortcomings.

Among the other favorites, Argentina landed in Germany with every intention of repeating as champions. Marcelo Bielsa’s team had dazzled in Korea/Japan, claiming the World Cup without ever being properly challenged during the competition. In the interim, they had also won two Copa America titles and maintained the core of their formidable squad. Key figures Hernan Crespo, Walter Samuel, and Juan Sebastian Veron were all ready to defend their title, while the retired Gabriel Batistuta was replaced by the precocious 24 yo. Javier Saviola. The emergence of Pablo Aimar had provided just one more weapon to one of the best midfields in the world.

If anyone had the credentials to dethrone the Albicelestes, it appeared to be a resilient Italian side. Quarterfinalists in 2002, the Azzurri had dramatically won Euro 2004 in Portugal and captured the 2005 Confederations Cup. They would seek the third jewel of their triple crown in Germany, led by superstar Francesco Totti.

Other title hopefuls included Brazil and Holland, who made up the second tier of contenders. In 34 yo. Rivaldo, Brazil had a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year who was capable of winning a big match. The Dutch also had firepower in Barcelona clubmates Patrick Kluivert and Ruud van Nistelrooy, as well as a score to settle after narrowly losing the Euro 2004 final. At the other end of the spectrum, Iceland, Finland, Angola, and Ghana would participate in their first ever World Cup, hoping to bring home respect, if not a trophy.

Group Stages

Group A: (Argentina, Colombia, Finland, Algeria)

Argentina got their title defense off to a very strong start, winning Group A with seven points. In the opening match of Germany 2006, the Albicelestes confidently dispatched newcomers Finland, 4-1, in Berlin. Their tie against Colombia and 5-0 rout of Algeria were good enough to comfortably secure top spot. Once again, Crespo lit up the FIFA World Cup and led his team with four goals in the group stage. The Argentine hitman now stood at 11 career goals in World Cup play, tied for fifth all-time with legends Jurgen Klinsmann and Sandor Kocsis. Colombia would follow their South American counterparts into the knockout round, thanks to a 2-0 defeat of the Finns in their final group match. The Scandinavians still left Germany with heads held high, thanks to their victory over Algeria, who finished dead last at the tournament. The Desert Foxes failed to meet even modest expectations, losing all three matches, conceding 10, and failing to score a goal.

Group B: (France, Belgium, Japan, United States)

France and Belgium emerged from a low-scoring Group B, riding strong defense into the last 16 of the World Cup. After drawing their opening match, 0-0, both European teams defeated Japan and the USA without conceding a goal. The French took top spot over Belgium on goal difference, while Japan came in third and the United Stages finished a disappointing fourth, losing all three games.

Group C: (Yugoslavia, Ghana, Germany, Czech Republic)

In one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history, hosts Germany failed to advance from the group stages as Yugoslavia and Ghana moved on to the knockout rounds. Things looked ominous for Die Mannschaft early in the tournament, as they lost their opening game, 1-0, to a superior Yugoslavian side. Though Christian Timm’s hat trick and the 4-1 demolition of the Czech Republic eased German nerves, they would still need a result against Ghana on the final matchday. A partisan and disbelieving crowd witnessed the final act of Germany’s tragedy, as Augustine’s 17th minute strike put Ghana ahead, forcing the hosts to fight for survival. Unable to equalize, the door finally shut on Rudi Voller’s side when Christian Worns was sent off in the 85th minute for a double yellow. Final score: Ghana 1-0 Germany. The hosts had made the final eight in 13 consecutive World Cups, but their dream to win on home soil died in Gelsenkirchen. Failing to lift the trophy with a mediocre German side was one thing, falling at the first hurdle was an entirely different matter. The DFB (German FA) would now have to face the nation, rebuild the national team, and explain a disaster befitting the Hindenburg.

Group D: (Denmark, England, Angola, Saudi Arabia)

The Danes showed their impressive qualifying campaign was no fluke, topping Group D with a perfect nine points. The dangerous Ebbe Sand gave Denmark a 1-0 win over England in their opening encounter, followed by comfortable victories over Angola and Saudi Arabia. Despite their opening loss, the Three Lions’ quality also shined through against their overwhelmed Asian and African opposition. Two wins later and England were through to the last 16.

Group E: (Holland, Peru, Iceland, Jamaica)

Paced by van Nistelrooy’s four goals, Holland won Group E in front of a formidable Peruvian team. The star striker brought his best form to Germany, allowing the Netherlands to see off plucky Iceland, 2-1 and pick apart hapless Jamaica, 4-0. Peru also advanced from the group, buoyed by their 0-0 draw with the Dutch and dramatic equalizer against Iceland. It looked as if the Scandinavians would improbably reach the knockout rounds at their first ever World Cup, but an 88th minute strike from Claudio Pizarro forced a 1-1 draw, sending the South Americans through instead.

Group F: (Italy, Romania, Mexico, China)

Coming into the cup as a potential title contender, Italy won Group F with three solid, albeit unspectacular, results. Their seven points and three clean sheets were enough for top spot, while Romania’s 1-0 victory over Mexico proved the difference in the battle for second. It would be the fifth consecutive appearance in the knockout rounds for the Eastern European country, a remarkable achievement for a “non-traditional” footballing power. Despite tying Italy, Mexico would have to settle for third, beating out a decent Chinese side.

