Live from Germany

French through with Switzerland, Koreans out

France eventually got the 2-0 win over Togo they needed to make the last 16 Friday while Switzerland won the pool by beating and eliminating South Korea with a 2-0 win on Friday to wrap up Group G.

Switzerland will play the Ukraine and France now face classy Spain in the next round. Earlier in the day Spain had beaten Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win Group H while Ukraine came second with a 1-0 win over Tunisia.

France, desperate to banish the memories of their 2002 first round flop as defending champions, bombarded the Togo goal throughout the first half and missed a hatful of chances to go into the break at 0-0 staring elimination in the face.

But goals from Partick Vieira and Thierry Henry on 55 and 61 minutes were the least France deserved from the tie.

France coach Raymond Domenech admitted that Friday's game "was difficult and I'll not deny that. But this team can dig deep. I am happy for the team. The next match against Spain will be super."

Switzerland won the group with seven points after a robust performance in Hanover where Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos got a bloody cut between the eyes heading the opener while Alexander Frei went round the 'keeper to bag the winner which the Koreans, fighting for their World Cup lives, thought was offside. However the referee ignored the off side flag after he correctly ruled the through ball had touched a defender.

Frei understandably praised the referre for his decision to over rule his linesman.

"It came off their defender after the through ball," noted the 25-year-old striker.

Ukraine join Spain as Group H plays to form

A second string Spain beat Saudi Arabia 1-O to top Group H Friday while the Ukraine also edged past ten-man Tunisia 1-0 to finish runners up after the Africans, who needed a victory to qualify, disappointed.

Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko (front) runs for the ball in front of Tunisian defender Karim Haggui in the opening round Group H World Cup football match Ukraine vs. Tunisia, 23 June 2006 in Berlin, Germany.

A first-half goal from Juanito sealed an Iberian victory despite all eleven of players taking part in the starting line up for the first time in the Cup, while the Saudis ended bottom of the group from Tunisia on goal difference as both teams had a single point.

Andriy Shevchenko slammed home a disputed penalty to bury Tunisia's hopes after 70 minutes of a tie where the Africans failed to muster a challenge despite the dazzling prize of a second round spot on offer for victory.

In Tunisia's defence though they played the whole second-half with ten men after Zied Jaziri got a red card on the stroke of half-time.