Spain 1 France 3

Late second-half goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane put France through to a World Cup quarter-final against Brazil with a victory over a battling Spanish side.

Vieira's close-range header eight minutes from time broke the hearts of Spanish fans before Zidane capped a wonderful evening for Les Bleus by striking France's third deep into injury time.

David Villa had given the Spaniards a 28th-minute lead from the penalty spot after Lilian Thuram had bundled over Pablo inside the area before Franck Ribery equalised shortly before half-time.

Spain promised to erase the nation's reputation as World Cup underachievers but despite dominated the opening half they struggled to show their true potential when it truly mattered.

Luis Aragones' second-half substitutions backfired with Luis Garcia and Joaquin failing to inspire Spain to victory.

Raymond Domenech's side had been unconvincing in the group phase, drawing with Switzerland and South Korea before defeating Togo to finish second in Group G, but they never gave up and were rewarded.

They now face Brazil, a replay of the 1998 World Cup final, which saw France come out triumphant.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Raul were both included in the starting XI with the latter placed up front alongside Villa and Fernando Torres in an attack-minded Spanish side.

Zidane returned from suspension to captain his side in what could have been his last game had it gone against France.

Spain dominated possession in the early stages of the game and would have gone in front had Mariano Pernia's curled free-kick not fizzed inches wide of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's far post.

At the other end, Thierry Henry's right-footed effort from the edge of the area proved an easy catch for goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Spain applied pressure in midfield and surged forward but struggled to break their rivals' well-drilled defence.

For all their superiority, Aragones' men could have trailed in the 15th minute had Pernia not made a vital block from Zidane's bullet shot from inside the area.

France finally put together a good move midway though the first half, with Zidane's long pass finding Henry at the far post, who knocked the ball into the danger zone but both Ribery and Vieira failed to connect.

The prayers of the Spanish fans were answered soon afterwards however when Italian referee Roberto Rosetti pointed to the penalty spot as Thuram fouled Pablo with a clumsy challenge from behind.

Villa found the right-hand corner of the net and there was little Barthez could do to deny Spain taking the lead.

Stunned, Les Bleus pressed forward in search of the equaliser and they got it four minutes before the break as they finally broke the offside trap.

Vieira's perfect pass sliced Spain's defence wide open and found an unmarked Ribery, who surged inside the area and dribbled round Casillas to slot his shot into the back of the net.

France picked up where they left off after the restart and should have gone in front had Casillas not made a spectacular one-handed save from Florent Malouda's close-range effort.

An unhappy Aragones wasted no time and made a double substitution with Luis Garcia and Joaquin replacing Raul and Villa.

But it was their rivals who were still calling the shots, with the ever-present Ribery delivering a testing ball towards the dangerzone but there was no-one at the end.

On the hour mark, Eric Abidal anticipated Torres inside the box to clear Joaquin's deadly cross from the right.

Unable to force their way through the middle Spain found a more successful route out wide and were unlucky not to go in front in the 68th minute.

Luis Garcia latched onto Pernia's cross from the left but his header bounced onto the ground to go high over the crossbar.

Aragones played his last card shortly after, with Marcos Senna replacing Xavi, who had failed to make much of an impact in midfield.

Domenech brought on forward Sidney Govou for Malouda with 15 minutes remaining but it was Spain that looked more threatening.

Joaquin's angled strike from inside the area went inches wide of the near post while Govou tried his luck from the distance but fired off-target.

With eight minutes remaining, Carles Puyol brought down Henry to give France a set-piece opportunity and it proved costly. Zidane floated in the free-kick which took a deflection into the patch of Vieira whose header went in off the leg of Sergio Ramos.

It proved a hammer blow for the Spaniards who failed to hit back and conceded another goal in stoppage time as they pushed forward.

Zidane got past two defenders before firing towards the far post to mark a wonderful evening for Les Bleus.

Brazil 3 Ghana 0

Ronaldo became the highest scorer in World Cup finals history as Brazil dimmed the Black Stars of Ghana to take their customary place in the last eight.

The 29-year-old's early opener - his third in two games - allowed the five-times winners to repel the forceful threat of a Ghana side who took the game to their illustrious opponents for long periods but were let down by a combination of erratic finishing and bad luck.

Certainly, just as Australia had reason to complain about big decisions favouring big teams in their heartbreaking exit to Italy, Ghana could grumble as well, with Adriano possibly offside twice before diverting home Brazil's second in first-half stoppage time.

Unlike Australia though, Ghana could not say one decision had robbed them. If they had been good enough to win, they would have done, such was the amount of possession and number of chances they created.

But, with Michael Essien suspended, they lacked composure and, with Ronaldo now back to form, Brazil made them pay.

Ronaldo's two-goal salvo against Japan had brought him level on 14 with legendary Gerd Muller on the all-time tournament scoring charts and the chunky Real Madrid man took just five minutes to barge his way past the German.

Much is made of the effect Ronaldo's weight has had on his game. But his mind and feet remain quick if nothing else.

And after busting Ghana's offside trap to race into Ze Roberto's through ball, Ronaldo produced the equivalent of a Muhammad Ali shuffle to skip past Richard Kingson and tap into an empty net.

As the Africans struggled to cope in those difficult early minutes, it seemed they would be swamped, especially when Adriano raced clear in the same manner as Ronaldo had done on Brazil's next attack.

Again, Adriano attempted to keep round the Ghana keeper. But, when he fell over Kingson's prone body, referee Lubos Michel bravely booked the striker for diving.

It was the cue for Ghana to shake off any terror they may have had at facing the world champions and force their way into the game.

Led by outstanding skipper Stephen Appiah, a Marvin Hagler to Ronaldo's Ali, the Black Stars forced Brazil onto the back foot for the best part of half an hour, creating space often enough to give genuine hope to those who remain to challenge the South Americans for their crown.

Had Matthew Amoah not snatched at a couple of decent opportunities, Ghana might have been level before the three-minute spell just before half-time which effectively confirmed their exit.

When Sulley Muntari floated a corner to the edge of the six-yard box, John Mensah rose highest and connected with a firm downward header which seemed certain to bring the equaliser.

Yet Ghana could only choke on their celebrations as the ball bounced up and with amazing misfortune on the Africans' part hit Dida on the shin and was smashed away to safety.

Brazil immediately countered and grabbed the crucial second, although the goal only brought fury from the Ghanaians and coach Ratomir Dujkovic, who offered Michel a piece of his mind as the pair headed for the tunnel at half-time.

The source of Dujkovic's anger was obvious enough. As Brazil broke forward, Adriano was definitely offside once early in the move and appeared to be beyond the last man again when Cafu's cross flicked off Illiasu Shilla and onto the Inter Milan striker's thigh before nestling in the net.

With the cushion of a second, Brazil were able to play with greater freedom than at probably any stage in competition.

Unsurprisingly, Ronaldinho was at the heart of most Brazilian moves, setting up Roberto Carlos for a shot Kingson saved with his legs, then forcing the Ghana keeper to head clear as he tried to find Ze Roberto with a sublime chipped pass. Ronaldo, Cafu and Juan all might have added to Brazil's tally at the death.

Yet Ghana refused to buckle even if Asamoah Gyan let his team-mates down with a blatant dive inside the area nine minutes from time, which rightly resulted in a second yellow card.

That one regrettable incident should not be allowed to scar Ghana's magnificent contribution to the competition, or a compelling game.

Ze Roberto's late third was extremely harsh on the Africans, many of whom could be joining Essien in the Barclays Premiership next season.

Switzerland 0 Ukraine 0 (Ukraine wins 3-0 on penalties)

Switzerland were eliminated without conceding a World Cup goal in the entire tournament when Ukraine won a penalty shootout after a dire goalless draw in Cologne.

Goalscoring chances were hard to come by although both sides hit the bar in the first half - first Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko and then Switzerland's Alexander Frei.

But the second half and extra-time were turgid with neither side looking likely to score and it was left to penalties to resolve the issue with Switzerland's goal still unbreached in 390 minutes of World Cup action.

But Switzerland's nerve deserted them in the shootout as they failed to convert a single kick while Ukraine netted three out of four.

The Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler saved Shevchenko's first penalty in the shootout but Switzerland forward Marco Streller then allowed Oleksandr Shovkovskyi to save the first Swiss kick.

Artem Milevskiy converted successfully - and cheekily - for Ukraine and then Tranquillo Barnetta missed the second Swiss kick, rattling the crossbar.

Serhiy Rebrov made it 2-0 to Ukraine and then it was Ricardo Cabanas' turn to miss, the goalkeeper saving again.

Oleg Gusev then converted the final penalty to secure a last eight tie for Ukraine with Italy and a 3-0 shoot-out win.

The first chance of the match fell to Switzerland after four minutes when a ball bounced kindly for Hakan Yakin who rushed his shot and fired wide.

Yakin tried his luck again from distance after good work from skipper Johan Vogel but it was an easy save for Ukraine goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

A dreadful pass from Ukraine's Anatoliy Tymoschuk gave Raphael Wicky a shooting opportunity and the 29-year-old's 20-yard effort forced a diving save at the expense of a corner from Shovkovskyi.

Oleg Blokhin's men were second best in the opening 20 minutes but then a foul by Johan Djourou on Andriy Voronin gave them a free-kick on the left side of the penalty area.

Maksym Kalinichenko's free-kick saw both Shevchenko and Johan Djourou go for the ball with the Ukrainian winning the race and - to the relief of 19-year-old Djourou who was in for his injured Arsenal club-mate Philippe Senderos - the ball rebounded off the bar to safety.

Then it was Switzerland's turn to strike the woodwork as Frei's free-kick, awarded for a foul by Oleg Shelayev on Tranquillo Barnetta, rattled the crossbar with Barnetta miscueing the rebound hopelessly.

Shevchenko then set up a fine opportunity for Kalinichenko whose curled shot was inaccurate. Ukraine were coming more into the game and then Shelayev fired over from the edge of the box after his initial shot came back to him off the legs of Djourou.

