잠시 체면을 구겼던 전통의 강호 이탈리아와  아프리카의 '검은 별'  가나가 `죽음의 조'로 불리는 E조에서 조 1, 2위를 차지하며 16강에 진출했다. 

이탈리아는 22일(이하 한국시간) 함부르크 월드컵경기장에서 열린 2006년  독일월드컵 본선 E조 조별리그 3차전 체코와 경기에서 전반 26분 터진 마르코  마테리치의 천금 같은 헤딩골과 후반 42분 필리포 인차기의 쐐기골에 힘입어 2-0 완승을  거뒀다. 

통산 4번째 월드컵 우승에 도전하는 이탈리아는 조별리그 성적 2승1무로 승점 7을 확보,  E조 1위를 확정해 오는 27일 0시 카이저슬라우테른에서 F조 2위와 8강행 티켓을 놓고 한판 대결을 펼친다. 

가나도 같은 시간 뉘른베르크 프랑켄슈타디온에서 열린 E조 최종전에서 미국을 2-1으로 제압하고 2승1패로 승점 6점을 획득해 조 2위로 2라운드에 진출했다. 

아프리카 팀 가운데 처음으로 16강에 오른 가나는 28일 0시 도르트문트에서 F조 1위와 8강으로 가는 길목에서 맞붙는다. 

반면 체코슬로바키아 시절부터 16년만에 월드컵 본선 무대를 밟은 동유럽의  강호 체코는 조별리그에서 1승2패로 승점 3점을 얻는데 그치며 아쉽게 고개를 떨궜다. 

또 2002년 한일월드컵에서 8강에 오르며 축구 신흥강국으로 떠오른 미국도 1무2패로 승전고를 울리지 못하고 조 최하위로 16강 진출이 좌절됐다. 

◇ 이탈리아-체코(2-0) 
 
조별리그 개막전에서 가나를 2-0으로 제압한 뒤 미국과 혈투 끝에 1-1로 비겨  위기에 놓였던 이탈리아가 탄탄한 빗장수비의 위력을 과시한 한판이었다. 

이탈리아는 전반 9분 체코의 간판 공격수 밀란 바로시에게 페널티 왼쪽에서  위협적인 슈팅을 허용했고 14분과 16분 잇따라 공격형 미드필더 파벨 네드베트에게 페널티 아크 근처에서 날카로운 중거리 슈팅을 내줬지만 골키퍼 잔푸이지  부폰이  잘 막아냈다. 

유효슈팅 한 차례 기록하지 못하며 역습을 노리던 이탈리아의 첫 골은 움직임이 좋지 않던 주전 수비수 알렉산드로 네스타 대신 전반 17분 투입된 마르코  마테라치에게서 나왔다. 

전반 26분 이탈리아가 두번째 얻은 코너킥 기회에서 프란체스코 토티가  오른쪽에서 중앙으로 공을 띄우자 마테라치가 수비수를 제치고 힘차게 솟구쳐 헤딩슛으로 골문 왼쪽 그물망을 흔들었다. 

촘촘한 이탈리아의 수비벽을 좀처럼 뚫지 못하던 체코는 설상가상으로 전반  인저리 타임에 미드필더 얀 폴라크가 토티와 골 다툼을 벌이다 옐로 카드를 받아 경고 누적으로 퇴장당했다. 

기세가 오른 이탈리아는 후반 들어 토티가 종횡무진 그라운드를 누비면서 체코 문전을 위협했고 후반 15분 알베르토 질라드니노 대신 베테랑 공격수 필리포 인차기를 투입해 공세를 강화했다. 

결국 인차기는 후반 42분 중원에서 체코의 볼을 가로챈 뒤 상대 왼쪽 진영으로 단독 드리블해 골키퍼 페트르 체흐를 가볍게 제치고 승부에 쐐기를  박는  추가골을 터뜨렸다. 

체코는 수적 열세로 경기의 주도권을 빼앗긴 채 후반 8분 네드베트가 상대 페널티 지역 왼쪽에서 맞은 일대일 찬스에서 골키퍼 정면으로 공을 차는 등 수차례 얻은 찬스에서 만회골을 뽑지 못하고 분루를 삼켰다. (연합뉴스) 
 
Czech Republic 0 : 2 Italy 

[ITA] 23. MATERAZZI Marco (26')18. INZAGHI Filippo (87') 

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) - Marco Materazzi knew he had a tough task ahead when called on to replace an injured Alessandro Nesta early in a game that could decide whether Italy would stay alive at the World Cup. 

Materazzi came through to send Italy through to the second round. 
Materazzi headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to help Italy win Group E with a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday and avoid a second-round matchup with Brazil. 

"It's everyone's dream to replace the greatest defender in the world and then score in the World Cup," Materazzi said. 

Materazzi's goal helped knock out the Czech Republic and provided a pleasant distraction from a soccer corruption scandal back home. The game ended just a half-hour before four Italian clubs were ordered to stand trial in the scandal, which involves allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments. 

Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina - which account for 13 players on Italy's roster - face possible demotion from Serie A. 

"We're completely focused on the World Cup," coach Marcello Lippi said. "The pressure we faced was the possibility of losing and going home. After the World Cup we can think about those things." 

Substitute Filippo Inzaghi scored on a breakaway in the 87th to clinch the victory for Italy, which won the group with seven points. Italy will face Australia on Monday in Kaiserslautern. 

Lippi was especially pleased with how Materazzi and Inzaghi kept their focus while sitting on the bench for Italy's first two games. 

"In competitions like these you need to have patience," Lippi said. "You can't be nervous when your time comes or you won't find yourself ready." 

The Czechs, ranked second in the world, were eliminated from the tournament, finishing with only the three points they earned in their opening 3-0 win over the United States. Ghana, which beat the Czechs 2-0 last Saturday, finished second with six points. 

Pavel Nedved produced several long shots for the Czechs and Juventus teammate Gianluigi Buffon did well to keep Italy's goal empty. Nedved said he spoke about Juve's predicament with Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero for 10 minutes after the game. 

"We discussed whether they will stay at the club or where we might go," said Nedved, who is contemplating retirement. 

Nedved said he has received several offers from other clubs. 

"I have to decide what to do. I don't know what's going to happen with my club," he said. 

The Czechs fell behind early when 6-foot-5 Materazzi outleaped Jan Polak and Radoslav Kovac to head in a corner kick by Francesco Totti less than 10 minutes after coming on. It was his first goal in 29 international appearances. 

The Czechs were reduced to 10 men when Polak picked up his second yellow card in first-half injury time. They also ended with only 10 men in their loss to Ghana. 

"We had to play twice against strong opponents with only 10 men," Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. "It was almost impossible. We were troubled by a number of problems including our own mistakes." 

The Czechs pressed early and Milan Baros, returning from a left foot injury, nearly connected on an excellent crossfield setup from Nedved in the ninth minute. 

Buffon had to lunge to his left to stop an 18-yard shot by Nedved in the 12th. A few minutes later, Nedved intercepted a pass and sent the ball upfield to Baros, who earned a corner kick after a physical battle with Nesta, who rarely loses such duels. 

Nedved sent another shot on goal from outside the area in the 16th minute that Buffon stopped but couldn't quite gather, and the goalkeeper also had to block an attempt on the rebound from Marek Jankulovski. 

Gennaro Gattuso's long header landed on top of the net for Italy's first shot in the 25th minute and Italy took the lead with its first shot on goal a minute later. 

Polak received his first yellow for a foul on Mauro Camoranesi in the 35th, then fouled Totti from behind for his second card. 

Italy took the initiative at the start of the second half, with two shots early by Totti. Nedved then got the ball on the counterattack and put a powerful shot on goal that Buffon punched away. 

In the 56th minute, Italy showed off its skill on a free kick. Totti lofted the ball to Andrea Pirlo, who volleyed it to Fabio Cannavaro, who shot high. 

Inzaghi got his first playing time of this World Cup when he replaced Alberto Gilardino in the 60th and sealed the match three minutes from the end when he dribbled around goalkeeper Petr Cech to tap in his 22nd goal in 50 international games. 
 
 

주전 미드필더 알리 문타리와 스트라이커 아사모아 기안이 경고 누적으로  출전하지 못해 공격력이 무뎌질 것이라는 예상과 달리 가나의 공격은 매서웠다. 

초반부터 거친 몸싸움을 주고 받으며 미국과 맞선 가나는 볼을 잡고 있는  시간은 미국에 뒤졌지만 예리함에서 앞섰다. 

특히 이탈리아와의 2차전에서 레드카드를 받아 이날 뛰지 못한  미국의  수비수 파블로 마스트로에니와 에디 포프의 빈틈을 효과적으로 파고 들었다. 

가나는 전반 22분 미드필더 하미누  드라마니가 미국 진영에서 클라우디오 레이나의  백패스를 가로채  만든 골키퍼와 1대1 찬스를 놓치지 않고 선제골을 뽑았다. 

미국은 전반 43분 클린트 뎀프시가 다마커스 비즐리가  오른쪽에서 건네준 땅볼 크로스를 차넣어 승부를 원점으로 돌렸지만  전반 인저리 타임 때 오구치 오니우가 페널티지역으로  침투하던 라자크 핌퐁을 밀어 넘어뜨리는 반칙을 저지르고 말았다. 

주심이 지체없이 페널티킥을 선언했고 키커로 나선 가나 주장 스티븐 아피아는 가볍게 골을 성공시켜 다시 리드를 잡았다. 

