2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

For the first time in 76 years, Spain won the World Cup in a final that will be remembered more for fouls than finesse, cards than chances on goal and tempers than trickery. A bitterly fought contest had eleven yellow cards (six to the Dutch and five to the Spanish), with John Heitinga receiving his second yellow in the second period of Extra Time. Minutes later, Jesus Navas jinked his way through a resolute Dutch defence and with the aid of fellow sub Fabregas, made the ball reach Fernando Torres. Spain's Goldenboy was clearly out of sorts, his terrible injury-marred season with Liverpool ensuring that his form deserted him on the biggest stage possible. Despite that, he somehow managed to return the ball to Fabregas who tried to squirt it to Iniesta the first time, but the superb Joris Mathijsen blocked his pass. Undeterred, Fabregas tried again and this time, Iniesta made room for himself and smacked a half-volley home to spark wild Spanish celebrations.

Much before this, both teams had gilt-edged opportunities to go one up, with Arjen Robben twice spurning one-on-one chances to beat Iker Casillas, who, it has to be said, gave a spectacular performance to silence all his doubters. Fabregas livened things up and almost won it for Spain, but Maarten Stekelenburg proved that if Casillas could do it, he could too. Ultimately, as the match headed towards the dreaded shootout and a star-studded audience braced itself for another nerve-wracking night, the man they call Don Andres stepped up and it was a fitting end that the best player of the night and eventual Man of the Match had the final say in the nineteenth FIFA World Cup in South Africa, 2010.

Brazil 2014, bring it on, baby! :)

Third-place playoff between Uruguay and Germany at Port Elizabeth:

An exciting match, following which one was left with rueful questions. If only Germany had played like this against Spain? If only Forlan's sweetly-struck freekick had sneaked in below the crossbar instead of hitting it and sailing out in the last minute of the match? Regrets aside, it was a glorious end to the campaign of two exciting teams in this tournament. Germany were probably the better side tonight, but Uruguay have definitely shown a thing or two to their more illustrious South American neighbors by finishing fourth, when most pundits had expected Brazil or Argentina to be among the four best nations on the planet. Diego Forlan later deservedly won the Adidas Golden Ball award (the most valuable player of the tournament) and his goal, Uruguay's second, was an absolute delight to watch. Egidio Arevalo wriggled free of Germany's defenders on the right flank and drove a chest-high cross on the edge of the box. Such was Forlan's confidence and form at that moment that he pivoted around his left while still maintaining his balance perfectly and struck an accurate first-time strike which left the goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever.

The second semifinal at Durban:

In a rematch of European Championships final two years ago, these two heavyweights were facing mildly contrasting situations prior to the match. Enthralling everyone with their positive flair and superb counterattacking brand of football, the Germans were left to miss the attacking thrust of Thomas Mueller (favorite for the Adidas Young Player of the Tournament). On the other hand, the Spanish were more ruthless in seeing off a disjointed Portugal side before sending the Paraguayans packing with a 1-0 scoreline, but with Torres misfiring in the limited opportunities he had, the onus was on Vicente del Bosque to either include him on the starting lineup or bring him late as an impact player. Viewed from a tactical standpoint, this was as close to a perfect match you could ever get: the Germans with their quick movement off the ball and the Spanish who were masters in possession. As it turned out, Torres didn't start, but that didn't make any difference to the Spanish gameplan as they controlled the ball and allowed the three-time winners only a couple of shots in the opening half. With Pedro pulling the strings from midfield and David Villa making a nuisance of himself, albeit without any productivity, it was a surprise to see the Germans overly reliant on a break, though it has to be said that the pitch didn't come to their aid at all, being slow and bouncy. With 17 minutes to go, it was left to veteran centerback and Barcelona captain, Carles Puyol to power home a header and send Spain to their first ever World Cup final. Joachim Loew was graceful in accepting defeat, even declaring that Spain were worthy winners of this edition. I'm sure Wesley Sneijder and Co have other ideas.

