Friday 30 June 2006
Throughout the 2006 World Cup we'll be predicting each day's results - using Pro Evolution Soccer! We'll select the teams and let the game play out the action on its own, before posting a quick match report and the final, PES-predicted score.
2006 World Cup: Day 21
Match one: England vs Portugal
England survive a rocky start, with Maniche blasting over and Pauleta twice heading wide from an unmarked position. But England score first - Cole chasing down a loose ball behind the defence and poking a shot past Ricardo. Portugal respond immediately in the second half, Pauleta avoiding Terry's lunge and a desperate challenge from Ferdinand to slot the ball past a wrong-footed Robinson.
Gerrard powers through to score England's second soon after, but Beckham allows Pauleta to escape him in front of goal and the Portuguese striker heads in an equaliser. Finally, in the final moments of the second period of extra time, Lampard rises high to put away the winning goal, pouncing on the rebound from a Cole header.
PES predicts: England 3, Portugal 2
Above: Lampard leaps to England's rescue, heading home his first goal of the tournament
Match two: Brazil vs France
France look wobbly early on, with Barthez clumsily spilling a simple catch and Sagnol desperately booting the ball clear. Even so, Brazil are pinned back by Les Blues, both sides controlling possession and denying the opposition space to shoot. But Henry is lost and lonely up front, and the best chance of the first half comes from a free-kick, Zidane's scorching drive denied by the crossbar.
Ronaldo almost puts Brazil ahead soon after the break with a mazy run that splits the French defence, but his shot goes wide. A drab second half turns into extra time and neither team looks set to break the deadlock. Until, that is, Ronaldinho heads down a cross to Juninho - hovering on the edge of the area, he smashes a first-time shot into the French goal and earns Brazil a place in the semi-finals.
PES predicts: Brazil 1, France 0
Previous matches
Day one,Day two,Day three,Day four,Day five,Day six,Day seven,Day eight,Day nine,Day 10,Day 11,Day 12,Day 13,Day 14,Day 15,Day 16,Day 17,Day 18,Day 19,Day 20
