by Nick Holt
Saitama saw the proverbial game of two halves. England were smooth and measured and in control in the first half, and ragged and inaccurate and panicky in the second. Sweden were lifeless and unadventurous in the first half and purposeful and aggressive after the break. All the newspapers stated England should have lost, but over ninety minutes the result wasn’t too unfair. Campbell scored England’s goal with a replica of his header against Argentina; Sweden’s goalkeeper, Magnus Hedman complained that he had been fouled but it was his own centre-forward, Marcus Allbäck, who baulked him.
An injury to Gary Neville left England really short at right-back; Danny Mills was the only specialist in the squad and his temperament was highly suspect, as well as his defending. Both left-backs were only twenty-one, and both were better going forward than defending. The idea was mooted of playing wing-backs and using Owen Hargreaves or Kieron Dyer on the right, Cole on the left, and playing Beckham in the middle. Eriksson, a confirmed 4–4–2 man, rightly decided to stick with what he and the players knew.
Nigeria were unlucky to lose to Sweden. They had a young side and being the captain seemed to suit Okocha, who was much more committed and involved than previously. With the trickster pulling the strings Nigeria had the better of the early exchanges and scored through a powerful header from Julius Aghahowa, the twenty-year-old who played in the Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk. Henrik Larsson cut inside a defender and finished well, as he did week in, week out for Celtic, and it woke Sweden up. His winning penalty with three minutes left was a correct decision but harsh on Nigeria’s performance.
England really needed something from their game against Argentina, which required a big improvement in midfield. It was a lot to ask with one of your three best players (Gerrard) missing through injury, another (Beckham) only about eighty per cent fit and a third (Scholes) struggling for his best form. England left out Darius Vassell, who was anonymous against Sweden (and was, for my money, the worst selection ever by an England manager for a World Cup match), stiffened the midfield with Nicky Butt and put Heskey back up front instead of wandering about like a lost puppy on the left.
It was another good game, though without the intensity of the knockout round in France. Eriksson got his tactics right, and was actually helped by an early injury to Hargreaves. The Bayern Munich player’s inclusion meant Scholes was operating in a role he didn’t much like, coming in off the left; Sinclair, Hargreaves’ replacement, was a genuine wide player, so Scholes could move inside and threaten, knowing Butt would sit behind him.
Butt snuffed out Verón, who was taken off, Cole had a good game against the lively Ortega, and Batistuta spent an hour in Ferdinand’s pocket before giving way to Crespo. The goal came from the penalty spot when Owen tumbled over Pocchettino’s ill-judged challenge. It wasn’t a dive, as Argentina protested, but it wasn’t much of a foul either – a lot of them are given, it’s why the phrase “bought a penalty” exists, a halfway house between cheating to get one and a clear foul. See the foot, make sure there’s contact and don’t make a meal of it. It is why the very best defenders see the rabbit before they release the ferret. Pocchettino, by the way, is the same guy who was appointed manager of Southampton in 2013.
Beckham had to endure some nonsense from Simeone before taking the penalty, as the man who got him sent off four years before hovered around him offering his hand, and then had the effrontery to look offended when Beckham told him where to go. Beckham scored. He looked happy.
Instead of knuckling down, Argentina got tetchy instead, and spent the second half trying to get a reaction instead of a goal. They had only one really good chance, a header from Pocchettino that Seaman did well to hold. Eriksson left himself open to criticism, even after such a good performance, by taking off Owen and bringing on not Vassell or Robbie Fowler, not even an attacking midfield player like Dyer, but another left-back, Wayne Bridge. Sven really was terrible at substitutions.
England needed a point from their last game and got it, with a conservative but competent performance in infernal temperatures. It was fair enough, but they would have cause to regret it. Argentina exited the tournament they started as favourites in a flurry of protesting, moaning and diving. Batistuta, captain for the day, spent another afternoon not scoring against a proper defence. Svensson gave Sweden the lead with a well-struck free-kick and Crespo’s goal was a futile late gesture.
