This was the FIFA Logica World Cup. The World Cup Committee from Logica Manchester (Rick Morris, Bill Ramsay, and Paul French) had secured the official sanctioning of the game's global body. Despite this, however, the tournament was superbly organised and ran very smoothly! The sixth Logica World Cup was the biggest yet, with fourteen teams entering from seven different countries, which is a further testament to the success of the organising team from Manchester.

Last years winners Italy started off as favourites. Never wishing to leave anything to chance, they insisted on bringing a squad of 26 players despite a limit of 16 players per squad being laid down in the rules. Such was the level of confidence in the Italian camp, that they didn't even bother to bring last year's trophy with them! They again had some excellent players, and their diminutive number four, a midfield play-maker of immense and subtle skills, was probably the best player in the tournament.

The Manchester keeper saves brilliantly against Italy Other past winners were present, and were intent on giving the Italians a run for their money. Holland, France and Aberdeen, along with Manchester Milano all fielded strong sides and were justified in fancying their chances. The England squad was sufficiently strong for them to enter three teams from the south-east offices. The Lags and the Pups were hoping to improve on reasonable showings in Milan, whilst the Nippers were hoping for some beginners luck. Other English entrants included Inter Brasilica, SAP Practice, and a second host side, Real Manchester. Edinburgh were also fancied by some, and still boasted some members of the Scotland team that won the 1998 Final. After two finals appearances, the Irish team felt it was time to make an impression, whilst little was known about an enthusiastic Czech side who were the first to sign up this year's competition.

GROUP A
 Aberdeen, who also contained a sizeable chunk of the side that beat Italy to win France98, were keen to announce their return after missing last year's festival of football in Milan. These two pre-tournament favourites were drawn in the same qualifying group however, along with England Pups and Inter Brasilica, thus ensuring that Group A earned the clichéd label of The Group of Death. The clash of the titans opened proceedings. Italy took an early lead, but Aberdeen bounced back to equalise, and held on to a point as the Italians had a late free-kick goal disallowed for offside. The Scots luck did not hold for their next match. The England Pups, highly touted by those in the know, had struggled in their opening game against an Inter Brasilica side masterminded by the brilliant Richard Scholes. But after the Pups had gifted Aberdeen an early lead through an own goal, Craig Taylor equalised before a Scottish own goal decided this bizarre match. With Italy defeating Inter Brasilica 3-2, a draw between the Pups and gli Neri in the final group match would see both teams through to the quarter-finals. The match duly finished 0-0.

GROUP B
 Holland playing in their sixth World Cup made short work of what threatened to be a tough group. The experience of the twice winners proved too much for the England Nippers in their first tournament, as did the solitary Dutch goal. Qualification was ensured courtesy of a victory over 1999 finalists Manchester Milano by the same scoreline. The Mancunians proved their pedigree in the final group match, however, overcoming the Nippers to secure a place in last eight.

GROUP C
 The other four-team group did manage to supply a Scottish quarter-finalist as Edinburgh swept all before them. After beating a much improved Irish side 1-0 in the opening game, they went on to beat SAP Practice by the same scoreline before demolishing Real Manchester 4-0 to finish with a perfect nine points. Edinburgh hadn't conceded a single goal either. Ireland showed their mettle by coming back from 2-0 down in the final group game to beat SAP Practice 4-2 in one the matches of the tournament. This was just enough to pip their opponents for second place.

GROUP D
 Another tough group in which the England Lags were thrown into the melting pot with their old rivals France, together with the unknown ingredient of the Czech Republic. In the opening match, the Czechs bounced back to equalise late on in a match dominated by the French. The newcomers were not so fortunate in the second match, falling 3-0 to a rampant Lags team. England continued where they left off in the final group match, building a 2-0 lead with just five minutes to go. Another Lags goal, and the French would be in danger of an early exit. Instead, their inspirational captain Soria produced two brilliant free-kicks to level the score and see 'les bleus' safely through.

