Far, far too many things in 2002 IMO

1. South Korea v Spain: the game that had the whole world screaming FIX, and meant that Germany HAD to go through in the semis, or the whole tournament would've been gutted in terms of credibility

2. South Korea v Italy, as already mentioned: a whole series of absurd, scandalous decisions by a surely bent ref

3. Further dodginess in South Korea v Portugal in the group stage

4. Italy had FOUR good goals disallowed in the group stage, even before meeting South Korea. FIFA clearly did their best to ensure they couldn't even face the hosts in the first place. Similarly, strange things - largely unremarked upon - went on in Spain v Ireland too, but the Irish weren't good enough to take advantage.

5. Brazil, FIFA's golden boys, handed a joke draw of Turkey, Costa Rica and China. Korea and Japan handed soft draws, the latter especially. Meanwhile, all Brazil's threats - Argentina especially - found themselves facing tough, tough tasks. The ARG/ENG/SWE/NGR group was, at the time, the hardest ever seen in a modern day World Cup.

And yesterday? Look what happened with France - helped earlier in the week when they should've been put in Pot 2 - and Argentina, regarding whom there had been talk for weeks and weeks here in Uruguay that corrupt anti-semitic fascist bastard Grondona would ensure they'd get the best draw. They did - and more than that, ALL their games - group and knock-out stage - are scheduled for the cool south of Brazil.

It just doesn't smell right. Too many coincidences IMO.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Dec 7, 20:11:44