All 32 teams have completed the group stage and 16 are preparing for the knockout phase. This is a short round-up of Groups A to D, of the results as they stand after three matches. Did your country qualify or fall at the first hurdle? Group A
1. Germany 9pts, 2. Ecuador 6pts, 3. Poland 3pts, 4. Costa Rica 0pts Both Germany and Ecuador had qualified for the knockout stage by the time they clashed in the final round of fixtures but it was the 1/3 host nation that topped the group. First half goals from Miroslav Klose after three and 43 minutes edged him into the Golden Boot pole position while strike partner Lukas Podolski fired in a third nine minutes after the group. Disappointing Poland ended their campaign on a high note by beating Costa Rica 2-1. Ronald Gomez put the Costa Ricans in front on 23 but a brace from Bartosz Bosacki on 32 and 65 landed a winning bet at 4/5. Group B
1. England 7pts, 2. Sweden 5pts, 3. Paraguay 3pts, 4. Trinidad & Tobago 1pt England stuttered to the top of Group B to set up a second round clash with Ecuador after a 2-2 draw with Sweden. Joe Coles wonder goal gave England the lead after 33 minutes but Marcus Allback headed Sweden level five minutes into the second half. Steven Gerrard looked to have won it with six minutes left but Henrik Larsson snatched an 11/5 daw at the death. Trinidad & Tobago needed to beat Paraguay and for England to beat Sweden to have any hopes of qualification. An own goal from Brent Sancho after 24 minutes and a goal from Nelson Cuevas on 85 ensured Paraguay ended on a 1/2 positive note. Group C
1. Argentina 7pts, 2. Holland 7pts, 3. Ivory Coast 3pts, 4. Serbia & Montenegro 0pts Argentina topped the group to set up a second round encounter with Mexico after drawing 0-0 with Holland. The bookmakers had anticipated both sides would have made it through to the knockout stage by the time this fixture came around and best odds of 2/1 were available for the draw. The Ivory Coast were involved in a remarkable game against Serbia & Montenegro where they fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Nikola Zigic and Sasa Illic found the net after nine and 19 minutes but Tottenham Hotspur target Aruna Dindane converted a penalty on 36 and netted his second after 66 minutes to restore parity. When a second penalty was awarded five minutes from the end, Dindane refused the chance of a hat-trick and allowed Bonaventure Kalou to win the game at 6/4 from the spot. Group D
1. Portugal 9pts, 2. Mexico 4pts, 3. Angola 2pts, 4. Iran 1pt Portugal saw off closest rivals Mexico to meet Holland in the knockout stage. Available at 5/4 before kick off, Maniche opened the scoring after just five minutes while Simao doubled the lead from the penalty spot after 23 minutes. Jose Fonseca pulled one back for Mexico five minutes later but Portugal held firm. Angola needed a win against Iran to have any hope of qualification and had the perfect start when Flavio drew first blood after 59 minutes. But Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh levelled on 75 to tie the game at odds of 9/4. |
