Fifa World Cup 2006 -Buletin Box-

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ITALY 1-1 USA

Italy moved a point clear at the top of Group E after drawing 1-1 with the USA in an incident-filled match in Kaiserslautern on Saturday, 17 June 2006.
Alberto Gilardino headed Italy into a 22nd-minute lead but their lead last only five minutes until Christian Zaccardo turned the ball into his own net. That was the end of the scoring but a minute later the Azzurri lost Daniele De Rossi to the first of three red cards.

The USA's Pablo Mastroeni then saw red in the 45th minute and Eddie Pope followed suit two minutes into the second half. The result left both sides in contention before their final games, with Italy top on four points and the USA bottom with one.

The match:
10': After a slow, patient start to the game where neither side could gain the initiative, the USA tried to force a breakthrough when Claudio Reyna fed Landon Donovan, but his cross from the right was cleared by the Italians.

16': Clint Dempsey brought the US contingent into full voice in appreciation as he outfoxed Italy with several step-overs on the right flank and his cross found Bobby Convey but he blazed over the top.

18': The Americans continued to press Italy and when Donovan fed Dempsey, he tried a right-footed shot which had Gianluigi Buffon scrambling but the shot was dragged wide.

22': After Italy initially struggled to get into the game, Andrea Pirlo curled in a free-kick from the right and Gilardino put Italy in front with a glanced diving header. (1-0)




27': The USA pulled level when Zaccardo tried to clear Reyna's free-kick with his left foot and sliced the ball into his own net. (1-1)
28': Italy were reduced to ten men when De Rossi was sent off with a straight red card for an elbowing offence on Brian McBride.

36': Gennaro Gattuso came on for Francesco Totti in a tactical substitution for the short-handed Italians and his first touch was a deflected shot which beat Kasey Keller, but the whistle had already blown for an offside offence.

42': USA gave Italy a huge scare when Pablo Mastroeni tried his luck from 25 metres and the ball skimmed the top of the net as it passed over. Three minutes later, however, Mastroeni became the second man sent off following a lunging foul on Pirlo.

Third red card
47': Ten became nine when Pope earned his second yellow card for a foul on Gilardino. Pirlo curled the resulting free-kick just over Keller's crossbar.

52': Gilardino's inswinging free-kick was headed onto the top of his own crossbar by US defender Carlos Bocanegra.

61': As Italy forced the pace to press home their extra-man advantage, Simone Perrotta fizzed a shot in at Keller but was wide of the mark.




63': Donovan raced at Italy and slipped the ball wide to McBride, but he slashed at his shot and did not trouble Buffon.
65': US substitute DaMarcus Beasley found the back of the net with a low left-footed drive past Buffon, but McBride was standing in an offside position in front of the Italy goalkeeper and the flag was raised.

68': With Perrotta limping heavily and Italy having already used all three substitutes, Gianluca Zambrotta tried to curl one in with his right foot after cutting inside from the left wing but his attempt was just wide.

73': Substitute Alessandro Del Piero stretched and flicked a left-footed volley on target but Keller dived athletically and tipped the ball away with his right hand, saving a certain goal.

79': Del Piero fired in a swerving shot, but once again the impressive Keller was equal to it, palming the ball to safety.

In conclusion:
Italy ended the night top of a very tight Group E, one point ahead of Ghana and the Czech Republic, prior to next week's showdown with the Czechs. The USA kept their hopes of qualification alive after playing almost the entire second half with one man less than the Italians.

