La Galaxia de Estrellas

The +Teamgeist ball is the official football for the FIFA World Cup 2006. The plus sign in its name was introduced in order to trademark the whole expression, which would not have been possible with the regular German language word teamgeist, meaning team spirit.
The ball is made by adidas, which has provided the balls used in all World Cup matches since the 1970 World Cup when the famous Telstar was introduced, which defined the look of a typical football ever since with its 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons in the form of a truncated icosahedron or bucky ball.
The Teamgeist ball differs from previous designs in having just 14 curved panels (making the ball topologically equivalent to a truncated octahedron), rather than the 32 that have been standard since the 1970. In another first, the panels are bonded together rather than stitched. It is claimed to be rounder and to perform more uniformly regardless of where it is hit, and being almost waterproof it also doesn't change performance as much when wet.
Its a fact: Each of the 32 qualified federations receives 40 match balls for training purposes.

GROUP STAGES

Friday 9 Jun 2006

Germany kick-off campaign in style
Germany 4-2 Costa Rica
Philipp Lahm and Torsten Frings scored sumptuous goals as the competition hosts began their campaign with a win.



Energetic Ecuador punish Poland
Poland 0-2 Ecuador
Paweł Janas' team have it all to do in Group A after Ecuador dealt an early blow to their FIFA World Cup aspirations.



Saturday 10 Jun 2006

England profit from Gamarra slip
England 1-0 Paraguay
Sven-Göran Eriksson's side got their campaign off to a winning start courtesy of an early Carlos Gamarra own goal.



Sweden denied by Hislop heroics
Trinidad and Tobago 0-0 Sweden
Shaka Hislop was sensational as ten-man Trinidad and Tobago earned a point on their FIFA World Cup debut.



Clinical Argentina down Ivorians
Argentina 2-1 Ivory Coast
Clinical finishing proved the difference as Argentina took the points in a high quality encounter.




Sunday 11 Jun 2006

Bravo provides Mexican hurrah
Mexico 3-1 Iran
Omar Bravo scored twice as Mexico beat their Group D rivals, but they were pushed all the way in Nurenburg.



Reliant Robben powers Dutch win
Serbia and Montenegro 0-1 Netherlands
Arjen Robben was at his bewildering best as the Dutch opened their Group C campaign with victory.



Misfiring Portugal limp to victory
Angola 0-1 Portugal
Pauleta's early strike proved enough to earn Portugal the points but it was Angola that emerged with credit.



Monday 12 Jun 2006

Japan sunk by Australia substitutes
Australia 3-1 Japan
A late double from Tim Cahill and fellow replacement John Aloisi's last-gasp strike earned a comeback victory.



Injury cuts short Koller celebrations
United States 0-3 Czech Republic
Jan Koller set the Czechs on course for victory but an injury to the striker could overshadow the result.



Italian experience pays dividends
Italy 2-0 Ghana
Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta were on target as the Azzurri claimed the points in an entertaining game.



Tuesday 13 Jun 2006

Korea trip up debutants Togo
Korea Republic 2-1 Togo
Substitute Ahn Jung-Hwan of MSV Duisburg completed a Korean comeback against ten-man Togo in Group G.



Points shared in Stuttgart stalemate
France 0-0 Switzerland
It was a tale of frustration as both countries missed the chances to win their opening Group G fixture.



Kaká strikes the decisive blow
Brazil 1-0 Croatia
Kaká made the difference as the holders overcame tough resistance from Croatia to win their opener.



Wednesday 14 Jun 2006

Superb Spain inflict Ukraine pain
Spain 4-0 Ukraine
Ten-man Ukraine suffered a nightmare start to their first finals tournament as Spain streaked to victory.



Tunisia thankful to last-gasp Jaidi
Tunisia 2-2 Saudi Arabia
Radhi Jaidi's added-time header earned Tunisia a draw to deny the Saudis an opening victory in Group H.



Neuville punishes ten-man Poland
Germany 1-0 Poland
Oliver Neuville's late goal gave the hosts a second Group A win and left Poland on the brink of elimination.



Thursday 15 Jun 2006

Germany advance as Ecuador win
Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica
Germany are through to the last 16 but Group A rivals Poland are out after Ecuador ensured their own progress.



