World Cup - Quarter-finals

drunken_master · Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject: World Cup - Quarter-finals

Germany advanced to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals after triumphing 4-2 over Argentina in a penalty shoot-out following a tight, tense 1-1 draw at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Friday.

It proved impossible to separate these sides, with 120 minutes only able to conjure up a couple of goals, Miroslav Klose’s 80th-minute equaliser cancelling out a 49th-minute opening strike from Roberto Ayala.

That left the match to be settled by penalties, and it was Jens Lehmann who proved the hosts' hero, saving from both Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso, while Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski all successfully dispatched their spot kicks past Argentina’s substitute goalkeeper, Leo Franco.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to elect Lehmann as his number one for this FIFA World Cup appears to be justified by this result alone. His two saves have given Germany a place in the semi-finals, where they will meet Italy or Ukraine.

For Argentina, who took the lead in this game, it will be a long journey home for a team which performed so well in the early stages of this tournament.

drunken_master · Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:48 pm Post subject:

Italy cruised into the semi-finals of Germany 2006 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Dortmund on Friday.

A sixth-minute strike from Gianluca Zambrotta set the tone for the evening and a second-half brace from Luca Toni merely compounded the misery for Oleg Blokhin’s side.

Oleg Gusev, Andriy Gusin and Maksym Kalinichenko all went close for Ukraine, but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and some excellent goalkeeping by Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy now turn their attentions to a semi-final tie with the hosts in Dortmund on Tuesday, 4 July, while FIFA World Cup™ debutants Ukraine will return home justifiably proud of their efforts.

Italy produced, arguably, their most accomplished all-round performance at Germany 2006 to date, firing a timely warning to the hosts ahead of their semi-final meeting in Dortmund on 4 July.

From the very offset, Marcello Lippi's side always looked the more menacing and potent of the two, and though a only a combination of ill luck, Buffon’s brilliance and poor finishing prevented Ukraine pulling a goal back in the second half, there can be no doubt that the best side march on to the semis.

drunken_master · Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:51 pm Post subject:

Portugal march on to a semi-final date with either Brazil or France after defeating England 3-1 on penalties following a last eight clash that ended goalless in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

Neither of these sides could find a way through during 120 minutes of entertaining and closely-contested action, with Portugal unable to translate into goals a numerical advantage they had held for
almost an hour thanks to Wayne Rooney’s 62nd-minute dismissal.

The match therefore became the second 2006 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final to be settled on penalty kicks and, just as Jens Lehmann was Germany’s hero yesterday, so Ricardo was Portugal’s today, saving from Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher to leave Cristiano Ronaldo to stroke home the decisive penalty.

drunken_master · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject:

France have booked their place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals at the expense of holders Brazil, this after a Zinedine Zidane-inspired 1-0 win for Les Bleus in Frankfurt set up a last-four clash with Portugal.

Thierry Henry’s 57th-minute volley was the game’s solitary, all-important goal, and with Raymond Domenech’s side inspired by a vintage showing from Zidane, Brazil could have few complaints at the final whistle.

France now complete an all-European line-up in the tournament’s semi-finals, with their clash against England’s conquerors Portugal scheduled for 5 July in Munich, a day after Germany and Italy do battle in Dortmund.

France fully merited this victory, orchestrated by the superb Zidane, whose performance was well worthy of the Budweiser Man of the Match Award.

The 34-year-old was simply sensational in this match, supplying an inch-perfect cross for Henry’s goal and showing a superb range of passing and skills throughout the 90 minutes.

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