The first semifinal at Cape Town:

Uruguay's quarterfinal win over a spirited Ghana side came at a heavy cost, with captain Diego Lugano getting injured and left-back Jorge Fucile picking up his second yellow card of the tournament and getting suspended for the semifinal. But, the biggest loss could have been that of in-form Ajax hitman, Luis Suarez, who resorted to volleyball to save Uruguay's skins in the last minute of Extra Time and was sent off. As such, Forlan was expected to shoulder an increased burden, which he did manfully, scoring his fourth of the tournament and a worthy equalizer to van Bronckhorst's 18th minute thunderbolt by unleashing a left-foot strike before halftime. Despite his best efforts, Uruguay were clearly second best to a Dutch side that was inspired by Sneijder's clever promptings, Robben's wizardry, Kuyt's workrate and van Persie's energy. Things became very interesting when Uruguay got their second late in injury time of second half but it was too little too late. Forlan was left dejected in defeat, but they can hold their heads high since they did perform better than their more-acclaimed South American rivals, Argentina and Brazil. As for the Dutch, they reach their first final in 32 years. Will it be third time lucky for them?

With Brazil's sensational exit at the hands of the Dutch on July 2, Argentina and Germany must have really fancied their chances prior to their clash in Cape Town, while Spain would have entertained similar hopes when they took on Paraguay in the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

Prior to this quarterfinal clash, some previews focused on a friendly that these two teams played in March this year. Argentina won the friendly 1-0 in Munich and a rather smug Diego Maradona mocked German rookie Thomas Mueller by referring to him as a ballboy at a press conference. It is not certain whether Mueller wanted retribution for being humiliated by one of the most acclaimed footballers in the world, but if he did desire it, he did it in the best manner possible: by cutting a swathe through a dodgy Argentine defence and scoring a goal in the third minute of a World Cup quarterfinal, thereby ensuring that Maradona is not likely to forget his name in a hurry now. So overwhelmed were the two-time champions by a young German team, that most "experts" (read illiterate Indian TV sportscasters) were calling it an upset. Meanwhile, German goalscoring machine, Miroslav Klose edged ever closer to being the top marksman in World Cup history by hitting his 13th and 14th goals in World Cup and tying with countryman and legend, Gerd Muller and one shy of Il Fenomeno, Ronaldo who tops the list with 15. Being 32, he knows this is his last chance to go one better than the Brazilian who has seen better days in the canary yellow jersey since.

El Guaje (The Kid) is David Villa's nickname, but he should have one more by now: El Midas (or something to that effect). So massive has he been for Spain in this tournament that he has now racked up five goals and seems to be unstoppable, drifting in from the left flank with deadly effect. For the second match in succession, he was in the right place at the right time to tuck in a goal that made all the difference. But, to call this match as Villa's would belittle Iker Casillas' stupendous goalkeeping that saw him keep out a penalty and two one-on-one situations. In fact, immediately following his penalty save off Oscar Cardozo, was another penalty save by Paraguay keeper, Justo Villar who denied Xabi Alonso's spotkick (which was taken twice, due to infringement by Spanish players when he took it the first time) and keep Paraguay in the game. Saint Iker, as Casillas is called, probably had a point to prove as he copped some blame for Real Madrid's season-damaging loss to Barcelona in the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009-10. But with the European champions reaching their first semifinal in sixty years, they will look to emulate the legendary West German side that won the European Championship in 1972 and then the World Cup in 1974.

MatchDay saw the first pair of quarterfinals, with the Dutch taking on the Brazilians at Port Elizabeth and Africa's last hope, Ghana facing a resilient Uruguay side at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Brazil rocketed off the blocks, with Robinho having one goal ruled out for offside within the first few minutes. He was not to be denied, however, as he collected a pass from Felipe Melo that sliced open the Dutch defence and smacked a first-time shot under Stekelenburg's legs at the ten-minute mark. In control for almost the entire duration of the first half, the five-time winners were looking increasingly in sight of their sixth title, until things went absolutely pear shaped in the second half. First, Felipe Melo came bang in the way of Julio Cesar when he tried to deal with a floating freekick by Sneijder but only ended up glancing it into his own net (until yesterday, it was still recorded as an own goal by Melo, but the authorities later changed it and credited Sneijder with the goal). Unnerved, Brazil fell behind when poor set-piece defending allowed Sneijder a free header (the sight of the not-so-tall Sneijder scoring a goal with his head off a corner must have sent Dunga into an apoplectic rage). Then, utterly piqued by Robben's trickery on the ball, Melo stamped on the Dutch winger's leg viciously and deservingly got his marching orders. Brazil fell apart after this and despite a flurry of corners late in the game, they crashed out at the quarterfinal stage for the second time in as many World Cups (they had lost to France in 2006, courtesy a Zidane freekick which Henry slotted home after ghosting in off the far post and beating a dozing Roberto Carlos to the ball).

