Student Network

Contribute

Search

Things Japanese - "World Cup Review"

After all the shocks and suprises, normal order was resumed as two of soccer's most successful nations competed for the World Cup in Yokohama on Sunday June 30th. Brazil and Germany, both regarded as outsiders for a shot at the title, made it through to the final, with Brazil coming out as winners 2-0 after a double strike from the winner of the Golden Boot (for most goals scored), Ronaldo.

The tournament itself was an overwhelming success for both of the host countries. Not withstanding the ticket problems that the FIFA appointed ticket supplier 'Byrom' caused and the claims about the standard of refereeing in certain matches, Korea and Japan can be proud of bringing soccer to the attention of the masses in countries where baseball is the number one sport.

With the current economic woes that both Japan and Korea have been suffering recently the progress of both teams will help rekindle self confidence, not only in the work place but also in the economy itself. There have been conflicting reports in the media as to the economic benefits that the hosts have and will receive from the tournament but with success comes a feel-good factor that can only benefit both countries.

Much noise was made about the threat of hooligans at matches involving many of the European teams. The worries proved unfounded and the fans behaved impecably. The Japanese and Korean fans joined in with the celebrations of fans from other countries and many fans, even the English, who had a very bad reputation before the tournament started, endeared themselves to the hosts. Very few arrests were made and those that were arrested were related to ticket offences rather than public order offences.

The future for Korea and Japan looks bright after their performances and they will be hoping that the boost in popularity of the sport will not deminish, now the competition has finished. Both countries will be looking for forward to the Asian Cup and then the World Cup in 2006, and both will also be looking for new managers as Hiddink and Troussier leave for pastures new. The latter will probably not be missed by players or the Japanese media and former Brazilian star Zico is top the list to replace the Frenchman. Hiddink on the other hand will be sorely missed by the Koreans, who took time to warm to him, but is now treated as a national hero.

I have chosen my own awards in various categories for the heroes and villians of this years World Cup:

Manager of the tournament: Guus Hiddink (South Korea).

Player of the tournament: But for his mistake in the final, Oliver Kahn would have been given my vote for single handedly saving Germany's campaign in the run up to the final. No player stood out, but for taking the Golden Boot and for coming back after the years of injuries problems he's had, Ronaldo is the player of the tournament.

Referee of the tournament: It has to be the bald Italian Pierluigi Collina who took control of the Final and the difficult clash between England and Argentina in the final.

Team of the tournament: Brazil may have won the cup, but for putting half of Europe's best sides (Italy, Spain, Portugal) out of the cup, Korea are the team of the tournament.

Disappointment of the tournament: With teams like Argentina, France and Portugal going out in the first round there are plenty of candidates. My pick would be Luis Figo of Portugal who went out with barely a whimper in possibly his last appearance at a World Cup.

Best match of the tournament: Senegal 3 Uruguay 3. People will disagree depending on where they are from, but for sheer excitement this first round match takes it.

Best Goal of the tournament: Jared Borgetti MEXICO v Italy

Most popular player: If you see young Japanese people walking around with blonde mohicans, then you can blame one man - England midfielder David Beckham, who is not just a sporting icon but a walking fashion statment that has had an influence over millions of youngsters throughout the World Cup.

Most popular man: Guus Hiddink. The Korean manager who steared his team to within 90 minutes of the World Cup final is so popular that Seoul dating agencies are swamped with calls from women desperate to catch the Dutchman's eye. He has also been offered free first class travel for the next four years by Korean Air. Plans to name a street after him, give him an honorary doctorate from a top University and to build a statue of him outside one of the stadiums are under way.

Best team performance: Pick any of Korea's games where they won against top opposition. Senegal's victory against France in the opening game, and America's defeat of Portugal.

Worst team performance of the tournament: Saudi Arabia's inept display in their 8-0 hammering against Germany.

Biggest mistake of the tournament: No, it's not voting Sepp Blatter in for another 4 year term as FIFA chief but a radio report from Korea which caused chaos shortly before the final. A announcement made by a TV actress on a major South Korean radio station stated that Germany had been disqualified from the World Cup final and Korea would play instead. On hearing the announcement thousands of Koreans cheered and others jammed telephone lines to World Cup organisers with enquiries about tickets. The actress who made the blunder said she received a text message on her mobile phone from a 'friend of a friend' that Germany had been disqualified.

Madman of the tournament: The Korean fan who poured paint thinner on his body and set himself on fire in a gesture of support.

Best goal celebration: The coordinated dancing of the Senegalese players brought back memories of Cameroon in 1990 and Robbie Keane's bow-and-arrow was an original touch, but South Korea's cheeky 'speed-skater' against the USA, with its reference to a the controversy at the Winter Olympics, was definitely the best.

Cheat of the tournament: Rivaldo's play-acting after a ball was kicked at his shins by a Turkey's Hakan Unsal in a first round game. Rivaldo obviously thought his leg was connected to his head as he collapsed, as if he had been shot, clutching his face. The Turkish player was sent off, Turkey lost the match and Rivaldo went on to play in all of Brazil's games in the tournament.

Best fans: Both the Korean and Japanese fans did their part to create a wonderful atmosphere at many of the games and the way that the Japanese fans adopted other teams after their own team went out was great to see.

Poor loser: So many candidates it's difficult to choose! The Portugese team for assulting the referee after they went out in the first round and the Spanish complaints about the standard refereeing after their defeat in the Quarter Finals are candidates. But by far the worst losers were Italy, who blamed everybody except themsleves for losing in the Second Round to Korea. Even worse, the president of Italian soccer club Perugia Luciano Gaucci declared Ahn Jung-hwan's (the scorer of the goal which put Italy out) contract would be cancelled because he 'never tried for his club'. Probably realizing the financial gains to be made from keeping the player, the president was forced into a change of heart before eventually managing to persuade Jung-hwan to stay.

Medal for paranoia: Japan's Philippe Troussier who spared nothing in his efforts to ensure his squad remain focused. He banned any fraternisation with locals, ordered his players to refrain from having sex, had the blue movie channel in their rooms blocked, and arranged for the hotel's young female staff to be replaced with what one Japanese reporter described as 'wrinkly old women'!

Excuse of the tournament: 'I blame the ball. During shots, the shape becomes completely different.' Saudi Arabia keeper Mohammed Al Deayea said after throwing a shot into his own net!

Although received too late to include in the Newsletter editions sent out during the World Cup, Bipin Jnawali from Nepal had this to say about the World Cup:

After a long and agonizing wait we have got the most famous of all the footbaling events the FIFA world cup 2002. This is the seventeenth World Cup which made a long journey to reach to the Asian soils of Japan and Korea. The credit goes to Hisao Shuto, a spokesman for Japan's organising committee for the official announcement of the friendly title "THE WORLD CUP KOREA/JAPAN". We hope this will make a better relationship between the younger generations of Korea and Japan.

So this time the Nepalese people are also proud of being Asians. New comers are doing well and the host country Japan is doing its best this time. Japan started with a draw and then defeated Russia by 1-0 and Tunisia by 2-0. These victories over Russia and Tunisia are a great and historical one. Being a great supporter of Japan I enjoyed these matches very much. The young, energetic and hard working Japanese players did a good job. We Nepalese also hope that Japan will continue to do well in the future. Best of luck from NEPAL.

Return to top of page