When you think of the strong opportunities England have had to re-capture the World Cup, a quarter-final meeting with Brazil in 2002, is surprisingly right up there.
This was an England side that had developed quickly under Sven-Goran Eriksson into a team that had the erudite skills of Paul Scholes used smartly, balanced with a secure spine of David Seaman, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Emile Heskey.
Heskey was playing at his most confident and was the ideal foil for Michael Owen who was hunting with fervour and pace. David Beckham was as energetic and accurate as at any time in his career, and in the demolition of Germany in Munich the previous September, England gave a complete, resplendent display of attacking football, built on solidity and engineered with Swedish craftsmanship.
Having negotiated a difficult group in Japan and sought and secured revenge over Argentina in the previous World Cup with a controlled 1-0 victory from a David Beckham penalty, Denmark, who had been very sharp up until this point, were swept aside by Owen and Heskey in the second round.
And so onto Brazil in Shizuoka. Most remembered for Ronaldinho; the panache he showed in helping create Rivaldo’s equaliser to Michael Owen’s fine opener, then somehow lobbing David Seaman from 35 yards, only to be sent off, unfairly, minutes later.
It was though, a missed opportunity by England. Ronaldinho’s goal sucked the life out of England, and if they were to get a shot of adrenaline from his dismissal, it didn’t materialize. It was an antI-climatic end in a tournament where much promised.
So what of the team that took to the field of the Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka?
Starting 11
David Seaman
In tears at the final whistle, Seaman was hurt by a freak goal that undermined a fine run of form. A full family life and a fondness for golf and fishing, Seaman has kept football at arm’s length. More likely to be seen on Dancing On Ice or Strictly Come Dancing, than in a pundit’s armchair; for which you would have thought his deep-voiced charm would be well suited.
Danny Mills
Robust in the tackle and known to get in a face or two, punditry has been relatively parked in favour of forays into the business world. In April 2014, he was part of a consortium of investors whose investment in the West Cornwall Pasty Company helped save 274 jobs in 34 stores. The disappointment of a World Cup exit to Brazil paled from significance in the following months when in November of 2002 his third child was stillborn. He is now a proud patron of the charity Shine.
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand’s World Cup performances were rewarded with a move to Old Trafford, weeks after returning from Japan. A fusion of vision and strength made him a stalwart in the England and Manchester United side for many years to follow. Ferdinand’s profile hasn’t diminished since he left the game, forays into punditry have coupled with involvement in publishing, presenting and a sojourn as a movie producer. Following the passing of his wife Rebecca Ellison, with whom he had three children, Ferdinand has spoken of the release exercise has given him in the grieving process. An unexpected move into professional boxing has been announced, where he will fight at cruiserweight or light heavyweight. If this transpires to be a once-off or a sustained career – time will tell.
Sol Campbell
The now London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, must have been taken by surprise in 2015 when he heard the news that Sol Campbell – as a Conservative – would be joining the race to succeed Boris Johnson as mayor. Campbell’s move into politics was preceded by an unorthodox club trajectory that saw him move from Tottenham Hotspur to reviled rivals Arsenal. From there he moved to Portsmouth before a surprising move to Notts County. He joined the League Two side on a five-year-contract, where he would link up with Eriksson again. However five years became one game before a brief return to Arsenal and then Newcastle.
Ashley Cole
An inherent talent and a strong athlete, it’s not too surprising that at 36, Ashley Cole is still playing at a high level, even if purists will question the MLS as such. Cole complimented England’s back four well in 2002 with his penchant for tearing into forward positions; even if he was defensively exposed by Ronaldinho in the build-up to Rivaldo’s goal. Despite a negative reputation, something Cole places firmly at the door of the English press, Cole enjoys the quiet, family life in LA.
David Beckham
Another export Stateside, an update on what Beckham has been up to since 2002 hardly needs to be documented here. Beckham’s time these days is primarily tied up in getting his own team off the ground – MLS side Miami FC is his retirement project that was a sure change of pace from his playing days. Plans to build a 25,000 seated stadium eventually moved a step close this summer with the approval of a second piece of county land in Miami. It’s still a long road to completion though, and the process is insufferably slow. Still, once he gets this over the line, it should prove to be a game changer for the former England captain. He was most recently seen on the Pride of Britain awards keeping up his image of being the most perfect human being alive...
Nicky Butt
The late Newcastle manager Bobby Robson saw Nicky Butt as a good fit when he signed him from Manchester United in the summer of 2004. And he was right. Having wound things down in the Hong Kong league, he returned to Old Trafford in 2012 and has fulfilled various coaching roles. He is also part-owner of Salford City football club.
Paul Scholes
Along with Butt, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, all have a 10% share in Salford City. Singapore based billionaire Peter Lim bought the other 50% share from the quintet of former Old Trafford stalwarts. Scholes was 20 years at United, before retiring in 2011 – only to return from a 5 month hiatus in January 2012, until May 2013. The gifted technician no worse the wear for the break. A successful career as a pundit and a columnist was all the more surprising for the direct, astute style in which he takes to task those who need doing so.
Trevor Sinclair
With just 12 England caps to his name, Sinclair’s form came at the right time for 2002. Well form and luck; or more so the bad luck of others. Steven Gerrard pulled out of Eriksson’s squad injured and was replaced by Danny Murphy, who was subsequently injured. In came the West Ham winger to act as back up to Owen Hargreaves. After 19 minutes of the second group game against Argentina, Hargreaves World Cup was over. Sinclair’s began. Having moved to Dubai in retirement, Sinclair returned to football as assistant manager to Darren Peacock in 2014 at Lancaster City. An injury crisis meant he made an FA Cup appearance for the club as a substitute, just shy of his 42nd birthday.
Michael Owen
Ballon d’Or winner in 2001 meant that Michael Owen’s form in 2002 and the subsequent move to Real Madrid two years later was of little surprise. Since a muted swan-song with Stoke City, Owen has been a regular pundit on BT Sport, where his lack of energy and insight have been primary in his punditry style. But just when we thought Owen had lost the capacity to excite, he recaptures our attention later this month when he makes his debut as a jockey at Ascot Racecourse on November 24th in a seven-furlong charity race.
Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey was playing some of the finest football of his career around the time of the 2002 World Cup. His holding play and physicality complemented Owen, but he did have more nuances to his game than he was given credit for. He also had a capacity to re-invent himself. When he moved to A-League side Newcastle Jets in 2012 what may have appeared to be a wind-down, was, in fact, a successful stint that became a building block for reintroduction into the English game. A Christmas trial at Bolton Wanderers in 2014 led to a season and a half at the club. 39, Heskey splits his time between England and Asia, where he is well liked, working in punditry, coaching and playing in promotional tournaments.
