2002 World Cup soccer thread

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Group H-Belgium

Sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup? finals

When Michel D'Hooghe retired as president of the Belgian Football Association, he handed his successor a team that was in pole position to reach the FIFA World Cup? final phase for the sixth consecutive time. Alas, in their final qualifying match, the Red Devils surrendered first place in Group 6 after losing to Croatia.
Since the Bosman ruling, many Belgian players have signed for foreign clubs, meaning that the majority of the current squad ply their trade abroad, primarily in Germany, the Netherlands and France. The domestic players come from Anderlecht (Glen de Boeck, Walter Baseggio, Yves Vanderhaeghe and Marc Hendrikx), Club Brugge (Gert Verheyen, Timmy Simons), Racing Genk (Wesley Sonck) and Standard Liege (Eric van Meir).

Still at the heart of the Belgian team is Marc Wilmots. Nicknamed "Mr. 1,000 Volts'' at his German club Schalke 04, the veteran midfielder twice stunned the footballing world by making a quick recovery after surgery in time to play in Belgium's last two FIFA World Cup? qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia. His strong running, tackling and long-range shooting make him Belgium's biggest impact player in the central midfield role vacated by retired great Enzo Scifo.

The squad may see a new striker emerge over in the months leading up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan?, as forward Emile Mpenza, also of Schalke, will be out of action for some time with a groin injury. Wesley Sonck will stake a claim for Mpenza's place up front - the 23-year-old Racing Genk striker has been the revelation of the 2001-2002 season but lacks top-flight experience.

Significant past players:

Enzo Scifo, Michel Preud'homme, Frankie van der Elst, Eric Gerets, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Jan Ceulemans, Paul van Himst, Raoul Lambert

Achievements:

-- 4th 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico
-- 3rd UEFA European Championship Belgium 1972
-- 2nd UEFA European Championship Italy 1980
-- Winner Olympic Games 1920

 

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Group H-Russia



Building a new tradition

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian football has had to create a new identity separate from the accomplishments of sides made up of players from several former Soviet Republics. The last Soviet squad appeared in the 1990 World Cup?, with the first Russian team qualifying for the very next installment of the finals. After missing out on France '98, a mix of veteran and young players have led Russia to the top of Group 1 and a place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.

Russia coach Oleg Romantsev has crafted a squad that spreads around the goal-scoring opportunities, with midfielders and forwards alternating on the score-sheet. Among them are Dmitri Khoklov and Alexandre Mostovoi, but the current star of the Russian squad is striker Vladimir Beschastnykh, who cemented his place in the side with a three-goal effort against Switzerland that saw the Russians through to the FIFA World Cup finals.

In goal, Rouslan Nigmatoulline might not be garnering immediate comparisons with the most successful Russian footballer of all time, Lev Yashin, but he has proven to be a competent shot stopper, allowing only five goals in ten qualifiers.

Romantsev is also the coach of Spartak Moscow, and like many of the great Soviet-era sides, he has modeled the national team on his current Champions League squad. Along with Beschastnykh and several other Spartak players, Romantsev also has proven internationals in Celta Vigo's Mostovoi and Valery Karpin. The result is an experienced squad that has come together well.

Significant past players (as Soviet Union):

Igor Belanov, Oleg Salenko, Oleg Blokhin, Lev Yashin

Achievements (as Soviet Union):

-- Quarter-final 1958 FIFA World Cup? Sweden
-- Quarter-final 1962 FIFA World Cup Chile
-- 4th 1966 FIFA World Cup England
-- Quarter-final 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico
-- Champion UEFA European Championship France 1960
-- 2nd UEFA European Championship Spain 1964
-- 4th UEFA European Championship Italy 1968
-- 2nd UEFA European Championship Belgium 1972
-- 2nd UEFA European Championship West Germany 1988
-- Champion Olympic Games 1956
-- Champion Olympic Games 1988

 

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Irish captain Keane threatens to fly home



Click to enlarge photo
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Captain Roy Keane, Ireland's World Cup linchpin, threatened to fly home from the team's training camp for "personal reasons" but later calmed down and will remain with the squad.


Irish coach Mick McCarthy said he had contacted Colin Healy, the Celtic midfielder, and instructed him to get on the next plane to Japan to take Keane's place.


