World Cup 2010

England start with a goal keeping disaaaaster darling and hand USA a point, although having most of the possession. Germany start by handing the Australians a 4-0 beating, four players sent off in the first eight games. South Africa score one of the best goals in a 1-1 draw with Mexico. Algeria lose to Slovenia after outplaying them for much of the match and end with ten men, as do Australia. France don't turn up against Uruguay and only manage a no-score draw, South Korea are bright 'n' breezy in their 2-0 win over a dull Greece side. Argentina show flashes of things to come in their 1-0 win over Nigeria, Serbia deservedly lose to Ghana; and so, the World Cup 2010 is off and running!

Holland knock Denmark down and Kuyt with Denmark suffering an Agger-nising own goal. One stroke Honda seals Cameroons fate against the Japanese while Italy struggles to get started against Paraguay and breathes a sigh of relief to gain the draw. New Zealand score their first goal in the World Cup in injury time to hold Slovakia to a draw, while Portugal and Ivory Coast both manage clean sheets and Ronaldo dissappoints the fans with a modest start to his campaign. North Korea do their best against Brazil but still go down 2-1 though they gave the World No.1 team a hard time and deserved their well taken late goal. Why do referees give Brazil such an easy time when they deserve more yellow cards for their deliberately late and clumsy tackling, it happens every World Cup.

In recent times a free-scoring side, Chile only managed one against Honduras, but in an entertaining game it was enough to give the South Americans their first World Cup finals win since 1962. Spain looked cheesed off after the Swiss found a hole in their defence to take a 1-0 win and rode their luck with Spain showing fewer ideas (up front) than a Labour government. Diego Forlan’s long distance strike followed by a penalty ended South Africa’s interest in this game and a third goal followed for Uruguay before full-time. Though with the French team in disarray, don’t write-off Bafana Bafana quite yet?

Mexico look good to progress after dominating a poor French side and coming out two goals ahead, France are down but are they out?
Three goals for Gonzalo Higuain emphasised the difference between Argentina and South Korea at Soccer City, South Korea never gave up but were just out-classed by, so far, the most promising side in this World Cup. Greece came from behind to score their first victory at a World Cup and keep their hopes alive of getting out of the group stage, beating Nigeria 2-1.

After going 2-0 down, the USA made second half changes which inspired Uncle Sam’s team to a remarkable come-back which finished level at 2-2, with England’s next opponents, Slovenia. Only a win in England’s final group game against a well organised Slovenia will save England from an ignominious exit from the 2010 World Cup after a dire 0-0 draw with lowly, but unbowed Algeria. German newspapers were rife with boastful headlines after Germany beat Australia 4-0, but things were very different after Serbia took all the honours, as poor German finishing laid the foundations for Germany’s humbling 1-0 defeat.

Unlucky Harry Kewell was sent off (resulting in a penalty) as the ball struck his arm and left the Aussie’s with 10 men to fight a very hard-earned 1-1 draw with Ghana. It will be hard for the Australian’s to extend their World Cup stay. A stalwart display from the Japanese couldn’t save them from a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands who look good for the next round, whilst Japan will need to beat Denmark on Thursday.

Cameroon are the first side (African or otherwise) to be eliminated after Denmark squashed their dreams with a 2-1 victory after coming back from being 1-0 down. Paraguay looked good and took their first victory with an exquisite goal from Enrique Vera, followed up by one from Riveros, which only leaves them needing a point from their match against New Zealand.

Shock of shocks as New Zealand go one up against the Azzuri in Nelspruit courtesy of Shane Smeltz, the lead didn’t last long however as they gave away a penalty from which Italy drew level through Vincenzo Iaquinta – but the All-Whites held on to get a memorable draw. Brazil dominated this match without looking in their best form, they were lucky as there was a definite hand-ball for their second goal by Luis Fabiano. Drogba scored a late goal for the Ivory Coast as they went down 3-1. In a farce of an incident, Kaka was sent off with Abdelkader Keita falling as if Kaka had thrown a punch; and at the same time managing to make the referee look completely incompetent.

