FIFA World Cup 2006

At their newspaper's office, two Iranian female journalists watch Iran's national soccer team match against Mexico during World Cup, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 11, 2006. Iran on Sunday lost 3-1 to Mexico in their soccer World Cup match, held in Nuremberg, Germany. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Swedish football supporter wears colours of her team in Dortmund Stadium, 10 June 2006, prior to the 2006 World Cup group B match between Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden.

Fans at the Angola v Portugal match, 11 June 2006

An Argentinian couple of supporters waits for the begining of the 2006 World Cup group C football game Argentina vs. Ivory Coast, 10 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. AFP PHOTO JOHN MACDOUGALL timestamp: 1149965914



Argentina's soccer legend Diego Maradona is kissed by a wellwisher prior the Argentina' vs Ivory Coast, Group C, World Cup 2006 soccer match at World Cup stadium, Hamburg, northern Germany, on Saturday, June 10, 2006. The others in Group C are Serbia-Montenegro and The Netherlands. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

A Brazilian Soccer Fans Dances During A Training Session Of Brazilian Team In Offenbach A Brazilian soccer fans dances during a training session of Brazilian team in Offenbach June 8, 2006. WORLD CUP 2006 PREVIEW REUTERS/Michael Dalder (GERMANY)


A Brazilian football supporter waves her national flag during a training session of the team, 08 June 2006, in Offenbach, Germany. Brazil's World Cup squad prepares to face Croatia next 13 June in Berlin. AFP PHOTO/ANTONIO SCORZA





A Brazilian fan dances samba as she waits for the beginning of Brazil's training session at Offenbach, near Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 8, 2006. Brazil will play in Group F against Japan, Croatia, and Australia during the upcoming soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)



A Brazilian costumed supporter celebrates prior to a friendly match between the national soccer teams of Brazil and New Zealand, in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, June 4, 2006, ahead of the World Cup in Germany. Brazil will play in Group F with Croatia, Australia and Japan. New Zealand is not qualified for the World Cup. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)

Mexico scored twice in the final 20 minutes to defeat Iran 3-1 in their opening Germany 2006 match in Nuremberg on Sunday, 11 June 2006.
With the teams tied at 1-1, Omar Bravo capitalised on a mix-up in the Iran defence to slot home his and Mexico's second goal in the 76th minute. Three minutes later Zinha headed the third to seal victory for Ricardo La Volpe's side.

Bravo had earlier given Mexico the lead after 28 minutes before Iran drew level on 36 minutes through defender Yahya Golmohammadi.

The match:
4': Iran began with no hint of nerves, asking early questions of their Mexican opposition. Roaring forward, their German connection threatened a goal as Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi laid a nice ball through to Mehdi Mahdavikia. But the Hamburg midfielder sliced his 25-yard shot just wide of Oswaldo Sanchez's left-hand post.

11': Vahid Hashemian went even closer for the impressive Iranians. Unable to make contact with a fine cross from the right, the Hanover 96 striker met the resulting bit of service from the left with a strong header, only to see it saved well by a sprawling Sanchez.

14': Mexico began to look dangerous on the counterattack and Ricardo Osorio's cross from the right nearly caught out Ebrahim Mirzapour after taking a wicked deflection.

23': Now asserting themselves after a slow start, Mexico's Barcelona star Rafael Marquez spurned an opportunity with a header from a corner. Ultimately, it hardly troubled Mirzapour as the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar. Seconds later, Bravo broke down the right but his cross was wasted as it failed to reach Jared Borgetti.

28': The rising tide finally crashed on the Iranians as Pavel Pardo's free-kick from the right was nodded on by Guillermo Franco and poked home at the back post by Bravo. (1-0)

36': Seemingly from nothing, an Iranian equaliser. Sanchez came flying off his line to collect a corner from Karimi but a slight deflection saw the ball fall to the feet of full-back Golmohammadi, who made no mistake as he hammered it into the roof of the net. (1-1)

Borgetti limps off
52': Jose Fonseca of Cruz Azul took the field after Borgetti, Mexico's all-time top scorer, limped off with what looked like a sore left knee.

