View source for 2006 FIFA World Cup Group A

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}

Group A of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] was one of eight groups in the opening round of the tournament. The group featured four teams, competition hosts [[Germany national football team|Germany]], [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]]. Play began on 9 June with the first game of the tournament between Germany and Costa Rica, with the former attaining a 4–2 victory in the highest scoring opening game in World Cup history since the competition introduced a single game opener. Later the same day, Poland and Ecuador faced each other, with Ecuador winning 2–0. On 14 June, Germany secured their second victory of the competition, defeating Poland 1–0 following [[Oliver Neuville]]'s [[injury time]] goal. The following day, Ecuador defeated Costa Rica 3–0 to guarantee both they and Germany would advance to the round of 16.

The final set of matches was played on 20 June 2006. Germany and Ecuador contested the top place in the group, with the hosts winning 3–0. With both sides already eliminated, Poland defeated Costa Rica 2–1 to claim their only victory of the competition. Ecuador were eliminated in the following round by [[England national football team|England]] while Germany reached the semi-finals before being defeated by eventual winners [[Italy national football team|Italy]]. Germany finished third after beating [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in the third place playoff match.

==Background==
Group A was the first of eight groups to start play at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] in Germany. The competition consisted of 32 competitors, split into eight groups of four teams. The sides would play each other on a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin basis]] with the top two teams in each group advancing to the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19085.pdf |title=Regulations 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany| publisher=FIFA |accessdate=9 January 2023}}</ref>

As hosts, three-time World Cup winners [[Germany national football team|Germany]] qualified automatically for the tournament and were placed into Group A.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com:80/releases/uefa_draw_procedure_en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407120638/http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/releases/uefa_draw_procedure_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2005 |title=European Zone Draw for the Preliminary Competition |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=24 December 2017 }}</ref> Manager [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] had been appointed in 2004, but due to qualifying as hosts, had yet to take charge of his side in a competitive fixture.<ref name="gerguide">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/team_guides/4369052.stm |title=Germany Team Guide |work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> His team were considered one of the favourites to win the competition with [[bookmakers]] offering odds of around 13/2,<ref name="tga303">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2T0ZD5S86QC&dq=2006+world+cup+odds&pg=PA303 |title=The Global Art of Soccer |publisher=CusiBoy Publishing |last=Witzig |first=Richard |year=2006 |page=303 |isbn=9780977668809}}</ref> but had received criticism in the country, notably from [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] general manager [[Uli Hoeneß]] who had labelled the side "a disaster".<ref name="gerguide"/> [[CONCACAF]] members [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] endured a poor start to qualifying, narrowly avoiding an upset defeat against [[Cuba national football team|Cuba]] in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF second round|second qualifying round]],<ref>{{harvnb|Lewis|2006|p=285}}</ref> before appointing [[Alexandre Guimarães]] as manager midway through the stage. They qualified for the tournament after finishing third in their [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round|qualification round]], reaching the finals for the third time in their history.<ref name="crcguide">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/team_guides/4369308.stm |title=Costa Rica Team Guide |work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> However, they were classed as rank outsiders to win the competition, with odds as high as 500/1 being offered.<ref name="tga303"/>

To provide an even number of teams for the playoff bracket, the two teams from the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|UEFA qualification groups]] who had finished second in their group with the best record automatically gained qualification to the World Cup. [[Poland national football team|Poland]], who finished second in [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 6|UEFA qualification Group 6]] behind [[England national football team|England]], were one of the teams who were eligible, along with [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/01ae-0f847aff7079-cae797822448-1000--trio-share-in-final-day-joy/ |title=Trio share in final-day joy |publisher=UEFA |date=13 October 2005 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> Ecuador qualified after finishing in the third of four automatic qualification places in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL qualifying group]] behind [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/international/south-america/wc-qualifying-south-america/2006-germany/group-stage/r1518/ |title=World Cup Qualification South America |publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lewis|2006|p=298}}</ref> reaching the finals for only the second time. Similar to Costa Rica, Ecuador were given low odds of around 400/1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/team_guides/4369186.stm |title=Ecuador Team Guide |work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> In their preview of the tournament, ''[[The Guardian]]'' labelled Group A as the "weakest" in the competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/05/worldcup2006.sport3 |title=Costa Rica |newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 June 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref>

===Teams===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2| Draw position
!rowspan=2| Team
!rowspan=2| Confederation
!rowspan=2| Method of<br />qualification
!rowspan=2| Date of<br />qualification
!rowspan=2| Finals<br />appearance
!rowspan=2| Last<br />appearance
!rowspan=2| Previous best<br />performance
!colspan=2| [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA Rankings]]
|-
! November 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eu.download.yahoo.com/fifa/fu/finaldrawpot1.pdf |title=Final Draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526034159/http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eu.download.yahoo.com/fifa/fu/finaldrawpot1.pdf |archivedate=26 May 2006|publisher=FIFA Communications Division|date=26 May 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> {{refn|group=nb|The rankings of November 2005 were used for [[2006 FIFA World Cup seeding|seeding for the final draw]] along with performance at previous World Cups.}}
! June 2006
|-
| A1 ''(seed)'' || style=white-space:nowrap | {{fb|GER}} || [[UEFA]] || {{hs|*}} Hosts || 6 July 2000 || data-sort-value="20" | 16th || [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] || data-sort-value="7.5" | '''Winners''' ([[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 16 || 19
|-
| A2 || style=white-space:nowrap | {{fb|CRC}} || [[CONCACAF]] || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round|CONCACAF fourth round]] third place || 8 October 2005 || data-sort-value="4" | 3rd || [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] || data-sort-value="5.1" | Round of 16 ([[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]) || 21 || 26
|-
| A3 || style=white-space:nowrap | {{fb|POL}} || [[UEFA]] || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round|Best placed UEFA group runners-up]] || 13 October 2005 || data-sort-value="15" | 7th || [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] || data-sort-value="3.3" | Third place ([[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]) || 23 || 29
|-
| A4 || style=white-space:nowrap | {{fb|ECU|1900}} || [[CONMEBOL]] || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] third place || 8 October 2005 || data-sort-value="7" | 2nd || [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] || data-sort-value="3.1" | Group stage ([[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]) || 37 || 39
|}