Only one up at half-time and after a lively start by North Korea, it looked like Portugal may have a harder time than expected against the “unknown” Asian side. Reality kicked in at the World Cup for the first time as Portugal made the second half look like a stroll in the park, finishing as 7-0 victors with even Ronaldo getting on the score-sheet with his first international goal in two years. Significantly for other teams in the competition, the Portuguese goals came from six different players, three of them in an eight minute spell within the last ten minutes of the match.

Chile defeated a resolute 10-man Switzerland team 1-0 after Behrami was sent off for an arm-raising incident, but they are still not yet sure of going through to the next round, even with their second group win, due to Switzerland’s unexpected defeat of Spain. Spain dominated Honduras from the outset (as expected) but were only rewarded with a 2-0 victory. Villa missed the opportunity of scoring a World Cup hat-trick by sending the ball the wrong side of a post with a poorly guided penalty. Chile v Spain lies ahead on Friday 25th.

Suarez headed Uruguay to the top of their group, but the Mexicans also qualify for the last 16 (on goal difference), at the expense of South Africa; whilst France (allegedly the strongest team) are left in a supporting role at the base of the group table.

South Africa put the final nail in France’s coffin, but they too failed to make the final cut, despite winning by two goals to one, though they did themselves proud; which is more than can be said of Raymond Domenech’s team, or the manager’s attitude in failing to shake his counter-part’s hand at the end of the match.

Far from a classic game, the Greek’s came bearing a gift of a goal, Demichelis scoring from the rebound off Diego Milito, after poor Greek defending from a corner. Messi set up a second goal when a shot, too hot to handle, was parried by the keeper, but fell nicely for substitute Palermo to strike home right-footed. Three wins out of three and Argentina are looking in confident form.

A 2-2 draw between Nigeria and South Korea means the Asian team face Uruguay in the last sixteen. Nigeria pressured them all the way. Yakubu set up a frantic final session after first missing a sitter in front of goal before scoring from the penalty spot.

Solid defensive play and a superb strike from Jermain Defoe were two of the ingredients missing from England’s earlier group games, but not this one, as England moved into the second round with a convincing display, if not one without a few heart-stopping moments, caused by Slovenia’s sparse attacks.

Stubborn Algeria almost dented the hopes of the North Americans as the USA were made to wait until second half injury time for Landon Donavan’s late and table topping winner, resulting in another England v Germany encounter in the next round.

Despite the Aussie’s best efforts, their World Cup journey ended in a victory over Serbia 2-1, but they were pipped on goal difference by Ghana and failed to qualify out of the group stages.

Two well-taken free kicks gave Japan a 2-0 lead over Denmark, they eventually ran out 3-1 winners and will meet Paraguay in the last 16.

Cameroon went down fighting against a strong Dutch team losing 2-1 to the Netherlands, who now progress to the last 16 with three wins under their belt.

World Cup holders Italy failed this time around and were sensationally sent out of the competition by Slovakia. After going 2-0 down, the Azzuri pulled one back in the last ten minutes of full-time; but Slovakian substitute Kopunek scored a third and killer goal. The Italians reduced the deficit to 3-2 in injury time through Quagliarella, but it couldn’t stop Slovakia’s charge into the last 16 and a tragic operatic exit for the Italians.

Paraguay move into the second round after being held to a draw by New Zealand who failed to raise any credible opposition, despite having had a chance to progress further in the World Cup.

Having both already qualified for the next round, Brazil and Portugal presented the World Cup with a disappointing 0-0 score-line, keeping the latter’s clean sheet record in tact, so far.

Ivory Coast beat North Korea 3-0 but still go out of the competition along with their opponents, due to Portugal’s very high goal difference and the fact that Brazil were the fourth Group G team.

Switzerland went from heroes to zero’s (after defeating Spain) with a 0-0 draw against Honduras who failed to register a goal in their group matches. A sad exit for the Swiss squad who had promised more.