World Cup IV

World Cup IV

Tournament details
Host	USA
Season(s)	Season 21
Teams	40
Final positions
Champions	Norge
Runner-up	Sverige
Semi-finalists	România Danmark
← WC III	WC V →

This was the fourth and final cup in which the qualification was not group-based. This system allowed the cup to be held over the span of one season, instead of two. The Qualification rounds were based on the top 40 teams in the rankings table. Of those teams, the top eight in rankings qualified directly. The remaining thirty-two teams played for the final eight spots in the cup.

In the pre-qualification round the biggest surprises were when #40 Malaysia flattened #9 España 6-1 and #36 South Africa held an early lead to beat #13 Oceania 1-0. Other memorable moments were #15 México's 2-1 win in a penalty shoot out that saw 10 missed penalties before the 6th shot taker for México finally put home the goal, and when #20 Magyarország scored two consecutive goals in the 81st and 87th minutes to win 4-3 over #29 Česká republika. The experienced Polish team scored goal in last minute of the match for tenderfoot Israel team.

In the qualification round México won yet again in penalties. This time the 3rd shooter for México put home the 2-1 goal to win over #33 Indonesia. Also #23 France held off a 2nd half comeback by Magyarország to win 2-1.

In Round II only thing separating #3 seed Scotland and #1 seed England in Group 3 was their mutual match, where Scotland was better by 1-0. Winner of the group was #4 seed Danmark leaving #2 seed Nederland last. In this match ((13812865)) were 3 goals at 44th minutes.

Semi-finals saw a thriller when Norge beat România 2-1 with a 92nd minute goal. Sverige won their semi 2-0 as expected putting the nail into Danmark's coffin just after halftime. This set up the grounds for one of the most exciting matches in World Cup history. In the final Norge used two Offensive Central Defenders to boost their midfield. They won the midfield and thus took the gold home. This was the first World Cup in which Sverige did not earn a gold medal.

Direct Qualification

• Sverige
• Canada
• England
• România
• USA
• Nederland
• Deutschland
• Suomi

Pre-Qualification

This round started on 16-01-2004 at 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

ID		Match Result
(13677190)	España	1 - 6	Malaysia
(13677191)	Norge	3 - 1	Schweiz
(13677192)	Polska	1 - 0	Israel
(13677193)	Italia	0 - 1	Türkiye
(13677194)	Oceania	0 - 1	South Africa
(13677195)	Danmark	3 - 1	Latvija
(13677196)	México	1 - 1 (1-0p)	Hrvatska
(13677198)	Belgium	0 - 1	Indonesia
(13677199)	Österreich	3 - 0	Venezuela
(13677200)	Scotland	3 - 0	Hellas
(13677201)	Portugal	0 - 2	Ireland
(13677202)	Magyarország	4 - 3	Česká republika
(13677203)	Brasil	2 - 0	Argentina
(13677204)	Rossiya	3 - 1	Srbija i Crna Gora
(13677205)	France	2 - 0	India
(13677206)	China	3 - 2	Chile

Qualification

This round started on 23-01-2004 at 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

ID		Match Result
(13743435)	Norge	3 - 0	Malaysia
(13743436)	Polska	2 - 1	Türkiye
(13743437)	Danmark	1 - 0	South Africa
(13743438)	México	1 - 1 (1-0p)	Indonesia
(13743439)	Österreich	4 - 0	Ireland
(13743440)	Scotland	2 - 0	China
(13743441)	Magyarország	1 - 2	France
(13743442)	Brasil	3 - 0	Rossiya

Round II

This round started on 30-01-2004 at 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Sverige	7	3	2	1	0	9	2	+7
Norge	5	3	1	2	0	11	4	+7
Suomi	4	3	1	1	1	4	4	±0
France	0	3	0	0	3	0	14	-14

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(13812846)	Sverige	2 - 2	Norge	30-01-2004 at 20.00
(13812847)	Suomi	2 - 0	France
(13812848)	Sverige	5 - 0	France	06-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812849)	Suomi	2 - 2	Norge
(13812850)	Sverige	2 - 0	Suomi	13-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812851)	Norge	7 - 0	France

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Canada	9	3	3	0	0	5	1	+4
Deutschland	6	3	2	0	1	5	4	+1
Polska	1	3	0	1	2	1	4	-3
Brasil	1	3	0	1	2	3	5	-2

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(13812852)	Canada	2 - 0	Polska	30-01-2004 at 20.00
(13812853)	Deutschland	3 - 2	Brasil
(13812854)	Canada	1 - 0	Brasil	06-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812855)	Deutschland	1 - 0	Polska
(13812856)	Canada	2 - 1	Deutschland	13-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812857)	Polska	1 - 1	Brasil