After 33 minutes Kuhn brought off Djourou whom he replaced with Stephane Grichting and the Arsenal man walked off, clearly dismayed.

Philipp Degen then created a shooting chance for his fellow full-back Ludovic Magnin whose finishing from 25 yards was wayward then Shovkovskyi had to beat out an ambitious Yakin free-kick as the Swiss ended the half strongly.

There was an early scare in the first minute of the second half for the Swiss as Voronin's header flashed wide of Pascal Zuberbuhler's far post but at the other end good play by Ricardo Cabanas set up Yakin whose shot struck a Ukrainian.

But Voronin's shot from distance on the turn forced Zuberbuhler to save at the other end. The cries of 'Berlin' by the Swiss supporters were beginning to look a little optimistic as the Ukrainians had the better of the early minutes of the second period.

A good pass from Barnetta almost released Frei who just failed to control the ball after having got the better of the Ukrainian defence but the game was becoming bogged down.

Mexican referee Benito Archundia booked Barnetta for halting a dangerous run by Andriy Nesmachniy who was two minutes later carried off for the second time in the match for treatment only to return, temporarily further depleting a defence without suspended pair Vyacheslav Sviderskyi and Andriy Rusol and the injured Vladimir Yezerskyi.

Voronin's header from an Oleg Gusev cross was wide of the mark and then some clever footwork from Shevchenko created a shooting opportunity for himself with his left-footed effort from the edge of the area just wide.

Extra-time came with whistles of derision from supporters who were clearly not impressed with the first 90 minutes and the extra half hour was also unsatisfying.

Australia 0 Italy 1

Substitute Francesco Totti scored an injury-time penalty to stun Australia and guide 10-man Italy to to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

With the game seemingly looking to be going to extra-time, Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill brought down Fabio Grosso inside the area and Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointed to the spot.

Totti, who had been surprisingly excluded from the starting XI and had only entered the pitch 15 minutes earlier, coolly struck past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Marco Materazzi's sending-off early in the second half after a two-footed tackle on Mark Bresciano had proved a hammer blow for the Azzurri.

Italy failed to take advantage of their clear-cut chances in the first half and were forced to defend after the break once Materazzi had been dismissed but the Socceroos were unable to breakthrough.

The Azzurri now face the winner of Ukraine v Switzerland on Saturday in Hamburg.

Marcello Lippi's decision to drop Totti and play Alessandro Del Piero behind attacking duo Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni was not welcomed by the fans.

Australia coach Guus Hiddink chose Mark Bresciano to replace Liverpool's Harry Kewell, who had failed to recover from a groin injury while Schwarzer returned in goal.

The Socceroos began in confident fashion and almost stunned their opponents in the opening minute, with Scott Chipperfield's cross picking out Tim Cahill in the box but the Everton midfielder could not find any power in his header.

Toni then latched on to Del Piero's dangerous cross and headed inches wide of the far post while Chipperfield made a vital block withAlberto alberto Gilardino ready to shoot from Del Piero's beautiful assist.

Gilardino should have put his team ahead in the 19th minute but his acrobatic kick was palmed over by Schwarzer.

His next save proved more spectacular with Toni controlling Andrea Pirlo's long ball before unleashing a shot which Schwarzer managed to clear with his leg.

Midway through the half Mark Viduka should have punished Italy but his close-range header from Bresciano's free-kick proved an easy catch for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Buffon was then forced to dive to his left to save Chipperfield's powerful effort from close-range in what was the Aussies' best chance of the opening half.

Five minutes before half-time Gilardino failed to get behind Toni's assist as the Azzurri edged closer.

But despite their clear-cut chances the Italians could have been trailing at the interval had Cahill managed to get a touch on Luke Wilkshire's inviting cross.

Lippi made his first change at half-time with striker Vincenzo Iaquinta replacing Gilardino and the substitute immediately provided a cross for Toni, who fired into the stands.

Five minutes after the re-start Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo showed a straight red to Materazzi for a two-footed tackle on Bresciano, whose subsequent free-kick fizzed wide of Buffon's far post.

On the hour Chipperfield tested Buffon with a stinging drive which the keeper did well to clear before Wilkshire was then booked for an unnecessary challenge on Del Piero.

The Italians continued to make unforced errors and were quite happy to play inside their own half and hit the Aussies in the counter-attack.

It could have worked had Gattuso delivered a good ball to an unmarked Del Piero inside the area but his cross was too long.

The Aussies failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority as Italy kept their composure in defence.

Bresciano again tested Buffon before the same player's corner saw Cahill head over.

Guus Hiddink made his first substitution 10 minutes from time with forward John Aloisi on for Mile Sterjovski.

Zambrotta was booked for wasting time as the Azzurri were desperately holding on.

But with 30 seconds remaining, Grosso came to the rescue to help the Italians march on.

The Fans II

Russian ref loses it

Valentin Ivanov is set to become an infamous figure in World Cup history.

His officiating in the 2nd round match between Holland and Portugal reduced football to a side issue in Nuremburg as he deigned to send off 4 players and hand out 16 yellow cards.

What may well be forgotten is Maniche's 23rd-minute winning goal - which means Portugal face England in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

Portugal 1 Netherlands 0

An unbelievable World Cup knockout clash between Portugal and Holland ended with Luiz Felipe Scolari barring the way for England and a spot in the semi-finals for the third major tournament running.

Just as in Shizuoka at the 2002 World Cup and Lisbon in Euro 2004, Scolari and Sven-Goran Eriksson will go head to head at the quarter-final stage, with the Swede desperately hoping it will be third time lucky.

And for once, fortune already appears to be smiling on Eriksson as Portugal will be deprived of Costinha and, much more crucially, chief playmaker Deco after the pair were dismissed in a stormy affair as both sides finished with nine men.

A game containing everything good in the game, and plenty of the bad, was settled by Maniche's first-half strike. By the time it ended, under-pressure Russian referee Valentin Ivanov had produced an incredible 16 yellow cards - equalling the all-time tournament record - plus four reds and been forced to intervene in countless minor skirmishes which did little to foster the spirit of friendship FIFA are so keen to promote.

And, through it all, Ruud van Nistelrooy remained on the bench, axed now by his country as well as his club, with his future looking distinctly uncertain.

So closely matched were these two sides on paper and so enthralling - England apart - has this World Cup been, it could have been anticipated there would be no lack of incident.

Van Nistelrooy's omission provided the first talking point an hour before kick-off.

Having dumped Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert and Roy Makaay from his squad altogether, Van Basten has already shown himself to be no respecter of reputations and Van Nistelrooy was paying the price for a series of indifferent performances in Germany which were highlighted in public by his coach earlier this week.

Van Nistelrooy's absence cost him an anticipated match-up with Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, the man with whom a training ground bust-up is said to have led to his Old Trafford exile.

Not that Ronaldo lasted long, 34 minutes to be precise.

Marc van Bommel had already been cautioned for chopping down the winger when Khalid Boulahrouz caught him with a vicious high tackle which warranted more than the yellow card it received.

The deep gash to Ronaldo's thigh proved his agonised expression was no over-exaggeration and although he made his way to the touchline for treatment on two separate occasions, he eventually left the field for good in streams of tears.

Fortunately for Portugal, the 21-year-old had already made a positive contribution, darting between Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Wesley Sneijder to seize possession before releasing Deco with an inspired pass.

The Barcelona man quickly crossed low, allowing Pauleta to lay a pass off to Maniche. No longer wanted by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, the midfielder skipped inside Andre Ooijer and beat Edwin van der Sar with an impressive finish.

Ronaldo was not alone in being on the wrong end of crude tackles. Arjen Robben's shoulder was the point of impact when Nuno Valente flew in to make a high, studs-first challenge.

But it was Portugal who carried the greater attacking threat and the tie would surely have been sealed had Van der Sar not saved instinctively with his legs when Pauleta turned on to Simao's cross.

The value of the stop was heightened still further seconds later when Costinha ridiculously stuck his arm out to intercept a pass bound for Van Persie. Having already been booked, a red card was automatic.

A flurry of activity around the Portugal goal at the start of the second half saw Phillip Cocu smash a shot against the underside of the bar and Ricardo unconvincingly shovel a Van Bommel shot round the post.

Then, with the crime count mounting rapidly, Luis Figo was fortunate to escape with a caution when he shoved his head - albeit with minor contact - into Van Bommel's face.

Figo was also involved in the next incident, the one which sparked a mass confrontation between both sets of players by the dug-outs as he went down after being caught in the face by Boulahrouz's arm, prompting under-pressure referee Ivanov to produce another red card.

Deco swiftly followed, booked twice in five minutes as chaos reigned, with Van Bronckhorst also departing early in stoppage time.

Amid the carnage, Portugal's remaining nine players, marshalled by the outstanding Ricardo Carvalho, somehow survived, although in the end they were indebted to keeper Ricardo, who brilliantly denied Dirk Kuyt after Van Nistelrooy's replacement had been put clean through.

England 1 Ecuador 0

Sven-Goran Eriksson lives to fight another day but his England team do not look likely World Cup winners.

David Beckham produced a long-overdue piece of free-kick magic to sink Ecuador and book his team into the last eight.

They head north from Stuttgart to Gelsenkirchen on Saturday but no-one will fear this misfiring team.

Stuttgart is the home of Porsche but England looked more like an old banger than a luxury sports car, easing through the gears.

An army of fans wait for the moment when the team click and fulfil their potential - but that moment does not seem close.

Eriksson's men huffed and puffed in the heat to overcome the unfancied South Americans.

It might not have happened but for a moment of vintage Beckham on the hour.

Frank Lampard won a free-kick and the skipper stepped up.

Steven Gerrard was screaming for it playing to the back-post where he was unmarked but Beckham ignored him and sent the ball curling over the wall.

Ecuador keeper Cristian Mora reached it but could not keep it out of the bottom corner.

It was Beckham's first in more than a year for his country and a reminder of the days when he seemed to win England games on his own.