GROUP G
After two games the group looked done and dusted. Italy played really well against Ecuador; Totti was inventive, the defence typically mean and Vieri looked razor sharp, taking both goals superbly. He was a handful for a guy who occasionally looked as if he might trip over his own feet. Croatia looked tired and past their best. So how to explain Croatia beating Italy? Boksic played much better, which helped, and they were enlivened by the introduction of Ivica Olic just before the hour, but Italy just didn’t play well. Vieri scored his third goal of the opening week with a pounding header, but he missed a glorious opportunity to make the game safe. Olic equalised when the defence switched off and let Jarni’s cross travel right across the box, and Materazzi, on for Nesta, sold himself early and let Rapaic beat his challenge for the winner.
Jared Borgetti would go on to become Mexico’s highest scorer, and he gave his team the lead against Italy with a glancing header. He had scored their first in the win over Ecuador when they came from behind to win more comfortably than the scoreline suggests. Italy made numerous chances, but Vieri, Inzaghi, Montella and Vieri again missed them all. Del Piero came on for Totti, who created most of the chances, and he got the vital goal, latching on to Montella’s hopeful cross to head home.
Italy got their first bit of luck in the group after the final whistle. Croatia had reverted to useless mode and lost to Ecuador, Méndez tucking away a knock down from Gordon Strachan’s favourite striker, Delgado.
GROUP H
The second hosts enjoyed a much kinder draw than South Korea got. Belgium were strong and good in the air, Japan were a bit lightweight but quick and clever. A draw was fair. Tunisia never tested Russia, and when Japan did, they were found wanting. Junichi Inamoto scored in consecutive games, taking a nice flick from Yanagisawa to score the only goal. The Russian centre-forward Vladimir Beschastnykh rounded the ’keeper in the closing stages but contrived to miss. Poor from Russia’s leading scorer. Belgium and Tunisia drew a stinker – no points each would have been fair.
Japan beat Tunisia, who had offered little except some solid defensive work. Their six foot four phone box of a centre-half Radhi Jaidi ended up at Bolton under Sam Allardyce and didn’t look out of place in the Premier League. In the final match Belgium scored twice late on to beat Russia and steal second place. Five goals flattered another ordinary match – the highlight was Wesley Sonck’s acrobatic goal celebration; even the biased Russian judge would have given it 5.8 – just a little bit off for a minor stumble on landing.
SECOND ROUND
Germany against Paraguay was another safety-first affair. Oliver Neuville saved us the unappetising prospect of another half hour with a smart volley two minutes from the end. Arrivederci Chilavert, an entertaining addition to the World Cup pantheon. Neuville, only five foot seven was a busy, skilful player who never let a defence rest. Völler was criticised for persisting with him – he wasn’t a prolific scorer – but he repaid his faith in this tournament.
The English newspapers insisted England were comprehensively outplayed by Denmark, but they were 3–0 up at half-time and took the foot off the pedal to conserve energy in the heat. What more did they want? Ferdinand got the opener when Sorensen made a pig’s ear of his tame header and the ball crept shamefacedly over the line. When Gravesen failed to clear Butt’s flick on, the ball fell to Owen – harsh and full punishment for a half-mistake was duly dispensed. Heskey got the third just before half-time with a skidding shot on a greasy surface – again Sorensen’s handling let him down. The game was over and petered out. Yes, Denmark had better technique on a dreadful surf
ace then England, but Sand had a weak game and Campbell got a strong grip on the dangerous Tomasson; 3–0 is never lucky.
The scribes said Sweden were unlucky, too, but they should have beaten Senegal, even in the heat. Larsson (dreadlocks gone – all hair gone, in fact) scored a fine header to give them the lead, but they sat back too deep and let Senegal come at them. Senegal responded by pushing Camara up alongside Diouf – had Sweden tried to apply more pressure he may well not have in the right place to score the two excellent goals he did. Diouf won a long ball in the air, Camara controlled it, took it to the right of a defender and belted it past Hedman from twenty yards. Camara’s second goal was even better, running from deep past static defenders to fire home off the post with his left foot. Camara showed flashes of this brilliance in his years in the Premier League but was injury-prone and inconsistent. Diouf proved a more resilient performer in England – especially with Bolton after a tricky spell at Liverpool – but his on-and-off field antics made him one of the least-liked opposing players at every ground he visited. He just never grasped the notion of personal responsibility and role model. Svensson had hit the post a few minutes earlier, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed one glorious opportunity to win the game. He would improve as a player and grow up.