But a few hours later Manchester United's Keane, who has been troubled by hamstring and knee injuries, informed McCarthy at Ireland's training base on Saipan that he would be staying.


"Roy came to me after training yesterday and said he was going home," McCarthy told Irish reporters.


"I knew he had been worried about his knee, that is an ongoing situation, but he told me he had personal reasons which he wouldn't go into. It was an enormous shock.


"I was told there was nothing I could do to change his mind. The decision was made. He was going home, that was it."


"I rang Colin Healy and told him he was in. I had to ring him back a few hours later and tell him to change his plans but we have placed him formally on standby with FIFA in case there are further developments.


"No matter what happens, I'll invite him out to the tournament."


British and Irish media said there had been an argument between Keane and former Irish goalkeeper Pat Bonner, now a team coach, at a training session but McCarthy denied that.


"There is some suggestion this is all to do with a bust-up at training, but that is way off the mark," he said.


"I asked him if it was that, or anything else, but he assured me it was personal.


"I feel he's (Keane) made up his mind to stay, which is good, but you'll have to talk to him.


"He understands how big this story is and that he'll have to explain his actions to the media.


"I'm not annoyed with all this. It comes with the territory," McCarthy said.


Ireland are in group E with Germany, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon. The World Cup finals open on May 31.

 

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Kenedy dropped from Portugal squad after dope test



LISBON (Reuters) - Uncapped midfielder Daniel Kenedy has been dropped from Portugal's World Cup squad after reportedly failing a drugs test.


A brief statement by the Portuguese Football Federation said its medical team had decided to exclude the 28-year-old Maritimo player, but gave no further details.


State radio RDP said a urine sample taken from Kenedy on May 14 had tested positive for the banned diuretic furosenide.


Kenedy is the second player coach Antonio Oliveira has had to drop from his squad for failing a dope test. First-choice goalkeeper Joaquim "Quim" Silva was suspended in February after testing positive for nandrolone.


Kenedy, who cried when Oliveira drafted him last week as a late replacement to fill a gap in midfield, protested his innocence and said he had taken slimming pills.


"I want to make it clear that I did nothing with intent. I took something to lose weight, as I was already on holiday and had taken a 10-day break. Those pills had a substance that showed up in the test and unfortunately that's what happened," Kenedy told RDP in Macao, where the squad is training.


Diuretics can be used for slimming, but also to mask other banned substances.


RDP said 19-year-old midfielder Hugo Viana, with four caps, would replace Kenedy.


Viana plays for Portuguese league champions Sporting and is currently with the national squad playing in the European under-21 tournament in Switzerland.


Portugal's first game in the World Cup finals will be a Group D tie against the United States on June 5. They have also been drawn against Poland and South Korea.

 

[Anders]