Group G: (Spain, Nigeria, Uruguay, Croatia)

Finding themselves minutes away from elimination, Spain finally emerged to top a highly competitive Group G. The Spaniards entered their final match with Nigeria needing a result, having lost to Uruguay, 1-0, for the second consecutive World Cup. Tied in the dying moments, it took a clutch, 90th minute goal from Raul to win the contest, 3-2. The dramatic victory secured first place and qualification for Spain, ahead of impressive, six-point Nigeria. Despite their repeat upset of the Spanish, Uruguay would have to settle for third, ahead of lackluster Croatia.

Group H: (Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, Egypt)

The Selecao turned on the style as Brazil danced to a perfect record in Group H. Ze Roberto and Kaka’s playmaking, Elber’s finishing, and Roberto Carlos and Rovilson’s stout defending led the way in a team looking like potential champions. South Korea also impressed, defeating Egypt and Turkey to make their second consecutive knockout round. It was an impressive feat for the Asian nation, sending the third-placed Turks and abysmal, three-loss Egyptians home early.

[Balthazars]

Very well written, and quite interesting to boot. Excellent work, MGold!

[Mark Snellink]

Tremendous read so far, kutgw

[Australian Stig]

Enjoying this a lot, but can't say I prefer it to the RL results, simply due to the lack of an Australian presence

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2006

Germany

Part 2 of 3

Round of 16

Belgium 2-1 Argentina: The Belgians scored a famous upset in Munich, eliminating defending champion Argentina, 2-1. It initially looked like the Second Round encounter would be another walk-over for the title favorites, as Hernan Crespo put the Argentines ahead in the second minute. However, the European underdogs would not break and were rewarded with a Mbo Mpenza equalizer on the stroke of halftime. Belgium picked up where they left off after the break, as defensive stalwart Joos Valgaeren got on the end of a set piece and headed home in the 47th minute. With the “Red Devils” on dream street and the defending champions uncharacteristically on the back foot, Argentina’s world-class squad began to unravel. The Albicelestes pushed hard for the equalizer, but a poorly-timed, two-footed challenge by Javier Saviola led to a straight red card in the 68th. Argentina were down a man, down a goal, and unable to find a reply as the final whistle blew. Upsetting the consensus favorites, Belgium were now in their first ever World Cup quarterfinal and anything seemed possible.

Denmark 2-0 Ghana: The Danes put an end to Ghana’s first ever World Cup, running out 2-0 victors in Frankfurt. Jesper Christiansen recorded his fourth consecutive clean sheet of the tournament, as Ebbe Sand and Marc Nygaard did the damage with first half strikes. It would be the second quarterfinals appearance in three tries for Denmark, while the Black Stars would look to someday build on their promising World Cup debut.

Holland 2-0 Romania: The Oranje rolled on in Germany, thanks to a Patrick Kluivert brace in their 2-0 victory over Romania. While the Barcelona ace’s first half strikes were the difference on the scoreboard, Romania decidedly outplayed the Dutch on the pitch. Unable to convert their superior shot totals and possession into goals, the impressive “Tricolori” bowed out of Germany 2006.

Brazil 3-3 Nigeria (Brazil advances on PKs, 3-1): In a World Cup classic, Brazil emerged from a dramatic, 3-3 draw in Berlin’s Olympiastadion and advanced to the quarterfinals on penalty kicks. The anticipated matchup looked finished in the 75th minute, as tournament sensation Elber had completed his hat trick and given Brazil a 3-1 lead. However, veteran supersub Jay Jay Okocha clawed the Super Eagles back into the contest, netting in the 84th minute and setting up the equalizer in the 90th. The underdogs had shown why they were considered one of the strongest African sides in recent memory, pushing the favored Brazilians to a penalty kick shootout. With a spot in the final eight on the line, the four-time champions held their nerve while the young Nigerians folded under the pressure. Jero Shakpoke sent the final attempt wide, allowing Brazil to breathe a large sigh of relief and continue their World Cup journey into the quarterfinals.

France 4-1 Colombia: Les Blues started looking like potential champions in Saarbrucken, dismantling Colombia, 4-1, in a Second Round encounter. 34 yo. Zinedine Zidane struck twice as France looked to reclaim the glories of 1998. With four goals already, “Zizou” was playing like a man on a mission, knowing that elimination would likely mean the end of his esteemed World Cup career.

Yugoslavia 3-1 England: Impressive Yugoslavia rolled into the final eight, outplaying a capable but unspectacular England side, 3-1. Mateja Kezman got affairs started early in Hannover with his 2nd minute strike, while Marjan Markovic’s excellent free kick doubled the advantage in the 24th. Despite Emile Heskey pulling one back, Darko Kovacevic put matters out of reach in the 68th, sending the Three Lions packing and the Yugoslavs into celebration.

