On the pitch

19 Jun 2006

Aussies to go for the Croatian kill

Australia need to draw against Croatia next Thursday to make the last-16 but have promised instead to try and win the match.

"I think when you go out to look for a draw usually you lose," said skipper Mark Viduka, who has Croatian family ties.

Liverpool's Harry Kewell said it's not Australia's way to go for the soft option.

"I think we have to go out and win the game because that's what we do, we don't go out to play soft football, we go out there to win," he said.

Central defender Lucas Neill was dreaming of further great soccer nights.

"I just don't think we can say we've beaten Japan and given Brazil a run for the money and now we're out... we've got to go for it, second round and mix it with some more big boys," he said.

Blokhin hails his team after rout

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin hailed his players for bouncing back from their 4-0 hammering suffered at the hands of Spain to deliver their own footballing masterclass against Saudi Arabia.

"I would like to thank my team who bounced back from the bad defeat to Spain," Blokhin said.

"The players today carried out the coaches' advice, which was not to give the Saudi players any space or any ball," the former Dynamo Kiev and Soviet Union star said.

"Saudi Arabia found our dead ball situations difficult and also the short passing game in midfield.

"The objective was to prevent the Saudis getting any ball in the midfield, and our team was able to counter-attack very quickly."

"Our objective today was to win and our objective for the next game is to win and go into the last 16".

Frings looking dodgy for Germany

Influential German midfielder Torsten Frings is an injury doubt for Tuesday's table-topping Group A decider with Ecuador after he went off early from training with a calf injury.

The 29-year-old Werder Bremen star, scorer of a spectacular goal in the opening 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, was seen leaving the closed doors training session with the lower part of his leg bandaged.

There was no immediate word from the German Football Federation (DFB) as to the gravity of the injury.

Germany and Ecuador are already assured of their places in the second round and will play either England or Sweden in the last 16.

Germany not practising pens says Klinsmann

Germany are renowned as masters in the penalty shootout but manager Jurgen Klinsmann revealed Monday that the World Cup hosts have not been practising spot-kicks in training.

"We are not practising penalties at the moment," Klinsmann said at a press conference on Monday.

"I am just thinking about Ecuador, not England or Sweden. Once we get in the last 16 whoever we face will be tough."

If England are paired with Germany in the second round - which is highly possible - the talk of penalty shootouts will be inevitable.

In the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup West Germany - with Klinsmann leading the attack - eliminated England 4-3 on penalties as Stuart Peace and Chris Waddle missed for England.

Neville out of Sweden match

An injured Gary Neville has been ruled out of England's match against Sweden on Tuesday while coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he will rest at least one of his three players on yellow cards.

Neville, who won his 80th cap in England's opening 1-0 victory over Paraguay, is struggling to recover from a torn calf muscle which he initially feared could end his tournament.

"He's out. We hope he will be ok for the next game but were not sure about that," said Eriksson.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will continue to deputise for Neville, as he did in the last game against Trinidad and Tobago.

While Eriksson has no other injury concerns, he will rest at least one of his three players on yellow cards -- Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Roo can handle pressure: Eriksson

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson dismissed fears that too much is being expected of Wayne Rooney as the star striker prepares for his first World Cup start on Tuesday against Sweden.

"I'm not worried about that," says Eriksson. "He's been out, but he will play better tomorrow I'm quite sure about it.

"He looks sharp in training and he'll soon be back 100 percent. I'm not worried about that."

Eriksson meanwhile is hoping that Rooney can quickly rekindle his successful striking partnership with Michael Owen, whose form has dipped in Rooney's absence.

"I hope they can play like in the good old days," Eriksson said. "They always played well together and hopefully they will tomorrow."

Spain roar back to sink brave Tunisia

Spain were given a mighty scare by Tunisia on Monday after the unfancied African side took a first-half lead only for Raul and Fernando Torres to come to the rescue with late goals to notch up a 3-1 win and a place in the second round.

Roger Lemerre's former African champions, who drew 2-2 with Saudi Arabia last week, were outplayed for most of the half but, crucially, took an eighth-minute lead thanks to some dogged offensive work by Ziad Jaziri.

Pouncing on a loose ball in the Spain half, the Troyes midfielder outfoxed Barcelona defender Carles Puyol on the right flank before crossing for Jawer Mnari.

The Germany-based Mnari was unmarked and had time to shoot, pick up his rebound from Spain keeper Iker Casillas and then slot the ball home from close range.

The lead held up until the 71st minute when substitute Raul wriggled loose inside the box and poked a rebound over Ali Boumnijel who had been outstanding until the equaliser.

However Boumnijel undid all his fine work when he foolishly left his goal on 76 minutes following a through ball past the Tunisian defence which allowed Fernando Torres the easy task of chipping the ball home.

Torres then slotted home a last-minute penalty to give the scoreline a flattering look thanks to Tunisia's late collapse.

Spain are now safely through going into their final match against Saudi Arabia on Friday while Tunisia must beat Ukraine to have any chance of advancing.

Suspended Zidane frustrated as France draw

French 1998 hero Zinedine Zidane on Sunday said his side had been unlucky after battling South Korea held Les Bleus to a 1-1 draw in their vital Group G encounter, leaving the former champions needing to beat Togo by two clear goals to make the last 16.

After Thierry Henry netted an early opener Patrick Vieira had what seemed a valid goal ruled out for not crossing the line in the opinion of Mexican referee Benito Archundia.

"It should have been 2-0 for us," complained Zidane, later booked to earn a suspension on the day of his 34th birthday on Friday against Togo as he winds down his career at the finals.

"A second goal would have done us good and without it we were never safe from conceding one. Now we will have to suffer right to the end and win the third match (against Togo) to qualify.

Switzerland take giant step with 2-0 win over Togo

Switzerland went top of Group G on goal difference ahead of South Korea after an Alexander Frei marker on 16 minutes and an insurance strike with two minutes left from the impressive Tranquillo Barnetta was enough to see off Togo 2-0 in Dortmund.

It was harsh on the African side who have been dogged by controversy surrounding their bonuses but are now eliminated going into their final match against France.

Switzerland were also lucky to have avoided a penalty after Emmanuel Adebayor was clearly kicked by Patrick Muller inside the area while also for Togo Thomas Dossevi misfired with the goal at his mercy on the half hour.

Barnetta's goal may prove decisive with this very tight group going down to the final matches on Friday and goal difference a likely tie-breaker to determine the places in the last-16.

Ukraine get back on track with 4-0 rout

World Cup newcomers Ukraine shook off their disappointing 4-0 defeat to Spain in their opener to pick up maximum points on Monday with a comfortable 4-0 thrashing over hapless Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhine only had to wait four minutes before breaking into wild celebrations when defender Andriy Rusol saw a shot come off his knee and sqeeze between the legs of Saudi keeper Mabrouk Zaid.

The perfect tonic for Ukraine while the Saudi's struggled with the wet conditions and rarely threatened their opponents goal.

Serhei Rebrov increased the advantage on 36 minutes when he tried his luck from 35 yards that flew into the corner unopposed after Zaid had lost his footing and slipped.

Rebrov's former Dynamo Kiev teammate Andriy Shevchenko then got in on the act with his first World Cup goal heading home one minute after the break.

Shevchenko helped complete the rout with time running out when he broke free down the left and unselfishly squared the ball for Maksym Kalinichenko who had the simple task of steering the ball into the unguarded goal.

Spain can wrap up their second round spot with a win against Tunisia later in the day.