World Cup Report - The Semi-Finals

Two more games done, two more left and now, the scene is set, after two mouth-watering and gripping semi-finals.  Whatever happens tomorrow night in Soccer City, we will have a new name on the FIFA World Cup trophy.  Here is a round-up of how Holland and Spain managed to make the final of the greatest show on earth, in midweek.

Tuesday 6^th July: Uruguay 2-3 Holland

Holland reached their first World Cup final in 32 years, after a hard-fought 3-2 win against the surprise package of the tournament, Uruguay in Cape Town.  With the Dutch looking short of ideas infront of goal, they turned to a spectacular long-range effort from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.  The Dutch skipper, who is retiring from international football after these finals, launched a rasping drive from 30 yards out on 19 minutes, which no goalkeeper in the world would stop.  A resolute Uruguay equalised before half-time, when Maarten Stelkenberg failed to deal with a swerving left-foot shot, by Diego Forlan.  With the game looking set for extra-time, the Dutch scored twice in three minutes, to take the game away from their opponents.  First, Wesley Snejider’s 5^th goal of this tournament, which was allowed to stand, despite Robin Van Persie looking like, he was in an offside position.  Moments afterwards, Arjen Robben’s deft header from a Dirk Kuyt cross looked to have settled the outcome.  Despite the absence of Luis Suarez through suspension, Uruguay continued to fight on, and in time added on, Maxi Pereira pulled one back, to ensure a dramatic and nail-biting finish.  However, the Dutch held on to set up an all-European final.  For five goals, this was a cagey semi-final, with moments of magic and some will argue that Holland hasn’t played their most attractive football ever.  However, you don’t reach a World Cup final, having won 6 matches out of 6 by accident.

Wednesday 7^th July: Germany 0-1 Spain

In an intriguing match in Durban, Spain reached their first ever World Cup final, after recording a narrow and probably, surprising win over the tournament favourites, Germany.  After exposing the frailties of the England and Argentina defences, the German counter-attack was tamed to perfection by the well-organised Spanish defence.  By keeping the likes of Meszut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger quiet, service to Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski was rather limited.  Spain had the better chances, and with fifteen minutes remaining, Xavi’s wonderful corner was met by the Barcelona skipper Carlos Puyol.  Puyol, a centre-back by trade and having only scored twice in his distinguished international career before, powered a bullet of a header past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer before he could even see it.  For Germany, this was a step too far for their youngsters, but they will be back and are bound to only get stronger in the years to come.  For Spain, the opportunity to become European and World champions, and become the first side to win the tournament, having lost their first match of the finals, ironically in Durban to Switzerland back on June 16^th.  The stage is set for a fantastic match-up with the Dutch tomorrow night. 

3^RD PLACE PLAYOFF: Uruguay v Germany               

(Port Elizabeth)                                ITV1       Tonight at 7.30pm

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL: Holland v Spain    

(Soccer City, Johannesburg)       ITV1/BBC1           Tomorrow night from 6.30pm (Kick-Off at 7.30pm) 

World Cup Report - Day 20-21

We are now entering the final stages of has been a gruelling and exhilarant 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Despite the absence of some major players in the latter stages, like France, Portugal and Italy, the quarter-finals brought a lot of drama and controversy to the theatre of football.  At the weekend, it was South America’s turn to suffer, as the European game fought back in style, to dominate the semi-finals again.  Here is a round-up of the action, including missed penalties, blatant handballs and deliberate stamps! Yes, this four quarter-finals had it all.