It made him the first England player to score in three different World Cup finals and he could not hide his delight.

Beckham had been a target for criticism before the game, after a disappointing display against Sweden last week.

Sir Geoff Hurst thought he should have been replaced by Aaron Lennon.

Beckham did not have a great game, nor did many of his team-mates, but this contribution was just as crucial as his penalty against Argentina, four years ago.

Eriksson ripped up his 4-4-2 blueprint and thrust Michael Carrick into his first competitive England game.

Carrick has barely played recently. He started against Belarus in the B-game, a month ago, and has played only 23 minutes since, as a substitute against Jamaica.

His task was to sit in front of the back-four and keep possession, slowing the tempo in the intense heat.

But England seldom look comfortable when they try to slow the pace of the game down.

Carrick linked up the passes nicely enough in midfield but he is not a natural defender.

His selection seemed to convince the rest of the midfield and the full-backs that they could stream forward without risk.

But when they did, central defenders John Terry and Rio Ferdinand were left hopelessly exposed.

Ecuador should have stolen the lead in 11th minute when Terry miscued a simple header.

Carlos Tenorio latched onto Terry's mistake and burst through on goal but Cole sprinted back and threw himself in front of his shot.

The Arsenal full-back, winning his 50th cap, did enough to divert it onto the bar and out for a corner.

England breathed again but they struggled to find any rhythm at all, despite the extra man in midfield.

Easy passes were misdirected and Beckham's dead-ball delivery was terrible before the break.

Wayne Rooney suffered alone up front in only his second start after injury.

He was a victim of the dreadful service, all too often having to challenge for a long punt from Paul Robinson with no support anywhere near him.

The team disappeared back into the dressing to a chorus of jeers from their own fans.

Eriksson insists he is not the sort of manager to throw teacups around at half-time but this might have been a good time to start.

The first-half display was as bad as anything so far from England in the finals.

Whatever was said, the Swede made no major tactical changes during the interval.

England came out in the same shape but Beckham's free-kick changed the game in the 60th minute.

Ecuador hit back briefly and Robinson was forced to make a full-length save from Luis Valencia.

Rooney started to enjoy more time and space as the South Americans pushed out for the equaliser.

One jinking run from the Manchester United striker down the England left set up a wonderful chance for Lampard but the Chelsea midfielder smashed it high over the bar.

Rooney, who lasted a full 90 minutes, then tried his luck from the edge of the box but Mora saved to his right.

Argentina 2 Mexico 1

Argentina emerged triumphant from a match of the highest quality thanks to a truly stunning extra-time goal from Maxi Rodriguez to claim a place in the quarter-finals against hosts Germany.

Mexico had mounted a brave and ambitious challenge but were beaten by a strike from the Argentina midfielder that is unlikely to be matched by anyone this World Cup.

Rafael Marquez had rocked the tournament favourites with an early goal for Mexico only for Jared Borgetti's own goal, under pressure from Hernan Crespo, to hand Argentina a way back into the match.

What a contest this was. With Argentina's magnificent, flag-twirling fans in full cry, it was the sort of spectacle that captured the uniqueness of the World Cup.

Argentina's build-up play was something to savour. Their movement off the ball and incisive passing through midfield triangles - the qualities that grabbed the attention in their first two group matches especially - once more stood out.

Mexico were more direct but extremely effective nonetheless, and they made it an uncomfortable night in particular for Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze, playing at centre-back.

With Argentina rated so highly, few would have imagined them falling behind, fewer still with less than six minutes on the clock.

Pavel Pardo's free-kick from the right touchline was flicked on by Mario Mendez and with Heinze caught sleeping Barcelona defender Marquez arrived at the far post to slam the ball past Roberto Abbondanzieri.

No one scored more goals in qualifying than Mexico's Borgetti - 14 all told - and the Bolton striker constantly menaced Argentina, but it was he who inadvertently handed the initiative back.

Crespo claimed it as his but it was Borgetti, trying to challenge the Chelsea player, who met Juan Roman Riquelme's corner with a bullet header into the top corner of his own net.

Riquelme, so strong on the ball that he just brushes off attempted challengers, had another impressive game while Esteban Cambiasso produced a couple of exquisite passes that might have led to goals.

His first was to Crespo who shot on the turn but Mexico captain Marquez had anticipated brilliantly and blocked him out.

An even better pass then freed Crespo again but, one on one with Oswaldo Sanchez, he lifted the ball over the Mexican keeper only to see it bounce wide of the far post.

Mexico were not to be outdone though and Borgetti was unlucky not to score from 25 yards, his piledriver heading for the top corner before Abbondanzieri tipped it over.

Heinze, perhaps rusty from his season-long injury lay-off, made another elementary error and took his eye off a pass from his keeper. Jose Fonseca nipped in and was felled 25 yards from goal with Heinze fortunate that Roberto Ayala was close enough to allow Swiss referee Massimo Busacca to produce a yellow instead of red.

After a tremendous first half there was a more cautious feel to the second but Mexico's tactics continued to create problems for their opponents.

Borgetti, six yards out, brought a long ball down and hit a snap-shot but somehow Abbondanzieri managed to parry his strike. His forward partner Fonseca then had an excellent chance after Gonzalo Pineda nutmegged Lionel Scaloni but could only head wide.

Riquelme, using his strength to good effect, released Javier Saviola on goal but his effort with the outside of his right foot was turned aside by Sanchez.

Mexico's hard work continued to frustrate Argentina and Jose Pekerman, seeking a decisive thrust, sent on Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Pablo Aimar - not a bad trio of substitutes.

Messi, on his 19th birthday, did put the ball in the net in normal time only for assistant referee Matthias Arnet to raise his flag for offside - a poor decision as television replays confirmed.

Such a game deserved a winning goal of the very highest quality and there could have been few better than the one Rodriguez produced eight minutes into injury time.

Juan Sorin sent a cross-field pass to the right-hand corner of the penalty area and the Atletico Madrid midfielder took the ball on his chest before sending a left-foot volley that soared past Sanchez into the net.

This had been some test for Argentina, but what a way to come up with the answer.

Germany 2 Sweden 0

Lukas Podolski scored twice within the first 12 minutes as World Cup hosts Germany safely secured their passage into the quarter-finals courtesy of a 2-0 victory over 10-men Sweden.

The 21-year-old Bayern Munich-bound striker opened the scoring after just four minutes, with fellow frontman Miroslav Klose having a hand in both goals.

Stunned Sweden were then reduced to 10 men after defender Teddy Lucic picked up two yellow cards before half-time, although the Scandinavians should have pulled a goal back through former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson who sent a 53rd-minute penalty over the crossbar.

High-flying Germany, who looked impressive until the sending-off changed the momentum of the game, now take on either Argentina or Mexico in Berlin in the last eight.

The hosts have been oozing with confidence since their opening 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, and they quickly stamped their authority on opponents who had troubled England in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.

Klose slipped past Erik Edman on his way into the box but Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson intervened. The goalkeeper's clearance, however, landed at the feet of Podolski who easily fired home from 14 yards out for the early lead.

After the same striker let fly again three minutes later - this time from 20 yards out - Larsson found himself in the clear after a long ball bounced into the box. He tackled Christoph Metzelder, only to hit the wrong side of the netting from seven yards out on the left.

Podolski then grabbed his second goal of the afternoon, again following some impressive work from Klose.

The Werder Bremen star drew three defenders on a nice run across the penalty area and then cut it back to Podolski who had to whole net to aim at to make it 2-0.

Michael Ballack then sent a long-distance shot off target, with Klose heading wide off Philipp Lahm's cross.

But Sweden regrouped and Larsson was denied by Metzelder just when he tried to pull the trigger on a short-range shot.

Isaksson then pulled off a string of astounding saves to keep his side in the game. He dived to his right to divert Klose's shot around the right post before spectacularly getting his hands on long-distance strikes from Torsten Frings and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The game got even worse for Sweden who were controversially reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute. Lucic seemed to hold Klose on a potential break-away, and Brazilian referee Carlos Simon ruled the contact was enough to justify his second yellow card in just seven minutes.

The dismissal, however, changed the momentum of the game, with Sweden gaining the upper hand.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to the starting line-up after groin problems had kept him out of the England match, controlled the ball deep inside the penalty area to force Jens Lehmann into his first real save of the tournament, even though he could only clear the ball on his second attempt.

Two minutes before the break, Lahm prevented further damage after Lehmann got tangled up with Mattias Jonson following a left-wing flick from Larsson.

Klose could have made it 3-0 one minute later but Isaksson bravely parried his right-footed effort.

Sweden kept pushing forward after the break , and a minute into the second half Lehmann slid onto a through-ball from Ibrahimovic before Larsson could get in between.

The brave Scandinavians then wasted another golden opportunity as they were awarded a penalty kick in the 53rd minute when Ibrahimovic rolled a ball into the box. Metzelder pushed Larsson from behind but the former Barcelona man sent the spot-kick well over the crossbar.

Ballack then helped Germany to regain control of the game. First he forced the Isaksson into yet another astounding save as the Sweden skipper diverted a vicious 20-yarder to the right post before the future Chelsea star had no luck with two more long-range efforts in the 58th and 72nd minutes.

Klose almost got his fifth goal of the tournament in the 79th minute when he nodded over the rebound off another Ballack blast.

Germany hit the post through Schneider with six minutes remaining after he was set up by Oliver Neuville and Klose.

But a frenetic sell-out crowd of 66.000 roared when Simon blew the final whistle, making it 68 years since Germany last lost a game in the second round of the World Cup.

Ukraine 1 Tunisia 0

Andriy Shevchenko kept his cool to secure Ukraine a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Chelsea's £30million signing from AC Milan scored from the spot to beat Tunisia and ensure his side took the runners-up spot in Group H behind Spain.

Tunisia, hampered by the sending off of Zied Jaziri in the last minute of the first half, never looked likely to cause an upset.

