On the pitch

27 Jun 2006

France send Spain packing in 3-1 upset

Patrick Vieira headed home on 83 minutes and Zinedine Zidane scored in injury time to send France into the quarter-finals as Raymond Domenech's side upset favoured Spain 3-1 in a second round thriller in Hanover on Tuesday.

The Juventus midfielder found himself alone at the far post and sent a point blank header in off the body of Sergio Ramos and past Iker Casillas to send the French players and their fans into hysterics.

Zidane then made the result safe when he broke past the Spanish defence who were pushing forward and will now play at least one more game before heading into retirement.

The defeat was the first under Spain coach Luis Aragones after 26 matches in charge.

French winger Franck Ribery earlier broke the offside trap on 41 minutes to round Casillas and level the scores after David Villa had scored from the penalty spot for Spain on 28 minutes.

The stage was then set for Vieira to put France in front before Zidane wrapped it up and sent Les Bleus into the last 8 where they will play Brazil.

Ribery levels for France against Spain at h-t

French winger Frank Ribery broke the offside trap on 41 minutes to round Iker Casillas and level the scores after David Villa had scored from the penalty spot for Spain in a thrilling 1-1 draw at half-time in Hanover.

It was Ribery's first international goal and capped a passionate opening 45 minutes that kicked into life when Villa scored with a pinpoint penalty on 26 minutes after Lilian Thuram had fouled Pablo Ibanez just inside the area.

The winner is set to take on defending champions Brazil in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Blame FIFA not me says Swiss Streller

Switzerland striker Marco Streller was furious with the crowd in Cologne as his nation was eliminated by Ukraine in a penalty shoot-out on Monday.

"People were singing 'Lukas Podolski' or 'Germany is heading for the final'. They showed a total lack of respect," Streller fumed.

He said FIFA was to blame for selling, in his words, "95 percent of the tickets to Germans, while Swiss fans had trouble finding any".

Streller's criticism might guarantee him a rough ride when the club season starts - he plays for FC Cologne.

Streller was the first Swiss to step up in the penalty shoot out, his miss setting the tone for all three failed penalties as they lost it 3-0 after extra time finished 0-0.

Time to party says Ronaldo

Brazil striker Ronaldo said he hoped he had given his countrymen and women cause to start partying after his goal in a 3-0 canter over Ghana made him the top scorer in World Cup history.

"I'm very happy with the result, and with breaking the record - but we win as a team. I get goals and on we go," grinned the 29-year-old Real Madrid star.

His fifth-minute strike gave him 15 goals to take him past West German legend Gerd Muller's previous top haul of 14 goals to take the Brazilians into the quarter-finals.

The striker, criticised for a lethargic start to the tournament and for apparent weight problems, made it three goals in his last two games after latching onto a brilliant pass from Kaka that left him free to win a one-on-one with Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

"The record had stood for seven World Cups so I am naturally very pleased to beat it," smiled Ronaldo.

"I want more and more and more!"

Rivals Kahn, Lehmann getting on says Koepke

Germany's goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said Tuesday that rival goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn were getting along fine at the World Cup finals.

The 37-year-old Kahn lost a two-year battle with Lehmann, 36, for the number one jersey but Koepke insisted there was no resentment between the two.

"The atmosphere between the two goalkeepers is great," Koepke said.

"I have known Oliver for a long time and know when he needs to be left alone," said Koepke, a Euro 96 winner.

"Of course it is a bitter situation for him but he is handling it brilliantly."

Lehmann is set to start Germany's quarter-final match against Argentina on Friday with Kahn watching on from the substitutes bench.

Nesta doubtful for Ukraine quarter-final

Italy's central defender Alessandro Nesta is unlikely to be fit in time to face the Ukraine in Friday's World Cup quarter-final in Hamburg due to his recurrent groing injury.

"It will be very difficult to have him ready," Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci said on Tuesday.

Nesta's replacement Marco Materazzi was sent off in Monday's 1-0 win against Australia and is suspended for the Ukraine match.

That means Palermo's Andrea Barzagli, a second-half substitute against Australia, will come in at centre-back to play alongside Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Should either Cannavaro or Barzagli get injured, Italy have no cover in that position and would probably be forced to employ midfielder Gennaro Gattuso or right-back Gianluca Zambrotta as an emergency centre-half.

Record breaker Ronaldo helps Brazil march on

Brazil striker Ronaldo became the World Cup's all-time top scorer and Adriano poached a dubious second to break the match open as the defending champions marched into the quarter-finals with a tough 3-0 win over impressive Ghana on Tuesday in Dortmund.

Ronaldo's 15th World Cup goal after five minutes took him past the 14 goals scored by Gerd Muller of West Germany at the 1970 and 1974 finals.

Brazil captain Cafu also set a record by picking up his 16th World Cup win.

However the turning point of the match came in first-half injury time when Brazil swept forward following Ghana's best chance of the match at the other end before Adriano tapped home from close range despite being clearly offside.

The African protests were in vain as they went in at the break 2-0 down and with a mountain to climb.

Ze Roberto then gave the scoreline a flattering look in the 84th minute when he broke the offside trap, chipped Richard Kingston in the Ghana goal and tapped the ball into an empty goal.

Brazil will now meet either France or Spain who meet later Tuesday - in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Frankfurt.

Ghana coach proud but disappointed

Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic watched the second half of his squad's 3-0 second-round World Cup loss to Brazil away from the bench after offering Slovakian referee Michel Lubos some fashion advice.

"It would be better for us if you put on a yellow jersey," the 60-year-old Serbian suggested.

