In the film , The Damned United , an English football team failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup .
The film received nominations for the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor , the ALFS Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year , the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture , Drama and Best Actor in a Supporting Role and the Writers ' Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Feature Film Screenplay. After failing to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup , England manager Alf Ramsey is replaced by Don Revie ( Colm Meaney ) , the highly successful manager of Leeds United .
The Damned United