ATWC : GROUP A

 The group, the schedule, the stadiums, the squads, the games (please click on the pictures for a better view).

THE GAMES

DAY 1 : 

DENMARK - TUNISIA at Ion Oblemenco Stadium, Craiova, Romania (capacity 30.900)

DENMARK - TUNISIA 0 - 0

Zzzzzzz... after a nice opening game, we've been (already) cooled down. Where was the "Danish Dynamite", where were the "Eagles of Carthage's" claws ? Not that bad of a 0-0 though. But we're now crossing fingers for the next game of Group A (Uruguay against Bulgaria) raises a bit the level.

Yellow cards : Helveg (25'), Sassi (38'), Trabelsi (58'), Bouazizi (72').

Man of the Match : the most active player on the pitch thus the most in view, Hatem Trabelsi, wins the "MotM" trophy. He's been vital for Tunisia don't loose track of their goal in this match : not to lose (a minima).

On the Danish side, the one who was the most in view was Allan Simonsen, who was appearing there only for the second time in a World Cup game.

RATINGS :

Denmark :

P. Schmeichel 5,5 - Sivebaek 5 - Helveg 5 - M. Olsen 5,5 - Lerby 5 - Bertelsen 5 - Middleboe 5 - Simonsen 5,5 - M. Laudrup 5 - Praest 5 (J. Olsen 69') - Elkjaer 4 (John Hansen 81'). Tot. : 55,5.

Tunisia :

Attouga 5,5 - Trabelsi 6 - Jaïdi 5,5 - Badra 5,5 - Berrekhissa 5 - Skhiri 5,5 - Sassi 4,5 (Bouazizi 60') - Khazri 4,5 - Dhiab 4,5 - Temime 5 (Msakni 70') - Santos 4 (Sellimi 80'). Tot. : 55,5.

URUGUAY - BULGARIA  at Prater/ Ernst Happel Stadium, Wien, Austria (capacity 53.000)

URUGUAY - BULGARIA : 1 - 1

A match of more action than Denmark vs. Tunisia with 1 goal for each side but another draw game. With even more rawness, too. Every teams are ex-aequo after this first matchday, in Group A.

Given the result of the match, the tactical choice of the Uruguayan staff was much criticized in Montevideo.

GOALS (Suarez, Stoichkov fk)

36' : Valverde sends an aerial cross to Cavani. Intelligently, the latter chose to bring down the ball in the path of Suarez, who leaves no chance to Mikhaïlov and scores.

72' : Stoichkov with a free-kick. With the left foot, obviously. Mazurkiewicz tried hard to save it, but it was hopeless.

Yellow cards : D. Penev (20'), Valverde (85').

Man of the Match : Stoichkov did not weigh enough on the game before his (splendid) free-kick to be awarded "MotM". Santamaria impressed both defensively, alternatively against Asparuhov and against Bonev, and by his capacity to always find the best solution when exiting the ball from his back position. 

RATINGS

Uruguay :

Mazurkiewicz 5 - Godin 6,5 - Nasazzi 5 - Santamaria 7,5 - Valverde 5,5 - JL Andrade 6 - O. Varela 5,5 - VR Andrade 6,5 - Francescoli 4,5 (Petrone 79') - Suarez 5,5 - Cavani 5,5 (Forlan 75'). Tot. : 63.

Bulgaria :

Mikhaïlov 5,5 - Kishishev 4 (Shalamanov 73') - G. Dimitrov 5 - D. Penev 5 - Ivanov 4,5 - Boskhov 5 - Letchkov 4 (S. Petrov 73') - Balakov 5 - Bonev 6 - Asparuhov 4,5 (Berbatov 82') - Stoichkov 6. Tot. : 54,5.

Only two goals were scored on matchday one, including this free-kick by Hristo Stoichkov

DAY 2 : 

URUGUAY - DENMARK at Arena Nationala, Bucharest, Romania (capacity 55.600)

URUGUAY - DENMARK : 2 - 2

It goes witout saying that everbody expected much from this match... and they've been well served. It was a battle. That being, although there's been a couple of heaty moments, the aggressivness of the players never exceeded the limits. It was also a technical, tactical battle... from which the Uruguayans first seemed to emerge victorious.

But the Danes, who only managed to earn one point in their first match against an already tough and talented Tunisian team reacted in the second half, thanks to some well-chosen changings.

In the end, a major part of the supporters from both sides who gathered at the Arena Nationala were still happy not to lose this crucial game, just like the players and staffs.