;Notes
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Standings==
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL|section=standings
|update=complete
|source=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/groups/index.html FIFA]
|teamwidth=200

|team1=GER
|team2=ECU
|team3=POL
|team4=CRC

|result1=KO
|result2=KO

|class_rules=[[2006 FIFA World Cup#Ranking criteria|Tie-breaking criteria]]

|win_GER=3 |draw_GER=0 |loss_GER=0 |gf_GER=8 |ga_GER=2 |status_GER=H
|win_ECU=2 |draw_ECU=0 |loss_ECU=1 |gf_ECU=5 |ga_ECU=3
|win_POL=1 |draw_POL=0 |loss_POL=2 |gf_POL=2 |ga_POL=4
|win_CRC=0 |draw_CRC=0 |loss_CRC=3 |gf_CRC=3 |ga_CRC=9

|name_GER={{fb|GER}}
|name_ECU={{fb|ECU|1900}}
|name_POL={{fb|POL}}
|name_CRC={{fb|CRC}}
|res_col_header=Q
|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to [[2006 FIFA World Cup#Knockout stage|knockout stage]]
}}</onlyinclude>

*[[Germany national football team|Germany]] advanced to play [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] (runners-up of [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group B|Group B]]) in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Germany vs Sweden|round of 16]].
* [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] advanced to play [[England national football team|England]] (winners of [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group B|Group B]]) in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#England vs Ecuador|round of 16]].

==Matches==
''All times local ([[Central European Summer Time|CEST/UTC+2]])''

===Germany vs Costa Rica===
[[File:WC 2006 - Germany v Costa Rica - teams.jpg|upright|thumb|Germany and Costa Rica line-up ahead of the opening match of the World Cup]]
The opening match of Group A, and the World Cup, was between hosts Germany and Costa Rica.<ref name="GerCrc">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852498.stm|title = Germany 4–2 Costa Rica|date = 9 June 2006|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> This was the first time the two sides had ever played each other in international football.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/germany/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Costa%20Rica/ |title=Germany national football team: record v Costa Rica |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> Germany captain [[Michael Ballack]] was forced to withdraw from the starting line-up after failing to overcome an injury and was replaced by [[Tim Borowski]].<ref name="g1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/10/worldcup2006.sport11 |title=Klose double carries Germany to a joyous victory |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Williams |first=Richard |date=10 June 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2023}}</ref> Defender [[Philipp Lahm]] gave Germany the lead after six minutes with a 30-yard curling shot from outside the penalty area that beat opposition goalkeeper [[José Porras]] and was described as "unstoppable" by the [[BBC]].<ref name="GerCrc"/><ref name="g1"/> In doing so, Lahm became the fourth German player to have opened the scoring at a World Cup. Germany had further long range efforts soon after, before Costa Rica's [[Paulo Wanchope]], already his country's record goalscorer,<ref name="crcguide"/> equalised after 12 minutes after breaching the German defence and finishing past goalkeeper [[Jens Lehmann]]. Wanchope's goal saw him become the first Costa Rican player to have scored in more than one World Cup and the second to have scored more than one World Cup goal after [[Rónald Gómez]] four years earlier.<ref name="GerCrc"/>

Germany regained their lead five minutes later when [[Miroslav Klose]] finished from [[Bernd Schneider (footballer)|Bernd Schneider]]'s cross. Costa Rica's [[Danny Fonseca]] became the first player to be booked in the competition after 30 minutes and the midfielder missed a chance to equalise shortly after half-time, heading wide despite being unmarked.<ref name="GerCrc"/><ref name="g1"/> Klose netted his second goal just after the hour-mark, putting in the rebound after his own header was parried by Porras. However, after 12 minutes Costa Rica again cut the deficit with Wanchope again scoring past Lehmann with a composed finish after receiving a cross from [[Walter Centeno]], although the German players believed Wanchope was offside. The Germans sealed victory three minutes from time with [[Torsten Frings]] firing in a long-range shot that beat Porras in similar fashion to Lahm's goal.<ref name="GerCrc"/> The six goals scored during the match made it the highest-scoring opening game in World Cup history since the tournament began using the single opening match format.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-costa-rica-09-june-2006-273710/ |title=Germany v Costa Rica, 09 June 2006 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/world-cup-2022-every-world-cup-opening-game-this-century |title=World Cup 2022: Every World Cup opening game this century |publisher=FourFourTwo |last=Hancock |first=Tom |date=20 November 2022 |accessdate=9 January 2023}}</ref>

