World Cup II

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. The Pre-Qualifications saw España, the second largest country in Hattrick at that time next to Sverige, suffer a shocking defeat from Venezuela, the smallest of all 52 Hattrick countries with only 16 active users.

In the Qualifications Denmark defeated România in a nail-biting penalty drama. Some credits must also go to Venezuela for their last 30 minutes - but Deutschland was too much for them. Prathet Thai shocked Polska but eventually fell, which meant that India was the only representative of Asia, while Europe had 10 teams, Oceania one (obviously), and the Americas 4 teams.

The semifinalists were already decided before the last games of Round III. Polska won Finland getting a place in the top-4, but lost the decisive math of Group 1 against Sverige. In Group 2 USA (following a firm win over Deutschland) and Norge (having thrashed Italia) played for the #1 spot. Norge came back twice in their game finally winning it, the group and the ticket to a Semi-Final against Polska, while USA had to face Sverige in the Semi-Finals.

Before the Semi-Finals USA had achieved the best ratings ever seen outside of Sverige in this World Cup, but it didn't help them against the Swedes. Sverige's complete domination of the midfield gave them a comfortable 5-0 victory and yet another ticket to the Final. In the other Semi-Final the two big positive surprises of this World Cup, Polska and Norge, got to measure each other out. Polska proved stronger sending Norge home. The Final was again a complete domination of Sverige. They defeated Polska 5-0, winning in almost every area of the field. In the end only Oceania managed to breach Sverige's defense and they got an impressive 42-1 goal difference in 8 matches.

Direct Qualification

• Template:Flag/SWEn
• Template:Flag/ENGn
• Template:Flag/USAn
• Template:Flag/FINn
• Template:Flag/MEXn
• Template:Flag/CANn
• Template:Flag/NEDn
• Template:Flag/OCEn

Pre-Qualification

This round started on 2002-10-25 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

ID		Match Result
(3524908)	Template:Flag/ITAn	4 - 0	Template:Flag/ESTn
(3524909)	Template:Flag/NORn	4 - 1	Template:Flag/KORn
(3524910)	Template:Flag/GERn	7 - 1	Template:Flag/EGYn
(3524911)	Template:Flag/INDn	5 - 2	Template:Flag/PERn
(3524912)	Template:Flag/BELn	0 - 1	Template:Flag/PORn
(3524913)	Template:Flag/POLn	4 - 1	Template:Flag/AUTn
(3524914)	Template:Flag/BRAn	0 - 1	Template:Flag/SINn
(3524915)	Template:Flag/ARGn	4 - 0	Template:Flag/HUNn
(3524916)	Template:Flag/SCOn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/IDNn
(3524917)	Template:Flag/ESPn	1 - 2	Template:Flag/VENn
(3524918)	Template:Flag/DENn	2 - 1	Template:Flag/RSAn
(3524919)	Template:Flag/ROUn	2 - 0	Template:Flag/URUn
(3524920)	Template:Flag/FRAn	4 - 2	Template:Flag/SUIn
(3524921)	Template:Flag/RUSn	1 - 0	Template:Flag/IRLn
(3524922)	Template:Flag/CHIn	1 - 2	Template:Flag/TURn
(3524923)	Template:Flag/JPNn	4 - 5	Template:Flag/THAn

Qualification

This round started on 2002-11-01 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

ID		Match Result
(3538602)	Template:Flag/ITAn	2 - 1	Template:Flag/PORn
(3538603)	Template:Flag/NORn	5 - 1	Template:Flag/SINn
(3538604)	Template:Flag/GERn	5 - 3	Template:Flag/VENn
(3538605)	Template:Flag/INDn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/TURn
(3538606)	Template:Flag/POLn	3 - 2	Template:Flag/THAn
(3538607)	Template:Flag/ARGn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/RUSn
(3538608)	Template:Flag/SCOn	1 - 0	Template:Flag/FRAn
(3538609)	Template:Flag/DENn	4 - 3	Template:Flag/ROUn

Round II

This round started on 2002-11-08 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/SWEn	9	3	3	0	0	18	1	+17
Template:Flag/ITAn	6	3	2	0	1	5	7	-2
Template:Flag/OCEn	3	3	1	0	2	4	8	-4
Template:Flag/DENn	0	3	0	0	3	1	12	-11

