World CupToday

BERLIN – A look at Day 12 of the 2006 World Cup on Tuesday:

Results

Germany 3, Ecuador 0

Poland 2, Costa Rica 1

Paraguay 2, Trinidad and Tobago 0

Sweden 2, England 2, tie

Highlights

Germany won its first World Cup match in Berlin, routing Ecuador to take first place in Group A. Miroslav Klose scored twice. At the same time, in a game with little importance other than pride, Poland rallied to beat Costa Rica. It was only the fourth time in this year’s tournament that a team conceded the opening goal and came back to win.

Henrik Larsson’s 90th-minute header helped Sweden get the tie it needed to advance to the second round from Group B, while Paraguay scored a goal for itself for the first time in the tournament in the 86th minute of its last match.

Stars

“ Miroslav Klose, Germany, scored twice in the host nation’s win over Ecuador to move into first place on the tournament scoring list with four goals.

“ Bartosz Bosacki, Poland, scored twice to lead his team to a win over Costa Rica in a Group A match between two teams already knocked out of the tournament.

“ Henrik Larsson, Sweden, scored in the 90th minute to lift his team into a tie with England, which was enough for the Swedes to advance from Group B in second place.

In and out

Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Germany and England have clinched spots in the second round.

Trinidad and Tobago, Togo, Iran, Ivory Coast, Serbia-Montenegro, Poland, Costa Rica and Paraguay have been eliminated.

History

England’s Michael Owen was carried from the field just minutes into the match against Sweden after his right knee buckled beneath him just after he made a pass. He stayed on the sideline clutching his leg while play continued, then he was treated by doctors and strapped to a stretcher and taken away. He was replaced by Peter Crouch in the fourth minute, tying the record for fastest substitution in World Cup play.

In 1998, Italy’s Alessandro Nesta injured his knee in a collision with an opponent and was replaced by Guiseppe Bergomi in the fourth minute against Austria. In 1986, England’s Bryan Robson was replaced by Steve Hodge in the fourth minute of a first-round game against Morocco.

Goal of the day

The highlight was Germany’s third goal against Ecuador – its eighth of the first round – which came in the 57th minute.

Robert Huth started the play when he slid to block a shot just outside Germany’s penalty area. The ball bounced upfield a few yards and Bastian Schweinsteiger began a counterattack with a run past midfield down the center. Schweinsteiger played the ball into space on the right side to Bernd Schneider, who had distanced himself from Ecuador’s defense.

Schneider caught up to the ball about 20 yards from the touchline and about 10 yards from the sideline when he crossed the ball into the middle of the box to a charging Lukas Podolski, who slid out his left foot and redirects the ball into the left side of the net.

Look ahead

Only one spot in the second round is at stake today, when the teams in Groups C and D play their last games of the first round. Argentina and the Netherlands have both advanced and they face each other to determine who will place first in Group C. The Dutch have to win in order to take first away from the Argentines, who have eight goals in two games so far. Serbia-Montenegro plays Ivory Coast in a matchup of already-eliminated teams.

–Associated Press