SPORT

- reported by Osiris, from Germany.


GROUP D : ANGOLA, IRAN, MEXICO, PORTUGAL

Results of first matches:

Mexico 3 - 1 Iran
Angola 0 - 1 Portugal

A serious defending blunder allowed Mexico to score twice and the break the deadlock which the Iranians had been holding on for 40 minutes. The first 2 goals which came from each side were from set pieces. In the 28th minute Mexico won a free-kick 10 yards from the touchline after Ali Karimi was adjudged to have handled the ball and Gerardo Torrado's centre was headed into Omar Bravo's path by Guillermo Franco before the Guaddalajara striker sidefooted the ball home.

But Iran refused to roll over and nine minutes from time they put themselves back into the game when Yahya Golmohammadi fired a rebound from a corner high into the net.

In the second half Iran lost their pace they once had in the first half and they were rarely the threat. Rather it was Mexico who looked more threatening now. But Iran still held on to that 1 - 1 draw until their defence hit the self-destruct button in the 76th minute. Goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour miskicked a clearance before Rahman Rezaei lost possession outside the box to Mexican substitute Antonio Zinha, whose perfectly weighted pass left Bravo with the simplest of finishes.

3 minutes later, Mexico were on it again. An unmarked Zinha headed past Mirzapour to give the South American side the perfect start to their World Cup camapign in Germany.

---

SPORT

- reported by Osiris.


GROUP C : HOLLAND, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, IVORY COAST, ARGENTINA

Results of first matches:

Holland 1 - 0 Serbia and Montenegro
Ivory Coast 1 - 2 Argentina

Holland took an early lead in the 18th minute with Chelsea player Arjen Robeen as he beat the offside trap to run on to Arsenal's talented youth Robin van Persie's volleyed pass and finish with aplomb as keeper Dragoslav Jevric came out to meet him. Serbia would have regretted not making use of their best chance earlier when former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic shot with little power even though he had time and space in the penalty area.

The Dutch were getting more dangerous as they tried to push for a second goal. Robben set-up Wesley Sneijder for a 20-yard strike but the Ajax midefielder dragged his shot wide. Then van Persie sent a diving header straight into the keeper's gloves.

Although the leaders were attacking more, they were losing their focus as well. When there should have been clear shots at goal, the Dutch players attempted crosses to Robben on the left, hoping that he could conjure up his magic like before. It was a silly move because the Serbs by now had learned from their mistake and were marking the Chelsea winger closely.

Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was much of a bore to watch as he lost possession of the ball easily. Perhaps age has gotten to him and also the lack of matches played back at Old Trafford might have caused a decline in his performance. He was substituted by Dirk Kuyt in the 69 minute.

Van Persie curled a free-kick just past the far post where just a gentle tap would have made it 2. But in the end one goal was all it mattered and the Dutch claimed 3 points, a vital victory in their Group of Death.

The other match in Group C was much more exciting, with both countries attacking strongly. Ivory Coast were unfortuante to be 2-0 down when they were speeding about the pitch like lightning bolts and creating half-chances that were left begging. Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola put Argentina in front, but Ivory Coast pulled one back through Didier Drogba 8 minutes from time. From then on, Argentina seemed to be the ones hanging on but when the final whistle blew it was the South Americans who claimed the victory. Ivory Coast need not be too disappointed with their loss as one would agree that they had played extremely well. With a bit more improvement, a place in the last 16 is not beyond them.

---

SPORT

- reported by Osiris.


GROUP B : ENGLAND, PARAGUAY, SWEDEN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

Results of first matches played:

England 1 - 0 Paraguay

Sweden 0 - 0 Trinidad & Tobago

One should be forgiven if he predicts thrashing scores in both matches, because that was the prediction by critics and the bookies as well. However, the results which came in were truly disappointing, especially for Sweden when they should have won their match easily.

England, who were without talented striker Wayne Rooney, had Michael Owen partnering Peter Crouch up front. Still, their midfield was a potent weapon with Joe Cole on the left wing, Gerrard and Lampard in the centre and David Beckham on the right. In the early minutes of the game England were already pressing Paraguay. Joe Cole was fouled by Paraguay's skipper Carlos Gamarra in the 3rd minute and David Beckham swung a beautiful free-kick which was headed into the net by Gamarra as he tried to prevent Michael Owen from reaching the ball.

