Friday, June 26

England 2, Colombia 0
David Beckham and Darren Anderton scored goals for England in its 2-0 victory over Colombia, allowing them to earn the final spot in the round of 16. Colombia failed to advance to the second round for the second straight World Cup and is the only South American team not to do so in this year's tournament. England only needed a tie or a victory to advance to the next round.
Box Score

Romania 1, Tunisia 1
A very blonde Romanian team won Group G with the tie with Tunisia on Viorel Moldovan's goal in the 72nd minute. The victory was important for Romania so they could avoid Argentina in the second round and instead face Croatia on Tuesday.
Box Score

Argentina 1, Croatia 0
In a game that decided who would be the top seed coming out of Group H, Argentina's Hector Pineda decided the fate of the game, scoring the lone goal in the 36th minute for a 1-0 victory. Argentina went through the whole first round undefeated and without giving up a goal.
Box Score

Jamaica 2, Japan 1
Jamaica's Theodore Whitmore scored both goals, leading Jamaica to a 2-1 victory over Japan and its first-ever win in the nation's history. Whitmore's finishing ability allowed Jamaica to be the first Caribbean nation since 1938 to win a World Cup game. Japan scored its first goal of the tournament in the match and its coach, Takeshi Okada, resigned after the contest.
Box Score

Thursday, June 25

Belgium 1, South Korea 1
Yoo Sang-chul stretched to knock in a free kick from Ha Seok-ju in the 71st minute to allow South Korea to tie Belgium, 1-1, in Paris. This match was the last World Cup game for South Korea until they co-host the 2002 World Cup with Japan. The game was meaningless for both teams since the tie in the Netherlands-Mexico game eliminated any hope for Belgium to move on to the second round.
Box Score

Netherlands 2, Mexico 2
Mexico rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game, scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes to salvage a tie and advance to the second round. Luis Hernandez was the hero in the game as he fought off defender Jaap Stam to score the tying goal in the fifth minute of injury time. Phillip Cocu and Ronald de Boer scored for the Netherlands.
Box Score

Germany 2, Iran 0
Germany strikers Oliver Bierhoff and Juergen Klinsmann both scored on headers for Germany, whom won Group F and will face Mexico in the second round on Monday. Germany tied Yugoslavia at the top of Group F but won the group on goal differential.
Box Score

Yugoslavia 1, United States 0
Slobodan Komljenovic beat Brad Friedel with a header off the rebound of Sinisa Mihajlovic's curling, 35-yard free kick at the 3:05 mark, allowing Yugoslavia to win,1-0, over a struggling United States team, who did not win a game in the tournament.
Box Score

Wednesday, June 24

Spain 6, Bulgaria 1
Despite trouncing Bulgaria 6-1 on Wednesday, Spain failed to qualify for the second round because of Paraguay's 3-1 victory over Nigeria. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia looked on as Spain recovered the dominating form it had misplaced in its previous two matches. Fernando Morientes and Kiko each scored two second-half goals for Spain.
Box Score

Paraguay 3, Nigeria 1
Celso Ayala found the net with a header in the opening 51 seconds — the fastest World Cup goal since 1982 — to lead Paraguay into the second round with a 3-1 upset of Nigeria. Paraguay will face host France in Lens on Sunday, the same day Nigeria faces Denmark in Saint-Denis.
Box Score

France 2, Denmark 1
Midfielder Emmanuel Petit's first international goal, a 17-yard shot along the ground in the 56th minute, allowed France to complete a sweep of its Group C opponents with a 2-1 victory over Denmark. France, which played without regular starters Laurent Blanc, Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu, Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane, dictated the tempo of the match from start to finish and did not allow Denmark (1-1-1) a shot on goal in the second half.
Box Score

South Africa 2, Saudi Arabia 2
Shaun Bartlett's second goal of the game, a penalty kick in the fourth minute of extra time, was too little too late as South Africa was eliminated despite a 2-2 draw with the Saudis. South Africa needed to beat Saudi Arabia and have Denmark lose to France with the combined goal differential of four or more to advance.
Box Score

