2006 World Cup signals end of the new world order

Jun 28, 2006, 6:23 GMT

Berlin - When South Korea reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002, it seemed like the little man had finally hit the big time.

Guus Hiddink's unheralded side shocked Italy and Spain to make the last four on home soil, only going down to Germany in a hard-fought semi-final.

Their efforts - and the effects of Senegal's win over then champions France in 2002 - seemed likely to lead to some of the other lesser lights succeeding on the biggest stage of all and maybe even going a step further at this summer's finals in Germany.

But after France beat Spain to complete the quarter-final line-up on Tuesday, it was clear that the old guard had reasserted their authority and that the new world order had been firmly put back in their place.

Organisers had hoped that some of the lesser fancied teams would make a name for themselves, but Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran and Angola, among others, all went out at the first stage.

Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Italy, hosts Germany and Portugal were all expected to make the last eight, with Ukraine the only slight surprise in the quarter-finals.

And even their progress to the last eight was not that much of a shock as they overcame Switzerland to advance.

Leaving aside Ukraine and Portugal, the other six quarter- finalists have won 15 of the previous 17 competitions between them.

Unless something remarkable happens, a figure that will almost certainly become 16 of 18.