On the pitch

01 Jul 2006

Penalty shoot-out exit "unacceptable" says Eriksson

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson lambasted his team's failure to score from the penalty spot after a heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final exit to Portugal here Saturday.

Eriksson was devastated after his five-and-a-half year reign as England manager ended with his team being dumped out on spot-kicks for the fifth time in eight tournaments.

"It's not good enough to miss three penalties out of four," Eriksson said. "Well done to their goalkeeper. But we should still be in the tournament and I'm very sorry too for the team, and our fans which are fantastic.

"To get over this disappointment will take a long time because I was convinced we had a team which could reach the final but we're out."

Scolari hails Portugal's 'warrior spirit'

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said a newly acquired "warrior spirit" had been behind his team's dramatic World Cup quarter-final victory over England.

"The spirit of this team is remarkable," Scolari said.

"This is a new Portugal team and it's a new spirit. It's a warrior spirit. This is what we were missing in the past.

"We had great technical players but now we have added a warrior spirit and that was important for us today."

It was an electrifying match and I have to congratulate England for their part in it. With only 10 players for so long they gave an incredible performance," he said.

"We tried to take advantage of the extra man but England closed us down very well. They just didn't give us any room at all. In fact it was just like we were playing 11 men."

Brazil and France on a knife edge at h-t

Defending champions Brazil were tied 0-0 with France at half-time of a World Cup quarter-final here on Saturday.

With playmaker Ronaldinho showing some glimpses of the form that helped Barcelona to the Champions League and Spanish league titles, Brazil opened brightly.

Juninho, the midfielder who plays for French champions Lyon, had a free-kick headed behind by Patrick Vieira in the fourth minute, and Roberto Carlos blasted an ambitious shot high and wide of Fabien Barthez' goal five minutes later.

Ronaldo had the first real sight on goal minutes later, doing well to connect to a Ronaldinho free-kick above Willy Sagnol, but sending his header over the crossbar.

France's lone striker Thierry Henry then had a half-chance, scuffing his shot after showing a great first touch on a Claude Makelele cross.

France began to dominate midfield possession, but the final ball to Henry was often overhit, notably by Zinedine Zidane despite the veteran captain showing some at-times sensational footwork in his golden boots.

o a superb Zidane through ball.

Ronaldo was then harshly yellow-carded when the resulting free-kick hit his hand but Zidane's second effort was driven into the wall.

World Cup record for Ricardo

Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo's three penalty shoot-out saves to eliminate England in the World Cup quarter-finals here on Saturday were a record.

Nine 'keepers have saved two penalties in shoot-outs with Germany's Harald Schumacher and Sergio Goycoechea of Argentina twice achieving that feat.

But Ricardo was the first to make a hat-trick of saves as Portugal sent England reeling out of the tournament 3-1 after the game had finished tied 0-0 following extra-time.

The Sporting Lisbon player was also the hero for his country against England in the penalty shoot-out that decided their quarter-final match in Euro 2004 when he saved England's final penalty kick and then scored the clincher himself.

Blatter furious over Berlin post-match battle

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has vowed to take tough action against those responsible for the free-for-all that marred the end of the Germany v Argentina World Cup quarter-final.

The tense game in Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Friday was won on penalties 4-2 by Germany but the on-field celebrations quickly turned sour as players went at each other with kicks and punches.

"I am furious about that and our disciplinary committee will monitor this incident," said Blatter.

"We will take some steps towards those who are identified as being the provocateurs of this incident.

"There was really no need. After 120 minutes football is a drama and then you have to go to penalty kicks and then football becomes a tragedy, but one is the winner and one is the loser.

"What I always say is in football you learn to win, but you also have to learn to lose."

Germany have Italy score to settle

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings admitted the hosts had revenge on their minds for Tuesday's World Cup semi-final clash with Italy.

"We have lost several times to Italy over the years and have a score to settle," Frings said at Saturday's press conference. "We will have respect but there will certainly be no fear."

