Introduction

This was the second World Cup held in WE8. In all, 59 nations participated in this World Cup. Georgia was the only new team in the field from the previous 58 teams who competed in the inaugural cup. France qualified automatically as the defending champions from the previous World Cup. In the final 32 were 18 nations from Europe, 5 from South America, 4 from Africa, 3 from Asia, and just 2 from North America.

• Teams Entered: 59
• Champion: Georgia (1st)

Qualification

Qualification was unchanged for this World Cup from the previous one. The only difference was that France qualified automatically as previous champions, so there were only 31 spots instead of 32. This just changed the number of teams who qualified directly and the number of play-off games, but each confederation stayed the same in their set up, which had each team in every continent except Asia placed into a group of 4 teams in a single round robin tournament. Asia still only had 6 members so they used 2 groups of 3, instead. 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). Some of the second place teams were given a spot as well. All remaining second place teams, as well as all third place teams were put into the play-offs (except for Asia's third place teams) to determine the remaining spots. The play-offs were a one game match hosted by the higher rated team (most matches were #2 vs #3).

17 nations qualified for their first ever World Cup this time around, as 15 nations reached the finals for the 2nd straight time.

Results

UEFA Group 1

1. England - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Norway - 6 pts +1 GD
3. Croatia - 2 pts -2 GD
4. Spain - 1 pt -2 GD

Norway 2 - 0 Croatia
England 1 - 0 Spain

Norway 1 - 3 England
Spain 0 - 0 Croatia

Norway 1 - 0 Spain
England 0 - 0 Croatia

UEFA Group 2

1. Netherlands - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Greece - 4 pts +0 GD
3. Ukraine - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Slovakia - 2 pts -1 GD

Ukraine 0 - 1 Greece
Netherlands 0 - 0 Slovakia

Netherlands 2 - 0 Ukraine
Greece 1 - 1 Slovakia

Ukraine 1 - 0 Slovakia
Greece 0 - 1 Netherlands

UEFA Group 3

1. Sweden - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Latvia - 6 pts +2 GD
3. Poland - 2 pts -2 GD
4. Ireland - 1 pt -2 GD

Sweden 1 - 0 Ireland
Poland 0 - 2 Latvia

Sweden 0 - 0 Poland
Ireland 0 - 1 Latvia

Sweden 1 - 0 Latvia
Poland 0 - 0 Ireland

UEFA Group 4

1. Turkey - 7 pts +4 GD
2. Portugal - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Italy - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Northern Ireland - 1 pt -3 GD

Italy 2 - 0 Northern Ireland
Turkey 0 - 0 Portugal

Italy 0 - 1 Portugal
Turkey 2 - 1 Northern Ireland

Italy 1 - 4 Turkey
Portugal 0 - 0 Northern Ireland

UEFA Group 5

1. Romania - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Serbia & Montenegro - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Finland - 4 pts +0 GD
4. Scotland - 0 pts -3 GD

Finland 1 - 0 Scotland
Romania 2 - 2 Serbia & Montenegro

Romania 1 - 0 Finland
Scotland 0 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro

Finland 0 - 0 Serbia & Montenegro
Romania 2 - 1 Scotland

UEFA Group 6

1. Switzerland - 9 pts +4 GD
2. Belgium - 4 pts +2 GD
3. Germany - 4 pts -1 GD
4. Russia - 0 pts -5 GD

Germany 1 - 1 Belgium
Switzerland 1 - 0 Russia

Germany 1 - 0 Russia
Switzerland 1 - 0 Belgium

Germany 0 - 2 Switzerland
Belgium 3 - 0 Russia

UEFA Group 7

1. Wales - 9 pts +3 GD
2. Denmark - 6 pts +2 GD
3. Slovenia - 1 pt -2 GD
4. Bulgaria - 1 pt -3 GD

Slovenia 0 - 0 Bulgaria
Wales 2 - 1 Denmark

Slovenia 0 - 1 Denmark
Wales 1 - 0 Bulgaria

Slovenia 0 - 1 Wales
Bulgaria 0 - 2 Denmark

UEFA Group 8

1. Georgia - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Czech Republic - 6 pts +1 GD
3. Hungary - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Austria - 1 pt -2 GD

