Barca players Messi, Saviola (both Argentina) and Ronaldinho Gaucho have lost their quarterfinal match and are heading for their holidays after their elimination from the World cup in Germany. Argentina lost on penalties to host Germany and Brazil lost their match against France.
ENGLAND v PORTUGAL 0-0
England: Robinson, Neville, Ashley Cole, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Terry, Beckham (Lennon 5, Carragher 118), Lampard, Rooney (red card min. 61), Joe Cole (Crouch 64), Hargreaves.
Portugal: Ricardo, Meira, Figo (Helder Postiga 85), Petit, Pauleta (Simao 62), Miguel, Nuno Valente, Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maniche, Tiago (Hugo Viana 74).
Penalties:
1-0 Simao
1-1 Hargreaves
2-1 Helder Postiga
3-1 Cristiano Ronaldo.
Misssed penalties:
Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher for England
Hugo Viana and Petit for Portugal
After 1966, the Portuguese national team has reached the second time in their history the World Cup semi-finals by beating England 3-1 on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw.
The first half was dominated by both defences. The very few half-chances produced were mainly from dead ball situations. The match had its decisive moment in the 62nd minute when the Argentine referee, Horacio Elizondo, sent off Rooney for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho. With Rooney off, England´s manager Sven-Goran Eriksson sent on Peter Crouch as a lone striker and England defended well to hold on for extra time.
The 10-men England held on heroically for the full 120 minutes. Like in the European Championship 2004 Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo was the hero of the day. He saved 3 of 4 English penalties and booked Portugal´s place in the semi final.
Barca's Portuguese midfield star, who was sent off in the round of last 16 against Holland, will return into the Portuguese squad for the semi-final, one of the biggest games of his sporting career.
BRAZIL v FRANCE 0-1
Brazil: Dida, Cafú (Cicinho 75), Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Kaká (Robinho 78), Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zé Roberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho Pernambucano (Adriano 62).
France: Barthez, Abidal, Vieira, Gallas, Makelele, Malouda (Wiltord 80), Zidane, Henry (Saha 84), Thuram, Sagnol, Ribery (Gobou 76).
Goals:
0-1 Henry 57´
The biggest upset in the World Cup 2006 saw Brazil being eliminated by a superb display of France. Amazingly, Brazil managed just one shot on target all match. This was just not enough for the world champions to defend their title. Barca's Ronaldinho says goodbye to the competition.
Brazil started brightly and Ronaldinho was heavily involved early on. Slowly, France took control of the game with another magnificent performance of verteran Zinedine Zidane. It was Zidane´s free kick in the 57th minute that met an umarked Henry who had no problem to put the ball over the goal line. France knocked Brazil out of the World Cup for the third time.
The Brazilian manager Alberto Perreira played Zé Roberto, Gilberto Silva and Juninho Pernambucano in midfield to give Ronaldinho the freedom to show his skills. At the start he did show his brilliance of technical skills and passing abilities but looked physically tired and was not able to turn the match around.
GERMANY v ARGENTINA 1-1
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Schweinsteiger (Borowski 76), Frings, Klose (Neuville 85), Ballack, Lahm, Mertesacker, Schneider (Odonkor 61), Podolski, Metzelder.
Argentina: Abbondanzieri (Leo Franco 70), Ayala, Sorin, Coloccini, Heinze, Mascherano, Crespo (Julio Cruz 78), Riquelme (Cambiasso 71), Tévez, Maxi, Lucho González.
Goals:
0-1 Ayala 49
1-1 Klose 80
Penalties:
Neuville 1-0
Julio Cruz 1-1
Ballack 2-1
Ayala 2-1 (missed pen.)
Podolski 3-1
Maxi 3-2
Borowski 4-2
Cambiasso 4-2 (missed pen.)
Hosts Germany are through to the World Cup semi finals after beating Argentina 4-2 in a penalty shoot out, following a 1-1 draw. Argentina coach Pekerman did not use Barca star Leo Messi and Saviola.
The Germans never gave up and again showed they are unbeatable in the penalty shoot out.
Argentina took the lead when Ayala headed in a corner from former Barca player Riquelme but when it looked as if the hosts were heading out of the world cup, Germany hit back and pulled level through Klose´s fifth goal of the world cup tournament. Extra time saw few chances and with Ayala and Cambiasso both missing penalties, the hosts were through to the semis.
