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Saturday, June 10, 2006POLAND 0-2 ECUADORLuis Suarez’s Ecuador side began their 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Poland in Gelsenkirchen on Friday, 9 June 2006. A hard-fought encounter witnessed goals either side of half-time for La Tri. Carlos Tenorio profited from Agustin Delgado’s flicked header in the 24th minute to give the South Americans the lead. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, the provider turned goalscorer as Delgado side-footed home from close range to put Ecuador second in the Group A table behind Germany on goal difference. The match: 5': The balmy late spring conditions in Gelsenkirchen contrasted with those in Barcelona where the teams met in a friendly last year just ahead of the Final Draw for Germany 2006. On that evening, a torrential downpour did not prevent Poland from scoring a convincing 3-0 victory. However, Ecuador began this first competitive fixture between the nations brightly and Luis Valencia had the first attempt, screwing a 20 yarder wide of the target. 11': It was a fast opening with the excitement generated by the teams' colourful and boisterous followings adding to the tempo. While Ecuador goalkeeper Cristian Mora's painted face caught the eye, Artur Boruc was the busier of the two keepers. The Celtic custodian had to be alert to stop a speculative 30-yard volley from Segundo Castillo. 24': Chances were few and far between but just as it appeared the game would become a midfield battle, the South Americans struck in a straightforward fashion. Ulises de la Cruz hurled in a long throw from the right, Agustin Delgado provided the flick-on and Tenorio, reading the move to perfection, raced in to guide his header into the far corner of the net. (0-1) 29': On top now, Ecuador almost doubled their lead with a copycat move. De la Cruz threw the ball in, Tenorio, this time at the near post, muscled his way to the goal-line and cut the ball back but Delgado, six yards out, could not keep his effort down. 38': Boruc was called into action twice in four minutes as Ecuador refused to sit on their lead. He kept out a thunderous 35-yard free-kick from Edison Mendez before holding on well to Valencia's effort from the right-hand side of the box. Plenty of spirit: 46' The legions of Polish supporters that had travelled across Germany for the game saw their team dominate possession at the beginning of the second half but they were getting no joy from an Ecuadorian defence prepared to throw their bodies into every challenge. 62’:Now playing on the break, La Tri almost grabbed the second goal. Delgado turned neatly on the edge of the box, raced towards goal before tumbling under the challenge of Mariusz Jop. The referee waved play on as the hearts of Polish fans skipped a beat. 73’: Pawel Janas' men were unable to create a clear-cut opening while the sights of Ecuador’s forwards were set firmly between the goalposts. Another Mendez effort from distance forced Boruc into more action as the game became increasingly stretched. 80’:The South Americans doubled their advantage with a devastating move. Mendez split the Polish defence with an inch-perfect pass, substitute Ivan Kaviedes, unselfishly, drew Boruc before squaring to Delgado, who, completely unmarked, side-footed the ball into the empty net. 86’: With the clock ticking down, Poland twice came within a whisker of halving the deficit. First Ireneusz Jelen saw his left-foot snapshot strike the bar, then another substitute, Pawel Brozek, watched agonisingly as his curling effort from the right edge of the box crashed off the post to safety. In conclusion:Learning from their debut at the FIFA World Cup four years ago, Ecuador produced a highly efficient team performance to deservedly take the three points in their opening game. Poland, more direct and anxious, will need to improve if they are to take something from their eagerly awaited fixture against hosts Germany. 
Hosts Germany opened the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals with a 4-2 win over Group A rivals Costa Rica in Munich on Friday, 9 June 2006. An exciting Opening Match produced three goals inside the first 17 minutes as Philipp Lahm fired Germany in front on six minutes, Paulo Wanchope drew the Ticos level six minutes later and then Miroslav Klose restored the Germans' lead. Klose, celebrating his 28th birthday, made it 3-1 after 61 minutes and although Wanchope narrowed the deficit with his second goal on 73 minutes, Jurgen Klinsmann's men secured the three points through Torsten Frings' spectacular drive three minutes from time. The match: 3': Germany’s Torsten Frings fired the first shot at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a dipping effort which had Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Porras well beaten, but the ball just cleared the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net. 6': The Mannschaft got off to a fantastic start as full-back Lahm cut inside on the left flank and curled a beautiful drive which clipped into the net off the far post to send Germany into an early lead (1-0). 12': After weathering the storm, Costa Rica provided the perfect riposte as Ronald Gomez released Wanchope who beat Germany's offside trap, sprinted clear and composed himself before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to score the equaliser (1-1). 17': Germany went in front again in probably the most spectacular start to an Opening Match in the rich history of the finals. Team captain Bernd Schneider fed Bastian Schweinsteiger from near the corner flag and his cross from just inside the area was turned home by Klose from two metres out to restore Germany’s advantage (2-1). 24': Klose tried his luck from distance and Porras had an anxious moment as the drive bounced back off his chest but there was nobody in a white shirt on hand to capitalise on the rebound. 38': Wanchope provided Germany with a worrying moment of their own as he found himself in space again and lobbed the ball over Lehmann, but his attempt floated wide and play was called back for an offside flag against the striker. 40': German forward Lukas Podolski curled a left-footed free-kick just over the top from 18 metres as the relentless pace of the first half had the crowd in Munich on the edge of their seats. No let-up:46': The second half was barely 30 seconds old when Germany came charging at Costa Rica again, with Podolski cracking in another fierce drive which Porras was happy to see fly a metre over the centre of his goal. 55': Porras had to be alert and athletic as he sprinted off his line to gather a dangerous pass which Per Mertesacker was hoping to make the most of. 61': Germany increased their lead as Klose, one of the strikers tipped to challenge for the adidas Golden Shoe, scored his second goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and his seventh in the finals overall. From Lahm's teasing cross, the ball looped up off Costa Rican defender Michael Umana and although Klose's initial header was well saved by Porras, the Werder Bremen player followed up to lift it high into the net (3-1). 73': With echoes of the first half, Wanchope matched Klose by once again skipping through Germany’s defence courtesy of a delicate chipped pass by Walter Centeno and wrong-footing Lehmann, who was left exposed for a second time (3-2). 79': Mertesacker forced a great save out of Porras by rising highest from a corner and sending a firm header toward goal, but the Costa Rican keeper was equal to it. 87': Werder Bremen provided the goalscorer again as midfielder Frings put the icing on the cake of a truly spectacular Opening Match with an unstoppable drive into the corner from some 25 metres (4-2). In conclusion:Germany made the best possible start to the finals with three points and a healthy return of four goals, but there will be questions raised about their offside tactics after being caught out twice at the back.
