1982 and beyond-alternate history of FIFA World Cups

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Group B
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Matches in Group B started with clash of two teams not seen at World Cup since 1980s-Northern Ireland came from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1. In the same round England defeated Paraguay thanks to Gerrard's early goal. In the next round New Zealand saved draw with England with injury time equalizer and Paraguay defeated Northern Ireland. Both matches of the last round ended with draws, which secured advance of England from first place and Northern Ireland from second place.

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    • QTXAdsy

    QTXAdsy

    Jan Olbracht said:
    Matches in Group B started with clash of two teams not seen at World Cup since 1980s-Northern Ireland came from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1. In the same round England defeated Paraguay thanks to Gerrard's early goal. In the next round New Zealand saved draw with England with injury time equalizer and Paraguay defeated Northern Ireland. Both matches of the last round ended with draws, which secured advance of England from first place and Northern Ireland from second place.

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    I suspect the Paraguayans would complain about collusion between the English and Northern Irish in that final group game! :p
     

    Jan Olbracht

    QTXAdsy said:
    I suspect the Paraguayans would complain about collusion between the English and Northern Irish in that final group game! :p
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    I'm not sure-would Paraguay score then they would win the group. As matches are played at the same time neither England nor Northern Ireland could predict, that New Zealand would hold Paraguay to draw.
     
    Group C
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    • Jan Olbracht

    During first round of matches in group C Jari Litmanen scored Finland's first goal at big tournament, although Finland failed to win their first match at World Cupand needed to wait for first victory for next round. Finland ended group stage with draw with group leader Netherlands, but 4 points happened to be not enough to secure advance to knockout stage. Netherlands and Ghana topped the group and advanced to the round of 16.

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    • Coulsdon Eagle

    Monthly Donor
    Jan Olbracht said:
    Matches in Group B started with clash of two teams not seen at World Cup since 1980s-Northern Ireland came from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1. In the same round England defeated Paraguay thanks to Gerrard's early goal. In the next round New Zealand saved draw with England with injury time equalizer and Paraguay defeated Northern Ireland. Both matches of the last round ended with draws, which secured advance of England from first place and Northern Ireland from second place.

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    Nit-pick - The table shows England with two wins & one draw, yet the results are one win & two draws. That the total of draws in the table is an odd number shows something is wrong!
     
    Group D
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Group D was quite unusual one-it started with 1-1 draw between Serbia and Ivory Coast, with both goals scored by Serbian defender. Except for Brazil's 3 victories all other matches ended with draws and 3 teams were equal on points and with the same goal difference in the end. Mexico advanced to knockout stage as runner-up over Serbia and Ivory Coast thanks to greater number of goals scored.

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    • Group E
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Argentina topped group E after 3 victories. Other teams of that group-USA, Greece and Nigeria-had 1 victory each. USA started their campaign from victory over debutant Greece, who in turn defeated Nigeria in second round. Nigeria defeated USA in last match, but despite that defeat USA advanced to knockout stage, having more goals scored than Nigeria and Greece.

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    • Group F
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Spain, reigning Champions of Europe, started their campaign with upset 0-1 defeat with Sweden.Spain won next two matches and advanced to knockout stage, but Sweden, with just two goals scored (but also with no goal conceded) remained group's leader.

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    • Group G
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Germany, finalists of previous tournament, won all their matches, scoring 8 goals and conceding 1. Australia and debutant Slovakia had one win and one lose before their encounter in third round of group stage matches. Australians, having worse goal difference after being crushed 0-4 by Germany, needed to win, but Slovaks held them to 0-0 draw and in their debut at World Cup advanced to knockout stage.

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    • Group H
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Group H included two European powerhouses-France and reigning champion Italy, but performance of these two teams was poorer than expected. Lacklustre but lucky Italy still managed to win the group, thanks to victory over French team, weakened by internal conflict, in the last match of group stage.

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    • Jan Olbracht

    Group stage is over. Lets look what we have in the Round of 16:

