Brazil recorded a record fifth success when they banished the memory of a final defeat at the hands of France four years earlier as Japan and South Korea played host to the 2002 World Cup.

Holders France made the earliest possible exit, as they even failed to find the net in any of their three group games. The opening game of the tournament saw Les Bleus stunned 1-0 by Senegal and they then drew 0-0 with Uruguay, before a 2-0 loss to Denmark sealed their fate.

Argentina also headed home early as they lost out to Sweden and England in Group F, with the latter exacting revenge for four years earlier with a 1-0 win in Sapporo.

Round two saw joint hosts Japan ousted 1-0 by Turkey, while South Korea matched their Northern counterparts' exploits of 1966 by knocking out Italy 2-1 after-extra-time.

Guus Hiddink's side repeated the trick in the quarter-finals as Spain were their victims, falling to a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat after 120 goalless minutes.

Germany edged out the USA 1-0, having seen off Paraguay by the same score in the last 16, while Senegal's run was ended in the last eight as Turkey won 1-0 in Osaka thanks to Ilhan Mansiz's golden goal.

England threatened a massive upset as they took the lead against Brazil, but goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho turned the game around, despite the latter being sent off soon after his matchwinning strike.

Both semi-finals proved something of a disappointment, with Brazil edging out Turkey by a single goal in Saitama, Ronaldo again providing the decisive moment.

South Korea's hopes of a place in the final were dashed by Germany, with Michael Ballack's strike proving enough for Rudi Voller's side, who kept a third consecutive clean sheet in the knockout stages.

The final in Yokohama was little better as Germany were soundly beaten 2-0 by Brazil, with Ronaldo netting both goals to erase the sad memories of his performance four years earlier in France.