World Cup 2002 and all that
THE World Cup arrived in Asia for the first time as Japan and South Korea hosted the 2002 finals.
The media coverage of England’s run-up to the tournament was dominated by a small broken bone in David Beckham’s foot - as the word “metatarsal” was tossed around the nation’s pubs and workplaces for the first time.
In the event, and to the relief of manager Sven Goran Eriksson, pin-up boy Beckham made it on to the Three Lions’ World Cup plane that headed to the Far East.
In other news in 2002, the Queen Mother died, the Winter Olympic Games were held in Salt Lake City, and it was announced 40 million people worldwide were now infected with the HIV virus.
The year’s big movies included Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Spider-Man. Meanwhile, pop-lovers were listening to the likes of Coldplay, Linkin Park and Justin Timberlake.
Back on Tyneside, Newcastle United fans were happy after a highly satisfying season.
Under the wise and experienced guidance of manager Bobby Robson, United had challenged at the top of the Premier League for much of the campaign.
This was a time when there was ambition and investment at St James’ Park. At the start of the 2001-02 season, Laurent Robert had arrived from PSG for just under £10m, Craig Bellamy from Coventry for £6.5m, while promising young Jermaine Jenas arrived from Nottingham Forest for £5m.
A powerful, pacy United earned fine wins against Manchester United (4-3), Arsenal (3-1), and Leeds (4-3) along the way to a highly respectable fourth place in the league.
Come the summer of 2002, darting midfielder Kieron Dyer earned an England call-up to become our latest World Cup Magpie and was joined at the tournament by Toon teammates Shay Given, Andy O’Brien (Ireland) and Diego Gavilan (Paraguay).
As the action unfolded, there were England wins against Argentina - courtesy of a Beckham penalty - and Denmark, before they squared up to mighty Brazil in the quarter-finals.
An early Michael Owen goal was sadly cancelled out by strikes by Rivaldo and Ronaldinho’s outrageous free-kick lob over England keeper David Seaman.
The Three Lions bowed out meekly, but at St James’ Park the following season would bring an enjoyable Champions’ League campaign and a top-three Premier League finish.
Now, those were the days...