Finals

World Cup Day 24 (29/06/02): Third place play-off
Turkey won 3-1 against Korea, not that anyone really cares at this point...

Semi-Finals

World Cup Day 23 (26/06/02): Brazil in the finals. Shock!

1-0 against Turkey, Ronaldo...

World Cup Day 22 (25/06/02): Farewell Korea, as Germany make final
Worst German team ever. Fact! Or so it says here, but this is also a German team that's had a surprisingly easy route to the finals, having not faced any of the big boys along the way. 1-0 again, Michael Ballack...

Quarter-finals

World Cup Day 21 (22/06/02): It's a Rubbish game anyway!
South Korea through on pens against Spain, Turkey through on Golden Goal against Senegal.

Right, now for the important bit. The full uncensored reaction to England's elimination as heard by BBC Digital viewers after MOTD was supposed to have finished, and Gary, Alan et al, thought they were off the air.

Ian Wright summed up the second half and SGE's tactics thus

"Seaman was f***ing five yards off his line. And what the f*** was he [Eriksson] doing taking Michael Owen off?"

And all Alan Hansen could muster when asked who was playing next was

"It's the f***ing Krauts."

Marvellous guys. You certainly wouldn't have got that on ITV

World Cup Day 20 (21/06/02): ENGLAND PROBABLY WON'T BE WINNING THE WORLD CUP AFTER ALL
Don't want to play anymore. Football's a rubbish game, the ball was rubbish, the pitch was rubbish, it was too flippin' hot out there, I got up at 06:15 just so I could get into work and watch the match there, there players were better than ours, I almost got caught up in World Cup hysteria after our 3-0 defeat of Denmark, thinking wouldn't it be great if we went onn to win the World Cup. And I don't want to play anymore. It's our game, we invented it, and everyone else nicked it (actually some Chinese monks invented it, back in the 9th Century, or something). And how dare some team from Brazil have better players than us! SHIT! I'm having a really bad day today, and I've got a really bad headache!

Yes, you might have noticed by the sudden wave of misery sweeping the country, ENGLAND have been knocked out of the World Cup, 2-1 by the team who are going to go on and win it, BRAZIL. It was looking quite good when Micky Owen put us a goal up midway through the first half, unfortunately Rivaldo equalised on the stroke of half-time, then Ronaldiniho (or whatever), got a jammy free-kick which should've been a cross, but turned into a goal. NOT SEAMAN'S FAULT, I repaeat, NOT SEAMAN'S FAULT! And anyone who says it was needs their ass whippping. Ronaldiniho then got sent off for stamping on Danny Mills, which is the equivalent of turing them into a George Graham © . Arsenal side, as they shut up shop after that, and England didn't have a bloody chance. Did the better side win? Well, we were better in the first half. And they'd flown Lineker, Hansen, Wright, and Reid out especially...

Yes I was gracious in play, but I'm going to be oh so bitter in defeat. KOREA for the cup!

Germans won, which I think is slightly better than the US winning. But only just...

World Cup Day 19 (18/06/02): Italians stunned as Korea repeat trick of 66
ITALY like Spain two games earlier scored early on in the match (Vieri 18), and then seemed intent on sitting on their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the 90 minutes. And like Spain they were punished as their opponents SOUTH KOREA hit them with a late equaliser, forcing the game into extra time (Seol Ki-Hyeon 88). Like Spain, they were forced to play with only tem-men, Totti was sent off for diving in the 103rd minute, his second bookable offence of the game. Unlike Spain, Italy failed to be the victors in a penalty shoot-out that must surely beckon. Ahn Jung-Hwan who had missed a penalty awarded to Korea as early as the 4th minute, scored the winner for Korea with just 4 minutes of extra time to go, sending yet another World Cup favourite crashing out of the tournament. The scenes of jubilation in Seoul, it was as if they'd won the World Cup.. JAPAN weren't quite as lucky as theit co-hosts as Turkey proved too much for them, losing 1-0 (Davala 12)...

