| Archive for South African Soccer Community Bringing all South African Soccer Lovers Together |
| VHAMBLIDINHO |
World Cup : Group H (Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tunisia & UkraGroup HSpain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
|
||||
| DGT |
How do you hide the words like that? | ||||
| VHAMBLIDINHO |
http://vhamblidinho.myfastforum.org/ftopic156.php |
||||
| drunken_master |
Spain made a dream start to their 2006 FIFA World Cup™ campaign with a 4-0 victory over Group H rivals Ukraine in Leipzig on Wednesday.
Having waited as long as any team to get their campaign under way, Spain raced out of the starting blocks and were two goals in front inside 17 minutes as Xabi Alonso headed a 13th-minute opener before David Villa doubled the advantage. If Ukraine thought things could not get any worse they were wrong as they lost Vladyslav Vashchuk to a red card just two minutes into the second half after conceding a penalty for a challenge on Fernando Torres. Villa tucked away the spot-kick and Torres completed the scoring with a spectacular half-volley with nine minutes remaining. For just the second time since 1950, 12-times finalists Spain opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a win. This was a comprehensive and impressive victory against first-timers Ukraine and should fill Luis Aragones's side with confidence. Ukraine's defeat means not one of the teams competing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time has yet managed a win. |
||||
| VHAMBLIDINHO |
I watched the first half of the game and Ukraine were just rubbish. how did they qualify for the world cup 
|
||||
| drunken_master |
A stoppage time header from Radhi Jaidi has given Tunisia a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia after a thrilling finish to their World Cup Group H opening match.
Saudi substitute Sami Al Jaber scored in the 84th minute to put his team 2-1 ahead and seemingly on their way to a comeback win in the all-Arab clash. Al Jaber, who has played for the Saudis in three previous World Cups, tucked the ball home just two minutes after coming on as a substitute. The Tunisians, seeking to win a World Cup game for the first time since they beat Mexico in their first appearance in 1978, led at halftime after a 23rd minute goal by Ziad Jaziri. But after dominating the opening period, they lost their way and Saudi Arabia came back strongly in the second half with Yasser Al Qahtan levelling in the 57th minute. Tunisia had dominated from the start and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after only two minutes. They almost scored after eight minutes. The Saudis produced a few counter-attacks and forced a flurry of corners, but they finally fell behind in the 23rd minute. From an inswinging free-kick on the right, defender Tuker headed clear, but the ball rebounded off his team-mate Hamad Al Montashari and, as the ball fell in space, Jaziri volleyed it beyond keeper Mabrouk Zaid from 10 metres. Tunisia lost their sense of urgency after the break and paid for it when a revitalised Saudia Arabia levelled. A long ball from defence set Mohamed Noor free on the right and from his low cross to the near post Yasser Al Qahtani evaded two marking defenders to steer the ball home |
||||
| VHAMBLIDINHO |
Spain survived an early scare in Stuttgart to restate their World Cup credentials with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Tunisia, a result which secures their qualification from Group H.
After their superb display against Ukraine the pre-match the talk had been of whether this Spanish squad could finally cast aside the perennial tag of being underachievers, but inside eight minutes The Carthage Eagles took a shock lead through Jawhar Mnari. It looked like being the same old script for Luis Aragones' side, flattering to deceive but coming up short, but the wily old tactician changed the game with a course of substitutions early in the second half. Record scorer Raul came off the bench to draw Spain level on the night, and the impressive Cesc Fabregas, belying his tender years, played in Fernando Torres for the Atletico Madrid star to claim his second of the tournament. A late penalty from Torres again completed Spain's comeback from what would have been a damaging result, as they showed deep reserves of talent and resilience to book their place in the last 16. |
||||
| drunken_master |
Andriy Shevchenko’s 70th minute penalty proved to be enough for Ukraine to book their progression through to the Round of 16 as they recorded a 1-0 win over Tunisia in Berlin on Friday.
A win could have given Tunisia the runners up spot in Group H, but their task was made all the more difficult when they had striker Zied Jaziri sent-off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time. Roger Lemerre's side will depart Germany after having taken part in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup™, but 2006 also represents the third consecutive tournament that they have failed to get past the group stage. As for Ukraine, competing in their first FIFA World Cup, they are now looking forward to a second round tie against the winners of Group G in Cologne on 26 June. Ukraine, though nowhere near as impressive as against Saudi Arabia, just did enough to edge this encounter and deservedly progress to the last 16. Tunisia, for all their endeavour, rarely troubled Shovkovskyi and will return home rueing the lapse in concentration from Jaidi that put paid to any hopes they might have harboured of stealing the three points they needed. |
||||
| drunken_master |
Spain advanced to the Round of 16 with a third win under their belts as they beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Kaiserslautern on Friday.
Juanito's 36th-minute header was enough to separate the teams and confirm the Saudis' elimination after one draw and two defeats. While Marcos Paqueta's men pack their bags to go home, Spain, as Group H winners, can look forward to facing the second-placed team in Group G (one of Switzerland, Korea Republic or France) in Hanover on 27 June. It was ultimately a deserved victory for Spain's second-string who were in control for almost the entire match but were wasteful in front of goal. Saudi Arabia had the game’s outstanding player in goalkeeper Zaid, who made a host of quality saves to prevent a landslide defeat. While Saudi Arabia head for home, Spain can look ahead to th |
||||