England beats Paraguay 1-0 in the first match of the second day of the FIFA Worldcup Football 2006. See the blow-by-blow account below and feel free to leave your comments about the match.

Full time England comes away with a 1-0 win thanks to an own goal off of a Beckham free kick in the 3rd minute. Not the most exciting of games, but a win nevertheless for the Group B favorites. Paraguay will have its work cut out to advance in this tournament.

90:00 There is added time. Two minutes even. I think we can survive another two minutes of this, can’t we?

89:14 Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz imploring his team to get its head out of its ass. Might be a bit too late for that coach. Still 1-0 England.

88:01 Lampard with a blast outside the box that is knocked away for a corner kick. Beckham lines up to take it. His shoes are so very blue. Gerrard feeds it back into the box but nothing comes of it. Yawn.

86:27 For those who placed a bet on seeing Crouch do the robot dance this game, I think you are going to lose. I think you may want to reconsider your investment strategies too. Buy mutual funds instead.

85:15 5 more minutes to go and the score is still 1-0. Paraguay just hasn’t been able to come up with any kind of attack. England out to kill the game. I expected this from the opening match last night not this one today. Oh well, two more games today. Both should be entertaining.

84:00 God Save the Queen being sung by the England faithful. God save us all from more games like this.

81;53 Hargreaves in for Cole for England. Did you know that Owen Hargreaves was born in Canada, plays in Germany and represents England at the World Cup? True story. Look it up on the Internet.

81:24 Nunez in for Toledo for Paraguay. Will it make any difference?

80:00 Ten minutes left. Anyone still awake?

78:15 Joe Cole is down on the turf landing on his arm. He gets a little water and love from the training staff and appears to be fine. Wish I had a training staff for my fingers. They are sore from all this typing. 61 games to go! Must pace myself.

76:24 Valdez with a very strange volley that lands somewhere between Frankfurt and Dortmund. Speaking of Dortmund, you’ll want to tune in for our liveblog for the next game between Sweden and T&T which is being played there. If I am not passed out I will probably do that game as well, but my mate Chris is standing by just in case.

75:02 Which team has looked least impressive thus far? Costa Rica, Poland or Paraguay? I’d have to say Paraguay at this point.

72:15 Lampard with a blast straight on and a great save from the Paraguay keeper. Still 1-0 England. Corner kick from Beckham and once again we are forced to see Crouch’s awkwardness.

71:50 Hey kids, your comments are great. Keep them coming. I’ll look into whether or not Peter Crouch’s head is, in fact, from Easter Island.

69:57 Between Beckham’s blue boots and that incredibly round Teamgeist ball there are a lot of distractions watching this game. Anyone know why the heck they have a giant video screen over the middle of the pitch in Frankfurt? almost like and American football stadium.

68:39 Cuevas comes on and dances around like he has ants in his pants. Maybe he will bring some life to this game. England lead 1-0 and seem content to keep it that way. A goal by Paraguay would change the action completely.

67:23 Paraguay sub. Cuevas in for Bonet. Maybe they will start to attack now. A loss does you no good, Paraguay.

66:09 German tv just showed an England supporter with his country’s name tattooed on his back. That’s pretty hardcore. Silly, but hardcore. Maybe I’ll get an Angola tat tomorrow.

63:14 Valdez with a shot on goal. Robinson saves it. His kick hits the big monitor hanging over the field. Now we are starting to see something of interest.

62:14 Peter Crouch shown a yellow card. If they handed out red cards for dorky looking guys he would never be allowed to play. Neither would I. Still 1-0 England.

61:04 Anyone read any good books lately? We still have 30 minutes to go. I’m thinking about liveblogging and reading at the same time just to keep entertained.

59:13 Robinson misplays a cross and PAREDES almost makes England pay. Robinson looked unsteady walking onto the pitch today. He hasn’t been tested and that problem is a good thing for England.

58:02 England playing 9 behind the ball and Paraguay is not helping the matter by dunking passes out of bounds. The score is still 1-0 in favor of England. If you’ve missed the game to this point you’ve missed me drinking two beers and that’s about it.

56:02 England fans chant “Come on England” but that dies out after 5 seconds. Maybe they put something in the water in Frankfurt. No one has energy there.

55:04 Downing in for Owen for England. Owen played a poor game. England is going to milk this score.

53:24 England look content to come away with a 1-0 win. Paraguay’s attack looks feebile. Maybe a few subs could bring some pace to this game…

51:45 On cue they show Rooney on the bench. He is sweating like a pig. Have England’s players ever been in the sun before?

50:24 Beckham finds Owen but Lil Mick doesn’t do anything with it. Owen hasn’t looked good the past few months coming off his injury. If I supported England I’d almost be more concerned with him than with Rooney.

48:47 Corner kick for Paraguay. Headeed away by the Robot man. Who would win in a steel cage match? Crouch or Schweinsteiger?

47:48 Good thing it isn’t raining. It the oil in the ref’s hair ran off into the ground we’d be facing an ecological disaster.

46:15 Paraguay starts the half out with a bit of an attack. The England defense doesn’t look like it is going to bend. I switched over to a dark Hefeweizen for the second half. For those who have never been to germany the beer alone is reason to make it here.

45:02 WAKE UP. Second half is underway. Hopefully we’ll see more action from both sides.

Halftime The first half got off with a bang with England scoring on a Beckham free kick that was sent into goal by Paraguay’s Gamarra in the 3rd minute. After that the game crashed to a thud. Halftime score is England 1-0. I’m off to get another beer and will start up right before the start of the second half. What are your thoughts on what we have seen? Impressed by England? How about Paraguay?

45:00 Nelson Valdez with a shot just off the mark for Paraguay. So much for my last comment.

45:00 Four minutes added time to watch neither side do a damn thing.

42:52 Beckham with a shot that goes just wide. Prince William and der Kaiser are smiling. They aren’t sweating. Does royalty ever sweat or are they genetically immune from that?

41:57 England able to create opportunities but not especially sharpe in the final third of the field. I’m sure Wayne Rooney will solve that problem. Or not.

40:05 England player sucking down water and appear to be affected by the heat. I am in Germany and even though I am typing 798 words a minute I don’t think it is especially hot.

38:50 Say what you want about Beckham but every time he lines up for a set play the excitement mounts. He can swing a ball in like few others. Almost makes up for everything else deficient in his game.

38:04 England leads possession 58-42 and most importantly leads in players who are 6′7″. 1-0 on the scoreboard.

36:45 Free kick for Paraguay just outside the box from the right side. Cleared away by England. Paraguay has not shown much in this game. I was kind of expecting more from them.

35:17 Crouch being mugged in the box by 75 guys from Paraguay on a pair of crosses. Hard to score when you have a defender sticking a hand in your ass.

33:49 Rio Ferdinand sighting. That wasn’t necessary. I wish they had a v-chip in the television that would prevent me from seeing Rio and Oliver Kahn. Oh yeah, still 1-0 England.

32:15 Someone needs to activate the Teamgeist balls so that we start seeing some more goals. I think I got spoiled with yesterday’s games.

30:47 Gerrard sails it over the crossbar. Joe Cole is on the ground after getting tripped up. The referee stepped on his hand. Cole walks off without having to be amputated.

29:02 Owen crosses it to Crouch who does a bit of a non robot dance in the corner to earn the corner for England. Becks takes it. Wow his shoes are blue. Cleared away by the Paraguay defense.

27:15 This game has really settled into a bit of a snoozer. Paraguay brings it into the box but are dispossessed. Paul Robinson still looks nervous in net for England. 1-0 England.

26:00 Storyline thus far: England gets an early goal thanks to an own goal by Paraguay’s captain. The shadows on the field are trippy. The ref uses way too much hair gel. I need another beer.

24:43 Paraguay has weathered the initial storm, but they are being dominated in the midfield. Maybe if they just kick more shins they’ll come back to win this one.

