Fifa 2006 World Cup Groups | Wallchart | Tickets

World Cup 2006 Information

Welcome to the Germany 2006 World Cup section of my site. It's only early days yet, but as we now know who's going to be facing who in the group stages, I thought I'd make a start. I'm sure that as we get closer to the competition, this section of the website will evolve to incorporate as much World Cup 2006 information as possible.

If you're looking for World Cup Groups, please click here. If you're after World Cup News, please click here

A lot of people have been looking round for a World Cup 2006 wallchart to download - I haven't got one here, but the BBC provide a really good wallchart in PDF format. You can download it by clicking here.

The British Embassy have just released a glossary of football terms so that you can translate easily from English to German. The abbreviated version can be found here, with the full version available in PDF here.

World Cup 2006 Group Stages

GROUP A COSTA RICA \| ECUADOR \| GERMANY \| POLAND
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

9 June	Germany v Costa Rica	Munich
9 June	Poland v Ecuador	Gelsen Kirchen
14 June	Germany v Poland	Dortmund
15 June	Ecuador v Costa Rica	Hamburg
20 June	Ecuador v Germany	Berlin
20 June	Costa Rica v Poland	Hanover

Germany 2006 will be the first World Cup since the 70s where the last World Cup winners have not played in the opening game. Instead, the opening game will be played between Germany and Costa Rica. This is because FIFA have changed the rule relating to instant qualification for the previous winners. When the opening game was scheduled, the only team known to have qualified for the finals were the hosts - Germany. They should have no problems winning Group A, with Poland taking 2nd place.

GROUP B ENGLAND \| TRINIDAD & T \| PARAGUAY \| SWEDEN
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

10 June	England v Paraguay	Frankfurt
10 June	Trinidad & T v Sweden	Dortmund
15 June	England v Trinidad & T	Nuremberg
15 June	Sweden v Paraguay	Berlin
20 June	Sweden v England	Cologne
20 June	Paraguay v Trinidad & T	Kaiserslautern

The only difficult game for England in this group will be when they face Sven Goran Errikson's home nation. Apparently by the time we meet, England will not have beaten Sweden for 38 years. I'm sure that means we'll give them a royal beating this time round. In case they need any consoling, I'm sure they'll take second place in the group.

GROUP C ARGENTINA \| IVORY COAST \| HOLLAND \| SERBIA & M
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

10 June	Argentina v Ivory Coast	Hamburg
11 June	Serbia & M v Holland	Leipzig
16 June	Argentina v Serbia & M	Gelsenkirchen
16 June	Holland v Ivory Coast	Stuttgart
21 June	Holland v Argentina	Frankfurt
21 June	Ivory Coast v Serbia & M	Munich

Argentina and Holland will certainly be the qualifiers from this group. As to who tops the group is likely to be decided when they play each other. A lot of people are saying good things about the current Dutch team, but I reckon Argentina have got what it takes to win it.

GROUP D ANGOLA \| IRAN \| MEXICO \| PORTUGAL
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

11 June	Mexico v Iran	Nuremberg
11 June	Angola v Portugal	Cologne
16 June	Mexico v Angola	Hannover
17 June	Portugal v Iran	Frankfurt
21 June	Portugal v Mexico	Gelsenkirchen
21 June	Iran v Angola	Leipzig

This has got to be one of the easiest groups in the World Cup finals. Portugal will win it, although I'd be hard pressed to commit to second place. Given that there's normally at least one African team in the final 16, maybe this year it'll be Angola.

GROUP E CZECH REP \| GHANA \| ITALY \| USA
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

12 June	Italy v Ghana	Hannover
12 June	USA v Czech Rep	Gelsenkirchen
17 June	Italy v USA	Kaiserslautern
17 June	Czech Rep v Ghana	Cologne
22 June	Czech Rep v Italy	Hamburg
22 June	Ghana v USA	Nuremberg

This is quite a tough group to play in. Favourites to win are clearly Italy, although I'm sure each of the other 3 contenders will give them a run for their money. I reckon there will be a real battle for second place, but I think the Czech Republic will take it.

