PES predicts: Day 16 & 17

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[PS2] The knockout stages begin, and PES tells us who'll win

Friday 23 June 2006
Throughout the 2006 World Cup we'll be predicting each day's results - using Pro Evolution Soccer! We'll select the teams and let the game play out the action on its own, before posting a quick match report and the final, PES-predicted score.

2006 World Cup: Day 16

Match one: Germany vs Sweden

Germany's solid tackling keeps Sweden under pressure here and the Swedes are struggling to maintain possession and string together any attacking exchanges. But Germany's Klose is finding acres of space in front of goal and has two shots turned away by the keeper in the early stages. The pressure pays off towards the end of the first half, with Frings dispossessing a defender and lashing home a shot.

Sweden manage one push at the beginning of the second half, Wilhelmsson breaking through the German defence but dragging his shot wide of the goal. Minutes later and Germany make it two, Klose finally finding his range and slamming a strike into the net after a clever one-two pass with Metzelder, putting Sweden out of the competition.

PES predicts: Germany 2, Sweden 0

Match two: Argentina vs Mexico

Saviola turns in an outstanding performance to boost Argentina's World Cup charge, scoring a brace of goals in the first half. His first is a spectacular diving header, meeting a pinpoint cross on the bounce, while the forward pokes his second shot goalwards, watching as it rebounds from the foot of Marquez, wrongfooting the keeper and trickling across the line.

Argentina are content to sit on their lead and maintain possession, stroking the ball around the field with some excellent passing. Mexico don't get a look in, until Fonseca bursts through to go one-on-one with the keeper, only to blast his shot wide. Finally, Argentina's midfield playmaker Riquelme gets the final goal, beginning and ending a brilliant move with a sure touch and an accurate finish.

PES predicts: Argentina 3, Mexico 0

Ben_Richardson

Ben Richardson is a former Staff Writer for Official PlayStation 2 magazine and a former Content Editor of GamesRadar+. In the years since Ben left GR, he has worked as a columnist, communications officer, charity coach, and podcast host – but we still look back to his news stories from time to time, they are a window into a different era of video games.