A match that, as the commentator said, had distinct phases, with Uruguay starting brightly and forcing several corners and Ghana finishing stronger, even scoring a goal at the stroke of half-time. Then, Forlan scored from a sublime freekick that left Richard Kingson (the only worthy candidate for the Lev Yashin award for me) floundering. Uruguay's superior physical endurance ensured the match went into Extra Time, which for the most part, was played according to the script until the 120th minute began and the drama was raised by several notches to an absolute fever pitch. Ghana had a freekick on the right flank and as the ball floated into the box, Uruguay's keeper flapped his arms couple of times. The ball eventually fell kindly to Stephen Appiah, Ghana's decorated midfielder, who directed a firm header towards the goal with the goalkeeper squarely beaten. Incredibly, Luis Suarez, Uruguay's striker who was on the goalline, punched the ball away like a 'keeper right under the nose of the Portuguese referee and receiving a red card for deliberate handball. With a minute to go for the end of Extra Time, Ghana could not have asked for a better time to have a penalty and as Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the kick, you could sense that the writing was on the wall for the South Americans. But, not for nothing is there a phrase called "Garra Charua". The exact translation is near impossible, but for all practical purposes, it roughly means "fighting till the last breath". And that is exactly what Uruguay did after Gyan blazed his spotkick straight at the crossbar and the ball sailed into the stands. In an amazing couple of minutes, the initiative had changed hands and with Uruguay believing they could win, Ghana betrayed nerves as Mensah and Addiyah botched their spotkicks in the shootout and Sebastian Abreu emulated Francesco Totti in cheekily chipping Kingson for the decisive kick. Gyan was inconsolable after the game, despite bravely choosing to take the opening spotkick for the Africans. For Uruguay, it is their first semi-final appearance in forty years and but with no Suarez and in all probability missing their captain, Diego Lugano as well against a determined Netherlands team, the task is well cut out for them.

MatchDay 19 saw the last of the Round of 16 matches, with Paraguay taking on Japan and the much-awaited all-Iberian clash between Spain and Portugal:

This match had an enormous significance to both teams, as whichever team progressed would be reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. With so much at stake, the pressure clearly told on the players as Paraguay and Japan ended up nullifying each other and even Extra Time wasn't sufficient to separate the two teams. And so it went to penalties and for poor Yuichi Komano, the pressure became unbearable as his spot-kick hit the crossbar and went sky high. However, the Japanese left with their heads held high and will now fancy their performance as the benchmark for Asian football.

It was a match between a side that was still yet to concede a goal in the World Cup and one that boasted an enviable attacking arsenal. The return of Iniesta in the last group match against Chile had clearly raised Spanish morale and with Xavi, Puyol and Pique, he forms the spine of the La Furia Roja as well as the Blaugrana. As such, this match was a telling example of the adage: have ball, will score and will win. Spain had 2/3rds of the possesion and for almost three-quarters of the match, Portugal's nullifying tactics worked, until a piece of magic from Xavi had prised open the defence and Villa was clear on goal. Even then, Portugal's goalkeeper Eduardo saved his first attempt, but when the rebound fell kindly to Villa, he made no mistake second time, toe-poking the ball into the roof of the net. Now chasing the game, Portugal's gameplan changed to a puzzling English-style long-ball scheme, with Ronaldo clearly frustrated at being the target man. Ricardo Costa received his marching orders a minute from time, following a fracas with Spanish left-back Joan Capdevila, but that was purely academic as the Portuguese were second best by a distance. Cristiano Ronaldo earned brickbats for his spitting act against the camera immediately after the final whistle and allegedly snapping at reporters to "ask the coach" as to why Portugal lost. I'm not sure if he really said that to the journalists, but having seen the spitting incident on TV, I'll say this for him: he needs to learn to lose with grace.

