by Derrick Allsop, from the Spring 2002 edition of J Magazine

It is one of those years again, when football devours a chunk of the summer and all but the most stubborn or perverse are content to join the feast. Nowhere outside the World Cup venues in Korea and Japan will the global appetite for the tournament be more apparent than in the F1 paddock. Talk of lap times and settings will have to vie for attention with goal times and set plays.

The Grand Prix fraternity is a veritable league of nations, and allegiances will scream out from motorhome rooftops as the ultimate drama of the beautiful game is played out. This epicentre of racing will encapsulate the emotions of the planet. Every roar of ecstasy and every cry of anguish will echo the reactions in a distant homeland. Friends and colleagues will become the fiercest of rivals as the intensity of the competition takes hold. Racing team colours and logos will give way to replica football shirts, complete with players’ names and numbers.

A cast of 32 teams perform for the right to take centre stage at the final in Yokohama, on June 30. First to appear are the holders, France, and the beaten African Nations Cup finalists, Senegal, who meet in Seoul, on May 31. A number of first round group matches coincide with the Canadian Grand Prix, while the quarter-finals will be played on June 21 and 22, when F1 will be practising and qualifying for the Grand Prix of Europe at the Nürburgring. In fact, qualifying at the German circuit has been brought forward by 45 minutes to avoid a clash with the last of those games to determine the semi-finalists. Depending on the identity of the two teams playing in Osaka that afternoon, there could be some frantic de-briefing at the ’Ring!

The allure of football is as evident in racing circles as it is in any other environment, of course, but the bond between the two sports has been reinforced by Formula One’s ever-growing appeal to footballers and club managers.

J Magazine has already featured Roy Keane, captain of Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland, and confirmed F1 enthusiast, who will lead his country’s attempt to add more improbable exploits to its World Cup record. Another United player, David Beckham, said to be hankering after a run in one of those red cars from the top of the pit lane, skippers an England side that looked all washed up until a Swede, Sven Goran Eriksson, was appointed head coach. Becks and co went on to wallop the Germans and qualify for the finals as group winners.

Germany made it to the Far East via the play-offs, defeating the Ukraine over two legs, and now join the Irish in Group E, along with Saudi Arabia and the African champions, Cameroon. EJ is doubtless inquiring what odds his chums from Deutsche Post World Net are willing to offer for the match on June 5. The countenance of the Schumachers should reflect the outcome of that game. Will it be Glum and Glummer?

Ireland, too, had to negotiate a play-off tie, against Iran. However, having come through the qualifying group phase undefeated, ahead of the Netherlands and second only to Portugal, they are entitled to believe they are good enough to be one of the two countries who go on to the second round.

The inspirational qualities of Roy Keane, the goalscoring of Robbie Keane and the goalkeeping of Shay Given will be crucial to the Irish cause. The committed yet good-humoured support of the Green Army may be no less significant for Mick McCarthy and his men. Their combined efforts will do well to repeat the feat of the Italia ’90 crusaders. Jack Charlton’s team made no apologies for their direct style and reached the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out against Romania.

The decisive kick was converted by David O’Leary, a centre-half unaccustomed to such a responsibility and still less to the subsequent adulation. “I made the mistake of standing still and nearly got killed in the rush,” he recalls. O’Leary, now manager of Leeds United, is another prominent member of football’s Formula One fan club and is hoping to be with Jordan at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Even the Irish, though, must concede England have a stinker of a group. They find themselves confronting Argentina, considered by many as the favourites to win the Championship, Nigeria, a team brimming with extravagant (if unpredictable) talent, and Sweden, who won eight, drew two and lost none of their qualifying matches. Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, have exceptional individual players and, as they demonstrated in the South American qualifying group, the team ethic to harness that ability. They lost only one of their 18 matches and finished the series 12 points clear of their closest rivals, Ecuador.

England and Argentina do, of course, have a bit of previous. Their meeting at Wembley in 1966 is remembered for the dismissal of Argentina’s Antonia Rattin, and England manager Alf Ramsey’s condemnation of his team’s opponents as ‘Animals’. In France, four years ago, Beckham was shown the red card for impetuously flicking a leg at Diego Simeone. Needless to say, Mr Posh has revenge on his mind and a ready-made subject to exchange pleasantries with - United’s own Argentine midfield player, Juan Sebastian Veron. June 7 sees the next instalment of this serial conflict.

Not that England can afford to concentrate on Argentina at the expense of their other fixtures. We have long been told by some of the game’s luminaries, including Pele, that an African nation will soon emerge as World Champions, and Nigeria, the enigmatic Kanu and all, are as likely as any team to fulfil the expectation. Don’t expect that this time, but the Nigerians could be obdurate opponents.

The match Eriksson probably anticipated - and dreaded - marks the start of England’s campaign, on June 2. There may be those in the Jordan camp who will relish the prospect of seeing Celtic’s Henrik Larsson sabotage England’s plan. But then England have a few potent weapons of their own. Michael Owen, who introduced himself to world football with that wondrous goal against Argentina at France ’98 and scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition of Germany, will be feared as much as any striker at these finals. Beckham may not always excel for United, yet usually manages to raise his game for internationals. His party piece against Greece was an unforgettable case in point.

England have a fresh vibrancy and belief, although there remain question marks concerning their credentials as genuine challengers for the trophy. The identity of the goalkeeper, a left-side midfield player and Owen’s partner are far from clear. They face a difficult task to reach the second stage, let alone the final.

Brazil, a country synonymous with the fantasy of the World Cup, stumbled into these finals as third best in South America, much to the embarrassment of Pele, generally regarded as the greatest player of all time. He is also Ambassador for MasterCard, who are sponsors of the World Cup tournament – and Jordan. Pele admitted his discomfiture was compounded when, at the draw, he helped place his country in perhaps the easiest group, along with Turkey, China and Costa Rica. Not that Rubens Barrichello and his countrymen will be too bothered if Brazil suddenly find some form. Look out for Rubinho in the famous gold and green shirt.

Another ex-Jordan driver, Jarno Trulli, and the current, Fisichella, will share the hope that Italy again show the knack of tournament play. They flex their strategic muscles against Ecuador, who qualified above Brazil, Croatia and Mexico. The Italian mid-field may lack invention demanded by the purists, but the defence will be one of the most miserly at the finals and Alessandro del Piero’s return to fitness and form represents a serious threat. Roberto Baggio’s selection hopes were also dealt a blow when ‘the divine one’ sustained another injury in the winter. Fizzy, alas, is otherwise engaged.

The Jordan Honda camp will obviously have strong support for one of the co-hosts, Japan. They are in what may be described as a less than compelling group for the neutral. Belgium, Russia and Tunisia complete a line-up the rest of us are not going to lose too much early morning sleep over, but don’t tell Takuma!

France, who haven’t had to qualify for two consecutive World Cups because they were hosts in ’98 and arrive this time as Champions, should not be too rusty to be caught off guard by Senegal, Uruguay or Denmark. The French are rich in talent, much of which is on display in England’s Premiership. Fabien Barthez, Marcel Desailly, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry head the Anglo-based roll call. Add to that lot a certain Zinedine Zidane and they look awesome.

Spain, the eternal under-achievers, begin another quest for redemption against Slovenia, Paraguay and South Africa. Portugal, grouped with Poland, United States and the other co-hosts, South Korea, should ensure a formidable Iberian presence. France and Argentina are, quite rightly, heavily backed. But never discount Italy, and one of these tournaments Spain are going to deliver.

As for England and Ireland – enjoy it while you’re there, lads.