SOCCER-WORLD-ENGLAND-D/L
WORLD-MURPHY BECOMES LATEST ENGLAND CASUALTY
Sogwipo, South Korea, May 22 Reuters - England's soccer World Cup injury curse struck again on Wednesday as Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy suffered a foot injury in training that left him requiring a bone scan.
The Football Association (FA) said it was too early to know the extent of the damage and whether Murphy, the fifth England midfielder to be injured, would be ruled out of the finals which start on May 31.
``A few minutes before the end of today's training session, Danny Murphy landed awkwardly on his left foot and felt a sudden sharp pain,'' the FA said in a statement.
``He was sent for an x-ray which failed to show a fracture.
``The England medical staff are now planning a bone scan in the next couple of days to establish the exact nature of the injury and, specifically, whether there is any damage to the bone.
``It is too early to say how serious Danny's injury is or how long it will be before he is back to full fitness. The England team doctor has been in contact with Liverpool FC tonight to inform them of Danny's condition.''
Originally a standby, Murphy had only been promoted into the squad of 23 after club team mate Steven Gerrard was ruled out by injury.
Three other midfielders in the squad at Sogwipo -- skipper David Beckham, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot, and Kieron Dyer and Nicky Butt, who both have knee problems -- are also battling to be fit.
In a bitter twist for Sven-Goran Eriksson, Murphy's injury came just hours after the England manager allowed his current standby, West Ham United midfielder Trevor Sinclair, to return home to London.
When Murphy fell, Sinclair would have been in the air -- after overriding Eriksson's initial suggestion that he stay on as a precaution.
It also came hours after Eriksson told a news conference that Beckham, Butt and Dyer could all potentially miss the finals.
Asked at the time whether England's chances of success at the finals had been damaged by the injuries, Eriksson conceded: ``If you miss one of your key players, that might be okay.
``If you miss two or three that, of course, lessens your chances.
``But that's football and let's hope that it's enough with those two we left at home, and that we will not have any more problems.''
Murphy, who would have been competing with Butt and Owen Hargreaves for a place in central midfield, will have little time recover from his injury.
England open their campaign in group F against Sweden on June 2.
Reuters hc
SOCCER-WORLD-D/L
HENRY AND KEANE SPARK WORLD CUP SCARES
London, May 22 Reuters - Thierry Henry's knee, Roy Keane's mental health and yet another injured English midfielder all came under the media microscope on Wednesday.
World champions France were forced to issue a statement after midnight in Japan, playing down the gravity of Henry's knee injury after speculation that the Arsenal striker may be forced to pull out of the finals.
The statement, which insisted the player's World Cup was not in doubt for the time being, came after a despondent France coach Roger Lemerre had given him until Sunday to prove his fitness.
Henry was unable to take part in a training match against Japanese league side Urawa Reds on Wednesday, which the World Cup holders won 5-1 with a hat-trick from Youri Djorkaeff.
``Thierry Henry was not able to resume playing today and this is important news,'' Lemerre told reporters.
``We are going to do some more tests on Sunday and, depending on the results, we will do what is necessary.''
There was some good news for Lemerre as playmaker Zinedine Zidane arrived at France's Ibusuki training camp by helicopter from the local airport after attending the birth of his third son on Saturday.
Ireland captain Keane, meanwhile, sparked a tidal wave of anxiety back home when he said he was quitting the team's training camp for ``personal reasons'' but later retracted his threat.
Irish coach Mick McCarthy took the inspirational midfielder seriously enough to contact Celtic's Colin Healy, instructing him to get on the next plane to Japan to take the Manchester United player's place.
``Roy came to me after training yesterday and said he was going home,'' McCarthy told Irish reporters.
``I knew he had been worried about his knee, that is an ongoing situation, but he told me he had personal reasons which he wouldn't go into. It was an enormous shock.''
British and Irish media said there had been an argument between Keane and former Irish goalkeeper Pat Bonner, now a team coach, at a training session but McCarthy denied that.
England's pre-World Cup injury curse struck again when midfielder Danny Murphy suffered a foot injury in training that left him requiring a bone scan.
The Football Association (FA) said it was too early to know the extent of the damage and whether Murphy, the fifth England midfielder to be injured, would be ruled out of the finals which start on May 31.
Originally a stand-by, the Liverpool player had only been promoted into the squad of 23 after club team mate Steven Gerrard was ruled out by a groin injury.
Three other midfielders in the squad at Sogwipo -- skipper David Beckham, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot, Kieron Dyer and Nicky Butt, who both have knee problems -- are also battling to be fit.
In other developments, uncapped midfielder Daniel Kenedy was dropped from Portugal's World Cup squad after reportedly failing a drugs test. He was replaced by Sporting Lisbon's 19-year-old Hugo Viana. A senior British policeman heading an anti-hooligan taskforce warned Japan to expect violence at the World Cup but said he did not anticipate large-scale disorder.
``I'm sure that there will be some disorder, there's no doubt about that. But I hope it will be small-scale,'' said Ron Hogg, assistant chief constable of Durham police.
``We don't anticipate the type of disorder we saw in Charleroi in (Euro) 2000 or in France '98.''
Rivaldo's plans to send a message for world peace have been scuppered by FIFA's clampdown on goal celebrations, the Brazil striker said.
The player, upset about the war in Afghanistan as well as hunger and poverty in Brazil, said he had intended to reveal a message-bearing tee-shirt

 

[Anders]

