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Memories of 2002 & 2006
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11 June 2010
Sadly, my abiding memory of the 2002 World Cup was the one critical moment when David Seaman forgot where he was. Out of position in his goalmouth, he simply didn't have time to react to Ronaldinho's extraordinary 35-yard shot — or was it a fortuitous mis-hit pass?
Initially, it looked a harmless enough free-kick but it proved decisive. The Arsenal 'keeper was inconsolable and was criticised for his positional incompetence.
He deserved better but his mistake hastened the end of a long and distinguished England career. Brazil — 2-1 winners — went on to beat Germany and clinch the trophy for the fifth time with two Ronaldo goals.
Four years later England's exit came in depressingly familiar fashion.
As soon as a penalty shoot out appeared on the agenda — after 120 minutes of a goalless quarter final with Portugal in Gelsenkirchen — the end was inevitable.
In the final a clearly provoked Zinedine Zidane deliberately head butted Italy's Marco Materazzi and as he lost his cool, France lost the final.
Strangely those two players had both scored in normal time with Materazzi going on to score in the shoot-out as the Italians triumphed 5-3 on penalties.
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