Ecuador and Germany reach 2nd round

HAMBURG, June 15 (Reuters) Host nation Germany and Ecuador today became the first teams to qualify for the second round of the World Cup finals after the South American side defeated Costa Rica 3-0.

Ecuador's victory put them top of Group A, level on six points with Germany, and ended the slim hopes harboured by both Costa Rica and Poland of progressing from the group.

It was a historic triumph for Ecuador, who only made it to the World Cup finals for the first time four years ago and did not progress beyond the first round.

''I'm so happy, this is a happiness that I cannot contain or even explain,'' said striker Carlos Tenorio.

England could also book their place in the next round if they defeat Trinidad &Tobago in Group B later today.

Sweden, held to a goalless draw by Trinidad&Tobago in their opening game, take on Paraguay in the last match of the day in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

Ecuador's performance has been the perfect riposte to critics who claimed they are in Germany only because they have the advantage of altitude in their home qualifying games, played 2,800 metres above sea level in their capital Quito.

Goals in either half from Tenorio and Agustin Delgado and then a late strike from Ivan Kaviedes gave them victory against Costa Rica in Hamburg.

Ecuador face Germany next Tuesday in Berlin to determine who will win the group.

In the next round, the winners of Group B will play the runners-up from Group A and vice versa.

ROONEY BOOST England received a boost when medical experts declared striker Wayne Rooney had recovered from his foot injury more quickly than expected and he was named as a substitute for the match against Trinidad&Tobago.

The 20-year-old Manchester United forward fractured a metatarsal bone in his right foot on April 29 and his recovery has been scrutinised closely ever since.

England struggled to create scoring opportunities in their first match of the World Cup, relying on an own-goal to snare a 1-0 win against Paraguay.

Separately, it emerged today that Brazil striker Ronaldo, jeered off the field after a lacklustre performance on Tuesday against Croatia, has undergone medical examinations after complaining of dizziness.

But the 29-year-old insisted the scare was nothing to worry about.

''I went to hospital and did a series of tests. They didn't find anything abnormal,'' he told reporters.

''Today I feel fine. I feel fairly relaxed. It's nothing serious,'' he said.

Ronaldo's dismal display on Tuesday, when he appeared to move at half-speed and struggled to control the simplest of passes, recalled his similarly dazed performance in Brazil's 3-0 loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final in Paris.

After that match it was revealed that Ronaldo had been taken ill in the hotel hours before the final, some reports claiming that he suffered a fit. The episode was never fully explained.

Reuters SY GC2234