World Cup Review

Day 15
Friday June 24

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

Well this is it today is the last four game in group play after today the 16 teams will move out from groyp play to the Knock out stage were one loss in round two of the world cup it is over just like that.

GROUP G
Switzerland (WD= 4 pts.) v South Korea (WD= 4 pts.)

Goals from Philippe Senderos and Alexandr Frei clinched a 2-0 win for Switzerland over Korea Republic in Hanover on 23 June and secured top spot for Kobi Kuhn’s side in Group G.

The result, combined with France’s 2-0 win over Togo, leaves Dick Advocaat’s Taeguk Warriors facing an earlier-than-expected journey home, while the Swiss march on to a Round of 16 clash with Group H runners-up Ukraine in Cologne on 26 June.

Korea Republic may, however, consider themselves unfortunate having contributed significantly to this competitive and entertaining encounter, although the Swiss did create the game’s better chances and were more clinical in front of goal, with Frei in particular a constant threat.

Kuhn’s side finish on the summit of Group G with seven points, followed by France on five, Korea Republic on four, with Togolese, who go home without a point to their name but with pride intact, in fourth position.

The win sees Switzerland through to the Round of 16 for the first time since 1994, where they will face a tough test against Ukraine. Brave Korea and their wonderful fans will sadly be heading for home as France’s win in the other group match against Togo sees Raymond Domenech's side through to the knockout stages as runners-up. They will square off against high-flying Spain.

GROUP G
Togo (LL= zero pts.)v France (DD= 2 pts.)

France advanced to a Round of 16 meeting with Spain after second-half goals from Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry secured a 2-0 victory over Togo in Cologne on Friday, 23 June 2006.

After a frustrating first half of missed chances, Vieira marked his 30th birthday with the breakthrough goal after 55 minutes. Henry added France's second six minutes later to give France the win they needed to progress as the second-placed team in Group G behind Switzerland.

France, whose success here was their first on the world stage since the 1998 Final, will play Spain in Hanover on 27 June. As for Togo, they return home without a point from their first FIFA World Cup campaign.

France got the FIFA World Cup victory they have been waiting eight years for, meaning they finished as runners-up behind Switzerland in Group G and they will now face Spain in Hannover in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. Togo, beset by internal problems, head home after three straight defeats.


GROUP H
Saudi Arabia(DL= 1 pt.) v Spain (WW= 6 pts.)

Spain advanced to the Round of 16 with a third win under their belts as they beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Kaiserslautern on Friday, 23 June 2006.

With Spain already secured their second-round berth coach Luis Aragones fielded a new-look line-up and there were also changes in the Saudi Arabia side with Sami Al Jaber, Saad Al Harthi and Abdulaziz Khathran all coming into the starting XI.

Juanito's 36th-minute header was enough to separate the teams and confirm the Saudis' elimination after one draw and two defeats. While Marcos Paqueta's men pack their bags to go home, Spain, as Group H winners, can look forward to facing the second-placed team in Group G (one of Switzerland, Korea Republic or France) in Hanover on 27 June.

It was ultimately a deserved victory for Spain's second-string who were in control for almost the entire match but were wasteful in front of goal. Saudi Arabia had the game’s outstanding player in goalkeeper Zaid, who made a host of quality saves to prevent a landslide defeat. While Saudi Arabia head for home, Spain can look ahead to the knockout stage with confidence.

GROUP H
Ukraine (LW= 3 pts.)v Tunisia (DL= 1 pt.)

Andriy Shevchenko’s 70th minute penalty proved to be enough for Ukraine to book their progression through to the Round of 16 as they recorded a 1-0 win over Tunisia in Berlin on Friday, 23 June 2006.

A win could have given Tunisia the runners up spot in Group H, but their task was made all the more difficult when they had striker Zied Jaziri sent-off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time.

Roger Lemerre's side will depart Germany after having taken part in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup™, but 2006 also represents the third consecutive tournament that they have failed to get past the group stage.

As for Ukraine, competing in their first FIFA World Cup, they are now looking forward to a second round tie against the winners of Group G in Cologne on 26 June.

Ukraine, though nowhere near as impressive as against Saudi Arabia, just did enough to edge this encounter and deservedly progress to the last 16. Tunisia, for all their endeavour, rarely troubled Shovkovskyi and will return home rueing the lapse in concentration from Jaidi that put paid to any hopes they might have harboured of stealing the three points they needed.

So after 48 matches in Group play over 32 teams over 8 group and two weeks and a day the final 16 is set, Now it going to be a little bit diffence than in group play, that mean one loss and that it it over done finsih. That have 90 mintues to prove there worth if it not deciede in 90 mintues then there two 15 mintues half and it nobody scored it go to a shootout big time.

So here is the final standing in Group Play.

Group A
F16 - Germany 9 pts. (+6 GD)
F16 - Ecuador 6 pts. (+2 GD)
OUT - Poland 3 pts. (-2 GD)
OUT - Costa Rica zero pts. (-6 GD)

Group B
F16 - England 7 pts. (+3 GD)
F16 - Sweden 5 pts. (+1 GD)
OUT - Paraguay 3 pts. (even GD)
OUT - Trinidad & Tobago 1 pt. (-4 GD)

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)

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)

Group G
Switzerland 4 pts. (+2 GD)
South Korea 4 pts. (+1 GD)
France 2 pts. (even GD)
OUT - Togo Zero pts. (-3 GD)

Group H
F16 - Spain 9 pts. (+7 GD)
F16 - Ukraine 6 pts.(+1 GD)
OUT - Tunisia 1 pt. (-3 GD)
OUT - Saudi Arabia 1 pt. (-5 GD)

The round of 16

Saturday, June 24
Germany v Sweden
Argentina v Mexico

Sunday, June 25, 2006
England v Ecuador
Portugal v Netherlands

Monday, June 26
Italy v Australia
Switzerland v Ukraine

Tuesday, June 27
Brazil v Ghana
Spain v France

Tomorrow Games
The round of 16 begins

Germany v Sweden
Argentina v Mexico