2006 FIFA World Cup
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The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th edition of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. It was held from June 9 2006 to July 9 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Italy won its fourth world championship, defeating France 5-3 in a penalty shootout after extra time finished in a 1-1 draw. Germany finished third and Portugal fourth.
Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six continents participated in the qualification process which began in December 2003 to narrow the field down to the 32 teams which advanced to the finals tournament. Each national association had to confirm its 23-player squad in May 2006.
- 1 Tournament summary
- 1.1 Italy are Champions
- 1.2 Europe and South America dominate
- 1.3 The Final
- 1.4 Awards
- 1.5 Flood of cards
- 1.6 Post-mortem
- 2 Venues
- 3 Groups
Tournament summary
Italy are Champions
The finals tournament of the 2006 World Cup began on June 9 2006 with a group stage for which the 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each. Within each group, the teams competed in a round-robin tournament to determine which two of those four teams would advance to the 16-team knockout stage, which started on June 24 2006. In total, 64 games were played.Tournament favorites and defending champions Brazil were knocked out, 1-0, by France in the quarterfinals, while Germany, runners-up from 2002, lost 2-0 to Italy in the semifinals in extra time.
France overcame a slow start in the group stage, relying heavily on a strong defensive effort to advance. They gained momentum in the knockout stage and reached the final galvanized in part by the performance of its captain Zinedine Zidane who, playing in his final matches prior to his announced retirement, was honored with the Golden Ball award for best player.
On July 8 2006, Germany, the host nation, beat Portugal, 3-1, in Stuttgart for third place.
The tournament culminated in the World Cup Final, played in Berlin on July 9 2006, and which saw Italy triumph over France on penalties after extra time.
Europe and South America dominate
Despite early success by Australia, Ecuador and Ghana, the tournament marked a return to dominance of the traditional football powers.Four years after a 2002 tournament in which teams from North America (United States), Africa (Senegal), and Asia (South Korea) made runs deep into the knockout stages and a relatively unheralded European side (Turkey) finished third, none of the quarterfinalists were from outside Europe or South America.
The Final
The final match started with each side scoring within the first 20 minutes. Both teams had chances for a winning goal: Luca Toni hit the crossbar for Italy; an Italian goal was disallowed for an offside; France was not granted a second penalty in the 53rd minute when Florent Malouda went down in the box.After the regulation 90 minutes, the score was level at 1-1, forcing extra time to be played. Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon made a stunning save in extra time when Zidane directed a powerful header on target. The extra time proved goalless and a penalty shootout followed, which Italy won 5-3. It was the first all-European final since Italy won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and the second final (1994 was first) to be decided on penalties.
Italy's World Cup championship did not rely on any one player in particular: Their 12 goals were scored by 10 different players. The famed Italian defense, organized by captain Fabio Cannavaro, greatly contributed to the team's win.
The most discussed moment of the match was Zidane's angry reaction to comments made by Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Near the end of extra time, Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest in an off-the-ball incident. Referee Horacio Elizondo did not see the confrontation, but sent Zidane off based on the intervention of the fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo. Materazzi's words are unknown, but Zidane alleges they insulted his family. Materazzi denied his words were racist.
With an investigation underway, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has indicated that Zidane could be stripped of the Golden Ball award.
Awards
In addition to Zidane's Golden ball, the Silver and Bronze Ball awards went to Italy teammates Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo, respectively, with teammate Buffon winning the award for best goalkeeper. Germany striker Miroslav Klose won the Golden Shoe award as the tournament's top goalscorer, with teammate Lukas Podolski winning the Best Young Player award.Flood of cards
In comparison to earlier World Cups, the tournament was notable for the number of yellow and red cards given out. Players received a record-breaking 345 yellow cards and 28 red cards, with the match between Portugal and the Netherlands accounting for 16 and 4, respectively, by itself. The high number of yellow and red cards shown also prompted discussion about the referees, perhaps the most controversial figures of this World Cup. Some observers also noted that the number of goals dropped after the Group Stage as the teams seemed to play more for security.Post-mortem
The tournament once again proved that European teams dominate on European soil, while South American teams dominate on non-European soil, a law broken only once with Brazil's win at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden.Although the host nation failed to repeat its 2002 trip to the final match, many counted Germany as one of the winners of this World Cup for organizing such a smooth tournament. The stadia and transportation systems were fantastic, and the German people were constantly lauded for their hospitality and enthusiasm. One big innovation, which South Africa has already declared it will emulate, were the Fan Fests. Germany also benefited by the sudden increase in nationalist spirit with unprecedented flag waving whenever the German team played.
Venues
Twelve cities were selected to host World Cup finals matches.