World Cup Day 18 (17/06/02): It's Brazil
BELGIUM's brave fight finally came crashing down in the final quarter of the match as Rivaldo (64) and Ronaldo (87) struck in quick succession to out BRAZIL into the last eight and a meeting with, ahem, England. England hopes may be pinned on a Brasilian performance such as this as for much of the game they were unable to get out of second gear, with the Belgans going close to pulling off another World Cup shock...

The USA managed something like it beating another of the favourites, MEXICO 2-0 (McBride 8, Donovan 65)...

World Cup Day 17 (16/06/02): IRELAND ROBBED IN PENALTY SHOOT-OUT, Unfancied Cameroon take-out Swedenin Extra Time
The Penalty Shoot-Out. Such a cruel way to end a game, especially when its the losing side that tried hardest to win it. Much credit to Mick McCarthy and his Irish team. While the Italian coach was taking off strikers like Raul and replacing them with defenders to sit on a 1-0 lead, McCarthy was bringing on extra forwards such as Big Niall Quinn, who announced his intention to retire from the International along with Captain Steve Staunton.

You had to fear for IRELAND, when ITALY went a goal up as early as the 8th minute through Fernando Morientes. Credit must go to the back four Staunton, Breen, Finnian and Harte with their ability to stifle further Italian threat, leaving Given with very little to do.

Ireland pressed forward, and were finally rewarded with a penalty when Damien Duff was fouled in the area. Ian Harte stepped up, and saw his shot saved by Casillas on 62. Lightening struck again in the final minute of normal time, when Ireland were again awarded a penalty as Hierro was penalised for pulling at Quinn's shirt. With Harte substituted, Robbie Keane stepped up, and this time there was no missing. 1-1 and extra time.

Ireland piled on the pressure, with Italy playing out time for the luck of the penalty shoot-out. Breen and Keane both went close, as Itlay were forced to play with 10 men due to an injury to Abelda.

Penalties beckoned, Ireland missing 3 out of 5, Italy missing twice to book their place in the last 8. Italy, World Champions? Not on this performance...

In the other game of the day, CAMEROON beat SWEDEN 2-1 with an extra time Golden Goal from Henri Camara after 103 minutes. Camara scored Cameroon's other goal in the 37th minute to equalise Larsson's earlier goal for Sweden in the 11th minute...

World Cup Day 16 (15/06/02): ENGLAND SWEEP PAST DANES, Late Neuville goal enough for Germany
It won't get much better than this in a the last 16 of the World Cup, as ENGLAND had their quarter final berth already booked by half-time. Few could've imagined that the Danes would concede quite so easily, touted as they were, as a more accomplished version of the Swedish side that had held England in the group stages.

Not that the Danes played badly, but alarm bells must've been ringing as early as the 6th minute, when David Beckham's corner found Rio Ferdinand's head, before Thomas Sorensen scrambled the ball into his own net. FIFA as they are in this tournament, opted to award the goal to Ferdinand. Disaster struck twice in that move as, Helveg, DENMARK's best player collided with the post forcing them into an early substitution. Denmark pressed forward, but were caught on the counter attack as Sinclair found Butt, who found Owen who was able to poach England's first goal of the tournament from open play. Heskey impressed throughout with his runs forward, and was rewarded with the third goal just before half-time. Job done.

Sven took off Owen and Scholes in quick succession as they suffered minor knocks, but both should be fit for for the quarter-final on Friday. Cue, Kieron Dyer and Robbie Fowler. Denmark enjoyed most of the possession, but were unable to break England down, the back five working well again, with Nicky Butt once more covering Ferdinand and Campbell.

On another day it could've been as tight as everyone expected, as tight as the match between Germany and Paraguay. Still, bring on the Belgans (or the Brasillians, maybe)...

GERMANY just about edged this game, and so deserved their late winner from Oliver Neuville. PARAGUAY on the other hand never tried to win the game and so can only blame themselves for the final result...

World Cup Day 15 (14/06/02): Both hosts qualify for second round
Tunisia 0-2 Japan, Belgium 3-2 Russia
Japan and Belgium make the final 16 from Group H...

Poland 3-1 USA, Portugal 0-1 South Korea
Korea join their co-hosts in the last 16 from Group D, as does the USA despite losing their final game...

World Cup Day 14 (13/06/02): Italy survive fright
Costa Rica 2-5 Brazil, Turkey 3-0 China
Brazil and Turkey qualify from Group C...