Friday 2^nd July: Holland 2-1 Brazil

In a dramatic first quarter-final in Port Elizabeth, Holland produced a stunning second-half fightback to overcome a brutal and bullish Brazilian side, which lost their lead and their head in sensational fashion.  In this fourth meet-up behind the two stylish outfits in World Cup history, it was Brazil who took command in the first half, with Robinho beating a poor offside trap, to slice Dunga’s side infront on ten minutes.  Having looked toothless in the first half, the Dutch put the normally reliable Brazilian defence under pressure after the break, and it worked, with perfect results.  Six minutes into the second half, Wesley Snejider whipped a dangerous ball into the penalty area, which caused a horrific defensive mix-up.  Julio Cesar missed his cross completely, and lacked the usual composure – not calling for defensive midfielder Felipe Melo to miss the ball.  Instead, the helpless Juventus player flicked the ball into his own net, though FIFA have since credited the goal to Snejider.  Snejider’s second of the game came with just over twenty minutes to go, heading in unchallenged from another set-piece, after a clever flick-on from the hard-working Dirk Kuyt.  Melo’s afternoon got worse, when he was sent off by the Japanese referee with sixteen minutes remaining, for a cheeky and deliberate stamp on Arjen Robben.  Although Robben made the most of it, Melo’s actions were both cynical and stupid, and he will be lucky not to have his ban increased by FIFA.  Despite intense Brazilian pressure, they ran out of time and exit the World Cup at the last eight for the second successive finals.  Dunga has paid the price, with his job in the process.  For the Orange Army, a first semi-final in twelve years beckons, and who knows, possibly a first ever World Championship at the end of it.

Friday 2^nd July: Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (AET) URUGUAY WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES

Africa’s hope of having its first ever representative in the semi-finals were ended in heartbreaking fashion after a breathless two hours of football in Soccer City.  With the score tied at 1-1, in the dying stages of extra-time, controversy took over, with accusations of dirty play and cheating.  Uruguay failed to deal with a long throw-in and in the ensuring goalmouth scramble, Ajax striker Luis Suarez deliberately handled on the line, preventing a certain goal in the process.  He was sent off, but seconds later, tears turned to celebration, when Asamoah Gyan, who had already scored two penalties in this tournament, smashed this kick onto the top of the crossbar, with the last kick of the match.  Earlier, Sulley Muntari’s wonderful 35-yard effort on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by Diego Forlan’s swerving free-kick.  In the ensuring penalty shootout, Gyan showed a lot of composure and guts to step-up, and score again.  However, misses from John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah, left Sebastian Abreu to casually slot home the winning penalty.  It left Ghana feeling cheated and robbed, whilst Uruguay celebrated their first semi-final appearance since 1970.  They will face Holland in Cape Town tomorrow.

Saturday 3^rd July: Argentina 0-4 Germany

Germany sent out a hideous warning to the rest of the world, after destroying Argentina in Cape Town, and with it, send Diego Maradona’s management career down the toilet seat in the process.  After ripping England to shreds, Joachim Low’s side were full of confidence, and were infront after only two minutes, when the inspired Thomas Muller headed home from close-range.  In the second half, Argentina capitulated, under the force of a devastating attacking display, which saw a first international goal for dependable right-back Arne Friedrich and two goals from the potent Miroslav Klose.  It takes Klose to within one goal of equalling Ronaldo’s tally of 15 goals at FIFA World Cup Finals, and on this evidence, Spain will really need to up their game in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Saturday 3^rd July: Paraguay 0-1 Spain

David Villa scored his 5^th goal of this World Cup, though it took three strikes of the goalposts to seal Spain’s first ever place at the World Cup semi-finals.  A drab and dour quarter-final at Ellis Park, came to life when Oscar Cardozo was unnecessarily dragged down in the penalty area, by Gerard Pique.  Cardozo’s resulting spot kick was saved by Iker Casillas.  Less than sixty seconds later, Villa went down in the other penalty area, under minimal contact from Antolin Alcaraz.  The dopey Guatemalan referee handed Spain a lucky penalty.  Xabi Alonso converted first-time around, but encroachment, led to a retake.  On the second attempt, Alonso’s penalty was saved by Justo Villar, who on the rebound, brutally chopped down Cesc Fabregas, which was unseen by the officials, that would have struggled to referee a primary school match, let alone a World Cup quarter-final.  Villa’s winner came eight minutes from the end, after substitute Pedro’s effort rebounded off the woodwork and despite not playing at their best, the European Champions now have a repeat of the Euro 2008 final with Germany to look forward to, in Durban on Wednesday evening.