Groups
Seeds
The eight seeded teams for the 2006 cup were announced on December 5, 2005. The seeds comprised Pot A in the draw. Pot B contained the unseeded qualifiers from South America, Africa and Oceania; Pot C contained eight of the nine remaining European sides, excluding Serbia and Montenegro. Pot D contained unseeded sides from the CONCACAF region and Asia. A special pot contained Serbia and Montenegro: this was done to ensure that no group contained three European teams. In the special pot, Serbia and Montenegro (white ball) was drawn first, then their group was drawn (black ball) from the three seeded non-European nations, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
It had been predetermined that as hosts, Germany would be placed in Group A, thus being assured of the venues of their group matches in advance of the draw. FIFA had also announced in advance that Brazil (the defending champions) would be allocated to Group F.
| Pot A | Pot B | Pot C | Pot D | Special Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina Brazil England France Germany Italy Mexico Spain |
Angola Australia Côte d'Ivoire Ecuador Ghana Paraguay Togo Tunisia |
Croatia Czech Republic Netherlands Poland PortugalSwitzerland Sweden Ukraine |
Costa Rica Iran Japan Korea Republic Saudi Arabia Trinidad and Tobago USA | Serbia and Montenegro |
On December 9, 2005 the draw was held and the group assignments and order of fixtures were determined. After the draw was completed, many football commentators remarked that group C appeared to be the group of death in the World Cup, although in actuality, the group was among the first to be settled; Argentina and the Netherlands both qualified with a game to spare with comfortable wins over Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Serbia and Montenegro respectively.
Point system
The first stage, or group stage, saw the thirty-two teams divided into eight groups of four teams. Each group was a round-robin of six games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. There were three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams coming first and second in each group qualified for the second round.The ranking of each team in each group was determined as follows, in order of priority:
- Greatest number of points obtained in all three group matches;
- Goal difference in all three group matches;
- Greatest number of goals scored in all three group matches.
- # If any two teams could not be separated by criteria 1–3;
- ## Team that won the match between the two teams in the tie;
- # If three teams could not be separated by criteria 1–3;
- ## Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the three teams in the tie;
- ## Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the three teams in the tie;
- ## Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the three teams in the tie;
- Drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.
In the event, only two ties actually occurred (in Groups C and H), both decided on criterion 2: goal difference in all three group matches. In addition, because the teams involved in the ties drew with each other, the older set of tie-breaking criteria would have produced the same tie-breaking results for these two ties.
Group stage results
In the following tables:- Pts = total points accumulated
- Pld = total games played
- W = total games won
- D = total games drawn (tied)
- L = total games lost
- GF = total goals scored (goals for)
- GA = total goals conceded (goals against)
- GD = goal difference (GF−GA)
Group A
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Germany | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2
| |
Ecuador | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3
| |
Poland | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 |
Costa Rica | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | −6 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group B
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2
| |
Sweden | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2
| |
Paraguay | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group C
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1
| |
Netherlands | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1
| |
Côte d'Ivoire | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group D
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portugal | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1
| |
Mexico | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3
| |
Angola | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 |
Iran | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group E
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1
| |
Ghana | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3
| |
Czech Republic | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
USA | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group F
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brazil | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1
| |
Australia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Croatia | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
Japan | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group G
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0
| |
France | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1
| |
Korea Republic | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
Togo | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Group H
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1
| |
Ukraine | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4
| |
Tunisia | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 |
Saudi Arabia | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 |
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Knockout stage
The knockout stage was a single-elimination tournament involving the sixteen teams that qualified from the group stage of the tournament. There were four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds were: Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Final. There was also a play-off to decide third/fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, a draw was followed by thirty minutes of extra time (two fifteen minute halves); if scores were still level there would be a penalty shootout (at least five penalties each, and more if necessary) to determine who progressed to the next round. Scores after extra time are indicated by (AET), and penalty shoot outs are indicated by (PSO).
Bracket
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)Round of 16
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) .
| Penalties | |||
| Streller: Shovkovsky saved Barnetta: crossbar Cabanas: Shovkovsky saved | 0–3 | Shevchenko: Zuberbühler saved Milevskiy: scored Rebrov: scored Gusev: scored |
Quarter-finals
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
| Penalties | |||
| Neuville: scored Ballack: scored Podolski: scored Borowski: scored | 4–2 | Cruz: scored Ayala: Lehmann saved Rodríguez: scored Cambiasso: Lehmann saved |
| Penalties | |||
| Lampard: Ricardo saved Hargreaves: scored Gerrard: Ricardo saved Carragher: Ricardo saved | 1–3 | Simão: scored Viana: post Petit: missed Postiga: scored Ronaldo: scored |
Semi-finals
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Third place play-off
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)Final
All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
| Penalties | |||
| Pirlo: scored Materazzi: scored De Rossi: scored Del Piero: scored Grosso: scored | 5–3 | Wiltord: scored Trezeguet: crossbar Abidal: scored Sagnol: scored |
Awards
FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) also granted a award to one player in each match.
Mastercard All Star Team
The Mastercard All Star Team is a squad consisting of the 23 most impressive players at the 2006 World Cup, as selected by FIFA's Technical Study Group. The team was chosen from a shortlist of over 50 players, and was selected based on performances through the second round.
Goal scorers
Miroslav Klose received the Golden Shoe Award for scoring five goals in the World Cup. This was the lowest number of goals scored by a tournament's top goalscorer since six players tied on four goals each in 1962. In total, 147 goals were scored (four of which were own goals). An additional 21 goals were scored in penalty shootouts, but these are not counted.