So, on to the group finales. In your world, these were the second round of group matches, apart from those in Group A.

Third Round of Games:

Group A

Brazil 2-2 Norway

The Samba boys and the Vikings split four goals in an exciting match. Ronaldo opens the scoring on 11 minutes, Flo levels on 14. Leonhardsen scores from a free kick on 73, but Bebeto scores from the slot after Berg is sent off. The result guarantees Brazil first place, but not in the style they expected.

Scotland 2-0 Morocco

After a handball denies Kevin Gallacher a clear goal on the 16th, only for him to score from the penalty, Scotland never look like being beaten. Hadja has Morocco's best chance just after half time, but a great run from Jim Leighton retreives a ball that looked like bouncing over. Substitute McAllister gets the deserved second late in the game.

Group B

Italy 3-0 Cameroon

A very unsatisfactory performance from the Italians. Yes, they go through with a 100% record, but del Piero, Roberto Baggio and Vieri score. Cameroon's defender Song is gone for a rash tackle, but the side attacks well and this score does not do their contribution justice.

Peru 3-1 Austria

The Peruvians pull out an unexpected progression. This is a far more attacking, open game that is capped with a 6-minute hat trick from Peruvian wondersub Jenio from the 63rd minute. The Austrians press very hard afterwards, but the only result of their 11 shots in the last 20 minutes is a goal from Vasic.

Their next games...

Group C

Denmark 2-3 South Africa

Wow! What a fine advert for football; sadly, seen live in just four countries of the world. The drama opened with Masinger's goal just 81 seconds after the kick off. Brian Laudrup scored an equaliser on 15 minutes, starting a full half-hour of gripping, end-to-end action. Bartlett finally broke the tension in first half injury time. A Nielsen free-kick was turned in by Fish for the equaliser on 73, and Denmark threw some wonderful attacks. But Vonk played a blinder, and a South African counter-attack resulted in the Fortune winner on 88. South Africa go through unbeaten; Denmark are pipped by...

France 4-1 Saudi Arabia

Not so much a game of two halves, as one of four penalties. Al-Jaber converted the first at the end of a dire first half, but France somehow get three penalties for weak offences. Djorkaeff converts all three, and Petit adds the only real goal of the match on 84. The Saudis have six players booked, and Al-Jiahana sent off for the second.

Group D

Spain 0-0 Paraguay

The Spaniards were never in it, but Paraguay just couldn't make any of their 21 shots count. Zubizaretta makes two errors, but poor finishing from the Paraguayan strike-force ruins it. 0-0 just suffices to let Spain go through.

Bulgaria 5-1 Kenya

There was only ever going to be one winner here, but Kenya's draw with Spain means they don't go home with heads hung low. The Bulgarian goals from Borimov, Kostadinov (2), Stoichkov and Hristov. Kanu's third in as many games is little consolation for the Kenyans.

Their next games...

Group E

Mexico 3-0 Russia

It's a winner takes all match, and it shows. A defensive Russian performance holds well for much of the game, but a slip is penalised by a 73rd minute Pelaez goal, and the Russians give up the ghost. Ramirez and Hernandez score in the remaining minutes, though defender Villa is ejected in time added on for his second bookable offence.

Netherlands 5-3 South Korea

Ronald de Boer equals the record for most goals in a match; he gets four. Dennis Bergkamp the fifth. South Korea, though never level after de Boer's 4th minute opener, benefitted from Yong Soo Choi's hat trick. The Dutch go through with a 100% record, but there are big questions about a defence that's leaked 6 goals in qualification. Don't bet on a 0-0 draw in the next round...

Group F

Germany 3-0 Ireland

No surprises at all. Germany score through Klinsmann, Bierhoff and Hassler; the Irish never look like getting on target. The Germans complete their second straight clean sheet, the Irish strikers complete their third.

USA 0-0 Australia

The closest of all battles is a dour, defensive affair. Six marvellous saves from Jurgen Sommer helps the US keep the clean sheet that will take them through, but neither could they score. The US sneak through.

Group G

Romania 2-2 England

With the amazing result in Lyon, this could have been the match to lose, had Romania still been in contention. But both sides attacked from the word go. Beckham curled in a wonderful free kick early on, only to see Hagi equalise on half time. Moldovan put the Romanians ahead with 17 to go, but a late, late strike from Michael Owen brought England the leveller their play deserved.

Tunisia 2-0 Colombia

With the Tunisians needing a win to be certain of going through, and the Colombians to stand a chance, both sides also attacked from the get-go. Chihi and Ben Silalmie were the marksmen for the Africans, but Colombia missed 13 shots on target.

Group H

Argentina 1-1 Costa Rica

A win for either side would have meant qualification, and avoiding the dangerous England in the next round. But a dour, defensive match wasn't livened by goals from Pineda and Ramirez, nor by the two red cards and six bookings. The result gives an unexpectedly tough draw for the group G champs...

Croatia 2-4 Japan

...and a shockingly easy one for the runners up. Japan, the 40/1 outsiders to win the group, take the most unexpected title in many a contest. Prosinecki gave Croatia the lead, before star of the tournament Shoji Jo struck twice in three minutes to restore the lead. Bobin came close three times, but he only scored after Nakata and substitute Lopes found the back of the net.