Unfortunately, I had to pull out of tonight's session but Steve sent this report.

First up was The World Cup Football Game (2002 Tournament). As usual with the 2002 version there is a good range of teams and as there was 6 of us it meant there was at least 5 teams each. Nige was the tournement favourite, having both Brazil and South Korea, along with Japan and Senegal (blue rated teams). Steve did mention that the winning team did tend to be a blue or green rated team as the two black teams (Brazil and Germany) and the two red teams (Turkey and South Korea) were the teams to nobble.

The group phase went pretty much to form with players concentrating on getting their highest rated teams through, Group F was won by Sweden but the second place spot went on goal difference to England over Argentina. Group G was a three way split with three teams on 6 points Italy, Mexico and Croatia, Well that's out it turned out after the extra time die rolling which gave Italy a whole goal in each of it's games!! It meant Croatia who had qualifying sew-up suddenly went out on goal difference, much to Mark K's astonishment.

After all the group matches, Mark K only had Turkey with which to continue the fight, the rest of us had either two or three. Nige had got his top four teams through and was still favourite at this stage.

The second round was a disaster for Steve. His three teams were up against stiff opposition and being Hall of fame leader combined with Mark K having a lot of influence in other matches (due to only having one team in the competion) it meant that his only hope was a penalty shoot-out with his USA taking on Phil's Italy. It was 4-all after the first 5 penalities so it went to sudden death. The score wasn't kept but the goalkeepers must have had to take a penalty, after many sucessful rolls each Steve finally capitulated and his last team was out.

Nige turned out to be the penalty jester of the tournament. In the group phase, he had at least two missed penalties, but on the second round a penalty shoot off between Belgium and Brazil was won easily when all three Brazillian penalty takers Ronaldo, Ronaldhino and Roberto Carlos all missed to see Belgium win the shoot-out 3-0!! Phil got three teams through to the Quarter-final and the shout was that he could only snatch defeat from the jaws of victory from this strong postion.

John went out in the Quarter-finals and Phil saw two of his three teams defeated. This left Phil with Spain, Mark K with Turkey, Nige with South Korea and Mark G with Belgium. The semi-finals saw the two fancied teams Turkey and South Korea dispatched. The final would be between Mark G's unfancied Belgium and Phil's Spain, surely it would be Spain's year!

Both the final and the third place play-off were close affairs Belgium overcame Spain 2-1 and Turkey beat South Korea by the same score. Phil was able to snatch defeat at the last gasp. Maybe next time for Spain. But once again a Green rated team won.