Histora.org newsletter December 2, 2001 The 32 nations that will participate in the 2002 World Cup finals are now known, and the first round groups have been drawn for the tournament taking place in Korea and Japan between May 31st and June 30th. Here are the groups and their participants' past World Cup records: =================================================================== Group A : France, Denmark, Uruguay, Senegal =================================================================== Defending champions France are looking very strong, they are grouped with Denmark, two time champions Uruguay, and newcomers Senegal. France's record in the World Cup: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Quarter-Finals 1 0 2 4 3 1934 First Round 0 0 1 2 3 1938 Quarter-Finals 1 0 1 4 4 1954 First Round 1 0 1 3 3 1958 Semi-Finals 3 0 2 17 12 1966 First Round 0 1 2 2 5 1978 First Round 1 0 2 5 5 1982 Semi-Finals 3 2 1 14 9 1986 Semi-Finals 3 2 1 8 4 1998 Winner 6 1 0 15 2 ===================================== No nation has been repeat World Cup victors since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. The only one prior to that was Italy in 1934 and 1938. Denmark: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1986 Second Round 3 0 1 10 6 1998 Quarter-Finals 2 1 2 9 7 ===================================== Denmark had a good qualifying campaign, finishing ahead of the Czech Republic which are considered very powerful, they are not to be taken lightly. Uruguay: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Winner 4 0 0 15 3 1950 Winner 3 1 0 15 5 1954 Semi-Finals 3 0 1 15 6 1962 First Round 1 0 2 4 6 1966 Quarter-Finals 1 2 1 2 5 1970 Semi-Finals 3 1 1 4 3 1974 First Round 0 1 2 1 6 1986 Second Round 0 2 2 2 8 1990 Second Round 1 1 2 2 5 ===================================== Uruguay claimed the last spot in the tournament by defeating Australia in a playoff. It is good to see them in a World Cup again as former champions in 1930 and 1950. Senegal: ======== The first World Cup match Senegal will ever play will be against defending champions France, it will be the opening match of the tournament. Welcome to the World Cup. Head to head: ============= 1966 First Round Uruguay 2-1 France 1986 First Round Denmark 6-1 Uruguay 1998 First Round France 2-1 Denmark =================================================================== Group B : Spain, Slovenia, Paraguay, South Africa =================================================================== Spain are seeded and are joined by Paraguay, South Africa, and surprising newcomers Slovenia. Spain: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1934 Quarter-Finals 1 1 1 4 3 1950 Final 3 1 2 10 12 1962 First Round 1 0 2 2 3 1966 First Round 1 0 2 4 5 1978 First Round 1 1 1 2 2 1982 Quarter-Finals 1 2 2 4 5 1986 Quarter-Finals 3 1 1 11 4 1990 Second Round 2 1 1 6 4 1994 Quarter-Finals 2 2 1 10 6 1998 First Round 1 1 1 8 4 ===================================== Spain is yet again one of the favourites, determined not to slip up in the group stage as they did in their heartbreaking 1998 campaign. Paraguay are their main foes, and revenge will the order of the day, as Paraguay were partly responsible for keeping Spain out of the knockout stage in 1998. Slovenia: ========= After an impressive performance at Euro 2000, Slovenia surprised Yugoslavia and then Romania on their way to their first World Cup. Paraguay: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Quarter-Finals 1 0 1 1 3 1950 Quarter-Finals 0 1 1 2 4 1958 First Round 1 0 2 5 10 1986 Second Round 1 2 1 4 6 1998 Second Round 1 2 1 3 2 ===================================== High expectations after a very good 1998 tournament where they kept eventual champions France in suspense until the first ever Golden Goal ended their hopes in the round of 16. South Africa: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1998 First Round 0 2 1 3 6 ===================================== A respectable showing in 1998 should prove valuable for their confidence. Head to head: ============= 1998 First Round Spain 0-0 Paraguay =================================================================== Group C : Brazil, Turkey, China, Costa