1 July 2006 |
BRAZIL | 0-1 |
FRANCE |
Henry 56 |
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Ronaldo passed up what was by most forwards standards a great chance from a Ronaldinho free kick but then in the air he's about as useless as Henry. On the stroke of half time Zidane received possession on the edge of his box and burst forward, pushing the ball wide of Lucio's despairing sliding tackle and leaping over Gilberto's dangerous challenge before threading a pass through the heart of the Brazil defence but Vieira's run was cynically brought to an end by Juan. Early in the second half another chance went begging for Vieira when he headed an immaculate Zidane free kick wide of a post. However it seemed only a matter of time before the French would make their dominance count and in the 56th minute they broke through. Zidane, standing on the left touchline, floated a free kick towards the back post and the unmarked Henry slammed the ball into the roof of the net, Zidane's first ever assist to Henry in a France shirt. Ribery mugged Lucio on the left touchline, rolling the ball away from the powerful defender before firing the ball across the face of goal and as Juan tried to clear he almost sliced into his own net. Dida saved at the feet of Ribery on a Henry lead counter attack. Govou and Saha wasted chances on the break and it would have been a travesty had Ze Roberto equalised in injury time but he volleyed substitute Cicinho's driving low cross well wide of a post. A magnificent performance from a France side in which Zidane was at his enchanting best. Vieira and Makelele absolutely massacred the Brazilian midfield with an awesome display of power. France should have won by a larger margin and playing football of this quality who would begrudge them a second World Cup? Attendance : 48,000 Assist : Zidane (fk) |
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ENGLAND | 0-0 |
PORTUGAL |
Lennon came on for the injured Beckham on 51 minutes and manufactured the games first genuine chance. Running inside from the right flank, he skinned Valente, took the ball past Carvalho and Meira, let it roll to Rooney who miss-kicked horribly, the ball fell to Cole and he ballooned high over the bar. TWAT. Rooney stamped on Carvalho's bollocks after the defender wrestled him to the ground. He appeared to be sent off after Ronaldo had a word with the ref, which was irrelevant as he deserved to go. The Portuguese, who were even less of an attacking threat then 10 man England finally drew a good save from Robinson when Figo almost caught him out with a clever first time shot. A minute later Portugal's joke of a 'keeper Ricardo (yes he's good on penalties but he's hopeless at everything else) parried a Lampard free kick up into the air but substitute Lennon's weak follow-up was easily saved. Miguel made a fantastic clearance as Crouch, who was climbing all over him, was about to head in a Gerrard cross. Penalty Shoot Out Simao drills the ball low into the bottom corner Lampard. What did I say about the player most likely to miss a penalty? Telegraphed, low, right of centre and not hit with enough pace Viana strikes the outside of a post Hargreaves strikes a firm penalty low to the left, in off a post Petit goes to the left and, just like Viana, hits a post Gerrard. Despite shouts of 'Come on Gerad you bastad' from my 2 year old (don't let toddlers in the room when watching shoot-outs) Liverpool's captain hits an awful penalty too centrally and at a poor height, no challenge for a penalty expert like Ricardo Postiga sends Robinson the wrong way. Robinson is FAT and needs to go on a diet Carragher scores but has to re-take as the ref hadn't blown his whistle. Predictably his second effort is saved Ronaldo curls the ball over Robinson who finally tries something different by actually diving but misses completely Portugal win 3-1 on penalties England bottled it and despite playing with ten men had the chances to win the match, well two of them. I was disappointed in Scolari's negative approach but that isn't going to work against France. What must be galling for England is that this is a decidedly average Portugal team who were missing their best player (Deco) and they still couldn't take advantage. Typical of the limp-wristed performances we have come to expect of England under Eriksson. On the bright side they've sparred themselves a through thrashing from the French in the semi-finals and Hargreaves was great. Attendance : 52,000 Assist : n/a |
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30 June 2006 |
ITALY | 3-0 |
UKRAINE |
Zambrotta 6 | ||
Toni 58, 69 | ||
Camoranesi had already gone close for Italy before Zambrotta hit the back of the net. He started the move with a ball into Totti, the Roma captain returned it with an extravagant back heel as Zambrotta cut in from the right flank, he ran unchallenged towards the centre of the box he let rip with a left foot drive from 25 yards which found the bottom corner via Shovkovsky’s left hand, he probably should have done better. Having failed to show up in the first half Ukraine came out fighting in the second. Buffon was almost KTFO when he collided with a post when saving Gusin's point blank header. Milevsky turned onto a miss-hit shot and played in Gusev with a superbly weighted pass, Gusev hit the ball with everything he had, Buffon parried and Tymoshchyuk's follow-up was chested off the line by the outstanding Zambrotta. Less than a minute later Toni broke his duck. Totti worked a short corner with Grosso before whipping a teasing cross to the back post and despite Gusin's concerted attempts to concede a penalty for shirt pulling, the giant striker headed low into the net. Italy had another escape when the unlucky Gusin headed a free kick against the crossbar. Zambrotta capped off a stunning performance by laying on the third goal. Grosso volleyed a pass inside Gusev, a sharp turn took Zambrotta away from Vashchyuk and he poked the ball forward to a delighted Toni. Italy have a fantastic record against Germany and won't be too concerned at the prospect of playing underdogs. They seem to be peaking at the right time of course if it goes to penalties Italy are doomed. Attendance : 50,000 Assists : Totti, Totti (ck), Zambrotta |
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GERMANY | 1-1 |
ARGENTINA |
Klose 80 |
Ayala 49 |
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I'm not sure of the intention of the teams in the first half. Maybe they were
conserving energy for the second half because they did nothing with the ball, Argentina especially who had most of it. Ballack had the only chance following a superb counter attack but headed wide. Ayala, who but for Cannavaro would be this tournaments outstanding defender, gave Argentina the lead with a spectacular header from a Riquelme corner. The game began to open up. Crespo intercepted Lahm's hospital pass, Tevez tried to dribble past the German defence but spotted Rodriguez in a better position free on the right of the box, the midfielder lashed wide. Germany won a throw in near goal. Borowski flicked on Ballack's cross and Klose got in front of Sorin to header into Franco's bottom corner (Abbondanzieri went off with a injury in the first half). Rodriguez was booked for diving in the box two minutes from time, with team-mates in the centre waiting for a cross, match point. Extra time was... thirty minutes of my life I won't get back. Penalty Shoot-Out Neuville's kick is at a good height for Franco but hit with too much pace Cruz smashes the ball into the top left corner Ballack sends Franco the wrong way Ayala hits an awful, power puff shot which Lehmann saves with ease Podolski drills a low shot into the bottom right corner Rodriguez is only a fingertip away from seeing his penalty saved Borowski's penalty is almost a carbon copy of Podolski's Cambiasso's strike the ball wide of centre and at mid-height, Lehmann takes a step off his line before saving As the Germans were celebrating Cufre, who was an unused sub, kicked Metzelder square in the balls, sending him rolling to the ground in agony and a bench clearing scuffle ensued. Heinze had to be restrained from getting to Bierhoff and Maxi Rodriguez leapt over a posse of bodies to slap Schweinsteiger in the back, pussy. Pekerman's decision to substitute Riquelme and replace him with DM Cambiasso on 72 minutes is one of the all time moronic and arrogant decisions in World Cup history, as was taking off Crespo on 78 minutes and replacing him not with Messi or even Saviola but Cruz. Pekerman resigned in disgrace minutes later, and so he should. Germany win 4-2 on penalties Attendance : 72,000 Red Card : Cufre 120 (Argentina) Assists : Riquelme (ck), Borowski |
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