World Cup Report - Day 16-19

Forty-eight games gone, and so onto the knockout stages at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Despite the shock elimination of World Champions Italy and 1998 winners, France, the group stages produced the expected final tables, despite some unlikely results.  The competition now begins to take proper shape and it was nice to see most matches, have a real attacking feel to them.  With twenty-two goals in eight matches, that brings encouragement for the latter stages of the competition.  Here is a round-up of the action in the Round of 16. (Germany v England Match Report in separate section: http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/06/germany-4-1-england-sorry-england.html)

Saturday 26^th June: Uruguay 2-1 South Korea

Two-time winners Uruguay reached the last eight, for the first time since 1970, after overcoming a resilent South Korea in filthy conditions in Port Elizabeth.  Ajax’s Luis Suarez was the hero for the South Americans, with two strikes.  His stock value has bound to have increased after this performance, with his winner, just ten minutes from time, a spectacular curling effort that is one of the goals of the tournament.  Despite a leveller from Lee Chung-Young, the Koreans dodgy defending cost the 2002 semi-finalists, though they don’t leave the competition in disgrace.

Saturday 26^th June: USA 1-2 Ghana (AET)

Asamoah Gyan smashed home an extra-time winner to seal Ghana’s place in the last eight, at the expense of the United States in Rustenberg.  Kevin Prince-Boateng gave the Black Stars the dream start, drilling a low shot past Tim Howard in the fifth minute.  The Americans converted a penalty, through their golden boy Landon Donovan in the second half.  Just as they looked the stronger, Gyan’s bursting run and stunning hit in the third minute of extra-time was enough to see Ghana become only the third ever African side to reach the last eight of a World Cup finals.

Sunday 27th June: Argentina 3-1 Mexico

On a day of controversy at the World Cup, Diego Maradona’s Argentina needed help from a terrible decision on the way to a comfortable triumph against Mexico.  The game was evenly balanced up to the half-hour mark, when Carlos Tevez headed Argentina infront, despite being yards offside.  The Mexicans were incensed by the decision, especially when the replay was shown on the big screen in Soccer City.  Despite protests, the Italian referee Roberto Rossetti stuck to his decision and from that moment on, Mexico never recovered.  Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a dreadful piece of defending by the recently released Ricardo Osario and Tevez made it three shortly after the interval, with a smashing strike of genuine class.  Despite Javier Hernandez’s deserved consolation, Argentina cantered through into a quarter-final tomorrow with Germany.

Monday 28^th June: Holland 2-1 Slovakia

Holland’s stars came to the fore in Durban, as they achieving an unconvincing, yet deserving victory over Slovakia.  Arjen Robben made his first start of the tournament and on seventeen minutes, collected a long pass from Wesley Snejider and drilled a low shot in from 25 yards out.  Snejider wrapped it up with five minutes to go, finishing off a slick move from Dirk Kuyt’s clever cutback.  Despite several opportunities, Slovakia looked destined not to score, until a foul by goalkeeper Maarten Stelkenberg allowed Robert Vittek the chance to score his 4^th goal of the finals, with the very last kick of the match. 

Monday 28^th June: Brazil 3-0 Chile

Brazil saw off a disappointing Chile at Ellis Park, to set-up a mouth-watering quarter-final with Holland today.  Dunga’s side were always in control, once they scored twice in four minutes, through a header by AS Roma centre-back Juan and then a neat combination of passing by Kaka and Robinho, led to Luis Fabiano doubling the advantage.  A precise finish from Robinho early in the second half, sealed the outcome, with the suspension of three key players costing Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking Chile outfit.  They leave the competition on a downer, but after winning many friends for their spectacular fluidity of play. 

Tuesday 29^th June: Paraguay 0-0 Japan (AET) PARAGUAY WIN 5-3 ON PENALTIES

Paraguay became the fourth South American side to book a place in the last eight, after a perfect penalty success rate against Japan.  Paraguay scored all five of their penalties in the first shootout of the 2010 finals, the final penalty being tucked away by Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo.  Yuichi Komano’s spot kick brushed the crossbar; he was the only failure of the shootout, after quite possibly the most boring match in World Cup history, unsurprisingly ending 0-0 after two stale hours of football.

Tuesday 29^th June: Spain 1-0 Portugal

European champions Spain scraped through into the last eight, getting the edge over a disappointing Portugal in a poor encounter in Cape Town.  With the Portuguese negative tactics not exciting anyone and leaving Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated, and completely out of the action, one goal was enough for the Spanish, coming through new-Barcelona striker David Villa with an hour gone.

World Cup Report - Day 4-6

The greatest show on earth is starting to take shape.  Here is a brief round-up from South Africa of the matches from the previous three days – as goals continued to be a problem for many, due to the over-cautious approach from most teams.  However, yesterday brought one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, as the European Champions were dethroned by hard-working Switzerland.

Monday 14^th June: Holland 2-0 Denmark

A cataclysmic own goal from Simon Poulsen set Holland on their way to an opening victory in Soccer City, Johannesburg.  Following a tight first-half, the own goal gave the Dutch, lacking their usual fluency the lead 52 seconds into the restart.  Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt settled the outcome, tapping home from close range, after Eljero Ella’s effort rebounded off the post with four minutes left.

 Monday 14^th June: Japan 1-0 Cameroon

Japan caused the first surprise of the finals so far, beating a lazy Cameroon outfit in a dour encounter.  The match was settled by CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, slamming home on 38 minutes after poor defending from the Africans in Bloemfontein. 

Monday 14^th June: Italy 1-1 Paraguay

World champions Italy made a pathetic and traditional poor start to their defence, struggling to a 1-1 draw in Group F’s opener.  South Americans Paraguay took the lead when Antolin Alcaraz powered a header past the despairing Gianluigi Buffon before half-time.  Marcello Lippi’s men recovered to earn a share of the spoils, when Danielle De Rossi poked home from a scrambled corner, benefiting from a glaring error by Paraguay shot stopper Justo Villar.    

Tuesday 15^th June: New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia

Another tight game, saw the All Blacks earn their first ever World Cup point in dramatic circumstances in Rustenberg.  Winston Reid headed in the leveller in the third minute of injury time, punishing Slovakia for sitting back and holding onto the 1-0 lead, given by Robert Vittek’s coolly placed effort on 50 minutes.

Tuesday 15^th June: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal

One of the most hotly anticipated group encounters turned into an absolute dire match, as two evenly-matched teams cancelled each other out in Port Elizabeth.  Cristiano Ronaldo came closest for the Portuguese, whacking the woodwork on five minutes with a rasping thirty-yard drive.

Tuesday 15^th June: Brazil 2-1 North Korea

In a game they were expected to wipe the floor with their opponents, the stylish Brazilians laboured to a 2-1 win at Ellis Park.  They had to wait until Maicon’s 55^th minute beautiful strike from an almost impossible angle.  Elano sealed the result, placing Robinho’s masterful pass into the net.  The North Koreans deserved a goal for their valiant efforts and earned it through a super strike from Ji-Yun-Nam.

 Wednesday 16^th June: Honduras 0-1 Chile

Chile opened their World Cup account with an impressive performance in Nelspruit.  Jean Beausejour’s strike ten minutes before the interval proved to be the difference in one of the most one-sided encounters so far.  Marcelo Bielsa’s side spurned a host of opportunities which suggested that the South Americans are a force to be reckoned with.

Wednesday 16^th June: Spain 0-1 Switzerland

European champions Spain were humbled by a hard-working Swiss outfit in Durban, and now face an almighty struggle to get out of Group H.  Despite crisp passing and neat build-up, the Spanish failed to take advantage of their possession and lost the match to a scrappy effort on the hour mark, put away by ex-Manchester City player Gelson Fernandes.

Wednesday 16^th June: South Africa 0-3 Uruguay

Diego Forlan produced a masterclass, as Uruguay well and truly silenced the South African fans in Pretoria last night.  The in-form Atletico Madrid ace, destroyer of Liverpool and Fulham and in Europa League this season scored twice, and set-up a third for Alvaro Pereira.  South African goalkeeper Itumenleng Khune was red-carded for a professional foul on Luis Suarez, as the hosts now face a huge battle to survive in their own tournament.