Germany clinched third place in the 2010 World Cup with this win. Although, Diego Forlan could have sent the game to extra time. However, his free-kick in injury time rattled back off the bar.
Germany took the lead after 18 minutes. Bastian Schweinsteiger's 30-yard shot was blocked by Fernando Muslera, and Thomas Mueller, following up, coolly slotted it home from eight yards out.
10 minutes later and Bastian Schweinsteiger is dispossessed by Diego Perez on halfway and Luis Suarez passes to Edinson Cavani who slips the ball past Hans-Joerg Butt in the German goal.
6 minutes into the second half and Uruguay take the lead when Egidio Arevalo plays a one-two with Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan acrobatically volleys home from the edge of the box.
5 minutes later and it's back level. New Manchester City signing Jerome Boateng crosses and Marcell Jansen heads into an empty net after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's flaps helplessly at the cross.
With less than 10 minutes left Sami Khedira loops a header into the corner of the net to put Germany 3-2 up and break Uruguay's hearts.
Uruguay 2 Netherlands 3
Giovanni van Bronckhorst broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when he hit an unstoppable 35-yard left foot shot into the top corner.
But going ahead did not help the Dutch work out how to break down a well-organised Uruguay defence, and they also seemed unwilling to commit players forward in search of more goals.
Four minutes before half time Diego Forlan grabbed his fourth goal in six games when his swerving strike from 25 yards out beat Maarten Stekelenburg and leveled the game at 1-1.
The Netherlands were back in the lead after 70 minutes when Wesley Sneijder's shot hit Maxi Pereira and deflected into the net off a post. Three minutes later and Arjen Robben made it 3-1, when he met Dirk Kuyt's cross and headed firmly into the bottom corner.
Uruguay pulled it back to 3-2 in the 92nd minute when Maxi Pereira latched on to a quickly taken free-kick and curled a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Unrelenting pressure in the final moments failed to find that all elusive equaliser and the Dutch ran out 3-2 winners and move on into a World Cup final for the first time since 1978.
Germany 0 Spain 1
Spain reached the World Cup final for the first time thanks to a second-half header from Carles Puyol who headed home Xavi's corner after 73 minutes.
Spain dominated the game possession-wise and Germany seemed unable to strike on the counter; a tactic that they had done so magnificently against England and Argentina, and as the game wore on they seemed to be playing from an ever deeper position.
Spain will now meet the Netherlands in the final of the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City, Johannesburg on Sunday evening. Germany and Uruguay will contest the third place match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday evening.
The final will be refereed by Englishman Howard Webb.
The second trailer is a bit gorier than the first. You have been warned!
Netherlands 2 Brazil 1 (HT 0-1)
Felipe Melo (og 53) and Sneijder (68) for Netherlands
Robinho (10) for Brazil
Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 (HT 0-1) Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties
Forlan (55) for Uruguay
Muntari (45+2) for Ghana
Argentina 0 Germany 4 (HT 0-1)
Muller (3), Klose (67, 89) & Friedrich (74) for Germany
Paraguay 0 Spain 1 (HT 0-0)
Villa (82) for Spain
Friday 2nd July 2010
Netherlands v Brazil
Port Elizabeth Stadium, Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay @ 15:00 BST
The Netherlands have played some good football at times but I think Brazil may be too strong for them. It'll probably be a close game though.
Uruguay v Ghana
Soccer City, Johannesburg @ 1930 BST
Ghana have impressed and Uruguay have been strong defensively. This game could go either way but I think Uruguay will probably just edge it.
Saturday 3rd July 2010
Argentina v Germany
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town @ 15:00 BST
Germany were very impressive on the counter against England but they didn't impress quite so much in their group. Argentina have impressed in every game they've played. This game will be a good test of how far the young German team has come but I think Argentina will prove a step too far.
Paraguay v Spain
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg @ 1930 BST
Spain weren't overly impressive getting past Portugal and didn't look like world beaters in their group. However, I think they'll be stronger than Paraguay. Just don't expect them to win the whole thing.
Paraguay 0 Japan 0 aet: Paraguay win 5-3 on penalties
Paraguay won the first penalty shoot-out of the 2010 World Cup after Japan's Yuichi Komano hit the crossbar with his 's spot-kick.
The closest we came to a goal during the game was when Daisuke Matsui rattled the crossbar in the first half.
Paraguay become the fourth South American side to reach this year's quarter-finals.
Spain 1 Portugal 0
This game was decided just after the hour mark when Xavi plays a flick to put David Villa in on the left, his first shot is saved by the onrushing keeper but Eduardo can't get back up quick enough to prevent Villa's second shot from hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing into the net.
Just before the end of the game Joan Capdevila goes down after an off-the-ball challenge from Ricardo Costa. The referee, who was about 2- yards away, shows a red cardto Costa. Replays seem to suggest there was minimal contact at most. That's the second time in this World Cup that somebody has been sent off against Spain under suspect circumstances.
The game finishes 1-0 and Cristiano Ronaldo is another big name player that hasn't shone at this world cup.
Quarter Finals:
Paraguay v Spain
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 3rd July 2010 @ 1930 BST
Unfortunately I didn't get to see either of these games. I was at work for the first game and I was out in the evening and missed the second game.
Netherlands 2 Slovakia 1
A superb strike from Arjen Robben after 18 minutes and a Wesley Sneijder goal after 84 minutes gave Netherlands victory over Slovakia to seal their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Robben collected a pass from Sneijder and then fired home from 25 yards. Dirk Kuyt pulled back for Sneijder to score late on. Robert Vittek scored a penalty with the very last kick of the match. His fourth goal of the tournament
The Netherlands will face either Brazil or Chile in the quarter-finals.
Brazil 3 Chile 0
Juan headed home a Maicon cross after 34 minutes. Less than 5 minutes later Robinho passes to Kaka, who passes first-time pass to Luis Fabiano, who rounds the keeper and slots the ball into the empty net.
Just under 15 minutes into the second half and Robinho curls the third into the far corner of Claudio Bravo's net following a brilliant run from Ramires.
Brazil move on to face the Netherlands in the last eight.
Quarter Finals:
Netherlands v Brazil
Port Elizabeth Stadium, Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay
Friday 2nd July 2010 @ 15:00 BST
Argentina sealed a quarter-final tie against Germany thanks to a 3-1 victory. However, controversy marred the win once again.
When Carlos Tevez headed Argentina in front after 25 minutes he was a couple of yards offside when the ball was played to him by Lionel Messi. However, the referee and his assistant both failed to cancel out the goal.
Argentina doubled their lead after 33 minutes when Ricardo Osorio gave possession away to Gonzalo Higuain, who scored his fourth goal of the competition.
Tevez made it 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the second half with a sensational strike that found the top corner of the net.
New Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez pulled back a goal for Mexico on 71 minutes when he deftly spun past Martin DeMichelis on the edge of the box, before burying his shot past Sergio Romero.
Argentina move on and will face Germany in the last eight.
Quarter Finals:
Argentina v Germany
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday 3rd July 2010 @ 15:00 BST
Many people may think that the result flatters Germany. But it doesn't. The scoreline could easily be double that. However, England's abysmal performance today isn't going to be the main talking point of the game. The main talking point is going to be a goal that wasn't given.
Germany took the lead on 20 minutes when Manuel Neuer's goalkick sails over John Terry's head and Miroslav Klose races onto the ball, holds off Matthew Upson and pokes the ball past David James. Woeful defending.
Just after the half hour, Lukas Podolski makes it 2-0 when a flick from Miroslav Klose finds Thomas Mueller and he finds Lukas Podolski, who smashes the ball low past David James.
On 37 minutes Steven Gerrard crosses from the right and Matthew Upson gets his head onto it to score into the empty net.
About a minute or so later and the major talking point of the game occurs. Frank Lampard hits a shot from outside the area, The ball bounces off the underside of the bar and hits the ground about two feet over the line before bouncing back up, hitting the bar and landing in Manuel Neuer's arms. Amazingly enough, the refree and his assistant both failed to give it. Replays clearly show the ball was well over the line.
Going in at 2-2 at half-time may have ended up in a different second half and potentially a different result. Although to be honest England were probably very lucky to be only 2-1 down.
After 67 minutes, and with England chasing the game, a Frank Lampard free-kick from 25 yards is blocked and Gareth Barry loses the ball. Germany break with pace and Bastian Schweinsteiger plays an inch-perfect pass for Thomas Mueller and he smashes it past David James and into the net.
Three minutes later and it's 4-1. A Joe Cole cross is blocked, and Germany break with pace again. Mesut Ozil outpaces Gareth Barry and he crosses along the six-yard box for Thomas Mueller to score.
England were extremely poor defensively and Germany took every advantage of that. Germany move on and will face the winner of Argentina vs Mexico. England fly home.
The 4th installment of the franchise will apparently be in 3D. Looking forward to it...
This is jaw-dropping...
A goal from Asamoah Gyan 3 minutes into extra-time gave Ghana a 2-1 victory over USA.
Ghana took the lead after 5 minutes when USA's Ricardo Clark loses the ball and Kevin-Prince Boateng races through to the edge of the box. His left-foot shot beats Tim Howard at his near post.
After 62 minutes the USA pull level. Clint Dempsey is brought down by a mis-timed tackle from Jonathan Mensah and the referee points to the spot and brandishes a yellow card. Landon Donovan steps up and slots it home off the left-hand post.
Ghana retake the lead 3 minutes into extra-time when Andre Ayew's long ball finds Asamoah Gyan on the edge of the box. He beats Carlos Bocanegra and smashes a left-foot shot past Tim Howard from about 16 yards.
Ghana hold out and make it through to the last eight.
Quarter Finals:
Uruguay v Ghana
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Friday 2nd July 2010 @ 1930 BST
Ajax striker Luis Suarez scored a spectacular winner to help Uruguay progress to the quarters-finals at the expense of South Korea.
Uruguay went ahead after 8 minutes when Diego Forlan played a low ball across the six-yard area which was misjudged by keeper Jung Sung-Ryong before Suarez slotted home at the far post.
After 68 minutes Lee Chung-Yong pounced on a poor clearance by Maurico Victorino and headed home from eight yards out.
With 10 minutes left Suarez backed away to the edge of the 18-yard area as a corner was swung in from the right and he was in the right place to curl in a superb goal off the post which left keeper Jung Sung-Ryong with no chance.
South Korean substitute Lee Dong-Gook had a chance late on the force extra-time but his weak shot squirmed under the keeper before being cleared.
Uruguay will face the winners of the Ghana vs United States match in the last eight.
North Korea 0 Ivory Coast 3
Yaya Toure, Romaric and Salomon Kalou gave Ivory Coast a 3-0 victory. But, it was not enough to see them progress.
Portugal 0 Brazil 0
An uneventful 0-0 draw saw both teams progress to the next round; Brazil as group winners and Portugal as runners-up.
Chile 1 Spain 2
Goals before half-time from David Villa, from 40-yards out, and Andres Iniesta gave Spain a 2-0 half-time lead. It appeared that defender Marco Estrada accidentally tripped Fernando Torres in the build-up to Iniesta's goal but referee Marco Rodriguez brandished a second yellow card and sent Estrada off. 3 minutes after the break substitute Rodrigo Millar pulled a goal back with the aid of a deflection off Gerard Pique.
Switzerland 0 Honduras 0
Needing a 2-0 victory to progress, Switzerland were unable to break down a spiritied Honduras side and ending up going out of the competition along with their opponents.
Second round ties:
Brazil vs Chile
Spain vs Portugal
Paraguay 0 New Zealand 0
A dour 0-0 draw saw Parguay qualify top of the group whilst New Zealand were eliminated after finishing third in the group. Not many chances in the game, and the best of those all fell to the South American side. Results elsewhere mean that Paraguay top the group and face Japan in the next round.
Slovakia 3 Italy 2
Slovakia clinched a place in the last 16 by beating and knocking out Italy. Robert Vittek scored a goal in each half, after 25 and 73 minutes, to knock out the reigning champions. Antonio Di Natale pulled a goal back with less than 10 minutes left only for Slovakia substitute Kamil Kopunek to beat goalkeeper Federico Marchetti in the last minute. Although Fabio Quagliarella score a superb injury-time goal to pull it back to 3-2. Slovakia claim second place and face the Netherlands in the next round.
Cameroon 1 Netherlands 2
The Dutch took the lead on 36 minutes when Robin van Persie scored from 12 yards following a one-two with Rafael van der Vaart. Cameroon equalised on 65 minutes when Samuel Eto'o scored from the spot after Rafael Van der Vaart had handled in the box. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scores into an empty net after 83 minutes following an Arjen Robben shot that rebounded off the Cameroon right-hand post. The Netherlands qualify from this group with a 100% record and move on to face Slovakia next.
Denmark 1 Japan 3
Two stunning first-half free-kicks helped secure this Japanese win and a place in the last 16. Keisuke Honda sscored the first after 17 minutes although Thomas Sorenson should have done better. Yasuhito Endo curled the second in after 30 minutes. Jon Dahl Tomasson became Denmark's joint all-time top scorerwhen he followed up his own penalty to pull one back after 81 minutes. It was his 52nd international goal. However, a greate piece of solo skill saw Keisuke Honda set Shinji Okazaki to score the 3rd with 3 minutes left. It was a result that Japan full deserved and earned.
Second round ties:
Netherlands vs Slovakia
Paraguay vs Japan