Tuesday, June 23

Morocco 3, Scotland 0
Morocco did what it had to do against Scotland by winning the final match of Group A by a score of 3-0, but fell short of advancing to the second round when Brazil lost to Norway in the other group match played simultaneously. Two goals from forwards Salaheddine Bassir and one from Abdeljalil Hadda did all the damage Morocco (1-1-1) could do to a Scottish side playing with 10 men for most of the second half.
Box Score

Norway 2, Brazil 1
Kjetil Rekdal's successful penalty kick in the 89th minute capped an improbable comeback as Norway advanced to the second round of the World Cup for the first time with a stunning 2-1 victory over defending champion Brazil in a Group A match in Marseille. Norway will play Group B champion Italy in the second round Saturday in Marseille while Brazil will play Group B runner-up Chile the same day in Paris.
Box Score

Italy 2, Austria 1
Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio scored second-half goals as Italy won Group B and avoided a second-round date with Brazil by getting a 2-1 victory over Austria in Saint-Denis. Vieri tied Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta for the lead with his fourth goal of the World Cup, and Italy played a cautious, defensive game after taking the lead.
Box Score

Chile 1, Cameroon 1
Chile reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years but was fortunate to get a 1-1 tie with Cameroon. Chile, which had its 1-2 combination of Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano held in check, was vulnerable throughout the second half despite having an extra man.
Box Score

Monday, June 22

Romania 2, England 1
Romania's Dan Petrescu scored the game-winning goal from six yards out in the 90 minute, allowing Romania to defeat England, 2-1, in Toulouse. One of the highlights for England was Michael Owen (18 years old) became the youngest English player to score in a World Cup and barely missed a second goal when his 30-yard shot hit the left post in injury time.
Box Score

Colombia 1, Tunisia 0
Substitute Leider Preciado scored in the 83rd minute as Colombia kept alive its hopes of advancing to the second round with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in Montpellier. Preciado, a forward who entered the match in the 57th minute, took a through ball from midfielder Carlos Valderrama and beat Tunisia goalkeeper Chorki El-Ouaer to the short side with a left-footed shot from 12 yards. The loss eliminated Tunisia.
Box Score

Sunday, June 21

Iran 2, United States 1
Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia scored as Iran took advantage of its limited scoring chances to record a stunning 2-1 World Cup victory over the United States, ending American hopes for a second-round berth. In a game hyped more because of their political history rather than their soccer prowess, the two sides played a very well-contested game that featured no animosity.
Box Score

Argentina 5, Jamaica 0
Gabriel Batistuta needed just 11 minutes in the second half to record a hat trick and Ariel Ortega had two goals as Argentina punched its ticket to the second round with a 5-0 demolition of newcomer Jamaica in Paris.
Box Score

Germany 2, Yugoslavia 2
In a match between the two Group F favorites, Germany erased a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw against Yugoslavia. Germany's Oliver Bierhoff headed a goal in the 80th minute to level the sccore after Yugoslavia had dominated the early exchanges.
Box Score

Saturday, June 20

Netherlands 5, South Korea 0
Dennis Bergkamp scored once and dominated play to lead the Dutch to a 5-0 rout of South Korea in a World Cup Group E match in Marseille, France. Philip Cocu and Marc Overmars scored five minutes apart in the first half as the Dutch (1-0-1) controlled play throughout and registered highs for goals and victory margin so far in this year's tournament.
Box Score

Belgium 2, Mexico 2
Cuauhtemoc Blanco's spectacular finish off a cross from Ramon Ramirez in the 63rd minute lifted Mexico into a 2-2 tie against Belgium in a Group E match in Bordeaux, France. The situation looked dire for Mexico (1-0-1) early in the second half after Marc Wilmots scored his second goal of the game in the 48th minute to give Belgium (0-0-2) a 2-0 lead as the "Red Devils" were playing with a man advantage.
Box Score

Croatia 1, Japan 0
Davor Suker's goal in the 77th minute accounted for the offense as World Cup newcomer Croatia put itself in excellent shape to advance to the second round with a 1-0 victory Japan in Nantes. With six points and a plus-3 goal differential, only a disastrous result against Argentina would prevent Croatia (2-0-0 in Group H) from reaching the round of 16. Croatia closes group play against the Argentines on June 26. Japan put up another valiant effort before falling short.
Box Score

