The 2006 World Cup quarterfinals in Germany looked nothing like the surprising lineup from four years earlier in Asia. Brazil, England, and Germany advanced to the last eight again, but they were joined this time by Argentina, France, Italy, Portugal, and Ukraine, nations that collectively account for six World Cup titles.
The contrast with 2002 is sharp. Senegal and Türkiye, both surprise quarterfinalists in Asia, did not even qualify for Germany. The United States, which reached the quarterfinals in 2002, was eliminated in the first round without much of a fight.
Several factors appear to explain the shift. European clubs finished their seasons by 15 May, giving European players more recovery time before the tournament began. Playing at home also meant familiar climates and time zones. Meanwhile, Asian national teams have struggled to develop players with experience at top European clubs, a gap Japan's coach Zico publicly acknowledged after his side's early exit.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed disappointment that traditional powers had reasserted control. Some observers note that 2002 may simply have been an anomaly. Even then, American goalkeeper Brad Friedel cautioned after his team's quarterfinal run: "I think this was a special time."
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.