History: Bad referees overshadow good Ronaldo at crazy World Cup 2002

This FIFA World Cup History feature is part of our build-up to the 2014 edition, which will chart the most special moments from previous tournaments. Today we have a look at the 2002 World Cup. CLICK HERE for the full series.

World champions France losing to Senegal in the first game of the 2002 World Cup was a shocker — and while it may live on in memory as the biggest upset of that tournament — 2002 was an edition full of shocks, controversies and the unthinkable. In fact, it looked as if all the underdogs had hit their giant-killing form at the same time.

By the time the teams reached the knockouts — France, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Portugal, Cameroon, Argentina, Croatia, Russia were all knocked out. Not all of these teams are heavyweights, but with the group pairings they had, they were expected to go through.

Both the host countries – South Korea and Japan – topped their groups unbeaten, while Republic of Ireland, Turkey and debutants Senegal made it through to the round of 16.

The knockouts threw more twists — Republic of Ireland, who had coped with star Roy Keane walking out on the team because he was not satisfied with the facilities — played a brilliant 1-1 draw against Spain before a penalty shootout heartbreak. Turkey beat hosts Japan after a closely fought game to win 1-0, but the most shocking entries into the quarters were Senegal and South Korea — the latter beating Spain 5-3 on penalties but only after two Spanish goals were ruled out — one for an outside just before Joaquin’s cross for Fernando Morientes.

Guus Hiddink’s team then miraculously beat Italy 2-1 in extra-time after referee Byron Moreno and his linesmen continued the pattern of bad refereeing against the Italians. Italy already had four goals in their final two group games against Croatia and Mexico disallowed — and another one against South Korea in the quarters. To top that, Francesco Totti was sent off after being shown a second yellow card of the match — the No 10 went down to a challenge inside the box and was penalised for diving when there was clear contact in the tackle. The referee was 45 yards away and still saw it as a dive.

The Koreans went unpunished despite clear fouls and were awarded a debatable penalty which took the match into extra-time where Ahn Jung-Hwan smashed in a golden goal to put the hosts in the last four. Moreno was later suspended twice from refereeing after playing 13 minutes of result-changing extra-time in the Ecuadorian league and once sending off three players in a game. He was then caught with six kilograms of heroin at the John F Kennedy airport in 2010.

Turkey saw off the challenge of Senegal to set up a semifinal clash against Brazil — whose only blip in the tournament was Rivaldo getting hit in the thigh and clutching his face in an Oscar-worthy performance. Ronaldinho was the latest sensation in the team and had scored a freekick against a confident England to knock them out — but only after David Beckham got his revenge for the infamous 1998 red card by scoring a penalty against Argentina in the group stages.

Brazil had some nervy moments against Turkey in the semis, but the three Rs - Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were playing slick football in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 3-4-2-1 formation which matched solid defence with an attacking flair. It was also an incredible comeback for Ronaldo — the striker who had a controversial final in 1998 (with his sickness and all that) and had suffered from multiple injuries which hampered almost three seasons before 2002. Following his eight-goal performance, Ronaldo went on to enjoy a spell till 2007 with Real Madrid.

The final saw him put two past the brilliant Oliver Kahn (conceded just one in the tournament till then) — and a lot of people had seen it coming. Germany had won all their knockout games 1-0 and were looking too mechanical for the fluid Brazilians adamant to add a fifth world title to their vaults.

World Cup 2002 belonged to the underdogs, almost — because despite the refereeing decisions overruling the sometimes brilliant football being played, the best team won. Sadly, that is not what most people will remember.

World Cup 2002 Hosts - Korea/Japan Winners - Brazil (2-0 vs Germany) Top-scorer: Ronaldo (eight goals)

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