Czech Republic 1 - 0 Hungary
Georgia 2 - 1 Austria

Czech Republic 0 - 1 Georgia
Hungary 0 - 0 Austria

Czech Republic 1 - 0 Austria
Georgia 1 - 1 Hungary

CONMEBOL Group 1

1. Argentina - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Colombia - 6 pts +2 GD
3. Ecuador - 2 pts -2 GD
4. Paraguay - 1 pt -2 GD

Colombia 2 - 0 Ecuador
Argentina 1 - 0 Paraguay

Colombia 1 - 2 Argentina
Ecuador 0 - 0 Paraguay

Colombia 1 - 0 Paraguay
Argentina 1 - 1 Ecuador

CONMEBOL Group 2

1. Uruguay - 6 pts +3 GD
2. Brazil - 6 pts +0 GD
3. Chile - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Peru - 3 pts -1 GD

Uruguay 1 - 4 Peru
Brazil 3 - 2 Chile

Uruguay 2 - 0 Brazil
Chile 4 - 1 Peru

Uruguay 4 - 0 Chile
Brazil 1 - 0 Peru

CONCACAF

1. Jamaica - 7 pts +3 GD
2. Mexico - 4 pts +1 GD
3. Costa Rica - 3 pts +0 GD
4. United States - 1 pt -4 GD

United States 1 - 3 Jamaica
Mexico 2 - 2 Costa Rica

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

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

CAF Group 1

1. Tunisia - 5 pts +2 GD
2. Cameroon - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Senegal - 4 pts +0 GD
4. Nigeria - 1 pt -3 GD

Tunisia 0 - 0 Senegal
Nigeria 0 - 0 Cameroon

Senegal 0 - 1 Cameroon
Tunisia 2 - 0 Nigeria

Tunisia 0 - 0 Cameroon
Senegal 2 - 1 Nigeria

CAF Group 2

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

Cote d'Ivoire 2 - 0 Morocco
South Africa 2 - 2 Egypt

Cote d'Ivoire 2 - 2 Egypt
South Africa 1 - 2 Morocco

Cote d'Ivoire 2 - 1 South Africa
Morocco 2 - 1 Egypt

AFC Group 1

1. Australia - 6 pts +3 GD
2. Iran - 3 pts +0 GD
3. Saudi Arabia - 0 pts -3 GD

Iran 1 - 0 Saudi Arabia

Iran 0 - 1 Australia

Australia 3 - 1 Saudi Arabia

AFC Group 2

1. South Korea - 6 pts +3 GD
2. Japan - 1 pt -1 GD
3. China - 1 pt -2 GD

Japan 0 - 1 South Korea

Japan 0 - 0 China

South Korea 2 - 0 China

Play-offs

Czech Republic 2 - 0 Slovenia
Morocco 0 [4 - 3] 0 Poland
Brazil 3 - 0 Croatia
Serbia & Montenegro 1 - 0 Ecuador
Cameroon 0 - 1 Japan
Portugal 0 [5 - 4] 0 Hungary
Belgium 0 - 1 Egypt
Mexico 1 - 2 Ukraine
Greece 1 - 0 Italy
Iran 1 [1 - 3] 1 Chile
Senegal 0 - 2 Costa Rica
Finland 2 - 0 Germany

Qualified Teams

France
Switzerland*
Wales*
Turkey*
Jamaica*
Cote d'Ivoire
England
Netherlands
Romania
Georgia*
Argentina
Sweden*
Uruguay*
Australia*
South Korea
Tunisia*
Colombia*
Denmark*
Norway
Latvia*
Czech Republic
Morocco
Brazil
Serbia & Montenegro*
Japan
Portugal
Egypt*
Ukraine*
Greece
Chile*
Costa Rica
Finland*

*First time qualifying

World Cup Finals

The actual World Cup itself had 8 groups of 4 with specifications that no team could be grouped with another team from its continent, except Europe. Since there were 18 European teams, there had to be two groups of 3 (Group B and Group H). The top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout stage.

