Post by David Walker
All 32 teams have completed the group stage and sixteen are getting ready for the knockout phase. This is a short round-up of Groups A to D, of the outcomes as they stand following three matches. Did your region qualify or drop at the very first hurdle?
Group A1. Germany 9pts, two. Ecuador 6pts, three. Poland 3pts, 4. Costa Rica 0pts
Equally Germany and Ecuador had qualified for the knockout stage by the time they clashed in the ultimate round of fixtures but it was the one/3 host nation that topped the group. Initial 50 percent objectives from Miroslav Klose after 3 and 43 minutes edged him into the Golden Boot pole position while strike companion Lukas Podolski fired in a 3rd 9 minutes soon after the group.
Disappointing Poland ended their campaign on a substantial notice by beating Costa Rica two-1. Ronald Gomez place the Costa Ricans in front on 23 but a brace from Bartosz Bosacki on 32 and 65 landed a winning bet at four/5.
Group B1. England 7pts, two. Sweden 5pts, three. Paraguay 3pts, 4. Trinidad & Tobago 1pt
England stuttered to the best of Group B to set up a 2nd round clash with Ecuador after a 2-2 draw with Sweden. Joe Cole’s wonder objective gave England the lead after 33 minutes but Marcus Allback headed Sweden level five minutes into the second half. Steven Gerrard looked to have won it with six minutes left but Henrik Larsson snatched an eleven/five daw at the death.
Trinidad & Tobago required to defeat Paraguay and for England to beat Sweden to have any hopes of qualification. An personal goal from Brent Sancho following 24 minutes and a objective from Nelson Cuevas on 85 ensured Paraguay ended on a one/2 optimistic note.
Group C1. Argentina 7pts, two. Holland 7pts, three. Ivory Coast 3pts, four. Serbia & Montenegro 0pts
Argentina topped the group to set up a second round encounter with Mexico following drawing – with Holland. The bookmakers had anticipated each sides would have created it by means of to the knockout stage by the time this fixture came all around and greatest odds of 2/1 have been obtainable for the draw.
The Ivory Coast have been concerned in a exceptional game against Serbia & Montenegro exactly where they fought back from 2- down to win three-2. Nikola Zigic and Sasa Illic identified the net right after 9 and 19 minutes but Tottenham Hotspur target Aruna Dindane converted a penalty on 36 and netted his 2nd soon after 66 minutes to restore parity. When a 2nd penalty was awarded 5 minutes from the finish, Dindane refused the likelihood of a hat-trick and allowed Bonaventure Kalou to win the game at 6/4 from the spot.
Group D1. Portugal 9pts, two. Mexico 4pts, 3. Angola 2pts, 4. Iran 1ptPortugal saw off closest rivals Mexico to meet Holland in the knockout stage. Available at 5/four prior to kick off, Maniche opened the scoring following just five minutes although Simao doubled the lead from the penalty spot soon after 23 minutes. Jose Fonseca pulled one particular back again for Mexico five minutes later on but Portugal held firm.
Angola necessary a win against Iran to have any hope of qualification and had the ideal start off when Flavio drew 1st blood following 59 minutes. But Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh levelled on seventy five to tie the game at odds of nine/4.
About the Author
David Walker runs a free of charge bets website. You can check out live football on the web throughout the Earth Cup.