GROUP F AUSTRALIA \| BRAZIL \| CROATIA \| JAPAN
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

13 June	Brazil v Croatia	Berlin
12 June	Australia v Japan	Kaiserslautern
18 June	Brazil v Australia	Munich
18 June	Japan v Croatia	Nuremberg
22 June	Japan v Brazil	Dortmund
22 June	Croatia v Australia	Stuttgart

As much as I hate to say it, this group is Brazil's for the taking - unless they get too cocky - but with a squad full to the brim with world class players, I can't see that happening. The Aussies would love to make it into the final 16, and I reckon they'll do it.

GROUP G FRANCE \| SOUTH KOREA \| SWITZERLAND \| TOGO
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

13 June	France v Switzerland	Stuttgart
13 June	South Korea v Togo	Frankfurt
18 June	France v South Korea	Leipzig
19 June	Togo v Switzerland	Dortmund
23 June	Togo v France	Cologne
23 June	Switzerland v South Korea	Hannover

Providing France don't mess up and fail to make it through to the last 16 like in the last World Cup, this group should be theirs. Especially now with the return of Zinedine Zinedane. What's with that anyway? How can someone retire from international duty, but then come back when his country qualifies for the World Cup, hence getting out of all the donkey work. I guess that's the power you wield when you're one of the world's greatest player. I don't know much about Togo's footballing abilities, so I'm going to have to go with South Korea or Switzerland to qualify with France.

GROUP H SAUDI ARABIA \| SPAIN \| TUNISIA \| UKRAINE
DATE	TEAMS	VENUE

14 June	Spain v Ukraine	Leipzig
14 June	Tunisia v Saudi Arabia	Munich
19 June	Spain v Tunisia	Stuttgart
19 June	Saudi Arabia v Ukraine	Hamburg
23 June	Saudi Arabia v Spain	Kaiserslautern
23 June	Ukraine v Tunisia	Berlin

This group is on a par with Group D as being one of the easiest for Portugal to succeed in. As to second place, it's going to be the best of a bad bunch. Needless to say, whoever it is who takes the runners up spot won't stay in the competition for long.

World Cup 2006 News

BBC Sport | Football | World Cup 2006 | UK Edition

1. Italy claim World Cup triumph
Italy win the World Cup on penalties against 10-man France - who had Zinedine Zidane sent off for a headbutt in extra-time.

2. How good was the 2006 World Cup?
Did football's showpiece occasion live up to its hype?

3. Zidane given ban and fine by Fifa
France's Zinedine Zidane is banned for three games for his World Cup final head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi, who is also suspended.

4. Lippi resigns as Italy head coach
Marcello Lippi resigns as Italy coach after leading the nation to World Cup glory.

5. Zidane named best player
France captain Zinedine Zidane wins the World Cup's Golden Ball award, despite being dismissed in the final.

6. Klose finishes as leading scorer
Germany striker Miroslav Klose wins the Golden Shoe after finishing as the leading scorer at the 2006 World Cup.

7. German coach Klinsmann quits
Jurgen Klinsmann steps down as Germany coach after two years in charge and is replaced by assistant coach Joachim Loew.

8. Podolski beats Ronaldo to award
Germany's Lukas Podolski is named young player of the World Cup as Cristiano Ronaldo's antics for Portugal cost him the prize.

9. I'm sorry but no regrets - Zidane
Zinedine Zidane apologises for his headbutt on Marco Materazzi but says he does not regret his actions.

10. Zidane the flawed genius
He played football from a different planet - but had a dark side

11. Your World Cup pics - 10 July
Your fan photos from around the world

12. Virtual replay
See full animations of the key moments in Italy's World Cup triumph

13. Odds against England
Why England's World Cup future continues to look gloomy

14. McClaren under instant pressure
England's new coach will not have a honeymoon period

15. Sven's sorry exit
Eriksson apologises for a trail of major tournament failures