Daily Excelsior.........sports

Strengths and weaknesses of qualifiers for last 16

YOKOHAMA (Japan), June 14: Following is an analysis of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the eight teams involved in World Cup second round matches tomorrow and on Sunday.

Germany v Paraguay, Sogwipo, Saturday, June 15 2100 hrs ist Germany meet Paraguay in the first ever meeting between the two countries with four key players suspended: Carsten Ramelow, Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege for the Germans and Carlos Paredes for Paraguay.

German strengths: Germany can never be under-estimated in the World Cup and usually gain in confidence as the tournament progresses. They also have four or five players fresh, fit and ready to play including the likes of Jens Jeremies and Oliver Neuville —and Michael Ballack is looking better and better.

German weaknesses: The absence of the suspended players could prove costly. All three have played well so far, especially ramelow in defence. They have also lost Joerg Boehme who has returned home with a torn thigh muscle.

Paraguay strengths: Coach Cesare Maldini criticised his players for a lack of fighting spirit when they lost 3-1 to Spain last Friday, but he was full of praise for the way they fought back from a goal down to beat Slovenia 3-1 on Wednesday. A wily tactician, Maldini made three good substitutions against slovenia, and as, the underdogs, Paraguay have nothing to lose.

Paraguay weaknesses: They will miss the suspended paredes, sent off for two yellow cards against Slovenia. They also have a lack of experience of these high-level knockout games, in sharp contrast to the Germans.

Denmark v England, Niigata, Saturday, June 15, 0200 hrs ist

Denmark meet England believing an odd quirk of fate will see them through. Every time Denmark have met France in competition since 1984 the winner of the match has gone on to win that particular tournament and the Danes beat France 2-0 in the first round. Denmark strengths: Confidence is sky-high after first round wins over Uruguay and world champions France. Denmark’s players have a fine collective team spirit, are not hampered by prima Donna Egos and all appear to have hit form at the same time.

Denmark weaknesses: Striker Jon-Dahl Tomasson, who has scored four goals so far, is doubtful with a groin injury and there are also concerns about combative midfielder Stig Tofting who is nursing a troublesome left foot.

England strengths: Apart from the second half against Sweden England have achieved that they have needed to so far. Their match-winning 1-0 performance over Argentina was their best showing in the World Cup for years and despite the sterility of their 0-0 draw with Nigeria, they did secure the point they needed to advance. Captain David Beckham is returning to full fitness, defender Rio Ferdinand has looked world class.

England weaknesses: A lack of guile in midfield apart from Beckham and the continued reduced potency of Michael Owen in front of goal leaves England with few attacking options. Both their goals so far have come from set-pieces: a corner against Sweden, a penalty against Argentina.

Sweden v Senegal, Oita, Sunday, June 16 2100 hrs ist Sweden meet Senegal for the first time in a match that will offer a contrast in styles between Northern European efficiency and African ingenuity tempered by the resolve of a starting lineup who all play for French Clubs.

Swedish strengths: Sweden showed against both England and Argentina they have talent in depth and a tough fighting spirit. The defence works well as a unit with Teddy Lucic commanding and inspiring. Up front Henrik Larsson has looked sharp and dangerous.

Swedish weaknesses: The main worry going into this game is the fitness of Fredrik Ljungberg, so often the midfield and attacking inspiration. He missed the Argentina match with a hip injury and is still doubtful.

Senegal strengths: The sheer physical power and speed of the Senegalese team has been a revelation, and despite this being their first World Cup, they have no-one to fear after beating world champions France in the opening game.

Senegal weaknesses: Senegal, however, do have some real handicaps now. Key players Khalilou Fadiga and Salif Diao are both suspended, while Ferdinand Coly is doubtful with an injury to the back of his right knee. They also showed against Uruguay a worrying failure to hold a commanding lead, letting slip a 3-0 halftime advantage and finishing with just a point from a 3-3 draw. Spain v Ireland, Suwon, Sunday June 15, 0200 hrs ist

Spain stormed through the first round with nine points and nine goals and look too strong for Ireland, but there have been so many upsets in this tournament, they will be taking nothing for granted.

Spain strenghths: Their forward play has been excellent, inspired by three-goal Raul. Fernando Morientes also weighed in with two goals and looked sharp whenever he was called upon.

The excellent delivery of Javi De Pedro from the left of midfield has been a highlight, while on the right Jose Antonio Camacho can choose from the energetic Luis Enrique or youngster Joaquin, who impressed in the 3-2 win over South Africa.

Spain weaknesses: In defence, centre-backs Miguel Angel Nadal, 35, and Fernando Hierro, 34, both read the game well but they are vulnerable when confronted with real pace, meaning a lot of covering work for the full backs.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is good shot-stopper but sometimes flaps on crosses and does not command the area like Santiago Canizares, who was ruled out before the tournament started when he dropped a bottle of aftershave on his foot and severed a tendon.

Ireland strengths: A feisty determination to show they can get by without skipper Roy Keane who quit the squad before the tournament started appears to be driving Ireland forward. His namesake Robbie Keane has taken up the mantle as the side’s engine-driver, proving with his injury time equaliser against Germany that Ireland’s collective team spirit is second to none.