MatchDay 18 saw the 6th and 7th Round of 16 matches played between the Netherlands and surprise package Slovakia at Durban and Brazil against Chile at Jo'burg (Ellis Park):

The match went along expected lines, even though Slovakia pulled a goal back late in the game. The goalscoring return of Robben to the starting eleven will be the biggest positive for Bert van Marwijk, since Robben looks a genuine matchwinner this time. The Dutch probably had the easiest opponent to overcome in the Round of 16, but this time, there is a steely determination and unity in the squad, which I think is making a significant difference. Historically, the Dutch have been enormously gifted technically, but in terms of mental strength, they were always found lacking to win the big games. Suffice to say that, they were like South Africa in international cricket: master chokers. Only time will tell if the Dutch go all the way this time in a country that has had a long history associated with it.

This was Brazil at its imperious best, splitting the defence open almost at will. Brave as Chile were in the opening minutes of the game, it took a thumping header from centerback Juan to show Brazil's much-vaunted forward line the way. Fabiano's goal happened before anyone could say "just before half-time" and when Robinho stroked one in off the far post at the hour mark, the writing was on the wall for Marcelo Bielsa (an Argentine) and his men. Chile have impressed a lot of people in this tournament, with Johan Cryuff confessing to be a fan of their style of football a week ago. But, Brazil are looking very ominous and will take some serious stopping.

MatchDay 17 saw two not-to-be-missed Round of 16 matches:

It was seen as a battle between Germany's army of youngsters against England's vastly experienced Premier League superstars. Ultimately, youth won, in a display that was so refreshing and lustrous that Germany seemed to score at will. Of course, any knockout match involving England in a World Cup has to have its fair share of controversies and there was a huge moment in this match when Lampard's lob beat Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper, and crossed the goalline but unbelievably, the referee and his assistant both missed it and ruled the ball had not crossed. If this goal was allowed to stand, the score at that time would have become 2-2 and the match, already testing nerves, would have reached a fever pitch. After the break, England went close, but on one occasion when Lampard lined up a freekick only to hit the defensive wall, the Germans broke in the blink of an eye and before England could regroup at the back, 'keeper David James was picking the ball out of the net, with Mueller starting and finishing a lightning-fast counter-attacking move. England paid for it again three minutes later, when Mesut Oezil (he is a fabulous talent to watch, with his lazy elegance reminding me of Manuel Rui Costa in his heyday) glided past a clearly unfit Gareth Barry and squared the ball for Mueller to seal a spot for Germany in the quarterfinals. Bizarrely, Capello declared that his side played well (not sure what match he was watching, since Rooney and Defoe were pathetic throughout) but captain Steven Gerrard had the decency to accept that they were second-best by a considerable distance. Thankfully, with this early exit, England's fans will now shut up and stop boasting about their side being the best in this competition.

Just like the previous match, this one had a bit of controversy as well. When Tevez headed the ball to put Argentina in front close to the half-hour mark, he was clearly offside just as he received Messi's subtle lob. Mexican tempers flared at the wrong judgement and for a moment, it looked as though the assistant referee may have convinced the main referee, Roberto Rosetti (who, incidentally, officiated the Australia-Serbia match and missed Cahill's handball late in the 2nd half) to overturn the initial decision to award the goal to Argentina. The Argentine players became agitated at this and things nearly boiled over before the goal stood, much to the chagrin of the Mexican dug out. Argentina's second goal was all due to a monumental defensive blunder by Ricardo Osorio, whose mishit backpass was snatched upon by Higuain and in a flash, Argentina's number 9 had twisted the keeper this way and that and rifled his drive into the net to put them 2-0 up at the break. The Mexicans hadn't forgotten the poor decision of the first goal though, for when the half-time whistle blew, there was a scuffle near the technical area where the managers prowl and shout orders, with Maradona in the thick of things. However, once the 2nd half started, things eased out a bit in terms of emotions, but it was still one-way traffic. Tevez unleashed an unstoppable rocket seven minutes after the restart, which looked to have rendered the game academic. However, Maradona's decision to replace Tevez with Veron changed things a bit and Argentina looked a bit lethargic up front with Messi continuing to take potshots on goal and Higuain looking to poach increasingly unlikely chances. Manchester United-bound Mexican prodigy, Javier Hernandez scored his second World Cup goal nineteen minutes from time with a fine turn against a lumbering Martin Demichelis (who is having a mixed tournament) and a rasping shot past Sergio Romero, Argentina's goalkeeper. It was too little too late, however, as Argentina set up a truly ravishing quarter-final clash with Germany in Cape Town on July 3 (another repeat of their 2006 campaign).

