Just 4 to go

Italy 2 Czech Republic 0

Photo: Just 4 to go

Just 4 to go

26’ Materazzi

86’ Inzaghi

On 26’, Materazzi headed the first and an hour later, Inzaghi ran halfway down the park to leave Cech stranded, when the Czechs were trying to score. In the event only a victory would have been enough. One of the hot favourites bows out.

USA 1 Ghana 2

43 Dempsey 22 Draman

46 Appiah (pen)

Ghana went into the half-time break ahead, through a fine strike by Draman on 22’ and a penalty by captain Appiah shortly after Dempsey had equalised for the USA.

The result stayed the same in the second half and Ghana becomes the first African team to go through to the last 16 in this tournament.

The USA team leaves this World Cup with a terrible performance in terms of sportsmanship, on the field and off, with abominable public relations, its base seeming more like a military fortress than a football concentration and its technical team very bad tempered with histrionics and foul language on the touchline.

It is a shame for a country which tries to improve its image but let us not mix sport with politics. Even in the area of sport, we see the arrogance and heavy-handedness and in being bad losers, we see something sinister. This Cup does not need players who try to break the legs of their colleagues, this Cup is better off without this execrable team. Goodbye and close the door behind you.

Final Classification Group E

Italy (5-1) 7 points

Ghana (4-3) 6

Czech Rep. (3-4) 3

USA (2-6) 1

Brazil 4 Japan 1

Ronaldo 45’ 81’ Tamada <http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/211976_TAMADA_Keiji.html> (34')

Juninho P. 52’

Gilberto 60’

The result says it all - four goals against one, 21 shots against 9, 11 corners against 3 and Ronaldo is a goal short of Gerd Muller’s record.

Australia 2 Croatia 2

Moore 38 (pen) Srna 2

Kewell 79 Kovac 56

Croatia was another team to disappoint wholly but with just two points in three games, compared with Brazil’s 9, it has only itself to blame. Australia attacked more, with 12 shots against 9 and 9 corners against 3.

Australia now meets italy, Brazil plays Ghana.

Final Classification Group F

Brazil (7-1) 9 points

Australia (5-5) 4

Croatia (2-3) 2

Japan (2-7) 1

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY

PRAVDA.Ru