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When Ashley Cole travelled to the 2002 World Cup as a 21-year-old, the then-Arsenal full-back was one of the youngest members of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England squad.
This tournament came at the beginning of a fruitful international career for Cole, who would go on to be one of the finest left-backs to ever pull on a Three Lions shirt, and it would prove to be an eventful introduction to tournament football.
More than two decades on, it’s still a period that Cole looks back on as one of the defining experiences of his career, even if it ended in disappointment.
Ashley Cole on the 2002 World Cup
When asked to choose his favourite major tournament with England, Cole is quick to bring up this first taste of international action.
“I think my first, 2002, just to understand I was capable of playing with top players and doing OK at major tournaments,” Cole tells FourFourTwo.
“We went to Japan and it was the first time I was around big names, representing my country at a major tournament. I thought I did well, but knew there were still levels to reach.”
Cole would prove that he was well capable of reaching these higher levels, going on to win 107 England caps, but one frustration still rankles.
“The regret is I never played in a final for my country,” he admits. “We played in a lot of other finals [at club level], but not at a World Cup or Euros, that part is disappointing.”
England’s 2002 campaign ended against Brazil in the quarter-finals, when Ronaldinho’s speculative free-kick caught David Seaman flat-footed and snuck in under the crossbar. It’s a goal that has been endlessly debated, but does Cole believe that the Brazilian meant it?
“If he did, that just sums him up,” Cole says. “He was a genius and to put it where he put it at that moment in the game… I don’t know, only he knows the truth.”
England were able to defeat South American opposition in the group stage, when David Beckham’s penalty saw off Argentina, four years after the France ’98 clash, which saw the Argentinians celebrate by banging on bus windows.
“There was something about swapping shirts,” Coles says when asked if England were tempted to celebrate in the same manner.
“I think we wanted to swap shirts and someone said: “No, they won’t swap because something happened in 1998.” I wanted to swap – I might have even done it, I think I got Ariel Ortega’s shirt. It was amazing to win that game. The stadium we played in was indoors.”
Could It Be Coming Home? with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole is brought to you by Carling, official sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Watch the show on YouTube and Spotify, or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts
