Germany's Tim Borowski saves the ball during a Group A match with Ecuador at the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup in Berlin, Germany yesterday. -Xinhua

Germany topped World Cup Group A, as expected, with three wins, and "minnows" Ecuador stunned the world with two victories over stronger-looking Poland and Costa Rica, following the hosts into the last 16.

Poland, which had been second favorite in the group, suffered two losses and finally beat Costa Rica 2-1 to finish third with three points. Costa Rica, which had been the third-placer in 2002 World Cup Group C, sank to bottom this time with three losses.

The German tank showed its powerful gunfire in their group journey, scoring eight times and conceding only two goals. The hosts routed Costa Rica 4-2 in the World Cup opener, edged Poland 1-0 in the last minute, and overwhelmed Ecuador 3-0 to win Group A.

German star striker Miroslav Klose scored twice in Costa Rica and Ecuador games respectively to top the World Cup scorers list so far.

Statistics show that all World Cup hosts have advanced through the group stage, even if they come from soccer-developing Asia, like South Korea and Japan in 2002.

In April, a poll in Sport bild magazine showed that only five percent of German fans believe their soccer team would win the 2006 World Cup trophy and another 10.8 percent believe that the hosts would not pass the group stage. The pessimistic view might come from former coach Rudi Voeller's conservative mind and his team's early exit at the 2004 European championship.

However, Juergen Klinsmann, who had been the lethal striker of the 1990 World Cup-winning team, took over as coach in 2004, and rejuvenated the team which had not beaten a major power since October 2000. The team changed from its slow, predictable style under Voeller to become more fast-paced and focus on attack.

Klinsmann picked up several young talents, such as Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Cologne's striker Lukas Podolski, and ended months of debate by naming Arsenal's Jens Lehmann as his new No. 1 goalkeeper, leaving longtime starter Oliver Kahn on the bench.

Naturally, the armband of the captain went from Kahn to the key playmaker in the midfield Michael Ballack who has scored dozens of winners for Germany and Bayern Munich and is in his prime at 29.

Ballack and Schweinsteiger in the midfield, Podolski and WerderBremen's Klose, who was the leading scorer in the Bundesliga this season, up front, the German team owns frightful power and the home fans' support made the power more frightful.

But the leaky defense may be a headache for Klinsmann, as most of the team's defenders are in their early 20s or not regular starters in their clubs. The two goals scored by Costa Rica was a warn to Klinsmann.

Germany will meet Sweden, the runners-up in Group B, in the last 16. And Sweden are much stronger than Costa Rica. It will be a crucial or painful test for the hosts, for their defense in particular.

Ecuador, who were not through the group stage in 2002, made a big stride this time. Many experts predicted that the South American team could only play a role of spoiling the party. Ecuador really made it and gained more than expected.

They broke the jinx which said they could only play well on home soil with the advantage of high altitude.

In fact, their 3-0 trounce by Germany on Tuesday did not have any impact on them because they preserved their strength for the knockout stage, keeping their two star strikers Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio on the bench.

Delgado and Tenorio collected two goals respectively in their team's 2-0 win over Poland and 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.

In the last 16, Ecuador will face Group B winners England. No matter what the result is, the South Americans have already won respect of the world.

Poland's coach Pawel Janas had said, "Progressing beyond the first stage is our minimum scenario." Unfortunately, his team was out.

Under Janas' guide, Poland won eight out of 10 games to qualify behind England in European Group Six and they looked good in recent friendlies.

Poland's rising star Ebi Smolarek, 25, playing for Borussia Dortmund, is among the top six scorers in the Bundesliga with 13 goals.

However, all these strong points did not shine again in the World Cup arena.

Costa Rica have already showed themselves capable of causing an upset in 1990. In 2002, they were drawn with Brazil, Turkey and China in Group C. Although they beat China, tied Turkey and lost to Brazil, earning the same points with Turkey, but they were out for less goals.

Costa Rica's eye-catching point is their coach Alexandre Guimaraes, a popular former international who played at the 1990 World Cup. However, he relied too much on his old stars in the last World Cup. Their tactics were not secrets to anybody.

Costa Rica's key player is Paolo Wanchope, who had played for Derby, West Ham and Manchester City in England and Malaga in Spain. He is Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer with 43 goals.

Wanchope really shone in the 2006 World Cup opener, scoring two goals but that was not enough for the team to cruise.