2002 World Cup Finals - Group E Matches
and Table
Ireland
V Cameroon - First World Cup Group Match in Niigata, Japan, 01 June
2002
The Republic of Ireland opened it's 2002
World Cup campaign with a Group E match against Cameroon from Africa on
1st June in Niigata, Japan. There had been a lot of a speculation on how
the Irish would react to the major distraction caused by the infamous
Saipan Affair and to the absence
of inspirational captain Roy
Keane. Indeed the Irish began in a somewhat hesitant fashion and appeared
to lack confidence.
It was no great surprise when the Irish
fell behind to a goal from Patrick Mboma after 39 minutes. In the second
half the Irish team emerged with renewed belief and with a real sense
of purpose. Mick
McCarthy substituted Steve Finnan for Jason McAteer and the change
seamed to improve the Irish performance. Just seven minutes into the second
half Matt Holland drove home an equaliser from the edge of the Cameroon
box following a period of Irish pressure. There were no further goals,
even though Robbie
Keane did hit the post late on. Under the circumstances a draw was
a good result for the Irish.
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Ireland
V Germany - Second World Cup Group Match in Ibraki, Japan 04
June 2002
Next up for the Irish was Germany
in the second Group E match. The Germans, with a rich World Cup
pedigree, had won their first group match against Saudi Arabia 8-0
so the Irish team was really up against it.
The Germans started the match in
menacing fashion and once again there was no great surprise when
Miroslav Klose took advantage of some hesitancy in the Irish defence
to put Germany 1-0 up. Although the Irish, and particularly Damien
Duff, played well and retained possession for long periods they
couldn't get an equalising goal.
Once again Mick McCarthy make a decisive
substitution bringing on Niall
Quinn and Steven Reid with about 15
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Minutes remaining. Just as it looked like
the Irish were running out of ideas, and the Germans were settling for a
1-0 win, Ireland pulled something from the Jack
Charlton football manual. With mere seconds remaining a long punt up
the pitch was nodded on by Quinn. Robbie Keane latched onto the ball and
he managed to squeeze the ball between Oliver Kahn's finger tips and the
inside of the German post. Another 1-1 draw for the Irish.
Ireland
V Saudi Arabia - Third World Cup Group Match in Yokohama, Japan 11
June 2002
Following the breathtaking finish to the
German match the Irish were left with the task of beating Saudi Arabia
by two goals or more to be assured of qualifying for the second round
matches at the 2002 World Cup. The Saudis had been thrashed 8-0 by Germany
but had tightened their defence against Cameroon and only lost 1-0. Ireland
couldn't take anything for granted and had to approach the match in a
totally professional manner. Every thing was going to plan when yet another
Robbie Keane
goal gave the Irish an early lead in the eight minute. Ireland had
to wait until defender Gary Breen steered the ball home following a Stephen
Staunton free kick 17 minutes into the second half for the second
goal. Damien Duff added the icing of a third goal when he fired through
the hands of Saudi goal keeper Mohammed Al-Daeyea with three minutes remaining.
In the end it was a comfortable win.
A German 2-0 victory over Cameroon confirmed
that Ireland had qualified for the second round of matches in the 2002
World Cup. Mick McCarthy's men had defied the difficulties of the Saipan
Incident and their missing captain to qualify for a Spain
/ Ireland tie in Suwon, Japan on 16 June 2002.
Group E Table - World Cup 2002
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2002 World Cup
Finals - Group E
|
| Nation |
Played
|
Won
|
Drew
|
Lost
|
Goals F
|
Goals A
|
Points
|
|
Germany
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
1
|
7
|
|
Republic of Ireland
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
|
Cameroon
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
12
|
0
|
Ireland
Euro 88 - Irish
Squad Euro 88
Ireland v England Euro 88
- Ireland v Soviet Union
Euro 88 - Ireland v Holland
Euro 88
Ireland & 1990 World Cup Finals - Irish
Squad World Cup 1990
Ireland V England 1990 - Ireland
V Egypt 1990 - Ireland V Holland
1990
Ireland V Romania 1990 - Ireland
V Italy 1990
Ireland & 1994 World Cup
Finals - Irish
Squad World Cup 1994
Ireland V Italy 1994
- Ireland V Mexico 1994
- Ireland V Norway 1994
- Ireland V Netherlands
1994
Ireland & 2002 World Cup
Finals - 2002
World Cup Irish Squad - 2002
World Cup Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon
2002 - Ireland V Germany
2002 - Ireland
V Saudi Arabia 2002 - Ireland
V Spain 2002
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