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| Ukraine Through, South Korea Out |
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The desperate ten-man Tunisia were dealt a body blow by a penalty kick of star striker Andriy Shevchenko at the 70th minute in Berlin, who made Ukraine finish runners-up with six points, three fewer than the first-placed Spain. Ukraine, who lost 0-4 to Spain but beat Saudi Arabia 4-0, will face Switzerland, number one in Group G after a 0-0 tie with France and two 2-0 wins with Togo and South Korea. While Spain, who had created three straight wins at group stage,will meet former World Cup champions France, which jumped to the second place after a decisive win over Togo in Colonge. In the crucial duel for both sides, Tunisia must win to keep the chance to advance to the last 16 while Ukraine only need a tie. Both teams fielded the same side they played in their last fixtures, in which Ukraine crushed Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Tunisia lost to Spain 3-1. Shevchenko chased a ball wide in the penalty area and tumbled under the challenge of Tunisian defender Karim Haggui. The AC Milan striker scored from the spot, his second goal at the World Cup. Tunisia will leave Germany after having taken part in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, but 2006 also represents the third consecutive tournament that they have failed to get past the group stage. In Kaiserslauten, Spain beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to top Group H in their last World Cup group match. Spain's coach Aragones selected an entirely new starting line-up for the match against Saudi Arabia. Captain Raul started for the first time at this World Cup, accompanied by Joaquin and Jose Antonio Reyes up front. Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta were chosen in midfield, while 36-year-old reserve keeper Santiago Canizares started behind a new-look back four of Michel Salgado, Carlos Marchena, Antonio Lopez and Juanito. Defender Gutierrez Juanito scored the lone goal in the 36th minute when he leapt high and powered an unstoppable header past Saudi keeper Mabrouk Zaid. "Spain are different from years ago. Now we have great touches of play, good positioning, which make it hard for us to lose the ball. It's our time to shine," said Spain's coach Luis Aragones. Spain reached the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, in which they were ousted by co-hosts South Korea in penalty-shooting.? Saudi Arabia, who tied Tunisia 2-2 and lost to Ukraine 4-0, need to score at least six goals to qualify. But the Asian side found no chance throughout the match and putan end to their disappointing World Cup journey. Saudi Arabians were playing their fourth World Cup in a row. They surged into the last 16 in their debut in 1994 but were knocked out in the group stage for all the following three tournaments. In Hanover, South Korea were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in front of their merry band of noisy fans. The South Koreans headed into the final round robin game unbeaten, but they faced a do-or-die match with Switzerland, because France, who had 2 points from both draws of previous matches, took on Togo in Cologne at the same time. Philippe Senderos opened the scoring for the Swiss on the 23rd minute as the Arsenal defender rose above everybody to head directly home a free kick from Hakan Yakin, butting heads with Choi Jin Cheul and earning a bloody face in the process. The key striker to Switzerland's attack scored with 17 minutes remaining when Xavier Margairaz played a ball through for Frei and the Rennes' forward hesitated for just a second before running in one goal to score. The goal was argued by furious South Koreans as the linesman's flag went straight up when the pass was made, but the referee ruled it onside and the video replay showed that Margairaz's pass had come off a South Korean defender. It has been the 15th loss for South Korea out of their 18 encounters with European team at the World Cup. The only three wins of them came in 2002 on home soil. In Colonge, former world champions France found the pace and went through to the knockout stage after beating World Cup debutants Togo 2-0 at their last World Cup Group G match. Birthday boy Patrick Vieira nailed the opener for France, slamming home the ball past goalkeeper Kossi Agassa after a flurryof dazzling foot steps in the 55th minutes. Five minutes late, Arsenal striker Thierry Henry sealed the winfor the 1998 World Cup champions after receiving a deep Claude Makelele pass on the edge of the area. Under France's ferocious attacking, Togo has no choice but withdrew to their area and their goalkeeper Agassa became the busiest man in the match. (Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2006) |
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