World Cup 2002....how did it taste?

We waited so long...and now we bask with the slaking of our four years thirst by the cup of life and wait patiently for 2006. Was it really worth the wait?
The first World Cup of the new millenium took place fittingly, in an untried setting...in the lands of the setting sun and the first dawns.
The hoolians stayed home...(if we don't count the tall argentinians who played monkey in the middle with the game ball with a japanese usher) and the entertainment didn't...

So what were this years stories...any soccer fan worth the title knows world cup is not just about the soccer...

The Script: The big guns stuttered and the little ones flared. A new sun rose in the East...and this one was made of rubber...
An epic final paved the way for an epic story:
Ronaldo came back from the dead to regain his place at the top of the soccer world, exorcising those french demons in the process.

The losers: FRANCE...le roi est mort...for the sake of objectivity i'll say no more...but just know i was in france when the world cup started...and the french are arrogant enough as it is...ITALY...the azurri's defensive tactics finally backfired on them...PORTUGAL..takes more than stars to build a team..ARGENTINA...what can i say...SAUDI ARABIA...8-0..ouch...MEXICO..a bitter loss to take after starting so well

The Winners...Vive le SENEGAL!...Nice kung futball and sokkaido from the hosts JAPAN and KOREA....USA....they're learning the real game after all...TURKEY...slow and steady...will almost get you there...GERMANY...the aging tired injured mannschaft worked better than expected(close but no cigar) and finally BRAZIL...the champions...and a fifth to boot (they might have to get them to retire like Mike)

And what about the people that make up these teams?
Ronaldo...8 goals in one world cup...you can cut your hair however you want..
Rivaldo...5 goals and those two assists (the 2nd was the brilliant "dummy" in the final
Miroslav (Santa) Klose...where did this guy come from?
Oliver Khan...pity about that mishandled shot in the last game...most difficult job on the field too
Recber Rustu (Turkey)...singlehandedly kept his team in the tournament for most of it



The goals:
Wilmots (Belgium)...that bicycle kick
Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay) vs Denmark...that volley from long distance
Camarra(Senegal) vs Sweden..that golden goal
Salif Diao (senegal) vs Denmark...talk about a team goal
Ronaldo (Brazil) vs Turkey 1st game....the two foot lunge
Ronaldinho (Brazil) vs England...sorry Seaman, but Englands not going to win another cup with you in goal
Ronaldo (Brazil) vs Germany...the dummy from Rivaldo actually)
Ronaldo (Brazil) vs Turkey 2nd Game the break away from the Turkish defence...one against 4
Rivaldo (Brazil)...that juggle-turn-shoot against Belgium
Fernando Recoba (Uruguay) vs Senegal...Free kick R. Carlos style...
Roberto Carlos..(Brazil) vs China...that free kick....Um ..Recoba Style? Very Un-R Carlos like
Hakan Sukur (Turkey) vs Korea...i blinked and i missed it

(Sorry) the Brazilians just know how to score....

But it wasnt all glory...Quite a few guts were left showing too.

We saw the rough play and unsportsmanship displayed by the Italians during and after their loss to South Korea. Quite a few coaches left their posts ignominously (Saudi Arabia and France to name two. And the allegations of match fixing never stayed buried after the 98 final..

Most importantly, the referee's errors were horrendous (that red card for that Rivaldo dive on the sidelines included). But the question remains...are there more errors or are we just looking at the slow motion more than we used to? Hmmm?

But ultimately...this showpiece to the strength of the human collective spirit captured the hearts and imagination of the public as much as it has always done and possibly even moreso.

To the beautiful game!...drink deep or taste not at all. See you in 2006

Nexus