| All 32 teams have played two matches as the World | | | | 1. Argentina 6pts, 2. Holland 6pts, 3. Ivory Coast 0pts, 4. |
| Cup groups have started to take shape. Some teams | | | | Serbia & Montenegro 0pts |
| have qualified for the knockout stage while others will | | | | Argentina treated a global audience to a feast of |
| sweat on the last match. This is a short round-up of | | | | beautiful football as they demolished Serbia & |
| Groups A to D, of the results as they stand after two | | | | Montenegro 6-0. Argentina were 4/7 favourites but |
| matches. | | | | the price was secondary to the best 90 minutes of |
| Group A | | | | entertainment of the tournament so far. Maxi |
| 1. Ecuador 6pts, 2. Germany 6pts, 3. Poland 0pts, 4. | | | | Rodriguez after six and 41 minutes sandwiched |
| Costa Rica 0pts | | | | Esteban Cambiasso's effort on 31 to give them a |
| Ecuador are the unlikely leaders of Group A and have | | | | commanding half-time lead. The second half produced |
| secured their place in the last 16 with a convincing 3-0 | | | | three more goals from Hernan Crespo after 78 |
| win over rock-bottom Costa Rica. Second goals of | | | | minutes, Carlos Tevez on 84 and Lionel Messi with |
| the tournament from Tenorio, Delgado and one from | | | | two minutes left. |
| former Crystal Palace flop Kaviedes saw a good | | | | Buoyed on by Argentina's glittering performance, 4/6 |
| value bet at 11/10. | | | | Holland wasted no time against the Ivory Coast and |
| Germany, on the other hand, were 1/2 odds-on jollies | | | | struck after 22 and 25 minutes through Ruud van |
| to beat a disappointing Poland but needed a last gasp | | | | Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie. However, the |
| goal from veteran Oliver Neuville to see them off and | | | | Africans hit back through Arouna Kone on 37 to set |
| join Ecuador in the knockout stage. | | | | up a tense afternoon. |
| Group B | | | | Group D |
| 1. England 6pts, 2. Sweden 4pts, 3. Trinidad & | | | | 1. Portugal 6pts, 2. Mexico 4pts, 3. Angola 1pt, 4. Iran |
| Tobago 1pt, 4. Paraguay 0pts | | | | 0pts |
| England were expected to trounce Trinidad & | | | | Portugal qualified comfortably for the second round |
| Tobago and cement their place at the top of Group B | | | | with a 2-0 win over bottom of the table Iran. A goal |
| and the last 16. However, the Caribbean side put in a | | | | from Deco after 63 minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo's |
| tremendous performance and only two late goals | | | | penalty with 10 minutes remaining, secured an odds-on |
| from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard spared their | | | | win at 1/2. |
| blushes at 2/9. | | | | Mexico were left sweating on second round |
| Sweden also needed a late goal against Paraguay to | | | | qualification after managing only a goalless draw with |
| put one foot in the second round. Freddie Ljungberg | | | | Angola. Goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, who hasn't had a |
| netted the winner with two minutes left on the clock | | | | club for three years was magnificent on the evening |
| for the 4/5 Swedes. | | | | to set up an unlikely draw at 5/2. |
| Group C | | | | |