SOCCER-WORLD-FRANCE-FRIENDLY
DJORKAEFF AND CISSE INSPIRE FRANCE 5-1 VICTORY
Ibusuki, Japan, May 22 Reuters - Veteran Youri Djorkaeff scored a hat-trick in France's 5-1 victory over Japanese first division Urawa Reds in a soccer World Cup warm-up on Wednesday, but it was young striker Djibrill Cisse who caught the eye.
Cisse underlined his potential by setting up two goals and scoring a third for the world champions in an 80-minute game played in heavy rain in the coastal resort of Ibusuki.
``We needed to have a game like one to get some confidence as we are a little bit concerned about some players' physical condition at the moment,'' French coach Roger Lemerre said.
``I'm happy with the performance the guys produced today. We needed to be reassured after last week's defeat. I was expecting no less than that.''
France were beaten 2-1 by Belgium in a warm-up last weekend at the Stade de France.
``But more than the result itself I wanted to have all the squad in the best possible physical condition to face South Korea on Sunday,'' Lemerre said.
The France coach had hinted Thierry Henry might play on Wednesday but he continued to rest the Arsenal striker because of a knee injury.
The world champions were also without defenders Philippe Christanval and Lilian Thuram and midfielder Alain Boghossian, who are all unfit. Playmaker Zinedine Zidane arrived from France just two hours before the kick-off and did not play.
In Zidane's absence, Djorkaeff was the playmaker and the Bolton midfielder shone.
Djorkaeff volleyed home a fine cross from the right by Cisse at the far post for France's second goal in the 34th minute after Parma's Johan Micoud had opened the scoring thanks to a fine pass by Cisse in the 24th.
The French put the result beyond doubt when Cisse outpaced the Urawa Reds' defence five minutes into the second half.
``He (Cisse) is a great help to the squad,'' Lemerre said.
``He has done pretty well against the Belgians. And today he has confirmed he is a member of the France set-up beyond any doubt.''
In the second half, Lemerre made five changes as he wanted to look at as many players as possible just nine days before the World Cup's opening match against Senegal.
Outclassing their opponents, the world champions added two more goals from Djorkaeff, before the Urawa Reds saved their pride with a late goal by striker Masahiro Fukuda from the penalty spot.
SOCCER-WORLD-TURKEY-SQUAD
TURKEY WORLD CUP SQUAD
Hong Kong, May 22 AFP - Turkey, playing its first World Cup soccer finals for 48 years, announced its 23-man squad here on Wednesday.
Turkey is in Group C with Brazil, China and Costa Rica.

Goalkeepers: Rustu Recber (Fenerbahce), Omer Catkic (Gaziantepspor), Zafer Ozgultekin (Ankaragucu)
Defenders: Bulent Korkmaz, Ergun Penbe and Emre Asik (Galatasaray), Umit Ozat and Fatih Akyel (Fenerbahce), Hakan Unsal (Blackburn Rovers/Eng), Alpay Ozalan (Aston Villa/Eng)
Midfielders: Arif Erdem (Galatasaray), Tayfur Havutcu (Besiktas), Abdullah Ercan (Fenerbahce), Tugay Kerimoglu (Blackburn Rovers/Eng), Emre Belozoglu and Okan Buruk (Inter Milan/Ita), Umit Davala (AC Milan/Ita), Yildiray Basturk (Bayer Leverkusen/Ger), Mustafa Izzet (Leicester/Eng)
Strikers: Hasan Sas (Galatasaray), Ilhan Mansiz (Besiktas), Hakan Sukur (Parma/Ita), Nihat Kahveci (Real Sociedad/Spa)
AFP mh
NZP
22/05/02 2120NZ

 

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Group H-Tunisia
Build on club success at country level

Consistency has been the key to success in recent times for Tunisia as they head to their third appearance at the FIFA World Cup? finals. In Argentina in 1978, they became the first African country to win a game on soccer's greatest stage by beating Mexico 3-1 in Rosario, setting a new milestone for the continent and injecting new confidence in African football.
The North Africans went back to the FIFA World Cup finals in France four years ago and acquitted themselves admirably despite being drawn in a tough opening round group with Colombia, England and Romania. Many of those players will be back again to compete at the 2002 finals in Korea and Japan as the Tunisians have kept the core of a side, originally put together at under-23 level to compete at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Six years on, and the team has evolved into a highly efficient unit with high hopes of setting new standards when they play at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Veterans like goalkeeper-captain Chokri El Ouaer, Adel Sellimi and Sirajeddine Chihi are complimented by the youthful talent of Hassen Gabsi, Ali Zitouni and Ziad Jaziri, among the new stars of African football.

The Tunisians have been the dominant force in African club soccer for the last five years and are now seeking to establish the same reputation at national team level. There was just one hiccup for them during the qualifying campaign when coach Francesco Scoglio left to return to Italian football and had to be replaced by the German Eckhard Krautzen in the middle of the campaign. Krautzen departed after the successful conclusion of the qualifiers.