Germany have a terrible record against Italy winning just seven out of their 28 meetings with the Azzurri.

The 4-1 hammering in Florence was the most recent setback but Werder Bremen midfielder Frings, who had a game to forget that night, said there would be no repeat.

"Of course we all remember the 4-1 but I do not think we need to get too worried about that," Frings declared.

"I think it was a fair result that night. It was a catastrophic performance from us. But I am convinced that it will not happen again. I am 100 percent convinced of that."

Italy crush Ukraine

Italy set up a semi-final date with Germany Friday night when they beat battling Ukraine 3-0, helped on by a brace from striker Luca Toni.

Gianluca Zambrotta scored their opener after 6 minutes with a fierce 25 yard drive and the score remained the same until half-time despite Italy dominating.

Ukraine came within a hair's breadth of levelling twice only to go two down when Francesco Totti sent in an inch perfect cross for Toni to nod home unmarked after 59 minutes.

Toni enjoyed equal service from Zambrotta ten minutes later, escaping his marker to tap into an open goal from a cross along the by-line to make it 3-0 and bury any hopes Ukraine still harboured.

Red-faced Rooney sent-off in anger

Wayne Rooney's World Cup fell apart on Saturday when he joined teammate David Beckham and Ray Wilkins as the only England players ever to be sent off in the finals.

The Manchester United striker let his fiery temperament get the better of him just when he needed to keep his cool, stamping on Ricardo Carvalho's testicles in the 62nd minute with the game against Portugal poised at 0-0.

He didn't help matters by shoving United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo who waded in to protest, and eventually had to be led off fuming at the decision.

England eventually lost on penalties, deprived of one of their penalty takers - Rooney.

Brazil call up Juninho against France

Defending champions Brazil play France in a World Cup quarter-final here on Saturday, with the winner booking a last-four clash against Portugal.

Brazil are chasing a record sixth world crown and coach Carlos Alberto Parreira named midfielder Juninho, who plays his club football with French champions Lyon, in his starting line-up.

Ronaldo will play as the sole striker - his partner Adriano having been dropped - with Gilberto Silva taking the place in midfield of Emerson who has failed to recover from a knee injury.

France, whose early indifferent form was cast aside with a 3-1 second round thumping of Spain, have named an unchanged team from that game.

Saturday's quarter-final is a re-run of the 1998 World Cup final, when France beat the South Americans 3-0 on home soil, current French captain Zinedine Zidane scoring two goals.

Penalty hero Lehmann the toast of Germany

Germany's victorious goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had his picture plastered over German newspapers on Saturday after saving two spot-kicks in Friday's 4-2 penalty shootout triumph over Argentina as the hosts reached the World Cup semi-finals.

"The party goes on! Penalty hero Lehmann and our hand of god," headlined Bild, the country's best-selling newspaper, in a reference to Diego Maradona's infamous 'hand of god' goal for Argentina.

"A hero called Lehmann," declared the Berliner Zeitung. "Germany rejoices and after the Argentina win we are favourites for the World Cup title."

Italy, who defeated Ukraine 3-0 on Friday, will face Germany in Tuesday's semi-final in Dortmund.

"You have beaten Argentina, now go and win the thing," urged Bild. "If you play like that against Italy on Tuesday you will win again."

Portugal defeat England on penalties

Cristiano Ronaldo fired home the winning penalty as Portugal defeated England 3-1 in a penalty shootout after the two teams finished 0-0 after 120 minutes in their quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.

Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all missed their spotkicks as England relived their nightmare of Euro 2004 when they were beaten by the same opponents at the same stage of the competition.

Simao Sabrosa and Helder Postiga scored in the shootout while Petit and Hugo Viana both missed.

England played with ten men since the 62nd minute when Wayne Rooney was shown a direct red card for pushing his Manchester United teammate Ronaldo.

