1982 and beyond-alternate history of FIFA World Cups

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Round of 16, 17 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    On third day of knockout stage Sweden eliminated Czech Republic after extra time. Regulation time ended with 1-1 draw after goals of Larsson and Koller. Extra time was about to end and it seemed that penalty shootout would be needed to decide winner, when substitue Zlatan Ibrahimović [1] scored Golden Goal for Sweden.

    The same day Poland defeated USA 3-1 after surprisingly taking 2-0 lead after just 5 minutes of play [2]. Poland added one more goal during second half, USA reduced Poland's lead to two goals after Donovan scored in 83 minute, but failed to come back.

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    [1] So Sweden would not need to wait until end of Ibra's international career to advance to quarter-final. BTW it is incredible, that Zlatan is still playing.
    [2] That is OTL score from group stage.
     
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    • Round of 16, 18 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    18 June saw both hosts eliminated. Japan was defeated 1-0 by Italy after early goal scored by Tommasini and few hours later South Korea also was out of tournament, despite effoets of referee Byron Moreno. Match between Spain and South Korea ended with 0-0 draw after Moreno had two legitimate Spanish goals dissallowed and penalty shoot-out was needed to decide winner. All Spaniards converted their penalties, while Hong Myung-bo wasted deciding penalty for South Korea-Casillas saved his penalty kick. Spanish players started to celebrate victory, but then Moreno, against ordered Myung-bo's penalty to be repeated under pretense, that Casillas moved from goal-line too early. Protests brought Spain nothing but few yellow cards and Myung-bo once again kicked the ball from penalty point, but this time he missed the goal entirely, sending the ball high above bar. In such situation even Moreno could not do anything to keep hosts in the tournament. Spain advanced to quarter-final [1]

    2002w.png


    [1] Pity, that something like this have not happened in OTL. I wonder, how would Moreno or Al-Ghandour behave in such situation...
     
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    • Quarter-finals, 21 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    On 21 June South American powerhouses both defeated their European opponents and advanced to semi finals. Argentina defeated Poland, with Citko's consolation goal as only response to Argentina's 3 goals. Brazil beated Sweden 2-0, not without controversies, as Sweden has Larsson's legitimate goal dissallowed.

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    • Quarter-finals, 22 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    On 22 June France defeated Spain 3-2 after interesting match. Good performance of both teams contrasted with poor performance of Egyptian referee Gamal Al-Ghandour, who has not avoided some terrible mistakes [1].

    On the same day England faced Italy. Match ended with 1-1 draw after goals scored by Owen and Vieri at either side of the interval. Match was thus decided by penalty shoot-out, won by England.

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    [1] At least here his mistakes would not be one sided and would be really just mistakes.
     
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    • Semi-finals
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    • Jan Olbracht

    First semi-final match was clash between Zinedine Zidane and Brazil's three Rs. Zidane gave France lead in 27 minute and doubled it during injury time of second half. But final word belonged to Brazil. Brazilians attacked with fury during second half, especially after Desailly was sent off in 68 minute, and within last 15 minutes of regulation time Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo each scored goal, allowing Brazil to come back from 0-2 to 3-2. After thriling game Brazil defeated France and advanced to the final.

    Argentina and England faced each other at 4th tournament in row-Argentina won 2 of these encounters, England was victorious once. That time, thanks to penalty converted by Beckham, England defeated south American arch-rivals thanks to penalty converted by David Beckham.

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    • Jan Olbracht

    Regardless of winner ATL 2002 World Cup is reverse of OTL one-few upests and in the end only football powerhouses reached semi-finals. It was my 1998 World Cup, that was full of surprises.

    Who would win this one? Answer would be revealed, but be patient, because Almighty God of Football I have a break for Champions League, OTL one :)
     
    Third place play off
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    • Jan Olbracht

    France and Argentina were exhausted and resigned after lost semi-final matches and both teams played with half-reserve squads, but still managed to create quite interesting game with many scoring opportunites. Regulation time ended with 1-1 draw-Argentina responded to Cisse's goal with goal scored by veteran Caniggia, for whom it was last match in national team. Extra time ended after 10 minutes with golden goal scored for France by Dugarry, which was also last golden goal scored at world cup.

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