Germany,England top groups,Poland,Paraguay leave with pride (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-06-21 10:48
Germany whitewashed Ecuador 3-0 to top Group A at the World Cup on Tuesday,
while England tied Sweden 2-2 to win Group B.
Despite either loss or tie, Ecuador and Sweden were runners-up of their
groups and booked berths in the last 16.
 Sweden's Henrik
Larsson (L) celebrates his goal against England with team mate Teddy Lucic
during their Group B World Cup 2006 soccer match in Cologne June 20,
2006.[Reuters] |
Poland came from behind to beat Costa Rica 2-1 to finish third in Group A,
and Paraguay upset Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 to be the third-placers of Group B.
In the last 16, hosts Germany will meet Sweden, and Ecuador face England.
In Berlin, German star striker Miroslav Klose scored his third and fourth
goal at the 2006 World Cup, helping the hosts crash Ecuador 3-0 in their last
Group A match.
Only four minutes into the game, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian
Schweinsteiger put the ball into the six yard box where German first division
league top scorer Klose was on hand to side-foot the ball home.
Klose was on target again in the 44th minute when Ballack's sumptuous chip
cut out two defenders and Klose - albeit clumsily - rounded Ecuadoran goalkeeper
Cristian Mora and slotted home to double the advantage.
The Polish-born striker had scored twice in the opener to help Germany beat
Costa Rica 4-2.
Now, Klose is topping the World Cup scorers list with four goals.
The Germans came to the field with more intention and determination as they
fielded in all key players.
However, Ecuador preserved their strength for the knockout stage, keeping
their two star strikers Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio on the bench.
Delgado and Tenorio collected two goals respectively in their team's 2-0 win
over Poland and 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.
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