Play in Group C of the 2006 FIFA World Cup began on 10 June 2006 and ended on 21 June. Argentina won the group and advanced to the round of 16, along with the Netherlands. The two sides tied on points in the standings, but Argentina won the tie-break on goal difference and ended the group in first with the Netherlands in second place. The Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro failed to advance.
Upon completion of the draw for the tournament, many football pundits remarked that this group appeared to be the "group of death", despite the fact that only Argentina had qualified for the previous World Cup.
Standings
Argentina advanced to play Mexico (runners-up of Group D) in the round of 16. The Netherlands advanced to play Portugal (winners of Group D) in the round of 16.
Matches All times local (CEST/UTC+2)
Argentina vs Ivory Coast
GK 1 Roberto AbbondanzieriRB 21Nicolás BurdissoCB 2 Roberto AyalaCB 6 Gabriel Heinze LB 3 Juan Pablo Sorín (c)RM 18Maxi RodríguezCM 8 Javier MascheranoLM 5 Esteban CambiassoAM 10Juan Román Riquelme CF 7 Javier Saviola CF 9 Hernán Crespo Substitutions:FW 14Rodrigo Palacio MF 22Lucho González MF 16Pablo Aimar Manager:José Pékerman GK 1 Jean-Jacques TiziéRB 21Emmanuel Eboué CB 4 Kolo TouréCB 12Abdoulaye MéïtéLB 3 Arthur BokaCM 19Yaya TouréCM 5 Didier ZokoraRW 18Abdul Kader Keïta AM 8 Bonaventure Kalou LW 2 Kanga Akalé CF 11Didier Drogba (c) Substitutions:FW 15Aruna Dindane FW 14Bakari Koné FW 9 Arouna Koné Manager: Henri Michel
Man of the Match: Javier Saviola (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Peter Hermans (Belgium) Walter Vromans (Belgium) Fourth official: Éric Poulat (France) Fifth official: Vincent Texier (France)
Serbia and Montenegro vs Netherlands
GK 1 Dragoslav JevrićRB 14Nenad Đorđević CB 6 Goran Gavrančić CB 20Mladen KrstajićLB 3 Ivica Dragutinović RM 10Dejan Stanković CM 4 Igor DuljajCM 17Albert NađLM 11Predrag ĐorđevićCF 9 Savo Milošević (c) CF 8 Mateja Kežman Substitutions:MF 7 Ognjen Koroman FW 19Nikola Žigić FW 21Danijel Ljuboja Manager:Ilija Petković GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)RB 14John Heitinga CB 13André OoijerCB 4 Joris Mathijsen LB 5 Giovanni van Bronckhorst RM 18Mark van Bommel CM 20Wesley SneijderLM 8 Phillip CocuRF 17Robin van PersieCF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy LF 11Arjen RobbenSubstitutions:MF 6 Denny Landzaat FW 7 Dirk Kuyt DF 3 Khalid Boulahrouz Manager:Marco van Basten
Man of the Match: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Assistant referees: Christian Schräer (Germany) Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany) Fourth official: Mohamed Guezzaz (Morocco) Fifth official: Brahim Djezzar (Algeria)
Argentina vs Serbia and Montenegro
GK 1 Roberto AbbondanzieriRB 21Nicolás BurdissoCB 2 Roberto AyalaCB 6 Gabriel HeinzeLB 3 Juan Pablo Sorín (c)DM 8 Javier MascheranoRW 22Lucho González AM 10Juan Román RiquelmeLW 18Maxi Rodríguez CF 7 Javier Saviola CF 9 Hernán Crespo Substitutions:MF 5 Esteban Cambiasso FW 11Carlos Tevez FW 19Lionel Messi Manager:José Pékerman GK 1 Dragoslav JevrićRB 4 Igor DuljajCB 6 Goran GavrančićCB 15Milan DudićLB 20Mladen Krstajić RM 7 Ognjen Koroman CM 17Albert Nađ CM 11Predrag ĐorđevićLM 10Dejan StankovićCF 9 Savo Milošević (c) CF 8 Mateja Kežman Substitutions:MF 2 Ivan Ergić FW 21Danijel Ljuboja MF 18Zvonimir Vukić Manager:Ilija Petković
Man of the Match: Juan Román Riquelme (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Cristiano Copelli (Italy) Alessandro Stagnoli (Italy) Fourth official: Essam Abd El Fatah (Egypt) Fifth official: Dramane Danté (Mali)
Netherlands vs Ivory Coast
GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)RB 14John Heitinga CB 13André OoijerCB 4 Joris Mathijsen LB 5 Giovanni van BronckhorstRM 18Mark van Bommel CM 20Wesley Sneijder LM 8 Phillip CocuRF 11Arjen Robben CF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy LF 17Robin van PersieSubstitutions:DF 3 Khalid Boulahrouz MF 10Rafael van der Vaart MF 6 Denny Landzaat Manager:Marco van Basten GK 1 Jean-Jacques TiziéRB 21Emmanuel EbouéCB 4 Kolo TouréCB 12Abdoulaye MéïtéLB 3 Arthur Boka CM 19Yaya TouréCM 5 Didier Zokora CM 22Romaric RF 14Bakari Koné CF 11Didier Drogba (c) LF 9 Arouna Koné Substitutions:MF 10Gilles Yapi Yapo FW 15Aruna Dindane MF 2 Kanga Akalé Manager: Henri Michel
Man of the Match: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Assistant referees: José Navia (Colombia) Fernando Tamayo (Ecuador) Fourth official: Marco Rodríguez (Mexico) Fifth official: José Luis Camargo (Mexico)
Netherlands vs Argentina
GK 1 Edwin van der Sar (c)RB 2 Kew JaliensCB 3 Khalid BoulahrouzCB 13André Ooijer LB 15Tim de Cler RM 10Rafael van der VaartCM 20Wesley Sneijder LM 8 Phillip CocuRF 17Robin van Persie CF 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy LF 7 Dirk Kuyt Substitutions:FW 21Ryan Babel MF 6 Denny Landzaat MF 16Hedwiges Maduro Manager:Marco van Basten GK 1 Roberto AbbondanzieriRB 21Nicolás Burdisso CB 2 Roberto Ayala (c)CB 15Gabriel MilitoLB 17Leandro CufréRM 18Maxi RodríguezCM 8 Javier Mascherano LM 5 Esteban Cambiasso AM 10Juan Román Riquelme CF 19Lionel Messi CF 11Carlos TevezSubstitutions:DF 4 Fabricio Coloccini FW 20Julio Cruz MF 16Pablo Aimar Manager:José Pékerman
Man of the Match: Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Victoriano Giráldez Carrasco (Spain) Pedro Medina Hernández (Spain) Fourth official: Carlos Chandía (Chile) Fifth official: Rodrigo González (Chile)
Ivory Coast vs Serbia and Montenegro
GK 23Boubacar BarryRB 21Emmanuel EbouéCB 6 Blaise KouassiCB 17Cyril Domoraud (c) LB 3 Arthur BokaRM 18Abdul Kader Keïta CM 5 Didier ZokoraCM 19Yaya TouréLM 2 Kanga Akalé CF 15Aruna Dindane CF 9 Arouna KonéSubstitutions:FW 14Bakari Koné FW 8 Bonaventure Kalou Manager: Henri Michel GK 1 Dragoslav JevrićRB 14Nenad ĐorđevićCB 6 Goran Gavrančić CB 15Milan Dudić LB 20Mladen Krstajić RM 10Dejan Stanković (c)CM 4 Igor Duljaj CM 22Saša IlićCM 11Predrag ĐorđevićLM 2 Ivan ErgićCF 19Nikola Žigić Substitutions:MF 17Albert Nađ FW 9 Savo Milošević Manager:Ilija Petković
Man of the Match: Aruna Dindane (Ivory Coast)
Assistant referees: José Luis Camargo (Mexico) Leonel Leal (Costa Rica) Fourth official: Mohamed Guezzaz (Morocco) Fifth official: Brahim Djezzar (Algeria)
See also Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Ivory Coast at the FIFA World Cup Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup Serbia and Montenegro at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports