Aaron ThomasAnyone looking to lay down a bet on the World Cup might might be interested
in knowing that Electronic Arts declared the Czech Republic winner of the 2006
FIFA World Cup by using simulating the tourney with the 2006 FIFA World Cup
videogame. Here's what transpired:
World Champion: Czech Republic
World Cup Final:
Czech Republic 2 Brazil 1
1st team to be eliminated:
Ecuador
Golden Shoe winner:
Milan Baros, Czech Republic (7 goals)
Golden Ball winner:
Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic
The final saw the Czech Republic ultimately winning 2-1 to capture its first
World Cup. Goals from Ronaldo and Tomas Rosicky kept the game tied 1-1 going
into the second half. The difference between the teams was Czech forward Pavel
Nedved, who unlocked a weaker Brazilian backline in the 77th minute for Milan
Baros to score his sixth goal of the tournament, and secure the trophy for the
Czechs.
Iin the rest of the action, England was beaten by Germany in the Round of
Sixteen. The host country then went on to meet eventual champion Czech Republic
in one semifinal. The Czech team, inspired by Nedved in his final tournament as
an international player, halted the German advance with a 2-1 victory, with
Nedved getting on to the scoresheet.
The only penalty shoot-out of the tournament was at the end of a classic clash
between Brazil and Argentina in the other semifinal. With result locked at 2-2
at the end of extra time, the freshly substituted Robinho was the man of the
moment to hammer home the winning goal after Juan Riquelme shot wide for
Argentina’s final penalty.
The biggest tournament upsets were Italy and Portugal being knocked out in the
group stages.
The surprise team of the tournament was Costa Rica who recorded their greatest
finish in World Cup history by reaching the quarterfinals. One-time English
Premiership player Paolo Wanchope established himself as a favorite for
supporters from every nation with his creative passing and a handful of stunning
goals securing wins against Poland and Ecuador along the way.
Team USA managed wins over Italy (3-2) and Ghana (2-0) and tied the Czech
Republic in the difficult Group E before its luck ran out against the powerful
Brazilian side in the Round of 16. USA opened the tournament with a 2-2 tie
against eventual champion Czech Republic when DeMarcus Beasley scored the
game-tying goal in the 84th minute against the run of play. USA trailed 2-1
early in the second half after Nedved put the Czechs out in front. Brian McBride
scored the other goal for USA. Beasley’s game-tying goal created momentum for
the U.S. against the Italian side. USA led 2-1 at the half on goals by Eddie
Lewis and Eddie Johnson but Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero notched his second goal
to tie the game in the 60th minute. USA pressed forward and counted the winner
off of the foot of Landon Donovan in the 72nd minute. Donovan and Beasley both
counted goals for USA and Kasey Keller earned the shutout in the 2-0 win over
Ghana that sent the American side onto to play Brazil.