It was an unexceptional but functional performance by Oleg Blokhin's Ukraine side with the emphasis very much on keeping out the Tunisians - and in this respect they succeeded.

As they showed in their opening match of the group against Spain however, too often Ukraine look predictable and over-reliant on their captain Shevchenko and they seem unlikely to progress to the quarter-finals.

They were almost handed an early goal after an embarrassing slip by Radhi Jaidi, when the Bolton centre-back had a backheel intercepted by Andriy Voronin but the Bayer Leverkusen forward failed to take advantage.

Jaidi then made up for his blunder with a decent interception to prevent Shevchenko having a shooting chance.

Jaziri picked up his first booking by Paraguayan referee Carlos Amarilla for a blatant dive when challenged by Andriy Rusol, then Adel Chedli fired high from 30 yards.

Rangers midfielder Hamed Namouchi struck a direct free-kick on target but Oleksandr Shovkovskyi was able to make a comfortable save.

The first real chance fell Ukraine's way in the 20th minute when the ball broke to Anatoliy Tymoschuk and he tried to beat Ali Boumnijel with power instead of setting up a certain goal by passing to Shevchenko, and the Tunisian goalkeeper saved.

Shevchenko tried an audacious volley but did not connect properly, then the Ukraine skipper broke through on goal and only Jaidi's tackle stopped him opening the scoring.

Oleg Shelayev forced Boumnijel to parry his long-range dipping shot then Jaziri felled Tymoschuk from behind in the dying seconds of the half and was shown a second yellow followed by red by Amarilla - as Graham Poll might have said, show me the way, Amarilla.

Tunisia's 10 men however took the match to Ukraine in the second half but were unable to achieve the breakthrough.

Rusol picked up a booking which will see him miss the next match and from the free-kick Anis Ayari curled a shot onto the roof of the net.

Ukraine needed something to calm their nerves and Shevchenko provided it, nipping in to rob Jaidi in the penalty area and then having his heels clipped by Karim Haggui.

The Ukraine striker took the spot-kick himself and never looked like missing it, placing the penalty coolly to the keeper's left.

Ajax defender Hatem Trabelsi, the pick of the Tunisia side with his surging runs from left-back, threatened a late equaliser but could only head straight at the keeper and then shoot past the far post after a mazy dribble.

As the match drew to an end, Ukraine had several chances to extend their lead but Oleg Shelayev blasted over and Boumnijel made two one-on-one saves in consecutive minutes to deny Voronin, who also saw a shot deflected wide in the final minute.

World Cup Second Round

The usual teams have moved on to the 2nd round. However, there were some surprises…

Germany
Ecuador
England
Sweden
Argentina
Holland
Portugal
Mexico
Italy
Ghana
Brazil
Australia
Switzerland
France
Spain
Ukraine

Ecuador, Ghana & Australia have replaced the much favoured Poland, Czech & Croatia.

Ivory Coast & South Korea almost made it. The latter lose out to a disputed offside where they should have just played on and not stand there as if the game had stopped. As we all know – play to the whistle NOT to the assistant referee’s flag!!

There are no Asian team in the 16 teams, major disappointment is the Japanese team who was not there at all. The Africans were average and will be see how they do in World Cup 2010.

Holland is not playing the total-football style as we would very much like to see. They are a one-Robben team! They will not be able to get through the Portuguese with players on form like Ronaldo and Deco. France will have trouble getting goals against the high flying Spanish.

My prediction for the rest of the games – Germany vs Argentina, England vs Portugal, Italy vs Switzerland & Brazil vs Spain then Germany vs Italy & England vs Brazil and finally a Germany vs Brazil final with Germany the Champion.

It would be a dream if England could get pass Brazil with their current performance to meet Germany in the final…again as it was said before…a dream.

Saudi 0 Spain 1

Spain strolled their way to three wins from three and top spot in Group H as their second string beat a poor Saudi Arabia outfit in Kaiserslauten.

Having enjoyed a wealth of possession, the only surprise was that Juanito's header was the only goal at half-time.

Mabrouk Zaid produced a string of saves in the Saudi goal, with Joaquin, Jose Antonio Reyes and David Albelda denied.

However, a late Saudi surge did cause Spain some discomfort, with Saad Al Harthi firing a fine chance over.

The result means Spain will face France, who finished runners up in Group G behind Switzerland, in the second round on 27 June in Hanover (2000 BST).

Saudi Arabia knew before kick off they had to score at least four goals to stand a chance of qualifying, but survival was clearly priority number one as they allowed Spain, who had changed their entire first XI, to feel their way into the match.

With Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings in midfield and Joaquin particularly dangerous on the right flank, Luis Aragones' side created a host of chances in the first half.

Joaquin (twice), Reyes and Albelda all forced Zaid into full-length saves from range, while Raul was a constant nuisance with his movement and touch on his first start in these finals.

With the Saudis clearly reluctant to commit players forward, it was only a matter of time before Spain took the lead and so it was when defender Juanito rose unmarked to power home the opener with his head.

Even that failed to ignite Saudi Arabia's forward play, though Sami Al Jaber did enjoy a rare foray forward on 40 minutes that ended with a tame shot.

Reyes was among those denied by Zaid in Kaiserslauten

With Fabregas and Reyes also stinging Zaid's palms before half-time, the only surprise was that Marcos Paqueta's outfit conceded just one goal in the first 45.

In truth, Saudi Arabia started in better form in the second, with Spain having to defend their lines on more than one occasion.

Hussein Sulimani twice brought decent saves from Santiago Canizares from range, while Nawaf Al Temyat thought he had earned the Saudis a penalty - until he was shown a yellow card for diving over Carlos Marchena's tackle.

With Spain showing a tendency to over-complicate their forward play, they were unable to enjoy a more comfortable end to the game.

And after Fernando Torres, David Villa and Antonio Lopez had wasted decent chances, Al Harthi could have snatched the most unlikely of draws at the death when he collected Mohamed Noor's pull-back.

However, he spooned harmlessly over from six yards to make it 10 matches without a win in World Cup finals for Saudi Arabia.

Togo 0 France 2

A captain's performance from Patrick Vieira helped France see off Group G rivals Togo and claim a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Togo held out until half-time as France spurned a series of chances to open the scoring in a match they had to win, ideally by two goals, to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

However, Vieira celebrated his 30th birthday in style by opening the scoring in the 55th minute and then setting up Thierry Henry for the second six minutes later.

It was a fine performance from the Juventus player who was standing in as skipper for the suspended Zinedine Zidane, who was also celebrating his birthday - the Real Madrid playmaker is 34.

France started brightly and created the first chance with some nice interplay between Henry and Florent Malouda giving David Trezeguet a chance but the striker fired wide.

Franck Ribery then worked a one-two with Trezeguet that nearly came off and then the same combination came close to breaking through again when Ribery's cross found the head of the recalled striker with Togo goalkeeper Kossi Agassa doing well to tip the ball over.

But Togo then created their first opening with Emmanuel Adebayor feeding Mohamed Kader whose shot from an angle was tipped away by Fabien Barthez and another move from the Africans ended with Adebayor finding the side netting.

France, the victims of poor refereeing decisions in both their opening matches, then had another dubious call when Trezeguet netted after a cross from Ribery.

Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda ruled it for offside out but Trezeguet looked to be level.

Henry then fired wide from close range after being set up by Willy Sagnol but his blushes were spared by an offside flag and next Ribery's deflected shot forced another save from Agassa.

Trezeguet had another sight at goal after 21 minutes after more good play from Ribery but he scuffed his shot and Agassa saved - the goalkeeper was being kept busy and next he clutched a shot from Mikael Silvestre.

Then Ribery had a glorious chance to give France the lead but blazed the ball over.

Adebayor spurned a free-kick chance from a good position when he was high and wide while at the other end Vieira's shot was deflected over Agassa's crossbar.

Trezeguet was foiled again when Agassa smothered the ball at his feet after a cross from Ribery who had been set free by Lilian Thuram, winning a record 117th cap for Les Bleus.

There was more French fury when another offside flag halted Henry when Trezeguet's pass looked to have been timed to perfection.

Ribery's shot was blocked as France continued to pressurise the Africans who were playing the final match of their first World Cup.

Raymond Domenech's men continued to chase the game in the second half and next it was Henry's turn to have a shot blocked but clever played by Kader and Moustapha Salifou set up Adebayor who was wrongly called offside although Barthez made the save anyway.

Kader, who scored Togo's first ever World Cup goal against South Korea, then fired over after a solo run and needed treatment.

Ribery then missed the best chance yet after Henry freed Malouda down the left.

Malouda cut the ball back perfectly to Ribery but again he fired over with the goal at his mercy.

But then Ribery atoned for his wayward finishing. The 23-year-old held the ball well and played it inside to Vieira who swivelled and found the far corner with his right foot to give France the lead.

Adebayor had a shot blocked at the other end but the goal Les Bleus were looking for came shortly after the opener.

Sagnol's long ball was flicked on by Vieira to Henry who beat Agassa at his far post with his right foot after 61 minutes to the delight of the French fans who, for the first time in this World Cup, were the majority in the 45,000 crowd.

France played out the match and now still have hopes of regaining the trophy they won the last time the World Cup was played in Europe.

Switzerland 2 South Korea 0

Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos sent Switzerland on their way to the second round of the World Cup finals, scoring the first goal in his side's 2-0 win over South Korea as the 2002 semi-finalists were eliminated from the competition.

The 21-year-old headed home Hakan Yakin's 23rd-minute free-kick after Park Chu-Young was judged to have Tranquillo Barnetta and Senderos arrived late in the six-yard box before beating Lee Woon-Jae in the Korean goal.

But the game ended in controversial fashion when Alexander Frei scored Switzerland's second 13 minutes from time to seal the win for Koebi Kuhn's team.

Referee Horacio Elizondo waved for play to continue after Xavier Margairaz's ball was deflected into Frei's path by a Korean defender and, although the lineman flagged for offside, the Argentinian official correctly over-ruled the decision and allowed the Swiss goal to stand.

It was cruel luck for the Koreans, who will feel doubled aggrieved after believing they should have had a penalty nine minutes into the second half when the ball bounced up off the turf and hit Patrick Mueller on the arm, only for Elizondo to ignore the Asian side's protests.

The Swiss, however, were worthy winners despite the Koreans' valiant attempts with Frei hitting the woodwork in the 64th minute as the Europeans countered against Dick Advocaat's side as they sought out the equaliser.

It was Cho Jae-Jin who came closest to restoring parity for the Koreans in the 66th minute, the Shimizu S-Pulse striker powering his header from Lee Chun Soo's corner into the turf, only for Pascal Zuberbuehler to push the ball over the crossbar.

But for a Swiss side that had had the better of the game, an equaliser would have been unjust as the wily Hakan Yakin tormented the Koreans, both from open play and set-pieces.

Last-ditch tackles from Kim Dong-Jin and Choi Jin-Cheul denied Yakin and Barnetta in the opening 10 minutes while at the other end Lee Chun-Soo beat the offside trap only to see his ball back across the face of goal fail to find another player in a white Korean shirt.

Lee was at the heart of most of the 2002 semi-finalists' best moves, the former Numancia striker seeing his shot pushed wide by Zuberbuehler four minutes before the break.

And with the game going into first-half injury time Lee again forced a save out of the Swiss keeper, turning to shoot from the edge of the area before Zuberbuehler steered the ball around his left upright.

Despite giving his team the lead, Senderos' second half involvement was short-lived after suffering an injury to his left arm before being replaced by his Arsenal club mate Johan Djourou eight minutes after the restart.

The introduction of 2002 talisman Ahn Jung Hwan did little to help the Koreans peg by the Swiss, who had little trouble hanging on to qualify for the last 16 and an encounter with Ukraine as group winners.

Japan 1 Brazil 4

A Ronaldo-inspired Brazil battled back from a goal down to beat Japan and eliminate the Asian champions from the tournament.

The Real Madrid forward equalled Gerd Muller's World Cup scoring record of 14 with a goal in each half after Keiji Tamada had given Japan an unlikely lead in the 34th minute.

Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi frustrated Brazil with a string of fine saves until first-half injury-time when Ronaldo equalised.

Second-half goals from Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto guaranteed Brazil the win before Ronaldo rounded off the victory with a curling finish from the edge of the area.

The result was no less than Carlos Alberto Parreira's team deserved after a marauding opening to the Group F game which somehow failed to yield a goal for the world champions.

With four minutes on the clock, Kaka crossed into the centre and Ronaldo beat Yuji Nakazawa to the ball - but the Real Madrid man glanced his header wide of the target.

That was a taste of things to come for the Japanese defence, however, and three minutes later Ronaldo was fed by Ronaldinho - but his left foot shot was pushed around the post for a corner by Kawaguchi.

It was the first of a string of saves for Kawaguchi as the Japan goalkeeper almost single-handedly kept the illustrious Brazilian strike-force at bay.

In the 11th minute the former Portsmouth goalkeeper parried Robinho's effort to safety and a further five minutes later he again denied the Real Madrid forward, this time pushing the ball over the crossbar.

Next up it was Ronaldo's turn to test the resolve of the Japan defence and once again Keisuke Tsuboi was found wanting, although Kawaguchi saved his team again as he steered another goalbound effort around the post.

The Kawaguchi show continued midway through the half when he tipped Juninho's drive over the bar and it looked like it might not be Brazil's night.

That sense was heightened in the 34th minute when the Japanese took the lead.

Seiichiro Maki had earlier glanced a header across the face of goal but it was with the team's first real strike on goal that Keiji Tamada gave the Asian champions the advantage.

A perfectly weighted through ball from Brazil-born Alex released Tamada, who turned to lash a first-time left-foot effort over Dida's head, sending the Japan fans into raptures.

Despite being behind, though, Brazil maintained their composure and, with the clock ticking into injury-time, they pulled level with a goal engineered by Ronaldinho's vision.

The Barcelona man ran at the Japan defence before picking out Cicinho on the right side of the penalty area and his header back across the face of goal was nodded home by Ronaldo.

If the first half was about heroic goalkeeping and missed chances, the second half saw Brazil make amends.

Six minutes after the restart Ronaldo went close with a curling effort but in the 53rd minute Brazil finally took the lead as, for the first time in the game, Kawaguchi took his eye off the ball when Juninho let fly from distance and his effort found the back of the net as the goalkeeper flapped at the shot.

By the 59th minute the game was as good as over as a contest as Ronaldinho's delightful ball through the midfield found a rampaging Gilberto down the Brazil left and he cracked home a low shot which gave Kawaguchi little chance.

With nine minutes remaining Ronaldo completed the scoring with his second goal of the evening after a neat exchange of passes with Juan and the burly Brazilian curled an exquisite shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Croatia 2 Australia 2

The most pulsating, dramatic, heart-stopping contest of a thrilling World Cup ended with Australia booking a last-16 meeting with Italy.

Harry Kewell's 79th-minute angled drive sent the Socceroos bouncing into the knockout phase for the first time in their history.

Yet the mere scoreline does not even start to get close to explaining the story behind a truly extraordinary game which Australia ended with 10 men and Croatia nine.

Twice Australia were forced to come from behind to grab the precious point they so desperately required after conceding initially in the second minute, then at the start of the second period following a mistake to rank up with any the competition had ever seen from recalled keeper Zeljko Kalac.

Yet, showing the same pugnacious spirit which has seen them become world champion at so many sports, Australia simply refused to lie down.

Craig Moore pulled them level just before half-time when he kept his nerve to fire home from the spot, then, after Australia had another clear spot-kick appeal turned down by referee Graham Poll, Kewell drove home the goal which blasted open the door to the second round.

Nobody celebrated the draw more enthusiastically than Australian coach Guus Hiddink, who had almost seen the biggest gamble of his entire coaching career go disastrously wrong.

Hiddink stunned the Aussie support by bringing back Kalac, who spends his winters sat on the AC Milan bench, ahead of established number one Mark Schwarzer.

Kalac had barely touched the ball when he was picking it out of his own net, a legacy of Mark Viduka's third-minute foul on Croatian captain Niko Kovac.

Up stepped Darijo Srna to stroke a 25-yard free-kick beyond Kalac and into the top corner.

For half an hour thereafter, Australia battered the Croatian defence for no reward.

Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka and Kewell all wasted chances to equalise and Australia were just starting to run out of ideas when Stjepan Tomas stuck up a fist to deflect away a Brett Emerton cross.

Poll spotted the infringement and though the gap between the Premiership official blowing his whistle and Moore stepping up to take the keep seemed to last forever, the Newcastle man kept his cool to fire home.

Then came Kalac's abberation. Getting right behind a seemingly innocuous Kovac strike, the keeper somehow managed to let the ball slip through his grasp and into the net. With Schwarzer sat not five yards away, Hiddink must have wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.

It was another shattering blow. Yet Australia refused to buckle. Time and again they bashed away.

Another Tomas handball was missed by Poll, Kewell's shot was brilliantly pushed over by Stipe Pletikosa, Cahill went agonisingly close.

But the goal that would not come eventually did. Marco Bresciano floating over the right-wing cross which John Aloisi flicked into Kewell's path.

All Kewell's talent which is so inconsistently on show, did not fail him this time. Control with the chest, finish on the volley. Easy as that.

Unfortunately, it was not quite that for Australia, who lived on their nerves for those final 10 minutes.

Dario Simic and Brett Emerton were both red-carded as the action intensified. Moore booted off the Australian line.

Amid the frenzy, even Poll lost his head, booking Melbourne-born Croat Josip Simunic for a second and then a third time, before eventually brandishing red in his face after the final whistle.

At the end, the Australian fans celebrated as they would any Ashes triumph or rugby victory. On the biggest sporting stage of all, the most sports-mad nation has finally arrived.

Ghana 2 United States 1

Ghana reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time today, with a 2-1 defeat of the United States sealing their place in the last 16.

Haminu Draman opened the scoring for the Black Stars following a blunder by Claudio Reyna in the 22nd minute, before Clint Dempsey levelled the scores for in the 43rd.

A controversial penalty from Stephen Appiah just before the break proved decisive, as the USA failed to find a way back into the match.

Both coaches made three changes from the last match. With Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope suspended, Bruce Arena brought Eddie Lewis and Jimmy Conrad into the starting line-up, while DaMarcus Beasley took the midfield place of Reading's Bobby Convey.

Bans forced Ghana boss Ratomir Dujkovic to replace Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari, who were on target in the memorable 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien picked up his second yellow card of the tournament after just five minutes and three minutes later he fired wide.

After Dempsey challenged with a header in the 17th, the Africans opened the scoring after a mistake from Reyna let Draman in.

The striker deprived Manchester City's former Sunderland and Rangers midfielder off the ball and gently chipped it past ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Kasey Keller from 10 yards out on the left.

Reyna appeared to be in serious pain as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, but he returned until the 40th minute when Ben Olsen took his place.

It was never going to be Reyna4s day, however, as Essien took advantage of another ill-fated midfield ball to send Razak Pimpong into the clear - only for the striker to fire inches wide.

The USA seized control in the following, with Landon Donovan dragging a shot wide and Ghana keeper Richard Kingson fisting away a dangerous free-kick from Lewis.

Dempsey then pulled one back for his country in the 43rd after Beasley had intercepted a pass in the attacking third. He chipped the ball over to the surging Dempsey, who hammered it home from 12 yards out.

Ghana restored their lead in the second minute of injury-time courtesy of a controversial penalty.

Oguchi Onyewu was penalised for holding Pimpong, and Appiah sent the spot-kick past Keller to give his troops a 2-1 half-time lead.

The second half was marred by numerous injury breaks, and the first chance did not come until the 54th minute when a 25-yarder from Matthew Amoah was tipped around by Keller.

