The 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup ( English FIFA Confederations Cup 2003 ) was the fourth edition of this intercontinental football competition for national teams under this name and under the care of FIFA and the sixth overall and took place in France from 18 to 29 June .
As before, the game was played in two groups of four teams, everyone against everyone. The two group winners each reached the semifinals. In the event of a tie between two teams, the decision on progress was made in the following order: the goal difference and goals scored from all group matches, the direct encounters between the teams concerned (number of points, goal difference, goals scored), and ultimately the fair play list or the lot. From the semi-finals onwards, the game was played in the knockout system . If the games in the final round were tied after the normal playing time of 90 minutes, there was extra time and possibly a penalty shoot-out .
Hosts and European champions France won the tournament in the final against African champions Cameroon and were able to defend their 2001 title.
The tournament was overshadowed by the tragic death of Cameroonian player Marc-Vivien Foé , who collapsed on the pitch during his team's semi-final against Colombia . After the final between France and Cameroon, the French captain Marcel Desailly and his counterpart from Cameroon, Rigobert Song , raised the trophy to commemorate Foé.
Since European champions France had already qualified as hosts, vice-European champions Italy initially moved up . However, Italy decided not to participate. Because no third place was played at the European Championship 2000, FIFA awarded the free place to the vice world champion Germany. However, the German national soccer team canceled participation due to scheduling reasons and out of consideration for the national team's preparations for the Bundesliga . Due to the cancellation, the right to participate finally fell to Turkey as the third-placed team.
This game went down in football history because of a tragic accident. The Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foe died after he was slumped in the game in the 74th minute. The 28-year-old African from Manchester City collapsed without outside interference . The team of Winfried Schaefer was at that time already with 1: 0 through the gate of Pius N'Diefi in, what should be the final score of the game.
In front of 41,195 spectators, the French took the lead through Thierry Henry and Robert Pires . Gökdeniz Karadeniz scored the connecting goal for Turkey in the 42nd minute before Sylvain Wiltord was able to extend the French lead again before half-time. The following goal by Tuncay Şanlı in the 48th minute did not prevent the French from reaching the final, especially since Okan Yılmaz missed a penalty.
Tuncay Şanlı (2nd) and Okan Yılmaz (86th) scored the goals for Turkey, Giovanni Hernández scored in the 62nd minute to equalize. This was the second time in two years that Turkey was third in a major tournament.
Thierry Henry scored the decisive golden goal in the 97th minute . After France's final victory over Cameroon, French captain Marcel Desailly and his counterpart from Cameroon, Rigobert Song , raised the trophy together to commemorate Marc-Vivien Foés after his tragic death in the semi-finals.
Golden Ball
The "Golden Ball" for the best player of the tournament went to the French Thierry Henry . The "Silver Ball" went to the Turk Tuncay Şanlı and the "Bronze Ball" to the Cameroonian Marc-Vivien Foé .
Golden shoe
The "golden shoe" for the best goalscorer also went to the French Thierry Henry for his four tournament goals . In this category, too, the silver trophy went to the Turkish Tuncay Şanlı and the "Bronze Shoe" to the Japanese Shunsuke Nakamura . Since five players had scored three goals each, first the number of assists and then the fewer minutes played decided the ranking.
FIFA Fair Play Trophy
The Japanese national soccer team received the Fair Play award for correct sporting behavior on and off the pitch .
France (2nd title)
yellow cards
Yellow-red cards
Red cards
Brazil - World Champion 2002
USA - 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner
Colombia - 2001 Copa America winner
Cameroon - Winner of the African Cup of Nations 2002
New Zealand - Winner of the 2002 Oceania Cup
Japan - 2000 AFC Asian Cup winners
Turkey - Third in the 2002 World Cup