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JAPAN 0-0 CROATIA

It was a story of frustration for Japan and Croatia as they played out a goalless draw in Nuremberg on Sunday, 18 June 2006.
The pivotal moment of the match came in the 22nd minute when Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi saved Darijo Srna's penalty, although Croatia were also breathing a sigh of relief when Atsushi Yanagisawa missed when it seemed easier to score early in the second half.
The result left Japan rooted to the foot of Group F with one point and Croatia ahead only on goal difference in third place. It will hardly help the mood in either camp that both teams will be without key players for their third matches after Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Croatia's Robert Kovac collected their second yellow cards of the tournament.
The match:
5': Croatia fashioned the first shooting chance, working the ball forward from Dario Simic via Niko Kovac to Niko Kranjcar, who drilled the ball straight at Kawaguchi.
16': During a cagey opening period, Japan were seeing plenty of the ball albeit without opening up any spaces in the Croatian back line. Suddenly, an opening did arise as Akira Kaji broke down the right but he failed to pick out a blue shirt with his ball into the box.
19': Josip Simunic's header was blocked on the line by Kaji but referee Frank De Bleeckere had already whistled for an infringement.
22': Croatia spurned a golden opportunity to open the scoring as Kawaguchi dived low to his left to turn away Srna's spot-kick, awarded for Miyamoto's challenge on Dado Prso. The danger had not passed altogether as, from the ensuing corner, Kranjcar headed into the side-netting.
28': Croatia went close again as Kranjcar span away from Takashi Fukunishi and struck a fierce shot that slapped against Kawaguchi's crossbar.
30': The tempo was picking up now. Mitsuo Ogasawara warmed the hands of Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal and moments later, at the other end, Ivan Klasnic fired a shot across Kawaguchi's goal from a tight angle.
33': Kawaguchi was almost caught out by a nasty bounce as from Kaji's back-pass, the ball bobbled up over his boot. Fortunately for Japan, the keeper was able to retrieve it at the second attempt.
36': Namakura worked the ball infield and Nakata's first-time strike drew a flying save from Pletikosa.
39': Without either side producing a spell of sustained pressure, a steady succession of shots was testing the two goalkeepers. This time Kawaguhi came to Japan's rescue again to tip away Klasnic's low drive.
No way through:
51': The second half started in a similar vein with opportunities missed at both ends. Kaji burst into the Croatian penalty box and slid the ball across goal to Yanagisawa but, with the goal at his mercy, he somehow shot wide of the gaping net.
54': Next it was Croatia's turn, Kranjcar stretching to meet a low cross but poking the ball the wrong side of the post.
63': The pace may have slowed in the afternoon sun but chances continued to come. Srna curled a free-kick into the box and Simunic headed wide of the far post. Three minutes later Marko Babic's run took him to the edge of the Japan area but his disappointing shot trickled well wide of goal.
75': With a stalemate looking increasingly likely, Japan substitute Junichi Inamoto – scorer of two fine goals at the 2002 finals - blazed a shot high over the crossbar.
78': Another Japan substitute, Keiji Tamada, burst into the penalty box but his cross-shot was turned to safety by the covering Simunic with Naohiro Takahara lurking just behind.
81': With a draw of no real use to either team, Croatia substitute Ivica Olic tried his luck from the left-hand side of the box but his shot went past the far post.
89': Japan threatened one last time but again, to no avail. Alessandro Santos broke through down the right but his cross was turned behind by Simunic. From the corner, Masashi Oguro just failed to get on the end of Yuji Nakazawa's header across goal
In conclusion:
This stalemate does neither side any favours but will be welcomed warmly in the Brazil and Australia camps.

[IbLIsH]

FRANCE 1-1 KOREA REPUBLIC

Korea Republic fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with France as Park Ji-Sung cancelled out Thierry Henry's first-half opener in Leipzig on Sunday, 18 June 2006.
The point salvaged here put the Koreans top of Group G, at least until the end of Monday's match between Togo and Switzerland in Dortmund. The evening began promisingly for Les Bleus when Thierry Henry scored their first FIFA World Cup™ goal since the 1998 Final with nine minutes on the clock.
However, Korea Republic drew level when Park bundled the ball over the line in the 81st minute. To compound France's disappointment, Eric Abidal and Zinedine Zidane both collected bookings which rule them out of their final group game against Togo.
The match:
7': France, making the far brighter start, nearly stunned their opponents with a finely crafted bit of interplay early on. Thierry Henry slipped a neat through-ball to Sylvain Wiltord, but the Lyon striker saw his close-range strike batted away by the outrushing Lee Woon-Jae.
9': That proved just a warning shot as as the one-time Arsenal team-mates linked up again soon afterwards. With Wiltord turning provider, Henry collected a deflected shot from his team-mate inside the penalty area and pushed the ball coolly past the Korean keeper to settle French nerves that must have been jangling since their goalless draw with the Swiss. (1-0)
24': After jinking into space near the edge of the box, Lyon's powerful midfielder Florent Malouda sent a tame shot trickling wide of the post. However, the French were keeping up the pressure and it seemed another goal was in the offing.
28': Henry looked to be clean through again after controlling a brilliant long ball in the Korean area. But it came to nothing and the striker's protests for a penalty were ignored by referee Benito Archundia as Lee Young-Pyo timed his last-second tackle perfectly.
30': From an inch-perfect corner-kick, Patrick Vieira powered in a header from close range and must have thought he had scored. However, the scrambling Lee Woon-Jae managed to keep the ball out before it had crossed the line.
36': The Koreans tried to hit back and nearly equalised when Lee Chun-Soo's free kick picked out Cho Jae-Jin. The striker missed his kick, though, and the ball bobbled harmlessly past the post.
Koreans roar back
53': Henry got on the end of a hoisted ball up from midfield and nodded down for Wiltord. The resulting shot was disappointing from the Lyon front-runner, however, skipping wide of the mark by a substantial margin.
60': In the hope of injecting fresh inspiration into his attack, France coach Raymond Domenech took off the tiring Wiltord and brought on Marseille's Frank Ribery.
74': Unable to find a clear way through the Korean defence, Malouda decided to try his luck from distance only to see the ball skip past the top corner.
81': The Koreans grabbed an equaliser with a goal that revived memories of their semi-final run four years ago as hosts. A stunning cross from substitute Seol Ki-Hyeon out on the right was nodded down at the back post by Cho Jae-Jin and Park Ji-Sung poked the ball over the head of a despairing William Gallas to send the red-clad fans into hysterics. (1-1) In conclusion:
Both sides went close to sealing victory in the dying minutes but in the end they had to be content with a share of the spoils. The Koreans will surely be the happier of the two as the French still hunt their first FIFA World Cup win since the Final of France 98. As Group G stands now, Korea Republic lead the pack with four points with France second with two points. Switzerland and Togo have one and no points respectively ahead of their second game.

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TOGO 0-2 SWITZERLAND

Switzerland surged to top of Group G with a convincing 2-0 win over Togo in Dortmund on Monday, 19 June which leaves the Helvetians leading the section on goal difference.
Victory was secured by goals from Alexander Frei and Tranquillo Barnetta in the 16th and 88th minute respectively, the second of which took Kobi Kuhn's side clear of Korea Republic by a single goal. All the Swiss now need is a point against **** Advocaat's Taeguk Warriors to guarantee their place in the last 16.

Togo, though impressive in flashes, could have few complaints at surrendering all three points, and Otto Pfister's side remain without a point and anchored to the bottom of a group in which Switzerland and Korea both lead on four points from France, who have two.

The match:
2’:: Mohamed Kader found himself in a good position, but Switzerland goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbueher showed great alertness in coming off his line and clearing the ball.

5’: Switzerland’s Ricardo Cabanas fired in a shot, but it was comfortably collected by Kossi Agassa.

10’: Emmanuel Adebayor took advantage of a slip by Cabanas to steal the ball and ran powerfully into the area. However, his cross aimed for Mohamed Kader was just a little to high.

16’: Tranquillo Barnetta touched Ludovic Magnan’s cross into the path of Alex Frei who smashed the ball into the roof of the net for Switzerland’s first goal of the tournament. (0-1)
24’: Togo coach Otto Pfister who looked unhappy on the touchline in the opening stages made his first substitution of the game, bringing on Moustapha Salifou for Kuami Agboh.

35’: A slip from Philippe Senderos gave Thomas Dossevi a free shot on goal, but the Togo midfielder shot wide.

Agassa’s acrobatics:
51’: Togo goalkeeper Agassa showed his agility when he tipped over Barnetta’s shot from the edge of the area.

53’: Hakan Yakin’s swerving strike flew over the bar, much to the relief of Pfister and his charges.

62’: Salifou’s shot from distance sailed high over Switzerland’s bar.

64’: Agassa made another crucial intervention, this time from Hakan Yakin, as the midfielder saw his goalbound effort stopped.

80’: Alexander Frei hit a long looping shot from distance, which hit the top of the Togo net, much to the relief of the African team.
88’: With two minutes of normal time to go Barnetta made the game safe for the Swiss by firing a low shot past Agassa and into the far corner of the net. 0-2

90’: Togo applied pressure to Zuberbuhler’s goal, but saw the keeper save well from Salifou. From the resulting corner, Adebayor missed the target with a header.

In conclusion:
Switzerland moved to the top of Group G with this 2-0 victory. Their four-point haul from their opening two games was equal to that of Korea Republic, but Kuhn’s men moved ahead of the Asian nation on goal difference. The result also ensured that Togo cannot qualify for the Round of 16.

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SAUDI ARABIA 0-4 UKRAINE

Ukraine made amends for their disappointing start to Group H when they defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Hamburg on Monday, 19 June 2006.
Oleg Blokhin’s side, who had suffered defeat by the same scoreline to Spain in their opening match, look desperate to make amends in this match and began in the best possible manner.
Andriy Rusol fired Ukraine ahead in the fourth minute, while a Serhiy Rebrov wonder strike double their advantage on 36. Andriy Shevchenko headed a third just seconds after the restart, while Budweiser Man of the Match Maksym Kalinichenko got the goal his performance deserved six minutes from time.
The match:
4'After the nightmare of their opening loss to Spain, Ukraine made a dream start here. Mabrouk Zaid conceded a corner under pressure from Shevchenko and after the first kick was deflected into the side-netting, Maksym Kalichenko delivered again and Rusol turned the ball into the net from close range.
6' Mohammed Noor slipped the ball across to Omar Al Ghamdi in the Ukraine penalty box but he lost his footing and the chance was gone.
14' Ukraine had the Saudi defence under severe pressure with a series of corners. From the third, Shevchenko's header was blocked on the line by Ahmed Dokhi and Rebrov blazed the rebound over the crossbar.
21' Ukraine kept coming forward, scenting a second goal. Shevchenko created space to get in a shot but could only direct his effort straight at Zaid. Moments later, the Chelsea-bound striker, who has been struggling for fitness, missed the opportunity to send Andriy Voronin clean through by overhitting his pass.
25' Rusol gave his goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi a scare as he diverted a cross from Mohammed Ameen just wide of his own goal. From the ensuing corner, Hamad Al Montashari volleyed wide at the far post from a difficult angle.
36' After Voronin had fired another chance wide, Ukraine finally got their second goal as Rebrov struck from fully 30 yards. Collecting the ball from Anatoliy Tymoschuk, he turned to goal and sent a shot flying past Zaid, who seemed to slip on the greasy surface as the ball sped past him.
43' A mistake from Al Montashari let in Voronin but he flashed a low shot the wrong side of the post.
Shevchenko in on the act:
46’ Ukraine needed barely 60 seconds to extend the advantage as Maksym Kalinichenko swung a free-kick into the box and Shevchenko headed into the far corner.
55’ With the match threatening to resemble a shooting practice for Ukraine, Saudi coach Marcos Paqueta sought to inject fresh life into his team with the introductions of Abdulaziz Al Khathran and Malek Al Hawsawi.
64’ Saudi Arabia enjoyed one or two promising moments around the Ukraine penalty area but Oleksandr Shovkovskyi remained untested and it was soon normal service resumed. Kalinichenko looked up and launched a dipping shot onto the top of the crossbar then Shevchenjo twice had sight of goal before being crowded out by defenders.
74’ A neat exchange of passes around the Saudi area set up a shooting chance for Kalinichenko but Zaid was equal to it.
84’ Ukraine struck again as Kalinichenko finally got his goal. Shevchenko sprinted clear down the inside-left channel and squared to the long-haired No.19 who sidefooted the ball high into the empty net.
90’ Kalinichenko went close again. Ukraine may have scored four goals but it could have been twice.
In conclusion:
Ukraine are up and running after this comfortable victory in Hamburg which should serve to restore confidence in the camp after the opening loss to Spain. For Saudi Arabia, the outlook appears bleak, however, with Spain still to come.