Mexico 1-1 Italy, Ecuador 1-0 Croatia
Mexico and Italy both qualify from Group G, though Italy were in danger of going out trailing a goal to nil while Croatia could've gone through until they fell a goal down...

World Cup Day 13 (12/06/02): England through despite the heat, Sweden send Argentina packing
Mid afternoon and it is sweltering, so it's little surprise this ended in a goaless draw, though Nigeria may have been more used to such conditions than the England team, and over the course of the the African team deserved their point, As it stood, a point was enough for England to make it through to the next round where they'll face Group A winners, Denmark. Sweden finished top of England's group level on 5 points but with a superior goal difference, as they drew 1-1 with Argentina who became the second of the tournament favourites to crash out at such an early stage. The Swedes will meet Senegal.

England could've won, had the young Nigerian goalkeeper failed to parry Paul Scholes' volley out off the goal post (best save of the tournament so far). Sheringham could've scored late on, but fired over the crossbar. Ashley Cole enjoyed freedom down the left flank, and shot across the face of the goal....

Spain and Paraguay qualify from Group B after beating South Africa (3-2)and Slovenia (3-1) respectively...

World Cup Day 12 (11/06/02): France crash out, Ireland through
Ireland beat Saudi Arabia 3-0 (they needed a 2-0 win to ensure qualification). Robbie Keane opened the Republic's account after 7 minutes from a Gary Kelly cross, after which the Saudi's tried to slow the game down until Breen scored from a free-kick (62), and Duff made sure (87) after Niall Quinn had missed two chances.

Cameroon were good until Ramelow of Germany was sent off for bringing down Eto just before the break, in a game with no fewer than 14 yellow cards and two reds as Suffo was sent off on 77. And that's a new World Cup record kids. Bode (50) and Klose (79) got the goals for Germany.

France are off home after losing 2-0 to Group A winners Denmark (Rommedahl 22, Tomasson 67), in what has been the poorest performance by a defending champion ever. Zidane was back, but only 60% fit, Henry was suspended, and Vieira just wasn't playing. Denmark were well orgainsed and disciplined.

Senegal were leading 3-0 at half-time (Fadiga pen 28, Bouba Diop 26, 38), before they let their lead slip after half-time (Morales 47, Forlan 69, Recoba pen 89), the game finishing Senegal 3-3 Uruguay. Senegal still qualify for the second round.

World Cup Day 11 (10/06/02): Stalemate in renewed Korean/USA war
No time, so...

Group H
Tunisia 1-1 Belguim
(Bouzanel 7) (Wilmots 13)

Group D
S Korea 1-1 USA
(Ahn Jung Hwan 77) (Mathias 24)

Portugal 4-0 Poland

World Cup Day 10 (09/06/02): Mexico top Group G after defeating Ecuador
Mexico lead Group G by points after beating Ecuador 2-1 (Mexico scorers: Borgetti 28, Torrado 57; Ecuador scorer: Delgado 5). In the same group, Italy and Croatia are now joint on 3 points...

Costa Rica and Turkey drew 1-1 (CA scorer: Parks 86; Turkey scorer: Belozoglu 56). Brazil tops Group C with 6 points, Costa Rica 4, and Turkey 1...

Japan beat Russia 1-0 (Inamoto 51) to go top of Group H with 4 points, Russia 3 and Belguim 1...

World Cup Day 9 (08/06/02): Referee Poll bares the full wrath of the Italians
The Italians were robbed blind as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Croatia, after they had two goals ruled out by the linesman, where at least one of them should have stood. The Italians should have been ahead first through Vieri in the 50th minute, but Poll ruled the goal to be offside on the instruction of Danish linesman Jens Larsen. TV replays showed the goal should have stood. The Italians did go ahead five minutes later through Vieri. The Italians paid the price of poor defending as Olic and Rapaic scored for Croatia in quick succession. Inzaghi last minute equaliser was then ruled out for an apparent pull on defender Simunic...

South Africa beat Slovenia 1-0 (Nomvethe 4), to go second in Group B (4 points) behind Spain (6 points)...