{{football box
| date = 9 June 2006
| time = 18:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|GER}}
| score = 4–2
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410001?date=2006-06-09/ Report]
| team2 = {{fb|CRC}}
| goals1 = *[[Philipp Lahm|Lahm]] {{goal|6}}
*[[Miroslav Klose|Klose]] {{goal|17||61}}
*[[Torsten Frings|Frings]] {{goal|87}}
| goals2 = *[[Paulo Wanchope|Wanchope]] {{goal|12||73}}
| stadium = [[Allianz Arena]], Munich
| attendance = 66,000
| referee = [[Horacio Elizondo]] ([[Argentine Football Association|Argentina]])
| event = 
| round = 
| score1 = 
| score2 = 
}}

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{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Jens Lehmann]]
|-
|RB ||'''3''' ||[[Arne Friedrich]]
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Per Mertesacker]]
|-
|CB ||'''21'''||[[Christoph Metzelder]]
|-
|LB ||'''16'''||[[Philipp Lahm]]
|-
|RM ||'''19'''||[[Bernd Schneider (football)|Bernd Schneider]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || || {{suboff|90+1}}
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Torsten Frings]]
|-
|CM ||'''18'''||[[Tim Borowski]] || || {{suboff|72}}
|-
|LM ||'''7''' ||[[Bastian Schweinsteiger]]
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Miroslav Klose]] || || {{suboff|79}}
|-
|CF ||'''20'''||[[Lukas Podolski]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|MF ||'''5''' ||[[Sebastian Kehl]] || || {{subon|72}}
|-
|FW ||'''10'''||[[Oliver Neuville]] || || {{subon|79}}
|-
|MF ||'''22'''||[[David Odonkor]] || || {{subon|90+1}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Jürgen Klinsmann]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:GER-CRC 2006-06-09.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''18'''||[[José Porras]]
|-
|RB ||'''5''' ||[[Gilberto Martínez]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Michael Umaña]]
|-
|CB ||'''20'''||[[Douglas Sequeira]]
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Luis Marín Murillo|Luis Marín]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|LB ||'''12'''||[[Leonardo González (Costa Rican footballer)|Leonardo González]]
|-
|CM ||'''6''' ||[[Danny Fonseca]] || {{yel|30}}
|-
|CM ||'''10'''||[[Walter Centeno]]
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Mauricio Solís]] || || {{suboff|78}}
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Rónald Gómez]] || || {{suboff|90+1}}
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Paulo Wanchope]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|DF ||'''2''' ||[[Jervis Drummond]] || || {{subon|66}}
|-
|MF ||'''7''' ||[[Christian Bolaños]] || || {{subon|78}}
|-
|MF ||'''14'''||[[Randall Azofeifa]] || || {{subon|90+1}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Alexandre Guimarães]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Germany wins, 4-2 over Costa Rica in first World Cup match}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Miroslav Klose]] (Germany)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referee]]:'''
<br />Darío García ([[Argentine Football Association|Argentina]])
<br />Rodolfo Otero ([[Argentine Football Association|Argentina]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />Carlos Chandía ([[Football Federation of Chile|Chile]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Cristian Julio ([[Football Federation of Chile|Chile]])
|}

===Poland vs Ecuador===
Poland and Ecuador had previously met once before their opening World Cup match, playing out a 1–1 draw during a [[Exhibition match|friendly]] in November 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/poland/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Ecuador/ |title=Poland national football team: record v Ecuador |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises|accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> The Poles pressed the attack for the opening 20 minutes of the match, but were unable to create any significant chances. 24 minutes in, Ecuador took the lead when [[Carlos Tenorio]] got ahead of [[Marcin Baszczyński]] to head in after teammate [[Agustín Delgado]] had nodded the ball towards him from a long throw.<ref name="PolEcu">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852548.stm |title=Poland 0–2 Ecuador|work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2006 |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="g2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/10/worldcup2006.sport31 |title=Delgado proves a saint for Ecuador with a flick and a strike to finish Poland |newspaper=The Guardian|last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=10 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}</ref> Tenorio became only the third player to have scored a World Cup goal for Ecuador after Delgado and [[Édison Méndez]]. Buoyed by their goal, Ecuador took control of the game and had several chances before the end of the first half but failed to convert.<ref name="PolEcu"/> However, Poland had struggled to make an impression and Jon Brodkin of ''The Guardian'' noted that they had "forced not a single meaningful save" from the opposition goalkeeper.<ref name="g2"/> 

In the second half, Poland began pushing forward with [[Mirosław Szymkowiak]] creating several near chances, the best of which sent [[Jacek Krzynówek]] through before being called offside.<ref name="g2"/> In the final third of the game, Poland were denied by the woodwork twice; first when [[Ireneusz Jeleń]] struck the crossbar with a shot and later when [[Paweł Brożek]] hit the post. Despite their attacking threat, it was Ecuador who were able to score when [[Iván Kaviedes]] broke through before laying the ball off for Delgado to give his side a 2–0 lead.<ref name="PolEcu"/> Delgado's goal made him his country's record World Cup goalscorer, which he would remain until being surpassed by [[Enner Valencia]] at the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/qatar-v-ecuador-20-november-2022-376095/ |title=Qatar v Ecuador, 20 November 2022 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> This match was the fifth consecutive time that Poland had failed to score in their opening match at a World Cup finals.<ref name="PolEcu"/>

{{football box
| date = 9 June 2006
| time = 21:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|POL}}
| score = 0–2
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410002?date=2006-06-09 Report]
| team2 = {{fb|ECU|1900}}
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = *[[Carlos Tenorio|C. Tenorio]] {{goal|24}}
*[[Agustín Delgado|Delgado]] {{goal|80}}
| stadium = [[Arena AufSchalke]], Gelsenkirchen<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
| attendance = 52,000
| referee = [[Toru Kamikawa]] ([[Japan Football Association|Japan]])
| event = 
| round = 
| score1 = 
| score2 = 
}}

