On the pitch
25 Jun 2006Ballack rests after foot injury flares: Bierhoff
German skipper Michael Ballack missed a brief training session with the hosts on Sunday after a foot injury flared following Saturday's win over Sweden, which took his team through to a World Cup quarter-final meeting with Argentina, assistant Oliver Bierhoff said.
"He has a slight foot problem which we are looking into," said Bierhoff of the 29-year-old who will play for English Premiership champions Chelsea next season after leaving Bayern Munich.
The rest of the squad were given a clean bill of health after the impressive showing against the Swedes and were also having a day off before meeting up Monday evening for another light workout.
The three-times champions face twice winners Argentina on Friday in Berlin.
Beckham the hero for England in scrappy win
David Beckham played a captain's role on Sunday curling home a pinpoint free-kick on 60 minutes to give a poor performance a happy ending for England as they struggled past Ecuador 1-0 and into the quarter-finals.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will now play the winner of Sunday's second last-16 matchup between Portugal and Holland next Saturday in Gelsenkirchen.
England were far from convincing but just did enough to deserve the victory during 90 minutes of nervewracking action.
A poor opening half played in hot, humid conditions saw England lucky not to go 1-0 down after a defensive blunder from John Terry allowed Carlos Tenorio to go bearing down on goal in the 11th minute with only Paul Robinson to beat.
But Tenorio took just a fraction too long and his shot was deflected onto the bar by a superb sliding cover tackle from left-back Ashley Cole.
Despite some nervy moments, Beckham came to the rescue with a curling free-kick that crept inside the post of Cristian Mora who could only get a hand to the shot.
Kewell in doubt for Italy showdown
Australia's goal hero Harry Kewell missed training Sunday as he battles a nagging groin injury ahead of Monday's second round tie with Italy.
Coach Guus Hiddink said Kewell, whose equaliser against Croatia put Australia in the last sixteen, was being assessed by the team's medical staff.
"We'll see how Harry recovers, he will not participate with the team at training this morning and we will see how his situation is tomorrow," Hiddink told his pre-match press conference here Sunday.
"It's the same procedure we did (with him) before the Croatian game."
Kewell has been playing on at the World Cup since coming off injured for Liverpool in last month's FA Cup final against West Ham United in Cardiff.
Portugal edge Holland in battle of Nuremburg
A clinical first-half finish from Maniche propelled Portugal into 1-0 win over Holland in a bad tempered tie in Nuremburg which gave them the right to meet England next Saturday in the quarter-finals.
The match that featured a record 16 yellow cards and four red cards was decided on 23 minutes when Pauleta set up Maniche for a powerful right foot finish from close range that gave Edwin van der Sar no chance.
Portugal had defender Costinha sent-off just before the break but the second-half was equally dramatic with Holland pushing for the equaliser against a solid Portuguese defence.
The Russian referee Valentin Ivanov produced three more red cards first to Dutchman Khalid Boulahrouz on 63 minutes and then Portugal playmaker Deco for wasting time 15 minutes later.
To cap off an incident filled match, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was the final man to receive his marching orders deep into injury time.
Despite Holland throwing everything forward they could not break down the Portugal defence with goalkeeper Ricardo in inspired form.
Portuguese and Dutch break record of shame
Portugal and the Netherlands broke an unwanted World Cup record here on Sunday with the number of cards issued by the referee.
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov sent four players off - Deco and Costinha for Portugal, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Khalid Boulahrouz for the Dutch - for two bookable offences while eight others were booked.
Portuguese captain Luis Figo could also face suspension along with Deco and Costinha for the quarter-final clash with England as he was booked for headbutting Mark van Bommel - though the victim overreacted.
For the record Portugal won the match 1-0, and the scorer Maniche blamed the referee for the number of cards wielded.
"The referee did not contribute to the spectacle.
"I don't think that it was such a violent match to merit so many sendings off," said Maniche, who also scored a superb goal when Portugal ousted the Dutch in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.
The previous record was 18 cards - two players were sent off - in a 2002 World Cup finals match between Cameroon and Germany
Robinho very doubtful for Ghana clash
Brazilian striker Robinho is considered a doubtful starter for the five-time world champions second round clash with Ghana on Tuesday.
On Monday the 22-year-old Real Madrid star will undergo a scan on his painful right thigh which forced him to leave training early on Saturday.
"It is still painful so that is why he has to undergo the scan," said team doctor Jose Luis Runco.
"For the moment, we don't know whether it is simply a bruise which would be good news.
"Or in the worst case scenario if it is a strained muscle in which case he would have to undergo treatment.
"We will find out on Monday," added Runco.
There had been rumours that coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was veering towards choosing Robinho to partner Ronaldo ahead of the barrel chested Adriano.
Ronaldo plays down record bid
Breaking the all-time record for goals in the World Cup is not top of Brazil striker's Ronaldo's list but beating African side Ghana in Tuesday's second round clash is.
The 29-year-old's brace against Japan brought the Real Madrid star level with German Gerd Muller's mark of 14 but he said on Sunday that it wasn't really on his mind.
"I dedicated the two goals against Japan to my son Ronald, who was in the stands wearing a Brazil shirt," said Ronaldo. "My target is to win the World Cup and if I score goals all the better.
"I am not obsessed being the leading scorer at the World Cup or breaking records.
"I am of course delighted to have equalled the record of 14 goals and if I take it to a new level, I will be even happier but the objective remains as it always has been to win the World Cup.
Schwarzer back in goal for Aussies
Mark Schwarzer will return in goal for Australia in Monday's last 16 round World Cup match with Italy in Kaiserslautern, coach Guus Hiddink confirmed on Sunday.
Schwarzer takes over from Zeljko Kalac, who had a shaky match in Australia's 2-2 draw with Croatia in Stuttgart last Thursday, fumbling Croatia's second goal into his own net.
Hiddink foreshadowed Schwarzer's return shortly after Australia's draw with Croatia that qualified them for the last sixteen for the first time.
Asked at Sunday's pre-match press conference here about whether Schwarzer would be the goalkeeper, Hiddink was blunt and to the point.
"Normally, I don't give a lineup (in advance), but yes," Hiddink said.
Schwarzer has an outstanding record in penalty shootouts and was Australia's hero making two saves in the playoff victory over Uruguay in Sydney last November.
Suarez proud of Ecuador campaign
Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez said he was proud of his team after they exited the World Cup at the last 16 stage after a 1-0 defeat to England on Sunday.
"I think we can go home feeling secure in the knowledge we gave everything," Suarez said.
"There was a lot of mutual respect and Ecuador were able to rise to the occasion in what was only our second appearance at the finals."
"(David) Beckham's free-kick was superbly taken and I can only praise his strike which was the difference in a match which was very intense.
"It needed something special to decide it and unfortunately it came for them.
"At any rate, we fulfilled our commitments to the Ecuadorean people."
"A World Cup is a spectacular thing and fills me with enthusiasm. I couldn't have known what a great experience it would be.
We'll run France ragged says Spaniard
Pablo Ibanez thinks his youthful Spain team can beat ageing France in their last-16 tie in Hanover on Tuesday by wearing them out
"We are going to draw out their weakpoints," promised Ibanez, a defender at Atletico Madrid.
"The bulk of their squad were around when they won the trophy," he points out in reference to France's finest hour when they won the World Cup on home territory back in 1998
"France have an ageing midfield and we will have to make them run," he explained.
Ibanez believes "La Furia", coached by the irrepressible Luis Aragones, can now turn the tables for some past defeats at the hands of France.
"We have a good feeling about this one. We are very confident in our abilities. Confidence is on a high after our three group wins."