The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the seventeenth staging of the World Cup, was held in the Korea Republic and Japan from 31 May to 30 June.  FIFA's Executive Committee awarded the 2002 World Cup final tournament to Korea Republic and Japan as co-hosts at a meeting in Zürich, Switzerland on 31 May 1996.

Initially, the two Asian countries were competitors in the bidding process. But before the vote, they agreed with FIFA to co-host the event. FIFA later said that co-hosting was not likely to happen again, and in 2004 officially stated that its statutes did not allow co-hosting bids. The only rival bid came, once again, from Mexico, but the voting by acclamation, that is to say, a vote without ballot, promptly brought the World Cup to Asia for the first time. 

The Draw

Ranking the Groups - Peter Young's comments

The Build-Up

13 May: The England squad flew from Luton to Dubai for a few days relaxation with their families, before jetting off to the Far East. Danny Murphy and Trevor Sinclair travelled as potential replacements for the injured Steven Gerrard and Kieron Dyer, both of whom stayed at home. David Beckham assured reporters that he would be fit for the first game after recovering from a broken foot, but that he would not take part in either of the warm-up games, as a precaution.

14 May: Gerrard withdrew from the squad in order to have treatment on his troublesome groin. Murphy was promoted to the provisional final 23.

15 May: The players had a light workout in Dubai. Beckham and Nicky Butt (recovering from a knee injury) went for a jog.

18 May: Kieron Dyer flew into Dubai to join the squad in time to catch a nine-hour flight to the island of Jeju in Korea Republic.

19 May: Nicky Butt was able to do some light training with a ball.

20 May: England trained at the Seogwipo Stadium.

21 May: Eriksson submitted his squad list to FIFA (picking Dyer and not Sinclair), and England drew, 1-1, with Korea Republic.

"Hargreaves sparkles amid the dross... technical limitations were exposed by one of the minnows of the World Cup. Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves were exempt from criticism..." - The Times

22 May: With Dyer named in the squad, Trevor Sinclair flew back to Heathrow. Meanwhile, Danny Murphy broke a foot in training. David Beckham trained with a ball for the first time since his injury.

"Weight of the world on Heskey's shoulders. Heskey is playing like a man with a sackload of troubles, or rocks, on his back...made less imaginative runs than the linesmen." - The Times

"...I don't want to hear that we are not ready...the World Cup starts now and we have to be prepared...I would say 90 per cent of the players will be available for the next World Cup, but that is another life. They must seize this moment." - The Times

"ENGLAND DRAWN INTO A DOGFIGHT
"After almost eight weeks on the sidelines because of his broken foot, the captain was struggling after only thirty minutes.
"Beckham's exhaustion exacerbated the malaise that began to weaken England's performance after the first 35 minutes...the defence dropped deep and the midfield...was overrun.
"If we have a second half like that again we will be out of the World Cup." - David Beckham
"MAN OF THE MATCH: Sol Campbell 8/10 - Unflappable." - The Times, 3 June 2002

"After all the hype and hope, the expressions of disappointment and deflation in failing to capitalise on an early lead was obvious in the faces of all the squad as they made their way to the team bus." - Daily Express, 3 June 2002

"A game of three thirds
"At the end of ninety gruelling minutes, the boss and his team trudged off the pitch to face the cameras and the microphones, knowing to a man that they had done just about enough to survive in the Group of Death. After all, there was a point in the bag. It was also clear that there could be no more jitters, no more complacency, if they were to re-align English yin with English yang and make proper progress in the Orient." - THREE LIONS IN JAPAN (FA Report)

"ENGLAND FIND REVENGE IS BEST SERVED BOLD
"...triumph against all expectations...
"England might have won by a greater margin...
"The sweetest moment of my career." - David Beckham
"MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Scholes 9/10 - The greatest performance of his career" - The Times, 8 June 2002

"They outplayed the team who had come into this tournament as favourites. England defended with supreme discipline, passed and moved with wit in midfield and attacked with intensity." - Daily Express, 8 June 2002

"Another historical ghost is laid to rest
"Making a dignified exit from the Sapporo arena, skipper Beckham said: "We are sportsmen and professionals. We won't react in the wrong way to this game." For the captain, in particular, the spectre of St Etienne four years earlier had been well and truly exorcised. And the singing didn't start until the dressing-room door was closed." - THREE LIONS IN JAPAN (FA Report)

"FERDINAND STANDS FIRM AS ENGLAND OPT FOR SAFETY FIRST
"...there was a sense of an opportunity missed because victory would have pitted Eriksson's squad against Senegal in the easiest section of the tournament.
"...after a nervous opening in which the heat seemed to make them overly cautious, England were mostly in control."
"It was so humid out there. I've played in Brazil before but nothing compares with today." - David Beckham
"MAN OF THE MATCH: Rio Ferdinand 9/10 - Fast becoming one of the best defenders in the world." - The Times, 13 June 2002