Significant past players:

Tarak Dhiab, Mohieddine Habita, Sadok Sassi, Hedi Benrekhissa, Adel Sellimi

Achievements:

Qualification 1978, 1998 FIFA World Cup finals
Qualification 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 African Cup of Nations finals

 

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Group H

Post Draw: Quotes and Analysis

Japan (JPN)

Coach: Philippe Troussier
First of all I would like to say how impressed I was with the ceremony. Otherwise, without wanting to lapse into cliches, none of the groups is easy ? I consider all 32 qualified teams to be on an equal footing and respect them all. We are not in a strong or a weak group since everything is possible in football. Each World Cup team has to play three first round group matches to qualify, whoever they are. Qualification is everything, and in our group, anyone could get through.

Belgium (BEL)

Coach: Robert Waseige
am satisfied since we have teams that like to play their football in our group. Japan and Russia like to express themselves. I know Japan, I?ve seen them five or six times and learned a lot, but we?ll have to study them more. They?re a very lively, mobile team which has adopted Troussier?s tactics and discipline. They have a real chance to climb in the footballing hierarchy and will put us under a lot of pressure for the openeing match on their home ground, but they too will be under the spotlight

Russia (RUS)

Director of Russian football federation: Aleksander Tukmanov
We have been lucky. We were talking before the draw and said we wanted to end up in Japan for our fans. It?s always tough to play the host nation ? there is more pressure but after all, were are not coming up against France, Argentina or Brazil? Our group is within our capabilities, we can get through.


Tunisia (TUN)

Former Coach: Henri Michel
I don't know Belgium too well, but I have bad memories of them from which I was Moroccan coach and we lost to them 4-0. I saw them recently in their play-offs against the Czech Republic and they put in solid performances. Since Robert Waseige has taken over the reins, they have become more disciplined and hard to break down. The Belgians are better than us on paper but if we prepare well, we could surprise them. We are the minnows of the group, but who knows?

 

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Past Games- Group A


Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)


15 Jul 66 London Uruguay vs. France 2:1 (2:1) [World Cup Finals]
08 Jun 86 Nezahualc-oyotl Denmark vs. Uruguay 6:1 (2:1) [World Cup Finals]
24 Jun 98 Lyon France vs. Denmark 2:1 (1:1) [World Cup Finals]


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)


17 Jun 92 Malmoe France vs. Denmark 1:2 (0:1) [Continental Finals]
09 Nov 96 Copenhagen Denmark vs. France 1:0 (1:0) [Friendly]
11 Jun 00 Bruges France vs. Denmark 3:0 (1:0) [Continental Finals]
15 Aug 01 Nantes France vs. Denmark 1:0 (1:0) [Friendly]

 

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Past Games- Group B

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)
19 Jun 98 St.Etienne Spain vs. Paraguay 0:0 (0:0) [World Cup Finals]



Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)
18 Jun 00 Amsterdam Slovenia vs. Spain 1:2 (0:1) [Continental Finals]

 

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Past Games- Group C

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)
16 Jun 90 Turin Brazil vs. Costa Rica 1:0 (1:0) [World Cup Finals]


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)
13 Jun 97 Santa Cruz Brazil vs. Costa Rica 5:0 (2:0) [Continental Finals]

 

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Past Games- Group D

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)

07 Jun 86 Monterrey Poland vs. Portugal 1:0 (0:0) [World Cup Finals]


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)

03 Jun 92 Chicago USA vs. Portugal 1:0 (1:0) [Friendly]
05 Mar 94 Los Angeles USA vs. Korea Republic 1:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
12 Mar 94 Fullerton USA vs. Korea Republic 1:1 (0:1) [Friendly]

 

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Past Games- Group E

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)
None


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)
29 May 94 Hanover Germany vs. Republic of Ireland 0:2 (0:1) [Friendly]
22 Feb 98 Riyadh Saudi Arabia vs. Germany 0:3 (0:1) [Friendly]

 

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Past Games-Group F

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)

27 May 34 Bologna Sweden vs. Argentina 3:2 (1:1) [World Cup Finals]
02 Jun 62 Rancagua England vs. Argentina 3:1 (2:0) [World Cup Finals]
23-Jul-66 London England vs. Argentina 1:0 (0:0) [World Cup Finals]
22 Jun 86 Mexico City Argentina vs. England 2:1 (0:0) [World Cup Finals]
25 Jun 94 Foxboro Argentina vs. Nigeria 2:1 (2:1) [World Cup Finals]
30 Jun 98 St.Etienne Argentina vs. England 2:2 a.e.t. (2:2, 2:2) 4:3 penalty kicks [World Cup Finals]


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)

17 Jun 92 Stockholm Sweden vs. England 2:1 (0:1) [Continental Finals]
05 May 94 Stockholm Sweden vs. Nigeria 3:1 (2:0) [Friendly]
16 Nov 94 London England vs. Nigeria 1:0 (1:0) [Friendly]
10 Jan 95 Riyadh Nigeria vs. Argentina 0:0 (0:0) [Continental Finals]
08 Jun 95 Leeds England vs. Sweden 3:3 (1:2) [Friendly]
05 Sep 98 Stockholm Sweden vs. England 2:1 (2:1) [Continental Preliminary]
05 Jun 99 London England vs. Sweden 0:0 (0:0) [Continental Preliminary]
23 Feb 00 London England vs. Argentina 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
10 Nov 01 Manchester England vs. Sweden 1:1 (1:1) [Friendly]

 

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Past Games-Group G

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)
14 Jun 70 Toluca Italy vs. Mexico 4:1 (1:1) [World Cup Finals]
28 Jun 94 Washington DC Italy vs. Mexico 1:1 (0:0) [World Cup Finals]


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)

22 Oct 92 Zagreb Croatia vs. Mexico 3:0 (1:0) [Friendly]
20 Jan 93 Florence Italy vs. Mexico 2:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
30 Jun 93 Quito Ecuador vs. Mexico 0:2 (0:1) [Continental Finals]
16 Nov 94 Palermo Italy vs. Croatia 1:2 (0:1) [Continental Preliminary]
08 Oct 95 Split Croatia vs. Italy 1:1 (0:1) [Continental Preliminary]
23 Oct 96 Oakland Ecuador vs. Mexico 1:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
05 Feb 97 Mexico City Mexico vs. Ecuador 3:1 (2:0) [Friendly]
22 Jun 97 Cochabamba Ecuador vs. Mexico 1:1 a.e.t. (1:1, 1:1) 3:4 penalty kicks [Continental Finals]
14 Apr 99 Monterrey Mexico vs. Ecuador 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
28 Apr 99 Zagreb Croatia vs. Italy 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
16 Jun 99 Seoul Mexico vs. Croatia 1:2 (0:0) [Friendly]
27 Oct 99 Houston Mexico vs. Ecuador 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
20 Sep 00 San Diego Mexico vs. Ecuador 2:0 (1:0) [Friendly]

 

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Past Games- Group H

Head-to-Heads in World Cup finals (since 1930)
None


Head-to-Heads overall (since 1992)

26 Feb 92 Tunis Tunisia vs. Belgium 2:1 (1:0) [Friendly]
01 Aug 95 Tokyo Japan vs. Russia 3:2 (0:0) [Friendly]
24 Apr 96 Brussels Belgium vs. Russia 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]
13 Oct 96 Kobe Japan vs. Tunisia 1:0 (1:0) [Friendly]
03 Jun 99 Tokyo Japan vs. Belgium 0:0 (0:0) [Friendly]

 

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Soccer-Injury scares for France,Italy in final warm-up

By Scott McDonald

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Co-favourites France and Italy both suffered injury scares as they snatched wins in their final warm-up matches on Sunday before the start of the World Cup.

The French beat co-hosts South Korea 3-2 with a last-minute goal from Frank Leboeuf, but inspirational playmaker Zinedine Zidane was taken off in the first half after picking up a knock.

The world's most expensive player then applied an ice pack to his left thigh, a worrying sign for France coach Roger Lemerre.

"He has a small tear, a little pain in his thigh muscle," Lemerre told reporters after the game.

"When it's muscular, you are always worried because you never know how long it is going to take to heal."

Zidane arrived two days after the rest of his team mates this week after attending the birth of his third son, and Lemerre had said the tournament would not really start for France until his key player had arrived.

Leboeuf's 89th minute goal helped France overcome a determined South Korea, who had taken a 2-1 lead before 43,000 screaming and flag-waving fans in Suwon, South Korea.