Rica =================================================================== Brazil will be appearing in their 17th straight World Cup, that is, all of them. They are the only nation to do it. After a horrid qualifying campaign by Brazilian standards, they were rewarded with the easiest group, consisting of rising European power Turkey, impressive newcomers China, and Costa Rica. Brazil: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Quarter-Finals 1 0 1 5 2 1934 First Round 0 0 1 1 3 1938 Semi-Finals 2 1 1 10 9 1950 Final 4 1 1 22 6 1954 Quarter-Finals 1 1 1 8 5 1958 Winner 5 1 0 16 4 1962 Winner 5 1 0 14 5 1966 First Round 1 0 2 4 6 1970 Winner 6 0 0 19 7 1974 Semi-Finals 3 2 1 6 3 1978 Semi-Finals 3 3 0 8 2 1982 Quarter-Finals 4 0 1 15 6 1986 Quarter-Finals 4 1 0 10 1 1990 Second Round 3 0 1 4 2 1994 Winner 5 2 0 11 3 1998 Final 4 1 2 14 10 ===================================== A fifth World Cup title is not out of the question, in spite of their shaky qualifying campaign. Turkey: ================================================ Year RA TPts Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- -- ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1954 0 2 First Round 0 0 2 3 11 ================================================ High hopes, especially in this group with no clear favourite for the 2nd place. Costa Rica: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1990 Second Round 2 0 2 4 6 ===================================== Finished first in the CONCACAF qualifying region. China: ====== In 1990, Costa Rica were coached by Bora Milutinovic, but now Bora is China's coach, should make for an interesting matchup. Head to head: ============= 1990 First Round Brazil 1-0 Costa Rica =================================================================== Group D : Korea, Portugal, Poland, United States =================================================================== Co-hosts Korea are joined by powerhouse Portugal, Poland, and the United States. The second place in this group is wide open. Korea: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1954 First Round 0 0 2 0 16 1986 First Round 0 1 2 4 7 1990 First Round 0 0 3 1 6 1994 First Round 0 2 1 4 5 1998 First Round 0 1 2 2 9 ===================================== Usually the best representatives from Asia, no need to qualify this time. Some magic against Poland and the United States could see them thru. Portugal: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1966 Semi-Finals 4 0 1 15 7 1986 First Round 1 0 2 2 4 ===================================== A great deal of potential, so much individual talent. Poland: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1938 First Round 0 0 1 5 6 1974 Semi-Finals 5 0 1 15 5 1978 Semi-Finals 3 1 2 6 6 1982 Semi-Finals 2 3 1 8 3 1986 Second Round 1 1 2 1 7 ===================================== A Polish revival after missing three consecutive finals. United States: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Semi-Finals 2 0 1 7 6 1934 First Round 0 0 1 1 7 1950 Quarter-Finals 1 0 2 4 8 1990 First Round 0 0 3 2 8 1994 Second Round 1 1 2 3 4 1998 First Round 0 0 3 1 5 ===================================== Joining Mexico as regulars out of the CONCACAF region, good opportunity to advance in this group. Head to head: ============= None. =================================================================== Group E : Germany, Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon =================================================================== Seeded despite finishing second in their qualifying group, Germany get the Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and African champions Cameroon. Germany: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1934 Semi-Finals 2 0 1 8 6 1938 First Round 0 1 1 3 5 1954 Winner 6 0 1 32 14 1958 Semi-Finals 2 2 1 9 8 1962 Quarter-Finals 2 1 1 4 2 1966 Final 4 1 1 15 6 1970 Semi-Finals 4 0 1 16 10 1974 Winner 6 0 1 13 4 1978 Semi-Finals 1 4 1 10 5 1982 Final 3 2 2 12 10 1986 Final 3 2 2 8 7 1990 Winner 5 2 0 15 5 1994 Quarter-Finals 3 1 1 9 7 1998 Quarter-Finals 3 1 1 8 6 ===================================== No matter how badly they look, Germany are always a threat to win