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{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Artur Boruc]]
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Marcin Baszczyński]]
|-
|CB ||'''2''' ||[[Mariusz Jop]]
|-
|CB ||'''6''' ||[[Jacek Bąk]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|LB ||'''14'''||[[Michał Żewłakow]]
|-
|RM ||'''15'''||[[Ebi Smolarek]] || {{yel|37}}
|-
|CM ||'''16'''||[[Arkadiusz Radomski]]
|-
|CM ||'''7''' ||[[Radosław Sobolewski]] || || {{suboff|67}}
|-
|LM ||'''10'''||[[Mirosław Szymkowiak]]
|-
|CF ||'''8''' ||[[Jacek Krzynówek]] || || {{suboff|78}}
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Maciej Żurawski]] || || {{suboff|83}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''21'''||[[Ireneusz Jeleń]] || || {{subon|67}}
|-
|MF ||'''5''' ||[[Kamil Kosowski]] || || {{subon|78}}
|-
|FW ||'''23'''||[[Paweł Brożek]] || || {{subon|83}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Paweł Janas]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:POL-ECU 2006-06-09.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''12'''||[[Cristian Mora]]
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Ulises de la Cruz]]
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Iván Hurtado]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|31}} || {{suboff|69}}
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Giovanny Espinoza]]
|-
|LB ||'''18'''||[[Neicer Reasco]]
|-
|RM ||'''16'''||[[Antonio Valencia]]
|-
|CM ||'''14'''||[[Segundo Castillo (footballer, born 1982)|Segundo Castillo]]
|-
|CM ||'''20'''||[[Edwin Tenorio]]
|-
|LM ||'''8''' ||[[Édison Méndez]] || {{yel|70}}
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Agustín Delgado]] || || {{suboff|83}}
|-
|CF ||'''21'''||[[Carlos Tenorio]] || || {{suboff|65}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''10'''||[[Iván Kaviedes]] || || {{subon|65}}
|-
|DF ||'''2''' ||[[Jorge Guagua]] || || {{subon|69}}
|-
|MF ||'''6''' ||[[Patricio Urrutia]] || || {{subon|83}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Flagicon|COL}} [[Luis Fernando Suárez]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Ecuador beats Poland, 2-0 in Group A}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Agustín Delgado]] (Ecuador)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />Yoshikazu Hiroshima ([[Japan Football Association|Japan]])
<br />Kim Dae-young ([[Korea Football Association|Korea Republic]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />[[Ľuboš Micheľ]] ([[Slovak Football Association|Slovakia]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Roman Slyško ([[Slovak Football Association|Slovakia]])
|}

===Germany vs Poland===
This was the 15th international meeting between Germany and Poland since 1933 and their third in World Cup competition, having previously met at both the [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] and [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978 World Cup]] finals, with Germany having never lost to their opponents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/germany/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Poland/ |title=Germany national football team: record v Poland |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises|accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> The Germans, with captain Ballack restored to the starting line-up in place of Borowski,<ref name="g3">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/15/worldcup2006.match2 |title=Heartbreak for Poles as Neuville grabs last-gasp winner |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=15 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}</ref> dominated play and had a number of chances in the first half, with both Klose and his strike partner [[Lukas Podolski]] failing to convert more than one chance each. Poland's best chance came early on when [[Maciej Żurawski]] sent a scuffed shot towards Lehmann which was easily gathered.<ref name="g3"/><ref name="GerPol"/>

During the second half Poland threatened with Jelen testing Lehmann early and Poland offered more attacking threat in the opening period. Germany also continued to push forward and forced Poland goalkeeper [[Artur Boruc]] into several saves, while both Klose and Ballack were denied by the frame of the goal during the same attack. With 15 minutes remaining, Polish midfielder [[Radosław Sobolewski]] was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Klose. In the last seconds of [[injury time]], German substitutes [[David Odonkor]] and [[Oliver Neuville]] combined, the latter converting a cross from his teammate to secure a 1–0 victory, the first time Germany had ever won a World Cup game through an injury time goal.<ref name="GerPol">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852960.stm |title=Germany 1–0 Poland |work=BBC Sport |date=14 June 2006 |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> The win marked the first time Germany had beaten another European nation at a major international competition since defeating the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] in the [[UEFA Euro 1996 final]].<ref name="g3"/>

{{football box
| date = 14 June 2006
| time = 21:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|GER}}
| score = 1–0
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410017?date=2006-06-14 Report]
| team2 = {{fb|POL}}
| goals1 = *[[Oliver Neuville|Neuville]] {{goal|90+1}}
| goals2 = 
| stadium = [[Westfalenstadion]], Dortmund<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
| attendance = 65,000
| referee = [[Luis Medina Cantalejo]] ([[Royal Spanish Football Federation|Spain]])
| event = 
| round = 
| score1 = 
| score2 = 
}}

