Introduction

This was the first World Cup held in WE8. In all, 58 nations participated in the inagural World Cup. In the final 32 were 17 nations from Europe, 6 from Africa, and 3 from each South America, North America, and Asia.

• Teams Entered: 58
• Champion: France (1st)

Qualification

Qualification was set up almost exactly like the World Cup itself. Each team in every continent except Asia was placed into a group of 4 teams in a single round robin tournament. Asia only had 6 members so they used 2 groups of 3, instead of 4. The top team in every group qualified to the World Cup (8 from Europe, 2 from Africa, 2 from South America, 2 from Asia, 1 from North America). The top second place teams were given a spot as well. All remaining second place teams, as well as all third place teams (except from Asia), were put into the play-offs to determine the remaining 10 spots. The play-offs were a one game match hosted by the higher rated team (most matches were #2 vs #3).

Results

UEFA Group 1

1. Bulgaria - 5 pts +1 GD
2. France - 4 pts +0 GD
3. Germany - 3 pts +0 GD
4. Serbia & Montenegro - 2 pts -1 GD

France 2 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro
Germany 1 - 1 Bulgaria

Germany 0 - 0 Serbia & Montenegro
Bulgaria 1 - 0 France

Germany 1 - 1 France
Bulgaria 0 - 0 Serbia & Montenegro

UEFA Group 2

1. Czech Republic - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Poland - 4 pts +1 GD
3. Scotland - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Turkey - 2 pts -1 GD

Poland 2 - 0 Scotland
Turkey 0 - 0 Czech Republic

Turkey 0 - 0 Poland
Czech Republic 1 - 0 Scotland

Czech Republic 1 - 0 Poland
Turkey 0 - 1 Scotland

UEFA Group 3

1. Portugal - 5 pts +2 GD
2. Croatia - 4 pts -1 GD
3. Hungary - 3 pts +0 GD
4. Switzerland - 2 pts -1 GD

Croatia 0 - 2 Portugal
Hungary 1 - 1 Switzerland

Croatia 1 - 0 Switzerland
Hungary 0 - 0 Portugal

Croatia 1 - 1 Hungary
Portugal 1 - 1 Switzerland

UEFA Group 4

1. Spain - 7 pts +5 GD
2. Netherlands - 7 pts +2 GD
3. Ukraine - 3 pts -3 GD
4. Denmark - 0 pts -4 GD

Netherlands 0 - 0 Spain
Denmark 0 - 1 Ukraine

Denmark 1 - 3 Spain
Netherlands 1 - 0 Ukraine

Netherlands 2 - 1 Denmark
Spain 3 - 0 Ukraine

UEFA Group 5

1. Norway - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Russia - 4 pts +0 GD
3. Latvia - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Sweden - 2 pts -2 GD

Latvia 0 - 0 Sweden
Norway 3 - 2 Russia

Norway 2 - 0 Sweden
Russia 2 - 1 Latvia

Sweden 0 - 0 Russia
Norway 1 - 1 Latvia

UEFA Group 6

1. Italy - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Wales - 4 pts +0 GD
3. Slovakia - 3 pts +0 GD
4. Finland - 1 pt -3 GD

Slovakia 0 - 0 Finland
Italy 2 - 0 Wales

Finland 0 - 1 Italy
Slovakia 1 - 1 Wales

Finland 0 - 2 Wales
Slovakia 1 - 1 Italy

UEFA Group 7

1. England - 5 pts +2 GD
2. Austria - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Belgium - 4 pts +0 GD
4. Ireland - 1 pt -3 GD

England 0 - 0 Belgium
Austria 0 - 0 Ireland

England 0 - 0 Austria
Belgium 1 - 0 Ireland

Belgium 0 - 1 Austria
England 2 - 0 Ireland

UEFA Group 8

1. Greece - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Romania - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Slovenia - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Northern Ireland - 1 pt -2 GD

Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Greece
Slovenia 1 - 1 Romania

Northern Ireland 1 - 1 Slovenia
Romania 1 - 1 Greece

Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Romania
Greece 2 - 1 Slovenia

CONCACAF

1. United States - 5 pts +2 GD
1. Mexico - 5 pts +2 GD
3. Costa Rica - 4 pts -1 GD
4. Jamaica - 1 pt -3 GD

Costa Rica 2 - 1 Jamaica
United States 0 - 0 Mexico

Mexico 3 - 3 Costa Rica
United States 1 - 1 Jamaica

United States 4 - 2 Costa Rica
Mexico 2 - 0 Jamaica

CONMEBOL Group 1

1. Argentina - 9 pts +7 GD
2. Chile - 4 pts -2 GD
3. Colombia - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Paraguay - 1 pt -4 GD

Argentina 1 - 0 Colombia
Chile 1 - 0 Paraguay

Argentina 3 - 0 Chile
Colombia 1 - 1 Paraguay

Argentina 3 - 0 Paraguay
Chile 0 - 0 Colombia

CONMEBOL Group 2

1. Peru - 6 pts +4 GD
2. Brazil - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Uruguay - 4 pts +0 GD
4. Ecuador - 1 pt -5 GD

Uruguay 0 - 1 Peru
Brazil 0 - 0 Ecuador

Peru 0 - 1 Brazil
Uruguay 1 - 0 Ecuador

Peru 5 - 1 Ecuador
Uruguay 0 - 0 Brazil

CAF Group 1

1. Cote d'Ivoire - 7 pts +6 GD
2. Morocco - 6 pts -3 GD
3. Cameroon - 4 pts +1 GD
4. Egypt - 0 pts -4 GD

Morocco 1 - 0 Egypt
Cote d'Ivoire 0 - 0 Cameroon

Cote d'Ivoire 3 - 2 Egypt
Morocco 1 - 0 Cameroon

Cote d'Ivoire 5 - 0 Morocco
Cameroon 2 - 0 Egypt

CAF Group 2

1. South Africa - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Nigeria - 5 pts +2 GD
3. Senegal - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Tunisia - 1 pt -3 GD

South Africa 1 - 0 Senegal
Nigeria 1 - 1 Tunisia

Nigeria 1 - 1 South Africa
Tunisia 0 - 1 Senegal

Nigeria 2 - 0 Senegal
South Africa 2 - 0 Tunisia

AFC Group 1

1. South Korea - 4 pts +1 GD
2. Japan - 3 pts +0 GD
3. Australia - 1 pt -1 GD

Japan 0 - 1 South Korea

Japan 1 - 0 Australia

Australia 1 - 1 South Korea

AFC Group 2

1. Iran - 6 pts +4 GD
2. China - 3 pts +1 GD
3. Saudi Arabia - 0 pts -5 GD

China 2 - 0 Saudi Arabia

Iran 1 - 0 China

Iran 3 - 0 Saudi Arabia


*Japan defeated China 2-1 in the AFC Playoff to get to the playoffs.

Play-offs

Poland 1 - 0 Colombia
Russia 2 - 1 Latvia
Wales 0 - 1 Slovenia
France 2 - 0 Ukraine
Croatia 1 - 0 Scotland
Chile 0 - 1 Senegal
Japan 2 - 1 Slovakia
Cameroon 2 - 1 Germany
Belgium 1 - 2 Hungary
Uruguay 1 - 3 Costa Rica

Qualified Teams

Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Portugal
Spain
Norway
Italy
England
Greece
United States
Mexico
Argentina
Peru
Cote d'Ivoire
South Africa
South Korea
Iran
Netherlands
Morocco
Nigeria
Romania
Brazil
Austria
Poland
Russia
Slovenia
France
Croatia
Senegal
Japan
Cameroon
Hungary
Costa Rica

World Cup Finals

The actual World Cup itself was set up like its real life counterpart. There were 8 groups of 4 with specifications that no team could be grouped with another team from its continent, except Europe. Since there were 17 European teams, there had to be one group of 3 (Group G). The top two teams in each group would advance to the knockout stage.

The first round saw a lot of action and upsets as favorites such as Portugal, Italy, and England were all eliminated from the group stage. There were several memorable matches including Norway vs Czech Republic to determine who would advance with Brazil, United States vs Japan where the Japanese overturned a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2, and Cote d'Ivoire vs Mexico where the Africans put 5 past the favored Mexicans.

The group winners and runners up advanced to the knockout stage. Europe saw the most teams move on, with 6, but Africa had 5 of its teams advance. South America only had 3 teams in the tournament, but all 3 reached the knockout round. Asia had 2 teams move on as well, while no North American teams reached the next round.

It was here that Cote d'Ivoire made a name for themselves, knocking off African favorites Cameroon in a high scoring 4-3 game that was decided in overtime. The Elephants followed up this performance with an epic match against Netherlands, which also went into overtime. This time it was the opposition scoring the winning goal, sending Cote d'Ivoire out after a 2-3 loss. Another African nation, Senegal, also turned heads by eliminating Spain and then Argentina before finally falling to France in the semifinals.

Japan made a run for Asia as well. The team needed overtime to edge Nigeria but were able to navigate past a talented Peru team in the next round to reach the semifinals. Brazil seemed to be the favorites to win the cup after dismantling the other Asian nation, South Korea, 3-0 in the round of 16. They faced France, who needed penalties to defeat Slovenia in their prior match, in the quarterfinals but failed to score and were eliminated with the 0-1 loss.

The semifinals turned out to be two underdog cinderella stories from Africa and Asia against two powerhouse European squads. This is where the run for each ended as Netherlands used overtime to drop Japan while France were too much for Senegal.