Lacklustre England leave it late
England 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago
Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard saw England through to the last 16 as Wayne Rooney returned.



Ljungberg swoops to revive Sweden
Sweden 1-0 Paraguay
Fredrik Ljungberg's last-gasp header moved the Swedes second in Group B as Paraguay's bid ended.



Friday 16 Jun 2006

Gritty Angola halt Mexican advance
Mexico 0-0 Angola
Ten-man Angola held on to pick up a famous draw as Mexico's Group D ambitions were dealt a heavy blow.



Plavi fall to awesome Argentina
Argentina 6-0 Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro's FIFA World Cup dreams are in tatters after a stunning Argentina performance.



Defiant Dutch hold firm to progress
Netherlands 2-1 Ivory Coast
Ruud van Nistelrooij and Robin van Persie scored as Marco van Basten's side booked a place in the last 16.



Saturday 17 Jun 2006

Deco drives Portugal past Iran
Portugal 2-0 Iran
A thunderous strike from Deco inspired Portugal as they booked a place in the knockout stages.



Ghana make history as Czechs falter
Czech Republic 0-2 Ghana
Goals from Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari saw Ghana claim their first FIFA World Cup victory.



Three sent off as USA hold Azzurri
Italy 1-1 USA
The USA earned a draw against Italy despite finishing an action-packed game in Kaiserlautern with nine men.



Sunday 18 Jun 2006

Croatia denied by Kawaguchi save
Croatia 0-0 Japan
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi produced a superb penalty save as Croatia and Japan played out a goalless draw.



Adriano spares Brazil blushes
Brazil 2-0 Australia
A fine shot by Adriano and a late Fred tap-in saw the holders Brazil through to the last 16.



Park strike punishes France
France 1-1 Korea Republic
France ended a worrying FIFA World Cup goal drought before Park Ji-Sung's strike left Group G wide open.



Monday 19 Jun 2006

Frei opens door for Switzerland
Togo 0-2 Switzerland
Goals from Alexander Frei and Tranquillo Barnetta put Switzerland on course for a place in the second round.



Four-goal Ukraine make history
Saudi Arabia 0-4 Ukraine
Andriy Rusol, Serhiy Rebrov, Andriy Shevchenko and Maxym Kalinichenko sealed their country's first win.



Raúl sparks a Spanish revival
Spain 3-1 Tunisia
Luis Aragonés's substitutions worked to perfection as his charges came from behind to reach the last 16.



Tuesday 20 Jun 2006

Bosacki eases Poland's pain
Costa Rica 1-2 Poland
Two goals from central defender Bartosz Bosacki enabled Paweł Janas's side to bow out on a high note.



Win hands Germany pole position
Ecuador 0-3 Germany
Two Miroslav Klose goals and a third by Lukas Podolski earned the hosts victory and top spot in Group A.



Paraguay finish with a flourish
Paraguay 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago
Paraguay ended their FIFA World Cup campaign on a high note with a 2-0 Group B win in Gelsenkirchen.


Swedes peg back nervy England
Sweden 2-2 England
Both sides confirmed their progress to the last 16 but Michael Owen's injury gave England cause for concern.



Wednesday 21 Jun 2006

Iran halt Angola's advance
Iran 1-1 Angola
Mexico breathed a sigh of relief after Angola were pegged back in their concluding Group D fixture.



Portugal progress as pool winners
Portugal 2-1 Mexico
Maniche (pictured) and a Simão penalty ensured Portugal advanced with maximum points in Group D.



Ivorian comeback shocks Serbians
Ivory Coast 3-2 Serbia and Montenegro
The European side let a two-goal lead slip to finish without a point at the foot of Group C.



Share of spoils suits title rivals
Netherlands 0-0 Argentina
The South Americans pipped the Dutch to top spot in Group C following a low-key draw in Frankfurt.



Thursday 22 Jun 2006

Ghana glory in Nuremberg triumph
Ghana 2-1 USA
First-half goals from Haminu Draman and captain Stephen Appiah secured second place in Group E.



Materazzi prompts Czech exit
Czech Republic 0-2 Italy
A Marco Materazzi goal and a first-half red card cost Karel Brückner's side as they bowed out of the finals.