Brazil took China to pieces in Group C, beating them 4-0 (Carlos 15, Rivaldo 32, 55, Ronaldo 45)...

World Cup Day 8 (07/06/02): "And he's done it again!" Beckham exorcises the demons of four years ago
Workers took an extended lunch in their millions to watch David Beckham score the goal which gave England it's first World Cup victory over Argentina since 1966, finally putting to rest the demons of the "Hand of God" and Simeone's antics in France 2000 which saw Beckham sent off. England started cagely at first, allowing Argentina to come on to them, but Campbell and Ferdinand with Nicky Butt just in front were able to contain the attacks to good effect, with Seaman at his best in goal. Hargraves was lost early on through injury to be replaced by Trevor Sinclair, and England more and more came to dominate play. England came closest when Owen slotted the ball through the legs of Pablo Cavallero, only to see his shot rebound straight off the post. England continued to pour forward until Owen was brought down in the area by Mauricio Pochettino, seconds after Beckham was felled just outside the area. And so it seemed fitting that Beckham should step up and slot home.

England could have gone further in front after the break with chances given to Owen, Beckham, and Sheringham replacing Heskey. In the closing 20 minutes, Argentina stepped up the pressure with a number of changes most notably the substitution of Argentine Captain and Manchester Utd player Veron who had proved largey ineffectual. But England defending made sure Beckham, Campbell, Ferdinand, Seaman et al would take all three points.

As Alan Hansen stated on MOTD, Sven had got his tactics just right, with every England player on the pitch contributing.

England lie second in group F, but level on points with current leaders Sweden who beat Nigeria 2-1. A draw against Nigeria would be enough for England to progress to the next round. Argentina will now need to beat Sweden to avoid an early journey home...

In Group B, Spain beat Paraguay 3-1...

World Cup Day 7 (06/06/02): Henry off as France just can't start scoring
France v Uruguay was a fiery affair and had boiled over enough for Thierry Henry to take an uncharacteristic lunge at Romero as early as the 25th minute, but the Arsenal striker could have no complaints as he was immediately given his marching orders with a straight red card. Recoba of Uraguay was probably the best player on the pitch, and had a golden opportunity to provide another scalp to the world champions and send them home, when Barthez ran out the box and became stranded late on, only for Reocba to fire wildly. The game finished 0-0, with both teams in group A on 1 point, behind the leaders Denmark and Senegal who now have 4 points each after drawing 1-1 (Tomasson penalty 16 for Denmark, Diao equaliser for Senegal 52 minutes.

In group E, Cameroon beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 (Eto 65) and now join Germany on 4 points, with Ireland on 2 points and Saudi Arabia elimated with no points.

World Cup Day 6 (05/06/02): Robbie Keane on target to give Ireland deserved draw against Germany
Klose must really want that Golden Boot, as he scored his fourth of the tournament, as the Irish defence was split in two for the German to head in on 18. Duff and Holland both missed some golden opportunities to draw level in the second half as Ireland upped the tempo. Just as it seemed the Germans had weathered the storm, Robbie Keane popped up deep into stoppage time, to finish one a peace. But Ireland could, and probably should have taken all three points, with only Oliver Khan standing tall in the German goal...

USA recorded their biggest ever result in the World Cup, going 3-0 up against Portugal in 36 minutes (O'Brien 4, Costa 29, McBride 36), punishing the laissez-faire attitude of Figo et al. Beto pulled one back before the break, and an own-goal by Agoos in the 71 minute put the victory in some doubt, but the Americans were able to hang on...

Russia beat Tunisia 2-0 in Group H...

World Cup Day 5 (04/06/02): Hosts undefeated in opening matches
Belgium went ahead against hosts Japan in the 57 minute through Wilmot, before Suzuki equalised two minutes later, and then Inamoto of Arsenal put the home side ahead on 69. The Belgiums pegged the Japanese back on 75 through Van Derheyden, and were denied a last minute penalty which could've seen them snatch all three points...

Anything Japan can do, Korea can do better, as the other host nation won 2-0 against Poland (Hong 26, Yoo 53). In the day's other match China found themselves out of depth against Costa Rica, losing 2-0 (Gomez 61, Wrigth 65)...