23:00 Anyone ever been to Paraguay? I hear it is much nicer than Uruguay. Joe Cole is definitely from Brazil. Pele is right.

21:19 Beckham knocked on his backside. Yellow given to Paraguay. We’re still at 1-0. Crouch almost snaps his head off on a header.

20:00 I’d like to mention I went 20 minutes without typing “metatarsal”. Thank you.

18:13 Stephen Gerrard booked. Didn’t look like a yellow worthy tackly to me. What the hell is up with this ref’s hair. Talk about a helmet.

17:23 Parades with a shot wide for Paraguay. I take back all the compliments I gave Paraguay regarding hair. That guy is ugly. Robinson tested again on a shot but smothers it.

16:06 The German commentator is calling every Paraguay player Acuna. Either he is having one hell of a game or this guy knows Paraguay less than I do. That is saying something.

14:40 Peter Crouch reminds me of a giant wind sock. End of my Crouch comments for now.

13:30 England looks two steps quicker and like they know how to play the game. Paraguay looks scared and tenative. Paraguay needs to settle down or this one could turn ugly fast.

12:11 Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz looks a bit like Yoda. Meanwhile Prince William is sitting next to Franz Beckenbauer. No shots of Posh Spice yet.

11:40 England awarded an indirect kick from inside the box. Wow that ref uses alot of hair cream. Beckham lines up over the ball. The backup keeper is crapping his pants. Lampard kicks it away harmlessly.

9:34 Gerrard skies one over the crossbar. Tough position for a backup keeper to come into. Playing a goal down and with your defense sucking arse. Owen unable to finish too.

8:17 Bobadilla gets tested right away. England in complete control of the game. Has Paraguay even touched the ball? 1-0 England

7:33 The magic spray didn’t work as Paraguay has to replace its keeper. Off limps Villar. He is crying. Poor guy’s World Cup start not exactly how he imagined. BOBADILLA takes his place.

5:16 The Paraguay keeper is down but a little magic spray on the leg should make him as good as new. Still kind of stunned that England scored so early. Really brings a thud down on the game. Will Paraguay be able to bounce back?

4:47 What a dreadful way for Paraguay to start. Their captain has been awesome the past two World Cups and here he has an own goal to put his team in a hole.

2:42 GOALLLL!!! Beckham takes the free kick from far out and it is hit in by the Paraguay captain Gammara. 1-0 England.

2:28 Even if you are watching on a small tv without a clear picture you can pick out Peter Crouch. has there ever been anyone who looks less like a football player?

0:12 Ok, somebody close the curtains. The shadows on this pitch are terrible. Reminds me of the final in Mexico in 1986,

Kickoff We’re underway in day 2 of the 2006 World Cup. A beautiful day in Frankfurt as the ‘66 champs face a tough South American team. Hope you are enjoying this as much as I am.

This Summary is brought to you by :http://www.worldcupblog.org/

I have come to this conclusion after thinking alot that right from the first day till the end day of the Fifa Worldcup football 2006, i dedicate my blog and all its posts to the matches played in Worldcup Football 2006.You will inshallah be seeing the Worlcup match results on my blog and comments are for you to leave.I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

Ecuador beats the Polish team 2-0 in the second match of the world cup 2006.

 

 

Fulltime. Wow, what a match for Ecuador. It certainly didn’t have the fireworks of the Germany-Costa Rica game, but what a huge result for La Tricolor. Ecuador 2-0 Poland.

90:00+ Ecua fans are being heard in the stadium.

90:00+ Poland are game and won’t quit, but time is slipping away. Ecuador defense comes up big again.

90:00 Poland denied by the woodwork again! Crazy.

89:20 Poland free kick cleared again by the Ecua defense.

88:10 Not much time left for Poland to try and get a result. Ecuador have played very well to this point. Props to Suarez to this point. but it’s not over!

86:55 Corner for Poland. Still threatening to notch one back, but it’s cleared.

85:15 Poland denied by the post! So close!

84:40 Ecuador corner harmlessly cleared by Poland, who are headed the other way.

