Neuville leaves Germany and Poland on brink
Spain gain is pain for Ukraine
Two Wanderers leave Saudi and Tunisia all-square
—– An added time winner by sub Oliver Neuville puts hosts Germany on the verge of the knockout stages of the World Cup and all but ends Poland’s interest.
Amid a tremendous local derby-type atmosphere in Dortmund, Neuville’s last-ditch strike means the Germans will progress with a game to spare if Costa Rica fail to beat Ecuador tomorrow while the Poles - who have Radoslaw Sobolewski sent-off late in the game - will be out if the Costa Ricans don’t win.
Germany’s win delights students of the form book. Including West Germany games, they remain unbeaten in 15 meetings with Poland and have failed to win only one of 15 games they’ve played in Dortmund.
Just as predictable was the trouble that preceded the game. More than 300 so-called people are held in police custody.
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—– The World Cup’s great under-achievers Spain get their 2006 campaign off to a spectacular start with the biggest win of the tournament so far.
They beat debutants Ukraine 4-0 in Leipzig as the newcomers suffer in the continuing 30deg+ heatwave.
Xabi Alonso and David Villa put sunny Spain two up at the interval.
Any hopes of comeback are halted when Vladislav Vashchuk is harshly shown the tournament’s first straight red card and Villa converts the resultant penalty. Fernando Torres adds the fourth.
—– Tunisia and Saudi Arabia are the last two teams to take to the World Cup 2006 stage, and they battle out a 2-2 draw in Munich.
With the game locked at 1-1, sub Sami Al Jaber puts Saudi ahead with six minutes to go but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker’s strike is cancelled out by a stoppage time header from Bolton Wanderers defender Radhi Jaidi.
—– Meanwhile back in England, the summer managerial merry-go-round continues apace. Plymouth Argyle boss Tony Pulis returns to Stoke City only 13 months after leaving the Britannia Stadium.
The former Gillingham and Portsmouth chief - who was in charge of the Potters for three years - was sacked by the Championship club’s former owners. He places Johan Boskamp.
—– Leroy Rosenior is named as Martin Allen’s successor at League One Brentford.
He had been first team coach at Shrewsbury Town after ending his four-stint in charge of Torquay United in February.
Allen resigned last month after guiding the Bees to the Play-Offs.
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