Italy comfortable winners*

Czech Republic 0 Italy 2

Italy comfortably beat 10-man Czech Republic to progress to the knock-out stages of the World Cup as Group E winners.

Former Everton defender Marco Materazzi gave the Azzurri a 25th-minute lead having only come on as a substitute eight minutes earlier before another replacement, Filippo Inzaghi, killed the game off four minutes from time.

The Czechs were forced to play with 10 men for the entire second half after Nuremberg midfielder Jan Polak was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It proved a hammer blow for Karel Bruckner’s side, who did have their share of chances but were denied by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who made sure his team clinched three points.

After beating United States 3-0 in their opening fixture, the Czechs seemed certain to qualify from their group but they surprisingly lost their subsequent fixture against Ghana.

Italy, who should face Australia or Croatia next, are still unbeaten in the tournament and have almost certainly avoided holders Brazil in the second round.

The Czechs started the game with Aston Villa’s Milan Baros up front. Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004, returned to play having missed the two opening games with a foot problem but he was lacking match fitness.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi surprisingly left out Serie A’s top scorer Luca Toni and opted to play with trio Francesco Totti, Mauro Camoranesi and Alberto Gilardino up front.

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Ghana through to the second round *

Ghana 2 USA 1

Ghana reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time today, with a 2-1 defeat of the United States sealing their place in the last 16.

Haminu Draman opened the scoring for the Black Stars following a blunder by Claudio Reyna in the 22nd minute, before Clint Dempsey levelled the scores for in the 43rd.

A controversial penalty from Stephen Appiah just before the break proved decisive, as the USA failed to find a way back into the match.

Both coaches made three changes from the last match. With Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope suspended, Bruce Arena brought Eddie Lewis and Jimmy Conrad into the starting line-up, while DaMarcus Beasley took the midfield place of Reading’s Bobby Convey.

Bans forced Ghana boss Ratomir Dujkovic to replace Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari, who were on target in the memorable 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien picked up his second yellow card of the tournament after just five minutes and three minutes later he fired wide.

After Dempsey challenged with a header in the 17th, the Africans opened the scoring after a mistake from Reyna let Draman in.

The striker deprived Manchester City’s former Sunderland and Rangers midfielder off the ball and gently chipped it past ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Kasey Keller from 10 yards out on the left.

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Reds clinch Bellamy deal*

Liverpool have completed the signing of Wales striker Craig Bellamy (pictured) from Blackburn on a four-year deal.

The Merseysiders were given permission to speak to the 26-year-old after triggering a clause in his contract with a £6m (€8.75m) bid.

Following a fall-out with then Newcastle manager Graeme Souness, Bellamy joined Blackburn in July last year and scored 15 goals, having been on loan at Celtic in the previous season.