LiveBlog: Togo-France

France punched its ticket into the second round with a steady performance against a Togo team that put up little fight. You can read the play-by-play below and leave your thoughts about the game and about the teams.

Final: Togo 0-2 France

Full time That is it. France comes away with a victory and will play Spain in the next round. France controlled the game from the start but could only crack the Togo goal in the second half. Togo ends its World Cup debut with another loss under the always fashionable Otto Pfister. Thanks for joining me. I’ll be back tomorrow in this very same location.

89:45 Fans from China dancing in the stands and waving flags. They didn’t get the memo that their country didn’t qualify.

88:45 No need for calculators or drawing of the lots this year. A shame since the lot drawing ceremony could be a thrilling television event.

87:31 With France going through all the top seeds are in the round of 16 and so are all of the former champions. Ghana and Ecuador the two biggest surprises. The tournament is shaping up nicely. We’ll be liveblogging all the games this weekend and the rest of the way so stop on by again.

85:13 Togo fans doing a congo dance around the stadium. Ahhh the memories. We’ll miss you Togo.

84:12 If things stand this way France will play Spain next round and Switzerland will face Ukraine. The Spain and France match could be a dandy.

82:14 Togo remembers that there are two halves to a football field and puts up a bit of an attack but France is not the least concerned nor should they be at this point.

81>02 Diarra in and Vieira out. Diarra’s name is very close to being spelled like something unpleasant.

80:12 Assuming France goes through do you start Zidane? They have looked better without him tonight but he is the captain and he is Zidane.

78:15 The wave breaks out in the stadium. Ribery is out for France and Govou is on. Vieira down getting the magic ice bag.

76:34 Raymond Domenech giving four-eyed nerds hope everywhere on the France sideline. Switzerland scores and France looks clear.

75:12 Adebayor off and Thomas Dossevi on. The big Togo forward didn’t show much but he is young and could develop over time if Arsenal plays him.

74:34 No nuclear attacks or thunderstorms so the warning was a false alarm. Now we just have another 15 minutes of France shooting it all over the place and Switzerland trying to hold on against South Korea.

72:56 Wiltord coming on for France so he can join in the target practice on Togo’s goal. Malouda off after playing a solid game.

72:12 Some kind of warning message flashing in German on the screen. If I stop typing it means there has been a nuclear attack or a thunderstorm.

70:12 France has to be relatively pleased with how they have played tonight with Zidane. They have moved the ball nicely. Poor finishing but that is nothing new.

68:34 Togo likely to leave with no points but they probably weren’t the worst team I saw this tournament. Who do you think was the worst team?

67:13 France looking for more with Ribery having all kinds of space to operate. He has been a valuable playmaker tonight. No rooster sightings in the crowd unlike the last France game. No Beckenbauer either.

65:12 Togo giving the ball kids behind the France goal a good workout chasing all their errant shots. Henry showed his big ears after the goal. That is about all I have in common with him.

63:56 Togo’s days are numbered but they were numbered before this game even started so they might as well go out with some effort. Now the French fans are singing and happy. Amazing what two goals will do for your health.

63:12 France looking to be in great position as Switzerland continues to lead South Korea 1-0 and they have made up the goal difference with two goals here. A goal or two more probably wouldn’t hurt.

60:20 GOALLL!!! Henry with a nice turn and he hits it in the corner of the goal.

59:56 France trying to become the last of the former champions to qualify for the round of 16.

58:45 Adebayor has his shot blocked in front of the goal. Adekanmi Olufade on for Cherif as the Sparrowhawks try to get something going at forward.

57:45 Henry right in the goal mouth and he kicks it away from the goal. It is like they are trying to not score.

56:26 Pretty goal from Vieira who calmly took it and deposited it in the goal. Will this open up the floodgates? Something tells me that Togo is not going to go all out to get the equalizer.

54:33 GOALLL! Patrick Vieira with a turnaround in the box and France is on the board.

54:23 The ball has been at the Togo end so often that Barthez has probably read a book in the French goal. He has been tested a few times but you and I could be pitching a shutout for France at this point.

52:37 Ribery right in front of the goal and you couldn’t have missed that if you tried it. An absolute sitter. Maybe there is a curse on the goal?

52:32 Platini watching on from the stands. He and all the French fans looking very nervous as the seconds tick away and the scoreboard still says zero.

50:56 Togo rolling it forward and Kader blasts it over the bar. He is down in a lot of pain. Looks like he just landed the wronf way and his leg gave out. He is limping off.

48:56 France with another corner kick but once again they can’t do much with it and Togo races the other way.

47:23 France with free kick and Trezeguet once again gets a shot and it is deflected out for a corner.

46:12 Togo starts the half with the ball. They hardly had the ball at all the first half with France controlling possession something like 70-30.

