Published: 2026-04-05 | 2002 Nostalgia Series | Betting Analysis

June 13, 2002... As the Turkish flag waved on the Seoul World Cup Stadium's giant screen, millions of Turks were glued to their televisions in the early morning light. Coffeehouses were packed, families gathered in homes, and everyone's heart was in their throat... What happened that day wasn't just a football match—it was a nation's shared emotion. Today we take you on a nostalgic journey through that unforgettable Turkey-China match from a betting perspective. What odds would have been offered if online betting had existed back then? If we could have bet on Hasan Şaş's 6th-minute goal... Come on, let's hop in the time machine and go back to 2002!

The Match Story: A Legend Written in the First 10 Minutes

In South Korea's humid weather, in the stadium in Incheon city, it was early morning in Turkey. But who could sleep? Our 11 players, as Şenol Güneş had arranged them, walked onto the pitch as if going to war. Rüştü in goal, Bülent-Fatih pairing in front of him, Emre Aşık and Hakan Ünsal on the wings... Tugay's mastery in midfield, Emre's quick movements... And in attack, the stars of that era: Hasan Şaş, Hakan Şükür, Yıldıray Baştürk.

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The match started and Turkey attacked China's goal relentlessly. Just 6 minutes in... Hasan Şaş didn't miss China's defensive error. Catching the ball in the penalty area, Pantera with his signature powerful shot lifted it into the net! 1-0! In Turkey, homes were shaking in the early morning, and tea glasses flew in the coffeehouses!

Before the cheers had even died down, in the 9th minute, Bülent Korkmaz took the stage. Yes, you read that right—defender Bülent Korkmaz! On a corner kick, the experienced defender met the ball near the goal and scored what might have been the most important goal of his career. 2-0! Now everyone was on their feet, tears flowing like rivers...

"When I scored that goal, the first thing I thought of was my son. Scoring in the World Cup... It's every footballer's dream. As a defender, I managed to do it." - Bülent Korkmaz (Post-match interview)

The Betting World That Day: Imaginary Odds and Winnings

Now let's imagine for a moment. If online betting sites and live betting existed back then like they do today, what odds would have been offered for this match? Based on the football understanding of that era and the teams' strength, let's make a prediction:

Imagine if you'd placed 100 TL on Turkey's victory before the match—you would have won 165 TL. But the real winnings would have come from score prediction bets:

A bettor who knew the 3-0 score would have won 1,200 TL on a 100 TL investment! Thinking in money values from that era, that was 1.8 billion lira. Almost the price of a used car!

Goal Scorers and First Half Scores

The odds on Hasan Şaş scoring a goal would probably have been around @2.50. For Bülent Korkmaz, that figure would have reached @15.00! Imagine someone who bet 100 TL on Bülent scoring would have won 1,500 TL.

The first half ending 2-0 would probably have been given odds of around @9.00. Someone combining bets on Turkey winning and the total goals going over 2.5 would have benefited from a @3.38 rate (1.65 x 2.05).

Red Cards and Live Betting Scenarios

In the 58th minute, China's Shao Jiayi received a red card, completely changing the match's outcome. If live betting had existed back then, how would the odds have changed after this red card?

Leading 2-0 with the opponent down to 10 men, Turkey's winning odds would probably have dropped to @1.05. But the interesting bet would have been in the "Will there be another goal?" option. Ümit Davala's spectacular goal in the 85th minute would have won this bet.

Tournament Performance and Long-Term Bets

With this victory, Turkey guaranteed 2nd place in Group C and became the first time in its history that Turkey advanced from a World Cup group stage. At the start of the tournament, Turkey reaching the semi-finals would probably have been given odds of @25.00, and finishing 3rd would have been @50.00 or so!

Imagine if someone had bet 100 TL at the start of the tournament that Turkey would finish 3rd—they would have won 5,000 TL. In that era's money values, that's 7.5 billion lira! The price of a brand new automobile...

"Nobody expected us to be this successful. But we believed, we fought. That China match was the beginning of everything." - Şenol Güneş

From 2002 to 2026: The Evolution of Betting Odds

In the 24 years that have passed, both football and the betting world have changed dramatically. Betting odds for the 2026 World Cup have already started being released. Let's compare:

As you can see, Turkey's championship odds remain high. But in 2002, they were probably over @200.00. The performance Turkey showed in that tournament increased its credibility in world football.

In today's betting world, there are dozens of different betting options for a single match. You can bet on corners, cards, the minute of the first goal, even throw-ins. In 2002, none of these existed. There was only match outcome, total goals, and maybe first half result...

Memories Left From That Day

Those who filled out betting slips while watching that China match still tell the story today. "I bet that Hasan Şaş would score, and he scored in the 6th minute!" stories... "Did anyone bet on Bülent?" questions...

Today there are online betting sites, live broadcasts, instant odds changes. But the excitement of that era was different. Listening to matches on the radio, the coffeehouse shaking when a goal was scored... Carrying the slip in your pocket, sweating until the match ended...

"I had bet 2-1 Turkey on that match. When it finished 3-0, I wasn't even upset—my team had won, that was all that mattered." - A bettor from Ankara

That China victory wasn't just a sports success. It was a morale boost for a country going through an economic crisis and low spirits. Those who won their bets and those who lost shared the same joy. Because that day we all won...

Now I think about it—if only we had today's technology back then. If we could have watched Hasan Şaş's goal live and immediately bet on "another goal will be scored"... If we could have made a slip betting "final score 3-0" right after Bülent's goal... But maybe that was what made it beautiful. The simplicity, the sincerity...

As we head into the 2026 World Cup, hopefully we'll experience a new 2002 spirit. Maybe this time our betting slips will be digital, our odds will change instantly, but that excitement, that sense of unity and togetherness will always stay the same. Because some things never change, no matter what technology brings...