By MSN's Lee Harvey
Last updated: 15 June 2006
Day 6: A big win for Spain, a point salvaged by Tunisia and a typical last minute German victory
Spain rain pain on Ukraine
In a game that had many commentators reaching for their copies of the Noel Gallagher rhyming dictionary, Ukraine endured a 90-minute nightmare against a Spanish team that finally performed on the game’s biggest stage.
With weather conditions against them, Ukraine were two goals down in the opening 17 minutes thanks to a scrambled Xavi Alonso effort and a cruelly deflected David Villa free kick. Even at this early stage there was no way back.
Spanish mastery of the midfield left Shevchenko isolated and unable to get into the game. Whatever stuffing his team mates had left was fully knocked out of them after half time when Torres fluffed a chance and fell over in the box. The ref inexplicably gave a penalty and sent off Vashchuk. Villa slotted the penalty for 3-0.
Rivalled only by Togo in terms of bad luck, Ukrainian frustrations boiled over hilariously when, after seeing a good effort fly just wide, Voronin sunk to his knees and headbutted the turf repeatedly. His misery was complete when Torres volleyed home a fourth goal with 10 minutes left.
On this evidence, Spain look certainties to qualify for the next phase. However, we have said that before…
Last gasp Germany break Polish hearts
Coming after Portugal’s clash with Angola, this was the second real grudge match of the tournament. It saw the return of German talisman Michael Ballack, a rash of missed chances and the odd hefty challenge.
While Lineker and co. dwelt on the first half profligacy of Klose and Podolsky, neutrals will have got more enjoyment from Schweinsteiger’s Sunday league-level stepovers (like a clumsy tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo in ultra slow motion) and the thought of Oliver Kahn smirking on the bench as his goalkeeping rival Jens Lehmann flapped at a Polish corner.
The Germans dominated possession in the second half. Klinsmann’s introduction of Daniel Odonkor gave the Germans an injection of pace and urgency. But they still couldn’t score.
Sobolewski’s second yellow card gave the Germans a man advantage and they laid siege to the Polish penalty area for the final 15 minutes. Boruc denied Lahm and Neuville. Klose and Ballack both hit the bar from close range.
Poland looked to have held on bravely for a point but you never write off the Germans. In classic German tradition, Odonkor’s injury time cross was turned in by Neuville to hand Poland a soul-destroying defeat that all but eliminates them from the tournament.
Desert derby ends in draw
With temperatures in Munich topping 35 degrees, there was no truth to the rumour that the Tunisian and Saudi players had complained that the conditions were colder than those they are used to.
A low key first half flickered briefly into life as Tunisia went in front with an acrobatic ten yard volley from Ziad Jaziri after the Saudi defence failed to deal with a floated free kick.
The Saudis folded 8-0 in their opening game in 2002 but there was to be no repeat here. They began the second half well and, just minutes after the spectacularly bouffant-ed (think 80s crooner Paul Young but curlier) Tunisian skipper Bouazizi was subbed, grabbed a deserved equaliser. Striker Al-Kahtani stole in at the near post to smartly turn Noor’s low cross in at the near post.
It got even better in the 84th minute when Sami Al-Jaber was put through one on one and finished with the calmness of a man with 161 international caps.
But they couldn’t hold on. Tunisian stopper Jaidi, in a move he clearly picked up playing for Bolton, went up front in injury time and headed an equaliser that cost each Saudi player a $15,000 win bonus.
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