Hosts' golden dream dies

Mexican goals
The hosts had taken only one point from their Group A openers against the Korean Republic and Mali, and needed victory in Volos to have any chance of pipping those sides to the pool's two quarter-final places. But, seconds into the second half, Rafael Márquez put Mexico ahead and Omar Bravo doubled the lead on 71 minutes.

Exit confirmed
Giannis Taralidis pulled one back from the penalty spot seven minutes from time, but Bravo scored again three minutes later to ensure Greece captain Ieroklis Stoltidis's long-range effort was only a consolation.

Korea through
Greece finished bottom, but Mexico were pipped to second place as group winners Mali drew 3-3 with the Korean Republic in Thessaloniki. Tenema Ndiaye's hat-trick had given Mali, who started with three European-based players, a 3-0 lead within 55 minutes, but a seven-minute spell around the hour mark saw Jae-Jin Cho score twice and Adamo Tamboura head into his own net to give the Koreans the runners-up spot.

Third defeat
Serbia and Montenegro were already out going into their final fixture after two Group C losses, and their campaign ended in similar fashion as they went down 3-2 to Tunisia in Patras. Clayton put Tunisia ahead in the 41st minute but the European side levelled on 70 minutes through Milos Krasic.

Last-gasp loss
Mohamed Jedidi converted an 83rd-minute penalty yet the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finalists equalised again four minutes later through Simon Vukcevic. However, Tunisia's Ali Zitouni grabbed a last-gasp winner for a team that fielded French-based quartet Karim Hagui, Houcine Ragued, Amine Ltaief and Alaeddine Yahia.

Australia through
That result was not enough to stop Australia taking second place on goal difference from Tunisia, despite a 1-0 defeat by group winners Argentina in Athens. VfL Wolfsburg's Andrés D'Alessandro scored the only goal against a side featuring eight players from European clubs.