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GROUP E REVIEW

SAUDI ARABIA 0-3 IRELAND

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND pulled the result they needed out of the bag to assure themselves of qualification, and set up a likely meeting with Spain in the last 16.

Needing 2-0 victory to progress, no matter what the result between Cameroon and Germany, Ireland went one better when Damien Duff fired in a third, and the celebrations could begin.

Robbie Keane opened the scoring with an acrobaticvolley from near the penalty spot on 6 minutes, that Al-Deayea fumbled into the net, and centre-back Gary Breen volleyed a second on the hour from a deep free-kick.

When Duff fired in a third with five minutes to go - after another scandalous lapse of concentration from Al-Deayea, whose world-record breaking evening - where he earnt his 171st cap - ended in embarrassment.

Ireland: Shay Given; Steve Finnan, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte (Niall Quinn HT); Gary Kelly (Jason McAteer 80), Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella (Lee Carsley 88), Kevin Kilbane; Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.

Saudi Arabia: Mohammed Al-Deayea, Mohammed Al-Jahani (Dukhi 80), Fouzi Al-Shahri, Hussein Sulimani, Abdullah Zubromawi (Abdullah Gaman Al-Dosary 67), Raza Takar; Ibrahaim Al-Shahrani, Khumais Al-Owairan, Nawaf Al-Temyat, Abdel Aziz Al-Khathran; Al Hassan Al-Yami.

Final Group E standings:

CAMEROON 0-2 GERMANY

GERMANY have ended Cameroon’s World Cup dreams with a 2-0 win in Shizuoka.

Second-half goals from Marco Bode and Miroslav Klose secured Rudi Voller’s side a second round game against either Spain, South Africa or Paraguay.

The game was a lively affair, with the referee handing out a record-breaking 16 yellow and two red cards.

German defender Carsten Ramelow was the first player to see red on 40 - for two bookable offences - and was followed down the tunnel by Cameroon substitute Patrick Suffo ten minutes from time.

Cameroon created the better chances but the Germans caught the African champions on the break with two well-worked goals.

The first blow for Cameroon came when substitute Marco Bode struck just four minutes into the second-half.

Klose fed an incisive low ball through the defence and Bode ran through unchallenged, before calmly placing a first-time left-footed shot across Boukar Alioum.

Cameroon continued to press for an equaliser after Suffo's dismissal, but left even greater gaps in their defence.

Michael Ballack was first to take advantage of those gaps. The Bayern-bound star drifted down the right and supplied a delightful cross into the Cameroon penalty where Klose headed home from close range, to move back to the top of the scoring charts on five goals.

The game continued to ebb and flow, but it was Germany who had done the hard work and came out victorious.

IRELAND 1-1 GERMANY

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND once again showed they have fighting spirit and levels of resilience above their weight - conjuring up an equaliser in the 92nd minute to deny Germany an early progression into the second round.

Barely 45 seconds remained when substitute Niall Quinn headed down a long pass for Robbie Keane to run onto. The Leeds striker evaded the challenge of the woefully-off-balance Carsten Ramelow and blasted the ball as hard as he could from about four yards out. Kahn got a hand to it but couldn't stop the ball from flying into the roof of the net, off the inside of the near post.

Ireland had produced the better of the chances ever since falling behind to Miroslav Klose's fourth goal of the tournament. Michael Ballack curled over an accurate cross from the left, and Klose moved away from Ian Harte to convert a downward header with the minimum of fuss.

Kahn had already denied Damien Duff from point-blank range, while atthe other end, Carsten Jancker chipped narrowly wide when clean through.

CAMEROON 1-0 SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA became the first team to be eliminated from the 2002 World Cup - but restored their pride after a vastly improved display against Cameroon.

The Group E whipping-boys could consider themselves desperately unlucky not to have gleaned a point for their endeavours, because they defended with discipline and attacked with verve, despite a 35th-minute injury to lone striker Obeid Al-Dosari.

The decisive goal came after 65 minutes, when Samuel Eto'o raced onto a visionary long free-kick by Geremi, shimmied, and placed a low shot past Mohammed Al-Deayea.

Attacking midfielder Nawaf Al-Temyat and substitute striker Al Hassan Al Yami both had excellent games as the Saudi's movement and quick-fire passing went unrewarded.

The result means that a 2-0 (or greater) win for Ireland against Saudi Arabia next Tuesday will guarantee a second phase berth for Mick McCarthy's team, irrespective of the score between Cameroon and Germany.

IRELAND 1-1 CAMEROON

Matt Hollands sweetly-struck strike earned the Republic a well deserved point from their opening match.

The Ipswhich midfielder fired low into the corner of the net from 25 yards after Rigbort Song failed to clear a basic cross in he 52nd minute.

Patrick Mboma had put the African Champions ahead after Samual Eto'o beat Steve Staunton to cross the ball.

Robbie Keane almost won the match by striking a beautiful shot agins the post.

GERMANY 8-0 SAUDI ARABIA

Miroslav Klose grabbed a hatrick this afternoon as ruthless Germany thrashed hapless Saudi Arabia in Group E.

Play maker Michael Ballack scored one and set up two as the Germans killed the game off with four first half goals.

Ballack crossed for Klose to score in the 19th and 25th minutes, before adding the third himself in the 40th minute. Carston Jankcer made it four on the stroke of half-time.

After the break Klose completed his hatrick in the 69th minute, Linke, Bierhoff and Schneider complete the rout.