On the pitch
16 Jun 2006Angola survive Mexican wave to earn first point
Angola picked up their first ever World Cup point when they held Mexico to a 0-0 draw as the central American side suffered a blow in their bid to reach the second round.
The African minnows had to survive a red card shown to Andre but still held their more illustrious opponents to a famous draw despite the Mexican's piling forward in search of the winner. .
Mexico started brightly with Carlos Salcido curling a right-footer on to the top of the Angolan goal in the second minute but it was a night to forget for their strikers although major credit must go to the Angolan goalkeeper Joao Ricardo who was brilliant.
Portugal tackle Iran on Saturday as they bid to close in on a spot in the last-16 while Iran need at least a point to stay alive. Angolo meanwhile can still dream of advancing on their World Cup debut if they can beat Iran in their final match and results elsewhere go their way.
Argentina humble Serbia and Mont.
Argentina produced 90 minutes of breathtaking football to shatter Serbia and Montenegro and send a chilling warning to their rivals with a 6-0 demolition on Friday.
Maxi Rodriguez scored a brilliant opener after Javier Saviola slotted through a diagonal pass and the midfielder drove home but it was just an appetiser for Argentina's second and without doubt the goal of the tournament so far.
In 31st minute, Saviola and Riquelme combined in a fluid cross field movement from the left, that was completed by a glorious one-two between Crespo and Cambiasso on the edge of the penalty area, which the Inter Milan midfielder blasted into the Serb goal.
Ten minutes later Gonzalez made it three, after Saviola poached the ball from a Serb defender near the corner post. Three-nil Argentina after 41 minutes and the game was done and dusted.
Hernan Crespo scored his second goal in two matches on 78 minutes and substitute Carlos Tevez scored a wonderful solo effort before Lionel Messi wrapped up the scoring on 88 minutes to complete a dream afternoon for the South Americans.
Ecuador set to rest players v Germany
Ecuador set to rest players v Germany
Ecuador are set to take on host nation Germany in their Group A decider on Tuesday without striker Carlos Tenorio and midfielder Luis Valencia and forward Agustin Delgado is said to be a doubt.
"Some of the guys are very tired or affected by injuries," coach Luis Suarez.
Valencia and Tenorio, who scored his second goal of the tournament against Costa Rica, both have injured ankles.
Geovanny Espinoza was nursing a knock and Delgado, who also scored his second of the tournament against the Costa Ricans, has been suffering constant knee and back pains.
"I will change the entire team if they are not fit enough for this tough match against Germany, but I don't think that will be necessary," Suarez said.
"The only thing I can be sure of is that the 11 men I field against Germany will be the best team I have. We want to beat Germany."
Improve or we are going home says Gerrard
England midfielder Steven Gerrard admitted on Friday that his side have no chance of winning the World Cup unless they improve quickly.
Gerrard, who lifted the FA Cup trophy last month a year after inspiring Liverpool to the Champions League trophy, knows England will not win the tournament on current form and told BBC Sport as such.
"No, I don't think so, our form as a team has got to improve," said Gerrard.
"We need to hit top form pretty quickly. There are still a couple of gears to go into.
"It's pleasing to be in the last 16. It was really difficult out there for an hour and we were finding them really difficult to break down."
Ivankovic keeps faith with Iran flops
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic will keep faith with the side which flopped against Mexico when they attempt to salvage their World Cup hopes against Portugal in their Group D clash here on Saturday.
Iran crashed 3-1 against Mexico in their opening game, but Ivankovic has placed the team's pursuit of goals at the feet of 37-year-old striker Ali Daei.
The veteran player, whose 109 goals is an international record, has been suffering from a back injury.
"It will be the same team," said Ivankovic.
"We'll try to surprise them but it depends on our players on the field. Ali Daei is a leader and a very important player.
"Without a leader, no team can get a good result."
Portugal beat Angola 1-0 in their opener.
La Volpe looks ahead after disappointing draw
Ten-man Angola clinched a memorable World Cup result on Friday when they held Mexico to a 0-0 draw, leaving Mexican coach Ricardo La Volpe searching for answers.
"We will have to wait and see what happens in the next match (Portugal face Iran on Saturday). "It's possible we may need to get three points against Portugal, but we haven't even started thinking about that yet."
All four teams are still alive to reach the second round although a Portugal win on Saturday will take them through.
Malouda aiming to pile pressure on Koreans
Florent Malouda, forced to sit out the opening game against Switzerland after an emergency haemorrhoid operation, is itching to help France get their World Cup campaign back on track against South Korea on Sunday.
"I feel in good shape and I hope the worst is now behind me," he said.
"I've got my strength back, I'm positive and motivated. This sort of thing never happens at the best time but it's no big deal," added the 26-year-old Lyon man.
"I hope to play on Sunday. This will be the biggest game of my career."
Netherlands advance after nailbiting win
The Netherlands booked their place in the second round after a nerve shredding 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast that also sent Argentina through after their earlier 6-0 battering of Serbia and Montenegro.
The Dutch held on for dear life during the final 30 minutes but did not crack in the face of wave after wave of Ivory Coast attacks.
In the end, two goals in four first-half minutes from Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooy were enough to better Bakary Kone's fine effort as the valiant Ivory Coast go out of the tournament.
Van Persie stepped up and blasted in a curling left-footed free-kick beyond the reach of a diving goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie on 23 minutes and the Dutch lead was doubled four minutes later, a deft through ball by Arjen Robben falling into the path of the advancing Ruud van Nistlerooy who cooly shot home.
But Ivory Coast pulled one back in the 38th minute through Nice striker Kone who was allowed to run across the face of the edge of the penalty box before drilling an excellent shot high beyond Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
The goal was in vain however as the Dutch go through meaning their final match against Argentina will decide the group winner.
Van Basten hails fighting spirit
Dutch coach Marco van Basten hailed the fighting spirit of his young team after they scraped past a gallant Ivory Coast for a 2-1 win that ensured the Oranje a passage to the last 16.
"We started very well. We played good football, created some chances and we scored two goals," said 41-year-old van Basten.
"But we sat back a bit and they came at us, started playing some football and made it difficult to the last minute.
"We were happy to end the game with a victory," said van Basten, whose side will now play Argentina, 6-0 winners over Serbia and Montenegro earlier Friday for first place in the group.
Zambrotta and Gattuso available for USA clash
Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta and Gennaro Gattuso are both available for Saturday's World Cup Group E match against the United States.
Versatile defender Zambrotta and tough-tackling midfielder Gattuso missed Monday's 2-0 victory over Ghana, but Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi said the recovered pair were ready to face the Americans.
"Everybody's available," said Lippi.
"Don't expect me to announce my side the day before the match," he said. "I've never done that as a coach and I'm not going to start now."
It would be very foolish to think that we are in for an easy game just because the Czechs beat them 3-0," said the 58-year-old former Juventus coach.
"Don't forget they hit the post at 1-0, and if that chance had gone in it could have turned out differently."