world football cup 2010

Germany 4 : 0 Argentina fifa world cup 2010

2010-07-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

Rampant Germany oust Argentina

Germany are through to the semi-finals after producing another masterful performance to beat Argentina 4-0 at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium. Diego Maradona’s Albiceleste came into this match with high hopes of avenging their quarter-final defeat in 2006 but they ultimately had no answer to a slick, powerful German side who will now face either Spain or Paraguay in the last four.

Games as eagerly-anticipated as this one often disappoint, but this particular encounter took just three minutes to catch fire as Joachim Low's side snatched an early advantage. Bastian Schweinsteiger provided the assist with a superbly judged inswinging free-kick, and with Sergio Romero caught in no man’s land, Thomas Muller applied the slightest of headed touches to flick the ball into the net. It was Germany’s 200th FIFA World Cup™ goal, their fastest in 32 years and the quickest so far at South Africa 2010. The only downside for Low’s side was that it left Argentina with 87 minutes to respond.

However, it was the Germans who continued to carve out the better chances, with Miroslav Klose - winning his 100th cap – firing wastefully over from the edge of the box after some outstanding, unselfish set-up play from Muller. Argentina attempted to grab a foothold, with Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain creating decent shooting positions, but on each occasion Manuel Neuer proved equal to their goal-bound efforts.

Nevertheless, as the match wore on, La Albiceleste relied increasingly on speculative long-range efforts, with the subdued Lionel Messi firing over just before the break and Di Maria missing the left-hand post by a matter of inches with a ferociously-struck 25-yard drive. Germany also remained a constant threat on the break, and Podolski – who had earlier come close to scoring himself – was to lead the counter-attack that provided Low’s team with their all-important second goal.

With the second half reaching its midway point, the Cologne forward broke clear on the left and, from a position where he would have been forgiven for shooting, he instead squared intelligently for Klose to tap home from inside the six yard box. The goal left Argentina with little option but to throw men forward, and with Diego Maradona’s side over-committed, Germany proceeded to pick them off on the break.

Within six minutes of Klose making it two, Arne Friedrich removed any lingering doubts over the outcome with another close-range finish, profiting on this occasion from a dazzling solo run from the excellent Schweinsteiger. There was even time for Klose to rub salt into Argentinian wounds, side-footing home Mesut Ozil's measured cross with a minute remaining to round off a memorable German win.

Netherlands 2 : 1 Brazilian world cup 2010

2010-07-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Dutch fightback buries Brazil

The Netherlands came from behind to break Brazilian hearts and take a huge step towards a third FIFA World Cup™ final appearance. Trailing at half-time to Robinho's early goal in Port Elizabeth, Bert van Marwijk's men drew level before Wesley Sneijder scored his second of the game with 22 minutes remaining. Brazil ended the game a man short after Felipe Melo's dismissal as, like in Germany four years ago, the South Americans, unbeaten since last October, saw their dream of a sixth world crown dismantled at the quarter-final stage.

For the Dutch, this was their fifth straight win at these finals and leaves them one victory short of a first Final appearance since they finished runners-up twice in the 1970s. They will travel to Tuesday's Cape Town semi-final against Uruguay or Ghana as favourites despite the suspensions of Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong. History will be on their side too, given the winners of their three previous FIFA World Cup meetings with Brazil marched on to the Final each time.

Yet it was not the Dutch, but Brazil who looked likely to prevail in the first 45 minutes. Robinho had already had one effort ruled offside when he broke the deadlock in the tenth minute. Advancing unchecked from inside his own half, Felipe Melo played a ball straight through the centre of the Dutch defence from the halfway line. Robinho, free of his marker Van der Wiel and played onside by Ooijer, was in the clear and he tucked a first-time finish beyond Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Dutch sought an immediate reply when Kuyt tested Julio Cesar with a low drive but Brazil were carrying the greater threat and, after 25 minutes, they came close to a second. From a half-cleared corner, Dani Alves, out on the right, drove in a low cross and Juan got there first only to shoot over from close range. Robinho then wriggled away from two orange shirts on the left, gave the ball to Luis Fabiano and his flick set up Kaka whose curling shot was bound for the top corner before Stekelenburg reached out his right arm to palm the ball away.

The teams' 1994 quarter-final, won by Brazil, produced five second-half goals and this game grew as a contest after the restart. Second-best in the first half, the Dutch drew level in the 53rd minute. Sneijder had already miscued an attempted volley when, following a short free-kick with Robben, the Inter midfielder swung in a cross from out on the right. Julio Cesar and Felipe Melo got in each other's way before the ball flew past the keeper and into the net.

Michel Bastos, booked before the break and under pressure from Robben, now made way for Gilberto Melo but Brazil's self-assurance was fading. Although Kaka guided a volley just past the post, the Dutch soon had their second goal. It came from the head of Sneijder who profited from slack marking in the six-yard box to nod home his third goal of the finals after Kuyt had flicked on Robben's corner. Brazil's prospects dimmed further with 17 minutes remaining with Felipe Melo’s red card for a stamp on Robben, now a constant nuisance to the South Americans. In a frantic finish it might have got even worse for Dunga's men but Sneijder scuffed his shot straight at Julio Cesar

Brazil inflict more misery on Chile 3:0 fifa world cup 2010

2010-06-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

Brazil inflict more misery on Chile

Brazil completed a hat-trick of victories over Chile at the FIFA World Cup™ by beating their South American rivals 3-0 to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands.

Dunga's side took control of the Round of 16 contest with two goals in quick succession in the last ten minutes of the first half through Juan and Luis Fabiano. Robinho added the third to inflict further punishment on the Chileans who may have ended a 48-year wait for a FIFA World Cup win in South Africa but evidently have not worked out how to better their old nemesis.

Brazil defeated Chile in the 1962 semi-finals and at this same stage of the 1998 tournament in France, scoring four goals in each game. They also beat La Roja home and away in qualifying for South Africa and even in the goalless opening 33 minutes at Ellis Park, there was scant evidence of a different outcome. Although Chile, playing in all white, had a larger share of possession in the opening quarter-hour, Brazil carried the greater goal threat from the off.

Luis Fabiano had an early sniff of goal when breaking down the inside-right channel in the fifth minute but dragged his shot past the far post. Four minutes later Gilberto Silva drew a full-length stop from Chile custodian Claudio Bravo with a 25-yard strike and from the ensuing corner, Kaka – back from suspension – had a sight of goal but fired wide. There was another nervous moment in the Chilean penalty box when Lucio took a dramatic tumble under Pablo Contreras's challenge and it came as no surprise when Brazil made the breakthrough in the 34th minute as Juan rose high to bury a header high past Bravo from Maicon's flag-kick.

Four minutes later Dunga's men had their second as Luis Fabiano got on to the end of a slick counter-attack to hit his third goal of the finals. Robinho surged down the left and slipped the ball infield to Kaka, who split Chile's central defence with a first-time pass to put Luis Fabiano in the clear. With Chileans appealing in vain for offside, the Sevilla marksman rounded Bravo and slotted home. Chile produced only one or two promising moments in the final third in the opening 45 minutes. And when Humberto Suazo, making his second start of the finals, had a sight of goal, he failed to trouble Julio Cesar with his shot from the edge of the box – their only effort on target before the break.

Marcelo Bielsa's side had begun the match showing four changes from the defeat by Spain, three enforced by the suspensions of Marco Estrada, Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce. And they began the second half with two more changes as Bielsa sent on Rodrigo Tello and Jorge Valvidia in place of Contreras and Mark Gonzalez. But though they tried to increase the pressure on Brazil's back line, their own defence was breached again just before the hour. Ramires strode forward from midfield, leaving two white shirts in his wake, and played in Robinho to curl a shot past the left hand of Bravo. It was Robinho's eighth goal in six matches against Chile and he came close to adding another with a low shot that Bravo tipped behind.

At the other end some of Chile's approach play was slick and they began belatedly to create chances. Valvidia flicked up the ball on the edge of the box and lifted a shot narrowly over the crossbar. With 15 minutes remaining Suazo then produced a smart turn to escape the shackles of Lucio but his shot was comfortably dealt with by Julio Cesar. He got even closer with a sliced effort that looped on to the top of the crossbar but it was not to be. Brazil march on.

Spain beat Chile 2-1 Spain win Group H and go through with Chile

2010-06-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Spain beat Chile 2-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Friday to qualify for the Round of 16. Chile also go through because Switzerland failed to beat Honduras.

Spain took the lead on 24 minutes through David Villa and Andres Iniesta made it 2-0 on 37 minutes. Chile, who had Marco Estrada sent off in the first half, pulled one back on 47 minutes.

Spain finish with six points and top Group H on goal difference. They will play Portugal on Tuesday in Cape Town.

Chile finish second and play Brazil on Monday in Johannesburg. Switzerland go home with four points. Honduras finish bottom with one point.

Spain recalled fit-again Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta in place of winger Jesus Navas. Chile left out striker Humberto Suazo leaving Mark Gonzalez, who got the winner in their last game against the Swiss, in attack.

The Spanish had the first chance on three mintues when a Xavi free-kick was headed over by Fernando Torres. The Liverpool man then raced on to a pass from Sergio Ramos but shot over.

It was Spain who needed to score but on 10 minutes Chile should have gone ahead when Jean Beausejour's cross was put wide by Gonzalez from the edge of the six-yard box.

Despite the Torres chances it was a very nervous start by Spain summed by Iker Casillas punching a speculative effort from Alexis Sanchez out for a corner when he was under no pressure and could have caught.

Chile defender Waldo Ponce was then lucky to escape with just a yellow card for kicking out at Torres. Referee Marco Rodriguez decided a yellow sufficed, ruling him out of the next match.

Marco Estrada joined him in the book with a very late challenge on Sergio Busquets. With Gary Medel's earlier booking that made it three cautions in six minutes, but it was Chile on top until they were undone by a moment of madness from their goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on 24 minutes.

Xabi Alonso's long ball out of defence was chased down by Fernando Torres. Bravo came tearing out of his goal and got to the ball first but cleared straight to David Villa who found the empty net from distance with a superb finish.

That was Villa's third goal of the tournament and his sixth in World Cups making him Spain's top scorer in the competition.

It served to settle Spanish nerves and on 37 minutes things really swung their way when they went 2-0 up and Chile were reduced to ten men.

Iniesta exchanged passes with Villa and fired past Bravo from the edge of the box, scoring this World Cup's 100th goal.

In the same attack, Torres had gone down off the ball after contact from Estrada and although the trip looked accidental out came the second yellow for the Chile defender.

If it was unlucky, fortune favoured Chile just before the break when Ponce stamped on Xabi Alonso's ankle as the two went for a loose ball in midfield.

It would have been the defender's second yellow had the referee seen it and Alonso had to be helped down the tunnel for treatment.

Rodrigo Millar was on for Gonzalez at the restart and he had the ball in the net within three minutes when his shot from the edge of the area took a deflection off of Gerard Pique and looped over Casillas to make it 2-1.

Despite the goal, Spain were beginning to make the extra man tell and when Cesc Fabregas replaced Fernando Torres on 55 minutes he immediately set up Villa who should have scored the third but kicked fresh air with only the keeper to beat.

In the end it did not matter as Spain held on for the win. Both teams celebrated on the final whistle as Switzerland's goalless draw with Honduras meant Spain qualified top and Chile in second place.

Korea DPR 0:3 Côte d'Ivoire summary and video

2010-06-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Elephants' roar not enough

Yaya Toure and Romaric scored first-half goals and Salomon Kalou added a late third as Côte d'Ivoire defeated Korea DPR in Nelspruit on Friday, yet Portugal's 0-0 draw with Brazil ensured the west Africans still ended the afternoon eliminated. With four points, the Elephants finish one behind the Portuguese, while Brazil top Group G with seven and the Koreans go home after three defeats.

Going into the match knowing they needed to make up at least nine goals on the Portuguese, the Ivorians attacked from the start at a raucous Mbombela Stadium as Kader Keita forced a good save from Korea DPR goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk in the opening minute. The always-dynamic Gervinho looked to have done enough to open the scoring in the 11th minute when he collected the ball on the byline and pulled it past the goalkeeper and across the face of an empty net, but no Ivorian was on hand to take advantage.

But the Elephants were ahead just three minutes later as full-back Arthur Boka's ball sliced through the defence and found Yaya Toure in space on the edge of the area. The Barcelona man calmly brought it under control and curled a right-footed shot past the diving keeper. Midfielder Romaric tickled the outside of the post with a speculative shot shortly after before doubling the lead on 20 minutes. Didier Drogba made the goal with a fabulous bit of skill, holding off a defender, bringing the ball down and then smacking a shot off the underside of the bar. While appeals were made that the ball had crossed the line, Romaric kept his concentration and coolly nodded the ball through a group of defenders.