Italy 1-1 Peru (Italy advances on PKs, 3-1): A drab Second Round encounter was mercifully ended by penalty kicks, as Italy booked their return ticket to the World Cup quarterfinals. The highly defensive match produced only five shots on goal, but 23 yo. Antonio Cassano broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, less than 60 seconds after entering the game. Not to be outdone, Bayern star Claudio Pizarro continued to score big goals for Peru, drawing level in the 74th. A shootout eventually decided the victor, as the Italians held their nerve and goalkeeper Vicenzo Sicignano’s heroics helped see the Azzurri through, title hopes still intact.

Spain 3-1 South Korea: La Furia Roja put an end to the Red Devils’ World Cup dreams, running out convincing winners in Dusseldorf. Veteran striker Victor gave Spain an early lead in the 4th minute, while Gaizka Mendieta made it 2-0 with his 14th minute penalty kick. Though the Koreans drew one back in the 57th, it was Victor again who headed home in the 74th, firing the Europeans into the quarterfinal round.

Quarterfinals

Denmark 3-0 Belgium: The Danes comprehensively defeated Belgium in Berlin, advancing to their first ever World Cup semifinal in spectacular style. Denmark asserted its will early when Henrik Pedersen’s diving head found the net in the 10th minute, while Bora Zivkovik and Ebbe Sand scored to make it 3-0 by halftime. Never looking back, the Danish defense locked the game down in the second half, having not conceded a goal all tournament. Morten Olsen’s team had shed its darkhorse label and emerged as legitimate contenders for the World Cup crown.

Brazil 1-0 Holland (aet): It took a “golden goal” to settle Brazil and Holland’s quarterfinal showdown, sending the Selecao through to the final four. After a scoreless 90 minutes in Hamburg, the evenly-matched contest was finally decided by Brazil’s clinical veterans. Elber connected with Cafu’s cross into the box, heading past the Dutch keeper for the winning goal. The 98th-minute winner was the sixth goal of the tournament for the 33 yo. striker, who was staking a strong claim for the Golden Ball.

Yugoslavia 1-0 France: Returning to the semifinals for the first time in 44 years, Yugoslavia defeated France in a bizarre quarterfinal clash. The Eastern Europeans were deserved winners, but got help from a depleted French side that finished the game with nine men. A combination of injuries and early substitutions meant that Paul Le Guen could not replace Zidane or Marama Vahirua when both went down midway through the second half. Playing with nine men, the depleted French almost held out for extra time until Mateja Kezman broke the deadlock in dramatic fasion. It was a cruel ending, as the Yugoslavian’s utilized their two-man advantage and found Kezman open in the box, half-volleying home deep into stoppage time. Yugoslavia 1, France 0. A heroic last stand crushed as fulltime drew on Zinedine Zidane’s World Cup career.

Spain 1-0 Italy: The defending European and Confederations Cup champions crashed out of the World Cup as Spain topped Italy in a pressure-packed quarterfinal. Though the Azzurri dominated a scoreless opening half, it was the Spaniards who surged late and grabbed the 89th minute winner. Victor continued his rich run of form, netting in his third consecutive game for his fourth goal of the tournament. Spain were only one game away from their first ever final, while dreams of an Italian triple crown were crushed.

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2006

Germany

Part 3 of 3

Semifinals

Denmark 2-1 Brazil: Denmark were through to their first ever World Cup final after a stirring victory over mighty Brazil, 2-1. The Scandinavians stunned the Munich crowd as Allan Bak Jensen scored in the 2nd minute. Already off to a dream start, Denmark went 2-nil up after influential captain Ebbe Sand struck in the 14th minute. The Brazilians then showed their poise, battling back into the game with Kaka’s 45th minute strike. As the second half unfolded and the Selecao searched for an equalizer, Denmark’s watertight defense continued to hold. As fulltime sounded, Copenhagen erupted in joy and disbelief. Denmark were good value for the victory and were now one win away from a world championship.

Yugoslavia 0-0 Spain (Yugoslavia advances on PKs, 3-2): Having fallen at the semifinal stage in 1930 and 1962, Yugoslavia broke through in 2006 and advanced to the World Cup final. There was little separating the two sides in their final four encounter, though the Yugoslavians spurned a golden chance to win the match in regulation. An apparent dive by Darko Kovacevic gave the Eastern Europeans a penalty kick in the 32nd minute, but football karma punished the Lazio striker as he missed from the spot. With a ticket to the final on the line, Yugoslavian goalkeeper Sasa Stevanovic turned national hero in the penalty kick shootout. His save on Julen Guerrero sent his country into their first ever final, where they would meet Denmark for the biggest prize in sport.

Third Place Match

Brazil 2-1 Spain (aet): Brazil did not leave Germany with their fifth World Cup, but the Selecao finished their tournament on a high note by beating Spain for third place. The South Americans dominated the match, as Guilherme’s first half strike was promptly equalized by Raul shortly before the break. In sudden death overtime, it was defender Dede who delivered Brazil the bronze with his 97th minute strike. Brazil had captured third place, but only a title would suffice next time, as the country prepared to host the 2010 World Cup.

Final

2006 World Cup Final

Denmark vs. Yugoslavia

A city that once divided Europe, Berlin now united the world as it hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup final. It would be a matchup “darkhorses” that emerged into legitimate contenders over the month-long competition: Denmark and Yugoslavia. Both countries were contesting their first ever final and the victor would become only the eight country to put their name on the prestigious World Cup trophy.