Group 3

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Danmark	6	3	2	0	1	5	2	+3
Scotland	4	3	1	1	1	3	3	±0
England	4	3	1	1	1	3	3	±0
Nederland	2	3	0	2	1	3	6	-3

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(13812858)	England	2 - 1	Danmark	30-01-2004 at 20.00
(13812859)	Nederland	2 - 2	Scotland
(13812860)	England	0 - 1	Scotland	06-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812861)	Nederland	0 - 3	Danmark
(13812862)	England	1 - 1	Nederland	13-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812863)	Danmark	1 - 0	Scotland

Group 4

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
România	9	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4
USA	4	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1
Österreich	3	3	1	0	2	3	6	-3
México	1	3	0	1	2	0	2	-2

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(13812864)	România	1 - 0	México	30-01-2004 at 20.00
(13812865)	USA	3 - 0	Österreich
(13812866)	România	3 - 2	Österreich	06-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812867)	USA	0 - 0	México
(13812868)	România	2 - 0	USA	13-02-2004 at 20.00
(13812869)	México	0 - 1	Österreich

Round III

This round started on 16-02-2004 at 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
România	9	3	3	0	0	10	2	+8
Danmark	3	3	1	0	2	9	6	+3
Deutschland	3	3	1	0	2	3	7	-4
Scotland	3	3	1	0	2	3	10	-7

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(14022721)	România	4 - 0	Deutschland	16-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022723)	Danmark	6 - 1	Scotland
(14022724)	România	3 - 0	Scotland	20-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022725)	Danmark	1 - 2	Deutschland
(14022726)	România	3 - 2	Danmark	23-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022727)	Deutschland	1 - 2	Scotland

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Sverige	7	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5
Norge	5	3	1	2	0	6	3	+3
Canada	4	3	1	1	1	4	6	-2
USA	0	3	0	0	3	1	7	-6

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(14022728)	Canada	2 - 2	Norge	16-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022729)	Sverige	2 - 0	USA
(14022730)	Canada	1 - 0	USA	20-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022731)	Sverige	0 - 0	Norge
(14022732)	Canada	1 - 4	Sverige	23-02-2004 at 20.00
(14022733)	Norge	4 - 1	USA

Semi-Finals

This round started on 2004-02-27 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

ID		Match Result
(14140868)	România	1 - 2 aet	Norge
(14140869)	Danmark	0 - 2	Sverige

Final

This round started on 2004-02-29 20:00:00 and was played in USA.

ID		Match Result
(14287675)	Sverige	2 - 4	Norge

Tactics and Ratings

Sverige: 3-5-2 Normal Midfield: magical (very low) Right Defence: outstanding (very low) Central Defence: titanic (very high) Left Defence: extra-terrestrial (very high) Right Attack: extra-terrestrial (low) Central Attack: magnificent (low) Left Attack: solid (low) Indirect Set Pieces: Attack: N/A Defence: N/A

Norge: 3-5-2 Normal Midfield: divine (very high) Right Defence: passable (very low) Central Defence: inadequate (very high) Left Defence: inadequate (very high) Right Attack: supernatural (very low) Central Attack: outstanding (very high) Left Attack: passable (very high) Indirect Set Pieces: Attack: N/A Defence: N/A

HT Annoucements

Hattrick announces

World Cup!	13.1.2004
This friday at 20.00 HT-time the kick-off for the World Cup takes place in the US. Will Sweden be thrown off the throne for the National Teams like with the U20s? One of the main contenders will probably be the hosting US team. Good luck to all managers and may the best team win!

Hattrick announces

4 Giants gone already

17.1.2004

The first qualification round to the World Cup, played tonight, saw some spectacular results, as 4 of the 6 largest countries were knocked out already: Indonesia beat Belgium with 50 times (!) as many users. The Swiss were beaten by (admittedly strong) Norway. In a classic meet between arch-rivals, third largest HT nation Argentina was beaten by Brasil (which is only a tenth the size of Argentina in HT). Finally, 4th largest nation España was demolished by Malaysia with amazing 6 - 1.

Hattrick announces

World Cup Kickoff!	30.1.2004
Tonight the World Cup IV in USA takes off with the first round of the league play. Sweden faces Norway, a classic rivalry between neighbors. Canada-Polska in Group 2 and England-Denmark in Group 3 also promises to be interesting games tonight. Kickoff is at 20:00 HT-time.

Hattrick announces

Norway World Champions!

29.2.2004

In spite of the Swedes being in the lead with both 1 - 0 and 2 - 1, Norge managed to turn the game around, much thanks to Karsten Hammer who scored a Hattrick. Eventually Norge won with 4 - 2, having dominated both halves of the game. National Coach of Norge is Snylte, who is bound to be a national hero in Norway after his masterful coaching in the World Cup, that ended Sweden's dominance over the Hattrick World. Congrats from all of the HT-Team to an amazing victory!