[IbLIsH]

SPAIN 3-1 TUNISIA

A second-half turnaround saw Spain come from behind to register a 3-1 over Tunisia in Stuttgart and consequently book their place in the Round of 16.
The African team got off to a great start when Jaouhar Mnari opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Roger Lemerre’s side held the lead until half-time when his counterpart Luis Aragones made a bold double substitution.

Luis Garcia and Marcos Senna were replaced by Raul and Cesc Fabregas and the pair were extremely influential in Spain’s equalising goal. With 71 minutes gone, Fabregas’ shot was parried by Ali Boumnijel and into the path of Raul who gratefully slotted the ball home.

A brace from Fernando Torres, taking his tally in the tournament to three, gave Spain the victory. It leaves them on top of Group H, three points clear of their nearest challengers Ukraine and five points clear of Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

The match:
Spain coach Luis Aragones kept with the same line-up that had defeated Ukraine 4-0, while his counterpart, Roger Lemerre, made two changes from the team that had drawn 2-2 with Saudi Arabia, bringing in Anis Ayari and Mehdi Nafti for David Jemmali and Yassine Chikhaoui.

5’: The Spaniards began confidently. Breaking forward, Luis Garcia nodded down to Villa, whose first-time shot from outside the box bulged the side-netting.

8’ Three minutes later the inside of the net shook, but at the other end as Tunisia struck with their first attack. Zied Jaziri did wonderfully well to hold off Carlos Puyol and then the attentions of three defenders in the box before crossing to Jaouhar Mnari who followed up his saved volley to fire past Iker Casillas from close range.
10’: Villa, who scored twice in the opener, was looking menacing and his scorching free kick from just outside the corner of the area had Ali Boumnijel fisting away.

26’: The Valencia striker then slipped Fernando Torres through but Spain’s No. 9 was muscled off the ball by Hatem Trablesi.

31’: Tunisia were already playing on the break and after Puyol had scythed down Trabelsi on the edge of the box, Ayari curled the free kick straight at Casillas.

33’: The Carthage Eagles began to concede a series of free kicks in dangerous places around the area. From one, Garcia, darting to the near post, flicked a header wide.

40’: Another was rolled to Xabi Alonso whose powerful 25-yarder fell a yard wide as Spain pressed.

44’: With the rain pouring down, Torres fired just over from the corner of the box. From the corner, Alonso, unmarked, thought he had scored the equaliser until Ayari stuck out his head to clear off the line.

Holding on:
48’: Spain began the second half as they ended the first. Piling forward, Cesc Fabregas, on for Marcos Senna, had a 20-yard effort fisted away.
52’: Boumnijel was doing the same minutes later, punching Mariano Pernia’s shot clear.

61’: Although offering little as an attacking force, the Africans were now riding the forward waves well. Pernia was gaining ground though and the Argentina-born left-back saw another shot flash wide.

71’: Just when it looked as though Spain had run out of ideas, they struck the equaliser. Joaquin crossed from the right, Torres stepped over the ball for Cesc to shoot. Open-handed this time, Boumnijel palmed the 18-yard effort straight to the feet of Raul who made no mistake from six yards.

75’: Fabregas, breaking into the box, almost gave the Europeans the lead but his shot was blocked by Boumnijel.