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|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Jens Lehmann]]
|-
|RB ||'''3''' ||[[Arne Friedrich]] || || {{suboff|64}}
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Per Mertesacker]]
|-
|CB ||'''21'''||[[Christoph Metzelder]] || {{yel|70}}
|-
|LB ||'''16'''||[[Philipp Lahm]]
|-
|RM ||'''19'''||[[Bernd Schneider (football)|Bernd Schneider]]
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Torsten Frings]]
|-
|CM ||'''13'''||[[Michael Ballack]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|58}}
|-
|LM ||'''7''' ||[[Bastian Schweinsteiger]] || || {{suboff|77}}
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Miroslav Klose]]
|-
|CF ||'''20'''||[[Lukas Podolski]] || || {{suboff|71}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|MF ||'''22'''||[[David Odonkor]] || {{yel|68}} || {{subon|64}}
|-
|FW ||'''10'''||[[Oliver Neuville]] || || {{subon|71}}
|-
|MF ||'''18'''||[[Tim Borowski]] || || {{subon|77}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Jürgen Klinsmann]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:GER-POL 2006-06-14.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Artur Boruc]] || {{yel|89}}
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Marcin Baszczyński]]
|-
|CB ||'''19'''||[[Bartosz Bosacki]]
|-
|CB ||'''6''' ||[[Jacek Bąk]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|LB ||'''14'''||[[Michał Żewłakow]] || || {{suboff|83}}
|-
|CM ||'''7''' ||[[Radosław Sobolewski]] || {{sent off|2|28|75}}
|-
|CM ||'''16'''||[[Arkadiusz Radomski]]
|-
|RW ||'''21'''||[[Ireneusz Jeleń]] || || {{suboff|90+1}}
|-
|AM ||'''9''' ||[[Maciej Żurawski]]
|-
|LW ||'''8''' ||[[Jacek Krzynówek]] || {{yel|3}} || {{suboff|77}}
|-
|CF ||'''15'''||[[Ebi Smolarek]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|DF ||'''18'''||[[Mariusz Lewandowski]] || || {{subon|77}}
|-
|DF ||'''17'''||[[Dariusz Dudka]] || || {{subon|83}}
|-
|FW ||'''23'''||[[Paweł Brożek]] || || {{subon|90+1}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Paweł Janas]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Germany beat Poland and top Group A}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Philipp Lahm]] (Germany)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />Victoriano Giráldez Carrasco ([[Royal Spanish Football Federation|Spain]])
<br />Pedro Medina Hernández ([[Royal Spanish Football Federation|Spain]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />[[Khalil Al Ghamdi]] ([[Saudi Arabia Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Fathi Arabati ([[Jordan Football Association|Jordan]])
|}

===Ecuador vs Costa Rica===
This was the ninth meeting between Ecuador and Costa Rica, but the first in a competitive fixture. Costa Rica had not beaten their opponents since the first meeting between the two in 1992 and defeat would eliminate them from the finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/costa-rica/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Ecuador/ |title=Costa Rica national football team: record v Ecuador |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises|accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="EcuCrc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852984.stm |title=Ecuador 3–0 Costa Rica |work=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2006 |accessdate=4 January 2023}}</ref> Ecuador manager [[Luis Fernando Suárez]] deliberately left his squad announcement until the latest time allowed, noting that he aimed to "not give any clues to our rivals". Costa Rica were forced to omit fullback [[Gilberto Martínez]] due to injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/15/worldcup2006.sport19 |title=Ecuador play waiting game at the gate of history |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Garcia-Bennett |first=Cynthia |date=15 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}</ref> His side started brightly but Tenorio gave Ecuador an early lead, heading in from [[Antonio Valencia]]'s cross after eight minutes for his second goal of the tournament. Costa Rica struggled to threaten their opponent's goal, registering their first shot on target after 39 minutes as Ecuador controlled possession.<ref name="g4">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/16/worldcup2006.match |title=Ecstatic Ecuador soar into second phase |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Ennis |first=Darren |date=15 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2006}}</ref>

Nine minutes into the second half, Ecuador doubled their lead through Delgado's second goal of the competition. Receiving a pass from Kaviedes, Delgado chested the ball down before beating Porras at his near post. Spurred into action by the second goal, Costa Rica first forced a save from [[Cristian Mora]] before [[Alvaro Saborio]] hit the crossbar. However, Ecuador sealed victory when Kaviedes added a third goal with a volley in the 92nd minute. As a result of their victory, both Ecuador and Germany were guaranteed to advance while Poland and Costa Rica were eliminated. In only their second finals, Ecuador qualified from the group stage for the first time in their history and the result remains the nation's biggest victory at a World Cup finals.<ref name="EcuCrc"/>

{{football box
| date = 15 June 2006
| time = 15:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|ECU|1900}}
| score = 3–0
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410018?date=2006-06-15 Report]
| team2 = {{fb|CRC}}
| goals1 = *[[Carlos Tenorio|C. Tenorio]] {{goal|8}}
*[[Agustín Delgado|Delgado]] {{goal|54}}
*[[Iván Kaviedes|Kaviedes]] {{goal|90+2}}
| goals2 = 
| stadium = [[Volksparkstadion]], Hamburg
| attendance = 50,000
| referee = [[Coffi Codjia]] ([[Benin Football Federation|Benin]])
| event = 
| round = 
| score1 = 
| score2 = 
}}