45:34 Adebayor and Henry shared a little laugh before the start of the half. The Arsenal teammates are both looking to put their teams in the lead.

45:01 We’re underway in the second half with France looking to find an answer to their scoring woes. Only one goal scored in the last 5.5 World Cup games. Togo hanging tough looking to earn their first World Cup point. Thanks for stopping by and for putting up with our technical problems, as well as my many, many personal problems.

Halftime The first 45 minutes are in the book and no one has been able to find a goal. France has been in control but they’ll need to score next half to at least keep their World Cup hopes alive. I’m going to go learn HTML to fix the formatting below. I’ll be back before the start of the second half. Your comments on the first half are appreciated.

45:00 I am amazed that this game appears to be heading into the intermission scoreless. France has had their chances and Togo has somehow stayed even.

43:34 Cherif-Toure Mamam given a yellow for criminal assualt.

43:21 There is no way this game ends in a scoreless draw, right? Swiss still leading the other game which has featured more blood but not as many shots.

42:31 France hasn’t missed Zidane in the midfield. They have missed the goal though. Plenty of times.

40:34 France has done everything but score in this game. Togo continues to play on despite being largely dominated. Maybe this is just not France’s year? We’ll find out in the next 50 minutes.

38:50 Henry with a blast that leads to a rebound and Trezequet misses twice. The Togo keeper Kossi Agassa comes up huge.

38:23 France having target practice in front of the Togo goal but they can’t break the seal. I’m getting frustrated just watching and I don’t really care who wins.

37:10 Yellow shown to Yao Aziawonou for bad hair and a bad foul.

36:12 Sepp Blatter laughing in the stands. He was at the Ukraine game earlier and looked like he was going to die of boredom.

34:45 Henry breaks free but he is called offside. I am not sure about that one and neither is the France bench. Tough call but looked bad to me.

33:56 Swiss still leading in the other game. If France wins they will both go through but France needs to score to win and they haven’t done that yet. Pfister sighting on the bench. He isn’t drinking beer.

32:21 Both teams starting to dislike one another a bit. Ribery once again creating some chances but Trezeguet does not have the Golden Boot tonight. More like plastic.

30:56 Viera with a shot that leads to a France corner but it is not going to happen this time. At what point will France become frustrated?

29:34 Makelele shown a yellow after he takes the Togo forward down outside the box. Free kick for Togo. Their best chance yet. Two men lined over the ball. Four in the wall for France. It is hit and it is far, far, far too high to even be considered a shot.

28:12 Moustapha Salifou breaks through and Barthez has to go down to make a save. On the other end Ribery misses a sitter.

26:23 FIFA should mandate that there is at least one bloody incident each game. Never want the players to get too hurt but a little blood adds to the fun. Togo with a brief attack that is stopped.

25:36 Togo hanging in this game despite not showing much. They do have some amazing yellow and green boots. They must have negotiated free shoes as part of the contract deal.

23:45 Ribery taken down but who can watch that while the Swiss and Korean players get all bloody on the other tv. Switzerland in good position now. France needs to get one in too.

22:47 Silvestre with a shot as just about every France player has had a shot on goal. The Togo keeper is up to the task but he really hasn’t been challenged. Goal to Switzerland.

21:34 To this point France has had the better of the chances but haven’t been able to finish what they start. Ribery with a pass to Trezeguet and he rolls it right to the Togo keeper. You and I could have done that if we played for France, which we don’t.

19:38 Referee letting them play. He might have learned his lesson from the US-Italy match he called.

18:49 Trezeguet and Henry up front seems to be working well. You don’t see that all the time for France but they need goals.

17:45 Still scoreless in both games with the Korean supporters winning the chanting match on the duel tvs.

16:56 In the first 16 minutes there has been more action than the full 90 of the Ukraine-Tunisia snorefest. Ribery with a soft shot that is saved.

15:03 Henry takes a ball in the box and he couldn’t have made a worse strike. Would have been better just letting the ball roll on goal.

14:48 Malouda with a long shot that extends the Togo keeper. France is about to break through. That is a guess and not fact. My guesses are usually nowhere near close.

13:12 David Trezeguet scores but he is called offside. Looked like the righ call from my vantage point but thankfully I am not a ref.

12:34 France with the ball now and that was a terrible pass from Makelele. Togo looking a bit feeble but not so feeble that France will score six.

11:34 Togo mounting a bit of an attack with Adebayor taking a long cross and hitting the side of the net. Adebayor hasn’t lived up to his billing this comptetition.

10:47 Togo with a wild shot. That was Yao Junior Senaya for those scoring at home.

9:34 Yep, this is the ref from the US-Italy match. He has not handed out a card yet. France controlling the run but coming up empty.

8:19 Henry working some magic on the left wing and he earns a corner. Ribbery reminds me of someone. I’ve seent he face somewhere. Will come to me soon. Hang in there. The corner is out and Togo gets the ball.

