2001 Confederation Cup (Japan & South Korea)


How does it work?


The nations in each group play a single-round-robin with three points for a win and one for a draw. After the groups completion the winner of Group A plays the runner-up of Group B and the winner of Group B plays the runner-up of Group A in one-leg knockout semi-finals. The two losers of tease matches play in the third place play-off and the two winners play in the Confederation Cup Final.

Group A and Review

Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
France 3 2 0 1 9 1 6
Australia 3 2 0 1 3 1 6
South Korea 3 2 0 1 3 6 6
Mexico 3 0 0 3 1 8 0

France were never really in any danger, beating South Korea and Mexico with little trouble. They lost to Australia but it was a very weakened teem playing. Australia just scraped through ahead of the co-hosts Korea on goal difference. Mexico were the real disappointment of the tournament.

Results

France 5 v 0 South Korea
Mexico 0 v 2 Australia
Australia 1 v 0 France
South Korea 2 v 1 Mexico
France 4 v 0 Mexico
South Korea 1 v 0 Australia


Group B and Review

Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
Japan 3 2 1 0 5 0 7
Brazil 3 1 2 0 2 0 5
Cameroon 3 1 0 2 2 4 3
Canada 3 0 1 2 0 5 1

Joint hosts Japan showed they have improved vastly in resent years by finishing first in the group and two points clear of Brazil who remain on poor form. Cameroon were disappointing only winning one game. For Canada, this championship was a learning curve.

Results

Brazil 2 v 0 Cameroon
Japan 3 v 0 Canada
Canada 0 v 0 Brazil
Cameroon 0 v 2 Japan
Brazil 0 v 0 Japan
Cameroon 2 v 0 Canada


Semi-Finals

Japan 1 v 0 Australia
France 2 v 1 Brazil
Japan just got the better of the Socceroos in a tight semi-final, it was probably just about deserved. France overcame Brazil in what many had hoped would be the final, the result was fair and was more comfortable than the score suggests.


3rd Place Play-Off

Australia 1 v 0 Brazil
In the inaugural Confederation Cup final four years ago Brazil beet Australia 5-0. Things have changed somewhat. Australia leave east Asia with their heads held high. Brazil leave beaten, embarrassed and, after this tournament, manager lesss.


Final

France 1 v 0 Japan
France claimed the Confederation Cup title of 2001 to add to their 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. This is fast becoming France's era. Spare a thought for the Japanese who played well throughout and were worthy of their runners-up medals.



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