When the North Koreans threatened it was from the pace and industry of Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se on the counter or from free-kicks, with captain Hong Yong-Jo's curling effort in the 24th minute the best they produced. But it was Côte d'Ivoire creating most of the opportunities, and Gervinho had two good openings before the half-time break. In the 38th minute, he broke onto a through-ball in the box but his shot skimmed the bar with the goalkeeper at his mercy. Then, just before the interval, he could only loop a header from Drogba's cross straight at the goalkeeper.

Korea DPR held onto the ball more in the second period, and Jong threatened with a low shot to Boubacar Barry's near post in the 51st minute. Drogba could have increased the Elephants' lead in the middle of the half with two headers but he failed to keep either on target. Côte d'Ivoire coach Sven-Goran Eriksson brought on forwards Aruna Dindane and Kalou in the 64th minute in the quest for more goals, but they left themselves more open at the back and Jong had two chances to score in the 81st minute, with the Korean sharpshooter denied only by some desperate defending. Just a minute after that, Côte d'Ivoire finally found their third – merely a consolation at that point – as Kalou managed to touch in Boka's cross ahead of the charging goalkeeper.

Parity ensures Brazil and Portugal advance

2010-06-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

Brazil stalemate suits Portugal

The Brazilian carnival rolled into Durban on Friday, turning the sunny Indian Ocean coastal city into Copacabana beach for a day. However, the South Americans were unable to reward their vociferous support with goals, drawing 0-0 with Portugal – a result that takes both sides through to the Round of 16.

Brazil had the first chance of a cagey, stop-start first half with a long-distance effort from the tireless Dani Alves, featuring in place of the injured Elano on the right flank. But the Barcelona star hardly troubled Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo as his try trickled harmlessly wide of the post. He had another chance on the quarter-hour mark from a similar distance, with the keeper collecting easily.

Those efforts set the tone for much of what would follow. With Robinho on the bench and Kaka suspended, Brazil were reduced to trying their luck from long range as Juilio Baptista proved unable to get much going in the space behind strikers Nilmar and Luis Fabiano. Up the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo was ploughing a lone furrow in a defensive scheme set up by Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz. Fabio Coentrao was the most dangerous man on the park for the Portuguese, bursting up the left flank and delivering inch-perfect crosses that caused the Brazilian defence some concern in the opening period. Neither Tiago nor Ronaldo could take advantage of the best chances the Benfica wide man carved open, however.

The half-hour mark brought the clearest opening of a hard-fought first half, which produced seven yellow cards. A sneaky ball across the six-yard box from Luis Fabiano found Nilmar lurking at the back post. He rounded Ricardo Carvalho only to be denied by the upright from a tight angle. Seven minutes before the break Luis Fabiano then had a golden chance with a header from a similar position, but was unable to do justice to Dani Alves's cross.

Real Madrid ace Ronaldo, who got the biggest roar from the crowd at the start, began to get himself into some dangerous areas after the restart, forcing the Brazilian back line – captain Lucio in particular – into some last-ditch tackles. His deflected free-kick from distance in the 51st minute had the fans in yellow feeling a little nervous as Portugal began to look more positive in their approach. With substitute Simao pulling the strings, Queiroz's side nearly took the lead on the hour. Ronaldo broke free on the right of the area and when Lucio made the tackle, the ball fell for Raul Meireles, who could only manage to fire wide from close range.

In the end, though, a 0-0 draw was enough for both sides to move on, Brazil as Group G winners and Portugal as runners-up, pipping third-placed Côte d'Ivoire by a point. The Brazilians will now meet the second-placed team from Group H – in action later in the day – with Portugal taking on that section's winners.

Italy crash out as Slovaks advance world cup 2010

2010-06-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Slovakia advance, eliminate Italy

Slovakia survived a late onslaught to beat Italy 3-2, reach the Round of 16 and eliminate their illustrious opponents. A Robert Vittek double and a stoppage-time lob from substitute Kamil Kopunek proved enough for Vladimir Weiss's team to advance as Group F runners-up, after late goals from Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella had ensured a dramatic conclusion to a thrilling contest in Johannesburg.

Slovakia went into the meeting at Ellis Park needing victory to progress. While Italy also required three points to guarantee a place in the knockout phase, they knew a draw would likely prove enough, as transpired to be the case. Disappointingly for the FIFA World Cup™ holders, the visionary Andrea Pirlo was only fit enough to make the bench, but Gennaro Gattuso and Antonio Di Natale were handed starts.

Weiss had urged his Slovakia side to be bold but rational against Marcello Lippi's men, and they were clearly enjoying the better of the play in the initial exchanges. They could certainly claim to have had the better chances. In the sixth minute, Vittek nodded a long ball into the path of Marek Hamsik, but the latter could only drag his volley wide. And the two exchanged roles six minutes later, with Hamsik squaring the ball to Vittek, but Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti was quickest to react.

So, perhaps, it came as no surprise when, in the 25th minute, Marchetti found himself picking the ball out of the back of the net. The pressure of the occasion clearly got to Daniele De Rossi, whose pass was easily intercepted by Erik Jendrisek just outside the Italian box. He promptly found Vittek and the Slovakian fired into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved lead.

Marcello Lippi's men had failed to get going in their previous two matches, and they were lacking inspiration here, too. Di Natale, De Rossi and Simone Pepe all found themselves in potential scoring positions, but were unable to make them count. Gattuso's threatening cross was headed over by Martin Skrtel as Vincenzo Iaquinta looked to profit, but there was no real punch to the Italy attack. The AC Milan veteran was typically terrier-like in midfield, looking to knock the Slovakians out of their stride, but it was Weiss's side that continued to look the more likely scorers – Zdenko Strba forced Marchetti to palm his 35-yard drive off target, Miroslav Stoch had a shot blocked, and Juraj Kucka watched his long-range effort flash inches wide deep into first-half stoppage time.

Lippi reshuffled his side at the break, with Christian Maggio and Quagliarella coming on in place of Gattuso and Domenico Criscito, as Italy went in search of a crucial goal. Iaquinta almost the found the target five minutes in but his header lacked direction. The same could be said for his team as a whole, who were lacking the required creativity – which explained why the Italian fans, at last, found their voice when Pirlo was introduced to the game in the 56th minute, shortly after a woeful finish from Di Natale.

As Pirlo begin to guide proceedings from the centre of the park, Di Natale almost made up for his miss but Jan Mucha was equal to his curling shot. Italy were, at last, stepping up a gear and when Pepe's cross was beaten away by the Slovakia goalkeeper, Quagliarella could only look on in dismay as his left-footed shot was hooked off the line by Skrtel. Slovakia, however, remained a match for Italy and minutes after Stoch's drive had fizzed a yard over, Vittek thought he had put the game out of Gli Azzurri's reach when he beat Giorgio Chiellini to Hamsik's squared ball. However, Di Natale was able to pull one back ten minutes from time, before Kopunek restored the two-goal advantage. Quagliarella's late strike set up a thrilling finish, but it was not enough for Lippi's men, who were left to contemplate a disastrous FIFA World Cup campaign.

Group C Final Results USA and England Advance

2010-06-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

FIFA World Cup 2010 Super Wednesday Group C Final Results USA and England Advance

The Result’s

Slovenia 0-1 England
USA 1-0 Algeria

Finally England show a sliver of their true form in the shape of Jermain Defoe when he scored the winning goal in the 23rd minute of their make or break match against Slovenia. Coming from a rocky third place in the group to secure second place on the group where they will now face the winners of Group D in the knockout round.

In the other group C match between USA and Algeria another surprise last minute result was unfolding when Landon Donovan saved the USA from a third place in the final standings with an injury time goal. Many chances in the game left both sides frustrated but moreso the Americans as only a win would see them through to the final round.

With another anyone can win chance in group D we will have to wait a few hours to see who they will face in the next round.

England 1-0 Slovenia fifa world cup 2010

2010-06-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

Striker Jermain Defoe rescued England's stuttering World Cup campaign with a first-half strike that was enough to beat Slovenia 1-0 in Group C on Wednesday and book a place in the second round.

Read how it happened here

Defoe started for the first time in the tournament and converted James Milner's perfect cross in the 23rd minute to put England ahead and send their suffering fans into a frenzy.

England once again struggled to find their form, although were always on top of a disappointing Slovenia side.

Defoe had started in place of Emile Heskey in attack with Milner in the lineup for the ineffective Aaron Lennon. Matthew Upson started in central defence with Jamie Carragher suspended.

England started nervously but soon found their feet, with Rooney working hard and linking up with Defoe, Milner and Gerrard in a series of attacks on the Slovenian goal.

Rooney, Frank Lampard and John Terry all came close but England's pressure finally paid off when Milner broke free on the right and superbly picked out Defoe for a clinical finish.

Defoe almost scored again three minutes later when his shot from outside the area was palmed away by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, with Lampard blasting the rebound over the bar.

England could have doubled their lead on the half-hour when Handanovic pulled off a superb double save from Defoe and then Gerrard before leaping on the loose ball as it spun precariously towards the goal line.

England kept up the pressure after the break, with Defoe having an effort disallowed for offside and Terry almost getting on the scoresheet when his close range header was saved.

Rooney, heavily criticised in the first two matches, was once again less than impressive, although lively, and substituted during the second half for Joe Cole.

Slovenia had few clear chances but England were worried after 67 minutes when Bostjan Cesar picked up a loose ball and shot narrowly wide. They kept up the pressure until the end but could not find a way through the England defence.

USA 1-0 Algeria fifa world cup 2010 summary

2010-06-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last-gasp Donovan fires USA into final 16

USA scored a dramatic injury-time winner in Pretoria to secure a 1-0 victory that sees them qualify for the Round of 16 as winners of Group C. It looked as if the USA would be going home early after they missed a number of openings with Algerian goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi in stubborn form.

USA were sitting in third place as the 90 minute-mark ticked by but everything changed in the blink of an eye as Landon Donovan led one last attack. Jozy Altidore squared the ball into the danger zone, where M'Bolhi beat it away, but Donovan was able to latch onto the loose ball and passed it into an empty net, before being submerged among a sea of white shirts. It was the least Bob Bradley's team deserved, having also had a Clint Dempsey effort disallowed for offside, struck a post and seen Jozy Altidore pass up a glorious opening.

Algeria, who also needed to win to give themselves a chance of going through, made the more positive start with Karim Matmour unleashing an attempt on goal in the opening seconds before Rafik Djebbour aimed a hooked shot against the crossbar. It was a decent attempt from the centre-forward, who took the ball on his chest, but the woodwork came to USA's rescue.

Djebbour tried again shortly after, from a wider angle, but his drive was always heading wide. The Americans answered in kind, with Clint Dempsey and Herculez Gomez - one of three changes in Bradley's line-up - failing to keep their efforts on target.

It was an open, entertaining tussle, reflecting both sides' need to win the game. Gradually, USA were beginning to dominate possession and create openings. In the 21st minute, they had the ball in the back of the net but their joy was quickly extinguished when Dempsey was ruled offside, as he applied the final touch after Gomez's shot was diverted to him.

That, at least, encouraged Bradley's team to think a breakthrough might not be far away, and they kept pouring forward. Donovan slid a lovely ball into Dempsey but Mbolhi did well to smother it. Two minutes later, the Americans were back to cause more panic in the Algeria penalty area. Bradley set up Donovan and when he couldn't turn it home the ball fell nicely for Jozy Altidore, but a heavy swing of his right boot sent the ball careering into the seats behind the goal.

For their part, the African side looked dangerous whenever Nadir Belhadj or Karim Ziani were on the ball. At the end of the first half, Ziani cut in from the left to position himself for the shot but was unable to keep it on target.

USA were cursing their luck again in the second half as Dempsey followed up after Altidore had made ground with a strong run. The Fulham forward shaped a bending shot with his right that came back off the post, then gathered the rebound, only to shoot wide with his left foot with the goalkeeper still scrambling into position.

Both sides had let-offs in the 68th minute. Mbolhi came to Algeria's rescue again, parrying a close-range header from substitute Edson Buddle before jumping on the loose ball. The Africans immediately went down the other end, where a decent scoring chance for Ziani went the wrong side of the upright. Chances kept coming at either end and it came down to Donovan to at last make one count.

Greece 0 -2 Argentina FIFA WC 2010 Group B video all goal

2010-06-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Argentina beat Greece, book Mexico date

Argentina booked a last 16 date with Mexico as their two Martins - Demichelis and Palermo - ended Greece's faint hopes of qualification by wrapping up a 2-0 victory in Polokwane. Greece had kept the South Americans at bay until the 77th minute but they could do little to prevent Diego Maradona's side from securing top spot in Group B with an impressive win at the Peter Mokoba stadium.

Otto Rehhagel's side simply needed to better the result of Korea Republic to claim a place in the last 16, and with Maradona rotating his starting 11, as expected, with no fewer than seven changes from the side that swept aside Korea Republic, the Greeks could must have felt more confident of achieving their aim.

