New Delhi: A brief history of the World Cup finals covering the tournaments from 1998 to 2002.
2002 Japan/ South Korea
Final: Brazil 2 Germany 0
Top Scorer: Ronaldo (Brazil) - 8 goals
The first ever Asian World Cup was rocked by surprises from the first game, but the final brought together the competition's two most successful nations in the tournament's history.
Having struggled in qualifying, few had tipped Brazil as title contenders, but once the tournament proper was underway the South Americans proved themselves a match for anyone as they strolled to a record fifth title.
Germany, also unfancied in the build-up to the tournament, made solid progress thanks to the goals of Miroslav Klose and the goalkeeping of Oliver Kahn, but the three-times winners were finally beaten by two goals from a resurgent Ronaldo.
Co-hosts South Korea became the first Asian side since their northern neighbors in 1966 to reach the semifinals, losing out to Germany, while Turkey were the other surprise semi-finalists.
First-time qualifiers Senegal caused the biggest shock by beating France in the opening match, sending the defending world champions on their way to an ignominious first round exit.
Favorites Argentina also failed to survive the opening round, as England avenged their last 16 defeat four years earlier with a 1-0 win.
1998 France
Final: France 3 Brazil 0
Top Scorer: Davor Suker (Croatia) - 6 goals
The 16th World Cup finally brought the title back to the country where the competition was originally conceived.
The tournament belonged to the hosts as two first half headers from Zinedine Zidane set les Bleus on their way to a 3-0 win over shell-shocked favorites Brazil in the final and sparked the biggest-ever Bastille Day party in French history.
France had made stuttering progress, needing a golden goal from Laurent Blanc to beat Paraguay in the last 16, a penalty shootout against Italy and two goals from defender Lilian Thuram in a come-from-behind win over Croatia -- the tournament's surprise team - in the semis.
For many the Netherlands, with Dennis Bergkamp in the best form of his career, had played the best football of the competition, only to come unstuck on penalties against Brazil in the semis.
Argentina and England clashed in a memorable second round encounter, with the South Americans going through on penalties after a nerve-racking 2-2 draw.
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