Hosts Germany cruised into the last 16 with a goal in the first minute of stoppage time to leave Poland pointless after two games thanks to Oliver Neuville. The forward latched on to a low cross from fellow substitute David Odonkor to slide the ball past the despairing dive of Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc. The goal came a minute after Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack had hit the bar within seconds of each other. Poland’s Radoslaw Sobolewski was sent off late on for two bookable offences. At the other end, Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had little to do. The Poles threatened on several occasions, particularly in the second half with Ireneusz Jelen pulling the strings in midfield. Germany brought on the pacy David Odonkor in the last 20 minutes and his arrival appeared to add a spring into the step of his frustrated side. Earlier in the day, Spain put on a stunning show in the Liepzig sunshine The Spaniards produced a super display to outclass a Ukrainian side that played most of the second half with 10 men. Xabi Alonso headed Spain in front from a Xavi corner and David Villa doubled the lead with a free-kick that deflected past Olexandr Shovkovskiy. Spain saved their best for last when Fernando Torres finished off a sublime move by drilling home. Spain wasted no time in going straight at the debutants, with Torres and Villa showing why they were preferred up front to skipper Raul. Also in an all Arab derby, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia drew 2-2 in Munich to leave both sides struggling in the challenge for second place in Group H. Roger Lemerre’s Carthage Eagles controlled the first half as they looked to buck the trend of African defeats in Germany, and gave themselves hope of escaping the first round for the first time when Ziad Jaziri scored with a fantastic volley. However, after the break Marcos Paqueta’s Saudi Arabia were a different prospect altogether, and certainly gave a more resounding performance than in their 2002 debut when they were routed 8-0 by Germany as they fought back through Yasser Al Kahtani. Veteran striker Sami Al Jaber, summoned from the bench to appear in his fourth World Cup finals, grabbed a late goal to firmly cement his place as the all-time hero of Saudi football. However, Bolton stopper Radhi Jaidi had clearly not read the script as he scored with a last gasp header to deny the Sons of the Desert and restore Tunisia’s pride. After the restart the Saudis looked much more keen to venture forward and Noor should have scored within two minutes as he stole in behind the Tunisian defence after hesitation from Haggui, but when faced with a gaping goal the Al Ittihad star flicked a volley wide of the post with the outside of his boot. With nine minutes to go Al Kahtani was brought off for a bit of history to be made as veteran striker Al Jaber entered the fray to appear in his fourth World Cup finals, but it was more than a token gesture from Paqueta as within two minutes the former Wolves man had scored. But the Saudi celebrations were to be short-lived as Jaidi capitalised on the Saudi defence’s inability to clear the ball and he headed home from inside the six-yard box to give his team a share of the points.

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