Roof to be closed for England game

England's World Cup quarter-final match with Portugal in Gelsenkirchen will be played with the stadium roof closed, FIFA officials said Friday.

Temperatures were expected to soar again in western Germany getting up to 28 degrees Celsius and the match is scheduled as the first of the day's two games at 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Several England players have complained of being exhausted during earlier games played under a hot sun and steamy conditions.

England and Portugal going to penalites

England and Portugal are going to penalties after the two sides finished 0-0 after 120 minutes.

England were down to ten men since the 62nd minute when Wayne Rooney was shown a direct red card for pushing Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Substitute Neil Lennon who came on for the injured David Beckham had a glorious chance to win the match with time running out in normal time but could only fire a weak shot following a rebound from a Frank Lampard free-kick.

Portugal have the bulk of the possession but struggled to break open the rigid English defence.

John Terry nearly snatched the winner in the dying seconds but lifted his shot over the bar from close range.

England and Portugal going into extra-time

England and Portugal are going into extra-time after the two teams finished 0-0 after 90 minutes but Sven Goran Eriksson's side are down to ten men after Wayne Rooney was sent-off on 62 minutes.

Substitute Neil Lennon who came on for the injured David Beckham had a glorious chance to win the match with time running out but could only fire a weak shot following a rebound from a Frank Lampard free-kick.

Portugal have the bulk of the possession but are struggling to break open the rigid English defence.

John Terry nearly snatched the winner in the dying seconds but lifted his shot over the bar from close range.

England and Portugal 0-0 at the half

England and Portugal are engaged in a nerve wracking 0-0 draw at half-time in their quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

Both teams struggled to play flowing football with nerves playing a factor and neither side wanting to make a mistake.

Striker Wayne Rooney tested Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo with a rasping half-volley in the ninth minute while at the other end Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo rifled a shot towards Paul Robinson that was well-blocked.

The best chance of the half fell to Tiago who just failed to get a shot in from close range after Neville failed to clear a teasing free-kick by Portugal's captain Luis Figo on 13 minutes.

John Terry picked up a yellow card which means he will miss the semi-final should England win against either France or Brazil who play later Saturday.

Klinsmann goals tally Klose's next target

Germany striker Miroslav Klose now stands seventh in the all-time World Cup goalscorer list with ten after scoring a vital equaliser that helped the hosts go on to win Friday's quarter-final with Argentina 4-2 on penalties.

Polish-born forward Klose levelled the score in the 80th minute at 1-1 to take his tournament tally to five - the same number he scored at the 2002 World Cup.

The 28-year-old Klose moves above Portugal icon Eusebio - who scored all his nine in the 1966 edition - and Italy's Paolo Rossi in the all-time list and now stands alongside West Germany's 1954 World Cup hero Helmut Rahn.

Klose's coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990, is his next target with 11, heading into Tuesday's semi-final with Italy.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo leads the World Cup goalscoring charts with 15 having overtaken yet another German Gerd Muller when he scored in the 3-0 victory over Ghana in the second round.

Ronaldo fit as Portugal take on England

Cristiano Ronaldo has recovered from injury and will start for Portugal in their quarter-final showdown with England on Saturday.

The dangerous Manchester United winger picked up a thigh injury last weekend and was considered doubtful but is in the starting 11.

Portugal are already without playmaker Deco and influential holding anchorman Costinha, who were both sent off against the Dutch. Their places are taken by Tiago and Petit.

Gary Neville and Frank Lampard take their places in England's side after recovering from injury with coach Sven-Goran Eriksson sticking to a 4-5-1 formation with Wayne Rooney on his own up front.

Owen Hargreaves is preferred to Michael Carrick as the holding midfielder.

The match, being played under a closed roof at the AufSchalke Arena on another hot day, has been billed as a showdown between Eriksson and opposite number Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Germany deserved win says Ballack

Germany captain Michael Ballack said his side deserved to beat Argentina on penalties here on Friday to move into the World Cup semi-finals.