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|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''12'''||[[Cristian Mora]] || {{yel|60}}
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Ulises de la Cruz]] || {{yel|54}}
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Iván Hurtado]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Giovanny Espinoza]] || || {{suboff|69}}
|-
|LB ||'''18'''||[[Neicer Reasco]]
|-
|RM ||'''16'''||[[Antonio Valencia]] || || {{suboff|73}}
|-
|CM ||'''14'''||[[Segundo Castillo (footballer, born 1982)|Segundo Castillo]] || {{yel|44}}
|-
|CM ||'''20'''||[[Edwin Tenorio]]
|-
|LM ||'''8''' ||[[Édison Méndez]]
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Agustín Delgado]]
|-
|CF ||'''21'''||[[Carlos Tenorio]] || || {{suboff|46}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''10'''||[[Iván Kaviedes]] || || {{subon|46}}
|-
|DF ||'''2''' ||[[Jorge Guagua]] || || {{subon|69}}
|-
|MF ||'''6''' ||[[Patricio Urrutia]] || || {{subon|73}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Luis Fernando Suárez]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:ECU-CRC 2006-06-15.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''18'''||[[José Francisco Porras|José Porras]]
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Michael Umaña]]
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Luis Marín Murillo|Luis Marín]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|10}}
|-
|CB ||'''20'''||[[Douglas Sequeira]]
|-
|RM ||'''15'''||[[Harold Wallace]]
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Mauricio Solís]] || {{yel|28}}
|-
|CM ||'''6''' ||[[Danny Fonseca]] || || {{suboff|29}}
|-
|LM ||'''12'''||[[Leonardo González (Costa Rican footballer)|Leonardo González]] || || {{suboff|56}}
|-
|AM ||'''10'''||[[Walter Centeno]] || || {{suboff|84}}
|-
|AM ||'''11'''||[[Rónald Gómez]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Paulo Wanchope]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''19'''||[[Álvaro Saborío]] || || {{subon|29}}
|-
|MF ||'''16'''||[[Carlos Hernández Valverde|Carlos Hernández]] || || {{subon|56}}
|-
|FW ||'''13'''||[[Kurt Bernard]] || || {{subon|84}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Alexandre Guimarães]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Ecuador make short work of Costa Rica in Group A}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Agustín Delgado]] (Ecuador)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />Celestin Ntagungira ([[Rwandese Association Football Federation|Rwanda]])
<br />Aboudou Aderodjou ([[Benin Football Federation|Benin]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />[[Mohamed Guezzaz]] ([[Royal Moroccan Football Federation|Morocco]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Brahim Djezzar ([[Algerian Football Federation|Algeria]])
|}

===Ecuador vs Germany===
This was the first time that Ecuador and Germany had ever played each other.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/germany/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Ecuador/ |title=Germany national football team: record v Ecuador |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> Both teams had already qualified for the next round, with Ecuador ahead on goal difference ahead of the game. Germany fielded a full strength side, but were forced to deny the presence of a rift between strike partners Klose and Podolski after the former had criticised his teammate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30264163.html |title=Klose: No rift with strike partner |newspaper=Irish Examiner |date=20 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="g5">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/20/worldcup2006.match4 |title=Afternoon stroll secures top spot for jubilant Germans |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Clarke |first=Gemma |date=20 June 2006 |accessdate=8 January 2023}}</ref> Ecuador instead chose to rest several first team players, including forwards Delgado and Tenorio and captain [[Iván Hurtado]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/21/worldcup2006.sport13 |title=Coach insists Ecuador must improve after weaknesses are cruelly exposed by hosts |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=21 June 2006 |accessdate=7 January 2023}}</ref> Klose gave Germany the lead after just four minutes, scoring from eight-yards after [[Bastian Schweinsteiger]] had capitalised on a failed clearance by the opposition defence to play in his teammate. His goal was the second fastest ever scored by a German player at a World Cup, coming one minute after [[Rüdiger Abramczik]]'s record in 1978. Germany continued to press and had several chances, the best being Podolski racing through before being beaten to the ball by Mora. With the goalkeeper out of his penalty area, Ballack attempted to loop the ball over Mora from 40-yards but his attempt went wide of the goal.<ref name="g5"/><ref name="EcuGer">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853270.stm |title=Ecuador 0–3 Germany |work=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2006 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> 

Klose added a second goal shortly before half-time; captain Ballack chipped the ball over the Ecuadorian defence, allowing Klose to round Mora in the opposition goal to score his fourth of the tournament. Early in the second half, Ecuador attempted to get back into the game, [[Edwin Tenorio]] forcing a save from Lehmann from 25-yards out.<ref name="g5"/> Podolski scored his first World Cup goal following a swift counterattack. Schweinsteiger's pass allowed [[Bernd Schneider (footballer)|Bernd Schneider]] to cross from which Podolski scored. With a three goal lead, Germany made several substitutions to rest key players and saw out the game to finish top of the group, the fifth consecutive time that they had done so at the World Cup finals.<ref name="EcuGer"/>

{{football box
| date = 20 June 2006
| time = 16:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|ECU|1900}}
| score = 0–3
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410033?date=2006-06-20 Report]
| team2 = {{fb|GER}}
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = *[[Miroslav Klose|Klose]] {{goal|4||44}}
*[[Lukas Podolski|Podolski]] {{goal|57}}
| stadium = [[Olympiastadion (Berlin)|Olympiastadion]], Berlin
| attendance = 72,000
| referee = [[Valentin Ivanov (footballer born 1961)|Valentin Ivanov]] ([[Russian Football Union|Russia]])
}}