World Cup Day 4 (03/06/02): Ronaldo and Rivaldo back for Brasil
Brasil v Turkey, best game of the tournament so far. Turkey took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Hassan Sass. Ronaldo (remember him?) equalised, set up by Rivaldo. Alpay lost his cool, conceeded a penalty, and was sent off for a second bookable offence. Rivaldo scored from the spot. Hakan Unsal also lost his cool, kicking the ball at Rivaldo. Rivaldo went down as if he'd been shot, and Unsal became the second Turk to be given his marching orders. A straight red. The Turkish coach was not amused. Never were FIFA, and Rivaldo was fined £5,000 for his acting skills...

Mexico beat Croatia 1-0, and Italy won 2-0 against Ecudor...

World Cup Day 3 (02/06/02): Anonymous England stutter to draw with Swedes
At 10:30 BST, most people would have thought a draw against Swedes wouldn't have been a bad result for England in a World Cup opener. However, for much of the first half the Swede's were there for the taking, and with David Beckham returning, England duly took the lead, as Sol Campbell headed in from Beckham's corner after 20 minutes. Unfortunately, as far as attacking prowess went, that was about it, as England let Sweden come on to them, and when their move broke down, England seemed content to give it straight back. A little harsh perhaps, as Darius Vassell ran at the Swede's like a man possessed, and could well have been man of the match. Unfortunately in the second half, the Swede's were able to take the game by the scruff of the neck with the likes of Larsson and Ljungberg. Sweden were destined to equalise, as Mills' clearance only found a Alexandersson who was there to equalise. Wave after wave of Swedish attack battered at the England defences, forcing Seaman into a number of important saves. Suddenly it seems like it was Sweden who had been a diservice by only being able to take a point, as too many England players bacame anonymous, with the likes of Owen, and Haregreaves hardly getting a sniff of the ball...

Argentina top England's group (F) after beating Nigeria 1-0 through Batistuta...

In Group B, Spain beat Slovinia 3-1, and Paraguay drew 2-2 with South Africa...

World Cup Day 2 (01/06/02): Ireland earn draw, German's batter Saudi's
Ireland were good value for their draw, though not on their first half performance, with Camerron taking the initiative and going in a goal up at half time through Patrick Mboma on 40 minutes, scoring from Eto's pass, when Given had already been forced into a brillient save from Eto earlier in the half. The second half could'nt have been more different, as McCarthy's men came out fighting, akin to the way they had played when they'd qualified so well. Holland scored on 53, and Keane could've seen his team take all three points, hitting the post late on. With all the distractions the Ireland camp have had to put up with, a draw in their opening game is a very good result...

Only one team turned up for Germany v Saudi Arabia, as the Europeans put 8 past the Arabs. And it was all the more tragic when you realise that this wasn't even a very good German side, denied of many of their first choice players through injury, and only having one world class player on the pitch in Michael Ballack. Klose opened the scoring 20 minutes, doubling the advantage 5 minutes later, with Ballack and Jancker completing the first half. Klose completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes to go, and Linker, Beirhoff and Schneider completing the scoring. Germany now head Irelands group with 3 points, followed by Cameroon and Ireland...

In the days other game, Denmark were able to join Senegal at the top of Group A, beating Uruguay 2-1...

World Cup Day 1 (31/05/02): Cameroon fire themselves into the history books
"Vieira Woooooooaaaaah! Vieira Woooooooooooaaaahhh! He comes from Senegal, and he scores for Arsenal" But, the man from Senegal was shocked along with his other French team-mates to find themselves beaten by some real dark horses in Senegal, when Papa Bouba Diop fired the underdogs into the lead after 30 minutes. Frank Le Bueof proved to be the weakest link as he let the African side in, causing disarray in the penalty area when Petit tried to put the ball out for a corner, only for Barthez to parry it to the feet of Diop. France had much of the better chances, but were probably punished for show boating... Becks is fit, Dyer almost there, the other 21 doing fine, and Freddie Ljungberg is rated 50/50 for the England v Sweden match... Keane home in disgrace, Steve Staunton takes over the Captaincy as Ireland prepare for their opening game with Cameroon...

For earlier stories and reports go to the Internationals section.