It wasn’t a high skilled, free flowing match. The referee had to stop the game on more than a few occasions and had to dish out cards, including a red card to Johnny Heitinga after picking up a second yellow card.

Iniesta scores the winning goal

Spain started off well and dominated the possession, but the Dutch managed to hold on.

Robben missed a chance from a Wesley Sneijder pass, Casillas savied with his foot.

The substitutes Jesus Navas for Pedro and Fabregas on for Xabi Alonso seemed to have a positive impact on the game.

With a shootout looking ominous, Iniesta controlled a ball from Cesc Fabregas four minutes from extra time and found the back of the net. The Dutch were angry that an offside hadn’t been call and also questioned why a deflected free kick moments earlier had not resulted in a corner in their favour.

“Euphoria, joy, everything positive. The only thing that counts in finals is to win them.”

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso told reporters.

Spain celebrate their first World Cup victory

This match brought an end to the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.

The Closing Ceremony.

Midfielder Sami Khedira headed in a corner eight minutes before end of normal time to secure the win.

Diego Forlan scoring a second goal for Uruguay

The Uruguayans had earlier lead through striker Diego Forlan, with his fifth goal of the tournament, however, Marcell Jansen of Germany equalised five minutes later.

Uruguay were close to getting a third goal with the last curling free kick from Forlan hit the crossbar.

Germany thrash England 4-1 to secure a place in the World Cup quarter finals.

Thomas Mueller scored twice as Germany’s young side overwhelmed a sloppy English defence. The Germans counterattack was a skillful display. Germany brought about England’s biggest ever defeat in the World Cup finals.

England Vs Germany

Delighted Germany coach Joachim Loew said:

“It was a grandiose performance by our young team against a very good, experienced England team. It was first class and a lot of fun to watch.”

England bemoaned the linesman’s decision which disallowed Frank Lampard’s 20 meter shot, the ball hit the bar, dropped a meter behind the line, then bounced up and hit the bar again before it was gathered by keeper Manuel Neuer. It was clearly a goal and made an ironic comparison with Geoff Hurst’s disputed goal in the 1966 final between England and West Germany final which England won.

England coach Fabio Capello said of the referee’s decision:

“It is incredible. The game would probably have been different after this goal … I think (it was) the mistake of the linesman, but also I think the referee.”

England can have little complaints since their defense looked really sluggish.

Klose snatched the lead in the 20th minute and Lukas Podolski struck again in the 32nd minute.

Matthew Upson cut the deficit in the 37th minute, heading in a Steven Gerrard cross.

Germany now face Argentina in the quarter-finals.
3-1

Carlos Tevez sent Argentina through to the quarter-finals scoring two goals.

One of Tevez’s goals came from an offside position. After the replay flashed up on the big screen angry Mexico players surrounded the Italian referee Roberto Rosetti and linesman Stefano Ayroldi but the goal stood.

Argentina Vs Mexico

Until Tevez’s opener Mexico had looked the better side in this clash between the Latin Americans who had fought out a terrific contest at the same stage of the 2006 finals.

Any hopes Mexico had ended soon after the restart thanks to Tevez’s 52nd-minute blistering strike into the top corner from 25 yards out.

A left-foot strike by Asamoah Gyan in extra time was enough to get Ghana into the World Cup quarter-finals.

The goal came after Ghana had been subjected to long periods of sustained American pressure with the teams having gone into extra time with the score tied at 1-1.

USA Vs Ghana

Ghana became only the third African team to reach the quarters after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

USA did not give up and fought strongly and Landon Donovan equalised just after the hour mark from the penalty spot after Ghana’s teenage defender Jonathan Mensah gave away a 62nd minute penalty when he brought down Clint Dempsey.

Jozy Altidore might have snatched victory for the Americans 10 minutes from the end of normal time after getting the better of the Ghana defence, but hooked his shot wide.

2-1

Luis Suarez earned Uruguay a 2-1 win over a battling South Korea  and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four decades.

The match looked to be headed for extra time when Suarez blasted a curling shot in off the post to clinch an 80th-minute winner after South Korea had fought their way back into the game and could have won it.

Uruguay Vs South Korea

Suarez said:

“Being young, this is the moment I have always dreamed of. This is an unrepeatable moment. As a football player you always want things to work out, even more so in the World Cup.”