MatchDay 16 saw the first pair of Round of 16 matches between Uruguay and Korea Republic at Port Elizabeth and the USA take on Ghana in Rustenburg.

For some strange reason, the Koreans looked knackered early on in this match. I'm not sure if fatigue was the reason for some seriously lackadaisical defending that led to Suarez's first goal; he gleefully sidefooted the ball home after Forlan had driven a hopeful cross in front of the six-yard box that completely shredded the Korean backline to bits. Uruguay took some big risks by sitting back in their half and soaking up pressure, which eventually told when Lee Chung Young rose highest and nodded the ball home after another goalkeeping howler, this time from the Uruguay custodian. I've noticed that some mistakes in this tournament, especially when it came to high balls, occurred due to comical misunderstandings between the goalkeeper and the centerback(s). I'm no football expert but I reckon goalkeeping coaches need to think of training routines that simulate such situations and improve the goalkeeping standards which have fallen seriously in this tournament. Suarez's second of the night was due to no gaffes, however, as he powered a wickedly-swerving drive ten minutes from time. At first glance, it looked to be wide off the far post, but the torrential downpour had altered the conditions significantly and the moisture allowed the ball to spin inwards, hit the inside of the far post and lodge itself in the back of the net, much to the horror of the Koreans. A worthy candidate for the goal of the tournament, but the poor playing conditions, especially the pitch, will earn some criticism from both teams.

An extremely tight game, almost like a chess match between two schizophrenic people. Ghana's goalkeeper Richard Kingson turned in a massive performance, denying the Americans several times as the last barrier. Ghana's midfield blew hot and cold, but so did the American forward line, with Findley the biggest culprit having blown a hatful of chances. The Americans, yet again, found inner reserves to claw back into the match after being 0-1 down for almost an hour as Ghana had hit them with a goal as early as five minutes into the game. Donovan equalized from the spot, after Jonathan Mensah was adjudged to have illegally barged into Clint Dempsey when the American forward went on a rampaging run and was one-on-one with the keeper to beat. Gyan caused frequent headaches to the Stateside backline with his hyperactive running and though there was nothing to separate the sides at the end of regulation time, it was only a slick finish from Gyan in the first period of extra-time that eventually decided matters. Ghana's memorable run continues and with a spot in the quarters against two-time champions, Uruguay, the pressure of representing Africa will increase immeasurably. The Americans, though, depart with a feeling of "So near, yet so far!" for the second time in a row.

With the group stage done and dusted, the tournament now enters the knockout phase, with the first pair of Round of 16 matches to be played today. Before discussing the eight matches in this stage, a brief background on how the matches are set up.

This may be a tight affair, as both teams have a good defensive shape about them and neither side will hesitate to get stuck in (read, man-mark key players of the opposition and tackle them hard). It will also see former Manchester United flop, Diego Forlan come up against one of the current favorites of the Old Trafford faithful in Park Ji Sung. Both are in good form at the moment and will be key to unlocking defences. Forlan may have the edge with his greater experience, but expect the Koreans to stretch the South Americans to the absolute limit.

Prediction: 1-1 (normal time) 5-3 to Uruguay after penalties.

The USA and Ghana have met only once before, in a 2006 group match in Nuremberg, Germany which the Africans just about managed to edge it. Landon Donovan has categorically declared that he simply does not want history to repeat and will be dead keen to spur the Americans to a place in the quarters. Likewise, the Ghanaians will recall a humiliating lesson by a vastly under-performing Brazil four years ago and will look to carry the torch of African football further. However, young as they are, Ghana's current crop play with a relative sense of fearlessness and will look to take the game to the opposition. Their only danger could come if they lose concentration towards the closing stages of the match, where the USA have proved themselves to be lethal, squaring things against Slovenia and stealing a last-gasp victory against Algeria.

