On the pitch

26 Jun 2006

Ukraine defeat Switzerland on penalties

The Ukraine reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup on their debut after defeating Switzerland on penalties after 120 minutes of action finished 0-0.

Ukraine 'keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi was the hero in the shoot-out saving three spotkicks as they won the lottery 3-0 despite star striker Andriy Shevchenko missing their first kick.

Earlier, Ukraine and Switzerland's star strikers Shevchenko and Alexander Frei came close to breaking the deadlock in the first-half but saw their efforts come back off the bar.

A hard fought defensive battle produced plenty of goalmouth action but no goals as both keepers stood firm.

In the end it came to the lottery of penalties with Ukraine coming out on top and moving forward into the last eight where they will take on Italy on Friday in Hamburg,

Sagnol pins faith in France's stingy defence

France defender Willy Sagnol believes he has the sectet to shackling free-scoring Spain in Tuesday's quarter-final in Hanover.

"Our defence has made constant improvement since it was put in place for our three warm-ups. We're getting better and better," said the 29-year-old Bayern Munich man on Monday.

"The important thing against Spain is to cut down their space in midfield.

"They have three great strikers all with different qualities - Fernando Torres is really quick, David Villa is a powerful player who has a keen eye for goal, and Raul is an opportunist, we know what he can do. We have to keep tabs on them the whole time.

France's defence have let in just one goal in their three ties so far.

Brazil's Robinho out of Ghana clash

Brazilian striker Robinho is out of Tuesday's second round meeting with Ghana as the five-time world champions bid to reach the quarter-finals, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said Monday.

The 22-year-old Real Madrid star had a scan on his painful right thigh which forced him to leave training early on Saturday and although he can walk normally the test showed swelling, albeit no tear, a CBF statement said.

"Robinho will therefore miss Tuesday's game against Ghana and carry on with physiotherapy," the statement said.

"It's just a little problem," Robinho himself insisted.

"I'll keep on with the treatment and then, God willing, I can be back in contention if the team beat Ghana."

Last minute penalty sees Italy past Aussies

The whole of Italy held its breath as substitute Francesco Totti stepped up to convert a penalty and give his side a 1-0 win over Australia deep into injury time in their last-16 tie in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

Italy now play the winner of Switzerland v Ukraine in the quarter finals.

The drama unfolded as Fabio Grosso fell over stricken Australian defender Lucas Neill while dribbling into the box with 20 seconds of injury time remaining, the Spanish referee awarded a hotly-disputed penalty.

Totti clipped the ball high and left leaving Mark Schwarzer no chance despite diving the right way.

It was a terrible blow for unfancied Australia, who had increasingly dominated the game after the 51st minute straight red card given to Italian defender Marco Materazzi for a two-footed challenge on the edge of the area.

Switzerland and Ukraine go to penalties

Switzerland and Ukraine went to penalties on Monday in their World Cup second round match as they stood locked at 0-0 after extra-time.

Switzerland and Ukraine into extra time

Switzerland and Ukraine are now into the second half of extra-time on Monday in their World Cup second round match with the score still resting at 0-0.

Australia failed to take chances: Hiddink

Australia coach Guus Hiddink said the penalty for Italy which knocked his team out of the World Cup 1-0 here on Monday should not have been awarded.

Franceso Totti smashed home the spot kick in the final seconds of the last 16 match after Fabio Grosso appeared to have tripped over Australian defender Lucas Neill.

"I think it was a questionable penalty, but the referee gave it. He fell, it was just a normal challenge," Hiddink said.

"The real problem was that the Australian team played well here but at the end of the day we were not deadly enough in the penalty area.

"I am proud of this team, not only of the way they played today but in previous games."

Hiddink led Australia to the second round for the first time in their history.

Eriksson full of optimism

Sven-Goran Eriksson was unfazed by England's lacklustre display against Ecuador and has promised the best is yet to come from a side already in the quarter-finals.

"It's strange but it's very good -- knowing that you can play better when you're already qualified for the quarter-final," said Eriksson, whose side will now take on Portugal on Saturday.

"We are among the best eight teams in the world. Germany are there, Argentina are there, now we are there.

"I'm rather proud to be there along with those teams."

"We will do better this time than we did four years ago," he added, referring to England's 2002 exit at the same stage to Brazil.

We earned our luck, says Lippi

Marcello Lippi insisted his Italy side fully deserved their last-gasp 1-0 victory over Australia on Monday which took them into the World Cup quarter-finals.

"I definitely wouldn't say we were lucky," said the 58-year-old after Italy extended their unbeaten run to 22 internationals.

"We had four or five good opportunities to score and their keeper made some great saves.

"We have great respect for Australia, but I thought we defended well and allowed them only a couple of half-chances.

"The lads showed great determination and were very well organised at the back. We even created several opportunities for ourselves when we were a man down.

"We showed tremendous heart and I can't describe the joy. I'm immensely happy."

Ballack foot fine says Klinsmann

Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann said his captain Michael Ballack would be fit for Friday's quarter-final clash with Argentina after overcoming a minor foot injury.

"Michael had trouble with his foot but there is no problem," Klinsmann said at Monday's press conference.

The 29-year-old Ballack missed a brief training session with the hosts on Sunday after a foot injury flared up following Saturday's 2-0 last 16 round win over Sweden.

But the injury is not serious and Ballack is expected to resume training on Tuesday ahead of the Argentina game in Berlin.

Ballack missed Germany's opening 4-2 World Cup win over Costa Rica with a calf injury but has got back to full fitness and turned in some impressive displays.

Bar closes down Swiss and Ukraine at h-t

Ukraine and Switzerland's star strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Alexander Frei came close to breaking the deadlock in their World Cup last 16 clash here on Monday but saw their efforts come off the bar leaving the match delicately poised at 0-0 at half-time.

The winners are set for a quarter-final date with three-time champions Italy - who beat Australia 1-0 earlier - on Friday.

The Swiss had the first meaningful effort on goal as Raphael Wicky came close to only his second goal in 74 appearances as he let fly in the 13th minute forcing Oleksandr Shovkovskyi into a diving save, managing to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

Ukraine were having very little of the ball but they showed they could be dangerous in the 21st minute as Maksym Kalynychenko swung in a freekick from the left and Shevchenko stooped low to get his head to the ball and saw it bounce down and against the bar with Swiss 'keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler beaten.

However, the Swiss went desperately close themselves a few minutes later as Frei's superb freekick rattled the Ukrainian bar but though the ball fell to Patrick Muller a few metres out he skied his effort wide of the goal.

Just before the half-hour mark Ukraine showed their class going forward with a flowing move that ended with the artistic Oleg Shelayev getting two chances to shoot from outside the penalty area but his first one was blocked and on the rebound he fired over the bar.

Beckham smug over critics

Under-fire at home England captain and Real Madrid superstar David Beckham yet again proved vital for England as his trademark free-kick made the difference against Ecuador.

Beckham played a key role in three of the five goals England had managed before Sunday.

"It was nice to silence a few people who have been critical. I can handle my criticism and I'll prove them wrong," he said.

"It was a great feeling to get a goal and put us into the quarter-final."

The England captain, who was physically sick during a match played in draining conditions, curled his shot past Cristian Mora in the 60th minute to hand his side a 1-0 win and a showdown with Portugal

Van Basten hits out after Nuremberg nightmare

Fuming Dutch coach Marco van Basten hit out at the referee and "time-wasting" by Portugal after a World Cup defeat marked by 16 yellow cards and four dismissals.

"Out of the 45 minutes we weren't able to play enough football," van Basten said.

"Every minute there was a foul or the referee whistled so we weren't able to play proper football. It's unfortunate."

Van Basten said Portugal had deliberately tried to disrupt the game by claiming fouls and arguing with the referee.

"Portugal is an experienced opponent, I think that was the difference," he said.

"They were just a little bit more experienced with all these tricks and time-wasting. That was a pity."

Ukraine and Swiss set to battle in Cologne

Ukraine and Switzerland were set to battle it out here in their World Cup last 16 tie here on Monday as both teams sought to make history by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

The winners will face three-time champions Italy, who beat Australia 1-0 in the earlier match.

The clash between the Swiss, who made the last 16 in 1994, and debutants Ukraine represents an intriguing duel between Chelsea-bound Andriy Shevchenko and Alexander Frei, who is desperate to get a big-money move away from unglamorous French outfit Rennes, after they both scored twice in the group stages.

The Swiss will be looking to Frei to score and for their defence to hold firm despite the absence of their outstanding central defender Philippe Senderos.

Australia holding Italy 0-0 at h-t

Italy and Australia were locked at 0-0 after an entertaining and tense opening 45 minutes with the Soceroos controlling the battle for possession while Italy had the cleaner cut chances.

Luca Toni had a fine low shot saved by the legs of Mark Schwarzer after the Fiorentina marksman found a yard of space in the box with a smart turn.

Alberto Gilardino also threatened but could not get enough pace on his shot after the ball bounced unkindly and Schwarzer again saved well.

However the Aussies had chances of their own as they showed no signs of nerves against their more illustrious opponents and Gianluigi Buffon was forced into a smart low save from point blank range when the ball fell to Scott Chipperfield following a scramble in the box.

The Australians are on the verge of a major upset with a place in the quarter-finals at stake while Italy need to shake off their nerves and come out of their defensive shell. The match is finely balanced going into the second half.

Lippi drops Totti for Australia clash

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has dropped striker Francesco Totti for Monday's second round match with Australia, who start with Harry Kewell on the bench.

Totti, who broke his left ankle in February also starts on the bench, with Alessandro Del Piero making first start for the three-time world champions.

Australia coach Guus Hiddink has been forced to start Kewell on the bench as the Liverpool forward is struggling with a groin injury. Marco Bresciano deputises, while Luke Wilkshire comes in for the suspended Brett Emerton.

Mark Schwarzer replaces Zeljko Kalac in goal. Zeljko looked shaky against Croatia and let in a soft goal which almost cost them a place in the second round.

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.

Portugal edge Holland in battle of Nuremburg

A clinical first-half finish from Maniche propelled Portugal to a 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.

Depleted Portugal still good enough for England: Scolari

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Portugal still had enough firepower for their quarter-final with England despite the ravages of the stormiest match in World Cup history.

Deco and Costinha are out with red cards, Cristiano Ronaldo limped off injured and Luis Figo may face further action for headbutting during the incident-packed last-16 1-0 win over the Netherlands.

But Scolari, who turned down an offer to coach England before the tournament, said his squad could cope.

"We have enough players on the bench," he said.

"I have 21 now with a will that I've never seen in a Portuguese team, and sometimes that will overcomes the quality that England has."

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."

Erikson full of optimism

Sven-Goran Eriksson was unfazed by England's lacklustre display against Ecuador and has promised the best is yet to come from a side already in the quarter-finals.

"It's strange but it's very good -- knowing that you can play better when you're already qualified for the quarter-final," said Erikson, whose side will now take on Portugal on Saturday.

"We are among the best eight teams in the world. Germany are there, Argentina are there, now we are there.

"I'm rather proud to be there along with those teams."

"We will do better this time than we did four years ago," he added, referring to England's 2002 exit at the same stage to Brazil.

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.

Ballack 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.

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.