With Ghana waiting for counter-attack chances, the US increased the pressure with 25 minutes left.

Fulham's Brian McBride rattled the left post with a close-range header following a pinpoint cross from Leeds' Lewis from the left, Fulham's Carlos Bocanegra shot over, while Onyewu headed just wide.

The Black Stars were seeking to run down the clock - and they almost scored a third goal after Essien found Alex Tachie-Mensah on a fast break, but the ball was diverted into safety.

Ghana then survived five minutes of injury-time to make history for the country, with a likely clash against world champions Brazil their likely reward in Dortmund next Tuesday.

Czech Republic 0 Italy 2

Italy comfortably beat 10-man Czech Republic to progress to the knock-out stages of the World Cup as Group E winners.

Former Everton defender Marco Materazzi gave the Azzurri a 25th-minute lead having only come on as a substitute eight minutes earlier before another replacement, Filippo Inzaghi, killed the game off four minutes from time.

The Czechs were forced to play with 10 men for the entire second half after Nuremberg midfielder Jan Polak was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It proved a hammer blow for Karel Bruckner's side, who did have their share of chances but were denied by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who made sure his team clinched three points.

After beating United States 3-0 in their opening fixture, the Czechs seemed certain to qualify from their group but they surprisingly lost their subsequent fixture against Ghana.

Italy, who should face Australia or Croatia next, are still unbeaten in the tournament and have almost certainly avoided holders Brazil in the second round.

The Czechs started the game with Aston Villa's Milan Baros up front. Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004, returned to play having missed the two opening games with a foot problem but he was lacking match fitness.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi surprisingly left out Serie A's top scorer Luca Toni and opted to play with trio Francesco Totti, Mauro Camoranesi and Alberto Gilardino up front.

The game began at a frenetic pace, with both teams determined to impose themselves on the game.

The Czechs should have taken an early lead with Pavel Nedved's dangerous cross from the left setting up Baros at the far post but his right-footed effort was cleared by Buffon.

The Juventus stopper was then forced to dive to his left to save Nedved's 30-yard strike.

Again Nedved warmed the hands of Buffon with a stinging drive which he managed to clear but only as far as Marek Jankulovski, whose close-range effort was cleared by the keeper.

With 17 minutes played, Lippi was forced to make his first substitution, with Materazzi replacing an injured Alessandro Nesta.

Midway though the first half, goalkeeper Petr Cech was forced to come off his line to punch away a dangerous ball following Radoslav Kovac's poor clearance from Fabio Grosso's cross.

The Azzurri finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with Materazzi latching onto Francesco Totti's corner to nod the ball past Chelsea star Cech.

The Czechs pressed forward in search of an equaliser but mustered little before the break, with Karel Poborsky's effort from the distance going off-target.

On the stroke of half-time, Jan Polak was shown his second yellow card of the game after an unnecessary challenge on Totti.

Midfielder Jiri Stajner replaced Poborsky after the re-start but it was the Azzurri who continued to dominate possession.

An unmarked Totti should have doubled his team's advantage three minutes later, but his weak effort proved easy for Cech. The keeper was then forced to palm away Totti's 30-yard strike towards the far post.

At the other end, Buffon saved Nedved's close-range effort after the Czech captain had successfully broken the Azzurri's defensive wall.

Italy put together a good move in reply, with Totti's free-kick finding Andrea Pirlo, whose first touch served Fabio Cannavaro at the far post but the captain's volley went high over the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Filippo Inzaghi came on in place of Gilardino as the Azzurri looked to kill the game off.

But Baros should have levelled the score but his header from Jankulovski's cross went into the stands.

At the other end, Camoranesi's header fizzed wide of Cech's far post.

Bruckner replaced Baros in the 64th minute with midfielder David Jarolim, leaving Stajner as their only man up front.

Inzaghi wasted a golden chance to make it 2-0 after a defensive blunder by the Czechs but the AC Milan forward failed to beat Cech with his touch going towards the far post.

It could have prove costly had Buffon not made a spectacular save from Nedved's formidable volley.

Simone Barone entered the pitch in place of a tired Camoranesi as Lippi attempted to reinforce his midfield with the Czechs looking more dangerous.

With 10 minutes remaining, Totti should have put the game beyond their opposition's reach but he failed to surprise Cech with a weak shot.

Inzaghi's weak header from Pirlo's cross then went inches wide of the far post.

The striker made amends shortly afterwards, with Simone Perrotta's pass slicing the Czech defence wide open and allowing Inzaghi to take the ball around Cech before securing victory.

Netherlands 0 Argentina 0

The supporters sang their hearts out and beat their drums but the players of Argentina and Holland were content to play out a goalless draw before regrouping for the business end of this World Cup.

Juan Riquelme was the orchestrator at the heart of Argentina's midfield and there was enough quality on show to suggest either of these teams could hold aloft the trophy in Berlin on July 9.

As it is the draw means Argentina play Mexico in the last 16 while Holland face Portugal.

And for England fans, should Sven-Goran Eriksson's men get past Ecuador on Sunday, the future could now be orange in the quarter-finals with the reassuring fact that they cannot meet Argentina until the final.

This World Cup has been blessed with some fine spectacle and some wonderful matches but no-one has brought a thrilling rhythm on and off the field quite like Argentina.

The first half was played to an accompaniment from the stands which was truly hypnotic.

The football, too, had a pleasing tempo and always at the heart of the action was Riquelme.

The Villarreal midfielder has that precious sporting gift, the ability to find space and time where others cannot. He organised the major share of Argentina's attacking options in a match to test the power.

A muscle-flexing exercise with the prize of winning Group C, but also one eye on the tough challenges ahead after both teams had qualified for the knock-out phase by beating Serbia and Montenegro and the Ivory Coast.

Chelsea's Arjen Robben was rested as the Dutch made five changes from the side which beat Ivory Coast, while Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar was equalling a Dutch record of 112 caps held by former Barcelona and Rangers star Frank de Boer.

For Argentina there was a first start for Lionel Messi, the youngster saddled with the tag of the new Maradona and whose boots bear the words 'La Mano de Dios' - the hand of God - overlaid on an 86 symbol, and who has been recovering from a thigh injury.

Much is expected of Messi and Argentina, who had set the tournament alight with their 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro.

And it was Argentina who commanded so much of the territory and possession.

If it had been a boxing match Argentina would clearly have won the first half on points.

Carlos Tevez sent a left foot shot spinning past the far post, a Riquelme corner was tipped over by Van der Sar and a thunderbolt of a shot from Maxi Rodriguez sailed just wide of the goalkeeper's flying dive and his post.

A Riquelme free-kick also sliced across Van der Sar's goal and Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz stuck out a boot and was relieved to see the ball ricochet back off the angle of bar and post.

It was desperate defending and on the stroke of half-time a Messi left-foot drive was also plucked out of the air by Van der Sar.

Holland's only threat of note in the first 45 minutes came from a near-post strike from Dirk Kuyt.

Riquelme picked up where he left in the second half, a surging break and a right-foot shot skimming just wide of the post.

But the Dutch are a dogged and determined team, technically adept and defensively sound. They clearly also had an eye on the future, withdrawing first Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and then Arsenal's Robin van Persie to conserve energy.

For all Argentina's dominance Phillip Cocu might have given the Dutch the lead with a left-foot shot tipped aside by Roberto Abbondanzieri.

After 70 minutes Messi was replaced by Julio Cruz but, like Wayne Rooney for England, the extended run-out will have sharpened the teenager's fitness.

Bigger and better nights could be afoot before the tournament is done.

Tevez, the man of the match, brought a couple more saves from Van der Sar but neither side was prepared to give that extra push for victory.

There is time for that soon enough.

Ivory Coast 3 Serbia & Montenegro 2

Two goals from man-of-the-match Aruna Dindane and a late penalty from substitute Bonaventure Kalou saw the Ivory Coast come from two goals down to end their first World Cup campaign with an impressive, if futile, win.

Early goals from giant striker Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic, both the result of poor defending, put Serbia and Montenegro firmly in control in what could be their last match before the country splits into two nations.

However, Dindane's penalty, following a handball bordering on the ridiculous by Milan Dudic, allowed the African side back into the match while Serbia and Montenegro were then reduced to 10 men before the break by the sending off of substitute Albert Nadj.

Dindane's second-half header then evened things up and then, when Dudic handled again, another penalty was awarded although Dindane spurned the chance of the first 2006 World Cup hat-trick by allowing Kalou to score the penalty.

Ivory Coast's Cyrille Domoraud received his marching orders in stoppage time.

There was nothing to play for but pride for both teams with Argentina and Holland having already secured the two Group C qualification berths on offer, although 66,000 spectators still watched a match which saw both teams have a man sent off.

After nine minutes the Serbo-Montenegrins took the lead as a long ball from Dejan Stankovic caught out the leaden-footed Ivorian defence, leaving 6ft 8in Zigic to round goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and score.

The Ivorians, deprived of the suspended Didier Drogba, should have equalised when Kader Keita dashed down the right and crossed to Dindane but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric with his feet before Kanga Akale missed the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Serbia and Montenegro took full advantage as they went 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes. Predrag Djordjevic's ball was miscontrolled by Domoraud and Ilic took the ball past Barry and netted.

Dudic's comical 37th-minute handball, even he was giggling as he was cautioned, gave the Africans a way back with Dindane netting from the spot twice after being made to retake it by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for encroachment.

Dindane was later harshly booked for diving for what should have been a penalty when Jevric upended him but then Ilija Petkovic's side were reduced to 10 men when Nadj got his second yellow card.

Early in the second half Akale's shot forced Jevric to save with his feet as Henri Michel's team tried to make the extra man pay and then Arouna Kone fired just wide. Blaise Kouassi's long-range effort rattled the crossbar as the Ivorians poured forward.

Dindane then netted the equaliser with a header after connecting with a cross from Keita.