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{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''12'''||[[Cristian Mora]]
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Ulises de la Cruz]]
|-
|CB ||'''2''' ||[[Jorge Guagua]]
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Giovanny Espinoza]]
|-
|LB ||'''13'''||[[Paúl Ambrosi]]
|-
|RM ||'''16'''||[[Antonio Valencia]] || {{yel|52}} || {{suboff|63}}
|-
|CM ||'''15'''||[[Marlon Ayoví]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || || {{suboff|68}}
|-
|CM ||'''20'''||[[Edwin Tenorio]]
|-
|LM ||'''8''' ||[[Édison Méndez]]
|-
|CF ||'''10'''||[[Iván Kaviedes]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Felix Borja]] || || {{suboff|46}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''23'''||[[Christian Benítez]] || || {{subon|46}}
|-
|DF ||'''7''' ||[[Christian Lara (footballer)|Christian Lara]] || || {{subon|63}}
|-
|MF ||'''6''' ||[[Patricio Urrutia]] || || {{subon|68}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Luis Fernando Suárez]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:ECU-GER 2006-06-20.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Jens Lehmann]]
|-
|RB ||'''3''' ||[[Arne Friedrich]]
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Per Mertesacker]]
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Robert Huth]]
|-
|LB ||'''16'''||[[Philipp Lahm]]
|-
|RM ||'''19'''||[[Bernd Schneider (football)|Bernd Schneider]] || || {{suboff|73}}
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Torsten Frings]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|CM ||'''13'''||[[Michael Ballack]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|LM ||'''7''' ||[[Bastian Schweinsteiger]]
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Miroslav Klose]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|CF ||'''20'''||[[Lukas Podolski]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''10'''||[[Oliver Neuville]] || || {{subon|66}}
|-
|MF ||'''18'''||[[Tim Borowski]] || {{yel|75}} || {{subon|66}}
|-
|MF ||'''14'''||[[Gerald Asamoah]] || || {{subon|73}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Jürgen Klinsmann]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Germany too hot for Ecuador in Group A}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Michael Ballack]] (Germany)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />Nikolay Golubev ([[Russian Football Union|Russia]])
<br />Evgeni Volnin ([[Russian Football Union|Russia]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />[[Kevin Stott]] ([[United States Soccer Federation|United States]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Chris Strickland ([[United States Soccer Federation|United States]])
|}

===Costa Rica vs Poland===
Poland and Costa Rica had previously met on two other occasions, both ending in victories for the Poles, but this was their first competitive fixture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/poland/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Costa%20Rica/ |title=Poland national football team: record v Costa Rica |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises|accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> With both teams already eliminated, their final match was a [[dead rubber]] played in high temperatures. Poland held the majority of possession early on but Costa Rica took the lead after 25 minutes, Gomez scoring via a direct free-kick which went through the defensive wall and the legs of Boruc who was unable to react.<ref name="CrcPol">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853276.stm |title=Costa Rica 1–2 Poland |work=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2006 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="g6">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/21/worldcup2006.match3 |title=Bosacki brings consolation of sorts as Poland silence set-piece critics |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Graham |first=Patrick |date=21 June 2006 |accessdate=8 January 2023}}</ref> However, Poland equalised eight minutes later when [[Bartosz Bosacki]] scored his first international goal and his nation's first of the competition, volleying in off the crossbar from Żurawski's corner, the Poles' sixth of the game,<ref name="g6"/> after Porras had failed to gather the ball. Bosacki added a second in the 66th minute, again from a corner, this time with a powerful header. Wanchope had a late goal ruled out for offside as the match eventually finished 2–1 to Poland. Referee [[Shamsul Maidin]] gave out 10 yellow cards during the game, the fourth highest in World Cup history at the time.<ref name="CrcPol"/>

{{football box
| date = 20 June 2006
| time = 16:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|CRC}}
| score = 1–2
| report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10172/97410034?date=2006-06-20 Report]
| team2 = {{fb|POL}}
| goals1 = *[[Rónald Gómez|Gómez]] {{goal|25}}
| goals2 = *[[Bartosz Bosacki|Bosacki]] {{goal|33||65}}
| stadium = [[Niedersachsenstadion]], Hanover<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
| attendance = 43,000
| referee = [[Shamsul Maidin]] ([[Football Association of Singapore|Singapore]])
| event = 
| round = 
| score1 = 
| score2 = 
}}

{| width=92%
|-
|{{Football kit
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 |title      = Costa Rica<ref name="kits"/><ref name="m6">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/6e21c9e3-5190-479d-bf97-1c8f82f1d466 |title=Costa Rica v Poland |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=9 January 2023}}</ref>
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|{{Football kit
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{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''18'''||[[José Francisco Porras|José Porras]]
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Michael Umaña]] || {{yel|17}}
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Luis Marín Murillo|Luis Marín]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|45+2}}
|-
|CB ||'''17'''||[[Gabriel Badilla]] || {{yel|56}}
|-
|RM ||'''2''' ||[[Jervis Drummond]] || || {{suboff|70}}
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||[[Mauricio Solís]]
|-
|CM ||'''7'''||[[Christian Bolaños]] || || {{suboff|78}}
|-
|CM ||'''10'''||[[Walter Centeno]]
|-
|LM ||'''12'''||[[Leonardo González (Costa Rican footballer)|Leonardo González]] || {{yel|76}}
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Paulo Wanchope]]
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Rónald Gómez]] || {{yel|45+2}} || {{suboff|82}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|MF ||'''15'''||[[Harold Wallace]] || || {{subon|70}}
|-
|MF ||'''19'''||[[Álvaro Saborío]] || || {{subon|78}}
|-
|MF ||'''16'''||[[Carlos Hernández Valverde|Carlos Hernández]] || || {{subon|82}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Alexandre Guimarães]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:CRC-POL 2006-06-20.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Artur Boruc]] || {{yel|90+1}}
|-
|RB ||'''4''' ||[[Marcin Baszczyński]] || {{yel|60}}
|-
|CB ||'''19'''||[[Bartosz Bosacki]]
|-
|CB ||'''6''' ||[[Jacek Bąk]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|24}}
|-
|LB ||'''14'''||[[Michał Żewłakow]] || {{yel|29}}
|-
|RM ||'''15'''||[[Ebi Smolarek]] || || {{suboff|85}}
|-
|CM ||'''16'''||[[Arkadiusz Radomski]] || {{yel|18}} || {{suboff|64}}
|-
|CM ||'''10'''||[[Mirosław Szymkowiak]]
|-
|LM ||'''8''' ||[[Jacek Krzynówek]]
|-
|CF ||'''21'''||[[Ireneusz Jeleń]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Maciej Żurawski]] || || {{suboff|46}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|FW ||'''23'''||[[Paweł Brożek]] || || {{subon|46}}
|-
|DF ||'''18'''||[[Mariusz Lewandowski]] || || {{subon|64}}
|-
|FW ||'''11'''||[[Grzegorz Rasiak]] || || {{subon|85}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Paweł Janas]]
|}
|}
{{wikinewsart|Poland win 2-1 against Costa Rica in Group A}}
{| width=50% style="font-size: 90%"
|
'''Man of the Match:'''
<br />[[Bartosz Bosacki]] (Poland)

