2006 World Cup: Group Stage Trivia Quiz

Answer: Portugal

The other three countries ended up with two wins and a draw. Argentina fought out a tense 0-0 draw with Netherlands, which suited them more than the Dutch, as it allowed them to stay top of their group. England and Italy did their level best to self-destruct against Sweden and the USA, respectively. England's overconfidence against their bogey team, Sweden, whom they have not beaten since 1968, came back to haunt them. Neither Italy nor the USA were helped in a match where referee Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay) seemed to think everyone had switched on to watch him!

Answer: Joe Cole

Joe Cole scored with a beautiful volley from outside the area that the Swedish goalie could only push onto the post as it went in. Gerrard scored the second English goal of the same game. Crouch scored in England's win against Trinidad & Tobago. Robinson was the goalie and he didn't score at all!

Answer: Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago achieved a fantastic 0-0 draw against Sweden in their first match, then lost 2-0 to England and by the same scoreline to Paraguay in their final match. Togo took the lead aginst South Korea in their opening match, but eventually lost 2-1.

It was the only goal they scored. Angola, another country to score just one goal, took the lead against Iran in their final match, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. As for Iran, they scored two goals in the group stage, the equaliser against Angola, and a goal in their opening match against Mexico.

Answer: England

Paraguay's Carlos Gamarra took just three minutes to give England the lead in their opening group stage match. It was to prove costly, as it was the only goal of the game.

Answer: Ukraine

Ukraine were appearing for the first time. It was the first time they had qualified since separating from the Soviet Union. Switzerland had been in seven Finals tournaments prior to 2006, ranging from 1934-1994. Similarly, Paraguay had been in six, between 1930 and 2002. Tunisia first appeared in 1978, and have represented Africa at the previous two World Cups.

Answer: 18

Eighteen players received red cards. Of these, four countries had two players sent off: Czech Republic, Serbia & Montenegro, USA and Croatia. The USA and Croatia each had their two players sent off in the same match, for USA in the match against Italy, and for Croatia, in the match against Australia.

Answer: Czech Republic

Prior to the tournament, the Czech Republic were ranked 2nd in the world. The USA were ranked 5th, Croatia 23rd, and Poland 29th.

Answer: Harry Kewell

"Haroldinho" was fortunate to escape further sanction from FIFA regarding this incident. Although Merk did not book Kewell, he included the incident in his match report, and FIFA subsequently issued a 'Please explain' to both Kewell and the FFA (Football Federation of Australia).

Whilst it was not made public what was in the statements, consensus seems to be that two points would have been highlighted. (A) The highly inconsistent interpretation of foul play, and the fact that the interpretation appeared to be differ dependent upon which team one was playing for, and (B) Merk's refusal during the match to discuss anything with the Australian captain, Mark Viduka. FIFA issued a statement saying it would take no further action regarding the incident, however, various press reports suggested this was in part due to the fact that Mark's recollection of the events were 'inconsistent'.

Answer: Ghana

Ghana committed a whopping 70 fouls in three matches! Trailing closely behind were Australia (67), Angola (67), and the Netherlands (64). Perhaps somewhat tellingly, three of these four countries progressed to the round of 16. As a matter of interest, Oguchi Onyewu of the USA was the player who committed the most fouls, 11 in three matches.

Answer: Iran

Iran had players fouled 61 times. Mexico had 60, with Portugal and Italy 59 each. Interesting pattern, all of these countries have green and red on their flags. If there is more to that observation that it being a waste of space, please let me know! Ironically, Ghana were fouled the least number of times (35). It is ironic because they committed the most.

As a matter of interest, Luis Figo of Portugal was the player who was taken down the most - 16 times in three matches.

Answer: Croatia vs Australia

In the Croatia vs Australia match, Croatian defender Josip Simunic was awarded a yellow card for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Then, in the 90th minute, he received a second yellow for dangerous play. Astonishingly, English referee Graham Poll did not send him off, despite the oversight being pointed out to him by Australian captain Mark Viduka.

In the dying seconds of added time, Simunic blotted his copybook again, and was duly sent off, at the same time that Mr Poll ended both the match, and according to a number of press reports, any chance he had of being considered to officiate at the Final.

Interesting side note, Josip Simunic was born in Australia.

Answer: Nine

Goalkeepers beware! The referees were not only card happy, there was an average of one penalty kick awarded for every 3 matches played.

Answer: Avery John (Trinidad & Tobago)

It was Avery John. He was dismissed in the 46th minute of his country's opening game, a 0-0 draw against Sweden, after picking up his second yellow card following a challenge on Christian Wilhelmsson.

Answer: Yes

Carlos Tenorio of Ecuador scored with headers against Poland and Costa Rica. Nineteen other players scored with their head during the group stage.

Answer: USA

Eddie Lewis started in the USA's matches against the Czech Republic and Ghana, and was an unused substitute against Italy.

Answer: Six

Six goals were scored in two different matches. Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in the opening match of the tournament. Argentina defeated Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 seven days later.

Answer: Sweden vs Trinidad & Tobago

The Sweden vs Trinidad & Tobago match finished 0-0, so an own goal was impossible. As for the other three matches, Carlos Gamarra of Paraguay scored for England, Christian Zaccardo of Italy scored for the USA, and Brent Sancho of Trinidad & Tobago scored for Paraguay.

Answer: Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill knocked the ball in following a goalmouth scramble in the 83rd minute of Australia's opening match against Japan, thereby equalising Japan's first half opener. Cahill followed up a few minutes later with a shot from outside the area that went in off both posts. John Aloisi then rounded off the scoring with an individual run and finish, all of this happening within the final seven minutes of the game.

Answer: Miroslav Klose (Germany)

Miroslav scored 2 goals against both Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Answer: No

In the end, all of the groups had at least a two point buffer between 2nd and 3rd place, with the exception of Group G, where France ended on 5 points and South Korea on 4.

Answer: Four

Ukraine were involved in both occurrences. Spain defeated Ukraine 4-0 in the opening match of Group H. Ukraine bounced back and defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their second game, and followed that up with another win against Tunisia in the final game to qualify for the round of 16.

Answer: Frankfurt

The match was played at Frankfurt's Waldstadion. An entertaining match, it was very even right down to the statistics. Twelve shots each, no goals each, each keeper made six saves, and possession was 50% apiece.

Answer: Five

Five matches ended in a stalemate: Trinidad & Tobago vs Sweden, France vs Switzerland, Mexico vs Angola, Japan vs Croatia, and Netherlands vs Argentina.

Answer: Serbia & Montenegro

Serbia & Montenegro led the way with 10, not at all helped by conceding six in the match against Argentina. They came into the tournament with the enviable record of having given up just one goal during all of their qualifying matches! For the record, Costa Rica let in nine, and Japan and Saudi Arabia, seven apiece.

Answer: Nigeria

Nigeria was ranked 11th, Denmark 12th, Turkey 14th, and Cameroon 15th.