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.
1982 and beyond-alternate history of FIFA World Cups
- Thread starter Jan Olbracht
- Start date
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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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.
Northern Irish goalkeeper Maik Taylor. His saves enabled Northern Ireland to advance to the top 8 of 2010 World Cup
Luis Suarez saving Evans' shot.
Northern Irish goalkeeper Maik Taylor. His saves enabled Northern Ireland to advance to the top 8 of 2010 World Cup
Luis Suarez saving Evans' shot.
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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.
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.
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.
[1] 1-0 after Villa's goal. Typicall knockout stage match of 2010 Spain...
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.
[1] 1-0 after Villa's goal. Typicall knockout stage match of 2010 Spain...
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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.
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]
[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
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.
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]
[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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Another episode of German-Dutch football rivalry had place in semi-final match of 19th edition of FIFA World Cup, played in Cape Town on 6 July 2010. Match between these teams resembled the one from previous tournament, with tough game and lots of fouls. Referee Rashvan Irmatov handed 14 yellow cards and Netherlands ended reduced to 10 men, after Heitinga saw second yellow card. Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored only goal for Germany during previous encounter of these teams at World Cup, once again gave victory to his team, scoring victorious goal less than five minutes before end of extra time.
Next day Brazil defeated Sweden, which was exhausted after playing two extra-times and weakened by lack of Ibrahimović, who was suspended for yellow cards.
Next day Brazil defeated Sweden, which was exhausted after playing two extra-times and weakened by lack of Ibrahimović, who was suspended for yellow cards.
Netherlands, after narrowly losing two hours long battle against arch-rivals, were exhausted and weakened by absence of players suspended for offences and thus ended defeated by better motivated Sweden. Zlatan Ibrahimović, who returned for that match after absence in semi-final, scored two goals for Swedish team, Netherlands responded with one. After 52 years Sweden was again on the podium at FIFA World Cup.
Swedish fans at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth celebrate Sweden's victory over Netherlands in third place play-off.
Swedish fans at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth celebrate Sweden's victory over Netherlands in third place play-off.
Germany paid high cost to get to great final, including absence of Thomas Muller, who was suspended for yellow card he get in semi final match and could not play against Brazil. And when Brazil took lead after just 10 minutes things looked quite bad for Germany, but Podolski's goal, scored just after interval, started Germany's great come back. In 70 minute Podolski scored second goal, giving Germany 2-1 lead, and just 3 minutes later came true catastrophe for Brazil-Felipe Melo was sent off, and Brazil had to find equalizer while playing reduced to 10 men. Germany took advantage of that fact and substitute Mario Gómez scored third goal for Germany, sealing fate of the final. Brazil failed to respond. Germany won first title after country's reunification and Europeans for the first time in history won final played outside Europe.
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Final positions:
1.
Germany (3rd title)
2.
Brazil
3.
Sweden
4.
Netherlands
Best player:
Thomas Müller
Top scorer:
Robinho (7 goals)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Best player:
Top scorer:
20th edition of FIFA World Cup was fifth hosted by South American country and second hosted by Brazil. It was considered to be one of the biggest sport events ever organized. Brazil, five time winner and finalists of previous edition, hoped to lift the trophy on their soil this time.
Among countries qualified for the tournament there were all winners of previous editions since 1930: Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Poland [1] and Uruguay. Venezuela, last South American team, that never qualified for World Cup before, was only debutant at this edition. 5 confederations were represented at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
List of qualified teams:
[1] Adam Nawałka took national team earlier than IOTL and Poland 2014 is more like Poland 2016, possibly better, as squad at the time was better, but main difference is the fact, that coach is not a joke.
Among countries qualified for the tournament there were all winners of previous editions since 1930: Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Poland [1] and Uruguay. Venezuela, last South American team, that never qualified for World Cup before, was only debutant at this edition. 5 confederations were represented at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
List of qualified teams:
[1] Adam Nawałka took national team earlier than IOTL and Poland 2014 is more like Poland 2016, possibly better, as squad at the time was better, but main difference is the fact, that coach is not a joke.
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Groups of 20th FIFA World Cup:
A) Brazil, Ghana, Costa Rica, Portugal
B) Uruguay, Nigeria, Mexico, Croatia
C) Switzerland, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Italy
D) Spain, Cameroon, Honduras, Poland
E) Germany, Algeria, Japan, Russia
F) Belgium, Chile, Australia, France
G) Argentina, Ivory Coast, Iran, England
H) Colombia, Netherlands, USA, Scotland
A) Brazil, Ghana, Costa Rica, Portugal
B) Uruguay, Nigeria, Mexico, Croatia
C) Switzerland, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Italy
D) Spain, Cameroon, Honduras, Poland
E) Germany, Algeria, Japan, Russia
F) Belgium, Chile, Australia, France
G) Argentina, Ivory Coast, Iran, England
H) Colombia, Netherlands, USA, Scotland
Opening match of 2014 FIFA World Cup was noteworthy for several reasons-first goal scored in that match, own goal by Marcelo, was first own goal scored by Brazil at World Cup and for the first time in history of the tournament own goal was opening one. Brazil eventually defeated Portugal 3-1, although not without controversy-second goal for Brazil was scored after controversial penalty and Portugal had potential equalizer dissallowed. In the same round Costa Rica defeated Ghana, most successfull African team of 21th century, also 3-1. Unexpectedly Costa Rica was able to hold Brazil to 0-0 draw in next match and was close to secure advance to knockout stage, needing only draw against Portugal in last match, but after goal scored by Varela in 5th minute of injury time Portugal won 1-0 and advanced as runner-up, behind Brazil, to the round of 16.
During first round of matches Croatia defeated Uruguay 2-1 and Nigeria saved 1-1 draw with Mexico, scoring equalizer during injury time. Croatia secured advance after just two matches, defeating Nigeria 2-0, thus even 1-3 loss with Mexico in last match has not denied them advance. Uruguay and Croatia ended equall on points, goal difference and number of goals scored, thus head-to head result decided, that Croatia advanced from first place and Uruguay followed as runner-up.
First round of matches in group C brought draw between Switzerland and Italy and Venezuela's victory over Uzbekistan. Venezuela thus get first goals and points on World Cup. Venezuela achieved more noteworthy result in second match, holding Italy to 0-0 draw. Despite that result Venezuela failed to advance to knockout stage, losing match against Switzerland, but achieved result was still viewed as success for a country, whose football team for decades was viewed as weakest on the continent.
Spain, after winning European Championship two times in row, hoped for another title, this time at World Cup, and started their campaign from three victories. Spain was followed by Poland with two victories. Cameroon once again failed to advance to knockout stage, being able to won just one match against Honduras.
Germany, defending champions, started their campaign from impressive 4-1 victory over Russia, but in second round they suffered shocking defeat-Algeria, in second encounter with Germany at World Cup, once again won 2-1, like in 1982, and thanks to draw with Russia in next match North African team secured advance from first place in the group.
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Matches of Group F, considered by many as group of death, started with Belgium's victory over France and Chile's victory against Australia. Belgium, which was again on rise after years of drought, efeated Australia in second round and needed only draw with Chile to secure advance. Chile took lead first after own goal from Kompany, but to come ahead of Belgium Chileans needed victory by margin of two goals, which they failed to find. Belgium came from behind and tied with Chile 2-2, topping the group as result. France followed as runner-up.