As usual, the group stage produced a lot of surprises. The biggest was Wales, who managed to beat the defending champions, France, 1-0. This victory allowed Wales to take first in the group, but France was able to advance as well. Other surprises included Tunisia defeating Brazil, Georgia defeating Colombia, Greece defeating England, and previous quarterfinalists Cote d'Ivoire bombing out of the tournament with 3 losses and having conceded 13 goals in just 3 matches.

The group winners and runners up advanced to the knockout stage. Europe saw the most teams move on, with 11, nearly twice as many as they had last time (6). Rounding out the field was South America with 2, Africa with 2, North America with 1, and it was Asia this time who failed to advance any teams past the group stage.

In the first knockout round, half of the matches went to overtime, 3 of which went to penalties. It was here that two of the favorites went out early as Czech Republic and Argentina each lost on penalties to outsiders Uruguay and Greece, respectively. Portugal survived their shootout with Morocco however. France met Netherlands in a rematch of the previous championship and prevailed without penalties this time, but the match still required more than 90 minutes, as France won in extra time.

Three of the other matches that didn't go into overtime were simple 1-0 matches in favor of Norway, Costa Rica, and Serbia & Montenegro. Georgia were the only team who managed to score more than 1 goal in regulation, smashing 4 past Wales, whose cinderella run had ended.

The games continued to be tight and tense in the quarterfinals, with two more 1-0 matches which both saw upsets as Uruguay and Portugal fell to Georgia and Costa Rica respectively. France took care of the Greeks fairly easily while Norway needed extra time to edge Serbia & Montenegro.

In the semifinals, Norway battled France to the bitter end in an incredibly tense match which saw France finally break through with less than 20 minutes to go for the only goal of the game. In the other match, Georgia and Costa Rica were locked in a 1-1 draw until a backpass from a Costa Rica defender was missed by the keeper, resulting in an own goal that turned out to be the deciding goal of the game as Georgia advanced with the 2-1 victory.

The match report described the goal:
Costa Rica had the ball in their backend and were easily passing it around, to loud cheers of "Ole!" in the crowd when Kobiashvili came crashing in, chasing the ball which was under control of Margeliz. Margeliz saw him coming and tried to turn to tap the ball back to the keeper, however, when Kobiashvili hit him, it caused the kick to be a little harder than a "tap" and the ball was too fast for the keeper, rolling past him and right into the net! An own goal from Costa Rica, completely untouched by the Georgians, and it was 2-1! Kobiashvili took credit for the goal, running to the corner flag and celebrating with his teammates, but it has to go down as an own goal, possibly the most famous in World Cup history. Costa Rica had essentially eliminated themselves from the championship, as only 15 minutes remained in the match.

In the third place game, Norway and Costa Rica went at each other without abandoned and it turned out to be the highest scoring game of the knockout round, as Norway prevailed 4-2. In the final, Georgia surprisingly held their own against the defending champions and managed to score right before half time for a shocking 1-0 lead. The Georgians took over the match in the second half when they scored on a long goal from Ashveita, which has been called the "goal of the century" since, and then finished off the French when star striker Iashvili headed in a corner.