    Uruguay vs Northern Ireland

    Netherlands vs Mexico

    Argentina vs Spain

    Germany vs Chile

    England vs South Africa

    Brazil vs Ghana

    Sweden vs USA

    Italy vs Slovakia
     
    QTXAdsy

    QTXAdsy

    Uruguay vs Northern Ireland

    Netherlands     vs Mexico

    Argentina vs Spain

    Germany     vs Chile

    England vs South Africa

    Brazil vs Ghana

    Sweden vs USA

    Italy     vs Slovakia
     

    MatthewFirth

    Uruguay vs Northern Ireland

    Netherlands vs Mexico

    Argentina vs Spain

    Germany     vs Chile

    England vs South Africa

    Brazil vs Ghana

    Sweden vs USA

    Italy     vs Slovakia
     
    Round of 16: Uruguay vs Northern Ireland
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Uruguay and Northern Ireland faced each other in first match of Round of 16 of South African tournament. Northern Ireland took defensive stance in that game, at times seemingly too defensive. Uruguay created more scored opportunites, but failed to convert any of them, in large part due to great form of Northern Ireland's goalkeeper, who played one of the best matches in his career that day. According to some post match comments Northern Ireland was back at World Cup, so was Pat Jennings, who took shape of Maik Taylor. Northern Ireland survived untill final whistle of regulation time, seemingly having no other plan, than to hold Uruguay until penalties. But that plan was ruined after just 10 minutes of extra time, after Uruguay took 2-0 lead. When it seemed, that Northern Ireland has no chance to come back, Jonny Evans scored goal in 115 minute, giving his team slight hope to remain at the tournament. Just 5 minutes later Evans could score equalizer, taking advantage of chaos in penalty box after free kick for Northern Ireland, but his attempt was blocked by Luis Suarez-with hand. Suarez was sent off for handball and Northern Ireland was given one last chance to come back-penalty kick, which was converted by David Healy, latest goal scored at the tournament. With score equalized penalty shoot-out was needed to decide the winner, and Taylor once again showed his brilliant form, saving two penalties. Northern Ireland advanced to quarter-finals.

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    Northern Irish goalkeeper Maik Taylor. His saves enabled Northern Ireland to advance to the top 8 of 2010 World Cup

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    Luis Suarez saving Evans' shot.

     
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    • Round of 16, 26-27 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    On the same day as Northern Ireland also Netherlands joined ranks of quarter-finalists, defeating Mexico 3-2. Mexicans were 3 goals down after first half, but managed to reduce Netherland's lead to one goal before final whistle.

    Next day winners Brazil defeated Ghana 3-1 and England, to despair of hosts fans, defeated South Africa, scoring victorious goal during injury time., thusoth Africans teams, that advanced past group stage, were eliminated second day into knockout stage.

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    • Round of 16, 28-29 June
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    • Jan Olbracht

    28 June brought clash of two football powerhouses-Spain, reigning Champion of Europe, failed to win their group and had to face Argentina, third team of previous World Cup and thrice World Cup winner, at the first stage of knockout phase. Spain took lead thanks to Villa's single goal and, not without some dose of luck, held it to the final whistle [1]. On the same day Germany without much problems defeated Chile 4-1.

    Next day Sweden, uexpected Group F winner, came from behind to defeat USA 2-1 after extra time.
    Last match of Round 16 was also biggest surprise . Debutant Slovakia took 2-0 lead by 73 minute and eventually defeated reigning champions 3-2.

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    [1] 1-0 after Villa's goal. Typicall knockout stage match of 2010 Spain...
     
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    • Qarter-finals
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    • Jan Olbracht

    Northern Ireland, exhausted after luckily won match against Uruguay, was able to whitstand Netherlands until half-time, but they run out of steam during second half. Netherlands scored 3 goals, Northern Ireland responded with one-Healy once again converted penalty during injury time, but that time it was only consolation goal.

    Spain faced Germany, finalists of Euro 2008, faced each other in second quarter-final. Spain dominated the game and scored first goal, but thanks to Thomas Muller Germany came from behind minutes from the end of regulation time [1]. Extra time brought several excellent scoring opportunites, but no goals, and penalty shoot-out decided, who would reach top 4 of the tournament. Germans converted all their penalties, whiel Spaniards missed two times. Thus Germany remained undefeated on penalties and advanced to semi-finals at cost of Spain, taking revenge for lost Euro final.


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    Thomas Müller playing for German National Team. Equalizer scored by Thomas Müller near end of regulation time prolonged Germany's chances to reach semi-finals of World Cup 2010.


    Brazil faced England in finals of '94 and '02 editions of World Cup, winning both matches. England failed to take revenge for that loses, despite coming from behind and taking 2-1 lead after goals scored by Rooney and Cole. Brazil retook the lead and joined ranks of semi-finalists.

    Sweden once again won match after extra time, defeating Slovakia, sensation of the tournament, 2-1. For the first time since tournament played at home in 1958 Sweden reached semi-finals [2]



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    [1] In OTL Germany-Spain match Muller was not playing, being suspended for yellow card he get in quarter against Argentina. ITTL he plays against Spain and makes little difference.

    [2] I've stolen Sweden 3rd place in 1994. I'd not repair all my wrongdoings against all these teams I've robbed from their successes, but I'd try to make justice to at least some of them :)
     
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