World Cup stories: The tournament heads to the Far East but it's Samba time once again

Despite domestic matters back in full flow, there's still plenty of thoughts heading into this summer's  World Cup  in 65 days' time. So, what better reason than to travel back in time to relive a tournament, given an Asian flavour for the first time? 

2002 was the year Girls Aloud rose to fame, the year the Blu-ray was invented (yeah, Google that one) and the year that Arsenal went unbeaten in their march on the Premier League title. 

However, the summer was all about Japan and South Korea and a World Cup in new lands, at strange times, but with a familiar name lifting the trophy. 
 

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Brazil make history in the Far East

How it happened in 2002

 

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All eyes on Asia 

For the first time, the World Cup was taken to Asia, after the continent saw off a rival bid from Mexico. Initially, both Japan and South Korea submitted separate proposals, but FIFA split on which way to go, and the decision was made to have co-hosts across the Far East, despite reservations from both nations. 

However, faced with no World Cup or a joint endeavour, it was agreed that the tournament would have co-hosts for the very first time, with 2026 being the other occasion it's been shared between countries. 

32 teams competed in the tournament, with debuts for China, Senegal, Ecuador and Slovenia. 

England qualified after a memorable qualifying campaign that included the famous 5-1 win over Germany in Munich, and were joined by the Republic of Ireland for their third finals. 

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The moments that mattered 

Tournaments are always more enjoyable when the hosts go deep into the competition and in 2002, both Japan and especially South Korea made the most of home advantage. 

Both nations topped their groups, with Japan finishing above Belgium and South Korea seeing off the US to see both make the knockouts. 

Japan's finals sadly ended in the last sixteen at the hands of Turkey, who'd eventually finish third, but South Korea made it all the way to the final four. The co-hosts memorably beat Italy with an Ahn Jung-Hwan Golden Goal before knocking Spain out on penalties. Unfortunately, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany in the semis brought their run to an end, but it was a massive achievement for the Asian side. 
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At the other end of the scale were reigning champions France, who crashed out at the group stage without winning a single game. They lost their opener to Senegal and failed to recover in a miserable tournament for the French. 

The tournament's biggest controversy came in the Ireland camp, however, which saw captain Roy Keane leave the party just days before kick-off after falling out with boss Mick McCarthy over the training facilities. 

England had high hopes, too, especially after beating Argentina in the group stage. They saw off Denmark in the final sixteen, but then came up against the might of Brazil. Michael Owen put the Three Lions in the lead, but first Rivaldo and then Ronaldinho's infamous looping free-kick that sailed over David Seaman was enough to send Sven Goran-Eriksson's men home. 

Brazil marched on, where a date with the defensively efficient Germans awaited in Yokohama. 
 

The stars of the finals 

For so long, he'd be heralded as the best player in the world, and Ronaldo (the original one) continued to live up to the billing on the international stage - complete with a haircut that has gone down in football folklore. 

The Brazilian scored eight goals in the Far East and cemented his name as one of the best goal scorers in World Cup history. 

However, he didn't take home the Golden Ball, which went to Oliver Kahn, the beast in the German goal, who was the bedrock of their run to the final. The tournament's best young player was Landon Donovan, while Senegal's El Hadji Diouf became a breakout star and earned a move to Liverpool following the finals. 

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The final

It was a fitting final that saw the two best teams in the tournament meet, but it was destined for R9 to be the difference maker. 

Four years on from his controversial schisze in the 1998 final that ultimately ruined Brazil's night against France, the striker scored both goals in clinical fashion to hand the South Americans a record fifth World Cup win. 

It was the first time a team went a whole tournament winning every match since their win in 1970, and cemented Brazil's place as the best team in the competition's history. 
 

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The legacy 

The tournament was proof of the global impact of the game, with Japan and South Korea providing a memorable finals both on and off the pitch. 

For the teams, they both exceeded the expectations and South Korea can credit their place in the current footballing landscape to the events in 2002, where they were a whisker away from making the final. 

Yet it's Brazil whose legacy shone brightest, having won a record fifth time in the Far East and continuing their hold on a competition they've become synonymous with. 
 

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