QUARTER FINALS
 The pick of the knock-out ties for a place in the semi-finals was Italy v Manchester, a re-run of last year's final. The Italians produced some of their best football, out-playing what was a good quality Manchester side, and built an unassailable 3-0 lead via some skilfully crafted goals. A late Mancunian penalty was scant consolation.

The Dutch congratulate their young keeper after his shoot-out heroics against the Pups The closest quarter-final was Holland v England Pups. The English youngsters were good value for a first half lead courtesy of a brilliantly taken Jon Clarke goal, but the Dutch fought back to equalise direct from a free-kick. Extra time failed to produce a Golden Goal, and so penalties were required to separate the two sides. The shoot-out produced one of the most bizarre goals ever seen. Jan Salisbury crashed his penalty against the bar, and as the ball ricocheted high into the air, the Dutch keeper walked away clenching his fist with joy. Even Salisbury had turned his back disconsolately by the time the ball returned to earth, where a smidgen of back spin saw it roll snail-like over the goal-line. After consultation, the referee and linesmen quite rightly awarded a goal, as in effect, the outcome was no different than if Salisbury scored via a deflection off the post. Still, this stroke of luck proved insufficient, and although both teams scored three of their first five penalties, it was the English who missed their crucial sixth kick to send the Orange hordes into a joyous huddle.

On the Sunday morning, France overcame Edinburgh in a very tight match by a single goal, whilst the England Lags emerged with a 3-1 victory against Ireland. England seemingly had the tie wrapped up after scoring twice in the first five minutes. However, the Irish again showed their resolve, and pulled back a goal before half time. The English had a few more scares before goalkeeper Mark Abbott scored the crucial third goal from the penalty spot.

SEMI FINALS
 Nerves were beginning to jangle now as the ultimate prize became tantalisingly close. Italy took on France in a re-run of the Euro2000 final, and gained some semblance of revenge. A very tight match between two teams demonstrating excellent technique in all positions, was decided by a single Italian goal. Hollandalso reversed the experience of their national side in Euro2000, and seemed confident of their ability to make progress via the penalty shoot-out. A tough and competitive match against the England Lags finished goal-less, with the Dutch managing to resist a persistent English onslaught during the second half and extra time. The experience of a penalty shoot-out against the Pups the day before could only be beneficial, and the 'Oranje' again prevailed in this war of nerves by four kicks to three. The Lags gained some small consolation when goals from Spence and Abbott overcame the French 2-1 in the play-off match, and England thus finished in third place.

WORLD CUP FINAL - ITALY v HOLLAND
 This was Italy's sixth game in two days and Holland's fifth, but both teams put on a stirring show that made light of what must have been a full set of badly aching limbs. Italy played the more convincing football, but did not win many friends in the crowd due to some rather ruthless tactics. Most of the participants were familiar with the theatrics that followed any kind of physical contact with an Italian player, but the systematic way Italy dealt with the most dangerous Dutch forward has no place in what is overwhelmingly a sporting and friendly company competition. At least three pre-meditated fouls left the blonde Dutch striker writhing in agony on the ground, with a nasty knee in the Dutchman's back as he received a throw-in being the most repellent.

The Italian keeper poised to save the fifth Dutch penalty Despite a number of good chances for the Italians, the Dutch held on through extra time for a 0-0 result and yet another penalty shoot-out. Bolstered by a quickly gained wealth of experience in the art of the penalty, the Dutch duly dispatched their first four spot-kicks. However, the Italians proved that they were equal to the task and tucked away all five of their kicks. This left the Dutch needing to score their fifth to take the competition into sudden death. The onus fell on their striker who had taken such a battering during the match, but, tragically for him, the Italian keeper pulled off a magnificent save to win gli Neri the trophy for the second year running. Or at least he would have done if the Italians had bothered to bring the trophy with them.