Christophe Dugarry also scored in the second half for France after South Korea's Park Ji sung and Choi Tae uk had replied to David Trezeguet's opening goal.

France open the tournament and the defence of their world title against Senegal in Seoul on Friday.

LIMP OFF

Italy scored two first-half goals to beat Japanese champions Kashima Antlers 2-1, but saw striker Filippo Inzaghi -- who opened the scoring with a header -- limp off after appearing to suffer a thigh injury.

Playing against a side thrashed 5-1 in midweek by Argentina, Italy were in control with Christian Vieri scoring the other goal but it was still a far from peak performance from the three-time champions.

Team doctor Andrea Ferretti said Inzaghi would undergo a scan on Monday.

"He had a problem with his left knee, it's too early to say any more," Ferretti said.

But the good news for coach Giovanni Trapattoni was the return of playmaker Francesco Totti after a month out with a thigh injury.

England stumbled in their last warm-up match, needing an injury-time header from substitute Robbie Fowler for an undeserved 2-2 draw against Cameroon in Kobe, Japan.

The result was not promising ahead of England's first game in the "group of death" on June 2 against Sweden, but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said David Beckham's recovery from a broken bone in his foot was on schedule and the England captain should be fit for the match.

"Everything is as planned so far. We think and we hope he will be fit for Sunday," he said.

"He's started running more and more, and hopefully in the middle of the week he will practise with the rest of the team with the ball.

The other teams in group F are Argentina and Nigeria.

PLAY-ACTING

A superior Cameroon side led twice through goals from Samuel Eto'o after five minutes and Geremi after 58, before Fowler repeated Darius Vassell's first-half equaliser.

Away from the field, the tournament's referees warned that they would crack down on the play-acting and exaggerated falls, dives and screams that some players use to trick referees into penalising their opponents.

"The FIFA goal for this tournament is cheating, simulation. We and all the people involved in football have to do something to get away from simulation, diving on the field. It is very, very bad behaviour," top referee Pierluigi Collina told reporters at a meeting of the 36 World Cup referees.

The sport's ruling body said it wanted such trickery wiped out for the World Cup in Korea and Japan, just as it cracked down on dangerous tackles from behind at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Sepp Blatter, facing allegations of financial mismanagement just days before standing for re-election as FIFA president, defended his record, saying he had done nothing illegal in his career with soccer's world governing body.

"I am confident that in the 27 years I have been in FIFA, I have not committed anything which shall go to court or which a court should consider as an offence which should go into criminal law," Blatter told a news conference in Seoul.

The 66-year-old Swiss lawyer faces a fight for his job against Issa Hayatou, the Cameroonian head of the African Football Confederation.

The vote will take place on Wednesday during FIFA's regular congress in Seoul.

 

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sorry wrong thread

 

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SENDAI, Japan (Reuters) - Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi is set to miss their opening group match against Ecuador on June 3 with a knee injury, a team official has said.

"Our objective is for him to be ready for the second game. It will be difficult for him to be ready for the first game," said Italian team doctor Andrea Ferretti.


The striker had scans on his injured left knee at the local hospital after the team returned to base in Sendai on Sunday and the scan showed no torn ligaments.


But while the tests ruled out serious damage and there is no swelling around the knee, the player remains in pain and needs seven to 10 days to recover full fitness.


"This morning we had another examination of the knee and it is much, much better," said Ferretti.


"However, he still feels some pain. He needs two days of physiotherapy and a gradual return to training."


Inzaghi picked up the injury in scoring during a 2-1 warm-up win over Japanese champions Kashima Antlers on Sunday.


The AC Milan player had an operation on the same left knee in December and was out of action for three months but the absence of serious ligament damage in Monday's scan appeared to rule out a recurrence of that injury.


After facing Ecuador in the Japanese city of Sapporo, Italy will then meet Croatia and Mexico at the finals.

 

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Zidane to miss France's opening two games

Zinedine Zidane has been ruled out of France's opening two World Cup matches against Senegal on Friday and Uruguay on June 6, with a thigh injury.

The playmaker suffered the injury during the warm-up match against South Korea.

"I have some slightly worrying news," French Football Federation head Claude Simonet told France Inter radio. "I've just been told the results of the X-ray and Zinedine Zidane will be absent for two matches."

"If you want to be world champions, you have to be prepared to play from time to time without one of your stars."