First Phase Completed
The first phase of the World Cup 2006 is over. After a lot of huffing and puffing, 16 teams get ready for the knock-out stage, while the other 16 teams return home. One or two of the pre-tournament favourites have been eliminated, but, mostly, the so-called heavyweights have made the cut, albeit with a hiccup or two for a few teams. Unlike the 2002 World Cup, the outsiders have remained so, with a couple of glorious exceptions.
The two genuine outsiders who are still in action are Australia, playing in their second finals, (their first in 32 years), and Ghana, playing in their first. Australia showed grit and determination and qualified from Group F at the expense of Croatia, the 1998 semi finalists, and Japan, who made the knock-out stage in 2002. Ghana’s group was arguably tougher – the 2 team eliminated there were the Czech Republic, ranked 2 by FIFA, and the United States, ranked 5, and quarter finalists in 2002. This group revealed the ingrained weakness of FIFA’s ranking system, as the 2 teams who eventually qualified, Italy and Ghana, are currently ranked 13 and 48 respectively. The ease and style with which Ghana beat the Czechs was a real eye-opener.
Another surviving team that might be considered an outsider of sorts is Ecuador. Poland was the team favoured by many to qualify from Group A, along with Germany. Ecuador beat them convincingly. Similarly, South Korea, beaten semi-finalists in 2002, were expected by some pundits to qualify from Group G, with France. They were pipped by Switzerland, who in fact won the Group. The Swiss are the only team not to have conceded a goal so far, but then, we know that Swiss banks are impenetrable!
Of the major teams, Germany (Group A), Portugal (D), Brazil (F) and Spain (H) won all their matches. Their respective goal-differences were 8-2, 5-1, 7-1 and 8-1. Other unbeaten teams, so far, are England & Sweden (B), Argentina & the Netherlands (C), Italy (E), and Switzerland & France (G). Australia and Mexico qualified with a 1-1-1 record (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) while South Korea were eliminated with a similar record.
117 goals were scored in 48 matches in the group stage, at an average of 2.4375 goals per game. In 2002, at a similar stage, 130 goals were scored. This time, Argentina, Germany and Spain have each scored 8 goals, while Brazil have scored 7. Groups A, C and H had 18 goals each in their 6 matches. Group B was the leas productive group in terms of goals, with 10, of which England scored 5. Serbia & Montenegro conceded 10 goals, while Costa Rica conceded 9. Miroslav Klose of Germany has scored 4 goals, while Fernando Torres of Spain has scored 3.
Now we move on to the knock-out stage that is being kicked off later today by hosts Germany against Sweden in Munich. Later in the night, Argentina take on Mexico. The first named teams in each match are expected to win and book their places in the quarter finals, against each other. But Sweden and Mexico are not really ready to play the roles of fall guys. In fact, one must remember that not a single team in the last 16 has reached that stage by fluke. They have each played some good, hard football and beaten some excellent teams to reach where they are. Undoubtedly, we are in for some more enthralling football. Nerves, of course, will play some part, for now a defeat means elimination, so there’s a lot at stake. An upset or two will only add to the suspense.
The two genuine outsiders who are still in action are Australia, playing in their second finals, (their first in 32 years), and Ghana, playing in their first. Australia showed grit and determination and qualified from Group F at the expense of Croatia, the 1998 semi finalists, and Japan, who made the knock-out stage in 2002. Ghana’s group was arguably tougher – the 2 team eliminated there were the Czech Republic, ranked 2 by FIFA, and the United States, ranked 5, and quarter finalists in 2002. This group revealed the ingrained weakness of FIFA’s ranking system, as the 2 teams who eventually qualified, Italy and Ghana, are currently ranked 13 and 48 respectively. The ease and style with which Ghana beat the Czechs was a real eye-opener.
Another surviving team that might be considered an outsider of sorts is Ecuador. Poland was the team favoured by many to qualify from Group A, along with Germany. Ecuador beat them convincingly. Similarly, South Korea, beaten semi-finalists in 2002, were expected by some pundits to qualify from Group G, with France. They were pipped by Switzerland, who in fact won the Group. The Swiss are the only team not to have conceded a goal so far, but then, we know that Swiss banks are impenetrable!
Of the major teams, Germany (Group A), Portugal (D), Brazil (F) and Spain (H) won all their matches. Their respective goal-differences were 8-2, 5-1, 7-1 and 8-1. Other unbeaten teams, so far, are England & Sweden (B), Argentina & the Netherlands (C), Italy (E), and Switzerland & France (G). Australia and Mexico qualified with a 1-1-1 record (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) while South Korea were eliminated with a similar record.
117 goals were scored in 48 matches in the group stage, at an average of 2.4375 goals per game. In 2002, at a similar stage, 130 goals were scored. This time, Argentina, Germany and Spain have each scored 8 goals, while Brazil have scored 7. Groups A, C and H had 18 goals each in their 6 matches. Group B was the leas productive group in terms of goals, with 10, of which England scored 5. Serbia & Montenegro conceded 10 goals, while Costa Rica conceded 9. Miroslav Klose of Germany has scored 4 goals, while Fernando Torres of Spain has scored 3.
Now we move on to the knock-out stage that is being kicked off later today by hosts Germany against Sweden in Munich. Later in the night, Argentina take on Mexico. The first named teams in each match are expected to win and book their places in the quarter finals, against each other. But Sweden and Mexico are not really ready to play the roles of fall guys. In fact, one must remember that not a single team in the last 16 has reached that stage by fluke. They have each played some good, hard football and beaten some excellent teams to reach where they are. Undoubtedly, we are in for some more enthralling football. Nerves, of course, will play some part, for now a defeat means elimination, so there’s a lot at stake. An upset or two will only add to the suspense.
posted by Haridaspal | 12:40 pm
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