June 22: The Daily World Cup Wrap

Ronaldo is back! Two goals today prove you don’t have to move all that much if you’ve still got the skills. He scored two as Brazil routed Japan 4-1. After a dramatic day, it’s goodbye to four teams who all arrived in Germany with genuine hopes of surviving their groups. Croatia have impressed, Japan not so much, USA failed to reach their potential and Czech Republic will be pondering their early exit for a while. But the fairytale continues for Australia and Ghana, who will now face the big guns of Italy and Brazil respectively in the second round.

Daily Wrap Awards:

Top Man: Ronaldo. Welcome back.

Top Team: Italy. Job done.

Top Goal: Dario Srna’s free kick. Perfection.

Bit of Skill: Brian McBride’s backwards lay-off to Bobby Convey.

Saw That Coming: The titanic Australia vs Croatia battle

But Not That: Japan’s early lead.

Italy vs Czech Republic vs | LiveBlog | Italy World Cup Gear, Czech Republic World Cup Gear

Italy 2 (Materazzi 26, Inzaghi 87)
Czech Republic 0

The Czechs will wonder what happened. After their great World Cup start against USA, they finish third in Group E with losses to Ghana and now Italy.

Pavel Nedved tested Buffon twice from distance early on, but once Materazzi scored with a header, and Polak was sent off just before half time they never looked like recovering. Nedved showed heart and talent but his teammates weren’t on the same page. A (supposedly) back from injury Baros was no match for the dominant Fabio Cannavaro in Italy’s defence.

Inzaghi finally put the Czechs out of their misery in the 87th minute. With all the time in the world he dribbled around Cech (who still just about got a touch on the ball) and passed into an empty net.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo:

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Italy or Czech Republic team pages.
• Buy World Cup tickets to Italy’s next match.

USA vs Ghana | LiveBlog | Ghana World Cup Gear, USA World Cup Gear

USA 1 (Dempsey 43)
Ghana 2 (Draman 22, Appiah 45+2 [pen])

It wasn’t USA’s day. Twenty minutes in captain Claudio Reyna was dispossessed on the edge of his area by Draman who ran at Kasy Keller and confidently sidefooted home. It’s unclear whether Reyna was injured in the challenge, or lost the ball because of a sudden injury. He played on briefly but had to hobble out of the game.

USA finally had a goal of their own making just before half-time. DaMarcus Beasley dispossessed a Ghanaian defender and played a perfect ball across the box for the impressive Clint Dempsey to strike home with the outside of his right foot. Dempsey danced and the Americans cheered bt just a few minutes late they were behind again.

Pimpong collapsed under a challenge from man mountain Onyewu and referee Markus Murk awarded a controversial penalty, which Ghanaian captain Appiah fired into the top left corner. Bruce Arena waited until the 60th minute to abandon his conservative 4-5-1 and go for the win, but it was too little too late.

Ghana are the only African nation to qualify for the second round, and will carry the continents hopes into their clash with mighty Brazil, but they’ll have to do so without influential Michael Essien, who picked up a second yellow card in this game.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo:

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the USA or Ghana team pages.
• Buy World Cup tickets to Ghana’s next match.

Brazil vs Japan | LiveBlog | Brazil World Cup Gear, Japan World Cup Gear

Brazil 4 (Ronaldo 46+, Junihno Pernambucano 53, Gilberto 59, Ronaldo 81)
Japan 1 (Tamada 34)

Japan shocked Brazil by taking an early lead, Tamada catching them off guard with a left footed near post strike. Maybe that was what Brazil needed, because after falling behind they shifted into second gear. Ronaldo looked more like himself, with somelively footwork and shooting, and he equalised in first half injury time from a close range header. Juninho Pernamucano put Brail into the lead with a great long range effort, before Gilberto double their advantage with a precise finish into the bottom right corner.

Ronaldo saved the best till last, playing a neat one two with Juan before a swift turn and shot from the edge of the box confirmed his return to form and made him the joint all time World Cup top scorer.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo:

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Brazil or Japan team pages.
• Buy World Cup tickets to Brazil’s next match.

Australia vs Croatia | LiveBlog | Australia World Cup Gear, Croatia World Cup Gear

Australia 2 (Srna 2, N. Kovac 56)
Croatia 2 (Moore [pen] 38, Kewell 79)

Harry Kewell’s 79th minute equaliser was enough to secure second place for Australia, but this was a hard fought match that could have gone either way. Guus Hiddink preferred Zeljko Zalac between the posts to usual incumbent Mark Schwarzer, but may have been regretting that decision when Dario Srna placed a 2nd minute free kick high into the left corner. Craig Moore equalised with a penalty after there was either a foul on Cahill or a handball in the box, take your pick.

Niko Kovac put the battling Croats back in the lead, and back in the second round when he dribbled past Tim Cahill before firing a weak looking hsot that Zalac smoehow managed to let in. Kewell’s close range right footed shot levelled the scores with just over ten minutes to go and an exciting end to end finale produced no further goals, though Josip Simunic received three yellow cards from a confused Graham Poll, only being sent off with the third. Poll can probably start planning where to watch the World Cup final now, as he won’t be refereeing it.

Australia through to the second for the first time then, and though Croatia they’ve put in impressive performances in every Group F game.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photo:

• Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
• Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Australia or Croatia team pages. .
• Buy World Cup tickets to Australia’s next match.

Have a look at the final group E and F tables.

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