However, there was no doubting Greece had a Herculean task on their hands, and they were virtual by-standers in the opening minutes as Argentina stroked the ball around confidently, guided by the returning Juan Veron. Lionel Messi, lively from the start, demonstrated his threat as early as the tenth minute, riding the challenges of Konstantinos Kastouranis and Alexandros Tziolis, before eventually being stopped in his tracks by the outstretched leg of Sokratis Papastathoppoulos.

Greece were defending in numbers in a bid to thwart their opponents, and were relying on long balls into Georgios Samaras in any bid to switch defence into attack. However, if Rehhagel's side were slowly finding their feet - only the outstretched leg of Martin Demechelis brought an end to Georgios Samaras's promising charge into the box 12 minutes in - Maradona's side were still well in command.

And when the Southern Europeans' sporadic attacks broke down, the action quickly switched back to the other end, where Alexandro Tzvorvas was unquestionably the busiest man of the night. Sergio Augero smashed in a left-footed drive which he athletically palmed away, and the Greece goalkeeper had to be equally alert moments later, when the power of the long-range drive from Veron was only matched by the quality of Tzvorvaz's tip-over.

If Greece were going to claw their way back into this game it was going to be through Samaras. Just two minutes into the second period, the Celtic forward was picked out with another long ball but, despite wriggling free of his markers, he could only flash his shot wide.

However, the momentum remained with Argentina, who needed just a draw to see them into the last 16. Milito might have headed them into a lead, but the striker failed to connect with Clemente Rodriguez's dangerous-looking cross and, shortly after, Rodriquez had a go himself from long-range but was unable to find the target.

Messi and Mario Bolatti were both thwarted by Tzvorvas as the decibel level rose in the Peter Mokaba stadium. And the noise levels went through the roof in the 77th minute when Demichelis's goalbound header from an Angel Di Maria corner rebounded off Milito and back into the path of the Argentina defender, who gratefully smashed home a left-footed shot to give Maradona's side the lead they had long threatened.

Messi, Argentina's captain for the night, was denied by the post and then Tzvorvas in the dying minutes, but Greece could do nothing to stop Martin Palermo from side-footing home Argentina's second a minute from time after Messi had again been thwarted.

Final Group A Standings Uruguay and Mexico qualified

2010-06-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Final Group A Standings Uruguay and Mexico qualified

France 1-2 South Africa world cup 2010 summary and video all goal

2010-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Bafana beat Bleus, both bow out

South Africa beat France 2-1 for only their second FIFA World Cup™ victory, but both teams ultimately emerged losers in Bloemfontein. Carlos Alberto Parreira's team became the first host nation to fail to qualify for the tournament's second round while a miserable campaign from the French came to a predictable conclusion as they also bowed out of South Africa 2010.

The African side's story was ultimately one of disappointment as they exited their own tournament on goal difference with Mexico taking the second qualifying place in Group A behind Uruguay. For France there was further ignominy as a second defeat in three games provided a fitting epitaph to the sense of disharmony which had infected Raymond Domenech's squad virtually since the opening game.

The beleaguered coach, who now leaves his post, made six changes to the team that had gone down to Mexico in their previous game – with captain Patrice Evra one of those dropped. However, initially France promised to lift the gloom for their followers with some attacking thrusts. One should have seen Andre-Pierre Gignac fire them into an early lead but he could only direct his attempt straight at Moneeb Josephs who was deputising in the South African goal for the suspended Itumeleng Khune. Djibril Cisse then flicked on Abou Diaby's floated pass but again the goalkeeper was behind it all the way.

Bafana Bafana were not short of voluble support and the stadium erupted with joy in the 20th minute when they took the lead. It followed a right-sided corner which precipitated a mistake by Hugo Lloris who was unable to put a glove on the ball, allowing Bongani Khumalo to profit from his towering leap at the far post and a downward header gave the host nation the lead.

Their hopes raised, South Africa kept pouring forward in search of further goals which would be crucial if it came down to goal difference. At the other end of the field came a decision that would help their cause as Yoann Gourcuff duelled for an aerial ball with MacBeth Sibaya and was shown the red card as the home midfielder lay on the ground requiring treatment.

Parreira's side sensed their chance as 12 minutes later Katlego Mphela bundled the ball in at the far post after Tsepo Masilela's ball across had caught the French defence in confusion. News that Uruguay had taken the lead against Mexico only added to the sense of euphoria around the stadium and not even a chance for France, which William Gallas failed to seize as a free-kick found him unmarked in the area, could dampen it down.

Mphela drew a fingertipped save from Lloris and it was he who led the charge for second-half goals, striking the crossbar, demanding another fine stop from the keeper, and then burrowing his way through only to find the side-netting. In the final reckoning those misses were to prove crucial. In the 70th minute France took a lot of sting out of South Africa's attacks as Florent Malouda, who had just appeared off the substitute's bench, was on hand to roll the ball home after Franck Ribery had unselfishly squared the ball into his path.

Mexico 0:1 Uruguay summary world cup 2010

2010-06-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Uruguay edge Mexico, both advance

Uruguay finished top of Group A thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mexico at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, but the defeat was ultimately sufficient for El Tri to join their conquerors in the Round of 16.

Joint-leaders Uruguay and Mexico went into their final group match safe in the knowledge that a draw would be enough for both of them to reach the knockout phase. But it was a must-win for the Mexicans if they were to avoid a likely encounter with the formidable Argentinians in the last 16. Both coaches opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with the only one notable change being veteran Mexico forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco starting for the first time in place of the injured Carlos Vela.

The stadium was filled with a large contingent of El Tri supporters hours before the kick-off, and the Mexicans soon began to find their rhythm with the the waves of 'ole' coming from the stands. However, it was the Uruguayans who had the first attack of note. Luis Suarez missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead on five minutes, when the Ajax marksman sent his shot just wide of the left post after collecting a loose ball from a defensive mistake from Hector Moreno.

Mexico fought back midway through the first half, with Andres Guardado hitting the crossbar with an audacious left-foot drive from 30 yards. Guardado and Giovani dos Santos then managed to find space on the left, but were unable to create clear-cut chances to break down one of the meanest defences in the competition. With half-time approaching, Carlos Salcido tried his luck from distance but the ball sailed well over the bar.

Just as the first half seemed to be ending goalless, La Celeste seized their opportunity on 43 minutes. Edinson Cavani broke down the right channel to send a looping cross to the far post, where Suarez headed home from close range to make it 1-0.

With South Africa leading France 2-0 at the interval in Bloemfontein, Mexico could not afford to concede more goals. But the Uruguayans surged forward right after the break, with Diego Lugano’s point-blank header off a Diego Forlan free-kick forcing a brilliant save from Oscar Perez. At the opposite end, substitute Pablo Barrera sent an inviting cross from the right, only for Francisco Rodriguez to send a glancing header just wide of Fernando Muslera’s goal.

Although Mexico put the pressure on by bringing Javier Hernandez on for Blanco after the hour mark, Uruguay's defence looked even more impenetrable as time wore on. And despite enjoying more possession of the ball, Mexico failed to find a way through as Uruguay completed a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in their FIFA World Cup™ history.

world cup 2010 south africa live update

2010-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

world cup 2010 south africa live update

22-06-2010

Spain 2-0 Honduras summary and video all goal

2010-06-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

David Villa almost had a perfect night as a goal in each half from the new Barcelona recruit helped Spain get their World Cup campaign back on track.

A wonderful individual effort in the first half was followed by a goal forged by brilliant movement off the ball in the second.

The only thing missing was the hat-trick to crown the performance as he sidefooted wide a second-half penalty and struck the crossbar early on.

The win was vital after the opening Group H defeat to Switzerland and Vicente Del Bosque's side finally looked to have settled into the tournament.

Honduras had an early escape when Emilio Izaguirre handled the ball in the box as Fernando Torres tried to flick it over his head, but Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura waved play on.

Spain were even more unfortunate in the seventh minute when a 30-yard Villa shot smacked against the crossbar with goalkeeper Noel Valladares well beaten as the European champions came flying out of the blocks.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos wasted a glorious chance when he headed over a Xavi free-kick from the left from three yards out and Villa cut in from the left and fired wide after Xabi Alonso had cleverly switched the play.

Spain still looked a little nervy in defence after the Switzerland setback and a deflected Walter Martinez cross drew an unorthodox clearance with the knees by Iker Casillas.

Spain then gained the lead they deserved, though, with a stunning strike from Villa after 16 minutes.

Again the new Barcelona man had drifted out to the left, but this time he somehow manoeuvred the ball between Sergio Mendoza and Amado Guevara with supreme close control, cut inside Osman Chavez and at full stretch smashed an angled shot across Valladares into the top corner.

Torres showed he was still some way from rediscovering his killer instinct as he headed a Ramos cross into the turf and over and then fired wildly over after full-back Mendoza, run ragged by Villa, gifted possession to him.

Villa then caught the eye for the wrong reasons after lashing out at Izaguirre as the pair waited for a free-kick to come in, and he was fortunate to escape a booking or even a red card as Spain took a single-goal lead into the interval.

The second goal arrived within six minutes of the restart as Spain launched a counter-attack.
This time it was Villa's movement off the ball that proved key as he drifted back to the edge of the box to receive Navas' cutback from the right and his shot looped in off Chavez.

Ramos almost added the third seconds later with a right-foot toe-poke from the edge of the area and more goals looked on the cards.

Villa wasted a chance to complete a hat-trick from the penalty spot when he sidefooted wide after Navas made the most of some contact in the box from Izaguirre.

Cesc Fabregas was then given his first taste of the 2010 World Cup, coming on for Xavi to a wall of vuvuzela noise.

The Arsenal midfielder almost scored within seconds as Ramos played him in over the top, he rounded Valladares but Maynor Figueroa got back to clear his shot from an awkward angle.
Substitute Ramon Nunez was the first to try his luck for Honduras in the second half with a right-foot free-kick over the top midway through the half, and Torres was withdrawn with 20 minutes to go for Juan Manuel Mata of Valencia.

Mata was quickly into the action with a left-foot shot over from 20 yards as the Hondurans allowed him too much space and tried to turn provider for his old club colleague Villa with eight minutes left, swinging in a cross from the left which Figueroa had to divert for a corner.

Villa was again denied his treble as Mendoza blocked a late effort from yet another Navas cross.

Live -16 min GOAL SPAIN 1-0 HONDURAS

2010-06-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

16 min David Villa picks the ball up on the left wing with menace on his mind. Off he goes, past one, past two, past three, slides and strikes and the ball flies into the far top corner with the keeper getting fingertips on it but never a chance of saving. What a goal. Flood gates set to open any time now.

16 min GOAL SPAIN 1-0 HONDURAS

Live - Spain -v- Honduras World Cup 2010

2010-06-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

In the World Cup today, Portugal have run riot against North Korea and Chile have bagged a 1-0 win over Switzerland. Spain go head-to-head with Honduras in the evening kick-off.

Switzerland 0-1 Chile summary world cup 2010

2010-06-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Gonzalez downs brave Swiss

Despite having a man advantage for an hour of the Group H contest in Nelson Mandela Bay, Chile struggled to break down a record-setting Switzerland defence but ultimately won 1-0 through a winner from Mark Gonzalez.

The South Africa-born player headed in Esteban Paredes's cross in the 75th minute to break the Swiss back-line for the first time in over 550 minutes of FIFA World Cup football, a record they had claimed just minutes before. Chile now sit atop the table with six points from two wins, while Switzerland failed to build on their upset of Spain in their opener.

The attack-minded Chileans were always going to be more adventurous, and they had the large majority of the chances after Valon Behrami became the first Swiss player to be sent off in a FIFA World Cup match in the 31st minute. The South Americans had showed their attacking intent from the off, testing the Swiss goalkeeper twice in the 10th minute with swerving long-range efforts. Arturo Vidal cut in from the left and Diego Benaglio could only punch the ball as far as Carlos Carmona at the edge of the area. Shortly after, the opposite No1, Claudio Bravo, had to be smart coming off his line to clear in front of Blaise Nkufo after a light back-pass.

The match then turned decisively as West Ham United player Behrami swung his arm into the face of Vidal while trying to hold off the Chilean along the sideline. Stunned by the straight red card, the Swiss retreated into their own third and, as against Spain, showed themselves well capable at bending without breaking. However, the quick South Americans showed themselves equally good at exploiting spaces. However, they were let down by their final ball or, in the case of Alexis Sanchez in the 40th minute, mediocre finishing after he had done well to chest the ball down in the box.

Chile made two changes at half-time to make their man advantage count, and they seemed to have opened the scoring within minutes of the restart, but Sanchez's long shot deflected off an offside player before beating the goalkeeper and was called back. Sanchez had another chance in the 55th minute after closing down defender Stephane Grichting well and running on to the deflected ball. But Benaglio again came out on top, getting down well to block the point-blank shot.

As the Swiss eclipsed Italy's record of scoreless minutes in the finals, it began to look more and more like Chile would come up frustrated on the night. But Paredes finally created the chance they needed with a diagonal run through a for-once flat Swiss defence. His cross back across the goal was met by the head of Gonzalez, who nodded down to beat defender Stephan Lichtsteiner on the line with the goalkeeper drawn out.

As Switzerland began to push forward for the first time in the match, Paredes should have put the contest out of reach twice in the dying minutes, first blazing over and then wide with left-footed efforts. He was almost made to rue his wastefulness when Eren Derdiyok missed an exposed Chilean goal after a clever back-heel from Albert Bunjaku left him in space eight yards out. Chile will try to confirm their place in the next round against Spain on Friday in Pretoria, while Switzerland face Honduras at the same time in Bloemfontein.

Portugal 7-0 North Korea summary and video all goal

2010-06-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Portugal notch magnificent seven

Portugal turned on the style to thrash Korea DPR 7-0 at Green Point Stadium and take a huge step towards a place in the Round of 16.

Only a Raul Meireles goal divided the teams after a closely contested first half but it was a different story after the restart when Portugal devastated the North Korean defence with three goals inside eight minutes before the hour from Simao, Hugo Almeida and Tiago. With the clock ticking down, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago again compounded their opponents' woes to produce Portugal's biggest FIFA World Cup™ victory and the widest winning margin so far in South Africa.

There were few parallels to draw with the teams' previous meeting on the world stage, their 1966 quarter-final in England when Eusebio – watching from the stands in Cape Town – so famously struck four goals as Portugal retrieved a three-goal deficit. There will be no repeat run from the North Koreans this time, their second defeat in Group G confirming their elimination. Portugal, by contrast, sit second in the section, with a three-point advantage over Côte d’Ivoire – and overwhelming gulf in goal difference – ahead of their final game against Brazil.

Carlos Queiroz's men made a positive start with defender Ricardo Carvalho nodding Simao's corner against the far post after seven minutes. As against Brazil in their opening 2-1 defeat, Korea DPR looked in no way overawed, however. With the rain teeming down, the Koreans pieced together a slick move on the fast surface that almost let in Jong Tae-Se only for the No9 to fail to control the through-ball. Otherwise, when they had the chance to shoot, they took it. Cha Jong-Hyok speared an effort just wide from distance, then Hong Yong-Jo arrowed in a shot from the right that Eduardo parried, Pak Nam-Chol failing to keep his header down on the follow-up.

Indeed Portugal coach Queiroz might have been forgiven a short sigh of relief when midfielder Meireles gave his side the lead in the 29th minute, timing his run into the North Korean box perfectly to meet Tiago's pass and drive the ball low past Ri Myong-Guk. A goal to the good, Portugal ended the half on top. Meireles sliced a shot wide before Fabio Coentrao teed up Hugo Almeida with a low centre but the big striker's attempted flick failed to come off.

Portugal did not have to wait long to double their advantage after the restart. Korea DPR custodian Ri Myong-Guk had already tipped over Tiago’s shot when Simao made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. There was some impressive build-up play as Almeida backheeled to Meireles who played in Simao to slide the ball past Ri Myong-Guk. Within three minutes it was 3-0, Tiago sending Coentrao down the left and the full-back crossing for Almeida to nod past the goalkeeper. Portugal were now tearing them apart and by the hour they had their fourth goal, Tiago finding the net from Ronaldo's lay-off.

Meireles and Coentrao missed chances to underline their dominance, before Ronaldo rattled the crossbar with a spectacular strike. Yet in a late flurry, Portugal forced open the floodgates once more. Ri Kwang-Chon's mistake let in substitute Liedson to smash a shot high into the net. Ronaldo then opened his account after Liedson took advantage of some sloppy play in the Korean defence to play in the Real Madrid star – trying to pass the goalkeeper on the edge of the box, the ball bounced up off Ri Myong-Guk and on to Ronaldo's back before dropping from his head to his foot for an easy finish. Tiago's header one minute from time completed a magnificent seven.

Brazil beat Ivory Coast but Kaka sent off world cup summary and video

2010-06-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

There is a fine line between elation and frustration in the world's favourite sport, as graphically illustrated by a turbulent second Sunday at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Five-time winners Brazil were consumed by joy after sealing their berth in the Round of 16, but holders Italy again dropped points and are in real danger of missing out on the knockout stages.

A Seleção striker Luis Fabiano emerged as the match-winner at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The two-goal marksman was at his most ruthless as he set coach Dunga's side on the way to a 3-1 Group G victory over Côte d’Ivoire. After claiming the adidas Golden Shoe as top scorer at the FIFA Confederations Cup a year ago, the Sevilla sharp-shooter reaffirmed his apparent love affair with South Africa. Elano added the third on an encouraging evening for the South Americans, Didier Drogba pulling one back as the Africans staged a late rally. The only fly in the ointment for the Brazilians was Kaka's dismissal for a second yellow card in the heated closing stages.

There were more flies than ointment earlier in the day for Marcello Lippi's holders, held to a 1-1 draw by minnows New Zealand in Nelspruit, proving once again that heroics in the past count for precious little in the present. The Group F stalemate rates as the Italians' worst FIFA World Cup result since a 1-0 defeat by Korea DPR fully 44 years ago. La Nazionale's blushes were spared by Vincenzo Iaquinta, who levelled from the spot after Shane Smeltz had opened the scoring. Incredibly, Italy still have not won in 2010.

Brazil were not the only South Americans celebrating as Paraguay gave an exemplary display of how to make the most of your chances and win. In a subdued encounter in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros clinically put away La Albirroja’s best openings to earn a fully merited 2-0 win over Slovakia and place one foot firmly in the Round of 16.

Results
Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay
Italy 1-1 New Zealand
Brazil 3-1 Côte d’Ivoire

Goal of the day
Slovakia 0-1 Paraguay, Enrique Vera, 27 minutes: Paraguay's opener goes down as one of the sweetest moves of the tournament to date. Lucas Barrios sped clear of two opponents, nutmegging one for good measure, before delivering a killer ball for the onrushing Enrique Vera. The Liga de Quito schemer curled a beauty into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot, not only setting Paraguay on their way to victory, but also rattling up the 50th goal of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil.

One to remember
Andy Barron came for the last two minutes of stoppage time – and carved himself a place in New Zealand footballing history. The 29-year-old Team Wellington midfielder works full-time in a bank, and the water-cooler chat for some time to come is sure to be all about his exploits for the All Whites in South Africa. Barron helped his team run down the clock to secure only the second FIFA World Cup finals point in their history and ensure they remain undefeated at the tournament.

Quote of the day
"I think our entire country, which numbers four million inhabitants, came to a stop to watch our performance. It's an incredible result for football in New Zealand. It's historic and greater than anything else we've ever achieved when you consider the standing of our opponents," Ricki Herbert, New Zealand coach.

Stat of the day
17 - Italy skipper Fabio Cannavaro, FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006, has now featured in 17 games at the finals, and has drawn level in the nation's all-time ranking with goalkeeping legend Dino Zoff. The only players ahead of the pair are Gaetano Scirea and Antonio Cabrini (both 18) and Paolo Maldini (23). However, even if the holders battle their way to the Final, the 36-year-old Cannavaro can no longer dislodge Maldini from top spot.

Have your say
Can Italy raise their game in South Africa? Do you now regard Brazil as favourites for the Trophy? And do you think New Zealand can reach the next stage?

Live: Italy 1-1 New Zealand world cup 2010 fifa

2010-06-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

New Zealand stunned defending world champions Italy with an early goal, but the Azzuri drew level from the penalty spot.

Half-time: Italy 1-1 New Zealand

Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay summary and video All Goals

2010-06-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Paraguay too strong for Slovakia

Paraguay claimed their first 2010 FIFA World Cup™ victory by beating Slovakia 2-0 on Sunday in Mangaung/Bloemfontein. Top of the Group F table with four points – at least until Italy take on New Zealand later in the day – the Paraguayans got a goal in each half at the Free State Stadium through Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros.

The South Americans controlled the contest right from the start, and they might have opened their account in the early going when Roque Santa Cruz's shot took a tricky deflection towards goal but Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha was up to the task, diving well to save in the top-right corner. Riveros and Lucas Barrios then had good opportunities to confirm Paraguay's dominance. After 19 minutes Riveros had time and space for a shot from 20 yards out but his effort went straight at the keeper. Four minutes later Barrios blasted over after some fancy combination play with Vera.

Paraguay's breakthrough came after 27 minutes following a Slovakian give-away in defence. Paulo Da Silva strode forward menacingly and his pass split the defence to find Vera. With two defenders around him, the Ecuador-based midfielder finished coolly with the outside of his right boot around the despairing goalkeeper. At the other end, Slovakia's only real chance of note fell to Kornel Salata, who could not keep his free header down from a corner. Indeed Santa Cruz might have doubled the lead except for a fine save with his feet by Mucha in the 39th minute.

With only one attempt on goal in the first half, Vladimir Weiss's side came out more aggressively in the second period, but Paraguay's organised back line contained them. The Europeans very rarely even threatened to equalise, and Vera should have claimed a second goal when Santa Cruz picked him out all alone in the area in the 72nd minute, but his header bounded wide to the goalkeeper's right.

Instead it fell to Riveros to settle the encounter four minutes from time with a curling left-foot shot from the edge of the area. Slovakia will now hope to resurrect their South Africa 2010 campaign against Italy at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on Thursday, while Gerardo Martino's Paraguay take on New Zealand at the same time in Polokwane.

Live - Slovakia 0-1 Paraguay world cup 2010

2010-06-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

Slovakia and Paraguay are currently in action at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Italy face New Zealand at 3pm, while the day's play reaches what should be a thrilling climax when the Ivory Coast tackle mighty Brazil at 7.30pm.

Half-time banter Still waiting for Ossie to say Tott-ing-ham. Just been outside and there isn't a hint of cloud in the sky. Working in a room with no window is taking it's toll and the World Cup has given me a most unhealthy pallor.

Half-time: Slovakia 0-1 Paraguay

Cameroon 1-2 Denmark

2010-06-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Danish fightback crushes Cameroon

Veteran winger Dennis Rommedhal inspired Denmark to a thrilling 2-1 victory in Pretoria, claiming one goal and setting up another as Morten Olsen's side dumped Cameroon out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and, in the process, ensured the Netherlands, Group E leaders, a last-16 spot.

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen made three changes to the side which had lost to Japan, while the Danes were boosted by the return of skipper Jon Dahl Tomasson. Samuel Eto'o was back in a central role up front, having played wide on the right in the opening game, and that switch looked like paying off as early as the fifth minute when Achille Emana teed him up for a low drive which flashed a yard wide.

Denmark, playing in all white, had been largely anonymous in the opening few minutes, with Eto'o and Stephane Mbia prominent in a lively start by Le Guen's side. However, moments after the Cameroon captain had showed his intentions, the Danes fired a reminder that they too were desperate for the win as Rommedahl sprang Cameroon's offside trap and fizzed a shot a yard over.

The west African side were on top, though, in the early stages, no doubt driven on by the deafening chorus of vuvezelas, which only got louder when a lapse in concentration by Christian Poulsen gifted Cameroon a 10th-minute lead. Only days after Daniel Agger's own goal had put them on the path to defeat against the Dutch, Denmark were handing out presents once again, with the blond defender laying Thomas Sorensen's clearance right into the path of the grateful Pierre Webo. He clipped a tidy cross into Eto'o and the Inter Milan striker slid the ball home with ease.

Yet Denmark refused to be shaken in the way they had been against the Netherlands and slowly clawed their way back into the game. Twice Jesper Gronkjaer went close within the space of 60 seconds – first rifling in a shot which was deflected out by Nicolas Nkoulou, then trying his luck with a diving header from the resulting corner. The Danes still had to be alert at the other end of the pitch and Cameroon might have restored their lead but for some less-than-impressive finishing from Emana.

With their inspirational captain Tomasson back on board, and Bendtner clearly benefitting from a few extra days' training, the Danes grew in confidence and their pressure paid off after 33 minutes when Rommedahl set off down the right before firing an inviting ball across the face of goal which Bendtner prodded home with his right foot. The match swung from end to end as the first half reached a a thrilling climax. Rommedahl and Tomasson both tested the Cameroon rearguard, while Eto'o saw his shot clatter the post. Emana then almost finished off a dangerous burst forward, but Sorensen was equal to his chip.

More goals seemed inevitable and Webo, a constant threat, twice went close to edging his side in front as the hour mark approached. He failed to profit, however, and was left to rue his missed opportunities when, just seconds later, the Danes raced down the other end of the pitch and took a crucial lead through Rommedahl, who curled an exquisite left-foot shot past the despairing dive of Hamidou Souleymanou.

There was no let-up from either side as the clock ticked on. Cameroon substitute Mohamadou Idrissou missed a hat-trick of gilt-edged chances, Tomasson's tame effort was easily claimed by Souleymanou, and Emana's right-foot effort was athletically palmed away by Sorensen. Vincent Aboubakar also went close in a frantic finish but the Danes held out for a memorable win in the face of waves of late Cameroon pressure. The Indomitable Lions are out but Denmark march on to a win-or-bust encounter with Japan in Rustenburg on Thursday.

Live: Cameroon 0-0 Denmark World Cup

2010-06-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Australia kept their World Cup hopes alive by gaining a point against Ghana, while the Netherlands saw off Japan to book their place in the round of 16. Upcoming is the clash of Cameroon and Denmark.

Ghana 1-1 Australia Full time FIFA WORLD CUP UPDATE

2010-06-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Australia will be hoping to get their World Cup campaign back on track when they face Ghana in Rustenburg this afternoon, while Cameroon meet Denmark in Pretoria this evening. The Netherlands defeated Japan 1-0 in Durban earlier this afternoon.

Full-time - Netherlands 1-0 Japan world cup 2010

2010-06-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Netherlands are into the second round after collecting maximum points from their two group games, although the pedants will point out that it's not a mathematical certainty at this stage. The Japanese may feel slightly aggrieved to leave empty-handed, but they're still in with a decent chance of qualification after edging out Cameroon in their opener.

Full-time: Netherlands 1-0 Japan

Live - Netherlands 1-0 Japan world cup 2010

2010-06-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Australia will be hoping to get their World Cup campaign back on track when they face Ghana Rustenburg this afternoon, while Cameroon meet Denmark in Pretoria this evening. The Netherlands take on Japan at 12.30pm in what could well be the match of the day

89 min Déjà vu for Afellay. Same shot from same area yields same result. Poor finishing from the sub.

88 min The Dutch make their final change as Huntelaar enters the fray. Van Persie heads for the bench.

84 min Afellay almost makes an immediate impact. His fresh legs help him to ghost in on goal, but he tries to slide the ball under the advancing keeper, when a deft dink over Kawashima was the smart play.

83 min Afellay is on for the goalscorer as the game peters out.

81 min A tired Japan waste possession in a good area. Nakamura's pass to find Nagatomo near the right byline could have been better and the ball trickles out.

77 min We've just had a double substitution from Japan. Okazaki replaces Hasebe and Okubo makes way for Tamada.

76 min The Blue Samurai attacks have dried up as the Dutch keep possession.

72 min Elia comes on for a weary Van der Vaart.

69 min A swift Japan counter-attack on the right wing sees the ball almost reach Honda after a sublime ball across the face of goal. The Dutch are forced to concede a corner and danger is averted, eventually.

65 min Okubo shoots just right and wide from inside the area. Japan's gameplan was obviously to stifle the Netherlands and earn a 0-0 draw. But since falling behind they've been liberated and the now unshackled attacking players are relishing the opportunity to tear forward.

62 min Former Celtic star Nakamura is on for Matsui.

60 min Three Japan corners in quick succession and more sustained pressure. They're really responding well since falling behind. 'Remember the spirit of the samurai,' is the message from the inspirational Tanaka.

57 min The game has really opened up since the goal. The Asians surge forward in numbers before Okubo blasts over the bar.

53 min Netherlands 1-0 Japan Sneijder opens the scoring in Durban. The ball breaks to him at the edge of the area and his shot looks destined for the bottom left corner. Kawashima gets to it but contrives to punch-cum-throw he ball over his left shoulder and into the goal. More comical goalkeeping.

50 min Van der Vaart's inswinging free from the right is headed behind by Tanaka for a corner but Sneijder's set-piece is a poor one.

48 min Van Persie's downward header lacks power and is easily saved by Kawashima after good work - and an even better cross - from the left from Van Bronckhorst.

Woeful England draw with Algeria 0:0 world cup 2010

2010-06-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Woeful England draw with Algeria

A woeful England failed to find the killer touch in a disappointing 0-0 draw with Algeria on Friday, putting them under huge pressure to beat Slovenia in their final World Cup group game.

Fabio Capello's team, under the cosh already after their much-criticised 1-1 opener against the United States, struggled to find any rhythm and gave the ball away far too easily, doing little to silence their detractors.

With the United States and Slovenia drawing 2-2 earlier, Group C is finely poised. Slovenia have four points, with England and the USA on two and Algeria with one.

It was a poor performance from Capello's team with players looking tired and devoid of spark.

The big news ahead of the game was the axing of West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green after his blunder against the USA with veteran David James taking over.

Gareth Barry also returned from an ankle injury, but he struggled and was largely ineffective.

Skipper Steven Gerrard was the first to trouble the Algerians with a cross-cum-shot that 'keeper M'bohi Rais Ouheb, prefered to Faouzi Chaouchi after their 1-0 loss to Slovenia, had to jump high to collect.

James got into the game on 11 minutes when he punched clear a looping cross on his goal line, not entirely convincingly but good enough to avert the danger.

Some of the players were nervy and the heart of Jamie Carragher, playing in place of the injured Ledley King, would have been pumping even harder after his fluffed clearance had to be stopped by James.

England couldn't get going and Algeria was seeing plenty of the ball. It was clear that Capello, celebrating his 64th birthday, was none too pleased, angrily pacing the dugout.

James was tested again when his Portsmouth teammate Nadir Belhadj whipped in a corner under the England bar, claiming it impressively this time under pressure from two Algerians.

England finally started to wake up and Gerrard got a shot on target near the half-hour mark before Frank Lampard had a great chance, collecting the ball in the box after some nice build-up play.
He unleashed a left-footed drive but the keeper saved.

Capello would have given them a piece of his mind in the dressing room but they didn't look much better when they came out, with a scrappy start to the second-half.

Gerrard and Lampard sparked some interest when they combined nicely but the Liverpool star's cross was awful, straight to the feet of an opponent when he had three players in the box.

To make matters worse Carragher picked up a yellow card - his second of the tournament - meaning he is out of the Slovenia match.

The cumbersome Heskey, meanwhile, should have done better inside the penalty area with 18 minutes left but his shot was deflected over for a corner.

In a last role of the dice, Capello brought on Shaun Wright-Philipps for Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe for Heskey and Peter Crouch for Barry, but despite picking up the pace the breakthrough remained elusive.

Slovenia 2-2 USA world cup 2010 video

2010-06-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

The USA made a dramatic comeback from two goals down at half-time to rescue a point against Sovenia in Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

Slovenia were comfortably in charge of a first half where they showed they can play sophisticated and intelligent passing football and the United States woefully failed to match them tactically or disturb their rhythm.

The 2-0 difference between the teams at the break after goals from the excellent Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic was fair reflection of the way in which Matjaz Kek's team out-thought and out-manoeuvred a baffled USA side.

But the second half, when the United States bullied and bustled their way back into the game with a performance bristling with aggression and determination, exposed a soft underbelly to the Slovenian team.

The comeback, which would have been a remarkable victory had Maurice Edu's late effort not been ruled out, showed once again the impressive heart and spirit of the US side epitomised by Michael Bradley's equaliser which was brimming with anger and energy.

Slovenia lacked the ability that truly top teams have, to weather the storm and then regroup and regain control of a game. Both teams now head into the final round of group matches with a chance of progress but up against exactly the styles they are clearly least comfortable against.

Slovenia have four points but face the physical presence of England, the United States have two points and are against the short-passing approach of Algeria.

Both will need to address their fundamental flaws if they are to extend their presence in South Africa beyond the group stage.
USA coach Bob Bradley had made one change from the team which scrapped out a draw with England, bringing in creative midfielder Jose Torres for the more defence-minded Ricardo Clark.

It was a positive move from Bradley, who clearly wished to see his side control possession but it didn't work as his midfield was hopelessly outplayed by the smart Slovenes, guided by the industrious and canny Robert Koren.

Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, employed on the wide of midfield are both attackers by instinct and Donovan in particular failed to carry out his defensive duties, leaving left-back Carlos Bocanegra helplessly exposed against Birsa.

Birsa had no-one near him when he looked up and spotted Tim Howard off his line and drove home the first goal from 25 metres out -- but even that did not wake up the U.S to the need to deal with the threat coming from Slovenia's right.

Bradley did address the problem at the break and got it spot on. Benny Feilhaber came on to the left and did a fine job in reducing the influence of Birsa, Maurice Edu replaced Torres in the centre of midfield and brought in the necessary extra running and fight.

Slovenia simply didn't adapt and appeared to be shaken by Donovan's goal just three minutes after the restart which gave the Americans real belief.

The USA showed that the long ball game is not always to be scoffed at, as they made good use of Jozy Altidore's height against a Slovene defence that suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Faced with a direct and physical response, the Slovenians made the fatal mistake of defending deeply and hoping to hold on to their lead and they paid the price.

Germany vs Serbia [0-1] World cup 2010 video

2010-06-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Jovanovic sinks 10-man Germany

A 38th-minute Milan Jovanovic goal proved enough for Serbia to edge a Germany side that played the entire second half at a numerical disadvantage and missed a penalty. Joachim Low's charges had the majority of the possession and chances at Port Elizabeth Stadium, but Miroslav Klose's dismissal and Lukas Podolski's failure to beat Vladimir Stojkovic from 12 yards proved costly for a Germany team beaten in a FIFA World Cup™ group game for the first time since 1986.

The result means that Germany, who remain top of Group D on goal difference, Ghana and Serbia all now have three points, while Australia are yet to get off the mark. The Black Stars and the Socceroos will play their second game in Rustenburg tomorrow.

Germany quickly found their rhythm following kick-off, but it was Serbia who had the first meaningful attempt on goal, Zdravko Kuzmanovic executing a firm, low drive from the edge of the box that went two yards wide. The Germans responded instantly, stringing a series of passes together before Mesut Oezil dinked the ball through to Sami Khedira, who was promisingly positioned inside the area but unable to keep his volley down. Podolski was next to try his luck, reacting first to Nemanja Vidic's clearance and sending a thumping volley narrowly wide.

Serbia then enjoyed a fruitful five-minute spell. Krasic neatly set up Milos Ninkovic, who volleyed over from inside the area. Then Ninkovic skipped around Arne Friedrich and was felled as he approached the Germany penalty area but Radomir Antic’s side wasted the consequent free-kick. The Serbia defence was standing firm against the three-time world champions – Neven Subotic made one crucial challenge on Khedira, while a Vidic interception denied Klose a run on goal.

Klose did have the ball in the net on the half-hour but had strayed marginally offside. The Germany forward's afternoon reached an early end eight minutes before half-time, however, when following an earlier booking, he received a second yellow card for bringing down Dejan Stankovic from behind, and was sent off. Serbia capitalised immediately. Krasic outstripped his marker down the right, got to the byline, and crossed to the back post, where Zigic was hovering. The towering striker nodded the ball back across goal and into the path of Jovanovic, who took it on his chest and fired acrobatically past Manuel Neuer from five yards.

Germany, a man and a goal down, came agonisingly close to restoring parity on the stroke of half-time. From an Oezil corner, Stojkovic could only punch the ball into the path of Khedira, who thumped it against the crossbar from 12 yards. From the rebound, Thomas Mueller produced an overhead kick but Kolarov was intelligently positioned on the line and managed to hook the ball to safety.

Germany raced out of the blocks following the restart. Bastian Schweinsteiger almost went through on goal, but Vidic made a sliding challenge to avert the danger. Oezil then slid Podolski in only for the Cologne ace to find the side-netting from eight yards. Poldi had a far better opportunity to equalise on the hour mark. Vidic unnecessarily handled Arne Friedrich's cross and referee Alberto Undiano pointed to the spot, handing the Manchester United centre-back a yellow card. Podolski aimed for the bottom corner but Stojkovic flung himself down to his left and pulled off a great save.

The game flowed from end to end in the remaining 30 minutes. The inventive Krasic worked an opening for himself and forced Neuer into a good save, while the same player also crossed for Zigic, whose header struck the crossbar. Germany's best opportunities continued to fall to Podolski. Oezil and Mueller combined to free him down the left of the penalty area but he scuffed his shot. He tried again with four minutes remaining but failed to get a good connection on his ten-yard effort. It was not his – or Germany's – afternoon. Serbia, who pipped France to first place in their qualifying group, had once again served notice of their ability to hang with the heavyweights.

France 0-2 Mexico All Goals And Highlights - Fifa World Cup 2010 video

2010-06-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

France 0-2 Mexico final mach world cup 2010

2010-06-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mexican subs shoot down France

France, finalists in 2006, are on the verge of crashing out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ after losing 2-0 to Mexico in Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium. Substitutes Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco grabbed the goals as El Tri moved to within touching distance of the last 16 with a deserved win over Raymond Domenech’s lacklustre Les Bleus.

This was a generally well-matched encounter, with little to choose between two talented but inconsistent sides. Mexico, however, just about shaded it, and certainly succeeded in creating the better of the chances throughout.

The French defence looked vulnerable faced with the pace and movement of Mexico’s youthful attack, and Domenech’s side should really have conceded a goal inside eight minutes. All it took was a simple lofted ball over the top from Rafael Marquez to leave them exposed but Carlos Vela, having raced clean through, ballooned his left-foot shot high over the crossbar.

Mexico were showing plenty of ambition, and their willingness to commit men forward was exemplified in left-back Carlos Salcido, who twice went close midway through the half. First, with 18 minutes played, he charged forward from his defensive berth and rifled a low drive just wide of the far post. Then, nine minutes later, Salcido again burst forward, jinked inside Bacary Sagna and, with William Gallas backing off, poked in a right-foot shot that Hugo Lloris could only parry clear.

France were more cautious in their approach, although the largely-subdued Franck Ribery did provide one worthwhile effort with a powerful right-foot shot that flashed across goal. Mexico remained the most threatening, and even the loss of Vela to injury did not disrupt their rhythm, with the Arsenal striker’s replacement, Pablo Berrera, heading just wide within a couple of minutes of entering the fray.

The French would have felt fortunate to return to the dressing rooms with the scores level, but they emerged with renewed determination and forced a decent early save from Oscar Perez when Florent Malouda was given time and space to crack in a powerful right-foot shot. With Mexico struggling to replicate their first-half form, Javier Aguirre rang the changes, and it was one of his substitutes, Javier Hernandez, who provided the all-important breakthrough.

Marquez again split the French defence with a simple through ball, and Hernandez, having sprung the offside trap, coolly side-stepped Lloris before side-footing into the open net. A resolute French response seemed inevitably, yet it never materialised. Instead, Mexico made sure of all three points when Blanco slotted a textbook penalty to the right of the helpless Lloris after Barrera’s thrilling run was halted by Eric Abidal’s sliding challenge.

El Tri now march on to their final fixture against Uruguay knowing that a point will be enough to see them through to the last 16, while France face the hosts knowing that only an unlikely set of results will salvage their South Africa 2010 dreams.

Live updates- France 0-2 Mexico - world cup 2010 South Africa

2010-06-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Goal: Javier Hernandez - 64 - Mexico -

Hernández 64’
Blanco 79’ (pen.)

France and Mexico are meeting in a game that will go a long way to deciding Group A. Earlier, Greece claimed their first ever World Cup victory with a 2-1 win against Nigeria while Argentina saw off South Korea.

86 mins Domench's men are playing as if they're three goals up passing the ball around the back with no urgency at all. Their manager meanwhile has been slumped against the edge of the dugout doing nothing. No changes, no instructions to his players, nothing.

83 mins France are awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Ribery steps up to take it and maybe give his side a lifeline, but he smacks it straight against the wall. Again.

82 mins France, who haven't been up to much all evening, look an absolutely beaten side. Defeat here won't matchmatically rule them out of progressing, but it looks very, very unlikely.

79 mins GOAL MEXICO! Blanco takes a rediculously long run up - the kind you see before England players take before they balloon the ball over the bar - but Blanco makes no mistake and slots the ball low to the left which Lloris can't save, despite going the right way.

77 mins PENALTY MEXICO! Barrera runs past Evra before Abidal slides in on him. The Mexican player sees the challenge coming and goes down easily but there's enough contact for the referee to point the spot.

74 mins A shot from Gignac from outside the box sails over. In sums up France's night thus far - they honestly look like they don't care.

71 mins France make a change with Sidney Govou coming off for Mathieu Valbuena. Still no sign of Thierry Henry. If France do lose this game, expect Domenech's team selection to come under heavy scrutiny.

70 mins The stadium is jumping as the Mexican fans, who outnumber their French counterparts, celebrate their side's lead. Dos Santos, who has impressed all night, sends in a great low cross that rolls across the face of the French goal with no-one following it in.

66 mins France free-kick in side the Mexico's half on the left Ribery sends it over, but it's another poor cross and Perez collects it with ease.

63 mins GOAL MEXICO! It's the subsitute Hernandez. A long, through ball from Marquez fools the French defence, who step up en masse in an effort to play offside. The pass finds Hernandez in acres of space and he has all the time in the world to beat goalkeeper Lloris and slot the ball home. In fairness it looks offside on first viewing, but replays show that the linesman may have got it right.

Live updates - Greece 2-1 Nigeria world cup 2010

2010-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Greece and Nigeria are currently in action in Bloemfentein while Argentina have seen off South Korea in the day's early kick-off. France v Mexico face off this evening.

k-off. France v Mexico face off this evening.

80 mins Ten minutes left and you can't help shake the feeling that there's another twist to come in this match. Greece are trying to slow things down and pass it around, but without being cruel, they're not good enough to play the possession game.

Argentina 4-1 Korea (- FIFA World Cup 2010 - Group B -)

2010-06-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Full-time - Argentina 4-1 South Korea world cup 2010

2010-06-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

Argentina have seen off South Korea, while next up is Greece v Nigeria and then France v Mexico this evening.

92mins The final whistle goes following another Messi effort - if Greece don't beat Nigeria next Argetnina's place in the next round is secure.

John Dunne tells Martin that it doesn't matter about defence when you've got Messi, Tevez, Aguero and Higuain up front - we'll see how that stands up when they meet a better attacking team.

world cup 2010 Match thursday 17 calendrier

2010-06-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

South Africa 0-3 Uruguay summary and video

2010-06-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Forlan silences South Africa

The Bafana Bafana World Cup dream began to unravel tonight after a Diego Forlán double and a late third from Alvaro Pereira took Uruguay to the top of Group A and left the South Africans hoping that neither France nor Mexico join them this evening. With one point from two games, Carlos Alberto Parreira's side already must win their final match against France to have any hope of progressing.

When Uruguay took the lead midway through the first half it appeared Forlán might have been the first striker to make the new ball do his bidding, although on closer inspection the reason his shot achieved so much height and then dip was possibly because it clipped Aaron Mokoena's ear on the way past. Either way, it left Itumeleng Khune with no chance of stopping it.

Just as it seemed Forlán's well struck drive from almost 25 yards out was heading into the crowd like the previous hopeful effort from Alvaro Pereira, it dropped over Khune's head and under his bar before the stadium fully realised what had happened. That is to say, the vuvuzelas took a few second to die down, coming to a spluttering rather than a sudden halt.

It was no more than Uruguay deserved because, though South Africa came forward strongly, they ran out of ideas and invention in front of goal, whereas Forlán and Luis Suárez always promised that bit more poise and class. Suárez had already brought a save from Khune before Forlán scored. While the Africans were still level their best couple of attacks had involved Siphiwe Tshabalala, new darling of the crowd after his stunning goal against Mexico, but on both occasions he selfishly went for glory with better-placed colleagues in support.

More bad news for Bafana Bafana arrived before the interval, with Fulham's influential Kagisho Dikgacoi picking up a booking for a foul on Suárez that puts him out of the next match against France. Steven Pienaar had already been shown yellow early in the game for breaking out of the wall to charge down a Forlán free-kick, a naive caution for a player of his experience to collect.

Dikgacoi was lucky to stay on the field at the start of the second half when, intentionally or otherwise, he smacked Suárez in the mouth and drew blood. The Uruguayan was then denied a penalty when he was fouled outside the area by Bongani Khumalo but made sure to dive into it, protesting through a wad of tissue to the referee that at the very least he deserved a free-kick. Remarkably Dikgacoi still managed to stay on after kicking Jorge Fucile up in the air under the Swiss referee's nose.

Diego Lugano had a chance to make sure of victory from a Forlán cross but missed his header completely and the Uruguayans squandered several more promising openings before Khune received the red card that seemed to have Dikgacoi's name on it by tripping Suárez as he moved the ball past him. It was slightly harsh, yet as last man he had to go.

South Africa did not have a spare goalkeeper ready and the game was held up for some minutes while Moeneeb Josephs prepared to come on at the expense of Pienaar, only to be beaten from the spot by Forlán's confident clip into the top of the net. There was never any chance of South Africa hitting back with 10 men – they hardly ever looked like scoring with 11.

While Tshabalala's opening-day strike will stand as one of the goals of the tournament, South Africa do not appear to have many more where that came from. By the time Pereira added a cruel third from Suárez's cross the stadium was rapidly emptying.

Spain 0 - 1 Switzerland summary and video

2010-06-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

Swiss shock kings of Europe

Switzerland pulled off the biggest shock so far at this FIFA World Cup™ as Gelson Fernandes's strike against the run of play earned them a 1-0 win against European champions and joint-tournament favourites Spain. Vicente del Bosque's team predictably dominated possession but were hit on the break seven minutes into the second half as the Swiss recorded a first win over Spain in 19 attempts.

Stylish Spain had all of the ball in the early stages in Durban, painting pretty patterns around the pitch with astounding ease as the Switzerland chased and harried. The Swiss hardly got a sniff of the ball in the first quarter-hour but were not unduly troubled either as Spain failed to turn their elegant control and ball play into concrete attempts on goal. Their first chance of any real substance came after 25 minutes. After coming forward for a free-kick, centre-back Gerard Pique remained in an advanced position and collected a brilliant through-ball from the lively Andres Iniesta, back from injury in time to make the starting XI. Turning his man with the acumen of a seasoned striker, the tall defender was only denied at the last by the legs of Diego Benaglio, who came roaring bravely off his line.

The Swiss had their only notable attempt of the first period just seconds later, with Reto Ziegler’s free-kick from 20 yards hardly troubling Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid man diving to his left to keep out the tame strike. The UEFA EURO 2008 winners soon shifted the focus back to the other end of the pitch and on the half-hour mark Silva's looping ball from midfield picked out Iniesta racing toward goal. The Barcelona man was pulled back by Stephane Grichting on the edge of the box but Pique slammed the free-kick harmlessly into the Swiss wall. As the opening stanza ground to a halt, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was forced to replace influential centre-back Philippe Senderos, who limped off early in a match in his second consecutive FIFA World Cup.

A similar trend developed in the second half, with Spain dictating the patterns but stuttering in front of goal. Their profligacy was punished in the 52nd minute when a long, hopeful ball hoofed up the field was collected by Eren Derdiyok. The outrushing Casillas saved at his feet but the ball ricocheted to Fernandes who slid home from close range. It was only the second shot on goal for the Swiss, who celebrated the unlikely lead with a combination of shock and delight. The Spanish fans were stunned into the silence, but their favourites continued to press in search of that elusive goal. Villa went close on the hour, two minutes before Spain boss Del Bosque added a bit of firepower, bringing Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas off the bench. With their supporters back on their feet again, Iniesta's curler beat Benaglio but drifted the wrong side of the post.

Liverpool man Torres began to torment the defence with his running and pace, leading directly to a vicious strike from Xabi Alonso in the 71st minute which rattled the crossbar and left it shaking. Shortly after Navas saw a chance from close-in well saved by Benaglio as Spanish pressure mounted. The Swiss were dangerous on the break, however, and Derdiyok hit the post with a quarter-hour to go after the Spaniards committed too many men forward. Seconds later Spain lost Iniesta, who limped off after a rough challenge; he may have aggravated the muscle injury that made him a doubt before the game. In his absence, Spain endured only further frustration and they will need to rebound against Honduras at Ellis Park on 21 June. The Swiss take on Chile, the other Group H winners, earlier that same day in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Honduras 0:1 chile

2010-06-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

Beausejour ends Chile wait

Chile ended a wait of almost half a century for a victory on the world stage by defeating Honduras 1-0 in their opening Group H game in Nelspruit.

If there was a touch of fortune about Jean Beausejour's 34th-minute winner – Roger Espinoza's attempted clearance striking him as the pair slid in to meet a cross – it was the least Chile deserved for an impressive attacking display that had Honduras on the ropes for much of the 90 minutes at the Mbombela Stadium. For Chile, it was a victory exactly 48 years in the making – the South Americans had not won a FIFA World Cup™ match since defeating Yugoslavia in the match for third place on home soil on this very day in 1962. Moreover, they had never won outside their home continent but they showed here just why they were strong enough to finish second in South American qualifying.

Facing a Honduran side making their first finals appearance since 1982, Marcelo Bielsa's men hit the ground running, dominating possession in the opening half-hour and pinning Honduras back. Matias Fernandez sent a free-kick dipping on to the roof of Noel Valladares' net after just three minutes and La Roja's quick passing soon led to several half-chances. Arturo Vidal drove in a long-range shot that Valladares required two attempts to hold, then sent a header over the crossbar from a corner. In between Chile opened up the Honduran back line with one swift passing exchange only for Jorge Valdivia to overhit his final ball to Beasejour.

Bielsa's men gained their reward for an impressive start after 34 minutes. It was a nicely worked goal, if fortuitous in the final execution. Chile's pinball passing created a gap for Mauricio Isla to break clear on the right side of the penalty box and fire in a low cross to the near post. Although Espinoza got a stretched leg to the ball first, it bounced up against Beausejour and deflected into the net. Chile kept coming forward, with Sanchez driving in a shot that struck the hand of Maynor Figueroa. There were few glimmers of hope for Reinaldo Rueda's Honduras at the other end. Ramon Nunez finally called Chile custodian Claudio Bravo into action on the stroke of half-time, dipping in a free-kick that the goalkeeper tipped over.

The attacks kept flowing toward Honduras's goal in the second period. Sanchez should have added a second just after the hour when Valvidia played him in down the right, only for the Udinese winger to drag his shot wide of the far post. Valladares then made a superb diving save to keep out Waldo Ponce's close-range header, stretching out his right hand to block the ball when the defender looked certain to bury Vidal's header across goal. Next it was Figueroa's turn to rescue his side with a goal-saving challenge on Mauricio Isla. When Valdivia did find the net he was offside but one goal would be enough for the inventive Chileans.

Côte d'Ivoire 0 - 0 Portugal

2010-06-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

Honours even in Port Elizabeth

Although much has been said about the attacking power of Côte d'Ivoire and Portugal, the two Group G giants proved themselves solid at the back, cancelling each other out in a scoreless draw in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth.

The first half at Nelson Mandela Stadium was one of the most even of the tournament so far, with both teams pushing forward but giving no quarter in defence or in the tackle. Côte d'Ivoire’s attacking triumvirate of Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Aruna Dindane confirmed themselves to be full of pace and movement, but it was Portugal’s own fleet-footed forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had the best chance of the opening period.

The Real Madrid man almost produced something out of nothing in the 11th minute when he smacked an unstoppable dipping shot off the outside of the post to the goalkeeper’s right from 30 yards. But the Elephants were not fazed by the Germany 2006 semi-finalists, and shortly after Ronaldo’s attempt, Siaka Tiene zipped a free-kick just past the post before Ismael Tiote fizzed a shot over the bar.

If the two teams engaged in trench warfare for the rest of the first half, the second half burst into life immediately. Two minutes after the break, Gervinho’s shot was flapped at by goalkeeper Eduardo, and from the resulting corner, Tiate rose but could not get a clean header in. Half-chances came fast and furious then, with Gervinho’s wayward header from Tiote’s cross on the hour the pick of the bunch. The introduction of Didier Drogba in the 66th minute promise to up the ante another notch, but as a heavy rainshower settled on the pitch, the match lost some steam.

With the clock running down, Portugal went close with long-range efforts by Raul Meireles and Ronaldo, while Kolo Toure might have done better at the far post with a header. Then, in injury time, the west Africans finally fashioned an opportunity for Drogba. However, the big Chelsea man – who had clutched his injured arm throughout his time on the pitch –hooked Kader Keita’s through-ball off target.

Côte d'Ivoire will next face group favourites Brazil in Johannesburg’s Soccer City on Sunday, while Portugal will take on Korea DPR the following day in Cape Town.

Brazil 2-1 North Korea

2010-06-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

Brazil beat resilient Koreans

Brazil secured a 2-1 win against Korea DPR but they were made to work extremely hard to secure maximum points after the Asian outsiders showed impressive resilience. The Koreans kept the Brazilians scoreless until ten minutes into the second half when Maicon scored a stunning goal from an outrageous angle. Elano doubled the lead midway through the second half and the contest appeared all over, but a late goal from Ji Yun-Nam ensured Brazil endured some nervy moments in the final minutes.

On paper the contrast between the pair could not have been starker, in what was the first match between the two nations. Five-time world champions Brazil, are currently placed at the top of FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking while Korea DPR sit at 105. The Koreans came into the contest on a run of eight outings without a victory, while Brazil conversely, had won their previous four matches.

The first half was largely all Brazil, though they had very few clear sights of goal, and Korea DPR weren’t without their own lively moments going forward. Defender Cha Jong-Hyok fired a shot wide, while Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se, who had tears streaming down his face as the national anthem played, looked particularly keen to offer drive in his role at the point of the attack.

Kaka made a dangerous run into the penalty area in the opening minutes, which seemed likely to set the tone for the match, but a Korean side which conceded just seven goals in their 14 qualifying matches are known for their swarming defence in their own third.

The nearest Brazil came to scoring in the first half was through a Michel Bastos drive from distance which clipped the roof of the net but, in truth, the shot never looked like dipping under the crossbar.

Korea DPR went into the half-time interval looking relatively comfortable, despite conceding 63 per cent of possession. The Koreans no doubt allowed themselves at least brief thoughts of repeating the heroics of that famous defeat of Italy at England 1966.

Brazil started the second half brightly, and a Bastos’ free-kick from a central position looked dangerous, but the blistering effort curved wide of the mark. As did Robinho's snapshot moments later, as Brazil were often forced to resort to shooting from distance.

Ten minutes after the interval, a moment of brilliance from Maicon broke the deadlock. There appeared little danger as Maicon chased down a slightly overhit pass into the penalty area, and with the ball just about to roll over the by-line, he blazed a shot between Ri Myong-Guk and the near post, in a goal reminiscent of fellow Brazilian right full-back Josimar at Mexico 1986.

The goal opened up the match as the Koreans started to show more endeavour with numbers going forward. Luis Fabiano looked set to take advantage midway through the second half after being set up by Robinho but the Sevilla man could not find the target.

The contest appeared over as Elano comfortably finished past an exposed Ri Myong-Guk with 18 minutes remaining, with Robinho the provider thanks to an exquisite pass that check-mated the entire Korean defensive quartet.

It was A Selecao who looked more likely to score, but with a minute of regular time remaining, Ji Yun-Nam burst into the penalty area and drove a memorable strike past Julio Cesar - Korea DPR's first goal at a FIFA World Cup™ for 44 years.

Côte d'Ivoire - Portugal 0-0

2010-06-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Honours even in Port Elizabeth

The Real Madrid man turned something into nothing in the 11th minute when he smacked an unstoppable, dipping shot off the outside of the post to the goalkeeper’s right from 30 yards. But the Elephants were not fazed by the Germany 2006 semi-finalists, and shortly after Ronaldo‘s attempt, Siaka Tiene zipped a free-kick just past the post and Ismael Tiote fizzed a shot just over the bar.

If the two teams engaged in trench warfare for the rest of the first half, the second half burst to life early on. Two minutes after the break, Gervinho’s shot was flapped at by goalkeeper Eduardo, and from the resulting corner, Tiate rose, but couldn’t get a clean header on it. Half chances came fast and furious then, with Gervinho’s wayward header from Tiote’s cross on the hour mark being the pick of the bunch. The introduction of Didier Drogba in the 66th minute threatened to turn up the action even more, but as a heavy shower settled on the area, the match lost some steam.

As the clock ran down, Portugal went close from long range efforts from Raul Meireles and Ronaldo, while Kolo Toure might have done better at the far post with a header. In injury time, the west Africans pushed hardest and a chance finally came to Drogba, who clutched his injured arm throughout his time on the pitch, but the big Chelsea man hooked Kader Keita’s through-ball off target.

Côte d'Ivoire will now face group favourites Brazil in Johannesburg’s Soccer City on Sunday, while Portugal take on Korea DPR the following day in Cape Town.

Nouvelle-Zélande 1:1 Slovaquie

2010-06-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

A last-gasp Winston Reid header snatched New Zealand an improbable draw against a dominant Slovakia side in their Group F opener in Rustenburg. Robert Vittek had put the Europeans in front, also with his head, in the 50th minute but the All Whites hit back for a result that leaves the section's four sides level on one point – and goal difference – after Italy and Paraguay also drew 1-1 yesterday.

New Zealand defied their underdogs' status in the opening five minutes. First Chris Killen broke free from his marker just inside the Slovakia half, charged forward and unleashed a shot that flew over. Then the same player headed wide from an inviting Leo Bertos cross. That seemed to awaken the Europeans. Vladimir Weiss, son of the Slovakia coach, darted down the right flank before producing a low cross that Mark Paston did well to hold, before Robert Vittek cut inside before blazing a shot high and wide.
The flair of Weiss was thrilling the crowd and on 22 minutes, the Slovakia No7 found space down the left and threaded the ball through to Marek Hamsik, who curled it wide from inside the area. Weiss then craftily laid on a chance for Stanislav Sestak, who fired into the side-netting. Minutes later the No9 missed another chance, this time from a close-range header following a corner. With ten minutes of the half remaining, Vittek cut inside from the right and fired a fierce 20-yard shot wide.

New Zealand, who had been spectators for a period, then went close. Following a neat passing move, Smeltz played a give-and-go with Rory Fallon before shooting into the side-netting from a difficult angle. It proved a brief respite, as the Slovaks dominated possession for the remainder of the half, albeit without creating any meaningful opportunities. They did just that five minutes after the restart, though, and this time they took full advantage. Sestak crossed from the right, and Vittek powered his header into the bottom corner. It was just reward for Slovakia's relentless assault on the Kiwis' goal.

Rather than sit back, the team in blue went in search of a second goal. After 58 minutes Sestak held the ball up well and touched it into the path of Hamsik, who failed to keep his shot down from the edge of the area. Slovakia almost doubled their lead soon after. Zdenko Strba and Sestak exchanged passes, before the latter set up Vittek. However, Paston rushed from his line to make a smart block from the 28-year-old forward.

It took an alert Tony Lochhead to deny Vittek a clear sight on goal with 15 minutes remaining, before Smeltz headed wide from a rare New Zealand attack with just minutes remaining. It appeared then that their last chance had gone, but deep into injury time Smeltz crossed for Reid to steal in and nod home a dramatic equaliser.

Italy 1-1 Paraguay

2010-06-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Italy and Paraguay share spoils

Holders Italy opened their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ campaign with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in Group F on a rainy evening at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

Antolin Alcaraz shocked the Gemany 2006 champions in the 39th minute to open the scoring, while Italy’s Daniel De Rossi took advantage of some unconvincing goalkeeping by veteran Justo Villar to equalise just after the hour mark. New Zealand and Slovakia play the group’s other opening match tomorrow in Rustenburg.

The two teams were well-organised in the early stages despite the difficult conditions and neither could fashion a chance of note in the opening of the match. In the 22nd minute, however, the South Americans showed they would be dangerous on the break, finding Aureliano Torres all alone on the edge of the box. But the defender failed to hit his shot cleanly and Gianluigi Buffon let it run wide as Italian supporters held their breath.

Italy threatened shortly after as young midfielder Claudio Marchisio swung in a nicely flighted corner, but Cristian Riveros was first to it, stretching smartly to clear over his own crossbar with striker Vincenzo Iaquinta lurking.

Paraguay were again quickest from a dead ball situation six minutes before the break to open the scoring. Torres sent in a lovely free-kick, and defender Alcatraz cut in front of Daniel De Rossi and rose higher than Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro to thump a header past the stranded Buffon.

At half-time the Squadra Azzurri got more bad news as Buffon retired hurt for Federico Marchetti, who won just his sixth cap between the sticks. But the four-time FIFA World Cup winners began stronger after the restart, and an unmarked Simone Pepe might have scored at the far post from Gianluca Zambrotta’s cross, but he could not connect with an ambitious overhead kick.

Pepe had another chance in the same spot just minutes later, but Villar caught it just in front of the charging Italian. However, the keeper was keft completely stranded in the 63rd minute when he came out to collect Pepe’s corner, only to miss the ball and watch helplessly as De Rossi flicked it simply into the empty net.

The momentum swung solidly in Italy’s favour after that, but Villar came up strongly for the South Americans. First, he claimed the ball well in front of Iaquinta from a similar looking corner to the one he missed, and then in the 80th minute, he held Pepe’s low shot in front of the eager Italian attack. And he continued his redemption three minutes later, as he saved to his right to claimRiccardo Montolivo’s long but skipping shot.

Italy next play New Zealand on Sunday in Nelspruit, while Paraguay take on Slovakia the same day in Mangaung/Bloemfontein.

japan 1:0 cameroun

2010-06-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Honda creates history for Japan

Japan recorded their first FIFA World Cup™ win on foreign soil after Keisuke Honda's 39th-minute strike proved enough to down Cameroon at the Free State Stadium.

Honda's decisive contribution was handsome reward for Japan coach Takeshi Okada's gamble to deploy the CSKA Moscow midfielder in a central attacking role in an attempt to remedy his team's lack of goals. The Japanese, without a clean sheet in their warm-up matches, then frustrated Cameroon at the other end, surviving a late scare when the woodwork denied Stephane Mbia.

With the victory – their first in an opening game – Japan joined the Netherlands on three points at the top of Group E, while Cameroon's second match against Denmark, the day's other losers, assumes do-or-die dimensions.

The match began with a surprise in the Cameroon starting lineup with Mbia asked to fill in at right-back, his usual holding role in the middle going to Joel Matip. It was Cameroon's left-back Benoit Assou who was busier, though, with most of Japan's forward movement coming down their right side through Daisuke Matsui.

The Grenoble-based midfielder was the creator of Honda's winning goal when, after several crosses that came to nothing, he finally got his angles right and swung over a high ball which evaded the Cameroon defenders and fell at the far post to Honda. The CSKA Moscow man needed one touch to control the ball before steering it coolly past Hamidou Souleymanou.

Ironically Honda's strike came just moments after Cameroon had a shooting chance at the other end, when Eric Choupo Moting played a ball back to Enyong Enah but his low effort from the edge of the box went straight at Eiji Kawashima. There had been little end product up to then from the west Africans, despite their greater share of possession.

Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon's captain, had a quiet half, although the couple of occasions he did get on the ball brought the promise something might happen. The constant noise inside the stadium rose several notches when the Inter Milan forward delivered an early scare for Japan's defence after eight minutes, freeing Pierre Webo on the right side of the penalty box but his intended cutback to Choupo Moting was cleared.

Eto'o produced a flash of brilliance shortly after the restart when he span away from three blue shirts by the corner flag and teed up Choupo Moting for a shot that sailed over the far post. Cameroon were pushing Japan back and as night began to fall, and the temperature with it, coach Paul Le Guen looked to increase the pressure by sending on a fourth forward, Achille Emana, in place of Matip in the 63rd minute.

Webo got through but was offside, another Cameroon forward – Mahamadou Idrissou – entered the fray but still Japan absorbed the pressure. Indeed they might have had a second when Makoto Hasebe drew a low save from Souleymanou; substitute Shiniji Okazaki put the follow-up against the post but was offside. At the other end Mbia drove a shot against the crossbar but Japan – eight years to the day since their last FIFA World Cup victory – held on.

World Cup 2010: Netherlands 2-0 Denmark:

2010-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk gave Rafael van der Vaart the nod to prove his worth at the left wing and started in the 4-2-3-1 formation we are all used to from the Dutch.

For Denmark, national coach Morten Olsen awarded striker Nicklas Bendtner a starting berth despite his alleged injury problems. Additionally, Simon Poulsen and Thomas Enevoldsen were somewhat surprisingly included in Denmark's starting XI.

Denmark started the match in a bit of a sloppy way, as a weak backpass immediately troubled shot stopper Thomas Sorensen. The glovesman managed to clear the ball into safety before Robin van Persie got to the ball though.

The referee awarded Oranje a free kick about 40 yards away from the Danish goal in the sixth minute and Wesley Sneijder opted to try his luck from long range. However, the Inter star aimed high and wide and the ball ended up in the stands.

Sorensen was called into action again after ten minutes of play. Dirk Kuyt was given some extra room and decided to pounce on the opportunity to shoot on goal. Looked fairly rudimentary for Sorensen, despite for the fact that he dropped it, but luckily for him and the Danes, no Dutch players were on hand to capitalise.

Van Persie turned his man inside out with a delicate first touch halfway the first half before he picked out Van Der Vaart. The latter fired with his left, but the ball went out for a corner.

Enevoldsen then decided to take things into his own hands and charges towards goal. Since no one shut him down, he winded up his right foot and blasted his shot high and wide.

Danish Dynamite got the best chance of the match after 27 minutes of play. Dennis Rommedahl sent in a perfect cross from the right for Nicklas Bendtner and the Arsenal star headed only just wide from close range.

A counter move by Denmark around the half hour mark caused the Dutch defence some problems. Rommedahl received a switching ball on the right and went past his marker. Nevertheless, he fired a ball straight at Stekelenburg.

Stekelenburg again saved the day for Holland minutes later. Bendtner opened up the Dutch defence, sending a through-pass to Kahlenburg. The Wolfsburg midfielder fired in a left-footed shot that was tipped out for a corner.

Van Persie then almost broke the deadlock in the dying seconds of the first half. A lucky rebound fell to the tricky attacker inside the area. Van Persie went by Agger, but slotted wide from close range.

Oranje started the second half brilliantly and opened the score only one minute after the interval. Van Persie went after a long ball down the left wing and collected the pass before sending in a cross to the far post. Denmark defender Simon Poulsen tried to head the ball clear, but his attempt bounced off the back of Daniel Agger past the helpless Denmark goalie to make it 1-0 for the Dutch.

Van Persie got a big chance to double his side's lead in the 52nd minute after an error from Simon Kjaer. Nevertheless, Sorensen rushed off his line to collect the ball before Van Persie got the chance to fire in a shot.

The Arsenal man did find the net at the hour mark, but the whistle had already gone and Van Persie's goal was disallowed for offside.

Substitute Eljero Elia showed a flash of brilliance only minutes after coming off the bench. The Hamburg star went by two defenders with a nice individual move, but his cross wasn't met by a teammate and the chance went begging.

Gronkjaer got past two men after about senty minutes of play and whipped in a long cross from the left. Going over the head of Rommedahl, the Danes lost the opportunity to equalise though.

Sneijder came very close to making it two for Oranje in the last ten minutes of the game. Ibrahim Afellay set up the Inter star with an intelligent pass on the Danish half and Sneijder unleashed a left footed shot that deflected off Agger to hit the crossbar.

Netherlands decided the match five minutes before the final whistle. Sneijder sent Elia clean through on goal with a brilliant through pass. The Hamburg star's shot bounced back off the upright, but Kuyt was alert to tap the rebound home from close range to make it 2-0.

Allemagne - Australie (4-0)

2010-06-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

Cup 2010. Big impressive demonstration of the German offensive efficiency, the expulsion of Cahill has finally extinguished the hopes of the Socceroos yet many returned after the break .. The goals are signed Podolski (8th), Klose (26th), Muller (68th) and Cacau (70th)

Algeria v Slovenia

2010-06-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

Algérie 0:1 Slovenia world cup 2010

Half-Time: England 1-1 USA: Green Howler Cancels Out Gerrard Strike

2010-06-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

England and the USA are drawing 1-1 in their World Cup group C match inside the Royal Bafokeng stadium.

The Three Lions took the lead early through a neat Steven Gerrard finish. But the United States were allowed back into the game after a goalkeeping error from Robert Green, who allowed a tame Clint Dempsey shot to creep past the goal-line.

The game started in high tempo with England putting the USA under pressure immediately. The much maligned Emile Heskey proved a good early outlet for the Three Lions and his link-up play kept the United States back-four occupied.

Less than five minutes on the clock and the positive start from Capello's men was to pay off.

A ball up to Wayne Rooney was mis-controlled by the Manchester United talisman but Heskey was there to pick up the loose ball. The targetman showed good vision to spot Gerrard breaking into the box and his reverse path was straight into his captain's path. The skipper fought off the attentions of defender DeMerit and slid the ball neatly past a despairing Tim Howard to give the Three Lions a dream start.

The Americans were shocked but to their credit, after conceding they got their foot on the ball and started to create chances for themselves.

A spell of possession from them saw a corner awarded, and Oguchi Onyewu perhaps could have done better when he connected in the box from the set-piece, but his header flew high and wide over the ball.

Not long after and the USA had an even better chance. England weren't proficient with their ball retension and this allowed dangerman Landon Donovan to drift down the left channel to deliver a dangerous ball across the six-yard box.

Altidore seemed to arrive fractionally too late to connect though and a gilt-edged chance for the Americans went begging.

There was a real cut and thrust to the game at this point and straight down the other end England hit their opponents on the counter. A direct ball up to Rooney was controlled superbly and the striker dinked an excellent ball over the USA back-line to release Aaron Lennon down the right flank.

The speedy winger put on the burners and charged towards the by-line. Rooney and Heskey were waiting in the middle for the cross but excellent defending by DeMerit stopped a dangerous ball from reaching its target and the USA were saved.

The USA were giving as good as they got though and good link-up play between Donovan and Findley saw them fashion a half-chance soon after, Donovan's curling drive on the edge of the box had the keeper scrambling, but the shot was just wide.

After that and the English goalkeeper was involved again, in an incident that he will soon want to forget.

A calamitous error from Green let the USA back into the game. A speculative shot from Dempsey should have been dealt with easily but the keeper let the ball slip from his cluthces and roll over the goalline. A disaster for the team that has had to deal with high-profile goalkeeping errors in the recent past.

Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0

2010-06-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Diego Maradona's Argentina dispelled doubts about their World Cup-winning potential as they put a poor qualifying campaign behind them to beat Nigeria 1-0 with a brilliant performance from Lionel Messi today.

Argentina scored early in the Group B game through defender Gabriel Heinze but a string of saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made for a nerve wracking ending as they failed to ram home their superiority.

Messi, showing he can carry Argentina in a way he never managed in the South American qualifiers, might have scored four goals but Enyeama saved three first-half efforts and saw one late in the match skim the outside of a post.

"Today we managed a valued victory but we can no longer let the rival goal off the way we did today," Maradona told the post news conference.

Nigeria's Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, in charge of his country when their 1-1 draw sealed Argentina's fate in 2002, said: "I'm very disappointed about the result.

"Unfortunately there was a mistake from our side ... we stood sleeping on one of the corners (and) that's what happens at this level."

The performance justified Maradona's decision to field a three-man attack, with Messi at the centre of most attacks, cutting in from behind strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez although Jonas Gutierrez looked uncomfortable defending the right flank.

fifa world cup 2010 update

2010-06-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

stiemap

2010-06-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

120000000000

South Africa's World Cup flows over

2010-06-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

10 June 2010

In one of the largest displays of national spirit ever seen in the country, South Africans took to the streets at midday on Wednesday in a massive display of support for the home team as a proud nation let the world know just what kind of tournament Africa's first World Cup will be.

Around Johannesburg the crowds were there to welcome the national side, Bafana Bafana, who were travelling in an open-top bus, at every turn they made on their way from their hotel in Sandton to their training ground at Wits University.

In Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and the other host cities, the atmosphere was no less electric as World Cup fever spread quickly, signalled by the distinct drone of the vuvuzela.

Celebrating the spirit of the nation

"I'm here to support Bafana Bafana and to get behind my country," said Johannesburg resident Zeyn Tilly. "It feels amazing to be here, it is the first time in my life I have seen this unity in South Africa. The atmosphere is just electric."

For Tilly, this is the start of a fun-filled six weeks. "You can have no idea how incredible this is for me. I just want it to go as slow as possible so that I can enjoy every minute. This tournament is about more than just football."

For Joseph Mabea, Wednesday's street parade was about celebrating the spirit of the country. "I am a huge Bafana fan," Mabea said over the din of the vuvuzelas. "I have seen the passion in them, and I want them to know I am with them all the way."

Mabea has a ticket for the opening match, and the atmosphere of the parade is only getting him more excited. "I will be there, and I can't wait. Seeing such a match live, no longer on the television, is amazing for me. The feeling here is amazing, I am running short of words. I wish this could happen more often, I wish this could be my life, showing how united we are as a nation."

Support for the national side has been growing in recent weeks, both as a result of the proximity of the tournament and due to their recent performances on the pitch. "This is a great team," said another Joburger, Muhammed Moosa. "Twelve unbeaten games – they are just great, and they will do us proud."

Many businesses allowed their staff to come and join the party in the streets, adding a huge number of people to the midday festivities.

'Thank you, Bafana, for making us one'

Laughing with friends as she tried to blow her vuvuzela, Leanne Toffie said she wanted to show her passion for her national side. "To be here, united with my fellow South Africans in support of Bafana Bafana – it is just an amazing feeling, seeing the country united as one."

Nicholas Ndlovu, fully clad in a Bafana Bafana supporters' uniform complete with makarapa, vuvuzela, overalls and glasses, said: "It feels like I am in heaven coming into a crowd of people like this, it makes me so proud. Thank you, Bafana, for making us one."

Many tourists are in Cape Town for the World Cup, and it did not take long for them to get in on the act and also try and blow a vuvuzela.

Pablo Ezeqiel Perez Murua from Argentina and his family are staying at a guest house in Plattekloof. They came to explore Cape Town for the day, and were pleasantly surprised at the outburst of patriotism.

"Cape Town is a wonderful city, the people are friendly and very patriotic," Murua said. "I have also bought a trumpet [vuvuzela] and will blow it at our first game against Korea.

Deon Malan, who happened upon the scenes of celebration while walking through the city on his way to meet friends at a restaurant, said: "Walking down Long Street [in Cape Town] was incredible. People were standing on balconies overlooking the street while outside people were congregating in groups blowing their vuvuzelas.

"It was the first time that I can really remember seeing all South Africans united in such a way," said Malan. "It was so overwhelming."