83:31 Shot by Ebi saved by Mora, who hasn’t been that challenged today.

82:04 Oh my. What a play. Patient play from Ecuador leading to a great goal. And hey, maybe it wasn’t a golazo, but I was excited.

80:00 GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Golazo de Agustin Delgado! Assist from Kaviedes!!! Ecuador 2-0 Poland.

76:39 Free kick for Poland. Out for a corner. No trouble.

74:50 Mora owes the defense dinner to tonight, win, lose or draw. The defense has made mistakes, but saved a lot of dicey situations.

73:40 Reasco saves the day again. But Poland win the throw in.

72:07 Kaviedes’s first touches have not been solid, although there have only been a couple. Nice shot by Mendez, though it was saved. And there was an offside. But still.

71:05 Less than twenty minutes to go. Can Poland take advantage of Hurtado’s injury?

70:00 Yellow card for Edison Mendez for some thing or another.

69:01 Hurtado still limping. And I’d say grimicing as well, except that he always looks like he’s grimicing. And there he goes. Jorge Guagua comes on in relief for Hurtado.

67:25 Poland makes some offenseive-minded substitutions, trying to intensify their attack. They of course desperately need a result in this match.

66:30 Hurtado back on the field. Tommy Smyth details his own blogging credentials.

65:33 Ecuador are down to 10 men as Hurtado gets attended to.

64:48 It goes without saying that losing Hurtado would be a mammoth blow for Ecuador. Carlos Tenorio leaves the field and is replaced by Ivan Kaviedes. Let’s see if El Nine has anything.

63:10 Now Hurtado’s down and wincing in pain. Medics are on the field.

61:50 Delgado nearly scooches through in the Poland box. That sounds naughtier than I meant it to.

60:20 If I’m Coach Luis Suarez, I’m worried that Poland are going to just take target practice until one scoots through. And that’s no way to go through life, son.

59:30 Carlos Tenorio is limping, and that ain’t good. Stays on the pitch, however.

58:46 A close shot for Poland blocked by Bam Bam Hurtado. Poland really seem like their knocking on the door of the Ecuador goal.

57:55 Another throw in for Ecuador as they counter attack once agains. But the chance is lost harmlessly.

56:25 Reasco forward for Ecuador. Throw in coming. Random pointing makes an appearance.

55:20 Getting a little sloppy in Gelsenkirchen.

53:49 Headed away without danger. Still, Poland is doiing a better job at keeping up their attack.

53:01 Ecuador seem content to wait for the counterattack. Corner kick for Poland.

51:40 Poland just offside, taking away a goal. Still 1-0 Ecuador.

51:15 Poland threatens, but Ecuador pushes it out again. Let’s hope that Ecuador don’t just sit back and try to run out the clock. That won’t work so early.

49:30 Neither team putting a whole lot together at this point.

48:25 I miss Tommy Smyth’s Highbury squirrel. Call me nostalgic.

48:01 Corner kick for Poland. Striaght out of bounds for a goal kick.

47:13 Free kick by Mendes taken in by Borus with little trouble.

46:18 Nice defense by Ecuador. At this point, they are not panicking at all when things get dicey.

45:00 Here we go! Ecuador kicks off.

Second half begins. An interesting first half. Poland took early control, but Ecuador slowly fought back, settled down, and had the better run of play. As I say, though, one goal isn’t much of a lead. Especially with those remote-controlled beachballs they’re using this year.

Halftime. A nice half for Ecuador, althoug a mere 1 goal lead is no dire circumstance for the Poles. What are your thoughts on the first half?

I should say that, after my dig at El Tin earlier, that he did get the assist on Tenorio’s goal. My apologies Tin!

45:00 That’s the first stanza. Ecuador 1-0 Poland.

44:48 Another corner for Poland, even though it was probably a goal kick situation. Punched out by Mora.

43:33 Mora gets a talking to from the ref for time wasting. no card, though.

41:56 Ecuador still looking calm and cool after their jittery opening. But here’s a free kick for Poland, which results in a corner. A close call for Mora, but a goal kick is set.

