Three teams already qualified

Ecuador 3 Costa Rica 0

Photo: Three teams already qualified

Ecuador was more efficient, translating its 14 shots into 3 goals (Carlos Tenório, 8’; Agustin Delgado, 54’ and Ivan Kaviedes, 92’), while Costa Rica’s 12 shots rendered nothing more than a ball on the post.

This is Ecuador’s second consecutive World Cup, passing to the last 16 for the first time.

Classification of Group A (after 2 games)

Ecuador (5 goals scored, 0 against) 6 points; Germany (5-2) 6; Poland (0-3) 0; Costa Rica (2-6) 0.

Grupo B England vs. Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden vs. Paraguay

England 2 Trinidad and Tobago 0

In the first half, England displayed football devoid of imagination, stopped, tired, static and wholly predictable and therefore Trinidad and Tobago, with supposedly inferior individual values, were able to play on an equal footing.

England’s five corners against the Soccer Warriors’ two rendered nothing and even when they had chances to score, England stubbornly insisted on doing everything possible to keep the scoreboard as it was, as Lampard and Crouch managed to do from 8 yards after 40 and 42’ respectively.

Not surprisingly, the first half ended with Terry scooping the ball off the England goal line with Robinson stranded like a whale on the sand.

In the second half, things remained the same until the 57^th minute, when Eriksson took off the inert Owen, substituting him by Rooney and Lennon came on for Carragher, reinforcing the right wing. On 74’, Joe Cole was substituted by Downing, freshening up the left and gradually England’s game took on a more aggressive, incisive and dynamic nature, translated into two goals, a header by Crouch after 82’ and a fine shot by Gerard after 90’, finishing the game.

Sweden 1 Paraguay 0

Both teams had their chances, but Sweden was the one to put the ball away in the 88th minute, through a Freddie Ljungberg header. During 180 minutes of football in this World Cup, Paraguay showed moments of excellent football but lacked the final touch. Paraguay, however, leaves the World Cup with its head held high. Excellent football. Congratulations, Paraguay..y hasta la vista.

Classification of Group B (after 2 games)

England (3 -0) 6 points; Sweden (1-0) 4 points; Trindade and Tobago (1-2) 1 point; Paraguay (0-2) 0 points

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY

PRAVDA.Ru