The 16th FIFA World Cup was the
largest ever, contested by 32 teams with 64 matches
played. The eight groups of four teams were spread out
throughout France in the ten new or refurbished
stadiums, with the opening game and the final held in
the splendid new Stade de France just north of Paris.
32 countries
meant 30 qualifying spots, providing more opportunities
for teams from Africa and Asia. The four-team groups
also reflected the geographical spread, with all but one
of the pools comprising two Europeans, one from the
Americas and one from Africa or Asia.
As is often the case with the FIFA World Cup, the
opening round threw up its fair share of surprises, with
certain favorites having to make way for a few unfancied
lesser lights in the second round. Spain failed to break
their FIFA World Cup hoodoo after a slow start and
despite a grandstand finish. Facing a race against the
odds after a 3-2 loss to Nigeria in their opener, Javier
Clemente's side racked up six goals against the hapless
Bulgarians only for Paraguay to beat the group-leading
Super Eagles and qualify at Spain's expense.
Colombia also
failed to progress, in a group topped by a Romanian side
which surprised England 2-1. Scotland and Jamaica had to
bow to the likes of Brazil and Argentina respectively in
their qualifying groups, but their legion of fans took
advantage of the opening two weeks of the competition to
spread warmth and laughter throughout the host nation.
Morocco also finished the tournament with a tinge of
regret, after a last-minute penalty enabled Norway to
beat a full-strength Brazil and steal second place in
the group from the North Africans.
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The tie of the last 16 came in
Saint-Etienne, where England and Argentina played out an
epic contest. The first half will go down in the annals
as 45 minutes of classic football - a penalty each in
the first ten minutes, Michael Owen's goal of the
tournament then putting the Three Lions ahead before
Javier Zanetti finished off a clinical free-kick move on
the stroke of half-time to equalize. After the break,
goals were replaced by high drama - David Beckham sent
off for kicking out at Diego Simeone, Sol Campbell's
"winner" disallowed for a foul on the 'keeper, extra
time, penalties… Carlos Roa saved England's fifth and
final spot kick from David Batty to see the South
Americans through to the final.
Host nation
France, meanwhile, were making their way slowly but
surely towards their date with destiny. After sporting a
perfect record in the group stage, they came up against
stubborn resistance from Paraguay and need the first
ever (and to date only) FIFA World Cup™ golden goal in
the 113th minute, courtesy of central defender Laurent
Blanc, to go through. Italy were their next opponents,
and this time it was the thickness of the woodwork which
came to their rescue. Roberto Baggio flashed a free
header past the post in the dying minutes of extra time,
then Luigi di Biagio rattled the crossbar with the fifth
and decisive penalty of the shootout.
In
the semi-final, the hosts found themselves up against
the surprise package - Croatia. Entering their first
FIFA World Cup since the former Yugoslavia had been
divided into separate states, Miroslav Blazevic's
checkered-shirted heroes upset Germany 3-0 in the
quarter-final before stunning the home crowd when golden
boot winner Davor Suker gave them the lead after the
break against France. Cometh the hour, cometh the man -
right back Lilian Thuram chose this moment to score his
first, and second, international goals and set up a
dream final - hosts France against holders Brazil, who
had overcome Chile, Denmark and the Netherlands in the
knock-out stages.
Thus it was
that on 12 July, "the day of glory arrived", to borrow a
line from France's national anthem La Marseillaise. With
a header in the 27th minute followed by a second in
first half injury time, playmaker Zinedine Zidane sent
shock waves through his Brazilian opponents from which
they would never recover. Despite being reduced to ten
men after Marcel Desailly's expulsion in the 68th
minute, the French fortress not only withstood a final
pounding from Brazil but even slotted in another goal
after a counter-attack from Emmanuel Petit in the last
minute. The final whistle from Moroccan referee Belqola,
the first African ever to officiate at a FIFA World Cup
final, was the signal for the entire population to
indulge in raptures of delight. The Champs Elysйes alone
were awash with over a million revelers dancing through
the night.
Group A |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Brazil |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
x-Norway |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
Morocco |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
Scotland |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-4 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group B |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Italy |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
x-Chile |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Austria |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
2 |
Cameroon |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
-3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group C |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-France |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
x-Denmark |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
South
Africa |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
-3 |
2 |
Saudi
Arabia |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-5 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group D |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Nigeria |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
x-Paraguay |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
Spain |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Bulgaria |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-6 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group E |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Holland |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
x-Mexico |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
Belgium |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
So.
Korea |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-7 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group F |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Germany |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
x-Yugoslavia |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
Iran |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-2 |
3 |
United
States |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
-4 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group G |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Romania |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
x-England |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
Colombia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-2 |
3 |
Tunisia |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group H |
G |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
PTS |
x-Argentina |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
x-Croatia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
Jamaica |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
-6 |
3 |
Japan |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
-3 |
0 | | |