Prediction: 2-1 to USA in normal time

England vs Germany. The very phrase brings a cornucopia of classics between two nations that have a rich political, sporting, and cultural rivalry between them. England were shaky in the group stages and in terms of tactics, looked far from a genuinely threatening side. More often than not, Rooney ended up chasing ghosts in the park while Lampard was woefully out of touch. Capello's backup striking options aren't that great either, with Crouch and Defoe hardly making the opposition defences quake. In addition to this, there is the old English nightmare of penalty kicks. So apprehensive has Capello been of England's fickle nature from the spot that he has apparently nominated the five kick takers and ordered them to pick their spot while kicking and stick to it. Germany, on the other hand, have an abundance of youngsters who have been given the license to go for goal by their coach, Joachim Loew. Klose and Podolski were youngsters four years ago but now, they are the veterans who will be expected to guide the young guns. But, will they be able to cope with the pressure of a knockout match, to uphold Germany's legendary status on the World Cup?

Prediction: Germany to sneak this 3-2 in normal time

Maradona's men were like a runaway train during the group stages, tearing apart defences at will and dominating plays almost from kick-off. Mexico, meanwhile, were more sedate, forcing a point against the hosts on the opening day while dispatching a disjointed French side before losing to Uruguay. In a repeat of a clash at the same stage four years ago, these two sides will look to exploit other's weakness, with Argentina looking a bit dodgy at the back in their final group game against Greece while Mexico were rather flat in a defensive formation against Uruguay. Either way, they will not have lack of support as an excuse, since they are playing in the largest-capacity stadium (88,460).

Prediction: Argentina to edge this match in normal time, 3-1.

A surprising statistic: all-time head-to-head meetings between the two are 6-2 in favor of Slovakia (albeit as the erstwhile Czechoslovakia). However, that will not be worrying the Dutch one bit as they have a renewed sense of confidence about them, evident in the way they eventually bore down a resilient Japanese defence in a 1-0 win. Additionally, the return of Robben is a huge boost for them, for he can cause havoc by running full pelt at defenders and taking shots from incredible angles (and even scoring them). The Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha is going to have his hands full so expect plenty of goal mouth action.

Prediction: Netherlands with a comfortable 3-0 victory

I really envy residents of Johannesburg. This will be the sixth match that Johannesburg is hosting of either Brazil or Argentina (Soccer City Stadium hosted the Argentina-Korea Republic and Brazil-Cote d'Ivoire matches and will host Argentina-Mexico quarterfinal clash; Ellis Park hosted Argentina's opening match against Nigeria and Brazil-Korea DPR encounter). Jealous feelings aside, this all-South American clash will provide a feast of attacking football, since Marcelo Bielsa's side have been positive during the group stages while Brazil know only one way to win matches. If Kaka rediscovers his magic touch, Brazil will be simply irresistible.

Prediction: Brazil 4-2 in normal time

This is probably the least expected match-up in the Round of 16, simply because Italy were the favorites to top Group F and either Cameroon or Denmark were expected to finish behind the Netherlands in Group E. As the aforementioned teams are all out, we are left with Paraguay's defensive steel against Japan's clever movement and lethal dead ball skills. For either team, this will be a watershed moment, since they have never progressed to the quarterfinals of a World Cup before. Unfortunately for a neutral spectator, the pressure of the occasion will probably tell on the players and will result in a dreary, safety-first match.

Prediction: Japan 2-1 in extra time

There will be open secrets aplenty in this Iberian clash, as most of Portugal's stars ply their trade in Spain's La Liga, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe (both Real Madrid), Simao, and Tiago (both Atletico Madrid) playing for capital clubs. While Spain have the edge in midfield and attack, Portugal's defence have not let in a goal this tournament. Also, the last time these two teams met in a competition, Spain lost to Portugal 0-1 in the final group match of Euro 2004 and crashed out of the tournament at the group stage. Six years may be a long time in football, but Spain's supremely gifted footballers will be reminded of that painful loss and will be eager to make amends. Interesting fact: Cape Town is the ancient outcrop of land that Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias mentioned for the first time when Europe was seeking trade with the Far East. And just a week ago, Cape Town was the venue where Portugal recorded their biggest ever World Cup win by comprehensively dismantling Korea DPR 7-0. Will it prove to a lucky venue for them again? I think yes.

