On the pitch
10 Jun 2006Argentine hang on to edge Ivory Coast
First-half goals from Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola did the damage for Argentina as they held off the challenge of a spirited Ivory Coast side to win 2-1 in Hamburg on Saturday.
The two-time champions seize the lead in Group C ahead of Sunday's second fixture between Holland and Serbia and Montenegro.
Crespo pounced on a loose ball during a goalmouth scramble after a Juan Roman Riquleme free kick in the 24th minute.
Saviola then slotted in a low shot - from a defence splitting pass by Riquelme - past the hapless Jean-Jacques Tizie 14 minutes later after a huge gap appeared in the west African defence.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba gave the western African side a life-line with a goal in the 82nd minute from close range but the effort was in vain as Argentina held on.
Baros faces fitness deadline
Czech coach Karel Bruckner will decide on Sunday whether or not star striker Milan Baros will be fit to face the United States in their World Cup opener.
The 24-year-old Aston Villa player has been suffering from a foot injury and is doubtful for Monday's Group E match in Gelsenkirchen.
"I haven't given up hope of using him and I'll take a definitive decision on Sunday morning," said Bruckner.
Baros lasted just 15 minutes in training on Friday and skipped Saturday's session.
The former Liverpool striker, who was hurt in the 3-0 friendly win against Trinidad and Tobago, was the top scorer at Euro 2004 with five goals.
After Monday's match, the Czechs will face Ghana on June 17 in Cologne and Italy at Hamburg on June 22.
Beckham blames the heat
The heat was to blame for England's lacklustre opening 1-0 win over Praguay in their Group B World Cup match here on Saturday according to captain David Beckham.
"I think it was hot for both teams. We were good at times but we gave the ball away too much.
"We got what we wanted (the three points). The performance can be better and we've got to work on that.
"We let them pass the ball around too much, but exhaustion came into that. Usually we are strong and our fitness levels are high."
"We will be alright. It was a 3 o'clock kick-off in the summer and that played a part. But we know we can perform better.
"I don't think we lost our shape too much, South American teams play the ball well through the midfield. That played a big part."
Bereaved Sanchez to start against Iran
Mexico's first choice goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez will start their World Cup opener against Iran after a lightning trip home following the death of his father, the team's coach said on Saturday.
Ricardo Lavolpe said Sanchez looked in good form for Sunday's match despite his sudden bereavement and two long-haul flights in a matter of days.
"He looks relaxed and fit out there," said Lavolpe.
Sanchez, whose 55-year-old father Felipe died of a heart attack this week, said he was feeling motivated and ready.
"I'm very motivated," Sanchez said. "I got a lot of support from the people in Guadalajara. Tomorrow's a big game and I'm ready to play."
England struggle to 1-0 win
England widely regarded as one of the tournament favourites struggled to a disappointing 1-0 win over Group B rivals Paraguay in baking conditions in Frankfurt.
The only goal of the match came after 4 minutes when a probing David Beckham free-kick was inadvertently headed past his own goalkeeper by Carlos Gamarra.
Despite the early boost, England failed to add to their lead and faded badly in the second-half under the sizzling conditions.
Only some desperate last-minute defending protected their advantage and England will need to improve dramatically if they are win their first world title since 1966.
Paraguayans were unlucky: coach
Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz said all his side lacked Saturday was a litte luck after they went down 1-0 to England.
"We were unlucky," insisted Ruiz after Carlos Gamarra had nodded David Beckham's free kick into his own goal.
"We were unable to grab a goal and let one through by mistake. And our goalkeeper got injured," Ruiz said referring to Justo Villar limping off in the early stages.
"In general I am not too down - we had aspired to more but we still have a chance of going further and will look to win our other games (against Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago)."
Shut up about politics: Iran coach
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic on Saturday said he had no message from the country's controversial president and told journalists to stop asking him about politics.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's outspoken views on the Holocaust have come into sharp focus ahead of Iran's opening match in the former Nazi stronghold of Nuremberg.
"The president of Iran is a football fan and of course he is interested in what their team will do during the World Cup, just as many presidents. I don't have any special message from him," said Ivankovic.
"These political questions are not for me. I think it's not for me and it's not for people here. Please just ask about my team against Mexico," he added.
Trinidad hang on for shock draw
World Cup debutants Trinidad and Tobago caused the shock of the tournament so far when they held European giants Sweden to a 0-0 draw in Dortmund.
Shaka Hislop who only found out he was starting in goal minutes before kick-off when Kelvin Jack got injured turned in a heroic performance as the Scandinavian side failed to find a way through the well organised Trinidad defence.
The tiny Caribbean country even survived the second-half sending off of Avery John as they held on for the most famous result in their history.
The result leaves England top of Group B after their 1-0 win over Paraguay earlier in the day with Sweden and Trinidad level on one point.
Vieira to stand tall: Domenech
Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira was tipped to emerge as one of the stand out players of this World Cup by his France coach Raymond Domenech Saturday in reaction to criticism of him at home.
"I'm lucky not to have read anything at our hotel, absolutely nothing," Domenech said.
"I only found out on arriving here that there'd been questions about him.
"That surprised me for I believe Patrick is going to be one of the major players of this World Cup.
Some observers felt Vieira was ill at ease in his role on the right of midfield against China on Wednesday.
World Cup over for Villar
Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after injuring his calf in the early stages of Saturday's 1-0 defeat against England.
Villar who plays his club football for Argentine club Newell's Old Boys went off in the 8th minute after an innocent looking collision with Michael Owen.
Villar was replaced by Aldo Bobadilla who kept a clean sheet for the rest of the match with England hanging on for the win.