Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup World Cup, played Cameroon in the opening match; in 1994, Germany, winner of the 1990 World Cup, played Bolivia; in 1998, Brazil played Scotland and in 2002 France played Senegal). As of the 2006 World Cup, because of the change in the rules, with the last champion no longer having a secured berth in the competition, the opening match has become another privilege of the host nation (in the 2006 World Cup, Germany, as the host nation, played Costa Rica in the opening match). Despite being the returning champion, the Brazilian team debuted, against Croatia, only four days after the
2006 in Russian football and Rubin played S.V. Zulte-Waregem and Parma F.C., respectively. Both Russian clubs were eliminated. Rossiyanka Moscow Oblast won the league, with Spartak Moscow finishing second and Nadezhda Noginsk third. The Cup also went to Rossiyanka, while Spartak were runners-up again. Russia women's national football team participated in the qualification for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. They finished second behind Germany, failing to qualify. In August–September Russia hosted the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Russia national team finished second in group A which also included Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, and lost