World Cup Review

Day 13
Wednesday, June 21

all match review will be from the official FIFA World Cup Site at yahoo.com or at this address fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/ for more Info

GROUP C
Netherlands (WW= 6 pts.) v Argentina (WW= 6 pts.)

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 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.


GROUP C
Ivory Coast (LL= zero pts.) v Serbia & Montenegro (LL= zero pts.)

Côte d'Ivoire produced a stirring finale to their first-ever FIFA World Cup™ adventure, coming from two goals down to clinch a stunning 3-2 win over Serbia and Montenegro.

The FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich witnessed a terrific match, one of Germany 2006's best to date, and the Ivorian Elephants thoroughly deserved the victory secured by goals from Aruna Dindane (2) and Bonaventure Kalou, after earlier strikes from Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic had put the Serbo-Montenegrins 2-0 in front.

As if that drama was not enough, there were also a couple of red cards in this match, with Albert Nadj's 46th-minute dismissal a key factor in tipping the balance in favour of a Côte d'Ivoire side who lost captain Cyrille Domoraud in added time.

Despite their first FIFA World Cup victory, Côte d'Ivoire finish third in Group C with three points while Serbia and Montenegro go home without a point, having conceded ten goals.

With both teams already eliminated and little but pride at stake, they threw caution to the wind – and rain – to produce a fabulous contest. Côte d'Ivoire emerged victorious despite conceding two early goals for a well-deserved win.

GROUP D
Portugal (6 pts.) v Mexico (4 pts.)

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.

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.

GROUP D
Iran (zero pts.) v Angola (1 pt.)

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 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.

GROUP C
F16 - Argentina 7 pts. (+7 GD)
F16 - Netherlands 7 pts. (+2 GD)
OUT - Ivory Coast 3 pts. (-1 GD)
OUT - Serbia & Montenegro zero pts. (-8 GD)

Group D
F16 - Portugal 9 pts. (+4 GD)
F16 - Mexico 4 pts. (+1 GD)
OUT - Angola 2 pt. (-1 GD)
OUT - Iran 1 pt. (-4 GD)

Tomorrow Games
Last Match in Group E
10:00 AM ET
Czech Republic (3 pts.)v Italy (4 pts.)
Ghana (3 pts.)v United States (1 pt)
Well it live up to the billing as the group of death Ghana win over the Czech have thowh this group in to chaso that mean each one of these team could go to the final 16
United States - In with a win over Ghana and a Italy win over Czech Republic
Ghana - same thing win over us and a Italy win over Czech Republic
Czech Republic - win and in
Same thing with Italy

Last Match in Group F
3:00 PM ET
Croatia v Australia
Japan v Brazil

We know Brazil is in But who will join the famous yellow shirts in The final 16 wit all three teams separt by two goals.