By MSN’s Lee Harvey
Last updated: June 20 2006
Day 12: Germany win at a canter and Poland salvage some pride
Ecuador 0 – 3 Germany
One team wanted to top the group (and avoid England). The other was happy to have qualified for the next stage. Ecuador rested five players and the outcome was predictable.
Not that anyone told their supporters. The sound of 5000 Ecuadorians belting out Three Lions in English reverberated through the stadium a full 20 minutes before kick-off. The Germans, in typical fashion, silenced the singing with a minimum of fuss. It took them all of three minutes as Miroslav Klose slotted his third goal of the tournament.
Ecuador showed no real interest in a comeback. The closest they got to the German goal was when striker Kaviedes put his foot through Jens Lehmann instead of the ball.
Klose could have the golden boot sewn up already. He should have had a hat trick against Poland and here he missed four clear cut chances in the first half alone. But when the imperious Ballack put him through with a deft flick, even he couldn’t fail to score, eventually stumbling around keeper Mora and tucking the ball away.
Ecuador rallied briefly after half time with some long range shooting but their heads dropped again when Podolsky turned in Schneider’s cross to open his World Cup account.
The last 30 minutes were open season on Ecuador's goal but the hosts could not add a fourth. In total control, they cruised to another confidence-boosting victory.
Costa Rica 1 – 2 Poland
With the pressure off and only pride at stake, Poland and Costa Rica produced an entertaining first half full of attacking play.
Ronald "The Bullet" Gomez opened the scoring from a free kick that went through the keeper’s legs only for Poland to equalise ten minutes later when Bosacki lashed in a volley off the crossbar.
Scoring Poland’s first World Cup goal wasn’t enough for Bosacki. He headed home a second half corner to give Poland a deserved win and condemn Costa Rica to another opening phase wooden spoon.
Useful links
Group A final table
