D Smash A to Reach Second Round

D 4 (Defoe 22, Demichelis 77, Di Natale 81, Donovan 92) A 0

D Team: Demerit, Da Silva, Demichelis, Durica, Dempsey, Diarra, Diaby, Di Natale, Di Maria, Donovan, Defoe

The Letter D coincidentally found themselves in exactly the same position as the only team in the World Cup beginning with the letter D: Denmark. Both teams faced their rivals for qualification knowing that only a victory would ensure progress to the next round, but while the Danes stuttered and stumbled out of the competition, The Letter D comprehensively beat The Letter A, a team in disarray after star striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for saying naughty words.

  After a slow start, Jermaine Defoe settled D nerves with his volley into the roof of the net after 22 minutes. This was the striker's first start of the tournament and D fans will hope that he has cemented a place in the team for the Second Round.

  While the D Team dominated possession for much of the game, it wasn't until the 77th minute that they caused finger-nails to be left alone. Martin Demichelis settled nerves when he rose high to meet a header from an inswinging corner from Angel Di Maria. The header didn't hit the back of the net, but the ball returned kindly to his feet and he smashed the ball home to send the D fans into delirium. 

  With A heads looked into the abyss of a first round exit, D took advantage with Antonio Di Maria popping a sumptuous lob over the goal-keeper's head in the 81st minute and Landon Donovan scoring the goal that ensured that D would finish as group winners when he finished from close range. 

  The Letter B's surprise 1-0 defeat to The Letter C meant that the D Team avoid top scorers of the tournament so far, The Letter H, and face the Letter G in Round Two instead, who drew all three of their group games.

Group ABCD

1. The Letter D: 6 points, +3 goal difference

2. The Letter B: 6 pts, +2 gd

3. The Letter C: 3 pts, -1 gd

4. The Letter A: 3 pts: -4 gd

The Second Round Draw

The Letter D vs The Letter G

The Letter B vs The Letter H

The Letter K vs The Letter P

The Letter L vs The Letter M

The Letter T vs The Letter U

The Letter V vs The Letter R

Own Goals vs Players' Names Who Start and Begin With the Same Letter

The Letter Y vs Players' Names Who Appear in the Dictionary

Rule Changes for the Knock-out Stages

To avoid dull 0-0 draws, now that half the players have left the tournament, first names and surnames now count towards a letter's total goals in a game. So, Diegos, Davids and Dereks now all qualify to play for The Letter D. However, a player cannot appear in two games, so the surname takes priority (David Villas would play for The Letter V if they faced The Letter D). If the match goes to penalties, the team whose players score and save the most penalties in shoot-outs will win. If this brings about a tie, then goals scored earlier in the competition will decide the game. If this is still a tie, then lots will be drawn. Players' Names Who Appear in the Dictionary also get the advantage of getting goals from players whose first names appear in the dictionary. Own Goals and Alliterative Names remain under the same constraints.