76’: No matter - moments later Spain were ahead. Fabregas picked out Torres’ perfect run and the Atletico Madrid striker rounded the keeper and slotted home.
89’: Torres, clean through again, should have added a third for Spain but this time Boumnijel was the one-on-one winner, blocking the shot.

90+1’: Seconds later, he did, striking a penalty under the body of Boumnijel after being held down in the box following a delightful cross from the resurgent Raul.

90+4’: Now on fire, Torres almost grabbed the first hat-trick of the finals, taking down a long pass perfectly before blasting over left-footed.

In conclusion:
A perfect six points, Spain qualify for the second round with another classy display of attacking football. Tunisia, ahead for much of the match, will now need to defeat Ukraine to stand a chance of making the knockout stage.

[IbLIsH]

IRAN 1-1 ANGOLA

Iran ended Angola's slim hopes of qualifying from Group D, as they held the African side to a 1-1 draw in Leipzig on Wednesday, 21 June 2006.
Angola scored their first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup™ finals when Flavio headed home Ze Kalanga's cross on the hour mark. However, their hopes of catching Mexico on goal difference were ended when Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh rose unmarked to convert Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner 15 minutes from time.

The result left Angola in third place behind Portugal and Mexico with two points, while Iran propped up the table with this, their solitary point of the tournament.

The match:
5': After a slow start to the game news filtered through to Leipzig that Portugal had taken the lead against Mexico. This made the Angolan fans inside the stadium dance with delight, as they hoped to help inspire their team to victory.

13': Vahid Hashemian nodded the ball to Ferydoon Zandi on the edge of the area. The Kaiserslautern midfielder skipped inside the box and hit a low shot, which Joao Ricardo did well to parry.

15': Figueiredo's drive from the edge of the box forced Ebrahim Mirzapour into a low save as the Africans pushed forward.

20': There was bad news for Angola as they had two players stretchered off inside 60 seconds. First Mateus left the field after sustaining what looked like a serious leg injury, and then Loco needed medical attention after being involved in a challenge with Hashemian. While Mateus was replaced by Love, Loco was able to continue, having been booked for his foul on the Iranian striker.

24': Iran had a great opportunity to take the lead, but veteran striker Ali Daei missed the target, heading over from just four yards when completely unmarked. The man with 109 international goals to his name was visibly frustrated by his profligacy.

27': For the second time in three minutes, Iran went close. Hashemian rose above the Angolan defence and directed a header towards goal, but Mendonca cleared off the line. Rahman Rezaei sliced the rebound wide.

31': Both coaches were left frustrated by the finishing of their strikers. First Akwa blazed a volley over the crossbar and when play switched to the other end, Zandi was guilty of the same crime.
34': Angola had four corners in a row, but they were unable to create a clear-cut chance and Miloy ended the spell of pressure for the Palancas Negras when he dragged his 20-yard effort wide of the target.

40': Andranik Taymoorian sent in a strong, right-footed effort from 20 yards that forced Joao Ricardo into a fine low save. The keeper also had to be alert to pounce on the rebound as Daei closed in.

45+2: Akwa touched the ball to Love on the edge of the box and his drive was superbly tipped over the bar by Mirzapour. Adventurous Angola
47': Angola started the second half brightly. Less than 100 seconds after the restart, the ball fell kindly for Mendonca in a promising position outside the box, but the midfielder saw his right-foot shot drift just wide.

52': Mendonca went a little closer with a 25-yard effort, the ball flying narrowly off target.
60': Angola took the lead with a superbly taken goal. After showing good skills in the centre of the pitch, Figueiredo played the ball to Ze Kalanga who sprinted down the right-hand side. His ball into the box was perfect and a grateful Flavio headed the ball home for his 14th international goal. (0-1)

69': In almost a carbon copy of the goal, a Ze Kalanga cross from the right was headed towards goal by Love, but this time Mirzapour was well-placed to save the striker’s effort.

