Spain vs Netherlands Full Highlights

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Muller, Villa, Sneijder: Who will Win Golden Boot of World Cup 2010?

On Saturday, July 10 at the third World Cup competition sandwiched between Place Uruguay and Germany, Thomas Müller, a goal he set at the top Golden Boot adjacent to Wesley Sneijer Holland and Spain, David Villa.

Germany vs Spain: Highlights

World Cup 2010 Semifinals: Germany vs Spain

Netherlands World Cup

South Africa - inside the second decline of the Netherlands' 3-2 conquest on Tuesday, Uruguay, South Americans have reduced the number of the punishment neighborhood, to maintain the ball alive, hoping against hope Dutch compromise and leave the tie goal.

German Team Is Best: Spanish Players

Ahead of the match against Germany in the World Cup semifinals, Spanish players say that the German team is "the best" in the 2010 soccer competition.

World Cup 2010: Brazil myth unravels as Holland thrive on Dutch courage

As Bert van Marwijk and Dunga made clear before Holland's quarter-final against Brazil, and the two teams then demonstrated in Port Elizabeth, it is not all about the beautiful game anymore. This has been an entirely pragmatic World Cup, not a thrilling one, but I don't believe the purists should despair.

There have been some thrilling games and thrilling moments in the tournament, but even the countries associated with total football or a samba style have placed pragmatism over the beautiful game. Look at the Champions League. That is exactly the same. There are always trends in football and this is the way it is going at the moment, but people always find a way around whatever system football conjures up, which is why those who want more flair, risks and style shouldn't worry. The game changes rapidly. This has not been a great World Cup for entertainment, but I wouldn't be surprised if we are applauding one of the most entertaining tournaments of all in Brazil in four years' time.

Holland have not played total football in South Africa; they have been solid throughout and I don't think Van Marwijk, his players and their supporters will care less if they win their first World Cup next Sunday. A manager's style of play is only wrong when he doesn't win.

I expect Holland to overcome Uruguay. Van Marwijk has some terrific individual talent to work with, but he has built a solid side with a strong team ethic. There has not been a word of dissent coming out of a camp that is notorious for imploding at major tournaments and, as they showed against Brazil – first losing Joris Mathijsen in the warm-up and then conceding an early goal – they rallied and grew stronger in adversity. But most of all, I expect Holland to be in the final because of the psychological impact of beating Brazil.

The Dutch never need a lift in terms of self-esteem. They have great belief in their own abilities and how they play. But they didn't just beat 11 players to reach the semi-finals, they had to overcome the mythology that surrounds Brazil, too. There is tension and anxiety going into any game, but sometimes there is an added element – and facing Brazil in a World Cup is such a moment. Holland had to overcome the history of five-time world champions, of great players such as Pelé, Garrincha and Jairzinho, and of the yellow shirt that stands as a symbol of excellence in football. Maybe it helped Holland that Brazil played in blue!

Sometimes you are not just playing a great team, but a great player or a great manager who can exert an influence over and above the norm. From my perspective as a manager, I'd say José Mourinho has an effect on people beyond what you would expect. Holland had to beat a rich history, but, just as the myth can hinder opponents, it can have an adverse effect on those who inherit the Brazilian shirt. Brazil lost their heads in the quarter-final – and at a time when they still had 11 men on the pitch and every chance of winning. They had cruised through to the quarter-finals, but lost their discipline at the first sign of trouble.

Brazil always expect to win, but it is a test of a side's spirit and team ethic when things start going against you – and they failed on that score. It was Holland who passed the test. They worked tremendously hard to turn that game around.

On top of being good players, there is a swagger and an arrogance that comes with playing for Brazil, and, if it is not going their way, you occasionally see the nasty reaction that undermined them in the quarter-final. Indiscipline cost them dearly and I was howling with laughter when Robinho accused Arjen Robben of diving. Talk about the pot and the kettle. The tournament has been littered with incidents like that. It's nonsense.

This will be viewed as a failure in Brazil and Dunga, who was criticised for their style of play even when the team where sailing through games, has become the latest manager to leave his post after a World Cup. He had every right to expect more from his players.

The great players have not lit up this tournament. Instead, it has been players from the lesser teams, such as Keisuke Honda, of Japan, who have shone. The players who were expected to grace this World Cup, Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, have been a big disappointment, and only Lionel Messi has lived up to his billing as one of the elite players in the world today.

Source:- www.guardian.co.uk

Ghana hearts break after Uruguay loss in the cruelest of World Cup defeats

Losing can't be any crueler than it was for Ghana at the World Cup.
On the verge of becoming African history-makers one second, losers the next. Ghana's squad, the youngest of this World Cup, came so close to becoming the first African team to play in a World Cup semifinal. That only made its quarter-final loss Friday to Uruguay sting even more. The vuvuzelas choked into silence. Only Uruguayans couldn't share Ghana's pain.

In the very last minute of extra time, Dominic Adiyiah headed what should have been the winner for Ghana. The ball, without a shadow of doubt, was going in.

But Uruguay forward Luis Suarez got in the way — with both hands. Like a volleyballer, he swatted it away on the line.

"I think I made the best save of the World Cup," Suarez said later, unabashed.
Was it the hand of God?

"No, the hand of Suarez," he said.
Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca didn't hesitate. Out came the red card. Suarez, off. Penalty for Ghana.

Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the shot. The hugely self-confident forward already scored two other penalties at this World Cup — against Serbia and Australia in the group stages. Put this one past 'keeper Fernando Muslera and Ghana would advance to a semifinal against the Netherlands, buoyed by support from the entire African continent.

Gyan's shot thwacked off the crossbar. He bit hard on the collar of his red and yellow jersey as though to silence a scream or avoid being sick.
That was the last kick of the match.

Next: penalty shootout to decide a winner and loser from the two teams level at one goal each.

Muslera saved penalties from Ghana's last two penalty takers, John Mensah and Adiyah. Ghana's World Cup was finished. Two-time champion Uruguay will play its first semifinal match since 1970.

Gyan was inconsolable. He wept in the arms of a teammate.
An hour or so later, deep in the stadium's belly, Ghana's players filed past reporters, heading for their bus. Some were lost in the bubble of headphones. Others stared blankly ahead. Most didn't stop. Gyan, reluctantly, did. There was sadness in his eyes but he looked remarkably composed.

"I've nothing to say, you know? It's part of the game," Gyan said.
In his opinion, Adiyiah's header should have been given.

"The ball went in, it did cross the line, and the referee disallowed it," he said. "If it was our day, the referee would have seen it and whistled as a goal. Everything is hard luck."

Of Suarez, Gyan added philosophically: "He's the hero now in his country because the ball was going in and he held it with his hand and unfortunately I missed the penalty, and they've come back and they've won ... But football is like that."
Suarez showed no remorse. He was just happy to have stopped what would have been the sure winner for Ghana.

"It's difficult to be sent off at a World Cup, it's complicated. But the way in which I was sent off today — truth is, it was worth it."

With a squad with an average age of just 24 years and nine months, Ghana will get other chances.

Not that that was any consolation.
"We were so close to making it," defender John Pantsil said. "It was very, very painful."

Source:- www.google.com

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of 16: Spain vs. Portugal

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The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It will take place in South Africa. This will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by an African nation. Thirty two teams are competing in the event and these have been divided into eight groups of four teams.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It will take place in South Africa. This will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by an African nation. Thirty two teams are competing in the event and these have been divided into eight groups of four teams. Of the initial 32 teams only 16 will progress from the group stage. The tournament will then become knockout with first the round of 16, then the quarter finals, followed by the semi final and the culmination in the final. There will also be a 3rd/4th place decider match.

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