2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage


In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the knockout stage was the second and final stage of the World Cup, following the group stage. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. A match was played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals to determine which team finished in third place.
Note: match kickoff times are given in local time; this is CEST during summer time.

Qualified teams

The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.
GroupWinnersRunners-up
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Bracket

Round of 16

Germany vs Sweden

Germany progressed thanks to two goals from Lukas Podolski inside the opening 12 minutes. His first was in the fourth minute; German captain Michael Ballack sent a pass to Miroslav Klose, who was tackled by goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, only for an onrushing Podolski to turn the ball in. Eight minutes later, a pass from Klose found Podolski, who scored his second goal. On 35 minutes, Teddy Lučić received a second yellow card for a foul on Klose. In the 52nd minute, Henrik Larsson won a penalty for Sweden when he was challenged by Christoph Metzelder, only for Larsson himself to shoot the ball over the crossbar. Afterwards, Germany held out for a 2–0 win.

Argentina vs Mexico

England vs Ecuador

Portugal vs Netherlands

Italy vs Australia

Switzerland vs Ukraine

Brazil vs Ghana

Spain vs France

Quarter-finals

Germany vs Argentina

Italy vs Ukraine

England vs Portugal

Brazil vs France

Defending world champions Brazil went out in the quarter-finals after Zinedine Zidane found an unmarked Thierry Henry from a free kick, the striker having been given a free run at the ball after his marker, Roberto Carlos, stopped to tie his shoe.

Semi-finals

Germany vs Italy

Portugal vs France

Third place play-off

Final