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3552579)	Template:Flag/SWEn	5 - 0	Template:Flag/ITAn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552580)	Template:Flag/OCEn	2 - 0	Template:Flag/DENn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552581)	Template:Flag/SWEn	8 - 0	Template:Flag/DENn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552582)	Template:Flag/OCEn	1 - 3	Template:Flag/ITAn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552583)	Template:Flag/SWEn	5 - 1	Template:Flag/OCEn	22-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552584)	Template:Flag/ITAn	2 - 1	Template:Flag/DENn	22-11-2002 at 20.00

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/NORn	9	3	3	0	0	11	3	+8
Template:Flag/NEDn	3	3	1	0	2	4	5	-1
Template:Flag/SCOn	3	3	1	0	2	3	6	-3
Template:Flag/ENGn	3	3	1	0	2	3	7	-4

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3552585)	Template:Flag/ENGn	1 - 5	Template:Flag/NORn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552586)	Template:Flag/NEDn	2 - 1	Template:Flag/SCOn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552587)	Template:Flag/ENGn	1 - 2	Template:Flag/SCOn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552588)	Template:Flag/NEDn	2 - 3	Template:Flag/NORn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552589)	Template:Flag/ENGn	1 - 0	Template:Flag/NEDn	22-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552590)	Template:Flag/NORn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/SCOn	22-11-2002 at 20.00

Group 3

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/USAn	6	3	2	0	1	9	3	+6
Template:Flag/GERn	6	3	2	0	1	8	6	+2
Template:Flag/CANn	4	3	1	1	1	7	8	-1
Template:Flag/ARGn	1	3	0	1	2	4	11	-7

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3552591)	Template:Flag/USAn	1 - 3	Template:Flag/GERn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552592)	Template:Flag/CANn	3 - 3	Template:Flag/ARGn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552593)	Template:Flag/USAn	5 - 0	Template:Flag/ARGn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552594)	Template:Flag/CANn	4 - 2	Template:Flag/GERn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552595)	Template:Flag/USAn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/CANn	22-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552596)	Template:Flag/GERn	3 - 1	Template:Flag/ARGn	22-11-2002 at 20.00

Group 4

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/POLn	6	3	2	0	1	11	6	+5
Template:Flag/FINn	6	3	2	0	1	8	5	+3
Template:Flag/MEXn	6	3	2	0	1	7	7	±0
Template:Flag/INDn	0	3	0	0	3	4	12	-8

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3552597)	Template:Flag/FINn	4 - 2	Template:Flag/INDn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552598)	Template:Flag/MEXn	4 - 3	Template:Flag/POLn	08-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552599)	Template:Flag/FINn	2 - 3	Template:Flag/POLn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552601)	Template:Flag/MEXn	3 - 2	Template:Flag/INDn	15-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552602)	Template:Flag/FINn	2 - 0	Template:Flag/MEXn	22-11-2002 at 20.00
(3552603)	Template:Flag/INDn	0 - 5	Template:Flag/POLn	22-11-2002 at 20.00

Round III

This round started on 2002-11-26 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/SWEn	9	3	3	0	0	14	0	+14
Template:Flag/POLn	6	3	2	0	1	5	7	-2
Template:Flag/NEDn	3	3	1	0	2	6	6	±0
Template:Flag/FINn	0	3	0	0	3	0	12	-12

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3597644)	Template:Flag/SWEn	6 - 0	Template:Flag/FINn	26-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597645)	Template:Flag/POLn	3 - 2	Template:Flag/NEDn	26-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597646)	Template:Flag/SWEn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/NEDn	29-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597647)	Template:Flag/POLn	2 - 0	Template:Flag/FINn	29-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597648)	Template:Flag/SWEn	5 - 0	Template:Flag/POLn	03-12-2002 at 20.00
(3597649)	Template:Flag/FINn	0 - 4	Template:Flag/NEDn	03-12-2002 at 20.00

Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Flag/NORn	9	3	3	0	0	11	5	+6
Template:Flag/USAn	6	3	2	0	1	12	3	+9
Template:Flag/ITAn	3	3	1	0	2	3	10	-7
Template:Flag/GERn	0	3	0	0	3	4	12	-8