41:29 Nearing halftime. The Polish fans in the audience aren’t very pleased. A goal given up now by Ecuador could be really demoralizing.

39:45 Still 1-0 Ecuador. Ecuador back on the counterattack.

39:02 To answer, I thought the face paint was Ecuador’s colors. Could be mistaken.

38:00 Poland on the attack now. Throw in near the Ecua goal. Dangerous ball, but cleared for now.

36:40 Free kick taken by Edison Mendez. The ref chats with the wall. Nice shot, but gathered by the keeper after a weird bounce.

35:57 Smolarek gets a yellow for challenging Edwin Tenorio.

35:21 “Ecuador in command” says the announcer.

34:25 Carlos Tenorio is everywhere for Ecuador. Where is El Tin today? Besides missing sitters?

33:25 Still fairly even play, although Ecuador has evened out the time of possession.

32:30 A corner for Ecuador. Header goes wide; goal kick for Poland.

31:19 I just noticed that Ecua keeper Mora is wearing face paint. Cool. i’m sure FIFA will convene at halftime to outlaw such shows of patriotism and exuberance.

30:47 Yelloow card for Ecua Capt. Ivan Hurtado for a bad tackle.

30:00 Free kick for Ecuador. Hurtado goes short with it. Poles get possession.

28:58 Ecuador out-shooting Poland 4-1. Still, El Tin really missed a sitter there. SHould be 2-0. But it’s still 1-0.

27:10 Delgado missed a six yarder. Sooo close!

26:20 Some nice possession play for Ecuador. Ecuas look a little emboldened by the goal. 1-0 Ecuador.

25:06 I would mention that I predicted that Carlos Tenorio would score first in this match, but that just seems like bragging, doesn’t it?

23:44 GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!!! Super Teno!!!!! Carlos Tenorio with a great header off of a de la Cruz throw in. 1-0 Ecuador

21:20 Free kick for Ecuador 15 yards past midfield. C. Tenorio nearly squeezes through, but a push was called.

20:10 Poland still getting the most possession, but it’s mostly back and forth. Aren’t we supposed to have 3 goals by now in this match?

19:06 Awesome tackle by Espinoza. Ecuas on the counter attack.

18:03 Free kick for Poland, knocked out by Ecuador for a Polish corner kick.

17:00 A dangerous run by C. Tenorio, but the keeper collects. Bak not playing too well for the Poles in the back. As it were.

16:14 A quick Poland run ends in a goalkick for Ecuador.

15:30 The announcers are still talking about the new ball. At least no one is saying “roundier” anymore.

13:45 Free kick for Poland in a dangerous position. Taking their sweet time. Waaaay over the goal.

13:21 A lot of time being spent in the midfield. Still 0-0.

12:21 Sobolewski greets Carlos Tenorio in kind. Ouch.

11:05 Ebi makes a nice play for the Poles headed toward the Ecua goal, but eventually kicks it out of bounds for a throw in.

10:24 Another nice shot by Castillo for Ecuador, bur Boruc brings it in without trouble. Still 0-0.

9:15 Ecuador is the Denver Broncos of soccer, we are told. Okay. Ecuador are now gaining some more control. Looks pretty even right now.

8:15 Carlos Tenorio’s elbow finds the Polish captain.

7:35 Ecuador need to push the ball up more down the sides. Did I mention those yellow boots? Style!

6:25 Poland win the first corner of the match, after a nice run. Punched out by Mora. Poland still threatening, and then it’s cleared.

5:30: Valencia’s shot goes wide left after a nice run.

4:22: Tommy Smyth just used the word “roundier.”

3:00: Poland have controlled the ball early, though no chances have developed.

1:26: We’re under way in Glesenkirchen. Several Ecuas are wearing bright yellow boots. Very bright yellow.

0:00: And we’re off!

This Summary is brought to you by :http://www.worldcupblog.org/

Germany wins 4-2 to kick off the start of the 2006 World Cup.