Spain gave Ireland a bit of a runaround in the early stages of their match, but the same pattern emerged as elsewhere. An early lead tempted sides to sit back in the withering sun and conserve fluid and energy levels. Spain had a Raúl strike chalked off for offside correctly, and then got a bit defensive and let Damien Duff run at them. Duff won a number of free-kicks as Spain persistently brought him down and eventually one of them was in the penalty area. It was a soft award but Spain had invited it. Harte’s kick was weak and easily saved by the twenty-one-year-old Casillas, already established as number one at Real Madrid and for Spain. Kilbane’s miss from the rebound was worse than the penalty miss – there wasn’t even a goalkeeper to beat, he was still on the floor.
With little time on the clock Ireland got a lifeline when Hierro was penalised for shirt-tugging – another generous decision, both sides had been at it all afternoon with no intervention from the referee. It’s another grey area that FIFA haven’t sorted. Do you just accept argy-bargy at set plays or do you give a penalty every time? Here’s one from Holtie’s 100 Ideas To Improve Football – if a defender shirt-pulls or blocks in the area, have the kick re-taken with that player off the field until the ball goes dead again. Harte was off the field – he must have been relieved – but Robbie Keane made light of the pressure and put his kick right in the corner.
Extra-time passed at walking pace and the game went to penalties. No heroics from Irish centre-backs this time; Holland, David Connolly and Kilbane all missed (as did Juanfran and Valerón for Spain) and Gaizka Mendieta finished it. Robbie Keane scored his penalty; he looked so nonchalant for a twenty-one-year-old playing in his first big tournament. He’s an odd player, Keane, he never stays with a club for very long and his record for most of them is unremarkable, but he has sixty international goals at almost one every two matches. To put that record into perspective the next highest scorer for Ireland is Niall Quinn, who retired after this tournament, with twenty-one. No one else comes close to Keane’s strike rate.
Had Roy Keane been around Ireland may – probably would – have won this game. And I’m not sure they would have found South Korea such hard work as the Southern European teams. What ifs, buts and maybes – utterly meaningless but a writer’s dream.
The USA beat Mexico with surprising ease. McBride and Donovan were too direct and far too good in the air for the Mexican defence, and the Americans’ five-man defence snuffed out Blanco and Borgetti. The Mexicans became very petulant towards the end and their captain, the Monaco centre-back Rafael Márquez, was sent off for an appalling tackle on Cobi Jones.
Brazil against Belgium was another to add to the growing list of disappointing games in this World Cup. Belgium growled and grunted and perspired, while Brazil looked short of confidence. Rivaldo’s opening goal took a big deflection past De Vlieger and Ronaldo barely deserved his after a limp performance. Brazil owed much to their excellent centre-halves and their defensive midfielders Gilberto and Edmilson.
Japan were toothless against Turkey; they had done well to get out of their group, but had nothing further to offer the tournament. Rüstü didn’t have to make a serious save, but was a spectator when Alex’s superb free-kick clipped the bar. Ümit Davala’s header from a corner in the twelfth minute won the match – it was more impressive than his Mohican.
WORLD CUP SHOCK No.13
18 June 2002, Daejeon, Korea; 38,588
Referee: Byron Moreno (Ecuador)
Coaches: Guus Hiddink (South Korea) & Giovanni Trappatoni (Italy)
South Korea: Lee Woon-jae; Choi Jin-cheul, Hong Myung-bo, Kim Tae-yung; Song Shunggug, Kim Nal-il, Park Ji-sung, Yoo Sang-chul, Lee Young-pyo; Seol Ki-hyeon, Ahn Jung-hwan.