Ireland weaknesses: The lack of a real top-class player means Ireland often lack direction in both midfield and attack. To compensate for that, they often utilise a counter-attack to launch their own raids — but that is a dangerous game. However, ireland are adept at soaking up pressure — but a lack of real creativity reduces their options. (AGENCIES)

Belgium seal dramatic win over Russia

SHIZUOKA (Japan), June 14: Belgium scored twice in the last 12 minutes to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory over Russia today and a place in the World Cup’s second round.

Vladimir Beschastnykh’s second-half equaliser looked to have earned Russia a place in the last 16 but strikes by substitute Wesley Sonck and captain Marc Wilmots put Belgium 3-1 up and on course for a last 16 match against Brazil.

Russia refused to lie down, however, and substitute Dmitry Sychev’s 88th minute goal gave them hope of snatching the draw they needed to progress before the final whistle brought an end to Belgium’s five-match streak of World Cup finals draws.

Belgium finished runners-up in Group H on five points, two behind Japan and two ahead of the Russians who failed to qualify for the second round for their third straight World Cup.

Belgium’s under-fire coach Robert Waseige was delighted with his team’s resilience and hit back at his recent critics.

"I am very happy of course," Waseige said. "We have had a lot of critics, particularly at home, so we are really happy to have won this match and to reach the next round."

"It’s a great honour to meet the eternal Brazil."

Belgium started brightly knowing they needed a victory to keep alive their hopes of progressing and full merited their lead when Johan Walem superbly curled a free kick into the top corner from 25 metres.

Mbo Mpenza and Gert Verheyen, twice, had excellent chances to increase their lead in the opening period against a misfiring Russian team.

Russia, with unfit playmaker Alexander Mostovoi again on the substitutes’ bench, looked devoid of attacking menace in a terrible first-half display.

Coach Oleg Romantsev, his job on the line, lost patience after 34 minutes and brought on 18-year-old striker Sychev but Russia suffered another blow before the interval when central defender Yuri Nikiforov had to come off with a calf injury.

Sychev’s arrival on the pitch had sparked Russia to their 2-0 victory over Tunisia and they looked a little better at the start of the second period. But their goal came out of nothing.

Dmitry Khokhlov loped forward and found Sychev streaking clear. When his shot was saved, Beschastnykh gleefully snapped up the rebound.

Stung by the goal, Belgium desperately poured forward in search of another goal but Russian central defender Viktor Onopko, winning his 100th cap, kept their rear guard well protected until the unmarked Sonck powered in a header eight minutes after coming on the pitch.

Wilmots scored with a deflected shot four minutes later to give the Belgians some breathing space but Sychev drove home a through ball from Alexander Kerzhakov to ensure a dramatic finale in over four minutes of injury-time. (AGENCIES)

Japan achieve historic

place in last 16

OSAKA: Hosts Japan reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time in their history here today after cruising to a 2-0 victory over Group H rivals Tunisia.

Second half goals from Hiroaki Morishima and Japanese football’s italy-based golden boy Hidetoshi Nakata handed French coach Philippe Troussier’s side a deserved win to set up a last-16 clash with Turkey next Tuesday.

Japan, who qualified as Group H winners, had started the World Cup desperate to avoid the ignominy of being the first host side to fail to reach the second round.

But after a draw with Belgium and a win over Russia they were put firmly on course, and against Tunisia here today the result was rarely in doubt.

An inspired double substitution by troussier at half-time after a low key opening 45 minutes proved crucial, the Frenchman bringing on lively striker Morishima and right winger Daisuke Ichikawa.

Ichikawa helped create the first goal, pressuring Tunisia’s defence into a blunder to allow Morishima the chance to blast past goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel on 48 minutes.

Morishima came close to doubling his tally soon afterwards, directing a superb diving header past Boumnijel only to see it bounce back off the inside of the post.

Tunisia, needing a two-goal win to have any chance of going through, attempted to get back in the game but were frustrated by the slick passing of the Japanese midfield.

Again the hosts came close to scoring, Feyenoord star Shinji Ono’s downward header on 65 minutes desperately saved by Boumnijel.

Then on 75 minutes Nakata made the game safe after another fine piece of work down the right by substitute Ichikawa.

The 22-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse player tormented his marker and floated in a cross to Nakata whose diving header flew into the Tunisian net.

In the first half Tunisia’s defence managed to keep Japan at bay for the opening 20 minutes, the hosts’ only chance a long-range effort from Takayuki Suzuki that sailed over the bar.

Japan’s best chance came just over the half hour mark. Atsushi Yanagisawa, eventually replaced by Morishima at the break, was given a rare amount of room by the Tunisian defence and was able to drill a low shot to test Boumnijel.

Tunisia, unable to generate any sort of momentum, had a single attempt on goal, striker Ziad Jaziri blasting wide shortly before half-time.

