Group A

Brazil 1-0 Scotland

After a quiet, understated opening ceremony, the game between the defending champions and the English Premier League C team turned into a tense, defensive affair. Bebeto scored the only goal of the game from a free kick just on the edge of the D early in the second half.

Norway 2-2 Morocco

Another tense game, between the English Premier League B team and the North Africans was a scrappy affair. Two goals for Solskjaer were cancelled out by a wonderful strike from Hadji and an own goal by Henning Berg. Manchester United players may have scored three, but the points were split.

Group B

Italy 2-1 Peru

A glorious, flowing game that really brought the contest to life. Italy went into the lead after just 2 minutes through Roberto Baggio. Maldini deflected a cross into his own net, but Vieri struck within a minute to wrap the game up.

Austria 3-1 Cameroon

A game overshadowed by the Italy - Peru match, but still of quality. Two from Heraf and one from Vasic gave the Austrians their goals, with Ipoua netting a consolation in second-half injury time.

Group C

South Africa 4-3 France

The upset of the tournament so far caused riots in Marseilles. Played in a drying Mistral wind, things looked good at half time, with Zidane and Dugarry on target to put France 2-0 up. After the restart, a brace from Fortune split by one from Massinger put the visitors ahead. France equalised from a Vieira free kick with two minutes to go, but that was enough time to let Radebe score an audacious goal from the halfway line.

Denmark 1-0 Saudi Arabia

A dull match, remarkable only for Brian Laudrup's goal and Schmeichel's defensive tactics in the last quarter.

Group D

Spain 1-1 Kenya

The rank outsiders hold one of the pre-tournament favourites to an unexpected draw. Substitute Kanu put the Kenyans ahead early in the second half; Kiko levelled within minutes, and the two sides completed a tense draw, combining to miss 16 shots on target in the last 25 minutes.

Bulgaria 3-0 Paraguay

Stoichkov, the man who guided Bulgaria to a shock 4th place four years ago, scored two in the first 20 minutes to bury a suffering Paraguay side. Substitute Nankov added a third in the 75th minute.

Group E

Mexico 3-0 South Korea

Although starting slight underdogs for the match, Mexico never looked like letting the Koreans have a scent of goal. Stout defending and 14 saves from Kim Byung-Ji stopped Mexico from scoring until the 58th minute, though. Hernandez and Garcia got two within five minutes, and Kim Tae-Young deflected in a free kick from Ordiales late in the game.

Netherlands 3-1 Russia

The Dutch prove their strength in depth, this win coming in spite of Dennis Bergkamp failing a fitness test before the match. Kluivert scored first, on the stroke of half time, but Kostadinov equalised within two minutes of the restart. Goals for Hasselbaink and substitute Seedorf prompted 20 minutes of attack-minded football from the Russians - all to no avail.

Group F

Germany 4-3 USA

At half time, it looked plain sailing for the Germans; 2-0 up, with goals from Bierhoff and Klinsmann. Then Mathaeus went off injured; Wynalda, Wegerle and Ramos scored, and the US were 3-2 up. A bad mistake from goalie Friedel let Moller in for the equaliser. Hammann came on for a free kick two minutes into time added on, and slipped it past the diving Freidel.

Australia 3-0 Ireland

No mistake for the Aussies this time, putting two past Bonner within the first ten minutes, and sealing it from a Johnsonn spot kick on the hour.

Group G

Romania 3-3 Colombia

A scrappy, bad-tempered affair saw the first two dismissals of the contest as the referee lost control of the match in the last 20 minutes. By then, though, it was heading for an exciting finish; Ilie's opener had been cancelled out by Asprilla. Tino then went on to put the Colombians ahead before being shown the red card for being within 20 yards of Hagi. Popescu curved the ball wickedly from the resultant free kick to equalise, and Ilie popped up again in the box to put the Romanians ahead. de Avilia levelled again within six minutes, and the frantic efforts of both sides to claim a victory came to naught.

England 4-0 Tunisia

A great win for the English contingent, though somewhat sterile in execution. Two for Shearer, one for Beckham and Scholes were scant return for England's dominance of a shoddy Tunisian defence.

Group H

Argentina 1-1 Japan

Batistusta put the Argentines 1-0 up after seven minutes, and it looked as though they would put a rugby score past the Japanese. But doughty defending, clever use of the offside rule, and 31 saves from Kawaguchi prevented any more leaking into the net. The Argentines became frustrated, Astrada sent off for punching an opponent, and let the win slip away with 5 minutes to play, letting Shoji Jo through to score.

Costa Rica 2-0 Croatia

A massive upset as the group's rank outsiders beat the second favourites. Goals from Enrique and Mataldo early in the second half, and woeful finishing by Boban and Suker, surely consign the Croats to an early exit.

The fun continues in part two...