"A penalty shootout is always a wrench but I think the team richly deserved it (the victory)," said the 29-year-old playmaker, whose cross led to the equalising goal by Miroslav Klose in the 80th minute.

Ballack had converted his spot kick as Germany won 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in extra-time.

"This team has had a real momentum since the start of the World Cup," added Ballack, who missed out on the 2002 final loss to Brazil because of suspension.

We can win the World Cup, says Sven

Defiant England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Friday his team are good enough to not only beat Portugal but go on to win the World Cup.

"I am extremely confident that this team we have can go all the way," he said.

"In football, you never know with red cards, own goals, but we have the quality to do it."

Eriksson will pit his wits with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who has twice shattered English hopes in major tournaments, masterminding quarter-final wins in the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and Euro 2004 with Portugal.

"We are better, we have a better squad, we have a better team," he said in reference to their added experience.

"We are still a young team but we have a lot of experience in the team too, so I am very confident and the players are much more confident today than they were two or four years ago."

Kaka and Emerson on the mend

Brazil midfielders Kaka and Emerson could both yet make the starting line-up for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with France after both of them said they were recovering well from knocks to their right knees.

"I feel good," said the 24-year-old AC Milan ace Kaka, who scored the winner in the 1-0 victory over Croatia in the group stage.

"I certainly haven't had a reaction yet. However we will see what it is like on Saturday," added Kaka, who injured his knee in the 3-0 win over Ghana in the last round.

Emerson said that he was optimistic at making it.

"I feel fine and very optimistic," said the 30-year-old.

"However training is one thing, a match quite the other.

"This is going to be a highly unpredictable match, where one has to be at one's best," added the Juventus midfielder.

Pekerman quits after World Cup loss

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman announced he was standing down from the post shortly after the penalties loss to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals here on Friday.

The 56-year-old former youth team coach was promoted to the senior national side two years ago replacing Marcelo Bielsa who was in charge of Argentina at the last World Cup.

His side went down 4-2 on penalties to Germany after the game had finished tied 1-1 at extra-time.

"I think Argentina lived up to its status of favourites even if we lost. That's how it goes with penalties, but I have to congratulate Germany. They fought very hard to advance. It's just a shame for us," he said directly after the match.

Lehmann lives up to great expectations

Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann may have looked cool during his match winning penalty shoot-out preformance on Friday but he said later he had felt the weight of the nation on his shoulders.

"As a German goalkeeper it is always expected of you that you will hold up in a penalty shootout," said the Arsenal keeper after his two stops handed Germany a 4-2 win.

Lehmann said: "That was a quarter-final, but the big challenge is coming up now. People should celebrate. I'll get ready for Tuesday."

Germany face either Italy ofr Ukraine in a semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday.

Germany beat Argentina on penalties to reach semi-finals

Jens Lehmann was the hero for Germany as he saved two penalites in the shoot-out against Argentina to help send his side into the semi-finals after the two teams finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Roberto Ayala who opened the scoring on 49 minutes went from hero to villain as he had his poor spot-kick saved by the Arsenal custodian while Germany rattled home their first four kicks past reserve keeper Leo Franco.

Esteban Cambiasso then needed to score to keep his team alive but again Lehmann guessed the right way and saved well to send the majority of the 72,000 crowd into hysterics.

Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski were all fautless with their penalties as again Germany showed their pedigree with the match on the line.

Germany won the shootout 4-2.

Following Ayala's opener, the German reaction was ferocious as they threw everthing forward with the sudden reality that their World Cup dream might be slipping away but were given a break when Argentine 'keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri was forced off injured after being clattered in the ribs by Klose.

Captain Michael Ballack swung in a left foot cross that Tim Borowski flicked perfectly into the path of Miroslav Klose and the Werder Breman marksman made no mistake with a close range header on 80 minutes to set up the penalty dramatics.