Subs: Hwang Sung-hong 65m for Kim Tae-yung; Lee Chun-soo 70m for Kim Nam-il; Cha Du-ri 85m for Hong Myung-bo
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus); Christian Pannucci (Roma), Damiano Tommasi (Roma), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Francesco Coco (AC Milan); Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Mark Iuliano (Juventus), Francesco Totti (Roma), Cristiano Zanetti (Internazionale); Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus); Christian Vieri (Internazionale). Subs: Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan) 61m for Del Pier); Angelo Di Livio (Fiorentina) 72m for Zambrotta
Cautioned: Coco (Ita) 4m, Kim Tae-yung (SKor) 17m, Totti (Ita) 22m, Tommasi (Ita) 56m, Zanetti (Ita) 60m, Song Shung-gug (SKor) 81m, Lee Chun-soo (SKor) 100m, Choi Jin-cheul (SKor) 116m
Dismissed: Totti (Ita) 104m (second yellow, for diving)
The Italians have it down as one of the great injustices. Everyone else has it down as them failing to kill off a weaker team. Italy were convinced there was a conspiracy afoot to eliminate them and let the hosts through. Evidence? Yes, that much. Korea harboured ambitions to get into the knockout phase, which was why they employed a crack coach like Hiddink and paid him a king’s ransom. Anything else was a bonus, but not the sort that comes in a brown envelope.
As early as the fifth minute Italy showed that their defence was not the impregnable stronghold of old. From a set piece both Coco and Panucci were manhandling Korean attackers; it seemed to be Panucci who was penalised. Ahn’s penalty wasn’t the worst seen in the Finals, but Buffon pulled off a spectacular save to his right. A few minutes later Totti’s vicious, swinging corner was met by Vieri and the scribes were writing Korea’s epitaph.
Forget the controversy for a moment. This was a rip-roaring match. Korea only had one speed – breakneck – and Italy had to dig in to match them for fitness and urgency.
Here are the edited highlights:
• Ahn executes a nifty heel flick to make space for a shot but the shot doesn’t match the set-up.
• Totti’s peach of a through ball reaches Tommasi (excellent match) but Lee Woon-jae was quick off his line to block.
• Vieri is put through by another sublime pass from Totti, but hammers his shot wide.
• The veteran Hwang, on as a substitute, lofts a deep ball into the penalty area with two minutes of normal time remaining; Panucci takes the ball on his thigh but topples backwards and Seol nips in to drive the loose ball past Buffon.
• Still in normal time Tommasi, still full of running, gets clear down the left and sticks one on a plate for Vieri, who, stretching, scoops the ball wide.
• Cha Du-ri forces Buffon into a save with a classical overhead kick.
• Sung’s free-kick sneaks under the jumping Italian wall and an unsighted Buffon does brilliantly to tip it round the post.
• Totti is through on the right side of the penalty area and comes thigh to thigh with a defender. No penalty and a red card for diving, said the Ecuadorian referee. This was the decision that so incensed the Italians, and it was a poor one. Not the penalty, that was debatable, but the red card was really harsh. Tot
ti had one of his best games in a major tournament.
• Gattuso charges up the right; Seol, tracking back (good) tries to back-heel the ball out of trouble (very, very bad) and Gattuso robs him and cracks in a shot. Lee makes another good save.
• Lee Young-pyo hits a cross deep into extra-time, it evades Maldini but Ahn, behind him, diverts it into the corner of the goal.
The post-match analysis in Italy was hysterical and prolonged. Every two-bit pundit from Palermo to Lugano had an opinion on exactly how and why Italy were cheated. The match-winner, who played for Perugia, was publicly told he wouldn’t play for them.
South Korea deserved great credit. They were playing a team that man-for-man, was in a different class but they ran for two hours and never gave up.
Republic of Ireland Squad 2002:
GK: Shay Given (Newcastle United, 26 years old, 39 caps), Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic, 31, 6), Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers, 33, 34)
DEF: Gary Breen (Coventry City, 28, 43), Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon, 30, 34), Richard Dunne (Manchester City, 22, 14), Steve Finnan (Fulham, 26, 13), Ian Harte* (Leeds United, 24, 40), Gary Kelly* (Leeds, 27, 46), Andrew O’Brien (Newcastle, 22, 5), Steve Staunton (Cpt, Aston Villa, 33, 38)
MID &WIDE: Lee Carsley (Everton, 28, 19), Damien Duff (Blackburn, 23, 26), Matt Holland (Ipswich Town, 28, 19), Roy Keane (Manchester United, 30, 58), Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland, 25, 31), Mark Kinsella (Charlton, 29, 28), Jason McAteer (Sunderland, 30, 47), Steve Reid (Millwall, 21, 5)
FWD: David Connolly (Wimbledon, 24, 33), Robbie Keane (Leeds, 21, 33), Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace, 23, 7), Niall Quinn (Sunderland, 35, 88)