WORLD CUP 2006

For the 2006 World Cup in Germany, 198 teams attempted to qualify with once again 32 making it through to the final stages. Hosts Germany opened up in Group A with a thrilling 4-2 win over Costa Rica, and went on to win the group comfortably with a 100% record. They were expected to be joined in the knockout stages by Poland, but after the Poles suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in their first match it turned out to be the South Americans who accompanied Germany into Round Two.

England and Sweden were favourites in Group B, but both had problems against World Cup debutants Trinidad and Tobago, with Sweden being held to a 0-0 draw and England taking more than 80 minutes to make a breakthrough before eventually recording a 2-0 win. Having also beaten Paraguay, England were through with a match to spare and Sweden joined them when Paraguay's win over Trinidad ended any outside hopes the Caribbean side had of a shock place in the Second Round. A 2-2 draw gave England first place ahead of Sweden.

Group C was considered to be the "Group of Death", with Argentina and the Netherlands favourites but expected to be tested by Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia & Montenegro. Serbia & Montenegro were surprisingly poor and lost all three games, but Côte d'Ivoire tested both favourites strongly. Despite trailing both games 2-0, they fought back well and were unlucky to lose 2-1 each time. Argentina won the group on goal difference ahead of the Netherlands, after a fantastic 6-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro.

Portugal won Group D very comfortably, winning all three games. With unfancied Angola and Iran in the group, Mexico were expected to join the Portuguese in the knockout stages and eventually did so but not without a struggle. Angola, in their first World Cup, held the Mexicans to a draw and had a chance to go through by beating Iran in their last game, but could only manage another draw and despite defeat to Portugal, Mexico were through.

Italy conceded just one own-goal in winning Group E, in a shock 1-1 draw with the USA. The Czech Republic had started impressively with a 3-0 win over the Americans, but the loss of striker Jan Koller to injury hit them hard and they were outplayed in a 2-0 defeat by World Cup debutants Ghana in their second match. With the Czechs losing again to Italy, it was Ghana who made it through to Round Two with a narrow 2-1 win over the USA.

Holders Brazil were overwhelming favourites in Group F, and lived up to their billing with three wins, although far less convincingly than many had expected. Australia, in their first World Cup since 1974, recorded their first ever win in the finals by beating Japan 3-1 in their opening game. Despite losing the Brazil, the Australians edged through to the Second Round with a 2-2 draw against a disappointing Croatia.

Expected to win Group G comfortably, France started slowly with two draws, but a win over newcomers Togo saw them into the knockout stages. After a chaotic first World Cup, Togo lost all three games but were far from disgraced. Having finished third in 2002, South Korea were unable to repeat their heroics away from home; despite an opening win over Togo, defeat to Switzerland in their final game saw the Swiss through without having conceded a goal in the group.

Spain were very impressive in winning Group H, starting out with a 4-0 win over Ukraine and winning all three of their games. Ukraine rebounded with a 4-0 win of their own over a poor Saudi Arabia, and the second qualifying place would be decided between them and Tunisia, who had pushed Spain hard in their second game. Tunisia had to win, but a penalty gave Ukraine a narrow 1-0 victory and a place in Round Two at their first World Cup.

Germany opened Round Two with a very easy 2-0 win over a poor Swedish side. Argentina moved through to join them in the last eight but only after a tight 2-1 victory over Mexico which required extra-time. David Beckham's free kick saw England edge past Ecuador 1-0, before Portugal beat the Netherlands by the same score in a game which saw a record 16 yellow and four red cards. A highly controversial stoppage-time penalty saw Italy edge past Australia, before a very negative game led to Ukraine beating Switzerland on penalties, the goalless draw leaving the Swiss as the first team ever to exit the World Cup without conceding a goal from open play. Brazil's 3-0 win over Ghana saw Ronaldo score a record-breaking 15th World Cup finals goal, before France came from behind to beat perennial World Cup underachievers Spain 3-1.

Germany came from behind to force extra-time and penalties against Argentina in the first quarter-final, and the penalty shoot-out experts came through 4-2 to reach the last four on home soil. Italy were never tested against Ukraine, winning easily by three goals to nil to reach a semi-final against Germany. A goalless 120 minutes saw England and Portugal face a repeat of their 2004 European Championship penalty shoot-out, and again it was Portugal who reached the last four after England missed three out of four kicks. France's narrow 1-0 win over holders Brazil meant that all four semi-finalists were European for the first time since 1982.

The first semi-final saw Germany and Italy provide a wonderfully entertaining match that somehow remained goalless until the 119th minute. Taking the lead with a minute to go, Italy scored again in stoppage time to end the host nation's dream of a fourth world title. In the second match Portugal, facing a hostile crowd after their perceived cynical tactics against the Netherlands and England, were narrowly defeated 1-0 by France after a penalty from Zinedine Zidane. The Portugese would also go on to lost the Third Place Play-Off against Germany, by three goals to one.

France took an early lead in the final with a very controversial penalty from Zidane, who after his two goals in the 1998 final became only the fourth man to score in two finals. Italy were level just twelve minutes later through a header from Marco Materazzi, and the Italians were unlucky not to lead at half time after hitting the crossbar. France went on to dominate much of the rest of the game, but were unable to regain the lead and the match went into extra-time. Near the end of extra-time lost Zidane to a moment of madness when he headbutted Materazzi in the chest. For only the second time the World Cup final went to penalties, and having lost a shoot-out in 1994 Italy this time were triumphant. David Trezeguet's kick hit the crossbar. Italy scored all five penalties to win 5-3 and claim their fourth World Cup.