It has been two decades since Brazil won the 2002 FIFA World Cup. To this day, it remains one of the most dominant performances in the tournament’s history. The Brazilian team won all seven of their games, including a 2-0 victory over Germany in the final.
The country is expected to be challenging for the upcoming competition in Qatar and has been made a favorite among punters who continue to play their favorite casino games on the sites that are listed here where they are able to get the best experiences and enjoy safe gaming sessions, as well as by many of the sportsbooks that are available to place bets with.
With that in mind, we thought ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we would take a look back at Brazil’s 2002 success.
Brazil’s First-Choice XI
One of the keys to Brazil’s success in 2002 was the strength of their starting lineup. The team was incredibly strong and featured some of the best players in the world at that time. In goal was Marcos, who would go on to become one of the most decorated goalkeepers in history. In defense were Cafu, Lúcio, Roque Júnior, and Gilberto Silva. In midfield were Kléberson, Gilberto Silva, and Rivaldo. And up front were Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
This was a team that was built to win and they did just that, cruising through the group stage with victories over Turkey, China, and Costa Rica. They then defeated England in the quarter-finals with Ronaldinho scoring a brilliant goal before being sent off just minutes later.
Having played Turkey in the group, the two teams met again in the semi-finals where the Selecao managed to record a 1-0 victory before dispatching Germany in the final where they ran out 2-0 winners after the legendary Ronaldo scored a double in the second half. All told, they only conceded four goals throughout the entire tournament (two of which were in a 5-2 win against Costa Rica), thus a testament to their defensive solidity.
The Lasting Legacy of 2002
While Brazil has enjoyed plenty of success on the pitch since 2002 – where they have won three more Copa Américas and reached at least the quarter-finals of every World Cup since 2006 – their 2002 triumph remains a high point. That team is remembered fondly by Brazilian fans and is considered one of the greatest sides in history.
They will be hoping that their current crop of stars can recapture that magic when they take to the field for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and end their two-decade drought.
Final Thoughts
It has been two decades since Brazil won the 2002 FIFA World Cup. To this day, it remains one of the most dominant performances in tournament history. The Brazilian team won all seven of their games, including a 2-0 victory over Germany in the final. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup right around the corner, could we see another dominant performance from the Selecao in Qatar?