Undefeated in qualifying, Denmark entered the tournament as a team to watch for many pundits. Their play in Germany immediately merited the hype, dispatching England en route to a perfect group stage record. From there, impressive performances against Ghana (2-0) and Belgium (3-0) piqued Danish hopes, while the team’s famous semifinal win over Brazil (2-1) showed Morten Olsen’s squad were for real. Another win would see Denmark, a nation of less than six million people, deservingly crowned world champions. Victory would depend on captain Ebbe Sand’s continuing brilliance, as well as production from dangerman Henrik Pedersen (3 goals, 3 assists). Holding midfielder Thomas Gravesen had also played exceptionally in front of a backline that only surrendered one goal the entire tournament. Such stinginess would be necessary to keep the talented Yugoslavian attack off the scoreboard.

Though Denmark was perhaps the more impressive side entering the final, Yugoslavia had traveled a tougher road to Berlin. Dejan Savicevic’s side began the tournament by beating hosts Germany, 1-0, in Munich. With a perfect record through the group stage, Yugoslavia then defeated England (3-1) in the Second Round before sinking France (1-0) in the quarterfinal. It took penalty kicks to get past Spain in the semifinal (0-0), but the Yugoslavians were now in Berlin and so close to capping a dream run through Germany 2006. A moment of magic from Mateja Kezman or another dominating defensive performance from Goran Bunjevcevic would be the potential difference-makers for the Eastern Europeans. Germany, England, France, and Spain had all kneeled before Yugoslavia, was it to be Denmark’s turn?

It didn’t take long for Denmark to make their mark on the final, as Sand put the Scandinavians ahead in the 5th minute. The skipper capped a brilliant team move for his fifth goal of the tournament, but the best was still yet to come for the Danes. In the 20th minute, Pedersen pounced on a rebound and sent the red side of the stadium into ecstasy: 2-0 Denmark.

The Yugoslavians came out of halftime needing a much stronger performance and got their lifeline from 22 yo. Mirko Vucinic. The young striker’s 49th minute goal gave the Eastern Europeans some hope, until Bora Zivkovic’s 59th minute penalty kick and Jesper Gronkjaer’s 62nd sublime banana shot broke affairs wide open. A Kezman consolation goal in the 65th ended up being a mere formality, as Zivkovic struck again in the 81st and completed the rout. Fulltime: Denmark 5-2 Yugoslavia.

Denmark had improbably won the World Cup, saving their best performance for last. The 5-2 drubbing in the final left no doubt about the tournament’s best team, as wild celebrations touched off across the tiny nation. Their name would now stand beside Brazil, Germany, and the rest of past World Cup winners. During the Second World War, Germany had invaded and occupied their neighbors to the north. Now, as Morten Olsen’s heroes received the World Cup and celebrated on the winner’s podium, it was Denmark who had marched on Berlin and conquered Germany 2006.

Denmark 5-2 Yugoslavia

(Sand 5, Pedersen 20, Zivkovic pen 59, 81, Gronkjaer 62 – Vucinic 49, Kezman 65)

Awards

Champions: Denmark

Runners-up: Yugoslavia

Third Place: Brazil

Golden Ball: Elber (Brazil FW, 33 yo., 6 goals)

Silver Ball: Henrik Pedersen (Denmark FW, 31 yo., 4 goals & 3 assists)

Bronze Ball: Mateja Kezman (Yugoslavia FW, 27 yo., 5 goals)

Golden Boot: Elber (Brazil FW, 33. yo., 6 goals)

Silver Boot: Ebbe Sand (Denmark FW, 33 yo., 5 goals)

Bronze Boot: Hernan Crespo (Argentina FW, 30 yo., 5 goals)

Best Goalkeeper: Jesper Christiansen (Denmark GK, 27 yo., 5 clean sheets)

Winning Captain: Ebbe Sand (Denmark)

Winning Manager: Morten Olsen (Denmark)

[stoehrst]

I'm not sure I like how this game is representing the USA...

[ScottT!]

Well, that's a little different from how it actually played out!

[MGoldman]

Haha, yeah. Just a little different

[MGoldman]

World Cup Legends

Zinedine Zidane (France)

Tournaments Played: 1998, 2002, 2006

World Cup Honors:

World Cup Winner: 1998

World Cup Third Place: 2002

FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match: 1998

Career Goals: 8

Other Honors:

FIFA World Player of the Year: 1998, 2000

Champions League Winner: 2005 (Juventus)

Serie A Winner: 96/97, 97/98 (Juventus)

European Championships Winner: 2000

UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament: 2000

FIFA Confederations Cup Winner: 2001, 2003

Clubs: Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid, Juventus, Dortmund, Koln, Caen

On a famous Parisian night, Zinedine Zidane forever wrote himself into World Cup history. His two headed goals against Brazil won France their first ever World Cup, capturing the 1998 title on home soil. Zizou’s legacy inevitably centers around that one unforgettable evening at the Stade de France, but the talismanic midfielder enjoyed a long, successful career for both club and country. By his retirement at 36, he had earned the greatest team and individual honors the game could bestow and took his rightful place beside Michel Platini as one of greatest French footballers ever.