it all. Republic of Ireland: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1990 Quarter-Finals 0 4 1 2 3 1994 Second Round 1 1 2 2 4 ===================================== It is no small feat to knock out the Netherlands, it is a pity that they are not here too. Saudi Arabia: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1994 Second Round 2 0 2 5 6 1998 First Round 0 1 2 2 7 ===================================== Becoming a consistent representative from the middle east, not an automatic 3 points. Cameroon: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1982 First Round 0 3 0 1 1 1990 Quarter-Finals 3 0 2 7 9 1994 First Round 0 1 2 3 11 1998 First Round 0 2 1 2 5 ===================================== No more Roger Milla, but extremely dangerous. Head to head: ============= None. =================================================================== Group F : Argentina, England, Sweden, Nigeria =================================================================== Every World Cup seems to have a "group of death", a group filled with teams that could themselves win any other group outright. In 2002 it is group F, consisting not only of powerhouses Argentina and England, but of Sweden and Nigeria as well, who can all aspire to do well in the knockout stage should they make it out of this group alive. Argentina: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Final 4 0 1 18 9 1934 First Round 0 0 1 2 3 1958 First Round 1 0 2 5 10 1962 First Round 1 1 1 2 3 1966 Quarter-Finals 2 1 1 4 2 1974 Semi-Finals 1 2 3 9 12 1978 Winner 5 1 1 15 4 1982 Quarter-Finals 2 0 3 8 7 1986 Winner 6 1 0 14 5 1990 Final 2 3 2 5 4 1994 Second Round 2 0 2 8 6 1998 Quarter-Finals 3 1 1 10 4 ===================================== Argentina are two time champions and seriously looking to take their third title home, it would not surprise anybody. England: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1950 Quarter-Finals 1 0 2 2 2 1954 Quarter-Finals 1 1 1 8 8 1958 First Round 0 3 1 5 6 1962 Quarter-Finals 1 1 2 5 6 1966 Winner 5 1 0 11 3 1970 Quarter-Finals 2 0 2 4 4 1982 Quarter-Finals 3 2 0 6 1 1986 Quarter-Finals 2 1 2 7 3 1990 Semi-Finals 3 3 0 7 4 1998 Second Round 2 1 1 7 4 ===================================== Being drawn against Argentina is a cruel draw for England, their arch nemesis to be sure, having eliminated them in 1986 and again in 1998. Sweden: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1934 Quarter-Finals 1 0 1 4 4 1938 Semi-Finals 1 0 1 9 5 1950 Final 2 1 2 11 15 1958 Final 4 1 1 12 7 1970 First Round 0 1 2 1 3 1974 Semi-Finals 2 2 2 7 6 1978 First Round 0 1 2 1 3 1990 First Round 0 0 3 3 6 1994 Semi-Finals 2 3 1 11 8 ===================================== Sweden have always done very well at the World Cup when they qualify. Nigeria: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1994 Second Round 2 0 2 7 4 1998 Second Round 2 0 2 6 9 ===================================== A team with the potential to shock everyone. Head to head: ============= 1934 First Round Sweden 3-2 Argentina 1962 First Round England 3-1 Argentina 1966 Quarter-Finals England 1-0 Argentina 1986 Quarter-Finals Argentina 2-1 England 1994 First Round Argentina 2-1 Nigeria 1998 Second Round Argentina 2-2 England (Arg win on PK) =================================================================== Group G : Italy, Croatia, Ecuador, Mexico =================================================================== Italy are in what can arguably called the 2nd toughest group, as they are grouped with 1998 semi-finalists Croatia, newcomers Ecuador, and regulars Mexico. This group is somewhat unpredictable, but the three time champions should emerge on top. Italy: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1934 Winner 4 1 0 12 3 1938 Winner 4 0 0 11 5 1950 Quarter-Finals 1 0 1 4 3 1954 First Round 1 0 2 6 7 1962 First Round 1 1 1 3 2 1966 First Round 1 0 2 2 2 1970 Final 3 2 1 9 8 1974 First Round 1 1 1 5 4 1978 Semi-Finals 4 1 1 8 4 1982 Winner 4 3 0 12 6 1986 Second Round 1 2 1 5 6 1990 Semi-Finals 5 1 0 8 1 1994 Final 4 2 1 8 5 1998 Quarter-Finals 3 2 0 8 3 ===================================== The Italians are getting tired of being eliminated