The Ivory Coast were now besieging the Serbo-Montenegrin goal with only some lionhearted defending keeping them at bay but out of the blue an unmarked Stankovic missed a glorious chance to restore the lead when he headed a Djordjevic free-kick wide.

Then came Dudic's second handball and Dindane's generosity allowed Kalou to ensure the Elephants signed off a win with Domoraud sent off for a tackle in the dying seconds.

Iran 1 Angola 1

Iranian defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh put an end to Angola's hopes of progressing to the second round of the World Cup finals with a header 15 minutes from time and secured his side a 1-1 draw in Leipzig.

Needing a victory plus a Mexico defeat to make it through to the last 16 on their debut appearance at the finals, Luis Oliveira Goncalves' side weathered a first-half storm before taking the lead on the hour mark through Amado Flavio with a perfectly placed header.

But, after dominating the opening period without converting a single chance, the Iranians finally found the back of the net when central defender Bakhtiarizadeh - in the starting line-up following a shoulder injury to Yahya Golmohammadi - met Mehdi Mahdavikia's 75th minute corner to earn Iran their only point of the 2006 finals.

The Iranians should, however, have been comfortably in front when the half-time whistle sounded, so dominant was Branko Ivankovic's side.

Joao Ricardo was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he did well to deny the Iran in the 14th minute when Vahid Hashemian's through-ball on the turn put Ferydoon Zandi in on goal, only for his shot to parried to safety.

In the meantime, Ali Daei's desperate search for a World Cup goal continued.

Despite his status as the scorer of the most international goals ever, the veteran forward - expected to retire after this game - has yet to score in the sport's greatest competition.

Against a porous Angolan back line, though, he had the chances to break his duck.

Daei's free-kick from 25 yards out made it beyond the Angolan defensive wall only for Joao Ricardo to punch clear in the 23rd minute and less than a minute later an inch-perfect cross from Mahdavikia found the former Bayern Munich striker in space, but rather than finding the back of the net Daei could only head high and wide.

Angolan midfielder Antonio Mendonca was perfectly placed on the post to clear Zandi's powerful header in the 27th minute and, with five minutes left in the half, Andranik Teymourian's low shot was collected at the second attempt by Joao Ricardo.

The Angolans presented little threat beyond the occasional speculative shot. Mateus sent his first-time effort over the bar in the 12th minute while Fabrice Akwa was also woefully off target just before the half hour.

Ebrahim Mirzapour finally had to make a save of significance three minutes into first half injury time when he pushed Arsenio Love's shot from inside the penalty area around the post for a corner.

The Angolans threatened more at the start of the second half and, after Mendonca's near miss in the 54th minute, Flavio claimed his nation's first ever World Cup goal on the hour when he was left unmarked to head home Jose Ze Kalanga's cross from the right.

Mendonca should have extended the lead three minutes later when he curled his attempt from the edge of the area well wide and, with 15 minutes to go, the Angolans were to regret that miss as Bakhtiarizadeh steered the ball past Joao Ricardo.

Portugal 2 Mexico 1

Ricardo La Volpe saw his 10-man Mexico side stutter and stumble their way into the last 16 after a 2-1 defeat to Portugal.

The nerves of the coach and his team appeared to be stretched to breaking point in the Schalke Arena where the roof was closed.

Two goals down to Maniche and Simao Sabrosa (pen), they fought back through Jose Fonseca - but Omar Bravo missed a penalty and then Luis Perez was sent off.

The normally-vociferous Mexican supporters were remarkably quiet given that rivals Angola were running Iran close.

Portugal rested Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Pauleta but still started full of invention.

Fonseca almost made the breakthrough after two minutes but his shot went straight into the body of goalkeeper Ricardo.

Portugal took the lead though in the sixth minute with a marvellous goal from Chelsea midfielder Maniche, who raced into the box and to get on the end of a Simao cross and finish emphatically.

Two minutes later Bravo almost equalised, his chip from close range going narrowly wide of the post.

Then Luis Figo was allowed room to manoeuvre in the area - but he only succeeded in sending a chip into the arms of Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Portugal extended their lead in the 24th minute when Simao confidently converted a penalty awarded after a needless handball by Mexico captain Rafael Marquez.

Portugal were playing some wonderful flowing football and Helder Postiga saw his effort beaten away by Sanchez. Tiago latched on to the rebound but was off target.

Mexico retaliated and pulled a goal back in the 29th minute when Fonseca scored with a header which was poorly defended.

Fonseca was causing Portugal problems and saw a header 10 minutes later finish narrowly wide.

Mexico almost equalised a minute before half-time but Ricardo made a good block from Pavel Pardo, who rattled in a free-kick from distance at the start of the second half which was marginally off target.

They wasted a great chance to equalise in the 58th minute after being awarded a penalty when Miguel handled in the area - Bravo opting for power and sending his spot-kick high over the bar.

The Mexicans were becoming frustrated and Perez was sent off in the 61st minute after amassing two yellow cards.

Bravo was again wasteful two minutes later when he got into a good position but failed to trouble Ricardo.

Portugal had lost some of their sting but former Chelsea midfielder Tiago raced forward in the 67th minute, only to drag his shot wide.

Then substitute Nuno Gomez fired over the top after a cross from the right by Simao.

Portugal now go forward with confidence after three straight wins while Mexico live to fight another day.

Sweden 2 England 2

England limped their way to a second-round clash with Ecuador as they drew 2-2 with Sweden, while Michael Owen's World Cup was left hanging in the balance.

Owen's long-awaited reunion with Wayne Rooney lasted less than a minute after the 26-year-old Newcastle striker twisted his knee laying off a ball and was stretchered away in agony.

Joe Cole's first-half piledriver and substitute Steven Gerrard's late header were enough to ensure their progression, although Marcus Allback and Henrik Larsson at the death claimed equalisers to deny England victory over Sweden yet again.

But the Scandinavians twice hit the bar at 1-1 as Sven-Goran Eriksson's men capitulated alarmingly.

Owen will have a scan tomorrow which could determine his future participation, but Eriksson headed for the dressing room on the final whistle knowing his decision to take only four strikers to Germany will be dissected once again.

Peter Crouch, perhaps aggrieved to be consigned to the bench in the first place, emerged to partner Rooney as a clearly shell-shocked England struggled to come to terms with the blow of losing their leading scorer.

Frank Lampard twice tested keeper Andreas Isaksson from distance, although not to any great degree, and with Eriksson's men trying to regroup, the Swedes forced a series of set-pieces which were all repelled.

However, with Owen Hargreaves having at last been given a chance to show what he can do in central midfield and Rooney and Joe Cole providing fresh impetus, England began to impose themselves.

Teddy Lucic had to get in an important block to deny Rooney after he had plucked David Beckham's 25th-minute long ball out of the air, but the opening goal arrived in spectacular style nine minutes later.

The ball was cleared to Joe Cole 30 yards out and he controlled it on his chest before sending a delicious dipping volley over the despairing Isaksson.

But Sweden were back in it within five minutes of the restart when Allback eluded David Beckham to glance home a Tobias Linderoth corner.

It might have been worse four minutes later had Paul Robinson not tipped a Larsson header on to the bar amid claims for handball against Jamie Carragher.

Mellberg fired against the bar on 59 minutes as England once again failed to defend a corner, and Gerrard - on for Rooney - had to hack a Kim Kallstrom shot off the line 12 minutes later.

Eriksson's side thought they had won it through Gerrard's 85th-minute header, but Larsson's 90th-minute strike ended their celebrations.

Paraguay 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0

Trinidad and Tobago predictably failed in their bid to reach the World Cup knockout phase.

Yet, while they might not have won a match, or even scored a goal, the Soca Warriors will leave Germany with a smile, their dignity and a host of new friends.

A 25th-minute Brent Sancho own goal and a late Nelson Cuevas effort gave Paraguay the win they just about deserved but there was no disgrace in defeat for the men from the Caribbean, far from it.

Throughout the magical last fortnight, Trinidad have pushed themselves to the limit, a fact recognised by the notoriously hard-to-please German supporters, who backed Leo Beenhakker's men to the hilt.

But the goal they craved would not come, not even after 35-year-old Trinidad hero Russell Latapy was introduced late on to cap a fine career on the World Cup stage.

Instead, the final whistle only brought an initial sense of disappointment, although that soon gave way to more positive reflection as their hosts made them aware of how much their sterling deeds had been appreciated.

Although the Trinidad skipper Dwight Yorke was confident enough about his own side getting a victory to start texting his old Manchester United team-mate David Beckham demanding a favour England eventually could not repay, coach Leo Beenhakker was rather more cautious.

The Dutchman has been around long enough to know a country with a population of little more than a million - the smallest ever to reach the final stages of the biggest tournament on the planet - had already performed wonders in Germany.

The stark truth was that Paraguay had narrowly lost two closely-contested games, whereas Beenhakker's team had gained a point from Sweden and frustrated England for so long largely by throwing a blanket over their goal and defending as though their lives depended on it.

Needing a victory to stand any chance of progress, Trinidad had to become more expansive and as a result offered Paraguay the room to execute their slick passing game.

Cornell Glen might have put Trinidad in front with a firm header which Aldo Bobadilla did well to palm away but it would have been an injustice to the South Americans.

Kelvin Jack, back in the Trinidad goal after suffering an ankle injury in the warm-up prior to the Sweden epic, was kept busy from virtually the first whistle, racing from his goal to chest down a long ball from Edgar Barreto which threatened to release Nelson Valdez.

Jack had already made one tremendous save to deny Roque Santa Cruz before he was beaten by Sancho, who was panicked into lunging at the ball when Julio Dos Santos got his head to Roberto Acuna's free-kick and promptly turned it into his own goal.

It was a devastating blow to the Soca Warriors but Paraguay deserved their lead and, amid a flurry of activity around Jack's goal just before the break, might have extended it.

Jack twice denied Valdez, substitute Kenwyne Jones booted a goalbound Carlos Paredes shot off the line while Denis Caniza, correctly, had his angled strike ruled out for offside.