Japan were given a scare in the dying moments of the half when midfielder Kazuyuki Toda brought down Tunisia’s Hatem Trabelsi in the penalty area. (AFP)

Late burst sends

Belgium through

SHIZUOKA: A late burst which produced two goals sent Belgium through to the last 16 of the World Cup here today with an edge-of-the-seat 3-2 win over Group H rivals Russia.

Belgium will now take on favourites Brazil in Kobe on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Belgians needed the three points after drawing their first two matches whereas the Russians could have advanced with a draw.

But having come back from a goal down Russia were stunned by Belgium’s finale.

With the scores level at 1-1 Wesley Sonck, a 70th-minute substitute for Mbo Mpenza, climbed above Dimitri Khokhlov to head past Russian keeper Ruslan Nigmatullin following a left-wing corner by Johan Walem after 78 minutes.

Midfielder Marc Wilmots then drove home his third goal of the tournament four minutes later to seal the win in a match which had threatened to run away from the ‘red devils’.

Dmitri Sychev pulled back a last-gasp consolation for Russia in the 88th minute but he and his colleagues were unable to wrest the draw as the joyous Belgians embraced and leapt on each other at the final whistle.

Walem had broken the deadlock after just seven minutes with a brilliant freekick - but Russia replied through Vladimir Beschastnykh seven minutes after half-time.

Russia equalised nine minutes after the restart when Beschastnykh fired home after Sychev saw his initial shot saved by Geert De Vlieger. Russia left midfield wizard Alexander Mostovoi on the bench and appeared not to know whom to turn for creative distribution in his place prior to a marked improvement in the final 20 minutes as they found the energy of desperation. Russia were left to rue their bad luck as waves of attacks going into four agonising minutes of injury-time enjoyed no reward. (AFP)

USA into second round

through the back door

DAEJEON: The United States, humbled by eliminated Poland, were thrown a lifeline by co-hosts South Korea to advance bruised into the second round of the World Cup here today.

USA, Groggy from two polish goals in the opening five minutes, never recovered and lost their final group game 1-3 to a team that effectively were only playing for pride after two earlier losses.

Just when it all looked over for the stars and stripes, the Korean crowd here roared the news from incheon that their national team had gone ahead of Portugal and in effect were giving the Americans a chance to qualify through the back door

The United States now have a last-16 match with regional rivals Mexico in Jeonju on Monday, while jubilant South Korea take on three-time champions Italy on Tuesday here.

The Americans had looked to be tumbling out of the tournament after goals from Emmanuel Olisadebe and Pawel Kryszalowicz and a second-half strike by Marcin Zewlakow put Poland 3-0 up.

An 81st-minute goal by Landon Donovan was a consolation strike for the Americans, who never looked like saving the game against the fired-up poles.

"They came out just like we expected, we were ready for the game, we weren’t cocky going into the game," said us skipper Claudio Reyna.

"They scored on a set-piece and scored again right after, that completely turned any game plan we had and we were chasing the whole game to try and get back to at least a point (draw).

"We were in shock after the third goal, it seemed over, but then we heard the crowd celebrations and we figured Korea were up or drawing."

US coach Bruce Arena, who looked on gobsmacked after the one-two knockout blow, said the team had the next 72 hours to get themselves over the polish mugging.

"We have four points, we finished second in our group," he said. "We’ve been doing this a long time, we’ll regroup, we’ll be fine, we’ll step on the field on Monday ready to try to win against Mexico."

Polish coach Jerzy Engel, who made six changes from the 4-0 hammering by Portugal including benching first-choice goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, said Poland would leave for home with good memories.

"Now after this third game we feel that we belong to this world family of soccer, we leave for home with good memories after this victory," Engel said.

"We were not prepared for such a heavy tournament after missing the World Cup finals for 16 years and this is very good experience for us heading into the qualifying for the 2004 European championships.

Nigerian-born striker Olisadebe cracked the Americans’ confidence with a third-minute goal off a Jacek Krzynowek corner. It was Poland’s first goal of the tournament.

The Americans almost hit back immediately with Donovan heading home but Chinese referee Lu Jun disallowed it for a foul by Donovan on last defender Arkadiusz Glowacki. (AFP)

South Korean fan burnt critically in suicide attempt

SEOUL:A man who said he wanted to help South Korea’s soccer team by becoming a ghost 12th player set himself on fire today, hours before the squad’s crucial World Cup game against Portugal, police reported.

The 39-year-old man was in critical condition, officials said.

He lit a candle and bowed several times toward the sea in the South-Eastern city of Busan before pouring pain thinner over his body and setting himself on fire, police said in a statement.

They said he left a note saying, "the sweat and tears of coach Guus Hiddink and his players were the biggest birthday gift ever given to me. But we now have to overcome South American and European teams and i am driven to take this road by impetuosity.

"I will become the 12th soccer player by becoming a spirit and will run for the victory of the Korean team," the note said, adding Korean soccer fans’ customary cheer: "fighting Korea!"

The man was dressed in red, the national soccer team colour.

Tens of thousands of South Koreans have gathered in the streets of major cities to cheer on their team during its first two matches - a victory over Poland and a draw with the United States. (AP)