Soccer: World Cup

09:00 PM CDT on Friday, June 23, 2006

By STEVE DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

Technical skill may decide matches, but the bursts of passion and emotion endure in mental scrapbooks. Staff Writer Steve Davis offers five inspired moments during the 15 days and 48 matches of the first round:

Mexico's players were fast to embrace goalkeeper – and friend – Oswaldo Sánchez immediately after a June 11 win. Sanchez had just been through the emotional ringer; his father died three days earlier. He flew to Guadalajara to mourn with family for a day, then returned to his team.

Worldwide tournament followers stopped to appreciated the brave, determined effort of a U.S. team reduced to nine men, forced to grind defensively for a half against a powerful 10-man Italy. The U.S. held in the Battle of Kaiserslautern, prolonging hope of advancing for one more match.

First, journeyman goalkeeper Shaka Hislop rose from the bench to replace an injured teammate. Then the world rose to its feet to cheer Hislop, who fantastically turned away Sweden time and again to keep Trinidad and Tobago, the smallest nation here, in contention with a scoreless tie.

It was almost as if Argentina was saying, "Yes, Brazil plays pretty soccer. But don't forget that we can pass a little, too." Against Serbia-Montenegro, the Argentines linked together 24 consecutive passes. The remarkable sequence ended with a back-heel pass and an Esteban Cambiasso goal.

Germany took all three first-round matches. The biggie was Oliver Neuville's late, tension-breaking strike against Poland to secure the hosts' second-round spot. It ignited a night of wild celebrations throughout the land. Germans, usually cautious about showing national pride, found relief in waving the flag in the name of soccer.