Argentina
 Argentina,
rather than four-times champions Brazil, are set to lead South America's
challenge at the 2002 World Cup.
They swept through the marathon qualifying competition with 13 wins in 18
games, a record which makes it clear that they must be considered among
the title favourites ... MORE
Belgium
 Belgium,
a small country with few big-name soccer stars and lacking a money-spinning
league, have defied the odds again to reach the World Cup finals for the
sixth consecutive time. Belgium, who usually reach the World Cup the hard
way, qualified by beating the Czech Republic 2-0 ... MORE
Brazil
 Brazil's
exuberant attacking play has illuminated past World Cups but the unique
skills of players such as Pele, Garrincha, Leonidas, Rivelino, Zico and
Socrates have been replaced by the bone-crunching tackle of a new breed
of midfield hard-men. In the last decade, Brazilian football has become
... MORE
Cameroon
 Cameroon
will set a record for Africa when they make their fifth World Cup finals
appearance this summer. With Morocco's surprise failure to qualify, they
have now progressed to the World Cup finals more times than any other African
country. Already, they have achieved the distinction of going ... MORE
China PR
 For
China, the most satisfying part of the World Cup - getting to the finals
for the first time after a series of heartbreaking near-misses - is over.
Overcoming a 44-year-long jinx with a convincing run through the qualifiers
for the finals in South Korea and Japan has sent the world's most populous
nation ... MORE
Costa Rica
 It
has been 12 years since Costa Rica last appeared in the World Cup finals,
but if any nation can benefit from such a prolonged absence it is the Ticos.
The 2002 finals in South Korea and Japan marks only the second time Costa
Rica has qualified for the finals following their ... MORE
Croatia
 Surprise
semi-finalists in their first World Cup in France, Croatia's 'Fiery Eleven'
of 1998 have set a tough standard for the current team. However, the side
heading for Japan and South Korea, a blend of experience and youth, are
forging their own reputation and manager Mirko Jozic says ... MORE
Denmark
 A
rejuvenated Denmark swept past Iceland 6-0 and into their third World Cup
finals with a style and aggression that is fast becoming their signature.That
victory, which secured Denmark first place in group three and a ticket to
South Korea and Japan, underlined the return to form of the 1992 ... MORE
Ecuador
 Ecuador
first became involved in international football in 1938. Until November
2001 the story been one of 63 years of almost non-stop frustration. They
managed only four wins in their first 25 years of internationals - against
Colombia (1938, 1949 and 1963) and Paraguay in 1959 ... MORE
England
 From
Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the Final to images of captain Bobby Moore lifting
the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley, the 1966 World Cup remains the ultimate
moment of triumph in English sporting history. Yet the real story surrounding
England's route to glory against Germany in one of the ... MORE
France
 Complacency
could be France's biggest obstacle at the World Cup finals. Roger Lemerre's
side, who will start as favourites together with Argentina, have nothing
to prove. Success at Euro 2000 has been added to their triumph at France
'98 and even FIFA's hard-to-climb ... MORE
Germany
 In
the end Germany qualified emphatically for the World Cup finals with a 5-2
demolition of Ukraine in the play-offs. But their achievement has not masked
their real fears that they could have missed out on the World Cup for the
first time since 1950. A goalless draw with Finland following ... MORE
Ireland
 Ireland
will not feature among the favourites to lift the 2002 World Cup but the
fighting qualities they displayed in the qualifying campaign make them a
side no one will relish facing. Unbeaten away from home since September
1999 until Iran scored an academic last-minute winner against ... MORE
Italy
 After
disappointing at France '98, Italy head for Japan and South Korea with the
firm belief that they have a real chance of claiming their fourth World
Cup. An exit on penalties in the quarter-finals to hosts and eventual winners
France four years ago was no disgrace for the side then coached ... MORE
Japan
 While
Japan are unlikely to add the World Cup to their Asian Cup title, the co-hosts
proved by reaching the final of the 2001 Confederations Cup that have come
a long way under Philippe Troussier.The Frenchman has moulded the Japan
team into a cohesive unit capable of winning big matches even ... MORE
Korea Republic
 Of
all the emotions felt by South Koreans in the run-up to the biggest event
ever staged in their country, the strongest is anxiety. While there is a
large measure of pride in the privilege of opening Asia's first-ever World
Cup soccer finals, this is balanced by a pervading feeling that the team
may not do justice to the magnificent facilities being provided ... MORE
Mexico
 Mexico
boasts a football-mad population of nearly 100 million, one of Latin America's
richest domestic leagues and has staged two of the best-organised, most
memorable World Cups in history. Yet the national team remains one of the
great enigmas of international football ... MORE
Nigeria
 Nigeria's
dismal semi-final exit in the African Nations in Mali came amid mutterings
of player rebellion, while senior squad members have talked about the worst-ever
preparations they can recall. And should the Super Eagles really go from
good to better to best, soaring to the heights they're capable of in ...
MORE
 Paraguay
 At
first glance there are not too many similarities between the Irish and the
Paraguayan soccer teams. But in one respect they do have something in common.
Neither can be considered among the favourites to win the 2002 World Cup
but anyone who underestimates them is likely to get a very ... MORE
Poland
 After
16 years in the football wilderness, a restyled Poland return to the 2002
World Cup with the tough task of recapturing at least some of the glory
of a generation ago. Poland's best spell in international soccer spanned
the early 1970s and 1980s when they finished third in the World Cups of
... MORE
Portugal
 'We
must stop being the best and come first instead', Portuguese coach Antonio
Oliveira said of his side's preparations for their third crack at the World
Cup in 2002. With a side full of big names playing in Europe's top clubs,
and dubbed the Brazilians of Europe by fan and foe ... MORE
Russia
 Until
a favourable draw grouped them with Belgium, Tunisia and Japan, Russia seemed
to be facing an uphill battle just to avoid a first-round exit this summer.
Many Russian experts doubt their team's ability to make any impact on the
world stage, pointing to problems in almost every aspect of the game: physical,
tactical and mental ... MORE
Saudi Arabia
 Saudi
Arabia overcame a miserable start to the qualifiers to seal a place in the
World Cup finals thanks to Bahrain's humbling of regional rival Iran and
a new confidence in homegrown coaching talent. But a team rated by William
Hill least likely to lift the trophy will have to display unusual ... MORE
Senegal
 Senegal
produced a surprise performance to book their first trip to the World Cup
finals, emerging not only from the ranks of the unfancied but through arguably
the toughest of the African qualifying groups. The Lions of west Africa
edged out four-time World Cup finalists Morocco on goal difference ... MORE
Slovenia
When Slovenia gained independence in 1991, its soccer team was considered
the weakest of all the former Yugoslav republics. A decade later, while
Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Macedonia sit at home, Srecko Katanec's side along
with Croatia are on their way to South Korea and Japan to take part in
the World Cup in ... MORE
South Africa
 South
Africa have made clear their aims for the World Cup finals - progress past
the first round and into the knockout phase. South Africa were disappointing
in their only previous World Cup finals appearance, failing to get past
the opening round at France '98 despite only one defeat ... MORE
Spain
 Whatever
problems Spain face in the World Cup finals in June, at least they should
not be weighed down by the burden of expectation this time. Coach Jose Antonio
Camacho should be able to assemble one of the most talented squads on show
in South Korea and Japan, drawn largely from ... MORE
Sweden
 Dull
but efficient Sweden are nobody's first choice as soccer's most spectacular
side - but neither are they anybody's choice to be humiliated in the World
Cup finals. The Swedes conceded just three goals and remained unbeaten on
their way to the top spot in Europe's qualifying group four ... MORE
Tunisia
 The
only North African team to make it to this year's football festival, Tunisia
remained unbeaten throughout an admittedly weak qualifying section, clinching
a berth at the World Cup finals for the second straight time. Considered
by many as the weakest team to take part in this summer's ... MORE
Turkey
 The
last time Turkey met a real world footballing power, the results were not
pretty. Powerful French midfielders sent their smaller Turkish opposite
numbers sprawling into the mud of a rainy Istanbul night late in 2000 as
the World and European champions swept to an all too easy 4-0 friendly win
... MORE
Uruguay
Uruguay, who played a pivotal role in turning soccer into an international
game, make a welcome return to the World Cup after watching the last two
tournaments from the sidelines. The smallest nation to have won the trophy
claimed the 32nd and final place when they beat Australia 3-1 on aggregate
in a play-off after finishing fifth in the ... MORE
USA
 The
one positive aspect the United States can take from a thoroughly miserable
last place at the 1998 World Cup is that they couldn't possibly perform
any worse at this summer's tournament. While the U.S. defense has always
been relatively solid, if somewhat pedestrian, creativity in forward areas
is ... MORE |
