| The World Cup has been reduced from 32 to 16 | | | | booked, with Costinha and Deco also receiving their |
| participating nations as the knockout stages begin. This | | | | marching orders for Portugal, while Van Bommel, |
| is how the last 16 faired as they battled for a place in | | | | Boulahrouz, Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder and Van der |
| the quarter finals. | | | | Vaart saw yellow with Boulahrouz and Van |
| Argentina were firm favourites to see off Mexico but | | | | Bronckhorst also seeing red. |
| Ricardo La Volpe's side were not there to simply | | | | Italy were odds on jollies at 4/7 to see off Australia |
| make up the numbers. Captain Rafael Marquez gave | | | | but extra time looked likely until the Italians won it with |
| Mexico a shock lead after four minutes but Argentina | | | | a controversial injury time penalty. Lucas Neill was |
| hit back five minutes later through Hernan Crespo, | | | | adjudged to have fouled Fabio Grosso and Francesco |
| although it is questionable whether the Chelsea striker | | | | Totti swept home the resulting spot kick to send |
| touched the ball. With the 90 minute draw secured at 7 | | | | 10-man Italy into the quarter finals. |
| 2, the match looked to be heading for penalties until | | | | Switzerland and Ukraine were involved in possibly the |
| Maxi Rodriguez produced what could be goal of the | | | | worst match of the tournament so far, with first-time |
| tournament to send Argentina into the quarter finals. | | | | qualifiers Ukraine securing their place in the last eight. |
| Germany set up a mouth-watering quarter final | | | | Both sides played out a goalless, 90 minutes draw at 2 |
| encounter with Argentina after seeing off Sweden. | | | | 1 and with no goals in extra time, the first penalty |
| Lukas Podolski showed his Golden Boot credentials | | | | shoot-out took place. Switzerland were equally poor |
| with two goals after three and 11 minutes to win the | | | | from 12 yards out with the Ukraine triumphing 3-0. |
| match for the hosts at odds of 8/11. | | | | Brazil were unconvincing against Ghana, but the 3-0 |
| England were predictably short odds at 1/2 to beat | | | | scoreline will have pleased big hitters who took them |
| surprise second round qualifiers Ecuador but their 1-0 | | | | at 2/7. Ronaldo and Adriano gave Brazil a comfortable |
| victory wasn't convincing. Ecuador should have scored | | | | half-time lead with goals after four and 45 minutes and |
| early on when Carlos Tenorio's latched onto an error | | | | Ze Roberto rounded off the win with a third seven |
| by John Terry, but his shot was deflected off Ashley | | | | minutes before the end. |
| Cole and on to the bar. David Beckham curled in a | | | | Spain were favourites to beat France, but it was the |
| decisive free kick after 59 minutes to secure victory. | | | | 1998 winners who pulled off the victory at 11/5. David |
| Portugal beat fancied Holland at odds of 23/10 through | | | | Villa's penalty gave Spain the lead after 27 minutes, but |
| a solitary Maniche goal after 22 minutes but it was | | | | Franck Ribery on 40, Patrick Vieria on 82 and Zinedine |
| four sendings off and plethora of yellow cards that | | | | Zidane on 90 turned the match around in favour of the |
| was the game's main talking point. Maniche, Costinha, | | | | French. |
| Petit, Figo, Deco, Ricardo and Nuno Valente were all | | | | |