2006 FIFA World Cup Group A

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 basis with the top two teams in each group advancing to the round of 16.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19085.pdf |title=Regulations 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany| publisher=FIFA |accessdate=9 January 2023}}

As hosts, three-time World Cup winners Germany qualified automatically for the tournament and were placed into Group A.{{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 }} 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.{{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}} His team were considered one of the favourites to win the competition with bookmakers offering odds of around 13/2,{{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}} but had received criticism in the country, notably from Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeneß who had labelled the side "a disaster". CONCACAF members Costa Rica endured a poor start to qualifying, narrowly avoiding an upset defeat against Cuba in the second qualifying round,{{harvnb|Lewis|2006|p=285}} before appointing Alexandre Guimarães as manager midway through the stage. They qualified for the tournament after finishing third in their qualification round, reaching the finals for the third time in their history.{{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}} However, they were classed as rank outsiders to win the competition, with odds as high as 500/1 being offered.

To provide an even number of teams for the playoff bracket, the two teams from the UEFA qualification groups who had finished second in their group with the best record automatically gained qualification to the World Cup. Poland, who finished second in UEFA qualification Group 6 behind England, were one of the teams who were eligible, along with Sweden.{{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}} Ecuador qualified after finishing in the third of four automatic qualification places in the CONMEBOL qualifying group behind Brazil and Argentina,{{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}}{{harvnb|Lewis|2006|p=298}} reaching the finals for only the second time. Similar to Costa Rica, Ecuador were given low odds of around 400/1.{{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}} In their preview of the tournament, The Guardian labelled Group A as the "weakest" in the competition.{{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}}

;Notes

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL|section=standings

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/competition/17/season/9741?date=2006-06-23&tab=competitionStandings&prev=competition FIFA]

|teamwidth=200

|team1=GER

|team2=ECU

|team3=POL

|team4=CRC

|result1=KO

|result2=KO

|class_rules=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 knockout stage

}}

• Germany advanced to play Sweden (runners-up of Group B) in the round of 16.
• Ecuador advanced to play England (winners of Group B) in the round of 16.

All times local (CEST/UTC+2)

File:WC 2006 - Germany v Costa Rica - teams.jpg

The opening match of Group A, and the World Cup, was between hosts Germany and Costa Rica.{{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}} This was the first time the two sides had ever played each other in international football.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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. 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, 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.

Germany regained their lead five minutes later when Miroslav Klose finished from 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. 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. 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.{{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}}{{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}}

{{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 = *Lahm {{goal|6}}

• Klose {{goal|17||61}}
• Frings {{goal|87}}

| goals2 = *Wanchope {{goal|12||73}}

| stadium = Allianz Arena, Munich

| attendance = 66,000

| referee = Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Germany wins, 4-2 over Costa Rica in first World Cup match}}

Poland and Ecuador had previously met once before their opening World Cup match, playing out a 1–1 draw during a friendly in November 2005.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.{{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}} This match was the fifth consecutive time that Poland had failed to score in their opening match at a World Cup finals.

{{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 = *C. Tenorio {{goal|24}}

• Delgado {{goal|80}}

| stadium = Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen

| attendance = 52,000

| referee = Toru Kamikawa (Japan)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Ecuador beats Poland, 2-0 in Group A}}

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 and 1978 World Cup finals, with Germany having never lost to their opponents.{{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}} The Germans, with captain Ballack restored to the starting line-up in place of Borowski,{{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}} 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.

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.{{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}} The win marked the first time Germany had beaten another European nation at a major international competition since defeating the Czech Republic in the UEFA Euro 1996 final.

{{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 = *Neuville {{goal|90+1}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Westfalenstadion, Dortmund

| attendance = 65,000

| referee = Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Germany beat Poland and top Group A}}

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.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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.

{{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 = *C. Tenorio {{goal|8}}

• Delgado {{goal|54}}
• Kaviedes {{goal|90+2}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Volksparkstadion, Hamburg

| attendance = 50,000

| referee = Coffi Codjia (Benin)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Ecuador make short work of Costa Rica in Group A}}

This was the first time that Ecuador and Germany had ever played each other.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} Ecuador instead chose to rest several first team players, including forwards Delgado and Tenorio and captain Iván Hurtado.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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. Podolski scored his first World Cup goal following a swift counterattack. Schweinsteiger's pass allowed 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.

{{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 = *Klose {{goal|4||44}}

• Podolski {{goal|57}}

| stadium = Olympiastadion, Berlin

| attendance = 72,000

| referee = Valentin Ivanov (Russia)

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Germany too hot for Ecuador in Group A}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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, 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.

{{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 = *Gómez {{goal|25}}

| goals2 = *Bosacki {{goal|33||65}}

| stadium = Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover

| attendance = 43,000

| referee = Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

|valign="top"|300px

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

{{wikinewsart|Poland win 2-1 against Costa Rica in Group A}}

File:FIFA WC-qualification 2014 - Austria vs. Germany 2012-09-11 - Miroslav Klose 01.JPG 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, the runners-up of Group B, in the round of 16, winning 2–0.{{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}} They went on to defeat Argentina in the quarter-finals on penalties before suffering defeat to Italy in the semi-finals. Germany finished third after defeating Portugal 3–1 in the third-place playoff.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2006germany |title=2006 FIFA World Cup |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=5 January 2023}} As runners-up in the group with six points, Ecuador faced the winners of Group B, England, in the next round but were eliminated after a 1–0 defeat.{{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}} Poland would not return to the competition until the 2018 World Cup while Costa Rica failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup before returning for the 2014 tournament.{{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}}{{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}}

Klose's four goals during the group stage contributed to him winning the Golden Boot as the competition's top goalscorer. He finished the World Cup with five in total,{{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}} the lowest tally needed to win the award since 1962.{{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}} His teammate Podolski went on to win the young player of the tournament award.{{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}}

• 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

{{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}}

A

Group

Category:Poland at the 2006 FIFA World Cup

Group

Category:Ecuador at the 2006 FIFA World Cup