Ronaldo sparks Brazilian revival
Japan 1-4 Brazil
Ronaldo took his FIFA World Cup tally to a record-equalling 14 as Brazil found their form in Dortmund.



Kewell jewel ends Croatia hopes
Croatia 2-2 Australia
Harry Kewell's late strike proved enough as Australia twice came from behind to end Croatia's campaign.



Friday 23 Jun 2006

Juanito maintains Spain momentum
Saudi Arabia 0-1 Spain
Juanito Gutiérrez's first-half header proved enough for Luis Aragonés's side to take first position in Group H.



Shevchenko fires Ukraine through
Ukraine 1-0 Tunisia
Andriy Shevchenko's second-half penalty propelled tournament debutants Ukraine into the last 16.



France relieved by Togo triumph
Togo 0-2 France
Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry were on target as the 1998 winners clinched second place in Group G.



Switzerland surge into last 16
Switzerland 2-0 Korea Republic
Goals in each half from Philippe Senderos and Alexander Frei set up a meeting with Ukraine.



ROUND OF 16

Saturday 24 Jun 2006

Podolski powers Germany through
Germany 2-0 Sweden
Early goals from Lucas Podolski set the hosts on course for an easy win against the ten-man Swedes in Munich.



Rodríguez secures dramatic win
Argentina 2-1 Mexico (aet)
Maxi Rodríguez's incredible extra-time strike saw Argentina through to a meeting with Germany.



Sunday 25 Jun 2006

Careful England edge past Ecuador
England 1-0 Ecuador
A trademark David Beckham free-kick proved enough as England clawed out a narrow victory in Stuttgart.



Oranje see red as Portugal prevail
Portugal 1-0 Netherlands
Maniche scored the only goal of a fractious encounter in Nurenburg that both teams ended with nine men.



Monday 26 Jun 2006

Last-gasp Totti on the spot for Italy
Italy 1-0 Australia
Francesco Totti converted a penalty with the final kick of the game to take ten-man Italy through.



Ukraine edge into last eight
Switzerland 0-0 Ukraine
(aet, Ukraine win 3-0 on penalties)
Oleh Gusev scored the decisive spot-kick in Cologne.



Tuesday 27 Jun 2006

Ronaldo helps Brazil to last eight
Brazil 3-0 Ghana
A record-breaking goal from a lively Ronaldo put the FIFA World Cup holders on their way to victory.



Zidane crowns France comeback
Spain 1-3 France
Zinédine Zidane, at 34, rolled back the years to set up a last-eight repeat of the 1998 final against Brazil.



QUARTER FINALS

Friday 30 Jun 2006

Lehmann saves German campaign
Germany 1-1 Argentina
(aet, Germany win 4-2 on penalties)
Two shoot-out saves from Jens Lehmann took the hosts into the last four.



Two for Toni as Ukraine bow out
Italy 3-0 Ukraine
Marcello Lippi's side marched on to a date with Germany after comfortably overcoming Ukraine.



Saturday 1 Jul 2006
Mesmeric Zidane inspires France
France 1-0 Brazil
Zinédine Zidane inspired a stunning French display to defeat Brazil and set up a semi-final against Portugal.



Portugal prevail as Rooney sees red
England 0-0 Portugal
(aet, Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Ricardo made three saves to deny ten-man England, who had Wayne Rooney sent off.



SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday 4 Jul 2006

Azzurri break German hearts
Germany 0-2 Italy (aet)
Last-gasp goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero defeated the hosts in an epic semi-final.



Wednesday 5 Jul 2006

Zidane fires France to the final
Portugal 0-1 France
France will play Italy in Sunday's final after Zinédine Zidane's penalty earned a deserved win in Munich.



III/IV PLACE PLAY-OFFS

Saturday 8 Jul 2006

Schweinsteiger starts German party
Germany 3-1 Portugal
Two superb goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger helped the host nation claim third place amid a party atmosphere.



FINALS

Sunday 9 Jul 2006

Italy prevail after shoot-out drama
Italy 1-1 France (aet, Italy win 5-3 on pens)
Fabio Grosso scored the decisive penalty as the Azzurri claimed a fourth FIFA World Cup in Berlin.

Talking about screen-shots here is mine.