Friday, June 09, 2006Poland Vs. EcuadorGroup A Gelsenkirchen Friday, 9 June Team facts - Poland Poland, who are yet to better their third placed finishes in 1974 qnd 1982, are participating in their seventh World Cup. They failed to progress from the group stage in 2002. They finished last in the first group stage, losing to host South Korea and Portugal before recording a 3-1 victory against the United States. Poland have not scored in their opening match at the last four World Cups they have qualified for. The last time Poland netted in their initial fixture was at the 1974 World Cup when they beat Argentina 3-2. In qualifying, Poland scored 27 goals in 10 matches, an average of 2.27 goals per match. Only Sweden, Czech Republic and Portugal scored more goals per match in Uefa 2006 World Cup qualifying. Team facts - Ecuador Ecuador made their World Cup debut in 2002 when they finished last in their Group G. They lost to Italy (2-0) and Mexico (2-1) before recording their first World Cup win against Croatia (1-0). This is their second participation in the finals. Ecuador were unbeaten at home in their World Cup qualifying campaign, playing at high altitude. Ecuador's only away win came also at high altitude in Bolivia. They have not recorded a victory since 25 January 2006 when defeating Honduras 1-0 at home. Player facts - Poland Four players in the current Poland squad also played at the 2002 World Cup. They are defenders Michal Zewlakow and Jacek Bak, midfielder Jacek Krzynowek and forward Maciej Zurawski. Ebi Smolarek will follow in his father's footsteps when he makes his World Cup debut for Poland. Father Wlodzimierz represented Poland at the 1982 and 1986 World Cup. Player facts - Ecuador Eight players in the current Ecuador squad also played at the 2002 World Cup. Six of them played in all three previous World Cup matches for Ecuador: Marlon Ayovi, Ivan Hurtado, Ulises de la Cruz, Agustin Delgado, Edison Mendez and Carlos Tenorio. Delgado and Mendez are the only Ecuador players to have scored in a World Cup match. Indeed on the day this match is staged, it will be exactly four years since Delgado scored Ecuador's very first World Cup goal on 9 June 2002. Delgado is also Ecuador's all-time top scorer with 29 goals in 68 matches. Miscellaneous Info Poland's National Team coach Pawel Janas played in all seven matches for Poland at the 1982 World Cup third place finish. Ecuador are coached by Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez. Of the 32 teams present in Germany, 15 are coached by a foreign manager.
Group A Munich Friday, 9 June Team facts - Germany (West) Germany have lost only one of their previous 15 opening matches in a World Cup. In 1982 they were upset 2-1 by Algeria, but still managed to reach the final. The World Cup hosts have never lost their opening match (13 wins, five draws). Germany have featured in the tournament opener three times. In 1938 they drew with Switzerland 1-1. In 1978, they drew with Poland 0-0. In 1994, they defeated Bolivia 1-0 courtesy of a Jurgen Klinsmann goal. Jurgen Klinsmann is one of two national team coaches (Mexico's Ricardo Lavolpe is the other) at the 2006 World Cup to have won the competition as a player. Klinsmann lifted the trophy on behalf of West Germany. Team facts - Costa Rica Costa Rica are playing at their third World Cup, having also appeared in 1990 and 2002. Team boss Alexandre Guimaraes represented his nation at the 1990 World Cup, making three substitute appearances. Player facts - Germany Miroslav Klose, who netted five times in Germany's 2002 World Cup campaign celebrates his 28th birthday on the day of the World Cup's opening match. He is one of nine players from the campaign that finished as runners-up in 2002. David Odonkor made his international debut against Japan, which means all 23 players in Jürgen Klinsmann's squad now have at least one international match under their belt. Mike Hanke is suspended for this match after having been red carded in the Confederations Cup last year. Player facts - Costa Rica Nine players in the Costa Rican squad also played at the 2002 World Cup. Captain Luis Marin (120) and midfielder Mauricio Solís (107) are Costa Rica's all-time leading appearance makers. They are the only Costa Rican centurions in that respect. Miscellaneous Info Group A is the only group featuring four nations that were also present at the 2002 World Cup. Germany also hosted the World Cup in 1974, when they emerged victorious by defeating Holland in the final at Munich's Olympiastadion. Mexico, Italy and France have also hosted the World Cup finals twice.
This is an interesting group featuring the host nation, Germany, which has reached seven World Cup championship games and won three titles (the last in 1990). It appears the Germans should have little trouble getting out of the group stage. They were relieved to draw Costa Rica rather than the United States for the tournament-opening match on June 9 in Munich. GERMANY COSTA RICA POLAND ECUADOR GROUP SCHEDULE June 14: Germany vs. Poland, 2 p.m. at Dortmund; June 15: Ecuador vs. Costa Rica, 8 a.m. at Hamburg; June 20: Germany vs. Ecuador, 9 a.m. at Berlin; Costa Rica vs. Poland, 4 p.m. at Hanover.
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