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The sky is Azzurri
Germany's bid to win their chance to welcome the world to their own Weltmeisterschaft was fraught with pragmatic intrigue. Before a remarkable U-turn from FIFA delegates that is still wrapped in bribery allegations saw Nelson Mandela and co forced to wait another four years, South Africa was fully expected to be the destination of the2006 finals.
Controversy set aside, until the football began at least, the Germans set their much-mooted organisational abilities into action and delivered a World Cup blessed with hi-tech stadia, superb transport links and a population that proved most welcoming. 'Der Kaiser', Franz Beckenbauer, presided as figurehead in the same fashion in which he had
captained and coached his country to World Cup glory and was an almost everpresent figure in the stands during the first finals staged in reunified Germany.
A break from tradition saw the hosts rather than holders get the show underway and they did so in a style not often associated with German football. A 4-2 win over Costa Rica was a feast of flowing fare, its best moment the opening goal, a cut-in and smash from full-back Philipp Lahm that revealed Juergen Klinsmann, in his first senior coaching assignment, had retained the attacking instincts of his playing career.
The hosts progressed with maximum points from their group, such success unexpected by a pessimistic pre-tournament public. Chancellor Angela Merkel's cavorting after a late winner in a 1-0 defeat of Poland confirmed a feel-good factor. Germany were joined in first-round perfection by a free-scoring Spain team wondering if this was finally the time to deliver as well Portugal, with Cristiano
Ronaldo starring, and Brazil, huge favourites, who breezed through a group containing Croatia, Japan and Australia but were still underwhelming.
Australia were in their first finals since 1974 and thus determined to enjoy themselves. Guus Hiddink's late tactical switch delivered a win over the Japanese before a decider with the Croats ended in chaotic farce when referee Graham Poll gave three yellow cards to Josip Simunic, Australian-born but playing for Croatia, before finally sending him off three minutes after he should have done. Harry Kewell's equaliser to make it 2-2 saw Croatia join Poll in playing no further part in the tournament
Early on, Argentina had shone in particular, punishing Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 in Gelsenkirchen, the goals including a wonderful 24-pass move finished by Esteban Cambiasso. Ivory Coast, in their first finals, were unfortunate to come up against the Argentines and the Dutch but exited with their heads held high after creditable showings
against both.
Africa did have a second-round qualifier in Ghana, who beat the fancied Czechs and a USA team failing to match the showing of four years previously, to qualify behind the Italians, who had drawn with the Americans in a match that saw the Europeans end the game a man down and their opponents with just nine men.
Togo were nowhere near good enough to progress but provided many a columninch in a dispute over pay that saw them threaten to strike. Meanwhile, German coach Otto Pfister supplied sartorial charm with an open-necked shirt and large gleaming medallion. The slow-starting French were particularly glad of a Togolese presence as they required a 2-0 win over them to qualify behind a well-drilled Swiss team. The Swiss would perish at the next hurdle, to Ukraine on penalties after a 0-0 draw, thus suffering the bizarre honour of being the first team to exit a World Cup without conceding a goal.
TO BE CONTINUED