It was a miserable start for Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar and it got worse for him when he dashed out to halt a break from Michael Owen. He cleared the ball but twisted his leg and limped off in tears just after 8 minutes. Substitute keeper Aldo Bobadilla started nervously and he commited the mistake of pumping the ball instead of laying it on the ground for a goalkick after the ball had been played out. The Paraguayan defence was in disarray as well.

England did not perform as bright in the second half. Crouch was constantly cautioned by the referee for pushing the opponents while jumping up to head the ball. He received a booking in the 63 minute and was even cautioned when he was the one who had been fouled. Michael Owen was substituted by Stewart Downing, apparently as a precaution since the striker was still short of match fitness. Paraguay, sensing that England was dropping back, started to play better but their scoring attempts were all wasted crosses. England was no better and Crouch was not able to get the balls crossed to him. Eriksson should have replaced Crouch with 17-year-old Theo Walcott but the manager later justified his decision by saying that he did not want to play the teenager so early in the competition.

So in the end, an own-goal in the 3rd minute was all that England could manage but they still got the vital 3 points.

Sweden, who were expected to give T&T a good thrashing, were instead humbled when they held to a goal-less draw, even when T&T had A. John sent off early in the second half. Substitute keeper Hislop was the hero of the match as he made a couple of brilliant saves to deny Sweden the 3 points they needed. He had come in as a replacement for Kelvin Jack who had suffered a head injury just before the match.

Would T&T frustrate the 3 Lions as well? If they strengthen their defence they could probably hold England to another draw as well, since Sven Goran Eriksson now has a striker problem, which has been proven by the fact that Joe Cole is now appointed the fifth striker for England.

---

SPORT

- reported by Osiris.


GROUP A : GERMANY, COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, POLAND

Results of first matches played:

Germany 4 - 2 Costa Rica

Poland 0 - 2 Ecuador

Hosts Germany certainly kicked off the opening match of the 2006 World Cup in style as they beat the South American side 4-2 in Munich. Hopes of another stunning opener victory by Costa Rica were shattered when Germany scored the first goal through defender Phillip Lahm in the 6th minute. Costa Rica's Danny Fonseca lost his footing just outside the penalty box, allowing Lahm to round him and curl a beautiful kick from the top left corner of the box and go in off the far post.

German coach Jugen Klinsmann was certainly delighted with the team's performance and result, especially due to the fact that he had decided to rest captain Michael Ballack even though he had declared himself fit less than 24 hours before the match.

Klose was denied by Costa Rican keeper Jose Porras from close range, and Schneider missed the follow-up. The miss would prove to be costly mistake as former Derby, Manchester City and West Ham striker Wanchope beat the offside trap to receive a through-ball and fire past Jens Lehmann. It was Costa Rica's first shot in the 12th minute and already it had been sent into the net.

That goal served as a wake up call for the Germans - just 6 minutes after they had scored the game was now level. The hosts pushed on and five minutes later they were leading again through Klose's goal. Bastian Schweinsteiger dribbled his way past two defenders before firing a pass to the far post where Klose swept home. There was no better way to celebrate Klose's 28th birthday which coincidentally fell on the same day.

The first half soon became a one-sided affair with Germany maintaining their possession of the ball and they were unable to break down the opponents' defence, which seemed to be a bit disarranged.

Podolski fired a 20-yard shot just 26 seconds into the game, and an unmarked Fonseca came close to levelling the game with a header. But it was birthday boy Klose who scored the third for Germany. He headed in a cross from Lahm, but the ball rebounded off Parras's gloves and the striker, who had scored a hat-trick in the 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in 2002, quickly smashed back a shot to give the hosts a comfortable lead.

The underdogs closed the gap with another Wanchope goal, which looked to have been offside. Centeno beat the offside trap and lay a superb through-ball to the striker who gently placed the ball past the Arsenal keeper. Parras's kept Costa Rica's hopes alive by brilliantly saving a shot from Per Mertesacker but Frings put the issue beyond doubt in the 87th minute. Schweinsteiger laid a freekick to the Werder Bremen man and he hammered home from full 35 yards to give the hosts a winning start.

---

SPORT

- reported by Osiris.

Sorry for the lack of updates on the Rotters site, but to make up for it, we're taking you to the 2006 World Cup in Germany! Literally, i mean.

Stay tuned to Rotters International as I, Osiris, will bring you the post-match analysis right from the host country itself. Fortunately I do not favour any particular team so do expect less-biased reports!

Analysis of Groups A and B to be posted soon!

---