75': Against the run of play, Iran drew level. After winning a corner on the right-hand side, which was taken by Mahdavikia, the unmarked Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh headed the ball into the net, to the fury of Angola No.1 Joao Ricardo. (1-1)

84': Iran's goal appeared to dent Angola's sense of belief and the Africans risked conceding a second as Rasoul Khatibi's shot on the turn was palmed over by Joao Ricardo.

In conclusion:
The odds were always stacked against Angola reaching the Round of 16 going into this match, but when they took the lead through Flavio their hopes were suddenly raised. However, Bakhtiarizadeh’s equaliser effectively ended their dreams. In a spirited display from both sides, a draw was probably the fair result, although Angola will be frustrated that they could not convert more of their opportunities.

[IbLIsH]

PORTUGAL 2-1 MEXICO

Portugal made it three wins out of three in Group D as they defeated Mexico 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen through goals from Maniche and Simao Sabrosa on Wednesday, 21 June 2006.
While Portugal advanced as group winners to face the second-placed team in Group C - either Argentina or the Netherlands - in a Round of 16 tie in Nuremberg on Sunday, Mexico joined them in the knockout stage after finishing second with four points. El Tri will take on the Group C winners on Saturday in Leipzig.

The Mexicans trailed 2-0 inside 24 minutes in Gelsenkirchen after Maniche shot Portugal into a sixth-minute lead and Simao Sabrosa doubled the advantage from the penalty spot. Jose Fonseca made it 2-1 in the 29th minute but Omar Bravo's missed spot-kick in the second half ensured a defeat for Ricardo La Volpe's team. Mexico also suffered the loss of Luis Perez to a red card, which means he will miss the Round of 16 match through suspension.

The match:
2': Mexico made a fast start as Jose Fonseca, picking up possession on the edge of the box, turned inside his man and forced Ricardo into a good low save with a powerful strike.

6': Having already assured qualification, Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had left on the bench five players on yellow cards – Cristiano Ronaldo, Costinha, Deco, Nuno Valente and Pauleta. Yet their absences were not felt as the Portuguese took an early lead: Simao Sabrosa raced towards goal and squared for the onrushing Maniche to power a shot into the top corner from around the penalty spot. (1-0)

8': Mexico, two points behind Portugal going into the game, were almost level immediately. Pavel Pardo crossed for Bravo whose acrobatic effort fell inches wide of the post.

24': Scolari's side were looking comfortable and were presented with a golden opportunity to extend their lead when captain Rafael Marquez handled Luis Figo's corner. With Oswaldo Sanchez dancing on his line, Simao crashed the penalty home. (2-0)

27': Mexico were stunned and they almost conceded a third soon afterwards. Helder Postiga's effort from the corner of the area was saved by Sanchez before Tiago fired the follow-up over.

29': Bravo almost pulled a goal back for Mexico. Alone at the back post he volleyed low and hard but Ricardo got down well to block the effort with the ball spinning onto the bar and over. From the resulting corner, however, Fonseca did score, flicking a fine header into the unguarded far post to reduce the arrears. (2-1)

43': Fonseca saw another headed effort float wide before Maniche forced Sanchez into a save from 25 yards at the other end.

44': Mexico pushed for the equaliser. Pardo saw his long-range strike saved and from the resulting corner, Portugal finally cleared the danger after an almighty scramble in their penalty box.

Bravo misses from the spot:
57': La Volpe's men poured forward and and earned a penalty as Miguel handled the ball. However, the chance went begging as Bravo smashed the penalty high into the netting above the crossbar.
61': Miguel was involved in another incident, tussling with Luis Perez in the Portugal box. The Mexican went down but this time the referee gave a free-kick the other way before handing a second yellow and then a red card to Perez.

63': Bravo had another great chance to hand the ten men an equaliser. Clean through on goal, the Guadalajara forward lifted his shot high over the bar.

72': With the news that Angola had gone a goal up, the Mexican bench became more agitated. More good work down the left from Simao presented substitute Nuno Gomes with a chance to add a third but he fired over.