The Danes should have to earn at least another one point in their last match against Bulgaria to get their ticket to the next round though, and it could be another tough mission. But nothing is impossible to these Vikings who managed to raise their level, tonight, against the four-time World champions : at the back, if Sivebaek had to leave the pitch prematurely (at half-time), he was replaced by a very interesting Maehle whilst the use of Lerby at the left back position was convincing again. Olsen played his role of libero to the perfection. The Elkjaer-Laudrup duet seemed to click, and the younger brother of Michael, Brian, shown great things as soon as he had just came into play. Schmeichel was not decisive though. He'll have to be, in view of the paw kicks that the Bulgarians are able to deal.

As for the Celeste XI, they lined-up Scarone instead of the quite disappointing Francescoli from the first match. A good idea, as he was at the origin of the second goal. He had to deal with the Dane XI newcomer Gravesen surrounded by Middleboe and Bertelsen and he did very well, until the Dane's come-back, when Uruguay was waiting... which did not help him to express himself.

The whole Uruguayan team's face changed since they conceded that two-one goal. Until then, each of his parts was perfect, individually and collectively. They have four points though, with supposedly the lesser team of the group to face in the last match.

GOALS (Varela, Cavani, Elkjaer, Elkjaer)

44' : V. Andrade crosses the ball to Varela who found a shooting position at the 16 yards. The shot is well taken but perhaps Schmeichel could have done better... 1-0 just before half-time.

55' : Scarone finds Cavani in the penalty area, it's a goal ! The drakkar seems to sink.

66' : B. Laudrup escapes from his two guardians, Varela and VR Andrade... serves Elkjaer in the depth, and it's a goal. It's not 2-0 Uruguay anymore, it is 2-1.

77' : M. Laudrup crosses the ball from the left side to... Eljaer, who imposes himself in front of Nasazzi, Santamaria and Mazurkiewicz. 2-2 !

83'... we were not far from the third Dane goal...

88' : nice try, Forlan. But it's off the bar for a few.

Yellow cards : Valverde 30', Godin 68', Bertelsen 70'.

Man of the Match : the jury recognized the great game of M. Olsen, in spite of the two goals conceded and in spite of the equalizing brace by Elkjaer.

RATINGS

Uruguay :

Mazurkiewicz 4,5 - Godin 5 - Nasazzi 5 - Santamaria 5 - Valverde 4,5 (Pérez 68') - JL Andrade 5,5 - Varela 5,5 - VR Andrade 5,5 - Scarone 5,5 - Suarez 5 (Forlan 80') - Cavani 6 (Petrone 84'). Tot. : 57.

Denmark :

Schmeichel 4,5 - Sivebaek 4,5 (Maehle 46', 5,5) - Helveg 4,5 - M. Olsen 7,5 - Lerby 6 - Bertelsen 5 - Gravesen 5 - Middleboe 5 (J. Olsen 70') - Simonsen 4,5 (B. Laudrup 60') - M. Laudrup 6 - Elkjaer 7. Tot. : 59,5.

This is the third draw game out of three games, in group A !

Morten Olsen was awarded the MotM trophy in this Uruguay vs Denmark

BULGARIA - TUNISIA at Prater/ Ernst Happel Stadion, Wien, Austria (capacity 53.000)

BULGARIA - TUNISIA : 1 - 1

The Bulgarians were seen as the favorites in this game, which was proven right by their performance in the first half and denied in the second half.

GOALS (Stoichkov, Temime)

38' : Stoichkov, assisted by Bonev, who plays as a "9 and half" in this team.

67' : Temime scores ! Great assist, Dhiab.

Yellow Cards : Kishishev 8', Badra 17', Letchkov 55', Sassi 80'.

Man of the match : Dhiab, who took the reins in the second half. Temime was more constant over the match and scored that goal, but Dhiab stole the show in the second half (when the most spectacular player of the first half perhaps was Stoichkov).

Tarak Dhiab : remember well this name, this face and... this left foot

RATINGS

Bulgaria :

Mikhaïlov 5,5 - Kishishev 4,5 - G. Dimitrov 5 - D. Penev 5 - Ivanov 5 - Boskhov 5 (S. Petrov 70') - Letchkov 5  - Balakov 5 - Bonev 6 - Berbatov 4,5 (Kostadinov 79') - Stoichkov 6. Tot. : 56,5.

Tunisia :

Attouga 6 - Trabelsi 6 - Jaïdi 5 - Badra 5 - Berrekhissa 5 (Maâloul 58') - Skhiri 5 - Bouazizi 4 (Sassi 60') - Khazri 5 - Dhiab 6,5 - Temime 6,5 - Santos 4 (Sellimi 80'). Tot. : 58.