ID		Match Result		Date and Time
(3597650)	Template:Flag/NORn	5 - 3	Template:Flag/GERn	26-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597651)	Template:Flag/USAn	6 - 0	Template:Flag/ITAn	26-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597652)	Template:Flag/NORn	3 - 0	Template:Flag/ITAn	29-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597653)	Template:Flag/USAn	4 - 0	Template:Flag/GERn	29-11-2002 at 20.00
(3597654)	Template:Flag/NORn	3 - 2	Template:Flag/USAn	03-12-2002 at 20.00
(3597655)	Template:Flag/GERn	1 - 3	Template:Flag/ITAn	03-12-2002 at 20.00

Semi-Finals

This round started on 2002-12-06 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

ID		Match Result
(4611226)	Template:Flag/NORn	1 - 3	Template:Flag/POLn
(4611227)	Template:Flag/USAn	0 - 5	Template:Flag/SWEn

Final

This round started on 2002-12-08 20:00:00 and was played in Argentina.

ID		Match Result
(4629248)	Template:Flag/SWEn	5 - 0	Template:Flag/POLn

Tactics and Ratings

Sverige: 3-5-2 Normal Midfield: extra-terrestrial (low) Right Defence: outstanding (high) Central Defence: outstanding (very high) Left Defence: magnificent (very high) Right Attack: solid (very low) Central Attack: brilliant (very low) Left Attack: formidable (very high) Indirect Set Pieces: Attack: {{{isp_attack}}} Defence: {{{isp_defence}}}

Polska: 6-1-3 Normal Midfield: wretched (very low) Right Defence: excellent (low) Central Defence: outstanding (very low) Left Defence: excellent (low) Right Attack: weak (very high) Central Attack: excellent (low) Left Attack: weak (low) Indirect Set Pieces: Attack: {{{isp_attack}}} Defence: {{{isp_defence}}}

HT Annoucements

HT Announcement (26.10.2002):
The first round of qualifications to the Group play of World Cup II was yesterday. Spain, currently the second largest country in Hattrick (next to Sweden) suffered a shocking defeat from Venezuela, the smallest of all 52 Hattrick countries with only 16 active users. Quite an upset! Next up for the Venezuelans is Germany. Surely they can't do it again, can they?

HT Announcement (02.11.2002):
After the 8 World Cup Qualification matches tonight, the fixtures for the next three weeks Group games are now up. The Danish defeated Romania in a nail-biting penalty drama. Some credits most once again be given to Venezuela for their excellent last 30 minutes - but the Germans were too much. Thailand shocked Poland but eventually fell, which means that India will be only representative of Asia, while Europe has 10 teams, Oceania ... er... one obviously, and the Americas 4 teams.

HT Annoucement (29.11.2002):
With one match left of the group play in the World Cup, the 4 teams that are going to the semifinals are already fixed. That is the remarkable outcome of today's matches. Poland, having beaten Finland, will play for group victory against Sweden in group B. In group A, USA (following a firm win over Germany) and Norge (having thrashed Italy) will play a match for 1st place in the group. Congrats to Poland, Sweden, USA and Norge for making it to the semifinals! Next round is on Tuesday.

HT Annoucement (03.12.2002):
Norway came back twice in their game against the US, winnig match, group and the ticket to a semifinal against Poland. USA, on the other hand, now have to face Sweden in the other semifinal. The US have, on the whole, achieved the best ratings ever seen outside of Sweden in this World Cup. Are they ready to challenge "unbeatable" Sweden? And which one of the two big positive surprises of this World Cup, Poland and Norge, will get to the final? The answer is given this Friday, 8 PM, HT Time.

HT Annoucement (06.12.2002):
Only the semifinals and the final left of Hattrick World Cup II! The semifinals are today Friday at 20.00 HT-Time. One battle of the ratings giants, Sweden vs USA. Could be the best match ever to have been played in Hattrick! Sweden obvious favourites, as always. The other semifinal is between Poland and Norge. Can the tall viking and head specialist Nils Frigaard win the game for Norge again? Or can Poland once more shock the HT world and make it all the way to the Sunday grande finale?

HT Annoucement (06.12.2002):
Poland did it again - they beat Norway in the semifinal and are playing World Cup final against Sweden. Sweden had a comfortable journey against the US, completely dominating the midfield. The Poland vs Sweden game is on Sunday, at 20.00 HT-Time as usual. The Norway and US players will return from World Cup II in Argentina with bronze medals and a memorable moment in the spotlights of the Hattrick World.