Saturday 24 June
Germans romp through
Sweden lost all in the first half and couldn't find a way back against rampant Germany. The hosts got off to a flying start when in the 4th minute Klose skilfully ran between 2 defenders into the box and had a shot which Isaksson blocked, only for Podolski to convert. Larsson came close 3 minutes later, but his shot from inside the area went wide. In the 12th minute Klose laid the ball on for Podolski to fire home. Isaksson had to get down in the 18th minute to fist away a Ballack shot, and once again the Swedish keeper showed his agility in getting down to a Klose snap-shot in the 31st minute. Frings tried his luck from 35 yards, but Isaksson tipped his effort over the bar. Lucic was unlucky to be dismissed for a second yellow in the 35th minute, but 5 minutes later Sweden came close when Ibrahimovic turned and got a shot in, which Lehmann managed to push past the post for a corner. Isaksson who was by far the busier of the 2 keepers once again came to the rescue when he saved a shot from Klose in the 44th minute. Sweden thought they had found a way back in the 52nd minute, but Larsson skied his spot-kick over the bar. Two minutes later a shot from Ballack forced Isaksson into a flying save, pushing the ball onto the post. In the 81st minute the Swedish number one blocked a powerful shot from Ballack, with Klose failing to hit the target with an instinctive header from the rebound. A shot from Schneider was deflected onto the post in the 84th minute, and 3 minutes later Isaksson saved from substitute Neuville. (Germany 2 Sweden 0)

Saturday 24 June

Hard work for Argentina
Mexico made Argentina work hard for their place in the next round. Mexico started positively and were ahead within 6 minutes when a free-kick was flicked on with a back-header in the six yard box by Borgetti, and Marquez slid in to convert. Only 4 minutes later Argentina pressurized Mexico into scoring an own goal from a corner kick. Crespo lobbed the keeper in the 22nd minute, but his ball went wide. Three minutes later Borgetti forced Abbondanzieri into a save with a good shot from outside the area. The Argentine keeper sprang into action in the 54th minute when he made a one-handed save from a close-range Borgetti effort. A Riquelme free-kick 3 minutes later found Rodriquez whose volley bounced and was palmed away. Riquelme set up Saviola in the 59th minute, but he couldn't beat Sanchez in the Mexican goal. A good run in the 86th minute led to Fonseca heading just wide. In the last minute Tevez took too much time in the box and was dispossessed. Argentina had a goal disallowed for offside and the match went to extra time. Eight minutes into extra time Rodriguez chested and volleyed in an unstoppable ball to sink Mexico and send his country into the next round. (Argentina 1 Mexico 1, extra time 2-1)

Sunday 25 June

England captain shows the way
A Beckham free-kick was enough to put Ecuador out of the cup and send England through. Ecuador could have gone ahead in the 11th minute when Terry headed the ball back into the path of Carlos Tenorio who was free on goal, but Ashley Cole managed to get a slight touch on his shot and deflect it onto the crossbar. England's only goal came after an hour when Beckham curled a free-kick in off the post. Six minutes later Robinson dived to push away a shot from Castilla. Some skilful footwork from Rooney allowed him to set Lampard up in the 72nd minute, but his shot was well over the bar. Three minutes later Rooney had a crack at goal himself, bringing a good save out of the keeper. (England 1 Ecuador 0)

Sunday 25 June

It's a red day
The red shirted Portuguese got the better of the Netherlands in a match that saw 4 red cards. The Dutch made their intention known as early as the first minute when a shot from van Bommel was inches away, but it was Portugal who scored, when Maniche side-footed a defender in the 23rd minute and smacked the ball past van der Sar. In the 37th minute van Persie twisted and turned in the box, but his shot across the face of goal was wide of the post. On the stroke of half time van der Sar blocked a close-range effort by Pauletta, and just before the half time whistle, Costinha who had already been booked, was dismissed for a deliberate hand-ball. The ball fell to Cocu who smashed it against the underside of the bar in the 49th minute. A minute later, after van der Sar had saved from Miguel, van Bommel forced Ricardo into a save. Maniche brought a flying save out of the Dutch keeper 7 minutes later. Boulahrouz caught Figo in the face and was shown a red card for his second yellow in the 62nd minute, and 15 minutes later Deco joined him when he saw his second yellow for throwing the ball away. Kuyt was free on goal in the 80th minute, but the keeper came out and blocked his effort. In stoppage time van Bronckhorst became the 4th player to see red when he committed a second bookable offence. (Portugal 1 Netherlands 0)