Friday, June 19

Paraguay 0, Spain 0
Spain was put on the brink of elimination with the tie against Paraguay despite coming into the tournament as the favorite in Group D. Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert was forced to make some difficult saves but neither team could dent the net.
Box Score

Nigeria 1, Bulgaria 0
Nigeria reached the second round of the World Cup Friday, beating Bulgaria 1-0 on a first-half goal by Victor Ikpeba. Ikpeba finished a three-man combination by sliding the ball under goalie Zdravko Zdravkov in the 27th minute. Jay-Jay Okocha sent a ball to the top right corner of the penalty area where Daniel Amokachi side-footed it to Ikpeba in the middle of the box.
Box Score

Thursday, June 18

France 4, Saudi Arabia 0
Forward Thierry Henry scored two goals as France assured itself a berth in the second round with an overwhelming 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia. But the hosts will be without stellar midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who was given a direct red card in the 70th minute, for two games.
Box Score

Denmark 1, South Africa 1
Forward Benedict McCarthy's goal in the 52nd minute provided one point and midfielder Quinton Fortune almost made it three in extra time as World Cup newcomer South Africa threw a major scare into Denmark before the two sides settled for a 1-1 tie. Midfielder Allan Nielsen scored in the 13th minute for Denmark, still in good shape to advance.
Box Score

Wednesday, June 17

Italy 3, Cameroon 0
Forward Christian Vieri scored two second-half goals to provide some breathing room as Italy became the first team to win a match in Group B with a 3-0 victory over a dogged Cameroon squad in Montpellier. Italy now sits on top of Group B and can clinch a spot in the second round with a tie against Austria in its final group-play match.
Box Score

Austria 1, Chile 1
For the second consecutive match, Austria salvaged a tie in injury time when substitute forward Ivica Vastic fired home a shot from 18 yards for a 1-1 draw with Chile at Saint-Etienne. Austria, which tied Cameroon on an added-time goal by Tony Polster in its opening match, again appeared headed for defeat until rekindling its late magic.
Box Score

Tuesday, June 16

Brazil 3, Morocco 0
Defending champion Brazil became the first team to secure a spot in the second round with an easy 3-0 victory over Morocco at Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes. Striker Ronaldo scored his first goal of the World Cup in the ninth minute to give Brazil a 1-0 lead. Bebeto and Rivaldo also scored for the Brazilians.
Box Score

Norway 1, Scotland 1
Craig Burley kept Scotland's World Cup hopes alive when he chipped home a long ball pass in the 66th minute to give The Bravehearts a 1-1 draw. Norway opened the scoring in the first minute of the second half when Vidar Riseth sent a crossing pass from the left side to Harvard Flo, who headed the ball into the open side of the net.
Box Score

Monday, June 15

Germany 2, United States 0
The United States opened its World Cup tournament with a less- than desired result, losing 2-0 to three-time champion Germany in Paris. After just nine minutes, Germany went up a goal when midfielder Andreas Moeller's header squeezed between the left post and U.S. defender Mike Burns, who was guarding the net off Olaf Thon's corner kick.
Box Score

Romania 1, Colombia 0
Adrian Ilie scored in injury time at the end of the first half as Romania again opened its World Cup play by defeating Colombia, 1-0, in a Group G match at Lyon. Ilie, known as "The Cobra," took a pass from Romanian captain Gheorghe Hagi and dribbled past a defender into the penalty area before chipping the ball over the Colombian goalkeeper.
Box Score

England 2, Tunisia 0
Captain Alan Shearer scored in the closing minutes of the first half and midfielder Paul Scholes added another in the 90th minute to give heavily favorite England a 2-0 victory over Tunisia in Marseille.
Box Score

Sunday, June 14

Yugoslavia 1, Iran 0
Defender Sinisa Mihajlovic scored on a free kick in the 73rd minute to spoil a surprisingly strong effort from Iran and give Yugoslavia a 1-0 victory in Saint-Etienne. Yugoslavia was not able to get its lethal attack going against the Iranians, which were making their first World Cup appearance since 1978.
Box Score