In the third place match, Japan played flawless defense and then put two past Senegal to finish in a medal position. The championship looked to be on the same path as Netherlands led 2-0 after two early Van Nistelrooy strikes, but a late first half goal from Henry put the French back in the game. No one had scored in the second half as 90 minutes elapsed and it was sure to be Netherlands's championship until Zidane scored in literally the final seconds of stoppage time to send the match into overtime at 2-2. Neither team scored the silver goal needed to win, so the first championship was decided on penalties. France won the shootout 3-2 to win the World Cup.

Group Stage

Group A

1. Argentina - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Nigeria - 4 pts -1 GD
3. Portugal - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Bulgaria - 2 pts -1 GD

Portugal 0 - 1 Argentina
Bulgaria 0 - 1 Nigeria

Argentina 2 - 0 Nigeria
Portugal 1 - 1 Bulgaria

Argentina 0 - 0 Bulgaria
Portugal 1 - 1 Nigeria

Group B

1. Spain - 7 pts +4 GD
2. South Africa - 7 pts +2 GD
3. Romania - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Costa Rica - 0 pts -4 GD

Costa Rica 1 - 2 South Africa
Spain 3 - 0 Romania

Spain 0 - 0 South Africa
Romania 2 - 0 Costa Rica

Spain 1 - 0 Costa Rica
Romania 0 - 1 South Africa

Group C

1. Brazil - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Czech Republic - 6 pts +1 GD
3. Norway - 4 pts +2 GD
4. Morocco - 0 pts -5 GD

Czech Republic 0 - 1 Brazil
Norway 5 - 2 Morocco

Czech Republic 2 - 1 Morocco
Norway 0 - 0 Brazil

Norway 0 - 1 Czech Republic
Brazil 1 - 0 Morocco

Group D

1. France - 9 pts +3 GD
2. Cameroon - 4 pts +2 GD
3. Poland - 4 pts +0 GD
4. Iran - 0 pts -5 GD

France 1 - 0 Iran
Poland 1 - 1 Cameroon

France 1 - 0 Poland
Iran 0 - 3 Cameroon

France 1 - 0 Cameroon
Poland 1 - 0 Iran

Group E

1. Japan - 6 pts +2 GD
2. Austria - 6 pts +0 GD
3. United States - 3 pts -1 GD
4. Italy - 3 pts -1 GD

United States 1 - 0 Italy
Austria 0 - 2 Japan

Italy 0 - 1 Austria
United States 2 - 3 Japan

United States 0 - 1 Austria
Italy 1 - 0 Japan

Group F

1. Peru - 6 pts +3 GD
2. Senegal - 4 pts +0 GD
3. England - 4 pts -2 GD
4. Greece - 2 pts -1 GD

England 0 - 3 Peru
Greece 0 - 0 Senegal

England 1 - 0 Senegal
Greece 0 - 1 Peru

England 2 - 2 Greece
Peru 0 - 1 Senegal

Group G

1. Netherlands - 5 pts +1 GD
2. South Korea - 4 pts +0 GD
3. Russia - 4 pts -2 GD
4. Hungary - 3 pts +1 GD

Netherlands 1 - 0 Hungary
Russia 1 - 0 South Korea

Netherlands 1 - 1 Russia
Hungary 1 - 2 South Korea

Netherlands 1 - 1 South Korea
Hungary 3 - 0 Russia

Group H

1. Cote d'Ivoire - 6 pts +4 GD
2. Slovenia - 6 pts +2 GD
3. Mexico - 4 pts -3 GD
4. Croatia - 1 pt -3 GD

Cote d'Ivoire 0 - 2 Slovenia
Mexico 0 - 0 Croatia

Slovenia 0 - 1 Mexico
Cote d'Ivoire 2 - 0 Croatia

Cote d'Ivoire 5 - 1 Mexico
Slovenia 1 - 0 Croatia

Knockout Stage

Round of Sixteen

Argentina 2 - 1 Austria (Extra Time)
Spain 0 - 1 Senegal
Brazil 3 - 0 South Korea
France 1 - 1 Slovenia (4-3 PKs)
Japan 1 - 0 Nigeria (Extra Time)
Peru 1 - 0 South Africa
Netherlands 2 - 1 Czech Republic
Cote d'Ivoire 4 - 3 Cameroon (Extra Time)

Quarterfinals

Argentina 0 - 1 Senegal
Brazil 0 - 1 France
Japan 2 - 1 Peru
Netherlands 3 - 2 Cote d'Ivoire (Extra Time)

Semifinals

Senegal 0 - 2 France
Japan 1 - 2 Netherlands (Silver Goal)

Third Place

Senegal 0 - 2 Japan

Championship

France 2 - 2 Netherlands (3-2 PKs)

Last modified: ?2?/?25?/?2015? ?4?:?40?:?32? ?PM