Presumably, news of England's half-time lead in Cologne filtered through to the Trinidad dressing room at the break, which could have been part of the reason why they started the second half with such intent.

A couple of low Carlos Edwards crosses came perilously close to finding their target and, playing in a more advanced position than he had done previously, Yorke tried to roll back some of his 34 years and push his team on.

Edwards was his chief ally. The 28-year-old Luton man, more used to Kenilworth Road than Kaiserslautern, brought the crowd to its feet with some dazzling dribbling down the right wing.

Latapy's arrival brought even more pressure and the veteran Falkirk man skimmed the bar with one 20-yard effort.

But, try as they might, the breakthrough would not come for Trinidad.

Instead, Sancho was spared the upset of scoring the only goal when Cuevas exchanged passes with Santa Cruz four minutes from time and beat Jack with an excellent finish.

Paraguay 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0

Trinidad and Tobago predictably failed in their bid to reach the World Cup knockout phase.

Yet, while they might not have won a match, or even scored a goal, the Soca Warriors will leave Germany with a smile, their dignity and a host of new friends.

A 25th-minute Brent Sancho own goal and a late Nelson Cuevas effort gave Paraguay the win they just about deserved but there was no disgrace in defeat for the men from the Caribbean, far from it.

Throughout the magical last fortnight, Trinidad have pushed themselves to the limit, a fact recognised by the notoriously hard-to-please German supporters, who backed Leo Beenhakker's men to the hilt.

But the goal they craved would not come, not even after 35-year-old Trinidad hero Russell Latapy was introduced late on to cap a fine career on the World Cup stage.

Instead, the final whistle only brought an initial sense of disappointment, although that soon gave way to more positive reflection as their hosts made them aware of how much their sterling deeds had been appreciated.

Although the Trinidad skipper Dwight Yorke was confident enough about his own side getting a victory to start texting his old Manchester United team-mate David Beckham demanding a favour England eventually could not repay, coach Leo Beenhakker was rather more cautious.

The Dutchman has been around long enough to know a country with a population of little more than a million - the smallest ever to reach the final stages of the biggest tournament on the planet - had already performed wonders in Germany.

The stark truth was that Paraguay had narrowly lost two closely-contested games, whereas Beenhakker's team had gained a point from Sweden and frustrated England for so long largely by throwing a blanket over their goal and defending as though their lives depended on it.

Needing a victory to stand any chance of progress, Trinidad had to become more expansive and as a result offered Paraguay the room to execute their slick passing game.

Cornell Glen might have put Trinidad in front with a firm header which Aldo Bobadilla did well to palm away but it would have been an injustice to the South Americans.

Kelvin Jack, back in the Trinidad goal after suffering an ankle injury in the warm-up prior to the Sweden epic, was kept busy from virtually the first whistle, racing from his goal to chest down a long ball from Edgar Barreto which threatened to release Nelson Valdez.

Jack had already made one tremendous save to deny Roque Santa Cruz before he was beaten by Sancho, who was panicked into lunging at the ball when Julio Dos Santos got his head to Roberto Acuna's free-kick and promptly turned it into his own goal.

It was a devastating blow to the Soca Warriors but Paraguay deserved their lead and, amid a flurry of activity around Jack's goal just before the break, might have extended it.

Jack twice denied Valdez, substitute Kenwyne Jones booted a goalbound Carlos Paredes shot off the line while Denis Caniza, correctly, had his angled strike ruled out for offside.

Presumably, news of England's half-time lead in Cologne filtered through to the Trinidad dressing room at the break, which could have been part of the reason why they started the second half with such intent.

A couple of low Carlos Edwards crosses came perilously close to finding their target and, playing in a more advanced position than he had done previously, Yorke tried to roll back some of his 34 years and push his team on.

Edwards was his chief ally. The 28-year-old Luton man, more used to Kenilworth Road than Kaiserslautern, brought the crowd to its feet with some dazzling dribbling down the right wing.

Latapy's arrival brought even more pressure and the veteran Falkirk man skimmed the bar with one 20-yard effort.

But, try as they might, the breakthrough would not come for Trinidad.

Instead, Sancho was spared the upset of scoring the only goal when Cuevas exchanged passes with Santa Cruz four minutes from time and beat Jack with an excellent finish.

Ecuador 0 Germany 3

Germany comfortably saw off Ecuador 3-0 in their battle for Group A supremacy.

Miroslav Klose found the back of the net in the fourth and 44th minute before Lukas Podolski broke out of a four-game scoring slump when he put the issue beyond doubt in the 57th.

Germany kick-off the World Cup knockout stages in Munich on Saturday, with England to take on Ecuador should they avoid defeat against Sweden later tonight.

The three-time tournament winners left little doubt they were not taking their South American rivals lightly.

A potential yellow card ban did not stop Jurgen Klinsmann fielding Michael Ballack, even though a second booking would have kept his captain sidelined in the next round.

Chelsea's Middlesbrough-bound defender Robert Huth got his World Cup debut at the expense of centre-back Christoph Metzelder, while Podolski remained in the starting XI despite a recent drop of form.

With Ecuador already through to the knockout stages, coach Luis Fernando Suarez made five changes from the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.

In-form striker Carlos Tenario and former Southampton forward Agustin Delgado, who have scored four of Ecuador4s five tournament goals to date, got a deserved rest, with Aston Villa4s Ulises de la Cruz starting in central defence.

Ecuador were keen to display their talents to a worldwide audience and took just 60 seconds to create the first chance of the match as Luis Valencia undid Philipp Lahm on the right wing.

His sharp cross was caught by Jens Lehmann just before Ivan Kaviedes could latch onto it.

Germany showed much better finishing skills three minutes later when Klose grabbed his third goal of the tournament.

A left-wing flick from Bernd Schneider found Per Mertesacker in the box - and he found Bastian Schweinsteiger on the right side of the penalty area.

The Bayern Munich youngster laid the ball back to Klose, who lashed the ball home from six yards out.

After Schneider volleyed a pinpoint Lahm flick over, goalkeeper Cristian Mora got on the end of a Ballack ball moments before Klose.

The future Chelsea star then tried to catch Mora out of position with a 40-yard blast following a poor clearance - but his shot flew wide.

Germany remained well in control, and in the 33rd minute Schneider set up Klose - but the Werder Bremen hitman volleyed over from 14 yards.

Ecuador squandered a good chance through former Crystal Palace striker Kaviedes, who dragged his effort wide from a tight angle after good work from Felix Borja.

And Klose doubled Germany's advantage just before half time when he rounded Mora following a superb through-ball from Ballack.

The pattern remained the same in the second half as Schweinsteiger tested Mora with a low shot just 40 seconds after the restart.

Edwin Tenorio forced Lehmann to tip over his 35-yard effort before Podolski made it 3-0.

A mistake allowed Lahm in on the left and he found his future Bayern team-mate with a tidy pass - only for Podolski to fire inches past the right post from 18 yards.

However, the 21-year-old eventually broke through in the 57th minute when he knocked in a Schneider cross.

And the striker would have doubled his tournament tally 120 seconds later - but Mora was alert and bravely parried the close-range effort.

The sell-out crowd of 72.000 gave two-goal hero Klose a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 66th minute.

Six minutes later Mendez went close with a 25-yard free-kick from the left, then Ballack did likewise at the other end with a drilled effort from 35 yards.

Germany kept pressing, yet they failed to carve out any significant opportunities except for a Schweinsteiger shot which was palmed away by Mora in the 85th minute and another long-range attempt from Ballack two minutes later.

Lehmann denied Ecuador a consolation goal as he stopped Paul Ambrosi4s blast in injury-time.

The hosts - once again backed by a boisterous crowd - will now take on either England, Sweden or Trinidad and Tobago in Munich on Saturday.

Costa Rica 1-2 PolandPA

Under-pressure Poland coach Pawel Janas saw his side come good in this final Group A game but whether it will keep him in a job remains to be seen.

Certainly, his showed plenty of fighting spirit after Ronald Gomez had opened the scoring.

The Poles also found an unlikely hero in defender Bartosz Bosacki, who scored both goals - his first for his country.

Both sides had only pride left to play for in sweltering conditions with the temperature posted at 28C in the stadium.

Costa Rica were the first to show and Paulo Wanchope tried a shot from distance after five minutes but his effort bounced into the arms of Artur Boruc.

Gomez decided to try his luck from 35 yards in the eighth minute with a free-kick but he saw it cannon off defender Bosacki and to safety.

The majority of fans in the ground were Polish but they saw their team struggle early on.

Defeats by Ecuador and Germany which had led to calls for coach Janas to resign seemed to have eaten away at their confidence.

Maciej Zurawski tried an ambitious free-kick from an acute angle in the 17th minute but it failed to trouble goalkeeper Jose Porras.

Costa Rica took the lead after 24 minutes when Gomez drove a free-kick through the wall and past Boruc after Wanchope had been brought down on the edge of the area.

Poland hit back and Ebi Smolarek picked out Ireneusz Jelen after 30 minutes but Porras was able to save comfortably.

Wanchope then scuffed a shot before Poland equalised in the 33rd minute when Bosacki scored from close range with goalkeeper Porras hopelessly positioned.

It was just the boost Poland wanted and Zurawski raced forward in the 43rd minute only for his effort to be blocked by Gabriel Badilla.

Porras then did well to turn away a free-kick from Jacek Krzynowek in stoppage time.

Poland started at pace in the second half and Jelen whipped a shot wide in the 47th minute.

They continued to look good on the counter attack and Smolarek tested Porras five minutes later.

Wanchope, though, was causing the Poles problems with his quick-thinking and movement.

Krzynowek saw his shot diverted by Porras and from the resulting corner Bosacki powered home a header in the 66th minute to leave Costa Rica stunned.

Wanchope thought he had equalised in the 82nd minute only for his effort to be ruled out for an infringement.

So Poland at least go home with a victory while Costa Rica have been left to reflect on what might have been.