후반 들어 미국은 만회골을 노렸지만 거친 가나의 수비를 뚫지 못해 소득이  없었고 후반 38분 가나 페널티 지역 오른쪽 모서리에서 얻은 프리킥이 빗나가면서  16강 티켓을 가나에 내줬다. (연합뉴스) 
 
Ghana 2 : 1 United States 

[GHA] 23. DRAMAN Haminu (22')10. APPIAH Stephen (47+' PEN)  
[USA] 8. DEMPSEY Clint (43') 

NUREMBERG, Germany (AP) - There was no glory for the United States at this year's World Cup, only frustration and failure. 

Done in by their own mistakes and a crucial penalty call, the Americans lost to Ghana 2-1 Thursday in a game they had to win to advance past the tournament's first round. 
 
Cheered on by thousands of boisterous fans bedecked in red, white and blue, the Americans fell flat against an opportunistic team that was stronger and faster. The surprising Black Stars, newcomers to the World Cup, joined Italy from Group E in the knockout round of 16 teams. 

This was a bitter end for the United States, which carried high hopes - and a No. 5 world ranking from FIFA - onto soccer's biggest stage. Four years ago, the Americans made the quarterfinals and this time had even bigger plans. 

It didn't take long for them to fall behind - an ominous sign since the U.S. has never won a World Cup game in which it trailed. 

Haminu Draman put the West Africans ahead in the 22nd minute, breaking in alone on goalkeeper Kasey Keller after stealing the ball from U.S. captain Claudio Reyna. 

The United States tied it in the 43rd minute when Clint Dempsey smashed a 10-yard shot off a perfect cross from DaMarcus Beasley. 

His dancing celebration was short lived - the game turned just before halftime on a call that stunned U.S. coach Bruce Arena. 

Battling for a header, American defender Oguchi Onyewu pushed Razak Pimpong on the edge of the penalty area. Germany's Markus Merk, one of the world's top-rated officials, awarded a penalty shot as Arena buried his face in his hands. 

Keller dived to his left, but Ghana captain Stephen Appiah crushed the ball high to the goalkeeper's right. 

"I am disappointed in the judgment of the referee," Arena said after the game. "We would have liked to come out at halftime even, with a chance to win the game. That was a big call." 

Most calls went for the Americans - the Black Stars outfouled them 32-16 - but they were unable to build many dangerous chances in the second half. 

Desperate for offense, Arena sent in Eddie Johnson in the 61st minute as the United States pressed. There were a few moments - Brian McBride sent a diving header clanking off the near post - but Ghana rode out the victory. 

When the match ended, Ghana players raced over to supporters who had kept a steady drumbeat and danced and chanted to challenge the deafening chants of U-S-A at the 45,000 seat Nuremberg Stadium. 

"The worst part is the finality of it," said midfielder Landon Donovan, the playmaker who failed to score in this World Cup after getting two goals as a 20 year old in 2002. "Even during the game, you don't get the sense this is it. Then the whistle blows and it's over." 

All the more frustrating was that Italy had done its part to help the Americans by beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in a game played simultaneously in Hamburg. An Italy win was the second part of the equation that would have sent the Americans' through. Instead, the United States (0-2-1) finished with one point - its first in a World Cup played in Europe, but not enough to escape the basement of the four-team group. 

Italy (2-0-1) won the group with seven points and Ghana (2-1) advanced with six points. Ghana will play Brazil on Tuesday in Dordmund. Italy gets Australia on Monday in Kaiserslautern. 

"This is a historic moment for us," Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic said. "It was a very nervous match because of the importance to both teams. But we have done it, we are satisfied." 

Four years ago, the Americans were the satisfied ones with their best showing since 1930. This time, they reverted to their form of 1998 in France, when they finished last overall. 

U.S. fans outnumbered the red, yellow and green clad Ghanaians, both in the cobblestone streets of Nuremberg's old town and in the historic stadium where Hitler Youth marched seven decades ago. 

The U.S. fans were quieted when Dempsey played a back pass to Reyna, and the U.S. captain collided with Draman left knee to left knee, crumpling to the ground in pain. As Reyna fell, Draman rushed in against Keller and from 10 yards hooked the ball into the corner of the net beyond the diving goalkeeper. 

Reyna was taken off the field on a stretcher - the team later said he strained a ligament - but returned in the 26th minute, just about the time Italy went ahead of the Czechs. Still grimacing, Reyna left what will likely be his last World Cup game just before halftime and was replaced by Ben Olsen. 

Soon after, Dempsey tied it - the only goal scored by an American this World Cup. Their goal in a 1-1 tie with Italy was scored by an Italian defender. 

After stealing the ball just past midfield, Beasley made a short run and sent a pinpoint cross in front of the goal. Racing ahead of Habib Mohamed, Dempsey one-timed the ball with his right foot from 10 yards. It was 1-1 and victory no longer seemed farfetched. 

Then moments later, in injury time, the Americans fell behind for good on the disputed penalty. 

"Takes the wind out of your sails," Dempsey said. "We thought going into halftime we were tied up. That wasn't the case."