Prediction: 2-2 after normal time and extra time, 5-4 to Portugal on penalties

As much as Uruguay were deserving winners of this group, having won two and drawn one of their three matches, France were deservedly knocked out as their off-pitch shenanigans made a complete mockery of thousands of fans who traveled all the way to South Africa to support their team. Mexico were left to rue missed opportunities in their game against Uruguay and will now face the daunting prospect of keeping a red-hot Argentina at bay in the last 16. South Africa started brightly but their heavy loss to Uruguay made their task of progressing very difficult.

Argentina proved why they are one of the favorites by waltzing through the group. They started well by beating Nigeria, then blitzed Korea Republic before overpowering Greece with a second-string side. The scariest part about them is that World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi is yet to get on the scoring sheet and Diego will be hoping that he does soon, with crunch matches to come. Korea Republic knew that with Argentina in the group, they could only hope for second-best and they ensured that with a draw against the Nigerians in a see-saw match. In Park Ji Sung, they have genuine quality to trouble Uruguay and I reckon that match will stretch to penalty kicks. Greece paid for their anti-football and as for Nigeria, it was too little too late.

England were widely expected to top this group, with the only challenge from USA. However, things were far from easy as they huffed and puffed towards qualification, amid all sorts of myriad controversies and rumors. USA had their fair share of stumbles as well, but at least they were brave fighters and in Landon Donovan, they have an inspirational figure on the field who does not understand the phrase "give up". England now face Germany and are already arrogantly talking about meeting Argentina in the quarterfinals. The more humble Americans face Ghana in a rematch of their exciting group encounter four years ago in Nuremberg, which they lost narrowly. Slovenia started well with a win against Algeria, but faded away after a morale-sapping draw against USA and loss to England. Algeria were good up front, but their defence was too leaky for their liking and were over-reliant on Karim Ziani.

Ghana and Germany were the pace-setters in Group D, with Germany annihilating Australia 4-0 in their opening match. Serbia made things interesting in the group after their win against the Germans, but with 10-man Australia keeping Ghana to a 1-1 draw, all Germany had to do was avoid a defeat against the Africans and hope Serbia draw or lose to Australia. The Australia-Serbia game was a nerve-wracking affair, with a decent dose of controversy thrown in at the fag end of the match when Cahill escaped with a handball inside the Australian D. Ghana became the only African team to qualify for the last 16.

The Dutch ran away with group honors, despite not having Arjen Robben for the first two group games. Cameroon were downright disappointing, squandering chances in their match against Denmark and generally looking listless. Japan, on the other hand, were fully deserving of their second-placing in the group, after their enterprising win against the Danes in a make-or-break clash for either team. Such is the embarrassment of riches at Takeshi Okada's disposal that even the most prolific international goalscorer in the last twelve months, Shinji Okazaki can only make the bench.

New Zealand, Paraguay, and Slovakia. The Italian media scoffed at these teams and assured their readers that qualification was just a question of when, not if. And they were duly served humble pie by a shockingly misfiring Azzurri. In a World Cup first, the finalists of previous edition (Italy and France) crashed out in the first round stage. Paraguay topped the group and will face Japan while Slovakia were rewarded for their heroic feat of ejecting Italy with a last 16 meeting with the Dutch, who will be boosted by the return of Bayern Munich wizard, Arjen Robben.

Death or no death, Brazil sealed this group after contrasting wins over Korea DPR and Cote d'Ivoire. Like their fierce South American rivals, Argentina, Brazil are now coached by a former World Cup-winning captain in Dunga and if Brazil lift the Jules Rimet trophy on July 11, Dunga will be the 2nd man after compatriot Mario Zagallo in winning the World Cup as a player and manager (Zagallo, incidentally, remains the only man ever to win the World Cup as a player, manager and assistant manager). Portugal kept a clean sheet in all three matches, a creditable achievement, considering the opposition they had to face in the likes of Luis Fabiano, