XIX WORLD
CUP (SOUTH AFRICA 2010)
FINAL STAGE
— GAME DETAILS
(From 11-06-2010 to 11-07-2010)
STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 11-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 84.490 REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) GOALS: 1-0 (Tshabalala 55’); 1-1 (Márquez 79’) BOOKED: Dikgacoi (27’), Masilela (70’) / Juárez (18’), Torrado (57’) [Incidents: Opening game of the World Cup, preceded by an inaugural ceremony. Nelson Mandela, who was expected to attend this match, stayed away to mourn the tragic death of his 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani, who was killed in a car accident the day before.] |
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South Africa - Mexico |
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1-1 (0-0) |
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SOUTH AFRICA Khune Gaxa, Mokoena (c), Khumalo, Thwala (Masilela 46’) Modise, Letsholonyane, Pienaar (Parker 83’), Dikgacoi, Tshabalala Mphela COACH: Carlos Alberto Parreira |
MEXICO Pérez Aguilar (Guardado 55’), Osorio, Rodríguez, Salcido Juárez, Márquez, Torrado (c), Vela (Blanco 69’) Giovani, Guille Franco (Hernández 73’) COACH: Javier Aguirre |
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GAME SUMMARY In an opening game that failed to live up to expectations, hosts South Africa were on the brink of producing the first championship surprise when they were denied a victory against Mexico by a late Márquez equalizer. The Bafana Bafana seemed jittery off the start, probably under the pressure of the event, and the Central Americans had the best of the first half. The visitors almost stunned their hosts inside the first two minutes, but were thwarted by a last-ditch block by Mokoena after Giovani tried to capitalize on a Khune fumble with an empty net gaping. Pienaar sent South Africa’s only real early chance―a distant free kick―disappointingly over, and Giovani again came close when he finished a quick counterattack with a rising shot narrowly wide. In minute 39, the Bafana Bafana had a lucky escape when Khune flapped at a corner, but came so far that he played Vela offside as the Arsenal forward latched onto a flick-on and scored a goal which was immediately disallowed by the referee. In minute 32, Vela set Guille Franco inside the area, but Khune saved the first Mexican goal with an excellent save. The home side finally came out of their shell in the closing moments of the half, with Mphela failing to connect with Tshabalala’s well-floated cross and Dikgacoi heading a corner wide.
After struggling through the first half, the home side came out firing after the break and took the lead in minute 55, when Tshabalala was put through on the left by an excellent ball from Dikgacoi and unleashed a powerful cross-shot into the upper corner of the goal. Javier Aguirre responded by throwing in Guardado for Aguilar, and five minutes later Giovani again drew a fine save from Khune with a strike from the right that was turned away for a corner. However, the hosts were clearly lifted by the goal and Modise should have doubled the South African advantage in minute 66 when Mphela’s shot was deflected into his path, but he struck his effort wide. Veteran Cuauhtémoc Blanco replaced Vela, but again it was the home side through Modise who engineered a good chance, although he took too long to pull the trigger and Rodríguez cleared away the danger. After missing plenty of chances to build on their advantage, South Africa saw their lead cancelled out by former Mexican captain Márquez, who controlled a Guardado’s cross from the left before firing in. The game went crazy during the final ten minutes, with both teams on the attack, and Mphela could have snatched victory in the last minute, but his strike found the base of the post after beating Pérez. In the end, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 11-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 64.100 REFEREE: Yuichi Nishimura (JAP) GOALS: - BOOKED: Victorino (59’), Lodeiro (65’), Lodeiro (81’ > RC), Lugano (90+’) / Evra (12’), Ribéry (19’), Toulalan (68’) [Incidents: Lodeiro was sent off (min. 81).] |
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Uruguay - France |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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URUGUAY Muslera Victorino, Lugano (c), Godín, Á. Pereira M. Pereira, Pérez (Eguren 87’), Arévalo Ríos, N. González (Lodeiro 63’) Suárez (Abreu 74’), Forlán COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
FRANCE Lloris Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra (c) Govou (Gignac 85’), Diaby, Gourcuff (Malouda 75’), Toulalan, Ribéry Anelka (Henry 72’) COACH: Raymond Domenech |
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GAME SUMMARY France and Uruguay, former champions, endured a lacklustre start to their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw. Even if some of the tournament’s predicted stars―France’s Franck Ribéry and Uruguay’s Diego Forlán―showed flashes, the fear of losing the opening game stifled the attacks. Both teams were bothered by a slippery pitch that made deep passes next to impossible and left even Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura unsure of his footing at one stage.
France dominated the first half, but its lack of a finishing touch showed the lack of confidence that has long affected the 1998 champion, now an aging team. Raymond Domenech’s side struggled for ideas against a well-drilled South American outfit. Govou had by far the clearest chance to score for France in the seventh minute, side-footing a Ribéry cross wide with the goal gaping. In minute 14, Anelka headed over a right cross from Sagna, and two minutes later a bending Forlán effort from the edge of the box forced Lloris to save. Some of France’s best chances came from set pieces, usually taken by Gourcuff; in one of them, the Girondins midfielder curled a free kick to the near corner, forcing Muslera to make an excellent save.
France continued their fruitless domination during the second half, against a Uruguayan team who was content to defend and wait for their chance. With the game becoming a boring business, in minute 73 Forlán had a sight of goal when he received a pass from Suárez and shot wide from the frontline. Uruguay was reduced to ten men in minute 81, when substitute Lodeiro received his second yellow card for a late and high challenge on Sagna. Domenech’s last substitution of an unfortunate Govou for Gignac was not enough to penetrate the Uruguayan defense. In minute 87, Henry’s stab towards goal seemed to hit Victorino’s lower arm, but the French appeals for a penalty were dismissed. That, however, was as close as they came, with Henry hitting the wall from a free kick in stoppage time, and for the third World Cup in a row France failed to win their opening game. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 12-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 31.513 REFEREE: Michael Hester (NZL) GOALS: 1-0 (Lee Jung-soo 7’); 2-0 (Park Ji-sung 52’) BOOKED: Torosidis (56’) |
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South Korea - Greece |
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2-0 (1-0) |
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SOUTH KOREA Jung S.R. Cha D.R., Cho Y.H., Lee J.S., Lee Y.P. Park J.S. (c), Kim J.W., Lee C.Y. (Kim J.S. 90+’), Ki S.Y. (Kim N.I. 74’) Park J.Y. (Lee S.R. 87’), Yeum K.H. COACH: Huh Jung-moo |
GREECE Tzorvas Seitaridis, Vyntra, Papadopoulos, Torosidis Tziolis, Karagounis (c) (Patsatzoglou 46’), Katsouranis Charisteas (Kapetanos 61’), Gekas, Samaras (Salpingidis 59’) COACH: Otto Rehhagel |
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GAME SUMMARY South Korea had a dream start to their World Cup campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Greece in their Group B opening game, whereas the South Europeans extended their miserable record in the competition (four defeats in as many games, with 12 goals against and none scored). Greece struggled against a torrent of South Korean attacks, with European-based duo Cha Doo-ri and Park Joo-young proving a challenge for the Greek defense. However, Otto Rehhagel’s men started brightly and could have gone ahead in the third minute when Torosidis steered Karagounis’ corner past the post. South Korea always looked dangerous though and punished Greece with slick counterattacking and neat passing play that left their opponents outnumbered at the back. The Asians snatched the lead in the seventh minute when Ki Sung-yong’s swinging free kick from the left corner drifted past four defenders into the path of Lee Jung-soo, who steered the ball into the net from close range. Greece battled to get back into the game, but were caught off guard as South Korea piled on the pressure and had two penalty appeals turned down. Park Joo-young looked certain to double the lead near the half-hour mark when Park Ji-sung’s incisive pass put him clean through on goal, but his shot clipped Tzorvas and spiralled over the bar.
Park Ji-sung, uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, burst into life after the break and doubled South Korea’s lead in minute 52 when he chased a poorly weighted square ball from Vyntra, eluded two defenders, and coolly slotted the ball into the corner from inside the area. Rehhagel, who had replaced Karagounis with Patsatzoglou at the break, withdrew Charisteas and Samaras in quick succession for Kapetanos and Salpingidis, respectively, trying to find a way back into the game. However, it was the Koreans who continued creating the most danger, and in minute 63 Park Joo-young headed just over from full-back Cha Doo-ri’s cross. With time running out fast for Greece, in minute 68 Gekas acrobatically fired high over after controlling a long ball with his chest, and Kapetanos scooped the ball over two minutes later. Gekas again forced a fine one-handed save from Jung Sung-ryong with a left-foot shot on the turn with nine minutes remaining, but the Koreans also went close at the other end as time ran down. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 12-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 55.686 REFEREE: Wolfgang Stark (GER) GOALS: 1-0 (Heinze 6’) BOOKED: Jonás (41’) / Haruna (77’) |
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Argentina - Nigeria |
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1-0 (1-0) |
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ARGENTINA Romero Jonás, Demichelis, Samuel, Heinze Tévez, Verón (M. Rodríguez 74’), Mascherano (c), Di María (Burdisso 85') Higuaín (Milito 79’), Messi COACH: Diego Maradona |
NIGERIA Enyeama Odiah, Yobo (c), Shittu, Taiwo (Uche 75’) Kaita, Etuhu, Haruna Obinna (Martins 52’), Yakubu, Obasi (Odemwingie 60’) COACH: Lars Lagerbäck |
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GAME SUMMARY Maradona’s World Cup debut as a coach ended in a victory as Leo Messi finally managed to show his sparkle at Barcelona also on national team duty. However, in spite of a mesmerizing individual performance by “The Flea”, profligate Argentina could only beat Nigeria 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Heinze, as Nigerian goalkeeper Enyeama denied them time and again.
As early as minute 4, Messi started his particular show with a swift run past three Nigerian defenders and a low cross at Higuaín, but the Real Madrid striker sidefooted an easy chance wide from close range. One minute later, the Barcelona forward had a goalbound curling shot tipped over by Enyeama. From the resulting corner, Argentina went ahead: Verón swung the ball in from the right and Heinze, running towards the penalty spot, sent a powerful diving header into the top left corner. Argentina continued piling up pressure on the African area, and in minute 18 there was a Messi classic: he cut in dribbling from the right and curled a left-footed shot to the far post, but Enyeama parried it away at full stretch. Messi and Tévez were running havoc in the Nigerian defense by taking turns to drop deep and move forward, and when the Manchester City attacker received the ball in a deeper position after 20 minutes his through-ball found Higuaín bursting into the box, but Enyeama dashed out to block his shot. Then Nigeria stepped up the pressure for a short period, and neat passing from Etuhu and Yakubu created an opening for Obasi, but his low cross was just too far ahead of Yakubu as the Everton man tried to slot it home. In minute 37, Messi again tested Enyeama to the limit with another curling effort destined for the right-hand corner of the goal, but the goalkeeper stretched out his left hand to claw the ball away.
In the second half, Nigeria sought to hit Argentina with quick counterattacks profitting from erratic passing by the South Americans, but it was Maradona’s men who created most of the danger, especially in set pieces. In minute 51, Samuel headed a presentable chance over the top from a Verón corner. Messi continued threatening the Nigerian defense with his diagonal runs, but the game was becoming more stretched and Argentina were risking paying for their profligacy. In minute 70, Odemwingie played the ball inside to left-back Taiwo, and his thunderous low effort beat Romero but just skidded wide of the right post. As the game entered its final ten minutes, Messi missed yet another chance to score as Enyeama spread himself to block after a wonderful interchange with Di María. Nigeria could have levelled seconds later when Yakubu’s cross from the right found substitute Kalu Uche, who struggled to get over the ball and could not keep his left-footed shot down. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 12-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.646 REFEREE: Carlos Eugênio Simon (BRA) GOALS: 1-0 (Gerrard 4’); 1-1 (Dempsey 40’) BOOKED: Milner (26’), Carragher (60’), Gerrard (61’) / Cherundolo (39’), DeMerit (47’), Findley (74’) |
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England - USA |
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1-1 (1-1) |
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ENGLAND Green Johnson, Terry, King (Carragher 46’), A. Cole Lennon, Lampard, Gerrard (c), Milner (Wright-Phillips 31’) Rooney, Heskey (Crouch 79’) COACH: Fabio Capello |
USA Howard Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra (c) Dempsey, Bradley, Clark, Donovan Altidore (Holden 86’), Findley (Buddle 77’) COACH: Bob Bradley |
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GAME SUMMARY Capello’s first World Cup as a manager got off to a shaky start as a terrible mistake by Robert Green costed England victory over the United States in their opening group C game. The West Ham United goalkeeper, who had been chosen by the Italian coach ahead of David “Calamity” James and Joe Hart, fumbled a Dempsey shot, the ball skidded off his gloves and trickled cruelly over the line before he could retrieve it, thus cancelling out Gerrard’s early goal.
England could have not hoped for a better start when, four minutes into the game, Heskey slotted a wonderful pass into the path of onrushing captain Steven Gerrard, who beat Howard with the outside of his right foot. However, the Americans didn’t refuse the battle and responded with a growing number of threatening attacks, the best of which provided an open goal for Altidore when he jumped for Donovan’s free kick, yet inexplicably missed the ball completely. In minute 39, a long-range Donovan effort just skidded wide of the right post, and within seconds Green faced his worst nightmare, as he bent down to meet Dempsey’s little exigent shot from outside the area and the new Jabulani ball inexplicably slipped through his grasp and agonizingly crossed the goal line.
England upped the tempo in the second half, and in minute 52 Heskey spurned a good chance to put the Three Lions ahead, firing straight at the keeper after being put clean through by Lennon. However, in minute 65 Green redeemed himself for his earlier mistake with a fine save as he pushed Altidore’s shot onto the post after the pacy American striker had powered past Carragher down the left. As the half wore on, Rooney began to find more space and consequently his influence on the game increased. First he headed over from a Gerrard cross (min. 71) and then a quickly-taken free kick almost caught Howard out, but the ball flashed wide of the far post. Rooney also set up Wright-Phillips in a fantastic position, but his shot lacked conviction and Howard was able to make a comfortable save. With the clock ticking down, both managers introduced striking substitutes in the hope of a late winner, but a winning goal failed to come. |
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STADIUM: Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) DATE: 13-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 30.325 REFEREE: Carlos Alberto Batres (GUA) GOALS: 0-1 (Koren 79’) BOOKED: Ghezzal (59’), Ghezzal (73’ > RC), Yebda (90+’) / Radosavljevič (35’), Komac (90+’) [Incidents: Ghezzal was sent off (min. 73).] |
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Algeria - Slovenia |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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ALGERIA Chaouchi Qadir (Guedioura 82’), Bougherra, Yahia (c), Halliche, Belhaj Matmour (Saïfi 81’), Yebda, Lahcen, Ziani Jebbour (Ghezzal 58’) COACH: Rabah Saâdane |
SLOVENIA S. Handanovič Brečko, Šuler, Cesar, Jokić Kirm, Radosavljevič (Komac 87’), Koren (c), Birsa (Pečnik 84’) Dedič (Ljubijankič 53’), Novakovič COACH: Matjaž Kek |
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GAME SUMMARY In a similar fashion to the English goalkeeper Robert Green the day before, a terrible mistake by Chaouchi eleven minutes from time costed Algeria a defeat against Slovenia. Captain Robert Koren could hardly believe his luck as a tame, curling shot from outside the penalty area bounced up off Chaouchi’s shoulder and into the net. Although Green’s blunder for England can in part be attributable to the new Jabulani ball, the Algerian goalkeeper clearly failed to deflect an easy ball, as he wrongly tried to gather a cross-shot with both arms stuck to his body (as in a frontal shot). This win puts Slovenia top of the group C table and with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, an unlikely scenario before the tournament kicked off.
Algeria, watched by former France star Zinédine Zidane (who had to leave the VIP balcony at halftime due to the many admirers who wanted his autograph), looked slightly sharper for much of the game. Belhaj presented an early threat when he forced Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovič to tip over a third-minute curling free kick from the edge of the penalty area. It was a rare moment of quality in a half littered with errors as both sides needlessly gave the ball away. In minute 21, Birsa’s inswinging free kick from the right touchline forced Chaouchi to punch clear Slovenia’s first real chance. Ten minutes from halftime, Algeria had their best opportunity when center-back Halliche headed wide from Ziani’s corner. Just before the interval, Matmour’s left-foot half-volley flew narrowly over the crossbar at one end, while Chaouchi acrobatically tipped over Birsa’s long-range effort at the other.
Both teams changed their strikers early in the second half: Slovenia sending on Ljubijankič for the ineffective Dedič and Algeria replacing Jebbour with Ghezzal. Although the North Africans still looked like the team most likely to score the opener, it was the Central Europeans who almost unlocked the game in minute 60, when Kirm shot tamely at the hands of Chaouchi. Algeria’s chances of victory diminished considerably in minute 73 when Ghezzal, having been booked within seconds of coming on for pulling Šuler’s shirt, received a second caution for handballing a long punt forward in midfield. Six minutes later Koren, with a little help from Chaouchi, punished the North Africans for their profligacy. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 13-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.833 REFEREE: Héctor Walter Baldassi (ARG) GOALS: 0-1 (Gyan [p.] 85’) BOOKED: Žigić (19’), Luković (54’), Luković (74’ > RC), Kuzmanović (83’) / Vorsah (26’), Tagoe (89’) [Incidents: Luković was sent off (min. 74).] |
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Serbia - Ghana |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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SERBIA Stojković Ivanović, Luković, Vidić, Kolarov Krasić, Stanković (c), Milijaš (Kuzmanović 62’), Jovanović (Subotić 76’) Žigić (Lazović 69’), Pantelić COACH: Radomir Antić |
GHANA Kingson Sarpei, John Mensah (c), Vorsah, Paintsil Prince Boateng (Addy 90+’), Asamoah (Appiah 73’), Annan, A. Ayew Tagoe, Gyan (Owusu-Abeyie 90+’) COACH: Milovan Rajevac |
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GAME SUMMARY A late penalty converted by Asamoah Gyan, after a clumsy handball from Kuzmanović, earned Ghana a winning start to their World Cup campaign at the expense of 10-man Serbia, and sent their fans, dressed in their striking national colours of green, yellow and red, into rapture. As the vuvuzela trumpets signalled the beginning of the game, the attacking intentions of Serbia were showed only ten seconds after kick-off, when Pantelić fizzed a 30-meter thunderbolt not too far wide. However, despite the best intentions of both sides, neither goalkeeper was seriously threatened in the first half. Ghana looked the more dangerous of the two, but they failed to find the target with their two best opportunities. The first saw Gyan curl a free kick over from a dangerous position on the edge of the box (minute 4), then captain John Mensah failed to get a decent connection on a header from a free kick by Asamoah (min. 19). Serbia’s main threat before the break came from a couple of well-worked set-piece routines by Pantelić and Kolarov, neither featuring the anticipated high ball into the area looking for the head of giant striker Nikola Žigić.
After an uninteresting first half, the first opportunity after halftime should have resulted in the game’s opening goal, but André Ayew headed wide at the far post a Tagoe’s cross from the right (minute 54). Five minutes later, Žigić spurned at the other end a similarly gilt-edged chance for Serbia after missing a close-range volley following a center by Pantelić. Ghana almost made Žigić pay for his profligacy by nearly taking the lead in the 61st minute, when Gyan climbed above Vidić to reach a long throw-in into the area, but the Rennes attacker was unfortunate to see his header hit the outside of the near post. Within the last fifteen minutes, Serbia’s chances of victory were diminished when Luković was sent off after a second bookable offense. However, despite this setback, the Central Europeans looked the more dangerous side, and had two consecutive chances to score the winner: in minute 79, Krasić fired from the penalty spot but Kingson deflected the ball, then Ivanović finished a long race with a shot slightly high. Ghana survived the Serbian spell though, and in the 84th minute they were handed the chance to take the game when Kuzmanović unnecessarily handled a cross into the area. Gyan stepped up to slam his spot-kick past Stojković, to the delight of the Ghana fans. Kuzmanović had a chance to make amends soon after but he blazed over, while Man of the Match Gyan could have added a second late on, but his shot rebounded back off the left post. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 13-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.660 REFEREE: Marco Antonio Rodríguez (MEX) GOALS: 1-0 (Podolski 8’); 2-0 (Klose 26’); 3-0 (Müller 68’); 4-0 (Cacau 70’) BOOKED: Özil (12’), Cacau (90+’) / Moore (24’), Neill (46’), Cahill (RC 56’), Valeri (58’) [Incidents: Cahill was sent off (min. 56).] |
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Germany - Australia |
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4-0 (2-0) |
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GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Friedrich, Mertesacker, Badstuber Müller, Schweinsteiger, Özil (Gómez 74’), Khedira, Podolski (Marin 81’) Klose (Cacau 68’) COACH: Joachim Löw |
AUSTRALIA Schwarzer Wilkshire, Moore, Neill (c), Chipperfield Emerton (Jedinak 74’), Valeri, Čulina, Grella (Holman 46’) Cahill, García (Rukavytsja 64’) COACH: Pim Verbeek |
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GAME SUMMARY In their World Cup debut, Germany showed that they are a serious candidate to the title with a convincing 4-0 victory against Australia. Without their injured captain Michael Ballack, the new German team, with very young and talented players, changed their traditional clinical play for a new conception based on ball possession and passing accuracy (they finished up at 91.7%, the fourth-highest single-match total at the World Cup since this stat was first tracked in 1966), which brings Germany to a similar level to other “ball-caressing” teams as Spain and Brazil.
It was Australia, however, who had the chance to score the opener as early as the third minute, when García picked up a scrambled ball in the German area and found his close-range shot blocked by Lahm. The Europeans responded shortly after, with an unmarked Klose surging inside the area and hitting a right-footed strike towards the center of goal, which Schwarzer parried away. Podolski made no mistake seconds later, when he got behind Müller’s pull-back from the right to drive the ball in. Germany started then their football machine, and Özil was the man who provided most of the danger. Čulina could have restored parity in the 18th minute, but he nodded high from Emerton’s cross. Midway through the first half, Klose missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 when he got behind Podolski’s cross and struck the ball wide from the heart of the area. However, the veteran German striker made amends shortly after by heading home a Lahm’s cross from the right with Schwarzer futilely coming off his line. On the half-hour mark, captain Lucas Neill managed to clear Özil’s goalbound shot with Schwarzer already beaten. In minute 39, Khedira headed high over the crossbar as Germany went into the break after a near-perfect first half.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek brought in Holman for Grella at halftime in the hope of sparking his team into life. The AZ Alkmaar attacker tried to make an immediate impact in the game, but his diagonal shot went wide of Neuer’s far post. Australia’s hopes then nose-dived when Cahill was shown a straight red card for a tackle from behind on Schweinsteiger. With one man short, the Socceroos struggled to stop the German advances and conceded a third goal in minute 68, when Müller got away from his marker before lashing home a shot that went in off the post. The men from Down Under had little time to react as Germany struck again two minutes later: the omnipresent Özil surged down the left and cut it back for the Brazilian-born striker Cacau to hit it past Schwarzer. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 14-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 83.465 REFEREE: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA) GOALS: 1-0 (Agger [o.g.] 46’); 2-0 (Kuijt 85’) BOOKED: De Jong (44’), Van Persie (49’) / Kjær (63’) |
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Netherlands - Denmark |
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2-0 (0-0) |
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NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) Kuijt, V.Bommel, Sneijder, De Jong (De Zeeuw 88’), V.der Vaart (Elia 67’) Van Persie (Afellay 77’) COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
DENMARK Sørensen Jacobsen, Kjær, Agger, S. Poulsen Enevoldsen(Grønkjær56’),C.Poulsen,Kahlenberg(Eriksen73’),Jørgensen(c) Rommedahl, Bendtner (Beckmann 62’) COACH: Morten Olsen |
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GAME SUMMARY Holland, one of the candidates to reach far in this World Cup, began their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Denmark. Both goals came in the second half after an assured first period of defending by the Danes, who constantly thwarted a Dutch attack which appeared short of ideas without the injured Arjen Robben.
Both teams struggled to find any early rhythm, with Sneijder and Enevoldsen wastefully firing free kicks from good positions into the crowd (although the new Jabulani ball, already a major headache for goalkeepers, is an invitation to free shooting). It took ten minutes for the first shot on target, Kuijt sending a tame effort straight into the arms of Thomas Sørensen from just outside the box. The noise level of the vuvuzelas was suddenly raised after 19 minutes, when Van Persie and Van der Vaart played a neat one-two, but the latter saw his shot deflected wide by Agger. The Danes had their best chance of the half just after the midway point, when Bendtner found himself in space inside the small area to meet a Rommedahl’s cross but headed wide. The Dutch goalkeeper was drawn into his first testing save after 36 minutes, when Bendtner released Kahlenberg, whose shot was acrobatically palmed away by Stekelenburg. Just before the break, Van Persie seemed unsure which foot to use after making room on the right, and ended up poking his effort wide.
Immediately after halftime, the solid Danish defense slipped up to gift their opponents the lead: Van Persie’s cross from the left was headed on by Simon Poulsen―seemingly for a corner―but the ball very unluckily struck the back of Agger and went in. The Dutch advantage could have been doubled in minute 52 after another mistake by Kjær, who lost a ball to Kuijt; the Liverpool attacker played Van Persie in, but his defficient control allowed Sørensen to swoop. Although Morten Olsen made three substitutions trying to ignite the Danish attack, it was the Oranje who continued to look dangerous, especially after the youngsters Elia and Afellay entered the game. Sneijder almost made it 2-0 eight minutes from time, but saw his 25-meter effort deflected onto the crossbar by Agger with Sørensen beaten. However, three minutes later Kuijt sealed the Dutch victory after pushing in an Elia’s shot which bounced off the right-hand post. It could have been worse for Denmark, but Simon Poulsen cleared Afellay’s shot off the line late on. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 14-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 30.620 REFEREE: Olegário Benquerença (POR) GOALS: 1-0 (Honda 39’) BOOKED: Abe (90+’) / N’Koulou (72’) |
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Japan - Cameroon |
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1-0 (1-0) |
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JAPAN Kawashima Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Túlio, Komano Honda, Matsui (Okazaki 69’), Hasebe (c) (Inamoto 88’), Abe, Endo Okubo (Yano 82’) COACH: Takeshi Okada |
CAMEROON Hamidou M’Bia, N’Koulou, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto Makoun (Geremi 75’), Matip (Emana 63’), Enoh Eto’o (c), Webó, Choupo-Moting (Idrissou 75’) COACH: Paul le Guen |
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GAME SUMMARY With little more than orderly play, Japan earned a surprise victory against a disappointing Cameroon thanks to a solitary goal by Keisuke Honda. While Takeshi Okada opted for a lone striker (Okubo), Paul le Guen decided on an adventurous 4-3-3 formation, but the Indomitable Lions proved toothless in this game, despite having a great deal of possession.
Cameroon carved out the first opening of the game in the eighth minute when Eto’o released Webó, the Mallorca attacker raced to the byline and played the ball into the middle of the area, but Choupo-Moting was unable to get a decent touch. Kawashima then made a good block from Enoh’s close range effort before Japan made the breakthrough: the Cameroon defense failed to cut out Matsui’s cross to the back post, where Honda got a superb first touch before clipping the ball beyond a stranded Souleymanou Hamidou. It was just what Japan wanted to control the rhythm of the game, and they had also kept Eto’o quiet in the first half.
Cameroon came out with a purpose at the start of the second half and should have equalized in the 49th minute, when Eto’o dribbled past two players in a determined run and played the ball into the path of Choupo-Moting, who was clear in front of goal, but his effort went just wide of the right post. The Africans were enjoying a decent spell, and again Choupo-Moting cut inside only to drag his shot off target. However, the individual play of Cameroon was easily thwarted by the Japanese defense. The Blue Samurais almost added a second goal in the 83rd minute when Hasebe’s shot was parried by Hamidou but landed at the feet of substitute Okazaki, who saw his effort bounce off the outside of the left post. Cameroon responded and three minutes later M’Bia’s instinctive shot from 25 meter rattled the crossbar. With the crowd urging them, Cameroon kept pushing players forward in search of the equalizer, but Japan stood firm. However, the Japanese had to thank their goalkeeper Kawashima for saving a point-blank shot by Webó in stoppage time. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 14-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.869 REFEREE: Benito Armando Archundia (MEX) GOALS: 0-1 (Alcaraz 39’); 1-1 (De Rossi 63’) BOOKED: Camoranesi (70’) / V. Cáceres (62’) |
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Italy - Paraguay |
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1-1 (0-1) |
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ITALY Buffon (Marchetti 46’) Zambrotta, Cannavaro (c), Chiellini, Criscito Marchisio (Camoranesi 59’), De Rossi, Montolivo Pepe, Gilardino (Di Natale 72’), Iaquinta COACH: Marcello Lippi |
PARAGUAY Villar (c) Bonet, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel Vera, V. Cáceres, Riveros, Torres (Santana 60’) Valdez (Santa Cruz 68’), Barrios (Cardozo 76’) COACH: Gerardo Martino |
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GAME SUMMARY Defending champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener against Paraguay. Yet another goalkeeper mistake allowed De Rossi to score a scrambled second-half equalizer, when it looked like Italy were on course to begin the tournament with a stunning defeat.
Lippi’s men set the early pace in the game, and in the sixth minute Morel had to be alert to stop Pepe from pouncing on a dangerous ball at the back post. The Italian passing and movement was delightful, with Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio central to much of it. Paraguay did exert some form of pressure midway through the half with two corners, before Montolivo broke forward for Italy but could only hit a meek shot at Villar. In the 22nd minute, Torres mis-hit a shot which bobbled just wide of Buffon’s goal. However, six minutes from time, Paraguay went in front from a set-piece: Torres’ free kick from deep was perfectly flighted and, with Cannavaro and De Rossi flailing, Alcaraz headed past Buffon. It was a stunning blow for the Italians, who had looked completely untroubled until that point, although without ever looking like scoring themselves. With Italy dominating the game, they went to the dressing-room losing 1-0: the world upside down.
Buffon, with a back injury, was substituted at halftime by Marchetti. In minue 53, Pepe missed a spectacular bicycle kick attempt, and one minute later Vera could have added a second goal, but he misfired his shot inside the area. Shortly before the hour mark, Lippi sacrificed Marchisio for Camoranesi to go 4-4-2, with Gilardino and Iaquinta as forwards, two men in the flanks (Pepe to the left and Camoranesi to the right) and a double pivot (De Rossi-Montolivo). Soon after, Italy finally made their pressure tell to go level, and it was thanks to another goalkeeper blunder in this tournament: Villar horribly missed Pepe’s corner from the left, allowing a delighted De Rossi to stab the ball home from close range. The Paraguayan attacker Roque Santa Cruz was given his chance in the 68th minute when he came on for Valdez, but it was Italy who continued creating opportunities through Gilardino (min. 70), Pepe (min. 81) and Montolivo (min. 83). However, Lippi’s men were unable to complete the turnaround by snatching a winner, as Paraguay produced a hugely disciplined and hard-working display. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 15-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 23.871 REFEREE: Jerome Damon (SAF) GOALS: 0-1 (Vittek 50’); 1-1 (Reid 90+’) BOOKED: Lochhead (42’), Reid (90+’) / Štrba (55’) |
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New Zealand - Slovakia |
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1-1 (0-0) |
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NEW ZEALAND Paston Nelsen (c), Reid, Smith Elliott, Bertos, Vicelich (Christie 78’), Lochhead Fallon, Smeltz, Killen (Wood 72’) COACH: Ricki Herbert |
SLOVAKIA Mucha Zabavník, Škrtel, Ďurica, Čech Weiss (Kucka 90+’), Štrba, Hamšík (c), Jendrišek Vittek (Stoch 84’), Šesták (Hološko 81’) COACH: Vladimír Weiss |
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GAME SUMMARY A dramatic equalizer by center-back Winston Reid deep into injury time earned New Zealand their first-ever point in the World Cup and left Slovakia in despair. Reid’s late strike cancelled out a 50th-minute goal by Vittek, which was also historic for the Central Europeans, as it was their first goal in their debut match at the World Cup finals. The lead was a just reward for Slovakia’s superior ambition during the game, although it looked like Vittek was offside when he met a sweet cross from Šesták.
In line with the tournament standards so far, the first half was a sterile and poor period. Few chances were created, but New Zealand’s good organization enabled them to stay in contention. The All Whites had the opening chance in minute 4, when Killen sent a header to the hands of Mucha, but after that it was Slovakia who took control of the game, and in the half-hour mark Šesták and Škrtel came close to scoring. The most exciting moment of a boring half came in minute 33, when Paston fluffed a kick-out and Vittek pounced on the ball, but the New Zealand goalkeeper recovered in time to smother his attempt. Five minutes later, Smeltz almost scored the opener after a one-two with Fallon, but his shot hit the side of the net.
The action during the first half was so pedestrian that it had perforce to improve after the break, and so it did when Vittek scored and allowed Slovakia to play with more freedom. The Ankaragücü attacker met a diagonal Šesták cross with a powerful header from ten meters after Reid had missed the ball completely in the cold and windy conditions at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The Slovaks lifted their tempo and pushed forward more aggressively from then on, giving New Zealand few chances to regain a foothold in the game, their superior technique and movement giving them control of possession. Hamšík and Vittek went close to make the second, and Slovakia never looked seriously threatened. However, just when it seemed the Europeans had secured the three points, the All Whites equalized in stoppage time after Reid popped up to glance a header that went in off the foot of the post. The frantic New Zealand celebrations earned Reid a yellow card for ripping off his shirt and twirling it around his head. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 15-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 37.034 REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda (URU) GOALS: - BOOKED: Zokora (7’), Demel (21’) / Cristiano Ronaldo (21’) |
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Ivory Coast - Portugal |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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IVORY COAST Barry Demel, K. Touré (c), Zokora, Tiéné Eboué (Romaric 89’), Y. Touré, Tioté Dindane, Gervinho (Keïta 82’), Kalou (Drogba 66’) COACH: Sven-Göran Eriksson |
PORTUGAL Eduardo Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão Deco (Tiago 62’), Pedro Mendes, Raul Meireles (Rúben Amorim 85’) Cristiano Ronaldo (c), Liédson, Danny (Simão 55’) COACH: Carlos Queiroz |
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GAME SUMMARY Portugal started their participation in the World Cup with a goalless draw against a spirited Ivory Coast, a match that saw the return of Didier Drogba only eleven days after breaking his arm in a friendly. Although both teams had talented players who raised high pre-match expectations of a glorious event, the game turned out to be yet another frustrating affair for fear of losing. The draw will boost the confidence of Ivory Coast, who enjoyed most of the possession and always looked dangerous with smooth passing and plenty of energy going forward.
The Elephants had the best of first half action, with Gervinho (Drogba’s substitute) and Eboué proving themselves a constant menace for the Portuguese defense with penetrating runs into the area, but struggling to create any meaningful attempts on goal. Cristiano Ronaldo rattled a post with a blistering shot in minute 11, but that was as close as his side came to snatching victory. After a first half void of real scoring chances, Ivory Coast tried to up the tempo in the second. Two minutes into the period, Eduardo had to save a shot from Gervinho, and Paulo Ferreira did just enough to prevent Kalou from reaching Dindane’s cross seconds later. The Portuguese goalkeeper was called upon once again in minute 54, when Yaya Touré cut inside at pace and fed Kalou, although the Chelsea attacker side-footed straight at Eduardo from the edge of the area. Carlos Queiroz immediately replaced Danny with winger Simão, but it was Deco who provided a 58th-minute cross for Liédson’s looping header, which was plucked out of the air by Barry. Although Drogba replaced Kalou with 66 minutes gone, he failed to make any real impact in a game which looked doomed to a 0-0. With heavy rain falling, it was Portugal who finished the stronger, although without coming close to making the breakthrough, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s darting runs failing to deliver. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 15-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 54.331 REFEREE: Viktor Kassai (HUN) GOALS: 1-0 (Maicon 55’); 2-0 (Elano 72’); 2-1 (Ji Yoon-nam 89’) BOOKED: Ramires (88’) |
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Brazil - North Korea |
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2-1 (0-0) |
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BRAZIL Júlio César Maicon, Lúcio (c), Juan, Michel Bastos Felipe M. (Ramires 84’), Gilberto S., Kaká (Nilmar 78’),Elano (D.Alves 73’) Luís Fabiano, Robinho COACH: Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” |
NORTH KOREA Ri M.G. Cha J.H., Park C.J., Ri K.C., Ri J.I., Ji Y.N. Ahn Y.H., Moon I.G. (Kim K.I. 80’), Park N.C. II Chung D.S., Hong Y.J. (c) COACH: Kim Jung-hoon |
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GAME SUMMARY Brazil began their quest for a sixth world crown with a 2-1 victory over a stubborn North Korea, but it was far from a vintage display by one of the World Cup favorites. The Koreans kept Brazil at bay for 55 minutes with a resolute and orderly defense, until Maicon produced a goal out of the blue with a cross-shot which swerved in at the near post.
The North Koreans were the first to have a shot on target after ten minutes, when Japan-born striker Chung Dae-se (nicknamed “the People’s Rooney”) bustled past two markers and drilled in a left-footed shot which Júlio César was able to gather. Although Brazil dominated the ball possession, they struggled to pick the final pass. The Koreans, with a clever defensive display, were not purely sitting back, as Cha Jung-hyuk got forward to blast a left-footed shot wide after 15 minutes. The South Americans threatened in minute 21, when Luís Fabiano slotted the ball through to Robinho and the Santos forward was able to make room for a shot, but North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myung-gook saved it. The lack of genuine width seemed to be causing Brazil problems as the Asiatic five-man defense ganged up on Kaká, Luís Fabiano, Robinho and Elano in a congested attacking third, and Kim Jung-hoon’s team were content to burst forward in small numbers on the break. Ri Myung-gook parried away a Maicon drive at his near post in the 28th minute in what was Brazil’s best effort up to that point.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first had ended, as North Korea “parked the bus” on the edge of the area and Brazil struggled to find a way through. Michel Bastos blasted a free kick wide from just outside the box in the 51st minute. Kaká (very disappointing during the game) then chested the ball down for Robinho to shoot from 25 meters, but his right-footed effort was again wayward. The goal finally came on 55 minutes when Elano played the ball into the area for the overlapping Maicon, and his shot beat Ri Myung-gook at the near post, with the goalkeeper seemingly expecting the Inter Milan full-back to cut the ball back rather than shoot. As North Korea committed more men forward seeking an equalizer, they left gaps in their defense and, in one counterattack, Robinho found Luís Fabiano, who beat defender Ri Joon-il in the area but blasted a left-footed shot over. In minute 72, however, Brazil added a second when Robinho slipped a perfect through-ball to Elano, who advanced diagonally into the box from the right and made no mistake with a side-footed finish. With four minutes left, Juan had to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Chung Dae-se, but the North Korean tenacity was rewarded before the final whistle, as Ji Yoon-nam scored a consolation goal after going past two players and crashing home a left-foot drive. |
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STADIUM: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) DATE: 16-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 32.664 REFEREE: Eddy Maillet (SEY) GOALS: 0-1 (Beausejour 34’) BOOKED: W. Palacios (33’) / Carmona (4’), Mati Fernández (19’) [Incidents: Honduras head coach, Reinaldo Rueda, was suspended for this game, and his assistant coach replaced him on the bench.] |
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Honduras - Chile |
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0-1 (0-1) |
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HONDURAS Valladares Mendoza, Chávez, Figueroa, Izaguirre Álvarez, W. Palacios, Núñez (Martínez 78’), Guevara (c) (Thomas 66’) Pavón (Welcome 60’), Espinoza COACH: Alexis Mendoza |
CHILE Bravo (c) Isla, Medel, Ponce, Vidal (Contreras 81’) Millar (Jara 52’), Carmona, Valdivia (Mark González 87’), Mati Fernández Alexis Sánchez, Beausejour COACH: Marcelo Bielsa |
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GAME SUMMARY In a World Cup stifled with defensive tactics and the fear of losing, Chile made an impressive tournament entrance with a win against Honduras which, although short, was the result of a resolute attacking approach to the game. With Alexis Sánchez a constant threat, Chile should have won more convincingly with a number of chances squandered, particularly in the second half. Waldo Ponce had the best of them when he headed straight at Noel Valladares from point-blank range.
Chile made the running from the outset and earned a free kick after two minutes which Mati Fernández fired narrowly over. Honduras goalkeeper Valladares then had difficulty handling a swerving long-range shot from Vidal (min. 9) and Valdivia saw a powerful effort deflected for a corner (min. 22). With head coach Reinaldo Rueda watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, Honduras didn’t create a chance of note in the first half. Chile continued to attack and pieced together some neat one-touch moves. Honduras managed to repel a series of raids, but were finally caught out in minute 34, when Alexis Sánchez played in Isla, who advanced to the baseline and pulled back across goal for Beausejour to slide in. Alexis Sánchez had another opportunity before the break, but Valladares parried away, while Honduras ended the first half with Núñez forcing Bravo to tip over a free kick.
Chile threatened again straight from the restart, with Alexis Sánchez carrying most of the danger with his tricky runs. The South Americans should have doubled their lead after 66 minutes when Vidal headed in the far post a Mati Fernández free kick and Ponce just had to push the ball in a meter from the goal line, but Valladares came from nowhere to make the save of the tournament. Valdivia did put the ball in the net fifteen minutes from time, but Alexis Sánchez had clearly handled after the Honduran goalkeeper beat out a long-range shot. Chile maintained the pressure up to the final whistle, but were unable to find the second goal their enterprising play deserved. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 16-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.453 REFEREE: Howard Webb (ENG) GOALS: 0-1 (Fernandes 52’) BOOKED: Grichting (30’), Ziegler (73’), Benaglio (90+’), Yakın (90+’) |
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Spain - Switzerland |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Piqué, Capdevila Silva (J.Navas 62’),X.Alonso,Busquets(Torres 61’),Xavi,Iniesta(Pedro 77’) Villa COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
SWITZERLAND Benaglio Lichtsteiner, Senderos (Von Bergen 36’), Grichting, Ziegler İnler (c), Fernandes, Huggel, Barnetta (Eggimann 90+’) Derdiyok (Yakın 79’), Nkufo COACH: Ottmar Hitzfeld |
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GAME SUMMARY Switzerland produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far by beating Spain, one of the top favorites, after a game completely dominated by the European champions, who nevertheless failed to deliver. The Swiss had an efficient performance based on a sutbborn defensive play, and made the most of their limited chances, scoring the only goal of the match in their first real opportunity. Now Del Bosque’s men will have to win their two remaining games just to survive, although they might face a tricky second round tie against five-times champions Brazil.
Right from kick-off, both teams assumed the expected roles: Spain dominating the ball possession and Switzerland happily accepting this domination and defending orderly in their own half. Iniesta, who had passed a late fitness test and started in the midfield, was the driving force behind Spain’s play, while Villa, a lone striker, was not really a factor in the opening period. Midway through the first half, Spain had their first real opportunity when Iniesta played in Piqué and the center-back’s close-range effort was saved by Benaglio. At the other end, Ziegler’s free kick forced Casillas to dive to his left to clear. With ten minutes to go before halftime, the Swiss suffered a setback when influential center-back Senderos limped off with an injury. Spain had the opportunity to break the deadlock on the stroke of halftime, but Villa’s cross-volley from inside the area went over.
Del Bosque’s team picked up where they left off after the restart, and Xabi Alonso’s strike took a deflection off Lichtsteiner’s head for a corner (min. 50). Shortly after, Silva fired wide as Spain missed yet another opportunity. La Roja was then made to pay for their profligacy when Switzerland broke the deadlock in minute 52: Derdiyok advanced all the way to goal but was denied by Casillas, although the rebounded ball fell to Fernandes, whose first shot was stopped by Piqué but he made no mistake at firing home from close range at the second attempt. Spain reacted and, on the hour mark, had a double opportunity when Sergio Ramos’ header from a corner went just over the bar and then Benaglio had to jump at Villa’s feet to save. Del Bosque threw in Torres and Jesús Navas trying to activate the Spanish attack. La Roja could have restored parity in the 67th minute, when Villa served Torres after a fast counterattack, but the Liverpool attacker curled his effort over the bar. Three minutes later, Xabi Alonso saw his powerful 25-meter drive hit the crossbar. Spain continued piling up pressure on the Swiss defense, and Jesús Navas surged inside the area to fire straight into Benaglio’s arms. However, it was Switzerland who went closer to double their lead in minute 75, when Derdiyok (playing in place of injured captain Alexander Frei) jinked his way through Piqué and Puyol before seeing his close-range effort hit the post. After five minutes of added time, the Swiss were able to celebrate a famous upset and the Spaniards left the pitch stunned. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 16-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 42.658 REFEREE: Massimo Busacca (SWI) GOALS: 0-1 (Forlán 24’); 0-2 (Forlán [p.] 80’); 0-3 (Á. Pereira 90+’) BOOKED: Pienaar (6’), Dikgacoi (42’), Khune (RC 76’) [Incidents: Khune was sent off (min. 76).] |
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South Africa - Uruguay |
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0-3 (0-1) |
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SOUTH AFRICA Khune Gaxa, Mokoena (c), Khumalo, Masilela Modise, Letsholonyane (Moriri 57’), Dikgacoi, Tshabalala Pienaar (Josephs 79’), Mphela COACH: Carlos Alberto Parreira |
URUGUAY Muslera M. Pereira, Lugano (c), Godín, Fucile (Á. Fernández 71’) Pérez (Gargano 90’), Arévalo Ríos, Á. Pereira Cavani (S. Fernández 89’), Forlán, Suárez COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
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GAME SUMMARY Host South Africa were left on the brink of elimination after losing to a Forlán-inspired Uruguay. The Atlético de Madrid attacker, very active during the game, scored a brace with a 25-meter effort and a penalty kick, and Álvaro Pereira wrapped up a deserved victory for dominant Uruguay in stoppage time.
Óscar Tabárez brought Cavani in to form a three-pronged forward line with Forlán and Luis Suárez, and this tactical proved fruitful for Uruguay, who started brightly and had four early shots on goal, although none of them troubled Khune. In minute 24, the Bafana Bafana found themselves a goal down when Forlán lashed a shot from outside the area which looped over Khune with the aid of a slight deflection off Mokoena’s back, the ball clipping the crossbar en route to going in. That lead was no more than Uruguay deserved, and they almost doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Suárez escaped the vigilance of Khumalo but shot against the side-netting, or moments later when Cavani failed to control a pass from Forlán. Although Mphela headed wide in minute 40, the halftime break came as a major relief for South Africa.
After the interval, Uruguay continued to boss the game. Cavani put a reasonable chance wide three minutes into the period, and the unmarked captain Lugano missed an easy header in minute 53. Then, out of the blue, South Africa almost snatched an equalizer in the 66th minute when Mphela got in front of Muslera to get on the end of Gaxa’s cross, but he couldn’t direct his glancing header on target. South Africa’s hopes of getting anything out of the game were crushed in minute 76, when they conceded a penalty and lost goalkeeper Khune to a red card. Forlán’s mishit shot found its way through to the wide-open Suárez inside the area and, as he looked to round Khune, his foot was clipped by the South African goalkeeper. Although Khune protested his innocence and his teammates ganged up around Massimo Busacca to claim a possible offside, the Swiss referee pointed to the spot and gave the goalkeeper his marching orders. After a lengthy delay while Busacca brushed away the South African players and reserve custodian Moeneeb Josephs replaced Pienaar, Forlán scored from the penalty spot and secured the game for Uruguay. Many disappointed home fans then left the stadium before the end, with their vuvuzelas tucked dejectedly under their arms, and they missed the South American’s third goal in stoppage time, when Álvaro Pereira bundled home a good cross from the right by Suárez. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 17-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 82.174 REFEREE: Frank de Bleeckere (BEL) GOALS: 1-0 (Park Joo-young [o.g.] 17’); 2-0 (Higuaín 33’); 2-1 (Lee Chung-yong 45+’); 3-1 (Higuaín 76’); 4-1 (Higuaín 80’) BOOKED: Jonás (54’), Mascherano (55’), Heinze (74’) / Yeum Ki-hoon (10’), Lee Chung-yong (34’) |
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Argentina - South Korea |
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4-1 (2-1) |
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ARGENTINA Romero Jonás, Demichelis, Samuel (Burdisso 23'), Heinze Maxi Rodríguez, Mascherano (c), Messi, Di María Higuaín (Bolatti 82’), Tévez (Agüero 75’) COACH: Diego Maradona |
SOUTH KOREA Jung S.R. Oh B.S., Cho Y.H., Lee J.S., Lee Y.P. Lee C.Y., Kim J.W., Park J.S. (c), Ki S.Y. (Kim N.I. 46’), Yeum K.H. Park J.Y. (Lee D.G. 81’) COACH: Huh Jung-moo |
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GAME SUMMARY A delectable display by Leo Messi and a hat-trick by Gonzalo Higuaín assured Argentina a place in the last 16 after an impressive 4-1 victory over South Korea. This is good news for the Albiceleste, as Verón and Samuel will have time to recover from their injuries, and those other players on a yellow card can have a rest against Greece and avoid any unnecessary knockout-round suspension.
Argentina started the match displaying its usual interpassing game, and Di María had the first chance in minute 4, when his left-footed shot went just wide. Then Tévez and Messi did a good build-up play and the ball ended in Higuaín on the right, but he lashed his shot over. It didn’t take much longer, though, for the first goal to arrive: a nicely flighted free kick from Messi on the left caught out Park Joo-young as he deflected the ball into his own net. Ki Sung-yong tried to hit back for the Koreans, sending a dipping long-range strike narrowly over the crossbar. Midway through the half, center-back Samuel was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury, but this didn’t stop Argentina from creating danger through sheer talent of its players. Tévez almost doubled the advantage shortly before the half-hour mark when his fizzing 30-meter free kick flew slightly over the crossbar, but that lead was extended in minute 33, when a short free kick on the left came to Maxi Rodríguez, whose ball into the box was flicked on by Burdisso to Higuaín and the Real Madrid attacker headed freely beyond the helpless Jung Sung-ryong. The Korean goalkeeper prevented his side from falling further behind five minutes from time, first coming off his line to punch away a cross-shot from the right by Higuaín, then making a flying save to tip over Di María’s shot from the edge of the area. A minute before the break, Messi beat Jung Sung-ryong with a curling shot after another trademark run, but the ball went out beyond the right-hand post. Just before the halftime whistle, however, Demichelis took his eye off a header from Park Joo-young, allowing Lee Chung-yong to nip in and pull one back for South Korea.
Argentina again looked threatening at the start of the second half, and in minute 52 Tévez and Di María combined to set up Higuaín for a free header from close range that was excellently tipped away by Jung Sung-ryong. Almost immediately, Tévez cut in from the left before unleashing a low dipping shot that was well dealt with by the Korean keeper. However, Yeum Ki-hoon should have drawn his side level after 56 minutes when he was put clean through on the right following a quick break, but found the side netting after opting to use his left foot instead of the right. As the game threatened to decrease its earlier tempo and become more conservative, the big chances dried up for the South Americans―Messi and Higuaín firing straight at the Korean goalkeeper. With fifteen minutes left, Maradona threw in “Kun” Agüero for Tévez and the move proved an instant hit because, one minute into the game, the Atlético de Madrid forward played in Messi on the left, his initial shot was blocked by Jung Sung-ryong but he alertly followed up and slapped the rebound off the near post, the ball then kicking over to Higuaín for a simple tap-in. Four minutes later, the Real Madrid attacker completed his hat-trick after nodding in Agüero’s cross at the back post. Beyond the score, the game proved that Argentina can win games without playing particulary well, and that quality, in the South Africa tournament, is as good as gold. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 17-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 31.593 REFEREE: Óscar Julián Ruiz (COL) GOALS: 0-1 (Uche 16’); 1-1 (Salpingidis 44’); 2-1 (Torosidis 71’) BOOKED: Papastathopoulos (15’), Tziolis (59’), Samaras (88’) / Kaita (RC 33’), Obasi (89’) [Incidents: Kaita was sent off (min. 33).] |
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Greece - Nigeria |
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2-1 (1-1) |
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GREECE Tzorvas Vyntra,Papastathopoulos(Samaras 37’),Papadopoulos,Kyrgiakos,Torosidis Karagounis (c), Tziolis, Katsouranis Gekas (Ninis 79’), Salpingidis COACH: Otto Rehhagel |
NIGERIA Enyeama Odiah, Yobo (c), Shittu, Taiwo (Elderson 55’ (Afolabi 77’)) Kaita, Etuhu, Odemwingie (Obasi 46’), Haruna, Uche Yakubu COACH: Lars Lagerbäck |
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GAME SUMMARY Greece came back from a goal down to beat ten-man Nigeria 2-1 and maintain their slim qualification hopes. The African team dominated the game until Sani Kaita was foolishly sent off in minute 33 after a tussle with Torosidis on the sideline. Then a blunder by an otherwise solid Enyeama handed Greece their first victory in a World Cup finals. Nigeria could still qualify if they beat South Korea in their final group match and Argentina defeat Greece.
The Super Eagles took the lead after 16 minutes, when the Greek defense failed to cut out an inswinging free kick from Uche and Tzorvas was left rooted to the spot as the ball nestled in the net behind him. Rehhagel’s men responded to this early setback thirteen minutes later, when skipper Georgios Karagounis tried to chip Enyeama from distance but the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save. Then Karagounis floated in a corner and Kyrgiakos sent his header high over the bar. Nigeria seemed to be in control, but then the match took a dramatic twist in minute 33, when the African team was reduced to ten men after Kaita showed his studs to Torosidis in a throw-in and the referee handed him a straight red card. The Nigerian midfielder remorsefully walked off with his shirt over his head, well aware of how much was at stake in this game. Otto Rehhagel reacted by bringing on striker Georgios Samaras instead of defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and his team almost drew level in the 39th minute, but Enyeama superbly blocked a shot from Salpingidis. Greece stepped up the pace, and two minutes later Samaras saw his effort cleared off the line by Haruna. The Europeans finally equalized a minute before the break when Salpingidis’ shot was deflected by Haruna on its way to the Nigerian net. It was also a historic moment for Greece, as they had scored their first goal in the World Cup finals.
Nigeria made a confident start to the second half and Uche saw his clever cross palmed onto the roof of the net by Tzorvas in the 48th minute. Greece hit back and Kyrgiakos sent a header at the back post into the arms of Enyeama seven minutes later following a corner from Karagounis. Then, on the hour mark, the game could have gone either way with a double opportunity: first Gekas saw his close-range effort parried by Enyeama; in the ensuing counterattack, Yakubu’s shot was blocked by Tzorvas and Obasi inexplicably missed an open goal. Nigeria were again grateful to Enyeama in the 68th minute, when he clawed away a powerful header from Samaras. However, the Greek pressure finally paid off three minutes later, when Tziolis’ shot was fumbled by the Nigerian goalkeeper and Torosidis was ready to push the ball into the net. Enyeama, another “victim” of the new Jabulani ball, still had time to show why he had arguably been the goalkeeper of the tournament so far with a couple more top-drawer saves to shots from Karagounis and Salpingidis. |
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STADIUM: Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) DATE: 17-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 35.370 REFEREE: Khalil al-Ghamdi (KSA) GOALS: 0-1 (Hernández 64’); 0-2 (Blanco [p.] 79’) BOOKED: Toulalan (45+’), Abidal (78’) / Guille Franco (4’), Juárez (48’), Moreno (49’), Rodríguez (82’) |
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France - Mexico |
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0-2 (0-0) |
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FRANCE Lloris Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra (c) Govou (Valbuena 69’), Diaby, Ribéry, Toulalan, Malouda Anelka (Gignac 46’) COACH: Raymond Domenech |
MEXICO Pérez Osorio, Rodríguez, Moreno, Salcido Juárez (Hernández 55’), Márquez (c), Torrado, Vela (Barrera 31’) Giovani, Guille Franco (Blanco 61’) COACH: Javier Aguirre |
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GAME SUMMARY Mexico took a significant step towards qualification with a 2-0 victory over France after a performance full of vigor and attacking invention, leaving Les Bleus with the prospect of another ignominious failure in a major event (like in the 2002 World Cup or the 2008 European Championship). The French qualification hopes are remote and even a win in the last competition day might not be enough, as a draw between Mexico and Uruguay will take the two American teams through at the expense of France.
Most of the fluid, attacking football was played by Mexico, particularly before the interval. The French had another disappointing performance, and the attitude of some players on the pitch and the coach on the bench didn’t help dismiss the claims of disharmony within the camp that were vented after the first game. Uruguay’s win over South Africa earlier on the day had increased the pressure on both sides, but they responded with some refreshingly open, if not decisive, play. Ribéry, who started the game in his natural position as link between the midfield and the attack, took a 35-meter free kick in minute 6, but goalkeeper Óscar Pérez made sure that the Jabulani’s strange bounce didn’t play any trick on him. But whereas France were restricted to set-pieces, Mexico looked dangerous from open play. Márquez’s ball over the top found Vela, but the Arsenal attacker sent his volley wide. Teammate Guille Franco was no closer when he escaped Abidal on the edge of the penalty area and shot over the crossbar. Mexico left-back Carlos Salcido went close twice, first drilling wide of Lloris’ left-hand post (min. 19) and then shooting straight at the French goalkeeper (min. 28). Even the loss of Vela to injury just after the half-hour didn’t interrupt the Mexican fluency, as substitute Pablo Barrera was straight into the action when Lloris punched Salcido’s cross against him and was fortunate to see the ball bounce wide. Giovani dos Santos flashed a shot wide five minutes from time to allow Mexico finish the half on a high.
The second half began with Gignac coming on for a goal-shy Anelka in the French squad, but it was the introduction of “Chicharito” Hernández for Juárez soon after which had an almost immediate impact. In minute 64, the pacy Guadalajara attacker beat an offside trap to latch onto an expert pass from Márquez, raced into the box unchallenged and twisted his way past Lloris to put Mexico ahead. France tried to react, but it was Hernández again who could have doubled the Mexican lead in minute 71, when he barely missed a dangerous cross by Giovani. With Domenech’s men taking risks and leaving many gaps behind, Barrera’s searing run into the area ended with a foul by Abidal, and Blanco side-footed home the resulting penalty to spark wild Mexican celebrations in the stands. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 18-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.294 REFEREE: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (SPA) GOALS: 0-1 (Jovanović 38’) BOOKED: Klose (12’), Khedira (22’), Lahm (32’), Klose (37’ > RC), Schweinsteiger (73’) / Ivanović (18’), Kolarov (19’), Subotić (57’), Vidić (59’) [Incidents: Klose was sent off (min. 37). Podolski missed a penalty shot (min. 59), saved by Stojković.] |
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Germany - Serbia |
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0-1 (0-1) |
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GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Friedrich, Mertesacker, Badstuber (Gómez 77’) Müller (Marin 70’), Khedira, Özil (Cacau 70’), Schweinsteiger, Podolski Klose COACH: Joachim Löw |
SERBIA Stojković Ivanović, Subotić, Kuzmanović (Petrović 75’), Vidić, Kolarov Krasić, Ninković (Kačar 70’), Stanković (c), Jovanović (Lazović 79’) Žigić COACH: Radomir Antić |
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GAME SUMMARY Serbia stunned Germany with a 1-0 win after a dramatic game, with Miroslav Klose sent off and Lukas Podolski missing a penalty. The result takes the shine off a young German side that came into the match high on confidence after hammering Australia 4-0 in their opening game, and gives World Cup newcomers Serbia a chance to reach the second round.
Germany took control of the game early on, playing with attacking flair, fast breaks and fluid ball movement. Three minutes into the game, the three-times World Cup winners had their first chance when Khedira found space and volleyed over after a neat cross by Özil. The Germans kept up the pressure and came close again four minutes later, when Müller’s dangerous cross was partially cleared by Vidić and volleyed just wide by Podolski. The Serbs squandered their first opportunity after 12 minutes when Ninković found himself with time and space but blasted Krasić’s accurate cross over the bar. Müller and Klose always looked threatening for Germany, but the latter’s frustrations mounted after he missed chances and had a goal ruled out for offside on the half-hour mark. In minute 37, the German striker was shown a second yellow card for a trip on skipper Dejan Stanković. With the Germans stunned, Serbia took full advantage and snatched the lead a minute later, when impressive winger Miloš Krasić picked out Žigić at the far post and the giant striker headed down for Jovanović to control in front of goal and steer the ball past a stranded German keeper. Löw’s men belatedly responded in injury time, with midfielder Khedira firing against the underside of the crossbar and Müller forcing a goal-line clearance from Kolarov with his follow-up, but Serbia held out.
For all they were a man short, it was Germany who made the running during the opening minutes of the second half. Schweinsteiger went close with an impressive solo run and a powerful strike from outside the area that stung the palms of Stojković. Podolski almost equalized after 56 minutes when he chased Khedira’s long pass and struck the ball wide under threat from the onrushing Vidić. The German pressure finally paid off three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for an unnecessary handball by Vidić, but Podolski’s poorly struck spot-kick was turned away by Stojković. Serbia had seen the equalizer so close that they finally reacted and made their extra player show. In minute 67, Jovanović’s shot came back off the post, and seven minutes later Žigić’s header clipped the bar with Neuer beaten. Although Stojković still had to turn away Marin’s deflected shot with twelve minutes remaining and Stanković might have committed a penalty in stoppage time, Serbia held on to earn the three points and stay in contention. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 18-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 45.573 REFEREE: Koman Coulibaly (MLI) GOALS: 1-0 (Birsa 13’); 2-0 (Ljubijankič 42’); 2-1 (Donovan 48’); 2-2 (Bradley 82’) BOOKED: Cesar (35’), Šuler (69’), Kirm (72’), Jokić (75’) / Findley (40’) |
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Slovenia - USA |
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2-2 (2-0) |
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SLOVENIA S. Handanovič Brečko, Šuler, Cesar, Jokić Birsa (Dedič 87’), Koren (c), Radosavljevič, Kirm Ljubijankič (Pečnik 74’ (Komac 90+’)), Novakovič COACH: Matjaž Kek |
USA Howard Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu (Gómez 80’), Bocanegra (c) Donovan, Torres (Edu 46’), Bradley, Dempsey Altidore, Findley (Feilhaber 46’) COACH: Bob Bradley |
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GAME SUMMARY The United States kept their qualification hopes alive with a second-half comeback to draw 2-2 against Slovenia. The Central Europeans looked on course to secure a last-16 berth thanks to goals from Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankič in the first 45 minutes, but a Landon Donovan goal early in the second period gave the USA belief. The Americans refused to give up on the game and Michael Bradley―son of coach Bob―grabbed the leveller near the end. The USA had even a further goal from Maurice Edu disallowed (although it looked completely legal).
There was a very early stoppage when Dempsey caught Ljubijankič with an elbow to the head as the pair challenged for a high ball near the halfway line. Birsa created the first chance in minute 9 with a whipped cross from the right which Novakovič failed to connect with on the volley, but four minutes later the classy Slovenian number 10 scored the opener when he curled a 25-meter shot past the helpless Howard and into the top left corner. The USA tried to react to this early setback, but it wasn’t until minute 35 when they created serious danger, with Torres testing Samir Handanovič with a shot at the near post. In the ensuing corner, DeMerit came from behind to head just wide. Five minutes from time, Brečko had to get a vital touch to deny Donovan a far-post tap-in after a flowing move involving Altidore, Findley and Dempsey. But just when the American domination seemed likely to produce the equalizer, it was Slovenia who scored their second goal before the break, when Novakovič slotted a pass through to Ljubijankič, who beat the offside trap and calmly rolled a right-foot shot under Howard.
The US coach responded by bringing on Edu and Feilhaber for Torres and Findley (respectively) at the start of the second half. The substitutions proved fruitful, and three minutes into the period the Americans pulled one back when Cesar failed to intercept Cherundolo’s ball down the flank and Los Angeles Galaxy star Donovan raced into the area at an angle before drilling the ball hard and high past Samir Handanovič at his near post. Two minutes later, Dempsey’s glancing header from Donovan's inswinging ball went just wide. The Americans continued piling up the pressure, but the Slovenians still looked dangerous on the counterattack and in set pieces. In minute 69, Altidore fired a shot straight at the Slovenian keeper after a Donovan free kick. Bob Bradley’s final change was to bring on forward Hérculez Gómez for defender Oguchi Onyewu as the US pressed for the leveller, and it was the coach’s son who finally got it in minute 82: Altidore climbed high to nod down a long ball into the box and Michael Bradley fired past Samir Handanovič to send the majority of the Ellis Park crowd into hysterics. It should have been even better for the Americans two minutes later, when Edu turned in Donovan’s free kick, but the Malian referee Koman Coulibaly inexplicably disallowed it (if there was some tug and shirt pulling, it was from the Slovenian defenders). Slovenia then pushed forward for the glory goal and Radosavljevič forced an excellent parry from Howard as time ticked away. The tie at the end of the game left both teams with similar chances of progressing, although the Central Europeans will face a theoretically stronger opposition in England. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 18-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 64.100 REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) GOALS: - BOOKED: Carragher (58’) / Lahcen (85’) |
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England - Algeria |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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ENGLAND James Johnson, Terry, Carragher, A. Cole Lampard, Barry (Crouch 84’), Gerrard (c) Lennon (Wright-Phillips 63’), Rooney, Heskey (Defoe 74’) COACH: Fabio Capello |
ALGERIA M’Bolhi Qadir, Bougherra, Yahia (c), Halliche, Belhaj Matmour, Yebda (Mesbah 88’), Lahcen, Ziani (Guedioura 81’) Boudebouz (Abdoun 74’) COACH: Rabah Saâdane |
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GAME SUMMARY England drew 0-0 with Algeria after another disappointing World Cup performance, in which they failed to threaten the Algerian goal for ninety minutes. On his 64th birthday, Fabio Capello had to see how his team were booed by their own supporters on their way to the dressing-room. Now, England has to win their last game against Slovenia to make sure of qualification for the next round.
After much controversy surrounding the English goal, Capello finally decided to replace the hapless Green for “Calamity” James, but soon it became clear that the English problems were not only at the back. The Three Lions struggled to find their rhythm and gave the ball away too easily before a decent spell leading up to halftime. Most of the English danger came from distant shots and set pieces. Lampard had the best chance of the half in minute 33, when his left-footed shot inside the area was saved by M’Bolhi. Meanwhile, Algeria showed that they were not nicknamed “The Desert Foxes” by chance: their tactical display allowed them to be superior in all the technical aspects of the game, controliing the English attacks and showing greater imagination and incisive movements. In minute 35, Ziani cut inside Johnson and shot near the right post in the best Algerian opportunity of the period.
The second half didn’t start any better for England. Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney all wasted chances after finding themselves in decent positions, while at the other end Carragher stuck out an arm to deny Yebda a chance to race into the box and received a yellow card (which meant suspension for the Liverpool defender in the decisive game against Slovenia). As the game progressed, England’s fitness was allowing them to control the tempo. Capello then tried to improve the attacking line with the introduction of the pacy Wright-Phillips and Defoe, but Algeria defended with order and sense. However, as time ticked away, the Italian coach desperately turned to the towering Peter Crouch for a more direct approach back to the English roots: the long ball. Even this didn’t work, and England had to settle for a goalless draw that leaves qualification depending on their last group game. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 19-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.010 REFEREE: Héctor Walter Baldassi (ARG) GOALS: 1-0 (Sneijder 53’) BOOKED: Van der Wiel (36’) |
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Netherlands - Japan |
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1-0 (0-0) |
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NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) Kuijt,Van Bommel,Sneijder (Afellay 83’),De Jong,Van der Vaart (Elia 72’) Van Persie (Huntelaar 88’) COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
JAPAN Kawashima Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Túlio, Komano Honda, Matsui (S. Nakamura 64’), Hasebe (c) (Okazaki 77’), Abe, Endo Okubo (Tamada 77’) COACH: Takeshi Okada |
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GAME SUMMARY Wesley Sneijder fired the Netherlands to a comfortable―yet unconvincing―1-0 win over Japan and the top position in group E, with a maximum six points in two games, which put the Oranje within touching distance of the last 16. The Dutch dominated possession and territory against Japan, who played deep in defense and were largely content to sit back while their rivals moved the ball around.
The Netherlands, cheered by a sea of supporters at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (a city with a large Dutch-descendant community), took control of the game soon after kick-off, but they were able to produce only one shot on goal in the opening half. Van Marwijk’s team had their first chance after four minutes, when Van Persie’s teasing cross from the left flashed across the goal and just eluded Liverpool striker Kuijt. Shortly after, Sneijder’s curled free kick went over the bar. At the other end, Nagatomo’s right-footed strike from the edge of the area went just wide. On the half-hour mark, Nakazawa did well to clear Van Bronckhorst’s cross from the right with Van Persie waiting inside the area. Soon after, Honda nodded high from Matsui’s free kick, and Japan got even closer in minute 37, when Matsui’s volley forced a save from Stekelenburg. In injury time of the first half, Holland had their first shot on goal, but Van der Vaart’s 25-meter effort aiming at the near post proved an easy save for Kawashima.
The Netherlands pressed forward more aggressively after the break and Van Persie twice had the chance to break the deadlock: first he headed weakly a Van Bronckhorst’s cross from the left, then fired wide from 15 meters. Holland finally took the lead in minute 53, when a poor headed clearance from the Japanese defense fell to Van Persie, who spotted Sneijder, and the Inter Milan winger unleashed a powerful strike which Kawashima could only parry into his own net. Japan reacted and Okubo forced a good save from Stekelenburg with a stinging drive. Shortly after, Okubo fired over the bar as the Blue Samurais surged for the equalizer. Substitute Ibrahim Afellay twice had the chance to put the game beyond Japan’s reach in the latter stages of the match, but his close-range efforts were denied by Kawashima. With seconds left to play, Okazaki found himself with an excellent chance to level the score, but he blasted his close-range shot over the crossbar. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 19-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.812 REFEREE: Roberto Rosetti (ITA) GOALS: 0-1 (Holman 11’); 1-1 (Gyan [p.] 25’) BOOKED: Addy (40’), Jonathan Mensah (79’), Annan (84’) / Kewell (RC 24’), Moore (85’) [Incidents: Kewell was sent off (min. 24).] |
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Ghana - Australia |
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1-1 (1-1) |
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GHANA Kingson (c) Paintsil, Jonathan Mensah, Addy, Sarpei Annan, Asamoah (Muntari 77’), Prince Boateng (Amoah 87’), A. Ayew Tagoe (Owusu-Abeyie 56’), Gyan COACH: Milovan Rajevac |
AUSTRALIA Schwarzer Wilkshire (Rukavytsja 84’), Neill (c), Moore, Carney Emerton,Čulina,Holman (Kennedy 68’),Valeri,Bresciano (Chipperfield 66’) Kewell COACH: Pim Verbeek |
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GAME SUMMARY Ten-man Australia kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the next round alive after a dogged display earned them a 1-1 draw against Ghana. Harry Kewell, recalled after missing the opening game, was dismissed for a harsh-looking handball after 24 minutes, but the Socceroos held on to earn a deserve point.
Australia made a bright start with Kewell giving inexperienced central defender Jonathan Mensah a torrid time in the opening minutes. The unfamiliar Ghana center-back area, in which Mensah was partnering Lee Addy, had a makeshift look and goalkeeper Kingson also looked shaky. Kewell had an early penalty shout turned down after a nervous Addy was almost dispossessed in the box. More suspect defending saw Addy and Kingson collide after pressure before the deadlock was finally broken in minute 11, when Valeri was brought down by Annan just outside the area and Bresciano’s free kick was fumbled by the Ghanaian goalkeeper (the curse of the Jabulani ball!), allowing Holman to steer a left-footed shot into the net. The Black Stars slowly began to recover and came close after twenty minutes, when André Ayew and then Gyan saw their shots deflected over. Then came the turning point of the game, as Ayew’s trickery down the right allowed him to lay the ball on for Jonathan Mensah, whose shot was kept out by the hand of Kewell on the goal line. The Italian referee Roberto Rosetti had no hesitation in pointing at the penalty spot and sending off the Australian forward, who protested his innocence claiming that the ball accidentally hit his upper right arm. Asamoah Gyan easily dispatched the penalty by sending Schwarzer the wrong way with a low right-footed shot. Tagoe had a good chance to put his side in front moments later, but dragged his long-range strike wide. Two minutes from time, Schwarzer made a fine save when he turned Prince Boateng’s shot wide.
After the restart, Asamoah wastefully shot wide after a promising counterattack, while Gyan showed good accuracy from distance with a low shot that was not cleanly gathered by the Australian goalkeeper, who was fortunate not to have had any opposition close by. Although Ghana were easily in control of the game, they were still restricted to long-range shooting. In minute 66, Chipperfield was brought on and had a great chance to make an immediate impact when Wilkshire swung over a cross from the right, but his free header went flying over. At the other end, Gyan sliced wide after a neatly threaded pass from Prince Boateng. Australia had another great chance to take the lead after 73 minutes when Wilkshire was played in on the right, but Kingson did well to close down his effort and then acrobatically save the much easier rebound shot from Kennedy. Much against the run of play, ten-man Australia threw everything forward in the last minutes of the game, but it was Ghana who finished stronger. With time running out, Jonathan Mensah headed wide, while Owusu-Abeyie forced Schwarzer to punch over as the game finished 1-1. Now, al four teams in group D have a chance to progress after the last competition day. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 19-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.074 REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda (URU) GOALS: 1-0 (Eto’o 10’); 1-1 (Bendtner 33’); 1-2 (Rommedahl 61’) BOOKED: Bassong (49’), M’Bia (75’) / Sørensen (86’), Kjær (87’) |
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Cameroon - Denmark |
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1-2 (1-1) |
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CAMEROON Hamidou M’Bia, N’Koulou, Bassong (Idrissou 72’), Assou-Ekotto A. Song, Geremi, Enoh (Makoun 46’), Emana Webó (Aboubakar 78’), Eto’o (c) COACH: Paul le Guen |
DENMARK Sørensen Jacobsen, Kjær, Agger, S. Poulsen Grønkjær (Kahlenberg 67’), C. Poulsen, Jørgensen (Jensen 46’) Rommedahl, Bendtner, Tomasson (c) (J. Poulsen 86’) COACH: Morten Olsen |
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GAME SUMMARY In one of the most entertaining and offensive games in the World Cup finals so far, Cameroon, one the great African hopes in the tournament, became the first team to be eliminated from the competition after losing 1-2 to Denmark. Although the Indomitable Lions took an early lead though Samuel Eto’o and showed a constant attacking mind, the Danes were wolves in sheep’s clothing and hit hard on the counterattack, with goals by Bendtner and Rommedahl that punished the Cameroonian profligacy. This result also means that the Netherlands are the first team to advance to the next round, and they will face a Cameroon side with nothing left to play for in the last group game, while Denmark will take on Japan with the winner securing second place.
Cameroon, well aware of what was at stake for them in this game, started strong, and in minute 2 Emana’s cutback from the byline failed to find a teammate in the open. However, the first real opportunity fell to Denmark four minutes later, when Rommedahl fired over after breaking the offside trap. Soon after Cameroon scored the opener thanks mostly to a defensive error by Christian Poulsen, who picked up possession from his goalkeeper on the edge of the area and then attempted to find Kjær with a first-time pass without looking up. The pass was intercepted by Emana, who quickly picked out the unmarked Eto’o in the middle and the Inter Milan star took one touch before drilling a low shot past Sørensen. Two minutes later, Emana could have extended the Cameroonian lead with a hard shot that went just wide off the post. Denmark tried to react to the constant attack of their African rivals, and in minute 17 Grønkjær’s inswinging shot to the far post was deflected by a defender. With a more balanced match and both teams exchanging blows, the Danes equalized just after the half-hour mark when Rommedahl, a constant threat on the right wing, tracked down a long ball from Kjær and drove a low cross to the front of the net for Bendtner to finish off with a lunging shot. Just before the break, both sides had chances to snatch the lead during a hectic spell: in minute 42, Rommedahl couldn’t take advantage of getting clear after losing his balance and, from the same attack, Alex Song prevented a goal by blocking a shot from Tomasson with a gaping net; then, one minute later, Eto’o had his effort come back off the post before Emana split two defenders and shot straight at the Danish goalkeeper.
The all-action encounter continued apace at the start of the second half when M’bia and Kjær both brought fingertip saves out of their opposing goalkeepers. Webó blazed a decent opening high into the stands before also being denied by Sørensen as Cameroon looked to be taking control of the game. However, it was Denmark who made the most of some poor defending on the African wing to take the lead in minute 61, when Bendtner played a ball down the right side for Rommedahl, who cut inside Makoun before curling a low left-footed shot past Hamidou. Now facing elimination, Cameroon pressed hard for the equalizer and Makoun wasted a good setup by Eto’o in minute 66. Denmark almost made it 3-1 five minutes later, when Tomasson failed to beat Hamidou after breaking in alone on goal. Sørensen produced an even better save in minute 77, diving low to his right to parry away Emana’s shot, while Christian Poulsen’s face kept out a bullet from Aboubakar, whose shot was heading towards the bottom corner of the net. Although Cameroon laid siege to the Danish goal in the dying minutes, haste and nervousness prevented them from scoring an equalizer, and the final whistle also signalled their farewell to the World Cup. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 20-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 26.643 REFEREE: Eddy Maillet (SEY) GOALS: 0-1 (Vera 27’); 0-2 (Riveros 86’) BOOKED: Ďurica (42’), Šesták (47’), Weiss (84’) / Vera (45’) |
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Slovakia - Paraguay |
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0-2 (0-1) |
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SLOVAKIA Mucha Pekarík, Škrtel, Saláta (Stoch 83’), Ďurica Šesták (Hološko 70’), Štrba, Kozák, Hamšík (c), Weiss Vittek COACH: Vladimír Weiss |
PARAGUAY Villar (c) Bonet, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel V. Cáceres, Riveros, Vera (É. Barreto 88’) Barrios (Cardozo 82’), Santa Cruz, Valdez (Torres 68’) COACH: Gerardo Martino |
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GAME SUMMARY Paraguay took a giant step towards qualification with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Slovakia, which should have been by a bigger margin had the South Americans capitalized on some of the many opportunities they had during the game.
Gerardo Martino made his intentions clear with three attackers in his starting eleven (Barrios, Santa Cruz, Valdez), and Paraguay dictated the pace from the start. Santa Cruz, who returned after a minor injury, almost gave his side the lead in the third minute, but his effort at the post was deflected by Mucha. The Paraguayans were having the majority of possession and Da Silva was only inches away from making contact at the back post following a free kick by Morel. In minute 18, Riveros drilled a powerful shot from the edge of the area but Mucha was equal to it, and four minutes later Barrios was off target from an acute angle. Paraguay continued piling up the pressure on the Slovak area and Valdez fired just wide of the post. In minute 27, the constant South American attack paid off when Vera bent the ball around the goalkeeper with the outside of his right boot after a pass from Barrios. The goal forced Slovakia to come out of their shell and attack, but they failed to create real danger. Only Saláta went close when he headed over the bar from inside the area in the 37th minute. However, Paraguay almost added a second goal before halftime when Santa Cruz forced Mucha to save with his legs.
Slovakia tried to step up the tempo at the start of the second half, but Paraguay kept their grip on the match. Neither team produced any significant opportunity during the first half of the period. As time ticked away, the Slovaks desperately looked for the equalizer, but they couldn’t hold onto possession long enough to pose a goal threat. In minute 71, Vera almost gave Paraguay a two-goal lead after a cross from Santa Cruz following a swift counterattack, but his header from the penalty spot flew narrowly wide. Then substitute Aureliano Torres saw his effort take a deflection off a Slovak defender and finish high over the bar. Paraguay finally scored the second goal they deserved in minute 86, when Da Silva played the ball into Riveros and the midfielder curled a shot into the corner. Slovakia’s only effort of note came in stoppage time when Hološko’s shot was turned over the bar by Villar. Too little, too late for a team who was broken-hearted after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to New Zealand in their opener, and now have to depend on winning title holder Italy if they want to qualify for the knock-out rounds. |
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STADIUM: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) DATE: 20-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.229 REFEREE: Carlos Alberto Batres (GUA) GOALS: 0-1 (Smeltz 7’); 1-1 (Iaquinta [p.] 29’) BOOKED: Fallon (14’), Smith (28’), Nelsen (87’) [Incidents: The Italian players wore black armbands in memory of Roberto Rosato, European Championship winner in 1968, who passed away the day before this game.] |
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Italy - New Zealand |
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1-1 (1-1) |
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ITALY Marchetti Zambrotta, Cannavaro (c), Chiellini, Criscito Pepe (Camoranesi 46’), De Rossi, Montolivo, Marchisio (Pazzini 61’) Gilardino (Di Natale 46’), Iaquinta COACH: Marcello Lippi |
NEW ZEALAND Paston Reid, Nelsen (c), Vicelich (Christie 81’), Smith Bertos, Elliott, Lochhead, Fallon (Wood 63’) Smeltz, Killen (Barron 90+’) COACH: Ricki Herbert |
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GAME SUMMARY World champions Italy suffered an embarrassing 1-1 draw with underdogs New Zealand in their second group match, a result which complicates their chances of progressing to the knockout stage. The All Whites, ranked 78th in the world, had taken a shock lead on seven minutes when struggling Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro failed to clear a free kick into the area, and Lippi’s men needed a controversial penalty to level the scores. Despite the Italian domination during all the game, they never looked convincing and couldn’t find a way past outstanding goalkeeper Mark Paston. This surprise result keeps alive New Zealand’s hopes of reaching the second round for the first time in their history and leaves Italy with much still to do.
The All Whites, buoyant after their last-gasp equalizer against Slovakia, made the perfect start as they took the lead in the 7th minute. Although Marcello Lippi had warned their men that New Zealand’s greatest threat would come from set pieces, his side were caught out as Elliott swung in a free kick from the left, the ball dipped over Gilardino and Reid and wrong-footed Cannavaro, who could only divert it into the path of Smeltz for an easy tap-in. The goal seemed to enrage Italy, who responded with a free kick from Marchisio which bounced awkwardly and forced Paston to save. In minute 16, Chiellini shot wide when well placed after a corner, and six minutes later Zambrotta’s right-footed effort barely missed the upper corner of the goal. As Italy stepped up the pressure, Montolivo hit the post with a long-range shot, and within one minute New Zealand were caught out as De Rossi went down in the area after the slightest of shirt pulls from Tommy Smith. Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres pointed at the penalty spot, despite the complains of the Kiwis, and Iaquinta calmly slotted the ball in, much to Italian relief. Although New Zealand recovered their composure and kept Italy at bay for the rest of the period, Paston was called into action again to save a 20-meter shot by De Rossi just before the break.
Italy continued dominating possession in the second period, although this time at a slower tempo. Halftime substitute Di Natale threatened with a smart shot on the turn, but Paston was equal to the half-volley. Just after the hour mark, Iaquinta controlled on the edge of the area but Reid did enough to force him to fire wide as he turned. Then, much against the run of play, New Zealand went close to taking the lead when Vicelich fired narrowly wide after a Cannavaro clearance fell invitingly (min. 63). Camoranesi, whose introduction in the second half gave Italy extra drive, put Montolivo through to force a fine save from Paston (min. 71). The Italian’s urgency increased as time ran down, but Camoranesi and Di Natale both shot wide and Chiellini missed the target with a header. Substitute Chris Wood almost caught Italy off-guard on a rare counterattack eight minutes from time, but his shot across goal after escaping Cannavaro went just wide of the post. In a frantic finish, Camoranesi tested Paston from long range and Nelsen blocked well from Iaquinta as New Zealand held on for a famous draw. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 20-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 84.455 REFEREE: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA) GOALS: 1-0 (Luís Fabiano 25’); 2-0 (Luís Fabiano 50’); 3-0 (Elano 62’); 3-1 (Drogba 79’) BOOKED: Kaká (85’), Kaká (88’ > RC) / Tiéné (31’), Keïta (75’), Tioté (86’) [Incidents: Kaká was sent off (min. 88).] |
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Brazil - Ivory Coast |
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3-1 (1-0) |
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BRAZIL Júlio César Maicon, Lúcio (c), Juan, Michel Bastos Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Kaká, Elano (Dani Alves 67’) Luís Fabiano, Robinho (Ramires 90+’) COACH: Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” |
IVORY COAST Barry Demel, K. Touré, Zokora, Tiéné Eboué (Romaric 72’), Y. Touré, Tioté Dindane (Gervinho 54’), Drogba (c), Kalou (Keïta 68’) COACH: Sven-Göran Eriksson |
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GAME SUMMARY Brazil showed its true World Cup colors with a convincing victory against Ivory Coast to secure a place in the last 16. A brace from “O Fabuloso” Luís Fabiano and an Elano strike gave Dunga’s men a deserved victory in a game that was marred by the controversial dismissal of Kaká two minutes from time.
After a goalless draw againt Portugal in their opener, Eriksson named Ivory Coast captain Drogba in the starting line-up, hoping to increase the offensive performance in his team. Brazil had a chance inside the opening sixty seconds when a quick break through the middle ended with Robinho sending a dipping shot narrowly over Barry’s goal from 30 meters. However, that was all the danger there was in the opening minutes, as The Elephants adopted a defensive display and relied mostly on set pieces to threaten the Brazilian goal. Then, out of the blue, Dunga’s men made the breakthrough in minute 25: Robinho and Kaká did a good build-up work before the Real Madrid midfielder threaded a neat final pass to Luís Fabiano, who lashed the ball high into the roof of the net past the Ivorian goalkeeper. The goal initially deflated the Africans, but Dindane and then Eboué sparked some life back into their attack with decent long-range efforts before halftime.
Five minutes after the restart, the Brazilian advantage was doubled by Luís Fabiano, who used his arm twice to control the ball in the build-up before volleying home. Surprisingly enough, the French referee Stéphane Lannoy not only allowed this goal, but even seemed to tell Luís Fabiano that he had seen his double handball. Four minutes later, Drogba should have pulled one back for Ivory Coast, but could only head Dindane’s cross wide. Brazil, now enjoyng more open spaces, continued to press, and Kaká’s close-range effort was punched away by Barry just before Elano scored Brazil’s third with a simple tap-in from close range after a Kaká’s cross. The Galatasaray midfielder was stretchered off shortly afterwards with a shin injury after a clash with Tioté. Ivory Coast rallied towards the end of the game and had several chances to narrow the deficit, until Drogba finally made his mark in the 79th minute, heading home a good cross from Yaya Touré. The game got very physical late on, and Kaka was sent off after receiving two consecutive yellow cards, both of them for pushing away Keïta (although the second foul was completely exaggerated by the African attacker). Tioté forced Júlio César to tip over a late effort, but the game was decided by then. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 21-06-2010 (13:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 63.644 REFEREE: Pablo Pozo (CHI) GOALS: 1-0 (Raul Meireles 29’); 2-0 (Simão 53’); 3-0 (Hugo Almeida 56’); 4-0 (Tiago 60’); 5-0 (Liédson 81’); 6-0 (Cristiano Ronaldo 87’); 7-0 (Tiago 89’) BOOKED: Pedro Mendes (38’), Hugo Almeida (70’) / Park Chul-jin (32’), Hong Young-jo (47’) |
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Portugal - North Korea |
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7-0 (1-0) |
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PORTUGAL Eduardo Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão Tiago, Pedro Mendes, Raul Meireles (Miguel Veloso 70’) Cristiano Ronaldo (c), Hugo Almeida (Liédson 77’), Simão (Duda 74’) COACH: Carlos Queiroz |
NORTH KOREA Ri M.G. Cha J.H. (Nam S.C. 75’), Park C.J., Ri J.I., Ji Y.N., Ri K.C. Moon I.G.(Kim Y.J. 58’),Ahn Y.H.,Park N.C. II(Kim K.I. 58’),Hong Y.J.(c) Chung D.S. COACH: Kim Jung-hoon |
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GAME SUMMARY Portugal revived their World Cup campaign with a dominating 7-0 win over North Korea, and in doing so they also eliminated the Asian team from the competition (and most likely too their main opposition, Ivory Coast, who should now produce a bigger thrashing on the Koreans in order to advance ahead of Portugal). After failing to impress in their opening stalemate, Queiroz’s team was under pressure to deliver against North Korea with a showdown against Brazil still to come, and indeed the Portuguese produced a spectacular performance of fluidity and flair. It was the most one-sided World Cup match since Germany routed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in 2002.
Portugal came into the match hoping to boost their goal difference with Ivory Coast, their main rivals to join Brazil in the next round, but they knew North Korea wouldn’t be an easy rival after the excellent game the Asians played when they fell narrowly 2-1 to Brazil. The Portuguese came close to a breakthrough in the 7th minute, when Ricardo Carvalho met Simão’s corner with a header that hit the post and bounced away. But the North Koreans also came up dangerously, with Cha Jung-hyuk and Chung Dae-se both threatening Eduardo. Kim Jung-hoon’s side had an even better opportunity in minute 18, when Hong Young-jo cut inside and had his shot parried by Eduardo, then Park Nam-chul II headed the rebound over. Despite these early chances, North Korea were undone in minute 29, when Raul Meireles latched onto a clever pass by Tiago and scored Portugal’s first goal in the tournament. The opener seemed to deflate the Koreans, while the Portuguese finally began to show some of the flair that made them famous. In minute 35, Raul Meireles again could have extended the lead, but he failed to capitalized on some poor defending.
Tiago had an early chance in the second half, but his effort from distance was tipped over by Ri Myung-gook. In minute 53, Hugo Almeida failed to convert Fábio Coentrão’s cross from the left, but seconds later Portugal doubled their advantage with a great goal: after a one-two between Hugo Almeida and Raul Meireles, the midfielder set Simão up into the area for a straightforward finish. Three minutes later it was 3-0 for Portugal, when Fábio Coentrão was put clear down the left and his perfectly-pitched cross found Hugo Almeida, who made no mistake with a close-range header. By then, it was clear that North Korea was over as a contest, and Tiago made it 4-0 on the hour mark after rushing forward to sweep home Cristiano Ronaldo’s cut-back from the left. With the Real Madrid forward finally participating in the Portuguese attacks, Raul Meireles and Fábio Coentrão had further chances to extend the lead, and CR9 himself shot onto the crossbar. Liédson scored the fifth goal only four minutes after coming off the bench, when Duda whipped in a ball that Ri Kwang-chun failed to clear, allowing the Brazil-born attacker to hammer home on the turn. There was still time for Cristiano Ronaldo to get his much awaited goal (thus finishing his two-year barren spell with Portugal), and a lucky one it was, the ball rebounding off his back and head after a faulty clearance by the Korean goalkeeper. The thrashing was completed by Tiago in minute 89, after heading home a good cross from Miguel Veloso. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 21-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.872 REFEREE: Khalil al-Ghamdi (KSA) GOALS: 1-0 (Mark González 75’) BOOKED: Suazo (2’), Carmona (22’), Ponce (25’), Mati Fernández (60’), Medel (61’), Valdivia (90+’) / Nkufo (18’), Behrami (RC 31’), Barnetta (48’), İnler (60’) [Incidents: Switzerland set a new record in World Cup finals, with 555 minutes without conceding a goal. Behrami was sent off (min. 31).] |
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Chile - Switzerland |
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1-0 (0-0) |
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CHILE Bravo (c) Medel, Ponce, Jara Mati Fernández (Paredes 65’), Carmona, Isla, Vidal (Mark González 46’) Alexis Sánchez, Suazo (Valdivia 46’), Beausejour COACH: Marcelo Bielsa |
SWITZERLAND Benaglio Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Grichting, Ziegler Behrami, İnler, Huggel, Fernandes (Bunjaku 77’) Frei (c) (Barnetta 42’), Nkufo (Derdiyok 68’) COACH: Ottmar Hitzfeld |
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GAME SUMMARY Mark González cracked open Switzerland’s record-breaking defense to give Chile a 1-0 victory, which puts the South Americans clear at the top of Group H. The CSKA attacker headed home a right wing cross from Paredes in the 75th minute after Chile sprung the Swiss offside trap with a counterattack. Just five minutes earlier, Switzerland had set a new World Cup finals record, beating Italy’s old mark of 550 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, as Mark González’s was the first one they had conceded since their opening 0-0 against France in 2006 (five games before this one, one of which had an extra-time). There was also an additional difficulty for the Swiss team, as they played most of the match with ten men after midfielder Valon Behrami was sent off in the 31st minute.
The match lived up to its billing as an ugly midfield stalemate, with the Swiss crowding out the center of the pitch and smothering Chile’s free-flowing attacks, in the same way as they did with Spain in the opening game. With just ten minutes gone, Benaglio had to make a fine double save from Vidal and Mati Fernández. Switzerland was on the back foot for much of the first half, with Chile’s midfield trio of Vidal, Carmona and Mati Fernández repeatedly causing problems. Their task increased markedly in minute 31, when Behrami tangled with Vidal and the Chilean midfielder went to the ground clutching his face, in a very exaggerated way (especially considering that the Swiss player didn’t even touch it). Saudi referee Khalil al-Ghamdi had little hesitation in producing a red card, in spite of the many protests from the European players and coach. Behrami’s dismissal did nothing but confirm Switzerland in their ultradefensive tactic and, although the South Americans stepped up a gear, Hitzfeld’s men blocked all the ways to Benaglio, who was in the right place at the right time five minutes before the break, when Alexis Sánchez chested down a Beausejour’s cross from the left and toe-poked a shot towards goal. Switzerland offered little in response during the first half, and captain Alexander Frei, who missed the opening game through injury, departed before the break having struggled to make an impact.
Chile thought they had taken the lead within three minutes of the restart, when Alexis Sánchez blasted home a shot from outside the area, but an offside flag correctly indicated that the ball was slightly deflected off Mati Fernández on its way to goal. The Swiss goalkeeper needed to be at his best once again with 55 minutes gone, when the active Alexis Sánchez stole the ball from Ziegler but couldn’t beat Benaglio one-on-one. Halftime substitute Mark González headed over from a Mati Fernández corner four minutes later. As the game became increasingly bad-tempered, İnler, Mati Fernández and Medel were all cautioned in quick succession. In minute 69, Grichting made a fine block to deny Paredes, but six minutes later the Chilean substitute was at the heart of the action in the South American goal, when he broke the offside trap on the right, rounded Benaglio and crossed for Mark González to power a downward header in. The lively Paredes might have doubled his side’s advantage twice within the final six minutes, but was unable to hit the target on either occasion, and Swiss substitute Derdiyok missed a glorious opportunity to level with seconds remaining when, unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, fired wide. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 21-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 54.386 REFEREE: Yuichi Nishimura (JAP) GOALS: 1-0 (Villa 17’); 2-0 (Villa 51’) BOOKED: Turcios (8’), Izaguirre (38’) [Incidents: Villa missed a penalty shot (min. 62).] |
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Spain - Honduras |
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2-0 (1-0) |
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SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos (Arbeloa 77’), Puyol, Piqué, Capdevila Xavi (Fàbregas 66’), Busquets, Xabi Alonso Jesús Navas, Torres (Mata 70’), Villa COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
HONDURAS Valladares Mendoza, Chávez, Figueroa, Izaguirre Turcios (Núñez 63’), W. Palacios, Martínez, Guevara (c) Suazo (Jerry Palacios 84’), Espinoza (Welcome 46’) COACH: Reinaldo Rueda |
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GAME SUMMARY After a shaky debut, Spain got their World Cup campaign firmly back on track with a much needed victory against Honduras. The 2-0 score doesn’t do justice to the Spanish domination during the game, and indeed the difference should have been much bigger had the European champion not squandered a number of glorious chances (especially a penalty kick missed by Villa, who thus failed to score a hat-trick in this game).
After the shocking defeat to Switzerland in the opening match, Del Bosque fielded a more ambitious 4-3-3 formation against Honduras, with winger Jesús Navas joining strikers Torres and Villa in a three-pronged attack. The idea was clear: after Chile had defeated Switzerland a few hours before, Spain’s fate to qualify was now back in their own hands again (even as group winners), and goal difference could be a crucial factor in the last competition day. As expected, Spain took an early grip on the game against an error-prone Honduran side, and the Central Americans had an early escape in minute 5 when Izaguirre handled the ball in the area as Torres tried to flick it over his head, but Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura waved play on. Villa came close to an opening goal in the eighth minute as his long-range effort shook the crossbar. The Spanish play gained momentum, and Sergio Ramos wasted a glorious chance in minute 12 when he headed over a Xavi free kick from the left. Soon after, Villa cut in from the left and fired wide after Xabi Alonso had cleverly switched the play. Spain still looked a little nervy in defense after the Switzerland setback, and a deflected Martínez cross drew an unorthodox clearance with the knees by Iker Casillas. Del Bosque’s men then gained the lead they deserved, though, with a stunning strike from Villa after 17 minutes: El Guaje, coming again from the left flank, maneuvered the ball between Mendoza and Guevara with supreme close control, cut inside Chávez and, at full stretch, smashed an angled shot across Valladares into the top corner. In minute 25, a good right cross from Jesús Navas failed to be headed by Xavi (how he missed those extra neck centimeters…). Torres showed that he was still some way from rediscovering his killer instinct after undergoing knee surgery, as he headed a Sergio Ramos cross into the turf and over at the far post and then fired wildly over after full-back Mendoza gifted possession to him.
Within six minutes of the restart, Villa doubled Spain’s advantage after a quickly conducted counterattack: Jesús Navas’ cutback from the right was met by the new Barcelona man in the edge of the area and his shot looped in off Chávez. Sergio Ramos almost added the third seconds later with a right-foot toe-poke from the edge of the box. Just after the hour mark, the active Jesús Navas was felled by Izaguirre in the area and Villa wasted a chance to complete a hat-trick from the penalty spot, sidefooting the ball just wide of the left post. Substitute Cesc Fàbregas almost made an immediate impact in the game when Sergio Ramos played him in over the top and, after rounding Valladares, saw his effort cleared by Chávez almost on the goal line. Núñez was the first to try his luck for Honduras in the second half with a right-foot free kick over the top (min. 70), but the chances continued piling up on the Spanish side. With eight minutes left, substitute Mata tried to feed his old club colleague Villa with a cross from the left, but Figueroa was quick to divert the ball for a corner. Villa was again denied his treble as Mendoza blocked a late effort from yet another Jesús Navas cross. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 22-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 33.425 REFEREE: Viktor Kassai (HUN) GOALS: 0-1 (Suárez 43’) BOOKED: Hernández (77’), Castro (86’) / Fucile (68’) |
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Mexico - Uruguay |
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0-1 (0-1) |
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MEXICO Pérez Osorio, Rodríguez, Moreno (Castro 57’), Salcido Torrado, Márquez, Guardado (Barrera 46’) Giovani, Guille Franco, Blanco (c) (Hernández 63’) COACH: Javier Aguirre |
URUGUAY Muslera M. Pereira, Lugano (c), Victorino, Fucile Arévalo Ríos, Pérez, Á. Pereira (Scotti 77’) Suárez (Á. Fernández 85’), Forlán, Cavani COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
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GAME SUMMARY Uruguay secured a place in the second round of the World Cup finals by beating Mexico with a solitary goal by in-form striker Luis Suárez. Although both teams will advance to the knock-out rounds, the South Americans will do it as group winners, wheras the Central Americans, as runners-up, will probably face a tougher opposition in Argentina.
Uruguay and Mexico faced the last group match with bright prospects, as a draw was enough to put them through to the next stage. Although Aguirre and Tabárez had insisted during the week that they wanted to win this game, the Mexican coach drastically reduced the offensive possibilities of his team by placing Guille Franco and Cuauhtémoc Blanco in the starting line-up: the former is not exactly a top attacker, whereas the old captain is far from his best physical fitness, and presently is no match for the skills of “Chicharito” Hernández. The majority of the Mexican supporters at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium were almost silenced early on. First Maxi Pereira saw his rising 30-meter free kick fly over, and then an error from Moreno allowed Luis Suárez in, but the striker only managed to send his shot across the face of goal. La Tri had a good chance moments later when Giovani crossed for Blanco, but the 37-year-old striker headed over. After eighteen minutes, Victorino managed to find space from a corner but nodded his free header over, before Álvaro Pereira drilled his shot wide after racing down the left―much to the fury of the unmarked Forlán in the box. Midway through the half, Guardado almost stunned Uruguay with a wicked 30-meter effort that beat Muslera but not the underside of the crossbar. At the other end, Óscar Pérez punched weakly at a Forlán cross, and he was lucky to find no opposition at the back post. The chances seemed to dry up in the final quarter of the period, but then Luis Suárez broke the deadlock two minutes before halftime when Cavani’s superbly floated cross allowed the Ajax striker to head in at the back post.
Back from the dressing-room, Mexico had the first chance of the second half when Blanco curled a free kick into the arms of Muslera. Uruguay then almost doubled their advantage in minute 53, when Forlán swung over another free kick from the right and Lugano’s powerful header drew an excellent low save from Óscar Pérez. Mexican defender Francisco Rodríguez had a golden opportunity to equalize from Barrera’s cross, but his glanced header in front of a gaping goal ended up wide. The introduction of Barrera and “Chicharito” Hernández had transformed Mexico completely in the second half, and it was now Aguirre’s side who created most of the danger. However, La Celeste held on to their narrow advantage and, as news came from the other group game that France had scored a goal, Mexico also seemed content to secure qualification, even though as runners-up. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 22-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 39.415 REFEREE: Óscar Julián Ruiz (COL) GOALS: 0-1 (Khumalo 20’); 0-2 (Mphela 37’); 1-2 (Malouda 70’) BOOKED: Gourcuff (RC 25’), Diaby (71’) [Incidents: Gourcuff was sent off (min. 25).] |
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France - South Africa |
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1-2 (0-2) |
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FRANCE Lloris Sagna, Gallas, Squillaci, Clichy Gignac (Malouda 46’), Diarra (c) (Govou 82’), Gourcuff, Diaby, Ribéry Cissé (Henry 55’) COACH: Raymond Domenech |
SOUTH AFRICA Josephs Ngcongca (Gaxa 55’), Mokoena (c), Khumalo, Masilela Pienaar, Sibaya, Khuboni (Modise 78’), Tshabalala Mphela, Parker (Nomvethe 68’) COACH: Carlos Alberto Parreira |
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GAME SUMMARY South Africa overcame a dispirited and dissent-ridden France in their last group match, but it was not enough to reach the second round. The Bafana Bafana regained some pride with a remarkable victory, although it was a bittersweet win since they became the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round stage of the World Cup finals. As for France, their early exit put an ungraceful end to the sea of problems and scandals that have shaken Les Bleus before and during the tournament―controversial qualification after Henry’s handball against Ireland, disharmony within the camp, dismissal of Anelka after a halftime row with Domenech and the ensuing boycott to a training session by his teammates―and has also signalled the end of a cycle for the 1998 world champions.
Altough both teams needed to win the game by several goals to have any chance of progressing, it was clear from the beginning that only South Africa had their hearts and spirits on it. Yet, France could have opened the scoring in the third minute when Gourcuff released Gignac, who drilled a shot into the arms of Josephs. After a cautious approach during the early stages, the hosts made the breakthrough in minute 20 after Lloris failed to cut out a corner from Tshabalala and Khumalo scored with a header at the back post. It might have been even worse for Les Bleus four minutes later, but Mphela dragged a shot narrowly after dribbling past several defenders. France’s troubles increased in minute 25 when they were reduced to ten men after Gourcuff was sent off by Colombian referee Óscar Ruiz for an (apparently) unintentional aerial challenge on Sibaya. South Africa were growing in confidence, and Tshabalala whipped a free kick over the bar in the 34th minute before they extended their lead three minutes later: with France once again in complete disarray at the back, Mphela clipped the ball home after being sent up by Parker. The Bafana Bafana then started to believe seriously that they could qualify for the next round, and continued pressing for more goals. Pienaar found the net for South Africa once more, but his effort was disallowed, and Mphela saw his shot turned around the post by Lloris. The hosts finished the first half on a high, especially after knowing that Mexico was losing in the other group game.
Domenech brought Malouda in at the start of the second half, but France were soon pegged back. Parker sent his shot into the arms of Lloris and Mphela’s effort clipped the outside of the post. The Mamelodi Sundowns attacker could not be contained by the French defense, and Lloris had to give his best to stop him from making a third goal. However, South Africa were caught napping in the 70th minute and failed to track Malouda, who pulled one back following a cross from Ribéry. The French goal seemed to deflate Parreira’s men, as now they had to score an unlikely number of times in order to advance ahead of Mexico, and the last twenty minutes were marked by a slow death of the game. Deep into stoppage time, Tshabalala could have extended the lead, but Lloris again denied him. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 22-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 61.874 REFEREE: Olegário Benquerença (POR) GOALS: 1-0 (Uche 12’); 1-1 (Lee Jung-soo 38’); 1-2 (Park Joo-young 49’); 2-2 (Yakubu [p.] 69’) BOOKED: Enyeama (31’), Obasi (37’), Yussuf (42’) / Kim Nam-il (68’) |
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Nigeria - South Korea |
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2-2 (1-1) |
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NIGERIA Enyeama Odiah, Yobo (Elderson 46’), Shittu, Afolabi Obasi, Yussuf, Kanu (c) (Martins 57’), Etuhu, Uche Yakubu (Obinna 70’) COACH: Lars Lagerbäck |
SOUTH KOREA Jung SR Cha DR, Cho YH, Lee JS, Lee YP Lee CY, Ki SY (Kim JS 87’), Yeum KH (Kim NI 64’), Kim JW, Park JS (c) Park JY (Kim DJ 90+’) COACH: Huh Jung-moo |
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GAME SUMMARY South Korea and Nigeria drew 2-2 after a tense match in which either side could have qualified for the next round, although it was finally the Koreans who did so. Needing a win to progress as group runners-up, Nigeria coach Lars Lagerbäck made four changes to his starting eleven from the side that lost 2-1 against Greece, one of which saw captain Nwankwo Kanu finally included after failing to feature in his side’s opening two defeats.
South Korea enjoyed a strong start and almost took the lead after two minutes, but Lee Chung-yong directed his close-range effort just wide of the far post. Shortly after, Ki Sung-yong’s right-footed strike from 25 meters went over the bar as South Korea got closer. However, it was Nigeria who took a surprise lead after their first purposeful attack in minute 12, when Chidi Odiah went on a superb run along the right side and crossed towards the heart of the area, where Uche beat Cha Doo-ri to the ball and fired past Jung Sung-ryong. Uche’s free kick went over the bar in the 20th minute and, seconds later, Obasi struck wide from the edge of the area as Nigeria looked to double their lead. The Super Eagles were gaining confidence and, on the half-hour mark, Obasi surged inside the area but his central shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Shortly after, Park Joo-young’s free kick went wide as Korea struggled to find the finishing touch. Nigeria threatened again in minute 37, when the active Uche fired his shot onto the woodwork, but it was the Tigers of Asia who found the equalizer one minute later, when Ki Sung-yong’s free kick from the left was met by Lee Jung-soo, whose weird first-time finish―tried with his head, but actually hit the ball with his shin―beat Enyeama.
South Korea picked up where they left off after the interval and went ahead in the 49th minute, when Park Joo-young fired a free kick on the edge of the area around the Nigerian wall and into the far corner, past a flailing and misplaced Enyeama. On the hour mark, Yeum Ki-hoon’s dangerous cross towards the area found Park Joo-young, whose seemingly goalbound strike was met by a fine save from the Nigerian goalkeeper. The game started to go out of control in the second half, with both teams creating clear chances. The Super Eagles should have pulled level in minute 67, after Uche set up an unmarked Yakubu and the Everton striker inexplicably tapped wide of an open goal from three meters. Two minutes later, Yakubu atoned for his mistake by calmly slotting home a penalty to level the scores. Within the last 15 minutes, the game was still an open contest: Greece was losing their game against Argentina and South Korea was qualified at that moment, but a Nigerian goal was enough to take the Super Eagles to the next round. Park Ji-sung fired wide of the near post and, at the other end, Martins surged inside the area and chipped the ball over Jung Sung-ryong… but just wide. South Korea defended deeply in the last minutes, whereas the Nigerians went up with everything. Obinna twice had the qualification goal in shots that went just wide, but the Koreans held on for a draw that put them into the next round. |
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STADIUM: Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) DATE: 22-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 38.891 REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) GOALS: 0-1 (Demichelis 77’); 0-2 (Palermo 89’) BOOKED: Katsouranis (30’) / Bolatti (76’) |
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Greece - Argentina |
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0-2 (0-0) |
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GREECE Tzorvas Vyntra, Moras, Papadopoulos, Kyrgiakos, Torosidis (Patsatzoglou 55’) Katsouranis(Ninis 54’),Papastathopoulos,Tziolis,Karagounis(c)(Spyro. 46’) Samaras COACH: Otto Rehhagel |
ARGENTINA Romero Otamendi, Demichelis, Burdisso, Clemente Rodríguez Verón, Bolatti, Messi (c), Maxi Rodríguez (Di María 63’) Agüero (Pastore 77’), Milito (Palermo 80’) COACH: Diego Maradona |
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GAME SUMMARY Argentina cruised into the next round with a third group victory, reinforcing their role as one of the favorites to win the World Cup. Against an ultra defensive Greece, Maradona’s side not only increased their confidence, but also rested several key players for the decisive knock-out round against Mexico. Leo Messi marked his first match as Argentina captain with a regular display, as the rest of the team, since there was nothing at stake for the South Americans in this match.
Argentina started the game in their usual dominant fashion, against a Greek team who seemed content to do what they do best: defend orderly (even though Rehhagel’s side needed a win to qualify). After a first quarter with little football action, “Kun” Agüero had a first sight of goal in minute 18, but Tzorvas palmed his left-footed shot away for a corner. Almost immediately, the Greek goalkeeper was ready again to tip over Verón’s 30-meter strike. Just over the half-hour mark, Tzorvas almost undid all Greece’s hard work when he spilled Milito’s low cross into the path of Agüero, but Vyntra charged down his shot at the far post. The Greek custodian redeemed himself from this mistake in first-half added time, when he denied Maxi Rodríguez and Messi in quick succession.
For all their defensive display, Greece almost snatched the goal they needed three minutes into the second half when Samaras beat Demichelis to another long ball out of defense and raced into the penalty area, but drove wide of the far post with his left foot. Injuries were not kind to Rehhagel’s side, as they lost Karagounis, Katsouranis and Torosidis all within ten minutes of the restart. Maradona’s men continued pressing on, with Clemente Rodríguez (min. 58) and Bolatti (min. 71) both having decent chances. Meanwhile Greece, who needed to win the game in order to advance―especially after Nigeria’s equalizer in the other group match―, inexplicably refused to go into an open attack, and seemed to trust their luck to an isolate counterattack. With thirteen minutes to go, Demichelis spared Argentina’s blushes by drilling the ball into the roof of the net after his header from a corner had been partially blocked. Things opened up after that for Maradona’s side, and eight minutes later Messi smashed a left-footed shot off the post after weaving his way into the penalty area. The Barcelona attacker was again unlucky not to score in minute 89, when he dribbled into the area and his shot was parried by Tzorvas, but substitute Martín Palermo tucked away the rebound and made Argentina’s second. If the veteran Boca Juniors striker was happy to score in his first World Cup game, Maradona was ecstatic in the byline, dancing in delight, as Palermo had been his own personal bet for the tournament, in spite of all the media criticism he received for selecting a player near his retirement from football. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 23-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 36.893 REFEREE: Wolfgang Stark (GER) GOALS: 0-1 (Defoe 23’) BOOKED: Jokić (40’), Birsa (79’), Dedič (81’) / Johnson (48’) [Incidents: For the first time in the South African World Cup, the English fans outnoised the terrible vuvuzelas.] |
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Slovenia - England |
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0-1 (0-1) |
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SLOVENIA S. Handanovič Brečko, Šuler, Cesar, Jokić Birsa, Koren (c), Radosavljevič, Kirm (Matavž 79’) Ljubijankič (Dedič 62’), Novakovič COACH: Matjaž Kek |
ENGLAND James Johnson, Upson, Terry, A. Cole Lampard, Barry, Gerrard (c), Milner Defoe (Heskey 86’), Rooney (J. Cole 72’) COACH: Fabio Capello |
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GAME SUMMARY After a stuttering World Cup start, England booked a place in the second round with a 1-0 victory against Slovenia. Capello’s men finally lived up to expectations and the Three Lions on their chest, and played a game full of courage and spirit. Because of the dramatic United States victory in the other group game against Algeria (with a goal scored in stoppage time), England qualified as runners-up and will face a showdown with Germany in the eight-finals. For Slovenia, on the other hand, it was total disappointment, as they though they were also through at the end of their game, but the last-minute American goal eliminated them.
England were always in control of the game and looked like a completely different team to the side that struggled to successive draws in their opening two games, with Rooney in battling mood and Defoe (who had started in place of the controversial Heskey) proving a menace for the Slovenian defense. After a nervy start, in which the Central Europeans looked keener on the attack, England made the breakthrough in minute 23, when Milner swung a cross from the right and Defoe, who had made his way into the danger zone, got just in front of Šuler to prod the ball goalwards with enough power to get it past Samir Handanovič, who couldn’t react in time to make a save. With the pressure lifted from their shoulders, the Three Lions started to show the qualities that Capello always wanted in his men―high tempo, quick passing and tigerish pressing―and with them came the opportunities. Defoe and Gerrard had the first couple on the half-hour mark, but both their shots were consecutively denied by the Slovenian goalkeeper.
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 criticized for his low form and for his rant at the end of the game against Algeria―had an excellent chance to redeem himself in minute 59, when he rode out the tackles and hit the post with his effort. Although Slovenia had enjoyed few clear chances during the game, the one they had in minute 69 was just glorious, with two consecutive close-range shots that were deflected by the English defenders, and a final effort from Birsa that went just wide. As time ticked away, both teams seemed to be content with a score that qualified them both, although the Slovenians still tried for the equalizer. However, just when they thought they had earned a qualification spot for the next round, their worst nightmare came true with a last-gasp American goal in the other group game, and suddenly Matjaž Kek’s men were out. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 23-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 35.827 REFEREE: Frank de Bleeckere (BEL) GOALS: 1-0 (Donovan 90+’) BOOKED: Altidore (62’), Beasley (90’) / Yebda (12’), Yahia (76’), Lahcen (83’), Yahia (90+’ > RC) [Incidents: Former US President Bill Clinton attended this game. Yahia was sent off (min. 90+).] |
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USA - Algeria |
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1-0 (0-0) |
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USA Howard Bornstein (Beasley 80’), DeMerit, Bocanegra (c), Cherundolo Dempsey, Bradley, Edu (Buddle 64’), Donovan Gómez (Feilhaber 46’), Altidore COACH: Bob Bradley |
ALGERIA M’Bolhi Bougherra, Halliche, Yahia (c), Belhaj Qadir, Lahcen, Ziani (Guedioura 69’), Yebda, Matmour (Saïfi 85’) Jebbour (Ghezzal 65’) COACH: Rabah Saâdane |
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GAME SUMMARY A stoppage-time goal by Landon Donovan earned the United States a dramatic classification for the next round. After dominating for large periods of the game and missing a host of chances, and just when they looked set to be denied by a mixture of woodwork, good goalkeeping, poor finishing and referee misjudgement (a valid goal by Dempsey was incorrectly disallowed), the Americans found the reward they deserved one minute into injury time, when the Los Angeles Galaxy forward prodded the ball home after setting up the attacking move that culminated in the winner. Not only did this goal rescue the US from an early exit, but also meant that they qualified as group winners ahead of England.
With both teams in need of a victory to advance, the game was an open issue during its first stages. Algeria coach Rabah Saâdane, knowing that his side could not afford a third successive match without scoring a goal, made one change to the team that held England 0-0, bringing in Rafiq Jebbour for Riyadh Boudebouz. The North Africans started brightly and almost took the lead in the 6th minute, when Jebbour himself rattled the crossbar with a half-volley. However, that was as far as Algeria went, and from that moment on it was the US who took control of the game. The Americans proved more enterprising, their physical conditioning showing as they kept up a relentless tempo. In minute 20, Bob Bradley’s men thought they had taken the lead when Gómez, having seen his first effort saved, sent a cross at the far post for Dempsey to nod home, but the referee disallowed the goal for an alleged offside. Ten minutes from the halftime break, the Americans created two great chances to score the opener: first Dempsey saw his shot saved by M’Bolhi after being put through by a Donovan’s pass, then Altidore blazed horribly over after the influential Donovan had chipped the ball past the Algerian goalkeeper to set up a magnificent opening. However, the Desert Foxes were still dangerous, and two minutes later Matmour earned a corner after testing Howard with a long-range thunderbolt. Ziani and Jebbour had two more chances before the first half ended in stalemate. With England leading Slovenia in the other group game, both the United States and Algeria were on their way out of the World Cup at the interval, and the second half promised to bring more action.
The Americans continued dominating the game and creating clear opportunities after the break. Eleven minutes into the half they spurned yet another great chance when the ball fell invitingly for Dempsey on the edge of the area, but his shot rebounded back off the inside of the far post and, on second attempt, he sliced the ball wide of a gaping goal. Midway through the second half, Buddle and Altidore were also denied by M’Bolhi. Algeria briefly stemmed the one-way traffic when Ziani dragged his shot wide after a good counterattack in the 69th minute, but otherwise the game was largely an American monologue. Bradley saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper with ten minutes left and Algeria had a late chance to snatch a winner when Saïfi headed straight at Howard, but in the ensuing counterattack Altidore hit a square ball into the penalty area, where Dempsey’s effort was smothered by M’Bolhi, only for Donovan to snatch up the loose ball and score, sending the American players and fans into hysterics. A demoralized Algeria would end the game with ten men when Yahia was dismissed soon after for protesting. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 23-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 83.391 REFEREE: Carlos Eugênio Simon (BRA) GOALS: 0-1 (Özil 60’) BOOKED: A. Ayew (40’) / Müller (43’) [Incidents: For the first time in the World Cup finals, two brothers faced each other: Ghana’s Kevin Prince Boateng and Germany’s half-brother Jérôme Boateng.] |
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Ghana - Germany |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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GHANA Kingson Paintsil, John Mensah (c), Jonathan Mensah, Sarpei Prince Boateng, Annan, Asamoah Tagoe (Muntari 64’), Gyan (Amoah 82’), A. Ayew (Adiyiah 90+’) COACH: Milovan Rajevac |
GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Mertesacker, Friedrich, Boateng (Jansen 73’) Müller(Trochowski 67’), Khedira, Özil, Schweinsteiger(Kroos 81’), Podolski Cacau COACH: Joachim Löw |
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GAME SUMMARY Germany secured the top place in their group with a 1-0 win over Ghana, although the African side also went through to the next round after Serbia’s defeat in the other group game. That means that, unless Ivory Coast defeats North Korea by an improbable number of goals, the Black Stars will be the only representatives from the Secret Continent in the knock-out stage. For Germany, their qualification as group winners set up a mouthwatering last-16 clash with England.
With both teams needing a win to secure progress, it was Germany who took an early initiative, struggling to break down a solid Ghana defense. Three minutes into the game, Cacau―a lone striker replacing the suspended Miroslav Klose―broke through and tested goalkeeper Richard Kingson with a low drive. At the other end, Prince Boateng―who was jeered by the German fans any time he touched the ball, after his tackling on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final last month ruled the Germany star out of the World Cup―sent and incisive ball to Gyan, but the Rennes forward’s first touch was poor. Kingson then had to react quickly at his near post as Annan deflected goalwards a Podolski cross from the left in the 10th minute. With opportunities knocking on both doors, a clever ball from Asamoah played in the advancing Prince Boateng, but Schweinsteiger blocked his cutback to Gyan, and Özil wasted a good opportunity for Germany when played in by Cacau as his shot was blocked by Kingson’s legs. In minute 26, Gyan’s glancing header from a corner was shepherded away from the goal line by Lahm. Cacau was next to go close, firing a shot on target after a clever flick from Khedira which Kingson did well to save. Ghana’s defense, led by captain John Mensah returning from injury, gradually shut down the supply lines to Cacau and Podolski, forcing the Germans to try their luck with long-range efforts. Near the halftime break, the Ghanaian goalkeeper pushed away a powerful free kick from Schweinsteiger.
Germany poured forward after the restart, but had their goalkeeper to thank for not conceding a goal on the break when he pulled off a point-blank save from an Asamoah shot five minutes into the period. That was a costly miss for Ghana though, as ten minutes later Müller found Özil in space outside the area and the Werder Bremen midfielder thundered a left-footed shot past Kingson. Far from demoralized, the Black Stars responded quickly and, within one minute, Tagoe almost levelled the score with a header. With Ghana pressing hard for the equalizer, Lahm made a crucial block to deny André Ayew after Gyan back-heeled the ball into the path of the onrushing midfielder (min. 67), but Germany were not sitting on their lead, and Cacau drilled a long-range shot goalwards which Kingson parried away. As the news came from the other group match that Australia was beating Serbia, both Germany and Ghana seemed content with a win-win situation at the Soccer City Stadium, and the last minutes were played out uneventfully. |
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STADIUM: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) DATE: 23-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 37.836 REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda (URU) GOALS: 1-0 (Cahill 69’); 2-0 (Holman 73’); 2-1 (Pantelić 84’) BOOKED: Beauchamp (49’), Wilkshire (50’), Emerton (67’) / Luković (18’), Ninković (59’) |
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Australia - Serbia |
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2-1 (0-0) |
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AUSTRALIA Schwarzer Wilkshire (García 82’), Beauchamp, Neill (c), Carney Emerton, Čulina, Valeri (Holman 66’), Bresciano (Chipperfield 66’) Cahill, Kennedy COACH: Pim Verbeek |
SERBIA Stojković Ivanović, Vidić, Kuzmanović (Lazović 77’), Luković, Obradović Krasić (Tošić 62’), Stanković (c), Ninković, Jovanović Žigić (Pantelić 67’) COACH: Radomir Antić |
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GAME SUMMARY Australia and Serbia both failed to qualify for the next stage after one of the most entertaining matches in the tournament so far. In a group where all four contestants were in a position to progress before the last competition day, the Socceroos and the Serbians had qualification within reach in the last minutes of the game―the former needed to score one more goal and hope that Germany did the same with Ghana in the other group match, whereas the latter just needed a last-gasp equalizer―, but it was not to be. The outcome was more disappointing for Radomir Antić’s men though, who paid for their earlier profligacy when Marko Pantelić missed a glorious chance to make it 2-2 in injury time, a result that would have seen Serbia edge out Ghana on goals scored.
The first half was rather one-sided, with Australia struggling to cope with Serbia’s superior pace and technique. The Central Europeans had the first opportunity seven minutes after kick-off, when Krasić burst into the area and fired at Schwarzer from a tight angle. Serbia should have scored in the 12th minute when Ninković put Krasić clear, but the CSKA winger was forced wide by and onrushing Schwarzer and shot off-target. The White Eagles maintained the pressure and went close again in minute 18, when Kuzmanović shot across the face of goal. Australia had difficulty handling the speed of the Serbian attacks and were grateful to their goalkeeper in minute 25, when Schwarzer prodigiously stuck out an arm to deny Ivanović from close range. The Socceroos were limited to firing in crosses from deep, and it wasn’t until minute 32 when the first decent chance presented to them, Cahill heading wide. Soon after, the towering Žigić could have made his mark in the game, but his bouncing header from a Kuzmanović cross went just wide. Pim Verbeek’s side was almost caught out by another slick Serbian move before the break, but Krasić was marginally offside before flicking the ball past Schwarzer and the referee disallowed his goal.
Australia began the second period with more purpose and Cahill sliced a shot wide from a Kennedy flick-on, but the Socceroos remained vulnerable on the counterattack. Ten minutes into the half, Jovanović broke clear on the left and Žigić shot over after a faulty control. Australia, again showing more intent, went close as Čulina drilled a low shot wide, then Bresciano forced Stojković to make his first serious save from a low free kick. Kuzmanović headed a good chance wide in minute 69, but within seconds the Serbians paid the price for their earlier profligacy as Wilkshire picked out Cahill with a superb cross and the Everton winger headed powerfully home. Serbia were rattled and Australia began to believe in miracles four minutes later, when substitute Holman broke forward and unleashed a ferocious 30-meter shot that flew past Stojković. However, Serbia grabbed a lifeline six minutes from time as Schwarzer spilled a long-range Tošić shot and fellow substitute Pantelić pounced from close range. The emotional roller-coaster of the game now was in the Serbian side, who needed just one more goal to qualify ahead of Ghana. Two minutes into injury time, Pantelić had a gilt-edged chance to send his country into the next stage, but fired over from an unmarked position. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 24-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 53.412 REFEREE: Howard Webb (ENG) GOALS: 1-0 (Vittek 25’); 2-0 (Vittek 73’); 2-1 (Di Natale 81’); 3-1 (Kopúnek 89’); 3-2 (Quagliarella 90+’) BOOKED: Štrba (16’), Vittek (40’), Pekarík (50’), Mucha (82’) / Cannavaro (31’), Chiellini (67’), Pepe (76’), Quagliarella (83’) |
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Slovakia - Italy |
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3-2 (1-0) |
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SLOVAKIA Mucha Pekarík, Škrtel, Ďurica, Zabavník Hamšík (c), Štrba (Kopúnek 87’), Vittek (Šesták 90+’), Kucka, Stoch Jendrišek (Petráš 90+’) COACH: Vladimír Weiss |
ITALY Marchetti Zambrotta, Cannavaro (c), Chiellini, Criscito (Maggio 46’) Gattuso (Quagliarella 46’), De Rossi, Montolivo (Pirlo 56’) Pepe, Iaquinta, Di Natale COACH: Marcello Lippi |
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GAME SUMMARY Title holders Italy suffered a humiliating exit in the World Cup group stage after losing 3-2 to Slovakia, who outplayed the 2006 champions for large periods of the game. The Slovaks, in their first participation in the finals, booked a surprising place in the last 16 after a thrilling game, in which the English referee Howard Webb disallowed two seemingly correct Italian goals: the first one after a shot was deflected by Škrtel’s knee over the goal line (although his leg was behind the chalk) and the second one with the tightest of offside decisions (with many more goals in the tournament scored from more clear advanced positions). With France also going out at the group stage, it is the first time that the two finalists from the previous World Cup have failed to advance to the knock-out round.
Slovakia, who had to win this game to qualify, made four changes in the starting line-up to boost their attacking options. The Central Europeans started the game brightly, showing a speed of movement which Italy have lacked during all the tournament. In minute 6, a mistake from a nervy Italian defensive line allowed Hamšík to volley wide from the penalty spot after the ball was flicked on to him by Vittek. Iaquinta had the ball in the net after ten minutes, but Howard Webb had already blown for a foul by the Juventus forward. Slovakia took the lead in minute 25, when De Rossi’s stray pass was picked up by Kucka and he rolled the ball forward to Vittek, who directed a low right-foot shot past Marchetti from the edge of the area. Italy seemed shocked after conceding the lead, and ten minutes later Štrba could have made it 2-0 with a fierce 30-meter drive which Marchetti pushed wide for a corner. Although the Azzurri were lacking in inspiration, they were still only one goal from qualification. Near the halftime break, Škrtel denied Iaquinta by heading over his own crossbar a floated Gattuso cross, but it was Slovakia who ended the half on a high―and almost scored the goal of the tournament―when Vittek cleverly worked the ball back to Kucka for a viciously-struck volley which flashed just wide of the post into the side-netting.
Lippi brought on forward Quagliarella for Gattuso and Maggio for Criscito at halftime, and changed his starting 4-3-3 for a traditional 4-4-2, with Pepe and Quagliarella on the sides, De Rossi and Montolivo as central pivots, and Di Natale-Iaquinta as attacking duo. Italy created the first opening of the second half when Iaquinta headed off target from a Pepe cross. However, the World champions were still very imprecise in their passing, and the question in everybody’s head was: “where is Pirlo?” Ten minutes into the half, Di Natale should have done better when played in by Maggio, but he skewed a shot wide with only Mucha to beat. The biggest Italian cheer of the afternoon to that point greeted Pirlo’s introduction in place of Montolivo one minute later, and the AC Milan midfielder came to the rescue of De Rossi, who was having a horrible game after his mistake in the Slovak goal. In minute 63, Di Natale’s curling shot from the edge of the area was held by Mucha, and four minutes later Italy should have equalized when Pepe’s cross sailed over Mucha’s head and Quagliarella fired goalwards with the keeper committed, but Škrtel deflected the ball on the goal line with his right knee (however, TV replays show that his leg was clearly behind the line and the goal should have counted).
With the Italians taking more chances, Slovakia found more space on the break, and within minutes Stoch, Vittek and Hamšík could have doubled the advantage with clear one-on-one opportunities. However, Vittek made no mistake in minute 73, when he got in front of Chiellini to steer a half-volley by Hamšík at the near post. Italy pulled one back with nine minutes to go after Quagliarella was played in the area by a clever one-two with Iaquinta and the Napoli attacker’s shot was parried by Mucha, but Di Natale was on hand to prod the ball in. There was then a skirmish inside the goal as Quagliarella scrapped with Mucha to retrieve the ball, with Webb booking both men. With five minutes to go, Italy thought they had scored the equalizer they needed when Quagliarella turned home a Di Natale cross from the left, but he was flagged offside in the tightest of decisions. With Lippi’s men attacking with everything, a throw-in by Pekarík caught the Italian defense sleeping and substitute Kopúnek raced through to lob the ball over Marchetti. Quagliarella then pulled one back with a delightful long-range chip over Mucha in stoppage time, but it was too late for Italy, although Pepe still had time to spurn one final chance by fluffing a volley in the far post, just before the referee whistled the end of the game. |
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STADIUM: Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) DATE: 24-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.850 REFEREE: Yuichi Nishimura (JAP) GOALS: - BOOKED: V. Cáceres (10’), Santa Cruz (41’) / Nelsen (56’) |
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Paraguay - New Zealand |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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PARAGUAY Villar Caniza (c), J. C. Cáceres, Da Silva, Morel Riveros, V. Cáceres, Vera Santa Cruz, Cardozo (Barrios 66’), Valdez (Benítez 67’) COACH: Gerardo Martino |
NEW ZEALAND Paston Reid, Nelsen (c), Smith Elliott, Vicelich, Bertos, Lochhead Killen (Brockie 79’), Fallon (Wood 69’), Smeltz COACH: Ricki Herbert |
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GAME SUMMARY A well-organized New Zealand held Paraguay to a goalless draw after a poor, defensive game. Although this meant elimination for the All Whites, they can hold their head up in pride, as they bowed out without losing a single game and avoiding the last place in their group after another resolute performance.
In a largely forgettable first half, Paraguay enjoyed the better possession but were unable to translate that into real goalscoring opportunities. New Zealand―playing for the first time in the tournament in the black shirts which are synonymous with the country’s famous rugby team, the All Blacks―began well, with Smeltz blazing wildly over from outside the penalty area (min. 5) and Killen only centimeters away from connecting with Elliott’s hanging free kick to the far post (min. 12). When the space did open up for Paraguay, Valdez overhit his cross from the left (min. 17) while Caniza also volleyed wide after Santa Cruz had lifted the ball over Lochhead (min. 21). It said a lot about New Zealand’s defensive display that right-back Caniza was getting all the chances, as he hit a 20-meter swerving shot over the corner of the goal and then dropped a dipping drive onto the roof of Paston’s net (min. 29). Although by then Slovakia was defeating Italy in the other group game and this forced New Zealand on the attack, it was Benfica striker Óscar Cardozo who blasted over the last chance of a sterile and boring period.
After the interval, it was apparent that New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert had released some of the defensive shackles in his team, giving Lochhead more license to get forward. This decision almost paid off within three minutes of the restart, when the left-back’s cross was deflected into the path of Elliott, whose strike fizzed past Villar’s right-hand post. Paston, who had been relatively untroubled, produced an instinctive save from Riveros’ diving header in minute 63, as the South Americans’ quality began to tell. The New Zealand goalkeeper was called into accion again within the last fifteen minutes, as he dived low to his right to parry Benítez’s shot and brilliantly tipped the ball away from Barrios when the Borussia Dortmund striker seemed certain to score. Although the last ten minutes of the game should have seen a desperate attack of the All Whites trying to earn qualification, they had exerted so much energy in keeping Paraguay at bay that there was little left in their tank. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 24-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 27.967 REFEREE: Jerome Damon (SAF) GOALS: 0-1 (Honda 17’); 0-2 (Endo 30’); 1-2 (Tomasson 81’); 1-3 (Okazaki 87’) BOOKED: Endo (12’), Nagatomo (26’) / Krøldrup (29’), C. Poulsen (48’), Bendtner (66’) [Incidents: Tomasson missed a penalty shot (min. 81), saved by Kawashima, but the Danish player picked up the rebound to score on second attempt.] |
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Denmark - Japan |
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1-3 (0-2) |
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DENMARK Sørensen Jacobsen, Krøldrup (Larsen 56’), Agger, S. Poulsen Jørgensen (J. Poulsen 34’), C. Poulsen, Kahlenberg (Eriksen 63’) Tomasson (c), Bendtner, Rommedahl COACH: Morten Olsen |
JAPAN Kawashima Komano, Nakazawa, Túlio, Nagatomo Honda, Matsui (Okazaki 74’), Hasebe (c), Abe, Endo (Inamoto 90+’) Okubo (Konno 88’) COACH: Takeshi Okada |
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GAME SUMMARY Japan booked their place in the knock-out stage after producing an energetic performance against Denmark, who were completely outplayed by the Asians in all the technical and physical aspects of the game. The Japanese finished the group stage as runners-up after collecting their second tournament victory on foreign soil, whereas the Danes failed to advance to the knock-out rounds for the first time in four World Cup appearances.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada showed great confidence in his men again, as he named the same starting eleven as in the previous two games. Denmark produced the first dangerous situations after seven minutes, when Tomasson miscued an overhead kick after a Simon Poulsen cross and then Krøldrup shot wide following a corner kick. However, the Japanese replied before the quarter-hour mark with a double chance of their own: the first one when Okubo sent in a low cross from the left that was flicked on nicely by Matsui, only for Sørensen to intervene outstandingly with his feet; moments later, Hasebe latched onto a defense-splitting pass, but wastefully shot over. At the other end, captain Tomasson was again played in on the left side of the area, but his low shot curled agonizingly wide. With the game completely open, it was Japan who broke the deadlock in minute 17 when Honda sent a powerful left-footed free kick into the far corner beyond an outstretched Sørensen. Within five minutes, Tomasson had a glorious chance to level the score, but the Feyenoord attacker failed to beat Kawashima after being sent clear by Christian Poulsen’s lofted pass. On the half-hour mark, Endo made it 2-0 for Japan after bending another superbly taken free kick into the right-hand corner. The Blue Samurais were by then confident enough to start playing fantasy football―almost like Benji and Oliver do in the popular cartoon “Captain Tsubasa”― and, just before halftime, the Danish goalkeeper prevented his side from falling further behind when he tipped over Komano’s effort from the right.
The Japanese picked up where they left off after the restart, and three minutes into the period the post saved Denmark when Sørensen spilt a routine catch to an Endo’s free kick. Kahlenberg then seemed to be taken by surprise at the back post when Tomasson flicked the ball with his head, while Tomasson again misfired from close range a Jacobsen cross from the right. Denmark continued to pile on the pressure, and substitute Jakob Poulsen was next to come close, with his long-range effort punched away by Kawashima (min. 60). Eriksen, another replacement, then saw his strike from outside the box fade away as the Danes looked short of ideas (min. 70). The out-of-form Tomasson missed yet another clear chance in the area and Søren Larsen’s effort from distance left the crossbar shaking, but seconds later Denmark had their chance to pull one back when South African referee Jerome Damon called a penalty when Agger received a slight shove in the back by Hasebe. Tomasson stepped up to take the kick and, in line with his unfortunate performance in the game, saw his shot deflected by Kawashima, but the veteran striker was ready to knock in the loose ball. The little hope the Danes might have had after their goal was killed in minute 87, when Honda tormented the Danish defense once more with his tight dribbling before cutting the ball back to substitute Okazaki for an easy tap-in. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 24-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 63.093 REFEREE: Pablo Pozo (CHI) GOALS: 0-1 (Van Persie 36’); 1-1 (Eto’o [p.] 65’); 1-2 (Huntelaar 83’) BOOKED: N’Koulou (25’), M’Bia (81’) / Kuijt (17’), Van der Vaart (65’), Van Bronckhorst (70’) |
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Cameroon - Netherlands |
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1-2 (0-1) |
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CAMEROON Hamidou Geremi, M’Bia, N’Koulou (R. Song 73’), Assou-Ekotto Makoun, Chedjou, N’Guémo, Bong (Aboubakar 56’) Eto’o (c), Choupo-Moting (Idrissou 72’) COACH: Paul le Guen |
NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) Kuijt(Elia 66’),Van Bommel,Sneijder,De Jong,Van der Vaart(Robben 73’) Van Persie (Huntelaar 59’) COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
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GAME SUMMARY Holland made it to the knock-out rounds with a maximum nine points in the group stage, after a game which saw the return to action of winger Arjen Robben, who had missed the first two games with a hamstring problem. It was the opposite situation though for Cameroon, as the Indomitable Lions finished the competition pointless, although they could restore some pride with a complete display against the Netherlands.
With nothing really at stake, as both teams knew their fate beforehand, Cameroon and Holland provided and entertaining game. Chedjou fired a weak effort at Stekelenburg and Van der Vaart dragged his shot wide early on. In minute 20, Van Persie could only fire straight at Hamidou after brilliantly setting himself up by chesting down Van Bronckhorst’s chip forward, and five minutes later Sneijder’s shot was blocked by a defender after good build-up work by Van der Vaart. After the half-hour mark, Makoun headed over from Geremi’s cross before Kuijt fired wide from a good position inside the area. Although Cameroon was having a positive attitude in the game, the precise passing of the Dutch always made them look the more dangerous side, and that’s how they made the breakthrough in minute 36, when Van Persie played a neat one-two with Van der Vaart before firing between Hamidou’s legs.
The goal in the first half settled the Dutch down after the restart, and they began to move the ball around sharply. Five minutes into the half, Van Bommel played a nice sweeping ball for Van Persie, but the Arsenal attacker wastefully hit at the goalkeeper. Cameroon, who showed little conviction going forward, had their best chance after the hour mark, when substitute Aboubakar’s clever reverse pass found Makoun, but the midfielder was denied by Stekelenburg with Chedjou then blasting over from the loose ball. Soon after, the referee pointed at the penalty spot after Van der Vaart handled―rather unintentionally―a Geremi free kick, and Eto’o kept his nerve to equalize. De Jong then could not properly connect with Van der Vaart’s teasing free kick, before the much expected Robben had his first taste of a World Cup game. The Bayern Munich winger couldn’t have a more positive debut, as he cut inside and fired a trademark left-footer which hit the post and fell to Huntelaar, who easily scored the winner. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 25-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.712 REFEREE: Benito Armando Archundia (MEX) GOALS: - BOOKED: Duda (25’), Tiago (31’), Pepe (40’), Fábio Coentrão (45’) / Luís Fabiano (15’), Juan (25’), Felipe Melo (43’) |
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Portugal - Brazil |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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PORTUGAL Eduardo Ricardo Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Duda (Simão 54’) Tiago, Pepe (Pedro Mendes 64’), Raul Meireles (Miguel Veloso 84’) Danny, Cristiano Ronaldo (c), Fábio Coentrão COACH: Carlos Queiroz |
BRAZIL Júlio César Maicon, Lúcio (c), Juan, Michel Bastos Dani Alves, Gilberto S., J. Baptista (Ramires 82’), Felipe Melo (Josué 44’) Nilmar, Luís Fabiano (Grafite 85’) COACH: Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” |
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GAME SUMMARY In a game with both teams qualified and where only the final group position was at stake, Portugal and Brazil played out an unsavory goalless draw. The match, one of the most eagerly-awaited of the first round, was a huge disappointment, with neither side prepared to take risks. The flurry of bookings in a bad-tempered first period (seven yellow cards) gave way to a more relaxed second haf, in which both teams seemed to be more interested in saving energy for the knock-out round.
Brazil and Portugal cancelled each other out in the first 45 minutes, in which there were only three efforts on target. The South Americans controlled the game for most of the first half and had the first chance in the 5th minute, when Dani Alves’ right-footed strike from 25 meters went wide of the near post. Brazil tried to loosen up the Portuguese defense, but they didn’t seem to have any sense of urgency to test Eduardo. In minute 14, Júlio César did well to punch away Fábio Coentrão’s dangerous cross. Shortly after, Tiago’s volley from the edge of the area went over the bar. Brazil had the best chance of the game on the half-hour mark, when Luís Fabiano fed Nilmar and his close-range effort was deflected by Eduardo’s palm to the near post. In minute 38, Luís Fabiano latched onto Maicon’s cross from the right and his header went just wide.
Portugal came to life in the second half, and three minutes into the period Lúcio was forced to make a crucial clearance from Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross with Danny waiting inside the area. Before the hour mark, Raul Meireles struck just wide from close range after a great run from Cristiano Ronaldo. As tempers calmed down, time just ticked away in a rather uneventlful second half, although substitute Ramires almost earned Brazil victory in stoppage time, but his right-footed strike was denied by an acrobatic save from Eduardo. |
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STADIUM: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) DATE: 25-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.763 REFEREE: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (SPA) GOALS: 0-1 (Yaya Touré 14’); 0-2 (Romaric 20’); 0-3 (Kalou 82’) BOOKED: - |
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North Korea - Ivory Coast |
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0-3 (0-2) |
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NORTH KOREA Ri M.G. Cha J.H., Park C.J., Ri J.I., Ji Y.N., Ri K.C. Hong Y.J. (c), Ahn Y.H., Park N.C. II, Moon I.G. (Choi K.C. 67’) Chung D.S. COACH: Kim Jung-hoon |
IVORY COAST Barry Eboué, K. Touré, Zokora, Boka Romaric (Doumbia 79’), Y. Touré, Tioté Keïta (Kalou 64’), Drogba (c), Gervinho (Dindane 64’) COACH: Sven-Göran Eriksson |
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GAME SUMMARY Ivory Coast, whose qualification hopes were quite remote before the game, convincingly beat North Korea 3-0 before bowing out of the World Cup. The Elephants needed to score an improbable number of goals and hope that Brazil defeated Portugal in the other group game, but in the end none of these two things happened.
Despite the seemingly impossible nature of their task―win by at least an eight-goal difference and wait for Portugal to lose―, the Ivorians were determined to try and initially overran North Korea with embarrassing ease. Ri Myung-gook was forced into action right from the kick-off, making a smart save from Keïta, but there would be no respite for the North Korean goalkeeper as Ivory Coast flooded forward at every opportunity. In minute 11, Gervinho jinked his way to the byline and pulled back across the face of goal, but no teammate was there to turn the ball in. One minute later, Drogba did head in, only to be flagged offside. Gervinho then showed great skill on the edge of the area, but Ri Myung-gook was equal to his shot. The threatened Ivorian goal finally arrived after 14 minutes, as Yaya Touré took a neat touch from a Boka cross and coolly placed a shot into the bottom corner. Romaric then clipped the post from distance before a fierce Drogba shot rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the line to allow Romaric to head in the second. Although Ivory Coast’s mission impossible started to look feasible, North Korea wanted to show that they were still in the game, and Hong Young-jo sent two long-range free kicks narrowly wide. After the half-hour mark, Keïta just missed the target with a thunderous volley after an Eboué cross, then Gervinho skipped into the area and shot across goal, but the ball bounced off the post. Ivory Coast ended the first half with another chance as Eboué shot over.
The West Africans picked up where the left off in the second half, and Drogba almost made it 3-0 with a diving header from a corner. The Chelsea attacker missed another header in minute 64, then Gervinho failed to turn in a Keïta pass. As time ticked away, the Korean defense also looked more organized, and Eriksson’s men started to see the enormity of their task. Much against the run of play, Chung Dae-se almost pulled one back for North Korea in the 81st minute, but he could not force the ball over the line. Instead, it was Ivory Coast who scored their third goal one minute later when Kalou sidefooted home from close range after a great cross from Boka. Dindane thought he had added a fourth late on, but his effort was disallowed for offside. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 25-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 41.958 REFEREE: Marco Antonio Rodríguez (MEX) GOALS: 0-1 (Villa 24’); 0-2 (Iniesta 37’); 1-2 (Millar 47’) BOOKED: Medel (15’), Ponce (19’), Estrada (21’), Estrada (37’ > RC) [Incidents: Estrada was sent off (min. 37).] |
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Chile - Spain |
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1-2 (0-2) |
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CHILE Bravo (c) Isla, Medel, Ponce, Jara Vidal, Estrada, Valdivia (Paredes 46’), Mark González (Millar 46’) Alexis Sánchez (Orellana 65’), Beausejour COACH: Marcelo Bielsa |
SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila Xavi, Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Javi Martínez 73’) Iniesta, Torres (Fàbregas 55’), Villa COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
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GAME SUMMARY After starting the tournament with a stunning loss to Switzerland, European champions Spain recovered on time to clinch the top position in their group with a hard-fought victory over Chile, and set up a mouthwatering last-16 showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. The South Americans started the game stealing the ball control from the Spaniards, but deflated after midfielder Estrada was sent off at the end of the first half. As Switzerland was unable to win Honduras in the other group match, Chile still qualified for the knock-out stages, where they will now face Brazil.
Contrary to expectations, it was the Chileans who took early possession of the ball and forced Spain to counterattacks. Bielsa’s men pressed the Spanish midfield, and most offensive movements in Del Bosque’s side ended up in long balls to Torres and Villa from center-back Piqué. In one of these crosses, Torres was set clear in front of Bravo after Jara missed the interception, but the Liverpool attacker lacked his usual speed and was denied by a defender. The game then swung Chile’s way, and in minute 12 Mark González had a great opportunity when he was unmarked in the far post, but his effort went wide. The Spanish defense and goalkeeper looked nervy in the first half of the period, although the Chilean domination failed to produce clear scoring opportunities. Then, in minute 24, and rather against the run of play, it was Spain who took the lead when Bravo unnecessarily raced out of his area to beat Torres to a through-ball and his clearance went straight to Villa, who lofted the ball into an empty net from 35 meters out and near the left touchline. Chile threatened an equalizer ten minutes later when Beausejour set himself in front of Casillas, but Piqué got back on time to make a last-gasp save. Soon after, it was 2-0 for Spain after a good sweeping move resulted in Villa laying the ball back to his new club-mate Iniesta on the edge of the area, and the classy midfielder coolly slotted the Jabulani into the far corner of the net. While the Spanish players were celebrating the goal, Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodríguez sent off Estrada for an apparently unintentional clipping on Torres’ heels during the build-up play.
Leading 2-0 and playing with one more man, Spain could hardly have been in a better position at the break. However, just two minutes into the second half Chile caught the Spaniards sleeping and pulled one back when Millar found space on the edge of the area and fired in a shot that took a huge deflection off Piqué before looping past Casillas into the net. The goal initially encouraged the Chileans but, as the Spanish players settled down and started to control the game with long ball possessions, Bielsa’s men created little to worry Casillas in the remainder of the half. The game became a rather innocuous and sterile affair in its second forty-five minutes, with Spain and Chile accepting a score that put them both through. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 25-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 28.042 REFEREE: Héctor Walter Baldassi (ARG) GOALS: - BOOKED: Fernandes (34’) / Thomas (4’), Suazo (58’), Chávez (64’), W. Palacios (89’) |
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Switzerland - Honduras |
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0-0 (0-0) |
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SWITZERLAND Benaglio Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Grichting, Ziegler Barnetta, Huggel (Shaqiri 78’), İnler (c), Fernandes (Yakın 46’) Derdiyok, Nkufo (Frei 69’) COACH: Ottmar Hitzfeld |
HONDURAS Valladares (c) Sabillón, Chávez, Bernárdez, Figueroa Álvarez, Thomas, W. Palacios, Núñez (Martínez 67’) Jerry Palacios (Welcome 78’), Suazo (Turcios 87’) COACH: Reinaldo Rueda |
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GAME SUMMARY After a dream start beating European champions Spain in their opening game, Switzerland’s World Cup campaign came to an end following a goalless draw with Honduras. The Swiss, who could have reached the second round with a bare victory over the Central Americans, were toothless and rarely looked like scoring.
Switzerland, who started without top scorer and captain Alexander Frei, carved out the first chance of the match in the 10th minute, but İnler dragged his shot off target after being set up by Barnetta. Seven minutes later Barnetta again floated in a superb cross to the back post, only for Derdiyok to stray offside and head wide. Then, the active Barnetta tried his luck from 20 meters out but goalkeeper Valladares was equal to his effort. Midway the first half, the news arrived that Spain had scored in the other group game, which meant that Honduras was eliminated and Switzerland needed two goals to qualify. The Central Americans were again pegged back in the 42nd minute, when Derdiyok delivered the ball into the area and Nkufo found himself in the clear, only to get a poor touch and lose the chance.
Honduras should have taken the lead nine minutes into the second half, but somehow Suazo managed to find the wrong side of the post with a header following a cross from Edgard Álvarez. Barnetta then raced into the area after sixty minutes, but Valladares blocked his shot, and soon after the Honduran goalkeeper saved another effort from Derdiyok. Honduras launched a swift counterattack in the 71st minute and Suazo released Álvarez in the area, but Benaglio reacted superbly to push his effort over the top. Barnetta then picked Lichsteiner, who shot wastefully in the 80th minute. The last chance of the game fell to Honduras with five minutes to go, but the referee disallowed a seemingly valid goal for offside. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 26-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 30.597 REFEREE: Wolfgang Stark (GER) GOALS: 1-0 (Suárez 8’); 1-1 (Lee Chung-yong 68’); 2-1 (Suárez 80’) BOOKED: Kim Jung-woo (38’), Cha Doo-ri (69’), Cho Yong-hyung (83’) |
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Uruguay - South Korea |
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2-1 (1-0) |
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URUGUAY Muslera M. Pereira, Lugano (c), Godín (Victorino 46’), Fucile Arévalo Ríos, Pérez, Á. Pereira (Lodeiro 74’) Cavani, Forlán, Suárez (Á. Fernández 84’) COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
SOUTH KOREA Jung SR Cha DR, Cho YH, Lee JS, Lee YP Kim JS (Lee DG 61’), Ki SY (Yeum KH 85’), Park JS (c), Kim JW, Lee CY Park JY COACH: Huh Jung-moo |
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GAME SUMMARY Luis Suárez’s brace earned Uruguay a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in forty years. After a hard-fought game against a battling South Korea, and just when an extra-time was looming in the rainy horizon, the young Ajax striker curled home a brilliant winner ten minutes from time to confirm Óscar Tabárez’s side as the first team to reach the last eight. Uruguay, who had been the better side before the break, had to survive a major Korean fightback in the second half, but the Asians were denied by a combination of goalkeeping and their own profligacy.
The first opportunity of the game fell to South Korea in minute 5, when Park Joo-young sent his free kick to the post with Muslera helpless. But it was Uruguay who made the breakthrough three minutes later, after the Korean defenders and goalkeeper inexplicably let a Forlán’s low cross from the left roll all the way to the far post, where Luis Suárez expertly steered the ball into the gaping net from a tight angle. The goal didn’t seem to deflate the Asian side, who continued playing their usual attacking game, with Park Joo-young and skipper Park Ji-sung causing problems to the Uruguayan defense. However, they were restricted to long-distance shooting and failed to create serious danger, whereas Tabárez’s side, with Forlán prompting from just behind the attacking duo Cavani-Suárez, had just that little bit more guile going forward and defended expertly enough to go into halftime with a perfect record of zero goals conceded in the tournament.
After the break, South Korea resumed their attacks with more intent. Within five minutes, Kim Jae-sung only just failed to connect with full-back Lee Young-pyo’s cross after it had been dummied by Park Joo-young, and one minute later the lone Korean striker blasted over when he might have done better. Uruguay rarely threatened the Korean goal in the second half and looked to have settled for a slender victory. South Korea almost levelled near the hour mark when Park Ji-sung headed a Cha Doo-ri’s cross and forced an acrobatic save from Muslera, but their pressure finally paid off in the 68th minute, when Lee Chung-yong outjumped Muslera and Lugano to head in a poorly cleared free kick. As heavy rain started to pour down at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South Korea looked the strongest side, and three minutes later Lee Dong-gook’s shot was saved by Muslera. However, Uruguay’s response was swift and Jung Sung-ryong had to turn away Suarez’s shot in minute 73. In the ensuing corner kick, the Korean defense failed to perform the offside trap and Suárez, completely unmarked in the far post, missed his bouncing header. With ten minutes left, the Ajax striker made no mistake after picking up the ball and cutting inside the area before curling home a superb shot off the post. However, South Korea almost took the game into extra-time in minute 88, when Lee Dong-gook’s shot inside the area went through Muslera’s legs but lacked the power to cross the line, and Lugano came back on time to save the equalizer. |
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STADIUM: Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) DATE: 26-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.976 REFEREE: Viktor Kassai (HUN) GOALS: 0-1 (Prince Boateng 5’); 1-1 (Donovan [p.] 62’); 1-2 (Gyan 93’) BOOKED: Clark (7’), Cherundolo (18’), Bocanegra (68’) / Jonathan Mensah (61’), A. Ayew (90+’) [Incidents: Bill Clinton, Kobe Bryant and Mick Jagger―the latter probably expecting England to have finished top of their group―attended the game at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, and even President Obama phoned the day before to give the US team a pep talk.] |
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USA - Ghana |
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1-2 (0-1;1-1) |
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USA Howard Cherundolo, DeMerit, Bocanegra (c), Bornstein Dempsey, Bradley, Clark (Edu 31’), Donovan Findley (Feilhaber 46’), Altidore (Gómez 91’) COACH: Bob Bradley |
GHANA Kingson Inkoom(Muntari 113’),Paintsil,John M.(c),Jonathan M.,Sarpei(Addy 73’) A. Ayew, Prince Boateng (Appiah 78’), Annan, Asamoah Gyan COACH: Milovan Rajevac |
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GAME SUMMARY The Black Stars will continue to shine in the World Cup, as an extra-time goal by Asamoah Gyan earned Ghana, the only African representative left in the tournament, a place in the quarterfinals. It was just reward for the Ghanaian talent and power after a dramatic encounter, which saw an almost perfect tactical display of Rajevac’s men in the first half and a brave American reaction in the second half to send the game into an additional period, when Ghana showed a superior fitness and a lethal attack.
The Black Stars started strong right after kick-off, and soon it was clear that the USA, uncharacteristically lethargic, were going to be stretched by Ghana’s pace. Within five minutes, Prince Boateng stole the ball from Clark just inside his own half, sprinted into the area and unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters which flew past Howard. Curiously enough, it was Ghana’s first goal of the tournament from open play, having beaten Serbia and drawn with Australia in the group phase from the penalty spot. The African side pegged back their rivals with total attack and defense, and they might have added to their lead, with Gyan a constant threat. After the hour mark, Bob Bradley was forced to substitute midfielder Clark for Edu in an attempt to control the tempo, and in minute 35 the Americans could have equalized when Findley found the first gap in the Ghanaian defense and raced clear, only to see his right-footed shot smartly saved by Kingson. At the other end, it was Howard who had to make an instinctive foot save to deflect Asamoah’s shot.
The USA came out after halftime with a more determined, more attacking attitude, and within two minutes Kingson was forced into action again to pull off a splendid save from substitute Feilhaber, who had been fed by Altidore. With Dempsey and Donovan at the heart of their good work, the Americans surged forward, forcing Ghana errors, and they found their reward after 62 minutes, when Fulham’s attacking midfielder weaved his way through the African defense into the penalty area and was brought down by Jonathan Mensah. Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot, and Donovan stepped up to slide home the equalizer. With an increasingly shaky Ghana backline, Kingson continued to be the only thing between the surging Americans and a lead, and five minutes later the goalkeeper bravely raced from his area to outleg Altidore to a loose ball and smother a dangerous chance. The USA seemed on their way to another stirring comeback, whereas things started to look really bad for Ghana when they lost their best man, Prince Boateng, to injury. With ten minutes left, Altidore might have done better when clear, but he spooned his effort wide under pressure from John Mensah (who might have committed a penalty in the process).
As the game was tied at the end of regulation, an extra-time was necessary to decide the winner. Three minutes into the additional period, Gyan outmuscled Bocanegra to blast a left-footed shot past Howard, and the goal seemed to lift Ghana’s spirit again, while the Americans looked suddenly deflated. With both teams using their reserve energy, time ticked away between the American desperate attacks and the resolute Ghanaian defense. With the final whistle, Ghana was sent into ecstasy as they will continue the African dream in this World Cup. |
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STADIUM: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) DATE: 27-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 40.510 REFEREE: Jorge Luis Larrionda (URU) GOALS: 1-0 (Klose 20’); 2-0 (Podolski 32’); 2-1 (Upson 37’); 3-1 (Müller 67’); 4-1 (Müller 70’) BOOKED: Friedrich (47’) / Johnson (81’) [Incidents: In minute 38, Lampard’ lob hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced clearly beyond the goal line (not only once, but twice). However, the Uruguayan referee waved play on.] |
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Germany - England |
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4-1 (2-1) |
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GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Mertesacker, Friedrich, Boateng Müller(Trochowski 72’),Khedira,Özil(Kießling 83’),Schweinsteiger,Podolski Klose (Gómez 72’) COACH: Joachim Löw |
ENGLAND James Johnson (Wright-Phillips 87’), Upson, Terry, A. Cole Milner (J. Cole 64’), Barry, Lampard, Gerrard (c) Defoe (Heskey 71’), Rooney COACH: Fabio Capello |
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GAME SUMMARY Germany crushed arch-rivals England 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals after a controversy-filled match, in which the English side was denied an equalizer with the game at 2-1 late in the first half, when a shot from Lampard hit the crossbar and the ball bounced well behind the goal line, but inexplicably the Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa didn’t see it and the referee Jorge Larrionda waved play on. As a mockery of fate, 44 years after the Soviet linesman Tofik Bakhramov conceded Hurst’s unclear goal off the bar in the final between England and Germany―which the Germans complained bitterly about―, this time the Three Lions were denied a clear one in the same way. Controversial as this decision might be, the truth is that Germany was a much better side than England in this game. Löw’s new Mannschaft has evolved from the traditional philosophy of German football into a modern conception of the game, with a more flexible defense-offense balance, higher pace and a dangerous counterattack, whereas the English seem to be stuck in time, trusting everything to their traditional game of brawn, long balls, courage… and the spirit of 66.
In a frantic first half, Löw’s men had the first clear chance in minute 4, when James had to make an instinctive foot save to Özil’s shot. During the opening period, Germany repeatedly exposed the English defensive shortcomings with some mesmerizing high-paced play. However, the first goal came in a very unexpected way: Neuer’s long goal kick caught center-backs Terry and Upson napping, and Klose was quick enough to chase down the ball and slot it home past a helpless James. Germany could have added another goal on the half-hour mark, but Klose was denied by the English goalkeeper after receiving a through-ball from Müller. Within one minute, however, Podolski made amends for his teammate’s miss with a fierce low drive from a tight angle after a sublime combination of passes between Müller and Özil. Lampard failed to pull one back minutes later, firing at Neuer from close range, but eight minutes from time Capello’s men did cut the deficit with a trademark English play: Gerrard crossed the ball into the area and Upson outjumped Neuer to head in. The Three Lions should have been awarded a second goal only a minute later when Lampard’s lobbed shot bounced off the bar and well behind the goal line, but the referee waved to play on. One has to ask himself how the same linesman who calls offsides by sheer centimeters can possibly miss that, when the entire stadium, through all manner of new technology, knew within minutes that the ball had bounced more than half meter over the line… To his total disbelief, Capello’s celebrations of what would have been an equalizer were cut short.
England came out fighting in the second half and Lampard again hit the crossbar in minute 52 with a fierce free kick (although this time the ball bounced outside). With heart and sheer muscle, England tried to peg Germany back, and just after the hour mark Milner’s goalbound shot inside the area was deflected by Boateng’s body. But Löw’s men were still dangerous on the counterattack, and the remarkable Müller ended the English hopes after two breaks within three minutes. In the first one, the young Bayern attacker set Schweinsteiger free and began a run that ended with him shooting across James. With England committed to a desperate attack, Özil raced past Barry and presented Müller with a tap-in and the perfect chance to complete a memorable performance. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 27-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 84.377 REFEREE: Roberto Rosetti (ITA) GOALS: 1-0 (Tévez 26’); 2-0 (Higuaín 33’); 3-0 (Tévez 52’); 3-1 (Hernández 71’) BOOKED: Márquez (28’) [Incidents: Argentina’s first goal was scored by Tévez in a conspicuous offside position, but neither the referee nor his linesman disallowed it.] |
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Argentina - Mexico |
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3-1 (2-0) |
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ARGENTINA Romero Otamendi, Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze Maxi Rodríguez (Pastore 87’), Mascherano(c), Messi, Di María (Jonás 79’) Tévez (Verón 69’), Higuaín COACH: Diego Maradona |
MEXICO Pérez Juárez, Osorio, Rodríguez, Salcido Márquez (c), Torrado, Guardado (Guille Franco 61’) Giovani, Hernández, Bautista (Barrera 46’) COACH: Javier Aguirre |
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GAME SUMMARY Argentina beat Mexico 3-1 to set up a fascinating quarterfinal clash with Germany. As in the German 4-1 defeat of England earlier on the day, the game was marred by a hugely controversial decision when Carlos Tévez headed in the opener in minute 26 and TV replays suggested that the Manchester City attacker was well offside. Although the Mexican players surrounded Roberto Rosetti and pointed to the giant screen in the stadium, the Italian referee decided to allow the goal after checking with his linesman Stefano Ayroldi (although none of them looked sure about what had happened).
Mexico was the better side in the opening stages of the game, and in minute 8 Salcido crashed in a thunderous drive from 30 meters that Romero just touched onto the crossbar, then an equally terrific strike by Guardado whisked agonizingly past the post. At the other end, Messi―still looking for his first goal of the tournament―had two efforts from similar positions on the left of the area, but one was blocked and the other easily held by Óscar Pérez. At the quarter-hour mark, Mexico showed their attacking intentions again when “Chicharito” Hernández turned away from his marker and slammed a shot wide. Then, in minute 26, Tévez received the ball from Messi in a clear offside position―even the goalkeeper was in front of the ball behind the pass―and scored with a glancing header, rapidly igniting furious Mexican protests (captain Márquez earned himself a booking for showing his frustration), but the goal finally stood. Aguirre’s side seemed disoriented after the Argentine opener, and seven minutes later they conceded a second calamity goal when Osorio scuffed a pass across the edge of his own area, Higuaín seized onto the ball and kept his cool to round Pérez neatly and slide home. Mexico looked rather shell-shocked by then, and “Pipita” Higuaín could have killed the game three minutes from the break, but his glancing header from close range went just wide.
Any hopes Mexico had ended soon after the restart, when Tévez made it 3-0 with a blistering strike into the top corner from 30 meters out. However, the Central Americans didn’t give up and tried to restore some honor. Barrera and “Chicharito” Hernández had scoring chances before the latter left Demichelis standing with a superb turn and lashed the ball high past Romero to give Mexico a slim lifeline in minute 71. However, the Argentine defense stood firm and didn’t allow more chances to Aguirre’s side. Messi’s increasingly desperate search for a goal continued as long as injury time, but he was denied once again by Pérez. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 28-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 61.962 REFEREE: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (SPA) GOALS: 1-0 (Robben 18’); 2-0 (Sneijder 84’); 2-1 (Vittek [p.] 90+’) BOOKED: Robben (31’), Stekelenburg (90+’) / Kucka (40’), Kopúnek (72’), Škrtel (84’) |
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Netherlands - Slovakia |
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2-1 (1-0) |
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NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) Kuijt, Van Bommel, Sneijder (Afellay 90+’), De Jong, Robben (Elia 71’) Van Persie (Huntelaar 80’) COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
SLOVAKIA Mucha Pekarík, Škrtel, Ďurica, Zabavník (Jakubko 88’) Weiss, Kucka, Hamšík (c) (Sapara 87’), Stoch Jendrišek (Kopúnek 71’), Vittek COACH: Vladimír Weiss |
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GAME SUMMARY With a minimum effort and the impressive performance of Arjen Robben, Holland booked a place in the final-eight round with a comfortable 2-1 win over Slovakia. The match was a confrontation between two contrasting styles, with the Dutch pursuing a patient passing game while the Slovaks adopted a more direct approach trying to take advantage of Vittek’s pace.
Slovakia started the game in confident fashion and had the first chance after two minutes, when Jendrišek’s left-footed strike from 25 meters went over the bar. Holland struggled to break down the Slovakian defense, but were limited to long-range shooting. In minute 5, Sneijder tried his luck from distance but his effort went high and wide, while shortly after Van Persie’s header to a Kuijt’s cross was deflected by Zabavník. In the 10th minute, Sneijder should have done better after being set up inside the area by Van Persie, but the Inter Milan midfielder shot straight at Mucha. It did not take long for Holland to go in front, though. A great long ball from Sneijder found Robben and the Bayern Munich winger cut inside two defenders before firing a left-footed strike into the net. From that moment on, Holland was happy to sit on their lead while Slovakia was unable to put a good move together. Robben, who was at the starting line-up for the first time in the tournament after recovering from a calf injury, continued to terrorize the Slovakian defense with his pace and skill, as a reminder of the Dutch danger in front. Van Persie should have doubled Holland’s lead just before halftime, but his close-range shot from Van Bommel’s cross went wide.
After the restart, Slovakia showed more determination, but it was Holland who looked more deadly. Within one minute, Mucha was twice called into action to prevent the Dutch from extending their lead, first when he fully stretched to make a one-handed save from Robben’s shot, then to parry away Van Bommel’s close-range effort. Stekelenburg made his first save of the afternoon in the 67th minute by palming over Stoch’s right-footed strike from the edge of the box, and seconds later Slovakia should have equalized when Vittek was set clear inside of the area, but he sent his shot straight at the Dutch goalkeeper. Holland, who thought they had the game under control, heeded the warning and tried to step up the tempo to score a safety goal. In minute 71, Kuijt latched onto Sneijder’s free kick but his header went over the bar, and two minutes later the Liverpool attacker warmed Mucha’s hands with a stinging drive from 25 meters. The game was becoming a more open issue, and Vittek shot wide from inside the area in minute 79. However, six minutes from time the game was as good as over when, after a quick free kick in midfield, Kuijt beat Mucha to the ball before squaring it for Sneijder to sidefoot into an empty net. There was still time for a consolation goal for Slovakia when, in the third minute of injury time, Stekelenburg brought down Jakubko and Vittek coolly converted the penalty to score his fourth goal of the World Cup. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 28-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 54.096 REFEREE: Howard Webb (ENG) GOALS: 1-0 (Juan 35’); 2-0 (Luís Fabiano 38’); 3-0 (Robinho 59’) BOOKED: Kaká (30’), Ramires (72’) / Vidal (47’), Fuentes (68’), Millar (80’) |
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Brazil - Chile |
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3-0 (2-0) |
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BRAZIL Júlio César Maicon, Lúcio (c), Juan, Michel Bastos Dani Alves, Gilberto Silva, Kaká (Kléberson 81’), Ramires Luís Fabiano (Nilmar 76’), Robinho (Gilberto 85’) COACH: Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” |
CHILE Bravo (c) Jara, Fuentes, Contreras (Tello 46’), Vidal Isla (Millar 62’), Carmona, Beausejour Alexis Sánchez, Suazo, Mark González (Valdivia 46’) COACH: Marcelo Bielsa |
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GAME SUMMARY Although still looking far from their full potential, Brazil produced their best performance of the tournament so far to crush Chile 3-0 and set up a mouth-watering quarterfinal against Holland. It was an apparently effortless victory for a team combining fitness and skill, who confirmed their status as one of the World Cup favourites.
The match was surprisingly even for the first half-hour. Chile looked far from overawed and the best of Brazil’s few chances came from a curling Gilberto Silva effort from distance that Bravo turned round his left-hand post. Dunga’s side was largely frustrated by a disciplined Chilean defense and Kaká―back from suspension―showed only flashes of his passing ability. However, somehow against the run of play, Brazil broke the deadlock after 35 minutes when Maicon sent over a corner from the right and center-back Juan rose at the far post to plant an unstoppable header high into Bravo’s goal. Chile then went up for the equalizer, leaving more open spaces behind, and three minutes later the Canarinha doubled their advantage after a vintage counterattack: Robinho cut in from the left flank and fed Kaká, whose brilliant first-time pass split the Chilean central defenders asunder and left Luís Fabiano able to round the goalkeeper and strike the ball home.
Brazil could afford to take their foot off the gas after halftime, so minimal was the threat posed by Chile, who looked deflated in the second half. However, Dunga’s men still extended their lead just before the hour mark, when Ramires stole the ball in midfield and, after a blistering run into the area, fed Robinho for an effortless curling shot past Bravo. In minute 66, Valdivia came as close as Chile had managed to a reply, teeing himself up and then firing just over from the edge of the area. Bravo prevented more damage by denying Robinho with fifteen minutes left, then Suazo neatly turned Lúcio but Júlio César parried away his strike. Suazo himself and Beausejour had further chances to score a consolation goal for Chile, but it was not to be. |
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STADIUM: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) DATE: 29-06-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 36.742 REFEREE: Frank de Bleeckere (BEL) GOALS: - BOOKED: Riveros (118’) / Matsui (58’), Nagatomo (72’), Honda (90+’), Endo (113’) PK: 1-0 (É. Barreto); 1-1 (Endo) / 2-1 (Barrios); 2-2 (Hasebe) / 3-2 (Riveros); 3-2 (Komano [out]) / 4-2 (Valdez); 4-3 (Honda) / 5-3 (Cardozo) |
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Paraguay - Japan |
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0-0 (0-0;0-0) (pk: 5-3) |
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PARAGUAY Villar (c) Bonet, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel Vera, Ortigoza (É. Barreto 75’), Riveros Santa Cruz (Cardozo 94’), Barrios, Benítez (Valdez 60’) COACH: Gerardo Martino |
JAPAN Kawashima Komano, Nakazawa, Túlio, Nagatomo Hasebe (c), Matsui (Okazaki 65’), Abe (K. Nakamura 81’), Endo Honda, Okubo (Tamada 106’) COACH: Takeshi Okada |
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GAME SUMMARY Paraguay progressed to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Japan in a penalty shoot-out. The match, one of the poorest ones in the tournament, was a goalless stalemate at the end of regulation and extra-time, and it had to be decided from the penalty spot, where the Paraguayans held their nerve to score their five shots and Komano slammed his effort against the crossbar.
There was little to separate Paraguay and Japan during an evenly-fought first half that produced only a couple of moments to excite the fans. Although the South Americans enjoyed more possession, the Asians were faster and more dangerous in their attacks. Okubo and Komano had two early shots from long distance, but the game was controlled by the defenses in a low-key opening twenty minutes. Then, the match briefly sparked into life with both sides going desperately close to scoring. First Paraguay forward Barrios produced a great turn to break free in the area, but his low shot was blocked by Kawashima. Then, within one minute, Matsui rattled the crossbar with a brilliant curling drive from outside the area that had the leaping Villar beaten. In minute 28, Paraguay ace Roque Santa Cruz came across a loose ball after a corner, but his powerful shot went just wide, and ten minutes later Japan star Keisuke Honda stroke the ball first time with the outside of his favored left foot just past the post (although he could have passed the ball to Okubo, who was in a better position to score). With neither side having been prolific scorers during the group stage, it was little surprise to see the game deadlocked at the break.
Paraguay looked set to open the scoring ten minutes into the second half, when Benítez broke into the left side of the penalty area but his shot was deflected wide by Nakazawa. Japan struggled to maintain possession, but were reduced to set pieces and fast counterattacks. Center-back Túlio headed just wide after a corner in minute 62, as a reminder that Japan was still in contention. Paraguay looked dangerous down the left, and from one of their attacks Riveros powered a glancing header goalward, but Kawashima plucked the ball from underneath his crossbar. With defenses largely dominating the action, the match was sent to extra-time.
Paraguay enjoyed the better of the first additional period, and they almost unlocked the Japanese defense after seven minutes, when Morel released Valdez in the box but goalkeeper Kawashima got out smartly to block. Four minutes later, édgar Barreto could do no better than flick the ball over the bar after it dropped to him in a crowded penalty area. With neither side coming particularly close to snatching a late winner in the second half of extra-time, the game was headed to the first penalty shoot-out of the tournament, where Paraguay earned qualification for the next round. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 29-06-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.955 REFEREE: Héctor Walter Baldassi (ARG) GOALS: 1-0 (Villa 63’) BOOKED: Xabi Alonso (74’) / Tiago (80’), Ricardo Costa (RC 89’) [Incidents: Ricardo Costa was sent off (min. 89).] |
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Spain - Portugal |
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1-0 (0-0) |
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SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila Xavi, Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Marchena 90+’) Iniesta, Torres (Llorente 58’), Villa (Pedro 88’) COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
PORTUGAL Eduardo Ricardo Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão Tiago, Pepe (Pedro Mendes 72’), Raul Meireles Cristiano Ronaldo (c), Hugo Almeida (Danny 58’), Simão (Liédson 72’) COACH: Carlos Queiroz |
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GAME SUMMARY After a hard-fought 1-0 win over Iberian neighbors Portugal, Spain qualified for the last-eight round and kept their World Cup campaign alive. As usual, Del Bosque’s side dominated the ball possession, but their patience was put to the test as they were frustrated for long periods by an ultra-defensive Portugal. Spain has to be commended for not falling into despair and chaotic individual attacks under frustration, and ultimately their patience paid off as David Villa’s 63rd-minute goal secured victory exactly two years after they won the European Championship in Austria. Once the Spaniards broke the deadlock, they had no problem freezing the game with their usual tiqui-taca (interpassing), in which they are consummate specialists.
Spain started strong, and just one minute into the game Torres―who is still to score a goal in South Africa―stroke an angled shot from the left corner of the area aiming at the far post, but Eduardo was at full stretch to save it. Three minutes later, Villa fired in a low effort from exaclty the same spot, which the Portuguese goalkeeper stopped smartly. In what was being Spain’s best opening minutes of the tournament, Del Bosque’s men continued pressing, and yet another shot from the new Barcelona attacker was parried away by Eduardo (min. 7), while Torres blasted not too far over the bar from a short corner (min. 13). Then, after twenty minutes, Portugal had their first real chance when midfielder Tiago tried his luck from the edge of the area with a shot that Casillas could only push high into the air and then scramble away near his own goal line with Hugo Almeida threateningly near. The game became a more levelled issue in the second half of the period, with Spain and Portugal cancelling each other out. Xavi and Villa tried their luck in the area and Xabi Alonso saw a couple of long-range attempts stifled, but it was the Portuguese again who had a clear chance in the 39th minute, when Hugo Almeida was unable to properly connect with Raul Meireles’ cross, to the disappointment of a better-placed Cristiano Ronaldo behind him. Queiroz’s men finished the first half on a high when, two minutes from time, Casillas raced out to halt Simão’s run at goal before Tiago headed over a good chance.
Seven minutes into the second half, Piqué was outpaced by Hugo Almeida down the left and his cross was deflected off Puyol’s thigh and went just wide of Casillas’ goal. The game seemed to be more open now, as Spain had lost control of it since earlier in the first half and opportunities were created on both sides. At this juncture, Del Bosque sacrificed Torres for target man Fernando Llorente just before the hour mark. Two minutes later, the Athletic de Bilbao attacker had an almost immediate impact in the game when his diving header from Sergio Ramos’ cross was somehow saved by Eduardo at point-blank range, and within seconds Villa curled his shot just wide. Suddenly, Spain seemed to be on top again, and in minute 63 they took the lead, when a typically intricate build-up play saw Iniesta feed Xavi, who backheel-flicked beautifully to the onrushing Villa; El Guaje had his first shot saved well by Eduardo, but held on to clip the rebound high into the net. From that moment on, Del Bosque’s side brought in their famous tiqui-taca, keeping possession of the ball for long periods as the Portuguese tried in vain to chase it down. Twenty minutes from time, Sergio Ramos could have doubled the Spanish advantage after cutting inside Fábio Coentrão before shooting just wide of the far post. Queiroz tried to improve the Portuguese attacking options by introducing Liédson for Simão, but it was clear by then that the man they were missing all along was Cristiano Ronaldo, who once again failed to live up to expectations in a decisive football game. The match headed into the last quarter-hour with Spain seemingly in control of the situation. In minute 77 Eduardo was called into action again to parry a shot from Villa aiming at the top corner, and ten minutes later Villa’s cross enabled Llorente to head just wide. Danny had a dangerous-looking shot blocked well by Piqué, but moments later Portugal were down to ten men when referee Héctor Baldassi showed a red card to defender Ricardo Costa for lashing out at Capdevila. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 2-07-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 40.186 REFEREE: Yuichi Nishimura (JAP) GOALS: 0-1 (Robinho 10’); 1-1 (Sneijder 53’); 2-1 (Sneijder 68’) BOOKED: Heitinga (14’), Van der Wiel (47’), De Jong (64’), Ooijer (76’) / Michel Bastos (37’), Felipe Melo (RC 73’) [Incidents: Originally, Holland’s equalizer in minute 53 was assigned to Felipe Melo as an own goal, because he headed Sneijder’s cross into his own net, but later FIFA Technical Study Group credited the goal to the Dutch midfielder. Felipe Melo was sent off (min. 73).] |
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Netherlands - Brazil |
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2-1 (0-1) |
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NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Ooijer, Van Bronckhorst (c) Robben, Van Bommel, Sneijder, De Jong, Kuijt Van Persie (Huntelaar 85’) COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
BRAZIL Júlio César Maicon, Lúcio (c), Juan, Michel Bastos (Gilberto 62’) Dani Alves, Felipe Melo, Kaká, Gilberto Silva Luís Fabiano (Nilmar 77’), Robinho COACH: Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” |
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GAME SUMMARY Five-times champions and tournament favorites Brazil were stunned by Holland, who battled back from a goal down to qualify for the semifinals. The Canarinha seemed to be in control of the game after taking an early lead through Robinho, but the Dutch levelled in the second half after an own goal by Felipe Melo, then Sneijder scored the winner… with his head!!! (although the Inter Milan midfielder is only 1.70 m tall).
In a very tactical game, Brazil started brightly and Robinho had an early effort ruled out for offside just two minutes before he scored the opener, when Felipe Melo threaded a 30-meter pass through the Dutch midfield and the Santos attacker timed his run perfectly to net a first-time shot past Stekelenburg. Holland tried to react, and soon after Júlio César lived up to his billing as best goalkeeper in the world as he parried away Kuijt’s strike. However, that was as close as the Dutch would get in the opening 45 minutes, because Brazil took immediate control and produced some flowing moves which could have extended their lead. Holland rarely threatened during this period, with Robben far too predictable to outfox the Brazilian defense. In minute 26, Juan volleyed over from close range after a jinking run on the right by Dani Alves, and four minutes later Stekelenburg produced a superb one-handed save to tip away Kaká’s curling effort, following a dazzling Robinho run down the left. Just before halftime, Maicon fired into the side-netting after Luís Fabiano rolled the ball into his path (in a play reminiscent of Carlos Alberto’s stunning goal in 1970). The 1-0 lead Brazil enjoyed at the end of the first 45 minutes seemed scant reward for their dominance.
However, much against the run of play, Holland levelled out of the blue eight minutes after the break when Felipe Melo touched Sneijder’s looping cross into his own net (with Júlio César also coming out too late to punch away the ball). The game became a more open issue after the equalizer. Robben started to cause problems on the right flank, but Dani Alves flashed a long-range effort just wide and, in minute 66, Kaká missed an excellent chance to put Brazil back ahead when he picked up a poor clearance and side-footed wide from the edge of the area. However, Dunga’s side would pay dearly for their earlier profligacy two minutes later, when Kuijt flicked on Robben’s corner at the near post and Sneijder steered a header into the net. Shortly afterwards, Felipe Melo compounded his misery by receiving a red card for senselessly stamping on Robben, and suddenly Brazil had a mountain to climb. With the South Americans desperately trying to score the equalizer, the Dutch could have killed the game in the counterattack, but they lacked the final touch. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 2-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 84.017 REFEREE: Olegário Benquerença (POR) GOALS: 0-1 (Muntari 45+’); 1-1 (Forlán 55’) BOOKED: Fucile (20’), Arévalo Ríos (48’), Pérez (59’), Suárez (RC 120+’) / Paintsil (54’), Sarpei (77’), John Mensah (93’) PK: 1-0 (Forlán); 1-1 (Gyan) / 2-1 (Victorino); 2-2 (Appiah) / 3-2 (Scotti); 3-2 (John Mensah [saved]) / 3-2 (M. Pereira [out]); 3-2 (Adiyiah [saved]) / 4-2 (Abreu) [Incidents: Suárez was sent off for handling the ball on his own goal line (min. 120+) and Gyan missed the ensuing penalty kick.] |
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Uruguay - Ghana |
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1-1 (0-1;1-1) (pk: 4-2) |
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URUGUAY Muslera M. Pereira, Lugano (c) (Scotti 38’), Victorino, Fucile Á. Fernández (Lodeiro 46’), Pérez, Arévalo Ríos, Cavani (Abreu 76’) Suárez, Forlán COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
GHANA Kingson Paintsil, Vorsah, John Mensah (c), Sarpei Inkoom (Appiah 74’), Asamoah, Annan, P. Boateng, Muntari (Adiyiah 88’) Gyan COACH: Milovan Rajevac |
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GAME SUMMARY Ghana’s dream of being the first African team in the World Cup semifinals ended in heartbreak after losing to Uruguay in a penalty shoot-out. Following a thrilling 120-minute contest, Asamoah Gyan had a gilt-edged opportunity to secure the African qualification in the second minute of stoppage time, when Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez handled the ball on his own goal line and the referee called a penalty shot, but the Rennes attacker hit the crossbar and there seemed to be no consolation for him. Entering the penalty shoot-out in a much more positive mood than their rivals, Uruguay earned qualification after Muslera made two vital saves and Abreu scored the winner with a Panenka-style penalty.
Uruguay dominated the opening stages of the game and Ghana, despite enormous support from their fellow Africans packing the stadium, surrendered the ball too easily to a hard-tackling Uruguayan midfield. Luis Suárez had the first shot on target after ten minutes, but Kingson managed to parry it. Eight minutes later, Forlán’s corner was deflected by John Mensah against his own goal and the Ghanaian goalkeeper made an instinct save... with his head!!! Uruguay was working hard to score the opener, and Suárez almost had it in minute 26, but his right-footed strike from the edge of the area was tipped over by Kingson. Ghana, who had done virtually nothing until then, suddenly woke up after the half-hour mark, when central defender Isaac Vorsah planted a header from Muntari’s corner just past the angle, and then Asamoah Gyan was sent through by Prince Boateng only to shoot wide. Uruguay’s defense, which had only let in one goal on the way to the quarterfinals, suffered a blow when captain Diego Lugano had to limp off and was replaced by Scotti after 38 minutes. With Ghana on the rise, Prince Boateng nearly scored a spectacular opener with an overhead kick in the last minute of the half, but soon after Muntari struck a spectacular long-range drive to put the African side ahead.
Uruguay, finding themselves one goal down, stepped up the pace in the second half, and three minutes into the period they claimed a penalty when Cavani went down under Vorsah’s challenge. The South Americans would equalize though in minute 55, when Forlán struck a free kick just outside the area on the left and the ball flew over everyone’s head and beyond the despairing reach of Kingson. Ghana was not deflated by the goal, and three minutes later Gyan brought a smart save out of Muslera. However, it was Uruguay who should have taken the lead in minute 63, when Forlán produced an outstanding cross that cut out the entire defense, but Suárez volleyed wide at the far post. At the other end, Prince Boateng had a solo run past three defenders before Muntari picked up the loose ball and shot off-target. Kingson then kept Ghana in contention with two saves from Suárez. With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match went into extra-time.
The first chance of the additional period fell to midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, but he blasted over the bar from outside the area when he had space to compose himself. Minutes later, as a fitter Ghana hunted for a breakthrough, Gyan stole the ball from Arévalo Ríos but was thwarted by Scotti when he was ready to score. However, Paintsil was lucky not to be penalized after tangling with Abreu in his own area. Ghana finished the stronger the extra-time, with Gyan going close twice before Prince Boateng, in front of a gaping goal, headed just wide two minutes from the end. The African pressure seemed to have been finally awarded when the referee called a penalty in injury time, after Suárez handled the ball on the line to keep out a header by Adiyiah. The Ajax attacker was shown a red card and Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the kick and earn qualification for Ghana, but his shot rattled the crossbar and the game was sent to a penalty shoot-out, in which Muslera saved from John Mensah and Adiyiah while Maxi Pereira missed for Uruguay. Abreu then kept his cool and scored the last kick with a cheeky chip in the middle of the goal to send the Uruguayan into rapture and leave the Ghana players in despair after a dramatic game with a final twist. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 3-07-2010 (16:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 64.100 REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) GOALS: 0-1 (Müller 3’); 0-2 (Klose 68’); 0-3 (Friedrich 74’); 0-4 (Klose 89’) BOOKED: Otamendi (11’), Mascherano (80’) / Müller (35’) |
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Argentina - Germany |
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0-4 (0-1) |
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ARGENTINA Romero Otamendi (Pastore 70’), Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze Maxi Rodríguez, Mascherano (c), Messi, Di María (Agüero 75’) Higuaín, Tévez COACH: Diego Maradona |
GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Mertesacker, Friedrich, Boateng (Jansen 72’) Müller(Trochowski 84’), Khedira(Kroos 77’), Özil, Schweinsteiger, Podolski Klose COACH: Joachim Löw |
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GAME SUMMARY The youngest German team at a World Cup continued their impressive campaign in the tournament with a brilliant 4-0 victory over Argentina. After running England ragged in the eight-finals, Löw’s dynamic team thrashed Maradona’s side, who was unable to cope with the German defensive toughness and quick pace. Germany has to be commended for keeping at bay a team containing Messi, Higuaín and Tévez, probably the most creative and attacking forces of the tournament. This defeat is a harsh blow for Argentina, but especially for Leo Messi, the world’s greatest current player, who said goodbye to a World Cup he seemed ready to dominate and―what’s even worse―without scoring a single goal.
Germany had a dream start when, three minutes into the game, Schweinsteiger curled a free kick in the left to the near post and Müller rose unchallenged to get the faintest touch with his head and beat Romero. The three-times World Cup winners were at ease then to produce their characteristic quick-passing play, and for a good fifteen minutes Argentina was forced to twist and turn in all directions as they tried to chase the ball and keep their opponents at bay. Klose wasted a golden opportunity to double the advantage in minute 24, when Müller capitalized on Heinze’s error and squared the ball for the veteran attacker, but he side-footed over. Meanwhile, Maradona’s side looked too “Messi-dependent” once again, but the Barcelona star was too far from attacking positions and always surrounded by several defenders. Argentina’s only real chance in the first half came in minute 35, when Higuaín finished a good individual play with a shot near the post, where Neuer saved. In a rather uneventlful period, the worst news for Germany was Müller’s harsh booking for handball, which means that the young attacking midfielder―one of the most influential players in the tournament―will miss the semifinal.
Argentina tried to react in the second half and stepped up the pressure. Di María and Tévez had early attempts on goal, but the German defense was rock solid. Messi tried to sparkle, but he was forced further back to gain meaningful possession and then surrounded instantly to ensure there was no escape for his dribbling skills. With the Argentine midfield in disarray, Germany took advantage of their quick passing and pace to launch dangerous counterattacks. In one of them, Löw’s men doubled their lead when Müller stabbed the ball into space and set Podolski free to present Klose with an easy tap-in. Podolski should have made it 3-0 soon after, but Romero saved. Germany continued pushing forward, even though the game was practically won, and Friedrich was on hand to finish from close range after Schweinsteiger had cut through the Argentine defense with unusual ease. Then, one minute from time, Klose finished the rout and Argentina’s humiliation was compounded. |
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STADIUM: Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) DATE: 3-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 55.359 REFEREE: Carlos Alberto Batres (GUA) GOALS: 0-1 (Villa 83’) BOOKED: Piqué (57’), Busquets (63’) / V. Cáceres (59’), Alcaraz (59’), Morel (71’), Santana (88’) [Incidents: Cardozo missed a penalty shot (min. 59), saved by Casillas. One minute later, another penalty kick was called in the Paraguayan area and Xabi Alonso converted from the spot, but the referee made him retake it after players from both sides encroached into the area; on second attempt, Xabi Alonso’s kick was saved by Villar.] |
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Paraguay - Spain |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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PARAGUAY Villar (c) Verón, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel Santana, V. Cáceres (Barrios 84’), É. Barreto (Vera 64’), Riveros Cardozo, Valdez (Santa Cruz 72’) COACH: Gerardo Martino |
SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol (Marchena 84’), Capdevila Xavi, Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Pedro 75’) Iniesta, Torres (Fàbregas 56’), Villa COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
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GAME SUMMARY Spain reached a historic qualification for a World Cup semifinal after a dramatic game, in which the European champions were constantly frustrated by a sturdy Paraguayan defense and have to thank goalkeeper Casillas for saving a decisive penalty kick and then top scorer Villa for netting the winner. The South American all-round pressure stifled the Spanish creativity and forced them into an unusual number of errors and imprecisions, just the kind of situation Del Bosque’s side is most uncomfortable in. However, Spain showed once more their suffering capacity and were able to turn the tables on a game that, not so far ago, would have ended in another dissapointing defeat. Some say destiny, some say a newly acquired winning mentality, the truth is that La Roja, perennial underachievers, seem another team after conquering the European Championship two years ago, and now they can win games playing not only good football, but also not so good football, like in this match.
Right from kick-off, Martino’s side put themselves to the task of neutralizing Spain’s usually dominant midfield with a constant pressure and created the clearest chances in a closely-fought first half. Paraguay could have gone ahead in the very first minute when Cardozo’s cross split the defense and found Santana on the edge of the area, but his shot was tame and easy for Casillas to save. With Xavi dogged by Riveros’ snapping at his heels, the Spanish midfield was short-circuited and the attacking duo Torres-Villa were left missing his usually precise passes. Riveros headed over in minute 10, as Paraguay continued their refusal to be overawed. Spain failed to bring a single save out of Villar in the first forty-five minutes, and the closest they went was in a dipping volley by Xavi that went just over the crossbar at the half-hour mark. Meanwhile, Torres was missing in action and out of place. In minute 35, a Paraguayan counterattack saw a stunning cross by Morel that was just missed by Santana’s plunging header. Just before halftime, the South Americans were controversially denied the lead when Nelson Valdez brought down the ball and finished expertly, but Cardozo was flagged for positional offside and the referee disallowed the goal.
The game continued in much the same vein after the restart, with a total pressure from Paraguay and Spain looking unusually shy and mistake-prone (not only having forced errors but, what’s even worse, even unforced errors). Then, ten minutes into the half, Del Bosque considered he had seen enough and sent on Cesc Fàbregas for a woeful Torres, and suddenly a grey game exploded into life. Just before the hour mark, Paraguay were awarded a penalty after Piqué hauled down Cardozo in a corner kick. Carlos Batres immediately signalled at the penalty spot, and the Benfica striker stepped up to take the shot, but Casillas saved low to his left. Within one minute, the Guatemalan referee called another penalty at the other end after Villa was felled by Alcaraz. The Barcelona attacker, after missing from the spot in the game against Honduras, let teammate Xabi Alonso take the kick. The Real Madrid midfielder netted his shot high to Villar’s right, sparking celebrations in the Spanish fans, but the referee made him retake it due to encroachment of teammates into the area, and this time Villar saved Xabi Alonso’s shot to the same place, and the Paraguayan goalkeeper even got away with clipping Fàbregas when the Spanish midfielder picked up the rebound. The game was a much more open issue now, and two minutes later Iniesta, who had been much subdued, suddenly woke up and brought a terrific save out of Villar with a curling effort. As Spain stepped up the pace, Xavi was presented with a shooting chance, but his strike whistled past the post. With seven minutes left, Spain scored a winner as dramatic as the game itself when Iniesta went on a fantastic run and set up Pedro, who shot against the upright, but there was Villa to collect the rebound and fire in after the ball hit both posts. Casillas still had time to be the other Spanish hero of the night with a double save to keep out Barrios and Santa Cruz in the dying seconds of the game. |
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STADIUM: Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) DATE: 6-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 62.479 REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) GOALS: 0-1 (Van Bronckhorst 18’); 1-1 (Forlán 41’); 1-2 (Sneijder 70’); 1-3 (Robben 73’); 2-3 (M. Pereira 90+’) BOOKED: M. Pereira (21’), Cáceres (29’) / Sneijder (29’), Boulahrouz (78’), Van Bommel (90+’) |
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Uruguay - Netherlands |
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2-3 (1-1) |
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URUGUAY Muslera M. Pereira, Godín, Victorino, Cáceres Pérez, Gargano, Arévalo Ríos, A. Pereira (Abreu 78’) Cavani, Forlán (c) (S. Fernández 84’) COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) Robben(Elia 89’),Van Bommel,Sneijder,De Zeeuw(Van der Vaart 46’),Kuijt Van Persie COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
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GAME SUMMARY Holland, perennial underachievers in the World Cup, will have the chance to exorcize their ghosts after beating Uruguay 3-2 and qualifying for the final 32 years later. The current Dutch squad might not have the flair of the “Clockwork Orange” in the 70s, but the likes of Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie are worthy successors of Cruijff, Neeskens and Krol, and the pragmatism of Van Marwijk’s troop has finally delivered when it counted most.
As expected, the Oranje took control of the game right from the start, and Kuijt had the first chance after four minutes, when Muslera deflected a Sneijder’s cross and the Liverpool attacker shot wide. Although the Dutch seemed more dangerous in their attacks, the Uruguayan defense was rock solid. At the other end, Forlán, without his trusted strike partner Luis Suárez―who sacrificed himself against Ghana with a red card for handball, without which Uruguay wouldn’t be in the semifinal though―, was too isolated to cause damage. Then, somehow out of the blue, Holland scored the opener in minute 18 with a fantastic 35-meter angled cannon off the boot of captain Van Bronckhorst, which rocketed past Muslera. Doubtless, it was the best goal of the tournament so far. Uruguay then had to forget about their defensive tactic and go up for the equalizer, but the Dutch defense proved as organized as theirs. However, with the clock ticking down towards halftime, Forlán collected possession 40 meters out and, as he was offered space to advance, delivered the kind of shot that the hotly-debated Jabulani was made for: the ball seemed to be heading towards Stekelenburg in the center, then shuddered in flight and found the net with the Dutch goalkeeper just out of position.
Holland tried to step up the pressure in the second half, but they lacked the creativity to surprise an orderly Uruguayan defense. The game then became an open issue, as the Oranje started to get nervous for their sterile domination and La Celeste threatened in the counterattack. In minute 69, Van der Vaart’s shot was saved by Muslera into the path of Robben, who missed in front of a gaping goal. One minute later, however, Holland retook the lead when Sneijder’s shot from inside the area was slightly deflected by Maxi Pereira, flew past Van Persie (who might have been offside) and squeezed inside the far post. This time, the Dutch wouldn’t relinquish their lead, and three minutes later Robben cleverly pulled out Godín and then stepped in to meet Kuijt’s cross with a downward header that went in off the post, with Muslera rooted to the spot. Robben could have killed the game within the last ten minutes, but he missed two glorious chances after being assisted by Sneijder and Van Persie. Yet a stubborn Uruguay fought on, and Maxi Pereira’s goal in added time made for a tense finale, but it was too late to steal the glory from Holland. |
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STADIUM: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) DATE: 7-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 60.960 REFEREE: Viktor Kassai (HUN) GOALS: 0-1 (Puyol 73’) BOOKED: - |
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Germany - Spain |
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0-1 (0-0) |
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GERMANY Neuer Lahm (c), Mertesacker, Friedrich, Boateng (Jansen 52’) Trochowski(Kroos 62’),Khedira(Gómez 81’),Özil,Schweinsteiger,Podolski Klose COACH: Joachim Löw |
SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso (Marchena 90+’), Pedro (Silva 86’) Villa (Torres 81’) COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
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GAME SUMMARY After an outstanding game, Spain continued improving their World Cup record by qualifying for their first ever final. Del Bosque’s men, clearly on the rise and playing better and better since their opening setback against Switzerland, will now meet Holland in the final showdown with the confidence of knowing that being faithful to their own system and style of play finally paid off. Ironically, after dominating all the technical aspects of the game and keeping ball possession, thus forcing Germany to chase shadows for ninety minutes, the Spanish goal came in the most unexpected way and from the most unexpected player: 1.78 m tall Carles Puyol rose among the German central defenders in a corner kick to plant an unstoppable header past Neuer. For a team used to break through with ball movement and subtle approach, it was surpising to see them use the sledgehammer to score the winner. The final and desperate siege of Löw’s team was more fictitious than real, as Spain left no gap in defense and could have killed the game in a couple of clear chances in the counterattack.
Without off-form Torres in the starting line-up, Del Bosque’s side dominated ball possession early on and needed only five minutes to carve out their first chance against a nervous German defense. Three minutes later Spain had their first scoring opportunity when Pedro played in Villa inside the area, but Neuer came out to prevent his final touch. Unsurprisingly for a team comprising as many as seven FC Barcelona players, the Euro 2008 champions were showing a similar style to that of the Spanish champion, with Xavi and Iniesta monopolizing the ball possession in midfield while attempting to pierce the opponents’ defense with intelligent and incisive close passing; meanwhile, Germany waited to hit back with greater power on the counterattack. With Löw’s side boxed into their own half and hardly touching the ball, Spain kept up the pressure, and at the quarter-hour mark Puyol headed Iniesta’s cross from the right narrowly over the bar. Midway through the half, after having a 64%-36% ball possession, Spain seemed to pause for breath and Germany was able to threat in the attack with their quick passing game. In minute 32, Trochowski―the man entrusted to fill Müller’s place on the right flank―forced Casillas into a scrambling low save, and thereafter the Spanish goalkeeper was busier than counterpart Neuer until halftime.
The interval just triggered a repeat of the opening to the first half, as Spain totally dominated their bewildered opponents without making it count. Pedro continued his dangerous incursions in the left wing, and three minutes into the period he dribbled past three defenders to set an open shot for Xabi Alonso, who fired wide. Two minutes later, the ball was again cut back to the Real Madrid midfielder in front of the area, but his shot missed the right post. Spain came agonizingly close in the 58th minute when a Pedro shot forced a spectacular save from Neuer before Iniesta was onto the rebound and cut the ball across the face of goal a meter ahead of the sliding Villa. As they had done before, Germany began to make their presence felt midway through the half when Podolski chipped a cross to the far post which substitute Kroos met perfectly, but Casillas reacted quickly and parried away his shot. Just when the Germans seemed to be on the rise thanks to their fitness, Spain, who had enjoyed a fruitless domination for most of the game, paradoxically scored the winner from a set piece in minute 73: Xavi sent a corner kick to the heart of the German area and Puyol, running from deep to avoid the usual arm grabs in the area, planted a precise and powerful header past Neuer. Germany then pressed hard for the equalizer, but they found out that the Spanish defense was as orderly and stubborn as theirs. With seven minutes left, Spain should have made it 2-0 after a swift counterattack, but Pedro tried to dribble the last defender instead of passing the ball to Torres for an easy tap-in. Del Bosque’s men kept their composure in the dying seconds and center-back duo Puyol-Piqué were a wall against the long balls sent into the area by an increasingly desperate German team. The final whistle sent the Spanish players and fans into hysterics, as a long-awaited dream had finally come true. |
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STADIUM: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) DATE: 10-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 36.254 REFEREE: Benito Armando Archundia (MEX) GOALS: 0-1 (Müller 19’); 1-1 (Cavani 28’); 2-1 (Forlán 51’); 2-2 (Jansen 56’); 2-3 (Khedira 82’) BOOKED: Pérez (61’) / Aogo (5’), Cacau (7’), Friedrich (90+’) |
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Uruguay - Germany |
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2-3 (1-1) |
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URUGUAY Muslera Fucile, Lugano (c), Godín, Cáceres M. Pereira, Pérez (Gargano 77’), Arévalo Ríos, Cavani (Abreu 88’) Suárez, Forlán COACH: Óscar Tabárez |
GERMANY Butt Boateng, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Aogo Müller, Khedira, Özil (Taşçı 90+’), Schweinsteiger (c), Jansen (Kroos 81’) Cacau (Kießling 73’) COACH: Joachim Löw |
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GAME SUMMARY Germany and Uruguay said goodbye to the World Cup with a scintillating, thrilling game―the most open contest of the tournament―that topped their impressive performance in South Africa. Joachim Löw’s young team completed their memorable World Cup with a third place that is more than they expected at the beginning of the tournament, but somehow less than they aimed at after their publicly acclaimed performance. Thomas Müller, who returned to the team after missing the semifinal through suspension, scored his fifth goal in the competition, which took him level with Spain’s David Villa, Holland’s Wesley Sneijder and Uruguay’s Diego Forlán in the race for the Golden Boot, although the young German midfielder will finish as the tournament’s official top scorer if Villa and Sneijder both fail to score in Sunday’s final, since assists are taken into account in case of a tie and he has supplied three to his rivals’ one each. However, teammate Miroslav Klose’s hopes of matching Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals in the World Cup finals were dashed after having been hit with flu and also suffering a back injury, which relegated him to the German bench alongside captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Germany seized control of the match in the opening exchanges, with Müller having a goal ruled out (min. 4) and Friedrich thumping a header against the crossbar (min. 11). In between, Aogo received a yellow card―which should indeed have been red―for a terrible tackle on Diego Pérez (min. 5) and Forlán sent his shot just wide off the post (min. 8). Germany made their dominance tell in the 19th minute when Schweinsteiger fired a rocket from more than 30 meters and Muslera misjudged the tricky Jabulani, allowing Müller to tuck home the loose ball. Uruguay was struggling against a very offensive German team and were reduced to counterattacks. In one of them, in minute 24, Forlán headed Luis Suárez’s cross to the far post but Mertesacker deflected the goal-bound ball with his foot. Four minutes later, Diego Pérez stole possession from Schweinsteiger in midfield and assisted Luis Suárez, whose perfectly-timed pass put Cavani through on the left and the Palermo attacker finished expertly low into the far corner to put Uruguay on level terms. The hard rain falling in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was making it difficult to control the ball and send accurate passes. In minute 42, Luis Suárez spurned an excellent chance to seize the lead after being fed by Forlán and firing wide. Then, in injury time, Cacau was set alone in front of Muslera and Fucile came from behind to deny the Brazilian-born striker.
After the restart, Uruguay continued showing the danger of their attacking line, and Butt produced a fine double save to repel Cavani and Suárez in minute 49, but soon after the South Americans took the lead when Arévalo Ríos muscled his way down the right and “Cacha” Forlán met his cross with an acrobatic volley from the edge of the box. However, just when Uruguay looked in control of the game and ready to kill it in the counterattack, another Muslera blunder allowed Germany back into the game: the Uruguayan goalkeeper came out for Boateng’s cross from the right but missed it completely, allowing Jansen to head into an empty net. The lively Suárez produced a flying save from Butt with an ambitious effort in minute 63, and two minutes later the veteran goalkeeper had to dash from his line to deny Forlán. At the other end, German substitute Stefan Kießling just missed a spectacular outswinging cross from Boateng, and within two minutes Khedira scored the winner when Özil’s corner caused chaos in the Uruguayan area and the Stuttgart midfielder looped a header into the corner. In minute 88, Kießling missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond contest when he scooped over from a great position. In injury time, Forlán came close to a dramatic equalizer with a free kick that struck the crossbar. |
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STADIUM: Soccer City (Johannesburg) DATE: 11-07-2010 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 84.490 REFEREE: Howard Webb (ENG) GOALS: 1-0 (Iniesta 116’) BOOKED: Van Persie (15’), Van Bommel (22’), De Jong (28’), Van Bronckhorst (54’), Heitinga (57’), Robben (84’), Heitinga (109’ > RC), Van der Wiel (111’), Mathijsen (117’) / Puyol (16’), Sergio Ramos (23’), Capdevila (67’), Iniesta (118’), Xavi (120+’) [Incidents: Heitinga was sent off after a second bookable offense (min. 109).] |
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Netherlands - Spain |
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0-1 (0-0;0-0) |
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NETHERLANDS Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c) (Braafheid 105’) Robben,Van Bommel,Sneijder,De Jong(Van der Vaart 99’),Kuijt(Elia 71’) Van Persie COACH: Bert van Marwijk |
SPAIN Casillas (c) Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso (Fàbregas 87’), Pedro (J. Navas 60’) Villa (Torres 106’) COACH: Vicente del Bosque |
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GAME SUMMARY Spain won their first World Cup ever after one of the most dramatic finals in recent history. In a football world full of superstars and egos, the hero of the night was Andrés Iniesta, humbleness itself but enormously gifted, who scored a late winner in extra-time to settle an ill-tempered game which saw referee Howard Webb brandish a record 14 yellow cards (plus a red one for Johnny Heitinga). Holland, traditionally known for their “Total Football” and flair, seemed more intent on “Total Anarchy” in this game, as they tried to stop the Spanish flow of play with all sorts of crude tackles and protests.
The match opened up at a frantic pace as Spain looked to impose their authority on the game. Their magic midfield duo, Xavi and Iniesta, probed and looked for any sign of weakness in the Dutch rearguard, as they had done before during the tournament, and the game soon seemed headed for another Spanish monologue with overwhelming ball possession. Del Bosque’s squad had the first opening in minute 5, when Xavi’s whipped free kick was met by a firm header by Sergio Ramos and Stekelenburg parried away. In response to Spain’s dynamic start, Holland tried to muscle their way into the game by committing a number of fouls in relatively safe places and pushing up to shorten the playing area. Spain, sensing this, sent quick penetrative balls through to Villa, who was called offside by a very narrow margin on a couple of occasions. In minute 12, Villa volleyed just wide a cross to the far post. As Spain continued to knock the ball around with ease, the Dutch grew more and more frustrated, and Van Persie picked up the first of many yellow cards after reiterative fouls. Ironically enough, one minute later Puyol was also booked in what was just the first Spanish foul of the match. Spain was dominating the game with long possessions, and Holland were reduced to long direct balls into Van Persie. With the Dutch threatening to turn the final into a street fight, “King of the Bronx” Van Bommel picked up another yellow card for a dirty tackle on Iniesta from behind. Soon after, De Jong was lucky not to see red after a vicious karate kick on Xabi Alonso’s chest. Midway the first half, it seemed clear that Holland had settled into the tactic of turning the game into a war of attrition, as they effectively managed to stop the flow of play in their rivals. With Xavi, Iniesta and Xabi Alonso tightly marked and Van Bronckhorst following Pedro all over the pitch, it was almost impossible to find a Spaniard not being shadowed by an orange jersey. In a first period marked by its lack of chances, the first opportunity of an ultra-defensive Holland came ironically after an apparently innocuous ball in minute 34, when Casillas threw the Jabulani out of play so that injured Puyol could receive attention and the Dutch immediately gave the ball back, but instead of kicking it off the byline, Mathijsen sent a long punt to Casillas’ goal that took a vicious bounce off the hard pitch and almost lobbed him, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper managed to push the ball wide with his fingertips. The quality of the match by this stage was quite poor, with Holland’s game plan based entirely upon stopping the Spanish midfield while Spain’s tactics were simply to give possession to their midfielders and wait for a piercing pass. The game needed a goal badly, an Holland almost obliged in injury time, when Sneijder’s long deep free kick from the halfway line was met by Heitinga at the far post and his crossed header was cleared by Puyol; the ball then fell kindly to Robben, who turned inside and unleashed a fierce drive at the near post, but Casillas pushed his effort around the upright.
After a first half to forget, the restart seemed to bring new excitement when, three minutes into the period, Xavi’s corner was headed by Puyol off target and Capdevila missed the ball at the far post. At the other end, Casillas did well to save a trademark Robben shot at the near post after cutting inside. In minute 55, Xavi’s poor effort curled harmlessly wide. In an attempt to change things around, Del Bosque threw in Jesús Navas for the ineffectual Pedro at the hour mark. However, two minutes later a superb Sneijder ball picked out Robben as the winger bore down on goal, and Casillas was “St. Iker” again as he saved with his foot what inexorably looked like the first Dutch goal. That scare made Spain react, and Del Bosque’s men tried to open the field with Jesús Navas on the right flank. In minute 69, Villa should have scored the opener after Kuijt completely missed a cross from the Sevilla midfielder in the goal area, but the new Barcelona attacker was denied by Stekelenburg at the far post. The game was beginning to stretch as both teams looked tired, and Van Maarwijk took out an exhausted Kuijt for the pacy Elia. With just fifteen minutes to go, the World Cup final was in real danger of becoming the worst game of the entire tournament. There was no flow as the game became littered with constant cynical challenges from the Dutch team, who seemed encouraged to continue with their tactic as Howard Webb repeatedly warned them but failed to come down hard on foul play. Spain missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 77th minute when Sergio Ramos met Iniesta’s corner in an exact replica of Puyol’s effort in the semifinal, but this time the Real Madrid right-back sent his header over the bar. Five minutes later Iniesta had the winner in his boots when he raced into the goal area, but inexplicably refused to shoot straight away and tried one last dribble on Sneijder, who averted the danger. Almost immediately, Robben raced through on goal under pressure from Puyol and Casillas was the Spanish hero for a second time as he saved at the Dutchman’s feet again. With 0-0 at the end of regulation, the final went into extra-time.
Spain continued pushing on in the additional period, and within five minutes a fresh Cesc Fàbregas was picked out by an accurate Iniesta pass on his way through to goal, but Stekelenburg made a fantastic save to deny the Arsenal midfielder. One minute later, Mathijsen headed over from Sneijder’s corner. Extra-time was only seven minutes old and it was already more enjoyable than the preceding ninety. Iniesta should have either scored or put Villa through after a counterattack, but he did neither and Van Bronckhorst cleared the ball. Two minutes later, Jesús Navas had his shot on goal deflected into the side netting. After all of Holland’s chasing in regulation, Spain were looking the fitter team in the additional period. With the first half of extra-time ticking out, the fresh legs of Fàbregas carried him through the entire midfield, but his shot from the edge of the area went just wide of the post.
In the last fifteen minutes of the final, Del Bosque threw Fernando Torres in for Villa and gave the Liverpool attacker the opportunity to redeem himself after a very disappointing tournament. Then, four minutes after the restart, the inevitable happened: Heitinga finally saw the red card he thoroughly deserved for a second bookable offense after pulling Iniesta back on the edge of the area. By then, Holland had definitely set his view on the penalty kicks, and had no problem increasing their tally of yellow cards as long as the game was constantly interrupted. The only Dutch danger could come from set pieces, and five minutes from time Sneijder almost made the most of a free kick in front of the area, but his shot was deflected by the wall past Casillas’ post. Then, within one minute, the magic moment came for Spain when Fàbregas put Iniesta through in front of goal and the Barcelona midfielder kept his cool to bring down the ball and beat Stekelenburg with a crisp volley. As Holland threw everything forward, drama unfolded at lightspeed during the dying seconds of the game: Spanish captain Casillas couldn’t stop his crying, while at the other end Fernando Torres broke clear only to pull his hamstring and lie in pain on the pitch with neither teammates nor opposition caring about hm, as all the action was in the Spanish area. With the final whistle, the Spanish players and fans celebrated in ecstasy a memorable victory.
Although the game failed to live up to everyone’s expectations before the final, Spain was a deserved winner, as they were the only team who tried to play over the 120 minutes. Holland were unfaithful to their traditional game and instigated a blurred match with gamesmanship and cynical tackling; Van Marwijk’s team also had their chances to score but, for the neutral spectator, any outcome other than a Spanish victory in this game would have been one of the greatest injustices in football. |
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