Croatia 3, Jamaica 1
Croatia's World Cup debut was a smashing success as midfielder Robert Prosinecki's goal in the 53rd minute snapped a tie and propeled them to a 3-1 victory over fellow debutant Jamaica in a Group H meeting in Lens.
Box Score

Argentina 1, Japan 0
Forward Gabriel Batistuta scored in the 28th minute and Group H favorite Argentina held off a late flurry by World Cup newcomer Japan to record a 1-0 victory in Toulouse. Argentina (1-0-0 in Group H), the two-time champion, is the only country in its group with World Cup experience.
Box Score

Saturday, June 13

Netherlands 0, Belgium 0,
Holland's Patrick Kluivert was ejected for elbowing Belgium's Lorenzo Staelens in the chest in an intense 0-0 tie between the familiar rivals. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his second-half replacement, Dennis Bergkamp, both fluffed easy chances as the Dutch dominated.
Box Score

Nigeria 3, Spain 2
Midfielder Sunday Oliseh's blistering 25-yard shot in the 78th minute proved to be the winning goal as Nigeria rallied to upset Group D favorite Spain, 3-2. In the most exciting match of France '98 thus far, the two sides created numerous chances for goals, but it was Nigeria (1-0-0 in Group D) which took advantage down the stretch.
Box Score

Mexico 3, South Korea 1
Diminutive striker Luis Hernandez scored two goals, while his forward partner Cuauhtemoc Blanco had two assists to give Mexico a hard-earned 3-1 victory over shorthanded South Korea. Mexico dominated for the better part of the 90 minutes, particularly after South Korea midfielder Seok-Ju Ha received the first direct red card of this World Cup for a tackle from behind on Jesus Ramirez.
Box Score

Friday, June 12

Bulgaria 0, Paraguay 0
Bulgaria and Paraguay opened Group D play of the World Cup with the first scoreless draw, a physical game that featured 41 fouls and five yellow cards, including two to midfielder Anatoli Nankov, who was ejected in the 88th minute. Paraguay, which was offensively inept in the first half, had the better chances in the second half, including a stunning 35-yard free kick by goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert that Bulgarian counterpart Zdravko Zdravkov had to punch out from just under the top left corner.
Box Score

Denmark 1, Saudi Arabia 0
Defenseman Marc Reiper scored on a header in the 69th minute to give Denmark a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in a World Cup Group C match in Lens. Denmark (1-0-0 in Group C), making its first World Cup appearance since 1986, controlled play throughout the match and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was not severely tested.
Box Score

France 3, South Africa 0
Christophe Dugarry began the host country's quest for a World Cup title with a goal in the 35th minute as France rolled to a 3-0 victory over Group C rival and newcomer South Africa at Marseille. France also received an own goal — the third in seven games in France '98 — from South Africa defender Pierre Issa and an added-time marker from midfielder Thierry Henry in the second half.
Box Score

Thursday, June 11

Chile 2, Italy 2
Forward Roberto Baggio, rewarded for an inadvertent handball in the penalty area, scored on a penalty kick in the 85th minute as group favorite Italy salvaged a 2-2 tie against Chile at Bordeaux in the first match of Group B World Cup play.
Box Score

Austria 1, Cameroon 1
Forward Anton Polster blasted a shot from six yards out in the first minute of extra time to lift Austria, which was headed toward a defeat before Polster converted one of the few opportunities his country had.
Box Score

Wednesday, June 10

Brazil 2, Scotland 1
An own goal from Scotland defender Tommy Boyd in the 73rd minute allowed defending champion Brazil to escape with a 2-1 victory in the World Cup's opening match in St. Denis. Brazilian defender Cafu penetrated the penalty area and chipped a shot on net which was saved by Scottish goalkeeper Jim Leighton.
Box Score

Norway 2, Morocco 2
Norway had to overcome two one-goal deficits against Morocco to settle for a 2-2 tie in World Cup Group A play in Montpelier.
Box Score