on penalty kicks: Germany in the 1990 semi-finals, Brazil in the 1994 final, and France in the 1998 quarter-finals. Croatia: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1998 Semi-Finals 4 0 2 9 4 ===================================== They pushed France to the brink in the 1998 semi-final. Ecuador: ======== The surprise team in South America, surely it was thought that Colombia would occupy their place instead. Mexico: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Quarter-Finals 0 0 3 4 13 1950 Quarter-Finals 0 0 3 2 10 1954 First Round 0 0 2 2 8 1958 First Round 0 1 2 0 7 1962 First Round 1 0 2 3 4 1966 First Round 0 2 1 1 3 1970 Quarter-Finals 2 1 1 6 3 1978 First Round 0 0 3 2 12 1986 Quarter-Finals 3 2 0 6 2 1994 Second Round 1 2 1 4 4 1998 Second Round 1 2 1 8 7 ===================================== A difficult qualifying campaign, and now a difficult group. Head to head: ============= 1970 Quarter-Finals Italy 3-1 Mexico 1994 First Round Italy 1-1 Mexico =================================================================== Group H : Japan, Russia, Belgium, Tunisia =================================================================== Japan is in a rather open group, with Russia, Belgium, and Tunisia. Japan: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1998 First Round 0 0 3 1 4 ===================================== Now co-hosts after a first appearance in 1998 where they were respectable in spite of losing all three of their matches. Russia: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1958 Quarter-Finals 2 1 2 6 7 1962 Quarter-Finals 2 1 1 9 7 1966 Semi-Finals 4 0 1 9 4 1970 Quarter-Finals 2 1 1 6 2 1982 Quarter-Finals 2 2 1 7 4 1986 Second Round 2 1 1 12 5 1990 First Round 1 0 2 4 4 1994 First Round 1 0 2 7 6 ===================================== A perenially underachieving team at the World Cup. As the Soviet Union in 1986, and one of Europe's best teams, they lost to Belgium in an incredible game in the round-of-16, surely the Russians have not forgotten. Belgium: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1930 Quarter-Finals 0 0 2 0 4 1934 First Round 0 0 1 2 5 1938 First Round 0 0 1 1 3 1954 First Round 0 1 1 5 8 1970 First Round 1 0 2 4 5 1982 Quarter-Finals 2 1 2 3 5 1986 Semi-Finals 2 2 2 10 11 1990 Second Round 2 0 2 6 4 1994 Second Round 2 0 2 4 4 1998 First Round 0 3 0 3 3 ===================================== A remarkable 6th consecutive appearance by Belgium, again via the playoff route. The match versus Russia ought to be good, but they'll have to be careful against the hosts. Tunisia: ===================================== Year Finishing round W D L GF GA ---- --------------- - - - -- -- 1978 First Round 1 1 1 3 2 1998 First Round 0 1 2 1 4 ===================================== Could play the role of the spoiler by forcing a draw or two. Head to head: ============= 1970 First Round Soviet Union 4-1 Belgium 1982 Quarter-Finals Soviet Union 1-0 Belgium 1986 Second Round Belgium 4-3 Soviet Union =================================================================== Group summary / Knockout stage matchups =================================================================== Groups: ------- A: France Denmark Uruguay Senegal B: Spain Slovenia Paraguay South Africa C: Brazil Turkey China Costa Rica D: Korea Portugal Poland United States E: Germany Rep. Ireland Saudi Arabia Cameroon F: Argentina Sweden England Nigeria G: Italy Croatia Ecuador Mexico H: Japan Russia Belgium Tunisia Knockout stage: ====================================== 2nd Rnd Quarters Semis Final ======= ======== ===== ===== 1E v 2B \ -- v -- \ 1G v 2D / \ -- v -- 1B v 2E \ / \ -- v -- / \ 1D v 2G / \ -- v -- 1A v 2F \ / -- v -- \ / 1C v 2H / \ / -- v -- 1F v 2A \ / -- v -- / 1H v 2C / ======================================== It is therefore impossible to have France vs Argentina in the final as they would both end up on the same side of the bracket should they make it out of their groups. The road to the final on the upper half of the diagram above goes thru Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Paraguay. The lower half goes thru France, Argentina, Brazil, and England. This ought to be a wonderful World Cup.