First division side Cannes was Zidane’s first stop on the road to stardom. Though he played sparingly in his first two years with the French club, he soon distinguished himself as a rising talent and won a move to Girondins Bordeaux. The club’s European success in the UEFA and Intertoto Cups soon caught the eye of Juventus, who brought the 24-year old Zizou to Turin. Zidane flourished in his first, five-year stint at Juventus, wining two Serie A titles (1997, 1998) and winning the league’s MVP award in 2001.

Recognizing Zizou’s rare talents, Real Madrid made Zidane the most expensive footballer ever in 46 million pound transfer. The midfielder played at a high level for the Spanish superclub, but a dominant Barcelona side and heavy expectations led to a trophy-less tenure at the Bernabeu. Returning to Juventus, Zidane helped guide the side to the Champions League title in 2005. It was sweet vindication for his unspectacular tenure in Madrid and revenge for his two previous losses in the final, both during his prior stay in Turin. Zidane wrapped up his club career in 2009, having left Juventus for the Bundesliga and eventually to his native France. He spent his final season playing for minnows Caen, but even the legendary midfielder could not keep the squad in the top flight, despite almost winning the French Cup.

Despite a glowing club resume, Zidane’s greatest achievements came playing for France. The moment of his career arrived at World Cup 1998, scoring two goals in the final to defeat Brazil. Helping France win their first ever world title on home soil, Zidane forever etched his name into national lore with his man-of-the-match performance. Zizou, like his predecessor Platini, would also star in the European Championships as Les Blues captured Euro 2000. Zidane was at the peak of his powers in Holland and Belguim, winning Player of the Tournament honors.

After winning the World Cup and European Championships, Zidane steered France to two Confederations Cup titles (2001, 2003), but could not scale the same heights again at the FIFA World Cup. Les Blues finished third at the 2002 tournament in Korea/Japan and were unlucky to lose in the quarterfinals at Germany 2006. At both tournaments, Zidane was the driving force of the French team, providing timely goals and showing off his playmaking abilities. It was the same combination of clutch performances and field vision that made Zizou a 2-time FIFA Player of the Year and transformed France into the best overall nation during his World Cup tenure (1998-2006). The fact that Zidane was never a traditional goalscorer, but still amassed eight career World Cup goals is a testament to his ability to rise on the game’s biggest stage. Like rising above Brazilian defenders on a clear Paris night, Zizou’s game elevated his country to World Cup, Euro, and Confederation Cup triumphs. 130 caps, 39 international goals, 1 World Cup legend: Zinedine Zidane.

[MGoldman]

World Cup 2010

Brazil

60 years on, the planet’s biggest sporting event returned to the land of samba for World Cup 2010. Brazil welcomed the world for the month-long competition, hoping to triumph on home soil and finally exorcise the demons of 1950. In its previous hosting, the Selecao lost the decisive game of the final round, handing the 1950 title to bitter rivals Uruguay and seeing the World Cup slip through the nation’s fingers. Brazil had since won a record four World Cups, but capturing a fifth title on home soil, not to mention in the same stadium as the “tragedy of 1950”, would be the sweetest victory yet.

Brazil entered the tournament as provisional favorites, owing to the side’s quality and status as hosts. 31 yo. Dede was the star player of this Selecao vintage, a consummate two-way winger that gaffer Giovanni would rely on for leadership. The team also sought inspiration in the middle of the park, where 24 yo. Cassio spearheaded the Brazilian attack. If the offense caught fire and veteran centerback Lucio marshaled a capable rearguard, the Selecao could march on to Rio and claim their fifth World Cup. The Brazilian public would demand no less than a championship, but would their heroes deliver?

Among the other entrants, Holland posed the stiffest challenge to the hosts. The Oranje had come of age in Sweden, winning Euro 2008 two years earlier. 33 yo. Ruud van Nistelrooy was still one of the world’s deadliest hitmen, while winger Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel led a strong supporting cast. Joining the Dutch, Denmark also headed into Brazil 2010 with high expectations. The Danes had surprised everyone four years earlier, as the Big Red Machine took Germany 2006 by storm and won their first ever World Cup. Would Denmark’s impressive title run become a blip on the radar of World Cup history or was there now a new player in international football? One traditional powerhouse, Spain, would fail to qualify for the finals, while Qatar and Ivory Coast made their introduction on the game’s biggest stage. With a carnival atmosphere awaiting the world, it was time to kick off Brazil 2010.

Group Stages

Group A: (Denmark, Uruguay, Algeria, Yugoslavia)

Defending champions Denmark rolled through the group stage, winning all three games without surrendering a goal. Brazil 2010 opened with a rematch of the 2006 final, pitting the Danes against Yugoslavia in Rio. Denmark’s 1-0 victory denied the Yugoslavians a chance at redemption as the 2006 finalists failed to make it out of the first round. With a three-way tie at three points, goal differential sent Uruguay past Algeria and Yugoslavia and into the Second Round.

Group B: (Italy, Nigeria, Belgium, Colombia)

The Azzurri topped Group B with a perfect nine points, signaling their title aspirations to the rest of the field. A shock, 6-2, drubbing of Belgium set the tone for the Italian side, as Antonio Cassano and midfielder Ighli Vannucchi brought their A-game to Brazil. Nigeria advanced to their second consecutive knockout round, squeaking past Belgium and Colombia on goal differential.