Uruguay have won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950,  will  face Ghana in the quarter-finals in Johannesburg on July 2.

South Korea’s players slumped to the ground in devastation after being denied a place in the last eight for the first time on foreign soil.

An early horrendous error by one of the tournament’s leakiest defences left the Koreans chasing a game they went on to dominate, with Suarez popping up in clear space to slot the ball into an empty net in the eighth minute.

South Korea never gave in and piled on the pressure with a steady stream of dangerous counter-attacks, with Park Ji-sung linking up well with Lee Chung-yong and Park Chu-young, whose free-kick struck the post early on.

South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said:

“Our players never give up no matter what the situation. We were on a high we were doing quite well … the reason we lost was we were unable to capitalise on our opportunities.”

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez admitted it had been a tough game but said they were delighted with the chance to repeat their 1970 feat by reaching the semi-finals.

He added:

“We waited a long time for this. I think the team put on a display of discipline, maturity and class, and luckily Suarez scored that amazing goal.”

2-3

A dismal performance by reigning World Champions- Italy, they were almost thrased by Slovakia.

The men in blue have crashed out of the World Cup without registering a single win and managed to lose their last game.

Di Natale pulled one back for Italy in the 81st minute, while another goal was added in injury time. However, these goals came too late.

Paraguay and Slovakia move into the Round of 16 after New Zealand only manage a draw against the South Americans.

Italy Vs Slovakia

0-0

Roque Santa Cruz of Paraguay jumps for the ball under pressure from Tony Lochhead and Tommy Smith

Upcoming Matches:

V

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Jermaine Dofoe helps England squeeze through.

Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring the opening goal

1-0

A goal in the 2nd minute of injury time propelled USA through to the next round.

Landon Donovan celebrates the victory

1-0

Mesut Ozil’s second half strike sends Germany through to the next round and a probable clash against England.

Kevin Prince Boateng of Ghana tackles Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany

2-1

Marco Pantelic missed a glorious opportunity to send Serbia into the group 16 stage, Ghana went through on goal difference.

Milos Krasic of Serbia and Carl Valeri of Australia tussle for the ball

0-2

0-1

1-2

French Coach Domenech told a Monday news conference that he backed the French Football Federation’s decision to expel Anelka after the player insulted him and attacked the “imbecility” of the squad for boycotting training on Sunday.

He added it “is a possibility” that some of the players would not want to play against the hosts in Bloemfontein.

French team bench

The players walked out of a routine training session to protest against a decision to expel star striker Nicolas Anelka for his foul-mouthed abuse at the coach.

The French media rounded on the team, branding the players a bunch of overpaid brats who had brought shame on France. Many politicians saw something more profound in the revolt.

The racism issue also arose with a majority of the 23-member squad being either of African or West Indian origin, including Anelka, and the far-right National Front party has already complained that the team did not fully reflect France, where the vast majority are still white.

It was a far cry from 1998, when France’s “black-blanc-beur” (black-white-Arab) team won the Cup and were feted as heroes.

Since then, the poor suburbs have erupted in violence and the National Front has once again risen in the polls, with Sarkozy’s government trying to instil a feeling of “Frenchness” by launching a contested debate on national identity.

Source: Reuters

Spain get their World Cup campaign back on track with David Villa’s two goals.

After last week’s shock 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their opening match, coach Vicente del Bosque fielded a more ambitious 4-4-2 formation at Ellis Park, with Fernando Torres joining strike partner Villa in a two-pronged attack.

Spain were dominant from the start, although an error-prone Honduran side helped their cause. Villa missed a second-half penalty and could have had a hat-trick in the match.

Emilio Izaguirre of Honduras appears to handball a kick from Fernando Torres of Spain during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group H match between Spain and Honduras at Ellis Park Stadium on June 21, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Chances were coming thick and fast and Fernando Torres, back in the starting lineup following his recovery from knee surgery squandered two openings in two minutes just after the half hour.

Villa doubled Spain’s lead six minutes into the second half when Jesus Navas cut the ball back to him on the edge of the area and his deflected shot looped over Valladares into the net.

7-0

Portugal midfielders Raul Meireles and Tiago help Portugal trash North Korea.

Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the side that started in the goalless draw with the Ivory Coast, one of them forced, the others designed to spur his side into scoring.

He said:

“It was a great display, good goals, great attitude. We needed a moment like this, a well-played game so that the motivation and confidence can be even bigger now.”

Ironically, it was the substitution he was forced to make with Deco’s hip injury that worked best. Tiago was involved in everything Portugal did well.

Hugo Almeida of Portugal scores.

Hugo Almeida, another change in the eleven, headed in and Liedson scored just after coming on. Ronaldo scored a rather comical a goal, the ball hit the back of his neck before falling for him.

Portugal will take heart from his performance, his constant shooting hitting the bar, the keeper or going just wide.

The rout gives Portugal a goal count that will almost surely take them to the next round even if they lose to Brazil. But with their midfield flowing smoothly and Ronaldo back in form they will fancy their chances of beating the Brazilians.

1-0

Chile kept their place at the top of Group H with a bitterly-fought 1-0 win over a stubborn 10-man Switzerland on Monday.

Second half substitute Mark Gonzalez headed home a cross from Esteban Paredes with 15 minutes to go to finally break down a tight Swiss defence that had earlier broke Italy’s World Cup record of 550 minutes without conceding a goal.

The match lived up to its billing as an ugly midfield stalemate, with the Swiss crowding out centre of the pitch and smothering Chile’s free-flowing attacks, even after having Valon Behrami sent off in the 31st minute for violent conduct.

Stephan Lichtsteiner of Switzerland challenges Jean Beausejour of Chile during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group H match between Chile and Switzerland at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 21, 2010 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Chile attacked the Swiss continuously and had their first chance after ten minutes when Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio was forced into a superb double save from Arturo Vidal then Carlos Carmona from long range.

Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after the half hour mark when Behrami was adjudged to have elbowed Vidal, who slumped theatrically to the ground clutching his face.

A dream start put New Zealand in the lead in the seventh minute!

Shane Smeltz scored the opener for the Kiwis, they then soaked in all the mafia’s attacks.

Italy managed to score in the 29th minute through Vincenzo Iaquinta, from the penalty spot after Tommy Smith was judged to have pulled down Daniele de Rossi in the box. But failed to grab a winner. Now they have just two points from their opening two Group F matches. and face Slovakia in their final group match. The reigning World Cup Champions need a win to guarantee a place in the last 16.

Italian Captain- Fabio Cannavaro tackles Chris Killen.

“Certainly it’s not the will of the lads that is missing but a bit of fluidity. We hit post and had chances but we created little really,”

Italian coach Lippi said.

“We knew we’d be up against it tonight but we showed great resilience and I’m well pleased. We’re going to be bloody hard to beat I’ll tell you that,”

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert said.

3-1

Brazil turned on their magic to beat Ivory Coast 3-1 in Group G

Luis Fabiano scored 2 goals. Brazil have secured their place in the last 16.

But Brazil will be a bit disappointed after Kaka was controversially sent off for a second yellow card two minutes from time. Elano scored the 3rd goal after 62 minutes.

Drogba, Lucio and Gilberto Silva fight for the ball.

Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba headed his team’s lone goal after 79 minutes.

Ivory Coast Coach Eriksson was unhappy about Fabiano’s second goal, he said:

“We were unlucky there and the referee didn’t see that (the handballs). It shouldn’t have been allowed.”

Fabiano’s double ended a lean spell for the Brazilian, he commented:

“(Coach) Dunga always talks to me and gave me confidence. It was very important the confidence everybody showed in me.”

After scoring the goal Elano was stretchered off with a shin injury.

2-0

Paraguay beat a lacklustre Slovakia to move top of Group F.

Enrique Vera gave Paraguay the lead after 27 minutes and Cristian Riveros grabbed a second four minutes from time.

The win puts Paraguay on four points and leaves Slovakia with one.

Skrtel and Roque Santa Cruz jump for the ball.

Paraguay had enjoyed the upper hand in the first half though Slovakia always looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Their superiority was rewarded when Vera drilled the ball home with the outside of his right foot from 12 metres after being set up by Lucas Barrios from the left.

Their victory against Slovakia, who managed only one shot on target, should provide the platform for Paraguay to reach the last 16 with outsiders New Zealand to come on Thursday.