World Cup Review

Day 14
Thursday, June 22

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 E
Czech Republic (WL= 3 pts.)v Italy (WD= 4 pts.)

Ghana's 2-1 victory over the USA in Nuremberg booked their place in the Round of 16 and left Bruce Arena's men facing an earlier than expected flight home from the FIFA World Cup™ finals.

The Africans took the lead in the 22nd minute when Haminu Draman robbed Claudio Reyna of possession on the edge of the area and cooly slotted the ball past Kasey Keller.

Clint Dempsey's powerful finish two minutes before half-time gave the US hope of winning the match, but they were soon behind again through Stephen Appiah's penalty, scored in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half.

Try as they might after the interval, the US could not find a way past a stubborn Ghana rearguard and leave the tournament after claiming just one point from their three group games. For Ratomir Dujkovic's Black Stars, however, a match with the winners of Group F in Dortmund awaits.

As was the case in every game they played at Germany 2006, the US conceded the game's first goal. Although they managed to equalise as they did against Italy, the scoreline did not stay level for long, and they just did not have the firepower to overturn another deficit.


Group E
Ghana (LW= 3 pts.)v United States (LD= 1 pt)

Italy secured their qualification for the Round of 16 as Group E winners after beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Hamburg on Thursday, 22 June 2006.

Marcello Lippi's side will face the second-placed team from Group F in Kaiserslautern on 26 June. The Czechs, who head home early after finishing third in the group, played the whole second half with ten men after the dismissal of Jan Polak moments before the break following a second yellow card.

Marco Materazzi, an early replacement for the injured Alessandro Nesta, put the Azzurri on course for victory when he headed past Petr Cech in the 26th minute and his fellow substitute Filippo Inzaghi sealed the three points three minutes from the end.

Group F
Japan (LD= 1 pt.)v Brazil(WW= 6 pts.)

Brazil made sure of first place in Group F as they came from behind to beat Japan 4-1 through goals from Ronaldo (2), Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto in Dortmund on Thursday, 22 June 2006.

The world champions can now look forward to a Round of 16 meeting with Ghana in Kaiserslautern on 26 June following their third straight victory at Germany 2006. For Japan, this was their second defeat in three matches and left them bottom of the section with one point.

The star of the show was Ronaldo, who overtook Pele with his 12th and 13th FIFA World Cup goals – moving to within one of Gerd Muller’s record of 14. He headed Brazil level in first-half injury time to cancel out Keiji Tamada's fine 34th-minute opener for Japan.

Then, after Juninho Pernambucano (53 minutes) and Gilberto (59’) had struck superb goals to seize control of the match for Brazil, Ronaldo had the final word as he made it 4-1 nine minutes before the end.

Brazil’s samba football finally arrived in Germany in a superb second-half performance that saw Japan dismantled, earning the world champions an intriguing last 16 clash against Ghana. Japan will fly home disappointed with their Germany 2006 campaign after impressing on home soil four years ago, and Zico's side may well wonder what might have been had they not conceded the equaliser just before half-time.

Group F
Croatia (LD= 1 pts.)v Australia (WL= 3 pts.)

Australia made history by twice coming from behind against Croatia to earn the point they needed to claim a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup™.

The Socceroos lost all three games in their one previous appearance on the world stage in 1974 but a 2-2 draw with Croatia in Stuttgart was enough to secure second place in Group F and a second-round tie against Italy in Kaiserslautern on 26 June. Australia finished with four points from three matches, two clear of third-placed Croatia.

On a nervy night, Croatia opened the scoring through Darijo Srna’s second-minute free-kick. Craig Moore drew Australia level from the penalty spot on 38 minutes but the balance swung back Croatia’s way when Niko Kovac’s shot was fumbled by Zeljko Zalac in the 56th minute. However, Harry Kewell struck the decisive second Australian goal 11 minutes from time.

Stuttgart played host to a night of unforgettable drama, where both sides could have progressed to the second round at different stages, but at the end it was Australia who were celebrating and heading to Kaiserslautern to face Italy on Monday.

Group E
F16 - Italy 7 pts. (+4 GD)
F16 - Ghana 6 pts. (+1 GD)
OUT - Czech Republic 3 pts. (-1 GD)
OUT - United States 1 pt. (-4 GD)

Group F
F16 - Brazil 9 pts. (+6 GD)
F16 - Australia 4 pts. (even pts.)
OUT - Croatia 2 pt. (-1 GD)
OUT - Japan 1 pt. (-5 GD)

Next match in the Final 16
Jun 26 11:00 AM ET Italy v Australia
Jun 27 11:00 AM ET Brazil v Ghana

Tomorrow Games
The last four game in group Play that qill set up the Final 16

Last Match in GROUP G
3:00 PM ET
Switzerland (4 pts.) v South Korea (4 pts.)
Togo (zero pts.)v France (2 pts.)

All the french have to do is to win for the first time since the final in WC 98 and make up GD it thet lose swizerland and South Korea goes in.

Last Match in GROUP H
10:00 PM
Saudi Arabia(1 pt.) v Spain (6 pts.)
Ukraine (3 pts.)v Tunisia (1 pt.)

Spain is in but who will join them, a win or a draw (with good GD) is in but Saudi Arabia and Tunisia as well.