Group C: (Ukraine, Brazil, UAE, Canada)

Hosts Brazil stumbled through their opening group, while Ukraine emerged as a potential title contender. The Selecao’s World Cup got off to a dreadful start, as an Andriy Shevchenko-inspired Ukraine upset the Brazilians, 4-2, in Salvador. A 2-0 result against the UAE and embarrassing 1-1 tie versus Canada were just enough to send Brazil to the next round, far behind nine-point Ukraine. With the knockout stages looming, the hosts would have to regroup and improve dramatically.

Group D: (Germany, Croatia, Ghana, Japan)

Exorcising the demons of their 2006 campaign, a resurgent Germany topped a formidable Group D. Captain Christian Timm was once again in fine form, scoring his eighth and ninth career World Cup goals. Croatia would join Germany in the Second Round, thanks to a late winner versus Japan.

Group E: (France, Sweden, Ivory Coast, Qatar)

France dominated Group E with three wins, but the real story was further down the table, where Sweden barely held off two World Cup debutants for a spot in the Second Round. Ivory Coast’s 2-1 upset of the Swedes set up a tense, final matchday that finally sent the Europeans through on goal differential. Both Ivory Coast and Qatar finished their inaugural World Cup campaigns with three points, but without a spot in the last 16.

Group F: (Argentina, Ireland, USA, Paraguay)

In one of the tournament’s most competitive groups, Argentina eventually emerged at the top of F, followed closely by Ireland. The plucky Irish scored a famous victory in their opening match, defeating the Argentines, 1-0. The Albicelestes eventually recovered and won the group with wins over the USA and Paraguay, as Ireland’s defeat on the final matchday cost them top spot.

Group G: (England, Czech Republic, Mexico, Saudi Arabia)

It was hardly convincing, but the Three Lions secured passage into the Second Round and topped Group G with six points. It looked like the same old story after England’s opening, 2-1 loss to the Czechs, but two wins and a slip-up from the Central Europeans made the difference for Sam Allardyce’s men. The Czech Republic would finish runners-up on five points, while not even Horacio Sanchez’s four goals could get Mexico to the next round.

Group H: (Holland, Portugal, South Korea, Egypt)

Justifying their pre-tournament hype, Holland captured Group H with nine points. Van Nistelrooy was tipped to be one of Brazil 2010’s biggest stars and the Dutchman looked the part with goals in each of the Netherlands’ three wins. Portugal rallied from their opening, 2-1 loss to Holland and qualified for the knockout stages on four points.

[MGoldman]

Brazil 2010

(Part 2 of 3)

Round of 16

Denmark 2-1 Nigeria: Pushed hard by a spirited Nigerian side, defending champions Denmark punched their return ticket to the quarterfinals. The underdog Africans dominated proceedings early on, but an Allan Bak Jensen freekick put the Danes ahead in the 25th minute. Nigeria netted a deserved equalizer in the 61st, but Thomas Gravesen’s penalty kick provided the winner four minutes later.

Germany 3-0 Brazil: The dreams of a nation lay in tatters on the Salvador pitch, as Brazil crashed out of their own World Cup in only the second round. The hosts looked unconvincing throughout the group stage and were never a match for the clinical Germans, who ran out 3-0 winners. 32 yo. Marco Reich scored the opener in the 15th minute and then set up Rene Schneider (’20) and Gerald Asamoah (’59) for the insurance markers. Over 140,000 spectators bore witness to the Brazilian tragedy, as the Selecao crumbled under the same expectations as the Germans four years earlier.

France 2-1 Ireland: Les Blues weathered an early storm by Ireland to advance to their fourth straight World Cup quarterfinal. Playing their biggest game in a generation, the Irish were on dream street when Richie Partridge scored in the third minute. France would reply in the 23rd minute through Djibril Cisse and eventually found a winner when Thierry Henry broke the deadlock in the 58th. The French striker had broken Irish hearts in a game that looked like it could go either way.

Holland 4-0 Czech Republic: It was a Dutch demolition in Rio de Janeiro, as Holland crushed the Czech Republic, 4-0. The match began to slip away from Czechs when Daniel Zitka was sent off in the 12th minute for a foul in the box. Two-goal Wilfried Bouma converted the ensuing spot kick, while Arjen Robben and 22 yo. Geert Smulders also got on the scoresheet. Playing with 10 men, the Czech Republic never looked like equalizing as Holland allowed only two shots on goal.

Uruguay 2-0 Italy: The South Americans produced the shock of the round, dumping out Italy, 2-0, in Porto Alegre. Andres Nicolas Olivera netted a brace (24’, 79’) and the Uruguayan rearguard bent, but did not break against the formidable Azzurri attack. In 1950, Uruguay had won the previous World Cup staged in Brazil and now looked to repeat those heroics.

Ukraine 2-0 Croatia: Ukraine won a battle of former Eastern bloc nations, making the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Florin Cernat and Alexandr Rykun were both on target in the first half, setting off wild scenes in the Kiev streets. With a clash against Uruguay awaiting them, a semifinal spot seemed within reach for the Yellow-Blues.

