Day 11

The last two group games of Group A saw Germany and Ecuador fighting for supremacy. The game started in lively fashion with the Germans slipping into attack mode immediately. They did not have to wait for long as Klose drove hard into the back of the net to give Germany a deserved lead. Ecuador seem to have lost the spirit and will to put on a good show - as they had in the previous games, and were soon punished as Klose made it 2, by latching on to a clever lob by Ballack. In the second half, Podolski finally broke his World Cup duck by sliding in his first and Gemany's third to seal the win. Overall a good performance that sees the hosts through to the next round where they face Sweden.
Germany 3-0 Ecuador
4,44-Klose(GER), 57-Podolski(GER)

The other game was between Poland and Costa Rica, with both of them knowing that this was the last game for them in this year's World Cup. Going back home with a win or atleast a point would sound as good option to them. Costa Rica were not able to match he performance they put against the Germans and double by Bosacki sent them home without a point. Though Gomez had earlier given them the lead, Poland were not to give up easily and had the last laugh. Poland end a disappointing campaign on a high note.
Poland 2-1 Costa Rica
24-Gomez(CRI), 33,66-Bosacki(POL)

Group B had an intriguing battle between England and Sweden for pole position, but the Swedes knew they were not comfortably in the next round. As expected, the game was explosive and England, I have to say, played their best game of the World Cup. It was a totally different English performance, unlike the much criticised games against Trinidad & Tobago and Paraguay. The key could have been the re-shuffling of the team and having a diamond formation in the midfield with Lampard being given a free role. However, with hardly 60 seconds on the clock, Owen crawled over the touch line and had to be taken off for what seems to be a serious knee problem and will most probably miss the rest of the tournament. Joe Cole was causing all sorts of problem for the Sweden defence on the right and put England ahead through an incredible dipping volley that the Swedish custodian could only help to the top corner of the goal. If anyone in the English colours deserved a goal, it was Joe Cole for his explosive performance on the left. But the famous English defence was caught napping when Allback pulled Sweden level from a corner and all off a sudden the Swedes were all over the place. Sven had to make changes and risking Rooney for too long was not what England wanted, especially after Owen's injury, so Off goes Rooney and on comes Gerrard. England were playing with a new formation now, with Gerrard playing just off Crouch and with 5 minutes remaining, he nodded in a Joe Cole cross to give the lead once again to England. With just injury time on the cards, it looked like England had finally defeated Sweden after all these years, but the ever present Larsson made sure the Swedes maintained their record intact by scoring in an injury time equaliser - from yet another set piece. England and Sweden make it through to the next round and face Ecuador and Germany respectively.
England 2-2 Sweden
34-J.Cole(ENG), 51-Allback(SWE), 85-Gerrard(ENG), 90-Larsson(SWE)

Trinidad and Tobago took on Paraguay with a glimmer of hope that they would be able to defeat them and England would win, to propel them into the next round along with the English. But sadly, for them, they were not able to breach the Paraguay defence and an own goal put them in serious trouble. Paraguay who are out of the world cup played with vigor and Cuevas scored a late second to seal the win. The defeat meant that both the teams leave the World Cup having played just 3 games, but Paraguay can take heart in this win.
Trinidad & Tobago 0-2 Paraguay
25-Sancho og(T&T), 86-Cuevas(PAR)