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 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.  

UEFA Europa League - The Fulham Fairytale Continues

Well, who would have thought of it, Fulham are the most successful British club in European competition this season!  Last night, Roy Hodgson’s men continued their incredible fairytale infront of a delighted Craven Cottage crowd and achieved the improbable, by knocking out another giant, in the form of German opposition. 

Hamburg SV may have been without a permanent manager, but with the incentive of playing the UEFA Europa League final, infront of their own fans in Hamburg and with stars like Mladen Petric, Joris Mathjisen and Ruud Van Nistlerooy amongst their ranks, surely they would be able to extinguish the burning Fulham flame.  It looked so for a large proportion of the semi-final, second leg encounter at Craven Cottage, with Petric’s stunning free-kick given the Germans the critical away goal.  However, never write Fulham off at your peril and once again, they showed the incredible chemistry that Hodgson has managed to bond together throughout this historic journey.  Simon Davies equalised with a clever finish, then Hungarian Zoltan Gera capitalised on sloppy defending to fire Fulham infront.  They held out for the final fifteen minutes, to complete the greatest victory of their history, and send them into the final in Hamburg on May 12^th.

They will face Spanish underachievers Atletico Madrid in the final, with Madrid overcoming the Anfield factor, to overcome Liverpool after extra-time.  Despite losing on the night 2-1, a critical away goal in the extra period from the ex-Manchester United flop, Diego Forlan, handed the final shattering blow on the Liverpool career of Rafa Benitez.  With no trophies in four seasons and a dismal 7^th place finish on the cards, there is surely only one option now for the board at Anfield to consider.  Their season has been truly forgettable.

However, this night belonged to Fulham and rightly so.  Hamburg will be their 19^th game in this competition, starting the staggering run way back in July 2009.  They scraped past FC Basle in the group stages and came through two bruising games against AS Roma, very much with pride intact.  Knocking out the talented holders Shakhtar Donetsk was a very impressive achievement, but to rip apart Juventus was another story.  Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Round four, the Cottagers fell a goal down early on at home, to David Trezeguet.  However, they stormed back to win 4-1 on the night, and 5-4 on aggregate, as the Serie A legends were made to look like amateurs.  German champions VFL Wolfsburg were no match in the last eight for Hodgson’s men and now with Hamburg out of the way, who would be a fool, not to put any money on them winning the inaugural UEFA Europa League.

Two years ago, it took a Danny Murphy header at Portsmouth on the last day of the season, to keep Fulham in the FA Barclays Premiership by the skin of their teeth.  Now, captain Murphy will lead Fulham out for a European final.  Let’s hope this fairytale gets its deserved happy ending….