Argentina 2-0 Sweden: Legendary striker Hernan Crespo wrote his name into the history books, as the Argentine became the World Cup’s greatest ever goalscorer in his nation’s victory over Sweden. Affairs were level early in the second half until a Nils-Eric Johansson foul inside the box sent Crespo to the spot. Stepping up to hit the penalty, Crespo converted for his 15th career World Cup goal, passing previous record holder Gerd Muller and making history in Sao Paulo. The Argentine icon would add a second in the 89th minute, outjumping the keeper for his 16th career strike. Argentina were on to the quarterfinals, led by 33 yo. Crespo, now cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time.

England 4-1 Portugal: After 20 long years, the Three Lions were finally back in the quarterfinals. England’s 4-1 victory over Portugal was a comprehensive performance. It was started by Gareth Barry’s second-minute strike, followed by Michael Owen’s impressive brace (16’, 53’), and finished by Brett Proctor’s opportunistic finish (’75). The English would now face a tough challenge in their quarterfinal showdown with Argentina, but their performance in Recife gave supporters hope.

Quarterfinals

Germany 3-0 Denmark: Denmark’s title defense came to an emphatic end as Germany continued their revolution under Ralf Rangnick. The famed Maracana watched on as Nico Frommer broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, followed by second half strikes from Reich (53’) and Kai Oswald (’67). Though the defending champion Danes threatened throughout the match, 20 yo. Olaf Holzer was up to the task and had another strong game in goal to add to his Yashin Award candidacy. The Germans were now back in the semifinals, riding back-to-back 3-nil wins and looking like a legitimate contender.

Holland 2-0 France: The Oranje continued their stellar tournament with a comprehensive, 2-0 win over France. Youssouf Hersi (22’) and Robben (’34) did the damage with first-half tallies, while the Dutch defense limited Les Blues to only three shots on goal. Now into the last four, Holland would have to vanquish bitter rival Germany for a spot in the finals.

Ukraine 3-2 Uruguay: In a quarterfinal without traditional powers but plenty of drama, Andriy Shevchenko’s hattrick propelled Ukraine past Uruguay, 3-2. The 33 yo. superstar got Ukraine off the mark early in the 6th minute before Carlos Jaques equalized for Uruguay in the 11th. Only minutes after halftime, Shevchenko scored from the spot to put the Europeans ahead again, but Ivan Alonso replied in the 56th, tying the game at 2-2. The entertaining contest then took a final, dramatic turn, as captain Shevchenko stepped up again for his side. A 57th minute strike, only one minute after Uruguay’s equalizer, put Ukraine ahead for good and through to the semifinals. “Sheva”, now leading the Golden Boot race on six goals, put himself at the forefront of the MVP shortlist with his heroics.

England 4-1 Argentina: England fans witnessed one of their team’s best performances ever, as the Three Lions swept past Argentina, 4-1, and into the World Cup semifinals. Jermaine Defoe continued his stellar tournament, scoring the opening goal in the 11th minute off a Joe Cole service. With the momentum in their corner, England seized the moment as “Captain Cole” struck in the 43rd before Wes Brown added a third before halftime, sending the travelling support into disbelief. Cole completed his brace in the 64th minute, stretching the lead to 4-0 before Argentina pulled back a consolation goal. Despite a slow start to the tournament, England were now in fourth gear and two wins away from World Cup glory.

[MGoldman]

Brazil 2010

(Part 3 of 3)

Semifinals

Holland 2-2 Germany (Holland advances on PKs, 3-1): In a thrilling semifinal encounter, the Dutch resiliently fought back twice against Germany to book their ticket in the World Cup final. With almost 150,000 people packed into the stands in Curitiba, Germany struck first in the 12th minute. Captain Christian Timm’s blasted the ball into the net for his tenth career World Cup goal, but it would only take the Dutch seven minutes to equalize. Niels Oude Kamphius leveled in the 19th minute, tying the score at 1-1. Going ahead once again, Germany scored in the 24th minute as 26 yo. Mario Backhaus capitalized on a loose ball. The whirlwind first half would end 2-1, but fans were treated to more drama after the intermission. David Mendes da Silva tied the game up for Holland in the 55th and the deadlock gave way to a penalty shootout. With a spot in the finals on the line, Moritz Volz and Backhaus shanked the first two penalties for Germany. Sander Westerveld eventually made the climactic save for Holland, denying Nico Frommer and sending the Dutch into their first World Cup final since 1978.

Ukraine 0-0 England (Ukraine advances on PKs, 5-3): Ukraine was dreaming of World Cup glory after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over England. The semifinal encounter went scoreless over 120 minutes, with England enjoying the better of play and having a Jermaine Defoe goal disallowed. Nevertheless, the Three Lions were gifted a considerable piece of luck when star striker Andriy Shevchenko missed a simple finish late in extra time. The lifeline had some England fans thinking it was fate, but a missed Defoe penalty and subsequent conversion from Dmitry Parfenov ultimately sent Ukraine through to its first ever World Cup final. “Fate” had turned into a cosmic joke and football was not coming home…at least not yet.

Third Place Match

England 2-0 Germany: Receiving some solace for their heartbreaking elimination, England defeated bitter rival Germany, 2-0, in the Third Place Match. 24 yo. midfielder Justin Gray opened scoring with his header in the dying minutes of the first half, while Michael Owen made his potential curtain call on the World Cup stage with his 86th minute strike. It was bronze for the Three Lions, the best England performance since 1966, but still so far from Jules Rimet.

Final

2010 World Cup Final

Holland vs. Ukraine

Rio de Janeiro provided the backdrop for football’s biggest spectacle, as Holland and Ukraine squared off in the 2010 World Cup final. Over 170,000 fans were expected to jam into the famed Maracana stadium, which also hosted the 1950 final. This time, a new champion would be crowned as the winner would become only the ninth nation ever to lift the cup.

Holland entered the match as favorites, having lived up to their pre-tournament billing as title contenders. Winger Arjen Robben had been the Dutch dangerman in Brazil, putting in a series of fine displays to lead the Oranje back to the final. Losers in 1974 and 1978, Holland were hoping that the third time would be the charm and that “the best nation never to win a World Cup” would finally lift the trophy. Their dramatic semifinal comeback versus Germany and comprehensive victories over the Czech Republic and France suggested it just might be.

In contrast, Ukraine entered the final as underdogs, albeit ones with every possibility of causing an upset. Oleg Blokhin’s side grabbed headlines early in the tournament with their group stage thrashing of hosts Brazil. From there, the Eastern Europeans maintained their momentum and advanced past Croatia, Uruguay, and England in the knockout stages. Ukraine was only making its second appearance at the World Cup, but what the side lacked in experience it more than made up in grit, star power, and leadership. Striker Andriy Shevchenko had emerged as one of the stars of the tournament, already netting six goals en route to the final. If the inspirational captain came to play, Ukraine’s dream of World Cup glory would become a distinct reality.

The sides had met previously in the Euro 2008 semifinal, where Holland had run out 2-0 victors en route to winning the tournament. In a rematch for all the marbles, it was time for the game to begin in Rio, a new champion waiting to be crowned.

It was the underdogs who struck first, as Andrey Vorobey scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 14th minute. With a 1-0 advantage, Ukraine doubled their lead when Shevchenko’s header found net on the half hour mark. Holland entered halftime down 2-0, but found an instant reply after the break. Rafael van der Vaart finished off a superb team move in the 52nd minute as the Dutch pulled one back and continued to push forward. Only four minutes later, captain Mark van Bommel completed the comeback in spectacular fashion. The Inter man rifled a half-volley past the keeper, drawing level at 2-2 in the 56th minute.

The crowd at the Maracana knew they were witnessing a classic and the tension heightened further as the match entered sudden-death extra time. Ukraine goalkeeper Alexandr Shovkovskiy had performed admirably in net, keeping his side in the title game with a series of clutch saves. With the underdogs barely hanging on, Ukraine’s grip finally slipped on the match when Shovkovskiy took 22 yo. Geert Smulders down in the area.

Putting the ball down on the spot, Van der Vaart stepped up to take the biggest shot of his life. He had started the game on the bench, but now had a chance to win his country’s first ever World Cup. With the world watching, Van der Vaart put the ball past Shovkovskiy and into the net, winning the World Cup for Holland with a dramatic “Golden Goal”. The 100th minute strike set off delirium in orange-clad Amsterdam, as the Dutch completed one of the best comeback in football history to cap one of the World Cup’s most memorable finals. Underdogs Ukraine rued their missed opportunity and continued to dream about what may have been. Finally world champions, it was Holland’s night as captain van Bommel claimed the trophy on a magical Rio evening.

Holland 3-2 Ukraine (aet)

(Van der Vaart 52, pen 100, Van Bommel 56 – Vorobey 14, Shevchenko 30)

Awards

Champions: Holland

Runners-up: Ukraine

Third Place: England

Golden Ball: Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine FW, 33 yo., 7 goals & 1 assist)

Silver Ball: Arjen Robben (Holland MF, 26 yo., 2 goals & 2 assists)

Bronze Ball: Gareth Barry (England DF, 29 yo., 1 goal & 1 assist)

Golden Boot: Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine FW, 33 yo., 7 goals)

Silver Boot: Andrey Vorobey (Ukraine FW, 31 yo., 5 goals)

Bronze Boot: Michael Owen (England FW, 30 yo., 4 goals)

Best Goalkeeper: Olaf Holzer (Germany GK, 20 yo., 3 clean sheets)

Winning Captain: Mark van Bommel (Holland)

Winning Manager: Louis van Gaal (Holland)

[Spav]

Redemption for the Dutch in 2010. KUTGW mate.

[MGoldman]

Thanks, Spav.

I know this might be unanswerable, but is there a way to fix a CM 01/02 file that's likely corrupted? My game won't go past Aug. 2, 2010 and it freezes no matter which of the three alternating save file I use. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Spav]

Have you tried going "on holidays" to get past that point?

[MGoldman]

Yeah, have tried that and also used multiple save files. Sorry I couldn't keep it going

[Elrithral]

Real shame this got corrupted, it was one of my favourites. Have you tried loading a new save and holidaying through to 2010, the fact that it's International football means that it won't suffer too much from any consistency issues. I'd love to see it go further.