Monday 26 June

Last kick ends Aussie dream
The 10 men of Italy were gifted a penalty which signalled the end of the road for Australia in stoppage time. Toni had a free header in the 3rd minute, but missed the target. The same player turned in the box and got a shot in after 22 minutes, but Schwarzer saved with his trailing leg. Buffon got down on the half hour-mark to save a Chipperfield attempt from inside the area. Four minutes later Toni headed over the Australian bar. Materazzi was shown a straight red in the 50th minute for a scything tackle. A low shot from Chipperfield was blocked by the Italian keeper in the 58th minute. Australia's numerical advantage was showing, but deep into stoppage time Italy broke into the box and were rather harshly awarded a penalty when Grosso fell over Neil. Totti scored emphatically with the last touch of the game to shatter Australia's dream and send them on their long journey home. (Italy 1 Australia 0)

Monday 26 June

Scoreless Swiss stroll out of cup
In an uneventful match Ukraine went through thanks to their ability to score in a penalty shoot-out. Shovkovskyi had to be at this best in the 13th minute to dive and palm away a shot from Wicky. Shevchenko hit the bar with a diving header from a free-kick in the 20th minute, and 3 minutes later Frei rattled the Ukrainian crossbar from a free-kick. In the 67th minute a shot from Shevchenko flashed past the post, and 7 minutes later Gusin headed the ball just wide. With very few chances, the match had to be decided on penalty-kicks. The Swiss failed to convert their first 3 kicks and Ukraine edged through to the next round. (Ukraine 0 Switzerland 0, Ukraine win on penalties)

Tuesday 27 June

Ronaldo leads the way
Another goal from Ronaldo made him the top goal scorer in the history of the World Cup and set Brazil on their way to a 3-0 win over Ghana. It took Ronaldo only 5 minutes to get on the score-sheet when he beat the offside trap and dribbled past Kingston with a step-over to put Brazil into the lead. Draman had a long-range shot palmed over in the 19th minute. Ronaldinho's low cross forced Kingston to concede a corner after 30 minutes and with 3 minutes of the half left a downward header from Mensah was goal-bound, but came off the foot of Dida. With the last attack of the first half, Cafu passed the ball to Adriano who forced the ball in with his knee. Roberto Carlos picked up a pass from Ronaldinho in the 57th minute and ran into the box, but his path was blocked by the Ghanaian keeper. Dida was at full stretch in the 69th minute to deny a low curling shot from Gyan who was sent off in the 81st minute for taking a dive while already on a yellow card. Three minutes later Ze Roberto lifted the ball past Kingston to walk-in Brazil's 3rd. Kingston made a brilliant one-handed save from Ronaldo in the 88th minutes and 2 minutes later saved from Cafu in similar fashion. The Ghanaian keeper once again denied Brazil when he stopped Juan in stoppage time. (Brazil 3 Ghana 0)

Tuesday 27 June

Zidane goes on
The talented Spaniards once again failed to deliver on the world's biggest stage. A dangerous cross from Henry across the face of the gaol went begging in the 23rd minute, but it was Spain who scored first when 5 minutes later Villa shot low and hard from the penalty spot into the corner of the net. In the 41st minute Ribery broke through, rounded the keeper and put the French on level terms. Malouda lobbed Casillas in the 52nd minute, but the Spaniard managed to claw the ball away. In the 83rd minute Viera headed the ball in at the far post, and in stoppage time Zidane put the icing on the cake when he beat a defender and sent Casillas the wrong way. (France 3 Spain 1)