'''[[Assistant referee (association football)|Assistant referees]]:'''
<br />Prachya Permpanich ([[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]])
<br />Eisa Gholoum ([[United Arab Emirates Football Association|United Arab Emirates]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fourth official|Fourth official]]:'''
<br />[[Jerome Damon]] ([[South African Football Association|South Africa]])
<br />'''[[Assistant referee (association football)#Fifth official|Fifth official]]:'''
<br />Justice Yeboah ([[Ghana Football Association|Ghana]])
|}

==Aftermath==
[[File:FIFA WC-qualification 2014 - Austria vs. Germany 2012-09-11 - Miroslav Klose 01.JPG|upright|thumb|[[Miroslav Klose]] scored four times for Germany in Group A]]
Germany finished top of the group with nine points having won all three of their group matches. They faced [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], the runners-up of [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group B|Group B]], in the round of 16, winning 2–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991466.stm |title=Germany 2–0 Sweden |work=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2006 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> They went on to defeat [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the quarter-finals on penalties before suffering defeat to [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in the semi-finals. Germany finished third after defeating [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] 3–1 in the third-place playoff.<ref name="bracket">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2006germany |title=2006 FIFA World Cup |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> As runners-up in the group with six points, Ecuador faced the winners of Group B, [[England national football team|England]], in the next round but were eliminated after a 1–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991536.stm |title=England 1–0 Ecuador |work=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2006 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref> Poland would not return to the competition until the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]] while Costa Rica failed to qualify for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] before returning for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 tournament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/polands-world-cup-history-2022-133107049.html?src=rss&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANMOqNexFto8jLU99qq4Zxtg0sdPW9Pwpv0EATnpipwJixchnPZfKjCsfvM9FWd26Z3YARoD7F_3h37NEwBE4_7zg9Tv-xaLgfBZOYGSALmdUCIYurhXq7FSwjI5aqIMGjSjWTp9A3CrWevAWOG-KEJRnHoZ-K0_Zvx4c5osUBLG |title=Poland's World Cup History Before 2022 FIFA Tournament |publisher=Yahoo Sports |last=Molski |first=Max |date=22 November 2022 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/football/2022/jun/14/costa-rica-new-zealand-to-play-off-for-last-fifa-world-cup-place-2465452.html |title=Costa Rica, New Zealand to play off for last FIFA World Cup place |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=14 June 2022 |accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref>

Klose's four goals during the group stage contributed to him winning the [[World Cup Golden Boot|Golden Boot]] as the competition's top goalscorer. He finished the World Cup with five in total,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/world-cup-top-scorer-miroslav-klose-calls-it-a-day/articleshow/40096669.cms |title=World Cup top goalscorer Miroslav Klose calls it a day |newspaper=The Times of India |last=Basu |first=Saumyajit |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> the lowest tally needed to win the award since [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-golden-boot-winners-top-goal-scorers |title=FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winners: Top goal scorers from each edition |publisher=International Olympic Committee|last=Nag |first=Utathya |date=18 December 2022 |accessdate=9 January 2023}}</ref> His teammate Podolski went on to win the young player of the tournament award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/2MAxnPKIwA6ImJt6ATRte6#:~:text=Close%20Share-,Lukas%20Podolski%20%7C%20Best%20Young%20Player%20Award%20%7C%202006,FIFA%20World%20Cup%20Germany%E2%84%A2&text=1min%2020second-,The%20Hyundai%20Best%20Young%20Player%20Award%20is%20given%20to%20the,winner%20on%20FIFA's%20official%20website. |title=Lukas Podolski Best Young Player |publisher=FIFA|date=25 August 2006|accessdate=9 January 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup]]
*[[Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup]]
*[[Germany at the FIFA World Cup]]
*[[Poland at the FIFA World Cup]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
* {{Cite book |title=World Cup soccer: Germany 2006 |last=Lewis |first=Michael |year=2006 |publisher=Moyer Bell |location=Rhode Island |edition=4th |isbn=9781559213585}}

{{2006 FIFA World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Group A}}
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup|A]]
[[Category:Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup|Group]]
[[Category:Poland at the 2006 FIFA World Cup]]
[[Category:Costa Rica at the 2006 FIFA World Cup|Group]]
[[Category:Ecuador at the 2006 FIFA World Cup]]