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Fred Varcoe
For Fred Varcoe's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
SOCCER / World cup
May 27, 2002
England, Cameroon battle to 2-2 draw
KOBE -- A last-minute header by Robbie Fowler of Leeds United earned England a share of the spoils as it drew 2-2 with Cameroon in a leisurely friendly in front of 36,424 fans at Kobe Universiade Stadium on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 21, 2002
Struggling to shake off the demons
After solving the issue of what the 2002 World Cup would be called in Japanese -- by removing the two countries' names -- FIFA no doubt hoped that the organization of the tournament would proceed without any further hiccups.
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 20, 2002
Coming to terms with cohosting
In the year 2000, Belgium and the Netherlands became the first countries to cohost a major, FIFA-sanctioned football tournament when they staged the 2000 European Championship finals. It was an all-around success and pointed the way forward for other cohosted tournaments.
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 19, 2002
Taming the 'bulldog'
As the deadline for deciding who would host the 2002 World Cup approached, FIFA boss Joao Havelange was approaching his 80th birthday and had been head of FIFA for over 20 years. Many thought he was getting past his sell-by date. He was a man who oozed power and in truth he had done a lot for the game. But while he may have been respected, the Brazilian wasn't universally liked.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 18, 2002
Troussier pulls squad shocker
Riding the shinkansen from Kobe to Tokyo with Philippe Troussier on May 3, Japan's soccer coach said there would be no surprises when he announced his World Cup squad on May 17.
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 18, 2002
Beyond the limits of normalcy
Can Japan and South Korea work together to put on the 2002 World Cup?
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 17, 2002
A history of hate thy neighbor
Like most Asian countries, South Korea had never really considered bidding for the World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup / COHOSTING
May 16, 2002
World Cup pie gets bigger
The head of soccer's world governing body FIFA is never likely to be called a shrinking violet. In the world of sport, perhaps only the head of the International Olympic Committee has a more powerful voice. When he talks, everyone listens.
SOCCER / World cup
May 15, 2002
Hayatou, Chung state case for FIFA leadership reforms
The "Blatter Out" campaign breezed through Tokyo on Monday as Issa Hayatou, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter's rival for the presidency, and his South Korean ally, Dr. Chung Mong Joon, held a press conference to state their case for a new broom in FIFA.
SOCCER / World cup
May 4, 2002
Hondurans give Japan squad wakeup call with 3-3 draw
KOBE -- If Japan manager Philippe Troussier needed to be reminded of his side's defensive frailties, then he should be grateful to Honduras, which pushed the home side to a 3-3 draw in the Kirin Cup at Kobe Wing Stadium on Thursday.
SOCCER / World cup
May 3, 2002
Hondurans hold Japan
KOBE -- If Japan manager Philippe Troussier needed to be reminded of his side's defensive frailties, then he should be grateful to Honduras, which pushed the home side to a 3-3 draw in the Kirin Cup at Kobe Wing Stadium on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 2, 2002
Troussier plans no more 'surprises'
KOBE -- Japan coach Philippe Troussier didn't promise any more "surprises" for Thursday's Kirin Cup match against Honduras at Kobe Wing Stadium, saying only that it was a practice match for the World Cup and he would be happy to win 1-0 with an own goal.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE EXTRA
Apr 20, 2002
Troussier raising more questions than answers
The only answer anyone in the press room could come up with was: "Well, he's French, isn't he."
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 18, 2002
Troussier's troops draw with Costa Rica
YOKOHAMA -- Wherever Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi goes, you can be guaranteed that lunacy will follow.
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 18, 2002
Saitama pitch OK
URAWA, Saitama Pref. -- Players and officials gave the thumbs up to the pitch at Saitama's World Cup stadium on Tuesday after a reserve team match between the Urawa Reds and Kashiwa Reysol.
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 11, 2002
Troussier sticks with Shunsuke
Japan manager Philippe Troussier retained Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura in his squad for next Wednesday's friendly international against Costa Rica and also brought back left-sided midfielder/defender Toshihiro Hattori.
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 5, 2002
Don't worry, everything will be OK, says English Football Association
For anyone worried about English soccer hooligans blighting this summer's World Cup, Adrian Bevington, the English Football Association's communications manager, has one message: They won't be there.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 22, 2002
Japan stifles Ukraine
OSAKA -- Japan's first match of this World Cup year ended in success on Thursday as it beat Ukraine 1-0 at Nagai Stadium in Osaka.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 2, 2002
Belgian boss praises Japan
Robert Waseige, manager of the Belgian team that will face Japan in the World Cup finals, kept his cards very close to his chest as he met the Japanese media on Monday.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 1, 2002
FIFA 'ready' for World Cup
FIFA officials and representatives of the 32 teams competing in this year's World Cup wrapped up a two-day workshop in Tokyo on Thursday by declaring that they are ready to stage the World Cup in May and June.

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