Group Stage

Group A

1. Uruguay - 7 pts +2 GD
2. Greece - 4 pts +0 GD
3. England - 3 pts +0 GD
4. Australia - 2 pts -2 GD

England 1 - 2 Uruguay
Australia 1 - 1 Greece

England 0 - 1 Greece
Australia 2 - 2 Uruguay

England 3 - 1 Australia
Uruguay 1 - 0 Greece

Group B

1. Wales - 5 pts +1 GD
2. France - 4 pts +1 GD
3. Finland - 4 pts -1 GD
4. Japan - 2 pts -1 GD

France 0 - 1 Wales
Japan 0 - 1 Finland

France 3 - 1 Finland
Wales 0 - 0 Japan

France 0 - 0 Japan
Wales 0 - 0 Finland

Group C

1. Portugal - 6 pts +1 GD
2. Tunisia - 6 pts +1 GD
3. Brazil - 3 pts +0 GD
4. Romania - 3 pts -2 GD

Portugal 1 - 0 Tunisia
Brazil 2 - 0 Romania

Portugal 1 - 0 Brazil
Tunisia 1 - 0 Romania

Portugal 0 - 1 Romania
Brazil 0 - 1 Tunisia

Group D

1. Costa Rica - 7 pts +4 GD
2. Denmark - 4 pts -1 GD
3. Egypt - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Latvia - 2 pts -1 GD

Denmark 2 - 0 Egypt
Costa Rica 0 - 0 Latvia

Denmark 0 - 0 Latvia
Costa Rica 2 - 1 Egypt

Denmark 0 - 3 Costa Rica
Latvia 1 - 2 Egypt

Group E

1. Argentina - 7 pts +4 GD
2. Czech Republic - 4 pts -1 GD
3. South Korea - 3 pts -1 GD
4. Switzerland - 3 pts -2 GD

Argentina 2 - 0 Switzerland
Czech Republic 1 - 0 South Korea

Argentina 2 - 0 South Korea
Czech Republic 0 - 2 Switzerland

Argentina 1 - 1 Czech Republic
Switzerland 1 - 3 South Korea

Group F

1. Netherlands- 9 pts +5 GD
2. Georgia - 6 pts +4 GD
3. Colombia - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Cote d'Ivoire - 0 pts -7 GD

Netherlands 2 - 0 Georgia
Cote d'Ivoire 4 - 5 Colombia

Netherlands 3 - 2 Cote d'Ivoire
Georgia 3 - 2 Colombia

Netherlands 2 - 0 Colombia
Georgia 5 - 0 Cote d'Ivoire

Group G

1. Norway - 7 pts +4 GD
2. Morocco - 4 pts +1 GD
3. Ukraine - 4 pts -2 GD
4. Jamaica - 1 pt -3 GD

Norway 2 - 0 Morocco
Ukraine 1 - 0 Jamaica

Norway 3 - 1 Jamaica
Ukraine 0 - 3 Morocco

Norway 1 - 1 Ukraine
Morocco 0 - 0 Jamaica

Group H

1. Serbia & Montenegro - 5 pts +3 GD
2. Turkey - 5 pts +1 GD
3. Sweden - 2 pts -1 GD
4. Chile - 2 pts -3 GD

Sweden 1 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro
Turkey 0 - 0 Chile

Sweden 0 - 1 Turkey
Chile 0 - 3 Serbia & Montenegro

Sweden 1 - 1 Chile
Turkey 1 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro

Knockout Round

Round of Sixteen

Uruguay 1 - 1 Czech Republic (4-3 PKs)
Wales 0 - 4 Georgia
Portugal 0 - 0 Morocco (3-2 PKs)
Costa Rica 1 - 0 Turkey
Argentina 0 - 0 Greece (4-5 PKs)
Netherlands 1 - 2 France (Extra Time)
Norway 1 - 0 Tunisia
Serbia & Montenegro 1 - 0 Denmark

Quarterfinals

Uruguay 0 - 1 Georgia
Portugal 0 - 1 Costa Rica
Greece 0 - 2 France
Norway 2 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro (Extra Time)

Semifinals

Georgia 2 - 1 Costa Rica
France 1 - 0 Norway

Third Place

Norway 4 - 2 Costa Rica

Championship

France 0 - 3 Georgia

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