ATWC : GROUP D

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

THE GAMES

DAY 1 : 

SOUTH KOREA - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND at Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany (capacity 51.500)

SOUTH KOREA - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND : 1 - 1

South Korea scored after a quarter of an hour of play with a flash attack but could not make the break. Ireland managed to equalize in the second half and earn one point thanks to the scorer Niall Quinn and arguably thanks to the keeper Shay Given, first and foremost. Given also made a decisive save by the end of the match, and what a save !

GOALS (Sang-chul, Quinn) :

15' : Sung-yuen to Sun-hong to Sang-chul.

71' : Finnan crosses the half-way the line then send a cross to Niall Quinn who equalizes with a header.

Niall Quinn shown perfect timing to score the equalizer with a headed goal

Yellow cards : Giles (19').

Man of the Match : Shay Given, the author of four great saves (two in the first half, and two others in the second half, including that one incredible save by the end of the match, in front of luxury substitute Son Heung-min.

RATINGS :

South Korea :

L. Woon-jae 6 - P. Kyung-hoon 5,5 (S. Chong-gug 68') - H. Myung-bo 5 - K. Min-jae 5 - L. Young-pyo 5,5 - Y. Sang-chul 6,5 - K. Sung-yueng 6 (K. Nam-il 85') - C. Kwang-rae 4,5 - P. Ji-sung 5,5 - H. Sun-hong 5,5 - C. Bum-kun 4 (S. Heung-min 75'). Tot. : 59.

Rep. of Ireland :

Given 7,5 - Finnan 6,5 - McGrath 5,5 - Lawrenson 5,5 - Irwin 5 - Houghton 5 - Giles 4 (Townsend 60') - Roy Keane 5 - Brady 5 - Staunton 5 (Duff 81') - Rob. Keane 5 (Quinn 68'). Tot. : 59 .

SPAIN - CAMEROON at Schlauchboot Arena, Munich, Germany (capacity 75.000)

SPAIN - CAMEROON : 3 - 2

This was a first between the two national teams and certainly the most spectacular game since the start of the FYT All-Time World Cup.

GOALS (Villa, Butragueño, Milla, M'Boma, Hierro pk)

8' : Michel sends a cross... to Villa ! Who scores with a diving header.

18' : Butragueño sneaks in the area and it's already two-nil.

44' : who said that Milla and Eto'o could not play together? Milla starts sniffing around when Eto'o suddenly starts to accelerate on the right wing... the latter, from his right winger position, goes past Alaba and crosses the ball for his elder who came from far and whose the timely arrival in the box surprises the Spanish defense. The Lions are only one goal late before half-time, watch out !

55' : Lauren sends a cross from the right to M'Boma who jumps higher than everybody and scores with a perfect headed goal. What a surge of power ! And technique. The Lions did not fall asleep during half-time.

79' : Iniesta is jostled in the penalty area by Song. It looks like Hierro will take it. Yes, it is well him who's the penalty taker. Goal ! N'Kono can't do anything against the powerful shot of the Madrilene.

Yellow cards : Kalla (13'), Song (79').

Man of the Match : it was difficult to highlight one player more than the other. In spite of the defeat, Milla was presented with the trophy at the end of the match. He's the one who astonished the crowd and the jury the most : due to his interpretation of that peculiar role that is the role of 9 and half and for... his incredible sense of dribbling ! Butragueño would have not been a bad choice either but the Cameroonese shown up more often and in unrivalled fashion. Let's not forget that until his injury that led him to leave the pitch, Michel was a real contender to win this distinctive trophy (although he played in a more conventional style). At last, the entrances of M'Boma and of Iniesta have been brilliant.

The impredictable Roger Milla in his works

RATINGS :

Spain :

Casillas 5 - Ramos 5,5 - Puyol 5 - Hierro 6 - Alba 5 - Michel 6 (Iniesta 63') - Xavi 5,5 - Pirri 5 - Gento 5 (L. Enrique 80') - Butragueño 6 - Villa 6 (Torres 80') . Tot. : 60.

Cameroon :

N'Kono 4, 5 - Lauren 5,5 - Kalla 4 - Song 4,5 - Olembe (Womé 80') 4,5 - Geremi 6 - Kunde 5 - Abega 5 (Foe 57') - Milla 6,5 - Eto'o 6 - Omam-Biyik 4 (M'Boma 60'). Tot. : 55,5.

The day before the match, MUNICH  had organized their own OPENING CEREMONY with a SCORPIONS CONCERT (R. Schenker flight back from New York where he was present for the opening ceremony and still was at 300%) :