The latest edition of the World Cup years was on five live last night:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nwtb1/5_live_Sport_The_World_Cup_Years_2002/Looking back now, the only problem for me, as a lazy student at the time, was the England matches kicking off at 7:30 in the morning. Anyway other highlights included:
Roy Keane and Mick Mccarthy's huge falling out before the tournament even started.
The opening game of the tournament between holders France and Senegal, which at least kicked off at 12:30. Perfect. Unless you've got a three-hour exam that starts at 12:30. I have to tell you, there are few feelings more satisfying in this life than finishing an exam, going to the pub and discovering that the preening, arrogant French have been beaten in the World Cup by a tiny African country that no-one had heard of two months previously. Diouf, Diao, and Diop all made names for themselves and all consequently ended up in the Premier League with varying degrees of success.
Germany battering Saudi Arabia 8-0.
Rivaldo's hilarious extra-from-Platoon routine against Turkey.
France's dismal display and failure to score a single goal in the tournament.
Robbie Keane's dramatic last minute equaliser against Germany. Ireland missing four penalties in one match against Spain.
England versus Argentina. Or to put it another way, David Beckham versus Diego Simeone. Fair to say, I don't remember a huge amount about the game, or indeed the following 48 hours. All I do remember is Trevor Sinclair (yes him) playing on the left wing!
The success of the hosts Japan and particularly South Korea under Guus Hiddink. They proceeded to knock out Italy in the last 16 and Spain (extremely controversially) in the quarter finals. A number of dubious decisions in that game by the officials were the main talking point.
David Seaman being chipped, AGAIN.
And finally Brazil, the three R's, Ronaldinho, who became a worldwide star overnight, Rivaldo, who was exceptional with five goals in the tournament. However there was only one guy on everyone's lips after the tournament. It was the tournament of arguably the greatest striker the world has seen in the last 10-15 years, Ronaldo. Give what happened four years earlier in the final, it was
a great talent re-establishing himself as the pre-eminent exponent of the goalscorer's art and it was a privilege to watch a man release the shackles of four years of pain to play with such joy and freedom.