Special Report: 2006 FIFA World Cup
BERLIN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- World Cup debutants
Ukraine beat Tunisia 1-0 to join Group H leader Spain in the knockout stage
while South Korea failed to qualify from Group G.
Switzerland's
Tranquillo Barnetta (L) vies with Korea's Lee Chun Soo at the final round
match of World Cup 2006 Group G in Hanover, Germany, June 23, 2006.
(Xinhua Photo) |
The
desperate ten-man Tunisia were dealt a body blow by a penalty kick of star
striker Andriy Shevchenko at the 70th minute in Berlin, who made Ukraine finish
runners-up with six points, three fewer than the first-placed Spain.
Ukraine, who lost 0-4 to Spain but beat Saudi Arabia
4-0, will face Switzerland, number one in Group G after a 0-0 tie with France
and two 2-0 wins with Togo and South Korea.
While Spain, who had created three straight wins at
group stage,will meet former World Cup champions France, which jumped to the
second place after a decisive win over Togo in Colonge.
In the crucial duel for both sides, Tunisia must win
to keep the chance to advance to the last 16 while Ukraine only need a tie.
Two players vie for the ball during a Group H match between
Spain and Saudi Arabia at the World Cup 2006 in Kaiserslautern, Germany,
on June 23, 2006. Spain won the match 1-0. (Xinhua
Photo) |
Both teams fielded the same side they played in their
last fixtures, in which Ukraine crushed Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Tunisia lost to
Spain 3-1.
Shevchenko chased a ball wide in the penalty area and
tumbled under the challenge of Tunisian defender Karim Haggui.
The AC Milan striker scored from the spot, his second
goal at the World Cup.
Tunisia will leave Germany after having taken part in
their third consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, but 2006 also represents the
third consecutive tournament that they have failed to get past the group stage.
Ukrainian forward Andriy Voronin (R) shoots during a Group H
match against Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in the Olympic Stadium in
Berlin, Germany, June 23, 2006. Ukraine won 1-0. (Xinhua
Photo) |
In Kaiserslauten,
Spain beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to top Group H intheir last World Cup group match.
Spain's coach Aragones selected an entirely new
starting line-up for the match against Saudi Arabia.
Captain Raul started for the first time at this World
Cup, accompanied by Joaquin and Jose Antonio Reyes up front.
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta were
chosen in midfield, while 36-year-old reserve keeper Santiago Canizares started
behind a new-look back four of Michel Salgado, Carlos Marchena, Antonio Lopez
and Juanito.
Defender Gutierrez Juanito scored the lone goal in
the 36th minute when he leapt high and powered an unstoppable header past Saudi
keeper Mabrouk Zaid.
"Spain are different from years ago. Now we have
great touches of play, good positioning, which make it hard for us to lose the
ball. It's our time to shine," said Spain's coach Luis Aragones.
Spain reached the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, in
which they were ousted by co-hosts South Korea in penalty-shooting.
France's players
celebrate a goal during a Group G match against Togo at the World Cup 2006
in Cologne, Germany, June 23, 2006. France won 2-0. (Xinhua
Photo) |
Saudi Arabia, who tied Tunisia 2-2 and lost to
Ukraine 4-0, need to score at least six goals to qualify.
But the Asian side found no chance throughout the
match and putan end to their disappointing World Cup journey.
Saudi Arabians were playing their fourth World Cup in
a row. They surged into the last 16 in their debut in 1994 but were knocked out
in the group stage for all the following three tournaments.
In Hanover, South Korea were beaten 2-0 by
Switzerland in frontof their merry band of noisy fans.
The South Koreans headed into the final round robin
game unbeaten, but they faced a do-or-die match with Switzerland, because
France, who had 2 points from both draws of previous matches, took on Togo in
Cologne at the same time.
Philippe Senderos opened the scoring for the Swiss on
the 23rd minute as the Arsenal defender rose above everybody to head directly
home a free kick from Hakan Yakin, butting heads with Choi Jin Cheul and earning
a bloody face in the process.
The key striker to Switzerland's attack scored with
17 minutes remaining when Xavier Margairaz played a ball through for Frei and
the Rennes' forward hesitated for just a second before running in one goal to
score.
The goal was argued by furious South Koreans as the
linesman's flag went straight up when the pass was made, but the referee ruled
it onside and the video replay showed that Margairaz's pass had come off a South
Korean defender.
It has been the 15th loss for South Korea out of
their 18 encounters with European team at the World Cup. The only three wins of
them came in 2002 on home soil.
In Colonge, former world champions France found the
pace and went through to the knockout stage after beating World Cup debutants
Togo 2-0 at their last World Cup Group G match.
Birthday boy Patrick Vieira nailed the opener for
France, slamming home the ball past goalkeeper Kossi Agassa after a flurryof
dazzling foot steps in the 55th minutes.
Five minutes late, Arsenal striker Thierry Henry
sealed the winfor the 1998 World Cup champions after receiving a deep Claude
Makelele pass on the edge of the area.
Under France's ferocious attacking, Togo has no
choice but withdrew to their area and their goalkeeper Agassa became the busiest
man in the match. Enditem
