Friday June 14th, 2002
 Belgium vs Russia in Shizuoka
(3:2)
Belgium took the game to the Russians and were soon in front.
1:0
Belgium earn a free-kick in the 7th minute - curled into the top right-hand corner by
Johan Walem.
Belgium were very much in control and easily soaked up the pressure as
Russia tried to get back on terms.
Belgium continued to look the stronger side in the first half-hour
while Russia appeared to be in need of some fresh ideas.
Alexei Smertin made way for Dmitry Sychev, with ten minutes still remaining in the
first-half.
An injury to Yuri Nikiforov, just before half-time, meant Russia had
only one more substitution left to correct things in the second-half.
Half-time: Belgium 1 - Russia 0
Japan went in front, early in the second-half, to meant that Belgium
would meet Brazil in the Second Round.... if results stayed the same.
1:1
Russia had ideas of their own and leveled the score to put them in second spot.... Dmitri
Khokhlov sent Dmitry Sychev down the left. The substitute's chip over the approaching
Geert De Vlieger, left Vladimir Beschastnykh with an open goal to score in.
Belgium started to look disorganised, as Dmitry Sychev continued to
take on the Belgian rearguard and try to set his Russian team mates.
But for the missed chances, Russia could have added another couple of
goals to their tally.
In the other game, Japan consolidated their lead with a second goal
against Tunisia.
2:1
From Johan Walem's corner, substitute Wesley Sonck beat Dmitri Khokhlov to the ball and
gave Belgium the advantage - 78 mins.
3:1
Marc Wilmots received the ball from Bart Goor, on the edge of the area, wrong-footed Yuri
Kovtun and hammered what must be the final nail in Russia's coffin; eight minutes from
time.
3:2
18 year-old Dmitry Sychev still fancied a game against Brazil and was first onto a lose
ball in the Belgian area...... Russia still had a chance... level the scores and they
would join Japan in the Second Round.
Belgium had everyone back in defence as the Russian bench all stood up
to try and will the ball in during time added on.... Moscow time was ticking.......
Final Score:
Belgium 3 - 
Russia 2
Other Group H Match:
Tunisia vs Japan
Man of the Match:
Marc Wilmots - Will retire from the international scene after this World Cup and Belgium
will surely miss him.
 Yellow Cards:
Andrei Solomatin (12 mins)
Alexei Smertin (14 mins)
Yves Vanderhaeghe (39 mins)
Dmitri Alenichev (64 mins)
Dmitry Sennikov (84 mins)
The Teams
Belgium:
1 Geert De Vlieger; 3 Glen De Boeck (4 Eric Van Meir - 90 mins), 15 Jacky Peeters, 16
Daniel Van Buyten, 5 Nico Van Kerckhoven; 8 Bart Goor, 18 Yves Vanderhaeghe, 11 Gert
Verheyen (6 Timmy Simons - 78 mins), 10 Johan Walem; 22 Mbo Mpenza (9 Wesley Sonck - 70
mins), 7 Marc Wilmots.
Russia:
1 Rusian Nigmatullin; 2 Yuri Kovtun, 3 Yuri Nikiforov (18 Dmitry Sennikov - 43 mins), 7
Viktor Onopko, 5 Andrei Solomatin; 15 Dmitri Alenichev, 8 Valeri Karpin (16 Alexander
Kerzhakov - 83 mins), 21 Dmitri Khokhlov, 4 Alexei Smertin (22 Dmitry Sychev - 34 mins), 9
Yegor Titov; 11 Vladimir Beschastnykh.
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen 
In Korea
Group A
Denmark,  France,  Senegal,  Uruguay.
Group B
 Paraguay,  Slovenia,  Spain, 
South Africa.
Group C
 Brazil,  China,  Costa Rica,  Turkey.
Group D
 Poland,  Portugal, 
South Korea,  United States.
Korea First Round Matches.
In Japan
Group E
 Cameroon,  Germany,  Republic of Ireland, 
Saudi Arabia.
Group F
 Argentina,  England,  Nigeria,  Sweden.
Group G
 Croatia,  Ecuador,  Italy,  Mexico.
Group H
Belgium,  Japan, Russia,  Tunisia.
Japan First Round Matches.
2002 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
Group Tables - Leading Goalscorers.
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