ECUADOR VS. GERMANYGroup A, at Berlin, 7...
ECUADOR VS. GERMANY
Group A, at Berlin, 7 a.m. PDT, ESPN, Ch. 34
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 23, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday June 23, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
World Cup: An advance capsule of the Ecuador-Germany soccer game in Tuesday’s Sports section said that West Germany won the World Cup in 1970 in Mexico. Brazil won the World Cup that year; West Germany finished third.
Both teams are assured of advancing, so the pressure won’t be very high. Ecuador needs only a tie to clinch the group since it has a better goal differential than Germany. Ecuador has not given up a goal in the tournament, defeating Poland, 3-0, and Costa Rica, 2-0. The last time Germany won its first three games of the World Cup was in 1970, when it won the title as West Germany in Mexico. That year, West Germany faced England in the next round and won in overtime. Although both teams probably will rest some starters, German Coach Juergen Klinsmann insists that Michael Ballack will play despite the midfielder’s having a yellow card with the risk of missing the next match should he acquire another.
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COSTA RICA vs. POLAND
Group A, at Hanover, 7 a.m. PDT, ESPN2, Ch. 46
It will be all about pride for these teams, as they have been eliminated from contention. Before the tournament, Poland was thought to be the other team behind Germany that would advance from this group. The futures of Poland Coach Pawel Janas and Costa Rica Coach Alexandre Guimares depend on the outcome.
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ENGLAND VS. SWEDEN
Group B, at Cologne, noon PDT, ESPN, Ch. 34
Since this game will be played after the Germany-Ecuador match, there might be some strategic moves made by the teams to avoid having to play the host country in the next round. England, which needs only a tie to clinch the group, will have incentive to win since it hasn’t defeated Sweden since 1968, a span of 11 matches. By finishing first in the group, the English would get an extra day of rest before their next match and probably avoid Argentina in the quarterfinals. Sweden also needs only a tie to advance but would win the group with a victory.
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PARAGUAY VS.
TRINIDAD and TOBAGO
Group B, at Kaiserslautern, noon PDT, ESPN2, Ch. 46
Trinidad and Tobago needs a victory and for England to defeat Sweden to have any chance of advancing to the next round. The Soca Warriors trail Sweden in goal difference by three, so they will need to bring a strong offensive effort against Paraguay, which has lost each of its other two games by scores of 1-0, and hope that Sweden loses by at least a few goals. Trinidad Coach Leo Beenhakker said he would receive constant updates from the England-Sweden game to help him determine strategy.