World Cup 2006: Day 19
In the final round of 16 matches played today, Brazil played Ghana first, followed by Spain v France. Two absolutely mouthwatering clashes and both the games did not disappoint!!
Brazil started their regular first choice XI and got off to a flying start when Ronaldo put them ahead after just 5 minutes! Kaka's through-ball dissected the Ghana defence, and Ronaldo dribbled past the helpless keeper Richard Kingson with a sensational step-over move before tapping the ball home. 1-0 and the fans had barely gotten into their seats! Ghana, to their credit, regained their composure and played some really impressive football in the midfield and created a number of good chances. However, their finishing in front of goal let them down as most of their shots went off target or straight to Dida in the Brazilian goal. Defender John Mensah was incredibly unlucky to see his powerful downward header stopped by Dida's flailing leg on the goalline! Then, right on the stroke of halftime, Brazil made Ghana pay dearly for their profligacy. A lightning quick counter-attack saw the ball played out wide to Cafu, who sent in a first-time cross to the far post where Adriano had the simplest of tap-ins! The linesman had crucially missed Adriano being in an offside position, and the Ghanians protested vehemently, so much so that the Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic was sent off from the dugout for dissent! 2-0 at the break, and really hard luck for the excellentt Ghanians. It was more of the same story in the second half, as Ghana dominated play in the midfield and created numerous chances, but Stephen Appiah's side were just not able to beat Dida in the Brazilian goal. The game was then finally settled for good 5 minutes before fulltime, when Ze Roberto beat Ghana's offside trap and rounded the keeper before slotting home Brazil's third goal. 3-0 it ended, with the scoreline doing no justice at all to the excellent play produced by Ghana. Unfortunately, their forwards just didn't have their shooting boots on and they are left to rue what might have been a great upset.
Spain took France next, aiming to end the international career of France star and captain Zinedine Zidane. They were the more aggressive team at the start and the midfield trio of Xabi Alonso, Xavi and Fabregas ensured that Spain had plenty of early possession. They made it count in the 28th minute when defender Pablo Ibanez was tripped inside the penalty box. David Villa stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted home despite French keeper Barthez guessing the right direction. The goal seemed to awaken the French and they started to get more possession later in the half. Patrick Vieira then played a terrific defence-splitting pass to Franck Ribery and the Marseille playmaker kept his composure to round the keeper before scoring France's equalising goal! 1-1 at the half, and it was a thoroughly entertaining match. The Spaniards brought on winger Joaquin and forward Luis Garcia early in the second half to replace captain Raul and goalscorer Villa. The game then went through a period where petty fouls broke up the rhythm of play and neither side could string together passes to create good chances. In the 81st minute, Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, who had excellent game till then, awarded a dubious free-kick to the French for a non-existent foul on Thierry Henry. This proved to be crucial, as France went ahead from the resultant free-kick. Patrick Vieira headed Zidane's long cross towards goal and rightback Sergio Ramos inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net with Casillas in position to save Vieira's initial effort!! 2-1 to France with just minutes remaining, and the Spanish were hard done by some play-acting from France's great goalscorer. Spain poured men forward in the dying minutes but were unable to level the game late on. Instead, the French were able to extend their lead in the 92nd minute as Zizou led a counterattack and beat his marker before firing home from 15 yards. Fitting in some respects for Zidane to cap his final international tournament with a goal. The French managed to extend Zidane's career by one more game, as they will now take on world champions Brazil in the quarterfinals!
The final 8 are decided now, and what a sensational lineup we have - Germany v Argentina, Italy v Ukraine, England v Portugal, Brazil v France!!! Can't wait for Friday now...
Brazil started their regular first choice XI and got off to a flying start when Ronaldo put them ahead after just 5 minutes! Kaka's through-ball dissected the Ghana defence, and Ronaldo dribbled past the helpless keeper Richard Kingson with a sensational step-over move before tapping the ball home. 1-0 and the fans had barely gotten into their seats! Ghana, to their credit, regained their composure and played some really impressive football in the midfield and created a number of good chances. However, their finishing in front of goal let them down as most of their shots went off target or straight to Dida in the Brazilian goal. Defender John Mensah was incredibly unlucky to see his powerful downward header stopped by Dida's flailing leg on the goalline! Then, right on the stroke of halftime, Brazil made Ghana pay dearly for their profligacy. A lightning quick counter-attack saw the ball played out wide to Cafu, who sent in a first-time cross to the far post where Adriano had the simplest of tap-ins! The linesman had crucially missed Adriano being in an offside position, and the Ghanians protested vehemently, so much so that the Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic was sent off from the dugout for dissent! 2-0 at the break, and really hard luck for the excellentt Ghanians. It was more of the same story in the second half, as Ghana dominated play in the midfield and created numerous chances, but Stephen Appiah's side were just not able to beat Dida in the Brazilian goal. The game was then finally settled for good 5 minutes before fulltime, when Ze Roberto beat Ghana's offside trap and rounded the keeper before slotting home Brazil's third goal. 3-0 it ended, with the scoreline doing no justice at all to the excellent play produced by Ghana. Unfortunately, their forwards just didn't have their shooting boots on and they are left to rue what might have been a great upset.
Spain took France next, aiming to end the international career of France star and captain Zinedine Zidane. They were the more aggressive team at the start and the midfield trio of Xabi Alonso, Xavi and Fabregas ensured that Spain had plenty of early possession. They made it count in the 28th minute when defender Pablo Ibanez was tripped inside the penalty box. David Villa stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted home despite French keeper Barthez guessing the right direction. The goal seemed to awaken the French and they started to get more possession later in the half. Patrick Vieira then played a terrific defence-splitting pass to Franck Ribery and the Marseille playmaker kept his composure to round the keeper before scoring France's equalising goal! 1-1 at the half, and it was a thoroughly entertaining match. The Spaniards brought on winger Joaquin and forward Luis Garcia early in the second half to replace captain Raul and goalscorer Villa. The game then went through a period where petty fouls broke up the rhythm of play and neither side could string together passes to create good chances. In the 81st minute, Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, who had excellent game till then, awarded a dubious free-kick to the French for a non-existent foul on Thierry Henry. This proved to be crucial, as France went ahead from the resultant free-kick. Patrick Vieira headed Zidane's long cross towards goal and rightback Sergio Ramos inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net with Casillas in position to save Vieira's initial effort!! 2-1 to France with just minutes remaining, and the Spanish were hard done by some play-acting from France's great goalscorer. Spain poured men forward in the dying minutes but were unable to level the game late on. Instead, the French were able to extend their lead in the 92nd minute as Zizou led a counterattack and beat his marker before firing home from 15 yards. Fitting in some respects for Zidane to cap his final international tournament with a goal. The French managed to extend Zidane's career by one more game, as they will now take on world champions Brazil in the quarterfinals!
The final 8 are decided now, and what a sensational lineup we have - Germany v Argentina, Italy v Ukraine, England v Portugal, Brazil v France!!! Can't wait for Friday now...
posted by Manoj at
2:05 PM
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