83': Now on the right side, Simao beat his man and sent in a vicious cross that Nuno Gomes was a whisker away from reaching.

87': The Europeans were again close to a third. Sanchez threw the ball against the back of a defender and had to back-track fast as an effort flew inches over the bar.

90+2': Maniche found time again to shoot but the icing on the cake just would not arrive as Sanchez parried.

In conclusion:
Portugal advance to the second round for the first time since 1966 in some style, having claimed maximum points. Mexico - with a win, a draw and a loss - will hope to find some consistency as they head into the knockout stage yet again.

[IbLIsH]

NETHERLANDS 0-0 ARGENTINA

Argentina secured first place in Group C and a Round of 16 meeting with Mexico after a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in Frankfurt on Wednesday, 21 June 2006.
The stalemate between two sides already assured of qualification left them tied on seven points at the top of the group, with Argentina finishing first virtue of their better goal difference. While Jose Pekerman's team move on to face Mexico in Leipzig on Saturday, the Dutch will play Portugal in Nuremberg 24 hours later.

The match:
7': The Dutch controlled the opening exchanges but Argentina showed the threat they carry on the counter as a perfectly-weighted ball from Lionel Messi looked to have found Esteban Cambiasso until an excellent challenge from Khalid Boulahrouz cleared the ball for a corner.


16': Gradually Argentina got into their stride and with Javier Mascherano pulling the strings and Maxi Rodriguez and Messi adding the flair, they began to look increasingly dangerous. Carlos Tevez curled a shot a yard wide from the edge of the area, but from the resulting goal-kick the South Americans played themselves into trouble.

17': Nicolas Burdisso was caught in possession by Dirk Kuyt who cut into the penalty area and shot for goal, but Boca Juniors Roberto Abbondanzieri turned the ball round for a corner at his near post.

24': Just a few minutes later Burdisso was forced to limp off and was replaced by Deportivo La Coruna defender Fabricio Coloccini.

27': The opening goal almost came direct from a corner, but Edwin van der Sar repositioned himself quickly enough to tip over a vicious inswinger from Juan Riquelme.

28': Again Riquelme caused problems and from his low free-kick, Rafael van der Vaart, stretching to clear, turned the ball onto Van der Sar's right-hand post. Less than a minute later Rodriguez flashed a powerful drive inches wide – Argentina were now moving through the gears.

40': Despite the attacking flair on show, neither goalkeeper was overstretched during the first half.

49': Strong and determined play from midway inside his own half from Tevez put the Dutch defence under pressure and Riquelme shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

54': Tevez was again the danger a few minutes later when setting up Rodriguez, but after cutting in from the right the Atletico Madrid midfielder shot over.

61': There were swathes of orange around the stadium in Frankfurt but it was the Argentinian fans who were making more noise as their side continued to control the tempo of the second half.

65': For all their possession, direct chances were few and far between for the Albiceleste. Tevez might have made more of a difficult chance when sent through, but he could not get the bouncing ball under his control.

69': Direct efforts from the Dutch were at this stage something of a rarity, so when Phillip Cocu shot narrowly wide from 20 yards it served as a wake-up call to everyone that they were not here just to defend. Cocu's effort precended the departure of Lionel Messi, making way for Julio Cruz following his first start at the FIFA World Cup.

73': Tevez however continued to provide a direct threat and brought a one-handed save from Van Der Sar with a well-struck drive from 20 yards.

84': For all that Argentina had forced the pace, the Netherlands were playing a well-controlled game and tried to snatch the points in the closing stages. However, a free-kick from just short of 30 yards by Van der Vaart was always edging wide.

90+3 Tevez nearly stole a last-gasp winner when, receiving the ball with his back to goal, he turned and fired a shot a whisker wide of Van der Sar's right-hand post.

In conclusion:
The Netherlands have not lost in normal time to Argentina in four meetings in the FIFA World Cup™, but it is the South Americans who finish the group stage marginally happier having secured first place. The unbeaten records of both should ensure they look ahead to the Round of 16 with confidence.