"I was never sent off until today," said the vastly-experienced handler.

Dujkovic's ire was aroused after a cross from Brazil captain Cafu deflected off defender Illiasu Shilla and bounced into the goal off the thigh of Adriano, who was offside on the play but was not flagged by the linesman.

But Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira would have none of it, saying Dujkovic was whining after being beaten by a superior team.

"That's a loser's crying game," Parreira said. "Those who lose cry, weep or cringe."

"Of course I'm not satisfied because it was 3-0, but I'm very proud of my guys," Dujkovic said. "It's not a shame to lose to Brazil."

Goal shy Lampard to keep at it

Frank Lampard's goal-scoring touch has deserted him at the World Cup, but he has vowed to rediscover it in the quarter-finals against Portugal.

The Chelsea attacking midfielder scored 23 times for club and country last season but has squandered countless chances in England's first four games, missing the sort of opportunities he normally buries.

"The goals are just not going in for me, chances which I would normally eat up," said Lampard.

"Unfortunately it's the World Cup and I've now gone four games without a goal although they're going in during training.

"I am due one. The only way to make that happen is to keep on getting in there and I won't shy away from that.

"If I shy away from that, I am taking a lot away from my game so I will keep getting in there and you make your luck and the goals will come."

Never mind the performance says Rio

Rio Ferdinand has defended England's slow start to the World Cup and is confident they will raise their game against Portugal in Saturday's quarter-final showdown.

"I think you'd rather be playing well towards the end of this tournament than be playing well at the beginning if you had a choice," Ferdinand said.

"Ideally you'd like to play well all the way through but I think you've seen in the past that a lot of teams start slow and then get a full head of steam at the end when they get to the final.

"We don't care how we get to the final, we'll take that."

"Everyone keeps talking about performances, performances, performances -- but it's results that win tournaments," Ferdinand said.

Ronaldo becomes top scorer as Brazil lead at h-t

Brazil striker Ronaldo became the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 15 goals as his side led brave Ghana 2-0 at half-time in second round action on Tuesday.

The Africans were again the victims of disgraceful refereeing when Adriano scored the second goal just before the break despite clearly being offside.

Ronaldo's goal after five minutes took him past the 14 goals scored by Gerd Muller of West Germany at the 1970 and 1974 finals.

He collected a pass from Kaka and used his trademark stepover to deceive Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson and slot the ball into the net.

Their best chance for Ghana came in the 42nd minute when John Mensah headed a downward header from a corner only for the ball to strike the inside leg of Brazilian keeper Dida and bounce clear.

Adriano's goal may have taken the stuffing out of a brave first-half performance by Ghana who now face an uphill battle.

The winner will advance to a Saturday quarter-final against either France or Spain who play later Tuesday.

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."

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.

Ballack, Klose miss German training

Skipper Michael Ballack and top scorer Miroslav Klose missed Germany's training session on Tuesday but are expected to be fit for Friday's World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

Ballack and Klose, the leading scorer at the finals with four goals, sat out training to do individual fitness work, but the German Football Federation (DFB) medical team stressed both would be fully fit for the Argentina game.

The 29-year-old Ballack sustained a minor foot injury in the 2-0 second round win over Sweden but manager Jurgen Klinsmann said it was not a concern.

Second-string goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, 37, also missed Tuesday's training saying he was not feeling well.

Ronaldo becomes all-time World Cup top scorer

Ronaldo became the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 15 goals on Tuesday when he scored in the fifth minute of Brazil's second-round match against Ghana to make it 1-0 to the champions.

Ronaldo's goal took him past the 14 goals scored by Gerd Muller of West Germany at the 1970 and 1974 finals.

His other two goals in this tournament came in the 4-1 defeat of Japan in the first round.

The 29-year-old Real Madrid striker was criticised for his performance in Brazil's first two games in Germany when he appeared to be overweight and out of form.

But coach Carlos Alberto Parreira stuck with him and he re-discovered his goalscoring touch.

Ronaldo scored four goals in the 1998 World Cup, eight in 2002 and three so far in 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,

Brazilian captain Cafu set to make history

Brazilian captain Cafu was set to make World Cup history at the opening whistle here Tuesday in the defending champions' second-round match against upstart debutantes Ghana.

The 36-year-old AC Milan fullback was named to the starting lineup for what will be a Brazilian career record 19th appearance in a tournament match. Cafu can also set a career mark by being on the winning side for a 16th time.

His mark could be overshadowed by Brazilian playmaker Ronaldo, who could become the all-time World Cup goal king with a 15th career tally.

The 29-year-old Real Madrid star matched West Germany's Gerd Muller for the record with two goals in a 4-1 first-round triumph over Japan.

Brazil, bidding for a sixth crown and fourth consecutive trip to the World Cup final, has won 10 World Cup matches in a row. But the South Americans could have a fight against a quick Ghana team that shocked experts by getting this far.

The winner advances to a quarter-final on Saturday at Frankfurt against the winner of a match later Tuesday between Spain and France.

We'll beat Argies with our own game says Frings

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings has revealed his side's plans to beat Argentina in their quarter-final on Friday.

The 29-year-old with 56 caps said the team would not consider man-marking Argentina's playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.

"We can not make the mistake of concentrating on one player as Argentina have a lot of players that can decide the game," Frings admitted.

"I can not imagine running round after Riquelme for 90 minutes. I and Michael Ballack will play against him, depending on whose side of the pitch he is on.

"We can play at a high tempo for 90 minutes or 120 minutes if we need to. I do not think Argentina like it when you get amongst them," Frings explained.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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