Togo v France, 23 June 2006

Score2-0 to France
RefereeJorge Larrionda
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Finals group G
VenueRheinEnergie Stadion, Cologne
Attendance45,000
Kick-off: 21:00 Local (20:00 BST) Assistant referees: Wálter Rial (Uruguay) Pablo Fandino (Uruguay) Fourth official: Carlos Chandia (Chile) Fifth official: Rodrigo González (Chile) Man of the Match: Patrick Vieira (France) Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry scored as France secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup. France needed victory to ensure their progress from Group G, but they were frustrated by a spirited Togo defence during a goalless first half. But Vieira, celebrating his 30th birthday, eased the nerves as he fired home from inside the box on 55 minutes. And Henry turned before sending in a low shot six minutes later to set up a second round tie against Spain. The win seemed comfortable in the end, but it was anything but for much of the opening hour as France looked in real danger of making an early exit from the competition. This was the first meeting between Togo and France at any level.

0  Togo

Manager: Otto Pfister

2  France

Manager: Raymond Domenech

Goals:

Goals:

Patrick Vieira 55 G
Thierry Henry 61 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Kossi Agassa
Defender Jean-Paul Yaovi Abalo (captain)
Defender Richmond Forson
Defender Daré Nibombé
Midfielder Yao Aziawonou
Midfielder Cherif-Toure Maman
Forward Mohamed Kader

Starting lineup:

Fabien Barthez Goalkeeper
William Gallas Defender
Willy Sagnol Defender
Lilian Thuram Defender
Claude Makélélé Midfielder
Franck Ribéry Midfielder
Patrick Vieira Midfielder (captain)
Thierry Henry Forward
Florent Malouda Forward

Substitutions:

Adekanmi Olufade for Cherif-Toure Maman 59
Thomas Dossevi for Emmanuel Adebayor 75

Substitutions:

Sylvain Wiltord for Florent Malouda 74
Sidney Govou for Franck Ribéry 77
Alou Diarra for Patrick Vieira 81

Cards:

Yao Aziawonou 37 Y
Cherif-Toure Maman 44 Y
Moustapha Salifou 88 Y

Cards:

Claude Makélélé 30 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale
Defender Erik Akoto
Defender Assimiou Toure
Defender/Midfielder Alaixys Romao
Midfielder Kuami Agboh
Midfielder Ludovic Assemoassa
Midfielder Franck Atsou Edem
Midfielder Affo Erassa
Forward Thomas Dossevi
Forward Robert Malm

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Grégory Coupet
Goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau
Defender/Right back Pascal Chimbonda
Defender Eric Abidal
Defender Gael Givet
Midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo
Midfielder Alou Diarra
Midfielder Zinédine Zidane
Forward Sidney Govou
Forward Louis Saha
Forward Sylvain Wiltord

Comments:

Togo finish bottom of Group G.

Comments:

France finish as runners-up in Group G by ending a run of five World Cup finals games without a win since beating Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Final. With his 117th appearance, Lilian Thuram becomes France's most-capped player by exceeding the record set by Marcel Desailly. On his 30th birthday, Patrick Vieira becomes the sixth player in the history of the World Cup finals to score a goal on his birthday. Fellow Frenchman Michel Platini acheived this feat in 1982 and 1986.

0  Togo

Manager: Otto Pfister

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Kossi Agassa
Defender Jean-Paul Yaovi Abalo (captain)
Defender Richmond Forson
Defender Daré Nibombé
Midfielder Yao Aziawonou
Midfielder Cherif-Toure Maman
Forward Mohamed Kader

Substitutions:

Adekanmi Olufade for Cherif-Toure Maman 59
Thomas Dossevi for Emmanuel Adebayor 75

Cards:

Yao Aziawonou 37 Y
Cherif-Toure Maman 44 Y
Moustapha Salifou 88 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale
Defender Erik Akoto
Defender Assimiou Toure
Defender/Midfielder Alaixys Romao
Midfielder Kuami Agboh
Midfielder Ludovic Assemoassa
Midfielder Franck Atsou Edem
Midfielder Affo Erassa
Forward Thomas Dossevi
Forward Robert Malm

Comments:

Togo finish bottom of Group G.

2  France

Manager: Raymond Domenech

Goals:

Patrick Vieira 55 G
Thierry Henry 61 G

Starting lineup:

Fabien Barthez Goalkeeper
William Gallas Defender
Willy Sagnol Defender
Lilian Thuram Defender
Claude Makélélé Midfielder
Franck Ribéry Midfielder
Patrick Vieira Midfielder (captain)
Thierry Henry Forward
Florent Malouda Forward

Substitutions:

Sylvain Wiltord for Florent Malouda 74
Sidney Govou for Franck Ribéry 77
Alou Diarra for Patrick Vieira 81

Cards:

Claude Makélélé 30 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Grégory Coupet
Goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau
Defender/Right back Pascal Chimbonda
Defender Eric Abidal
Defender Gael Givet
Midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo
Midfielder Alou Diarra
Midfielder Zinédine Zidane
Forward Sidney Govou
Forward Louis Saha
Forward Sylvain Wiltord

Comments:

France finish as runners-up in Group G by ending a run of five World Cup finals games without a win since beating Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Final. With his 117th appearance, Lilian Thuram becomes France's most-capped player by exceeding the record set by Marcel Desailly. On his 30th birthday, Patrick Vieira becomes the sixth player in the history of the World Cup finals to score a goal on his birthday. Fellow Frenchman Michel Platini acheived this feat in 1982 and 1986.