WORLD CUP 2006 NEWS - ITALY WIN !!!

Italy beat France on penalties to lift the 2006 World Cup.
The final score was 1-1 after extra time.

Italy v France Final

Italy beat the hosts Germany 2-0 and France beat Portugal 1-0 to set up an intriguing final.

England go out on Penalties

For the fifth time in a major tournament England have exited the World Cup on penalties. 10 man England held their own with Portugal to play out a 0-0 draw until the dreaded penalties were once again England's downfall.

England though to Quarter Finals

A David Beckham free kick secured a deserved 1-0 win over Equador to secure England's Quarter Final place. They will now face Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday 1st July. Portugal won a extraodinary game against Holland 1-0. Sixteen players were booked and four sent off incluing Portugal's playmaker Deco, who will now miss the England game.

Michael Owen out of the world Cup

A scan on Michael Owen's knee, which he injured in the first minute of the Sweden game, has confirmed Sven Goran-Eriksson's worst fears - Michael Owen's World Cup is over. Michael Owen flew home to receive treatment on the injured knee , which will keep him out of football for at least 6 months.

England win Group B with 2-2 draw with Sweden

England topped Group B after drawing with Sweden. England twice led only to be pinned back by a detremined Sweden side with their second equalisewr coming in the 90th minute. England have now set up a last 16 meeting with Equador.

England secure qualification with a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago

England made it 6 points from two games with a laboured 2-0 win over a Trinidad and Tobago team who mainly play their football in the lower divisions. After spurning many chances Peter Crouch headed home 10 minutes from time from a David Beckham cross and Steven Gerrard added a second with a great 20 yard left-footed strike.

Wayne Ronney played for 30 minutes and came through the session unscathed. The match against Sweden will decide who heads for Stuttgart as group winners after Sweden left it even later in their 1-0 victory over Paraguay.

A draw will see England top the group.

England start World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Paraguay

England got off to a great start in Group B capturing 3 points with a 1-0 win over Paraguay - courtesy of an own goal in the 4th minute after David Beckham's free kick was diverted into the Paraguay goal.

An impressive first half by England's players was followed by a cautious display in the second half as England sat back on the 1-0 lead. Sven-Goran Eriksson was happy with the performance as his goal for the team was to come through this game with 3 points. Focus now turns to the Thursday 15th June game against Trinidad and Tobago. Victory in this game will all but ensure England's passage through to the next stages.

Ro0ney passes scan test and is expected to play

Wayne Rooney's scan on 7th June reavealed that the break is healing well and he is now expected to be fit to play in the later stages of the World Cup. Some are predicting he may play as early as the England v Sweden group game on June 20th if needed to get a result. Jermaine Defoe has been stood down as a member of the Squad and returns home.

England's footballers fly out to Germany for the World Cup.

England's squad left Luton Airport on Monday 5th June on flight BA9200C to Karlsruhe, Germany for final World Cup preparations. They flew on an Airbus A320, named "Pride of the Nation".
The 23-man squad includes striker Wayne Rooney, who will return to England on Wednesday 7th June for a vitally important second scan on his broken metatarsal.
Jermain Defoe is standing by to take Rooney's place in the Squad if the scan shows that the broken bone hasn't recovered sufficiently for him to take part.
England's first Group B match is against Paraguay on Saturday 10th June in Frankfurt. England remain second favourites to win the tournament behind Brazil.

Rooney scan brought forward to 7th June

The next scan on Rooney foot has been brought forward a week to 7th June. This should determine when teh Manchester United striker can resume training.He remians upbeat about his prospects of joing England for the later stages of the competition.

Rooney scan inconclusive

The long awaited scan on Rooney's broken metatarsal proved inconclusive and another scan has been arranged for 14th June - 4 days after England begin their campaign

Rooney to have scan on 25th May

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will have a scan on his broken metatarsal on 25th May. It is expected the scan will give a better indication as to his likelihood to be fit enough to play for England at the World Cup.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said: "After 25 May we will know much more about what will happen with Wayne.

Eriksson has also disclosed to the meadia that he is considering palying Steven Gerrard as an emergency striker in the World Cup should Rooney not make it.

Bookies make Wayne Rooney Odd On to play some part in the World Cup

Following the news that Wayne Rooney's broken metatarsle is making mending at a faster rate than expected, English supooerters have bet that he will play some part in England's World Cup tournament. Bookmakers have reduced their odds about him playing in one or more games from 7/4 against to 3/2 on.

Morientes left out of Spain World Cup Squad

Fernando Morientes who was part of Liverpool's FA Cup winning team has been left out of Spain's World Cup squad.
The Liverpool forward was one of four players in thte provisional squad left out by coach Luis Aragones in the 23-man selection. Fellow Premiership Spaniards : Xabi Alonso, Jose Reyes, Cesc Fabregas, Asier Del Horno, Luis Garcia and Jose Reina were all included as expected

Klinsmann names his Germany Squad

Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann has selected three Premiership players in his 23 man squad - Michael Ballack, soon yo join Chelsea is captain and joins club team-mate Robert Huth in Klinsmann's squad . Arsenal's Jens Lehmann will be Germany's first choice goalkeeper.

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