7:12 Trezeguet takes the Ribbery pass and heads it over the bar. Corner to France and they stay on the attack.

5:48 Will be interesting to see what kind of team performance Togo gives. This could be one of those games where if a player shines he could end up getting a fat contract.

4:56 The ball is up in the air a lot thus far with both teams looking a little unsettled. France trying to build the attack and Togo kicking some ankles.

3:43 Togo playing the old boot it down the field and chase strategy. Trezeguet with a shot in the box that goes just wide.

2:15 The referee tonight is from Uruguay. Let’s hope this is the last time I write about him, but given the way things are going this way I doubt it will be.

0:45 France with the early push forward. I look for them to try to get an early goal and put the pressure on the two other teams playing in the other game.

Kickoff We’re underway in Cologne in the final game of the first round. France needs to win to stay alive. Togo is here for the ride. Thanks for joining me. Your comments are appreciated. Keep them clean, have fun and love one another. Hopefully we’ll get the formatting sorted out but comment either way.

Pregame:
4 minute countdown: France’s turn to sing. Players arm-in-arm. Very emotional, loud singing by players, fans and coaches alike. They look ready to go to battle.

6 minute countdown: The players are out on the pitch with France wearing blue and Togo in yellow tops with green shorts. Togo anthem is first. The players seem to have fun singing it. Pfister spotted on the sideline with a cream jacket and blue shirt. Kind of a summer business casual look.

8 minute countdown: Nobody quite knows what needs to be done so a Togo win would make it nice and simple. Not that I am rooting against France but it would make things easy.

1o minute countdown: What will Otto Pfister wear in his last game as Togo coach? We have seen the open chested shirt with jeans look, as well as the pink button down casual look. Will he go with a Hawaiian shirt tonight or maybe a three-piece suit? That is today’s Big Question.

15 minute countdown: Please don’t adjust your computer screens. There is something not quite right with the formatting in the comments. Our tech gurus are trying to sort it out. Our apologies for the inconvenience and for the fact that you can still read my drivel in perfect format.

17 minute countdown: They just showed a highlight of Zidane from 1998. He looked so young and so good. If France does not go through and we have seen the last of Zidane it will be a shame that he had to exit sitting on the bench.

20 minute countdown: German television showing the headlines from the French newspapers. Coach Raymond Domenech wouldn’t be elected dog catcher there these days. France’s players look very well dressed getting off the team bus. Togo’s players not quite as spiffy, but at least they showed up and will get paid.

25 minute countdown: I have it set up so once again I can watch both games at the same time while I type and try to keep you entertained. This will be the 47th and 48th games of the World Cup I will have watched so I apologize in advance if I forget that it is Togo against France. Hard to keep them all straight at this point. Certainly has been an enjoyable first round, but I am really looking forward to the knockout stage with all the big teams fighting one another. Will France be one of them or will it be Switzerland and South Korea?

30 minute countdown: Here are your starting lineups. Alaixys Romao is suspended for Togo, Zidane and Abidal for France. Togo coach Otto Pfister has indicated he’ll give some of his subs a run so they can experience the thrill of playing in the World Cup.

Togo
16. Kossi Agassa, 2. Daré Nibombe, 3. Yaovi Abalo, 4. Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, 5. Massamasso Tchangai, 6. Yao Aziawonou, 7. Moustapha Salifou, 10. Cherif-Toure Mamam, 13. Richmond Forson, 17. Moahmed Kader, 18. Yao Junior Senaya

France
16. Fabien Barthez, 4. Patrick Vieira, 5. William Gallas, 6. Claude Makelele, 7. Florent Malouda, 12. Thierry Henry, 13. Mikaël Silvestre, 15. Lilian Thuram, 19. Willy Sagnol, 20. David Trezeguet, 22. Franck Ribery

40 minute countdown: We know for certain that this is Togo’s last game in the FIFA 2006 World Cup, but will this be the final adieu for Les Blues? Regardless, I’m sure I will be back in this position tomorrow typing like crazy and sweating beer. Here is what France needs to have happen to stay alive.

France will move on with a victory over Togo, provided there is a winner between Switzerland and Korea Republic. If Korea Republic and Switzerland draw, France will need to win and finish with a better goal difference than Korea (Korea currently +1, France 0). Will win the group if Korea Republic-Switzerland is a draw and France get a victory and finish with a better goal difference than the Swiss (Switzerland currently +2, France currently 0).

50 minute countdown: It is a perfect 21C/70F night for football in Cologne with the old guard of France hoping to make one last stand and hoping to advance to the round of 16. They face a Togo team that has nothing to lose and will be eager to show the world that they are capable of winning a World Cup game. This is my second liveblog of the day and after a carb-rich dinner I am eager to type like I have never typed before. Starting lineups and scenarios coming up soon.

Who is going to come out on top?