56': El Tri seemed unsettled by the withdrawal of Borgetti and Mahdavikia did his best to take advantage of some confusion in the Mexican rearguard. His hopeful shot from 25 yards missed Sanchez's far post by a whisker.

63': Iran's turn to lose an influential member of their side as Karimi made way for Mehrzad Madanchi. With concerns over his match fitness before the game, coach Branko Ivankovic seemingly decided to withdraw his Bundesliga star rather than push him too hard.

76': Mexico punished a mistake in the Iranian defence as substitute Zinha snuck in to cut out a sloppy pass and lay a beautiful through-ball to Bravo. The striker made no mistake in slotting home his second goal of the match. (2-1)

79': Zinha added a third to put the result beyond doubt. After a brilliant bit of dribbling, he kept his run going and nodded home the return cross from Fonseca to seal the three points for Mexico. (3-1)

In conclusion:
Iran suffered for their late collapse as Mexico finished with a 3-1 win which was arguably harsh on Ivankovic's men. The Mexicans will face Angola in their next match with confidence, but Iran – who looked a dangerous side in parts – must pick themselves up before facing Portugal.

They may be bleary-eyed and nervous, but Aussie football fans packing bars across the country Monday will also rejoice in the Socceroos' return to the World Cup finals after a 32-year absence.

The green and gold team's opening match against Japan will kick-off at 11:00 pm Monday on Australia's eastern seaboard but pubs are not expecting the late start on a work night to diminish crowds.

"We're expecting to be very, very busy indeed," said Australian Hotels Association spokesman Bill Healey, whose members have been given special dispensation in some states to stay open late for the tournament.

"People want to come to the pub and cheer on their team in a community atmosphere."

Employer groups have adopted a flexible approach so Australians need not adopt the traditional remedy of "chucking a sickie" after their nocturnal excesses.

"Some people will be shifting their hours, some will work from home and others have saved up their leave to take it in one big block," Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Chris Harris told AFP.

"But no doubt there will still be a few sleepy eyes in the workplace."

Among die-hard football fans there is little of the cocksure swagger that often accompanies Australia's efforts in sports where it traditionally dominates, such as cricket, swimming or rugby league.

"We're just glad to be there," Socceroos supporter Bruno Di Mattia told AFP.

"If we get through to the qualifying rounds it will be a bonus," he added, noting that Australia's group includes reigning champions Brazil, Asian champions Japan and widely-respected Croatia.

Like many football fans in multicultural Australia, Sydney-based Di Mattia's loyalties are split between the national side and his country of ethnic origin -- in this case, Italy.

Large expatriate Italian and English communities are preparing their own events to urge on their teams, while at Sydney's famous Bondi beach, backpackers from every corner of the world will ensure no side is unsupported.

Briton Neil Liasides said England remained his first team even after 20 years of living in Australia.

But he admitted to a soft spot for the Socceroos after seeing them come close to reaching the 1994, 1998 and 2002 finals, only to lose their final qualifying matches and remain in the football wilderness.

Australia's presence at the world's biggest sporting event has lifted soccer's profile in a country where it normally struggles against rival oval-ball codes and cricket.

An AFP image shot by photographer Torsten Blackwood of Socceroo players celebrating the moment they qualified for the tournament in a penalty shootout against Uruguay is ubiquitous in Australia.

Plastered across shopping centres nationwide, it has been adopted by top banks, sports stores and telecoms companies keen to capitalise on unprecedented public interest in football.

Newspapers are offering medals bearing the likeness of "our Socceroo heroes" -- the Vince Grella medal anyone? Collect all 15 squad members for just 30 dollars.

Prime Minister John Howard, a self-confessed "cricket tragic" who goes power walking every day in an Australian Rugby Union track suit, has also jumped on the bandwagon and offered the Socceroos a message of support.

The football fever has even extended to the normally staid world of financial markets, where Macquarie Bank analysts briefly forgot bonds and derivatives to analyse Australia's chances against Japan.

Their prediction for the match after number-crunching by a comprehensive, and completely unbiased, quant statistical model? 3-2 -- to Australia, of course.