(South Korea, Japan, 2002)

From Skifter Kelliçi

…The Italy-South Korea match was taking place. Indeed, Vieri scored in the first minutes, but he would have put an end to this matter that became so annoying for the Italians, but he shot wide with an empty goal. Then, referee Moreno, from Ecuador, did not call Damian's goal valid. Scandal! And here, two minutes before the end, the Koreans tied and in 117'. So in the extra time of the game, Ahn gave the Asians the victory. … Thus, the drama of Italy was repeated, which in the '66 World Cup, in England, had lost to Korea, but this time in…South

Moreno was the subject of the entire press and RAI for days. (As a curiosity, in September 2010 this Moreno was also arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport, because about 6 kg of drugs were found in a bag and he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison).

For the first time in the history of the World Cup, an Asian team, South Korea, reached a cosmic height, from where it could see "the world", like Modunyo with his famous song "Volare".

As in the group stage, Brazil struggled to produce a 'valuable' goal against Turkey, who proved to be a worthy opponent for the four-time world champions. Ronaldo scored the only goal in the 49th minute.

The South Koreans left no doubt about any "judicial" scandal. They fought as equals with the Germans, who were able to emerge victorious in this match, after the only goal and again by Ballack in the 75th minute.

The dramatic third-place final between South Korea and Turkey ended 3-2 for the latter, who, with three accurate shots from their 'balls', cut off any hope for the homeland of the "sun that never sets", as Korea is known. This was and remains the greatest success of Turkish football in the World Cup, which is also known for the 3-1 victory of its representative team in 1955 against West Germany, then world champions.

An original record was recorded in this match: Turku Shukur scored the first goal in the 11th second, breaking the record of the Frenchman Lacombe, who had scored the first goal in the 44th second in the match against Italy at the Argentina '78 World Cup.

 

The final thus saw two of the most worthy representatives of world football - Brazil and Germany. But this time the Brazilian "samba", thanks to its soloists Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, who four years ago had proven that he would ascend "to the podium" with dignity, won 2-0, stopping the flood of the Wagnerian "storm and momentum" of the Germans.

Thus, Brazil was proclaimed the king of a World Cup for the fifth time, only to "abdicate" four years later at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

 

final

 

Brazil – Marcos, Lucio, Edmilton, Junior, Kafu, S

ilva, Kleberson, R. Karlos, Ronaldinho,

Rivaldo, (Paulista),), Ronaldo, (Denilson);

Germany – Kahn, Linker, Ramalou, Metcelder, Frings, Haman, Jeremies, (Asamoa), Bode, (Zige), Schneider, Klose, Neuvil, (Birhof).

 

Judge- Colina, (Italy)

 

Yokohama International Stadium, (69.029)

 

World Cup top scorer - Ronaldo, (Brazil), 8 goals;

 

Player and best - Kahn, goalkeeper, (Germany)