Fourth draw game in four games...

DAY 3

URUGUAY - TUNISIA at Prater/ Ernst Happel Stadion, Wien, Austria (capacity 53.000)

URUGUAY - TUNISIA : 1 - 1

A hard-man game where the talent had room to appear only in a few occasions. Tunisia perfectly started this decisive game with a brilliant goal by Agrebi but the inevitable happened as Uruguay equalized. Both teams were very solid overall and Tunisia may have regrets.

Héctor Scarone apparently left much energy in the (good) game he played against Denmark, so Uruguay used their third different number 10 in three matches, all the rest of the team remaining unchanged (system and players). It was thus the first of Schiaffino who was a good link-man his turn, between the midfield and the attack, but lacked of rythm on the long run. Amongst all the number 10s at disposal in their squad, only Pedro Rocha did not play, but it seems that he is out of form. As for Francescoli who had a poor performance in the first match, it is difficult to tell if we'll see him again.

GOALS (Agrebi, Godin)

23' : Hammadi Agrebi had the confidence of the Tunisian manager and he did not disappoint. Served by Skhiri, he executes a side-step to eliminate Santamaria and scores from the right angle of the area, with the right foot, aiming at the far post ! What a nice, nice goal.

86' : it's a Godin equalizer ! Godin equalizer ! With the head ! From a corner-kick by Forlan !

Yellow cards : Pérez 30', Badra 49', Suarez 52', Bouazizi 60', Jaïdi and Attouga 72'.

MotM : Diego Godin enabled his team to avoid defeat and probably to finish first of the group. He's the MotM.

RATINGS :

Uruguay :

Mazurkiewicz 5,5 - Godin 6 - Nasazzi 5 - Santamaria 4 - JL Andrade 5,5 - D. Pérez 5 - Varela 5 - VR Andrade 5 (Gestido 78') - Schiaffino 5 (Forlan 73') - Suarez 5 (Petrone 87'), Cavani 5. Tot. : 56.

Tunisia :

Attouga 4 - Trabelsi 5 - Jaïdi 5 - Badra 5 - Maâloul 6 - Skhiri 6 - Bouazizi 5 - Agrebi 6 (Khazri 80') - Dhiab 6 (Jemâa 86') - Temime 5 - Sellimi 5 (Santos 86'). Tot. : 58.

It should pass for Uruguay.

The valiant Tunisian team earned their third point in three games.

DENMARK - BULGARIA at Arena Nationala, Bucharest, Romania (capacity 55.600)

DENMARK - BULGARIA : 2 - 1

The Danish team cranked up in the second half.

GOALS (Berbatov, M. Laudrup pk, Lerby)

32': Berbatov elevates himself higher than any Dane defender and beats Schmeichel with a header. The cross came from the Balakov's left foot.

55': M.Laudrup from the penalty spot. The penalty was won by Simonsen.

68': Lerby with a 16 yards low shot.

Yellow cards : D. Penev 54', Agger 60', Stoichkov 88'.

MotM : Peter Schmeichel annihilated the Bulgarian hopes in great fashion. His colleague Mikhailov can't pretend the exact same but he had a very good performance, nonetheless.

RATINGS :

Denmark :

Schmeichel 8,5 - Maehle 5 - Helveg 5 - M. Olsen 5,5 - Agger 5 - Lerby 7 - Bertelsen 5,5 - Middleboe 4,5 (Gravesen 60') - Simonsen 5 (B. Laudrup 76') - Elkjaer 4 (Tomasson 84') - M. Laudrup 5,5. Tot. : 60,5.

Bulgaria :

Mikhailov 7 - Kishishev 4,5 - G. Dimitrov 5 - D. Penev 4 - Ivanov 5,5 - S. Petrov 5,5 - Letchkov 5 (Kostadinov 70')- Balakov 6 - Bonev 5 (Sirakov 78') - Berbatov 6 (L. Penev 87') - Stoichkov 4,5. Tot. : 58.

Pete Schmeichel was unbeatable in the second half of the game.

It was almost a sixth draw game in six games in Group A. But Denmark won against Bulgaria so the Danes top the group whilst the Bulgarians are eliminated.

As for Uruguay and Tunisia, La Celeste finish second of the group so they're ensured to play the Round of 32.

Tunisia finish third with three points and we'll have to make the count of a bit of everything as to know if they'll go through. They have a nil goal-difference with only two goals scored (also only two goals conceded, it is true) but they also have a nine yellow cards record.

All individual and team ratings :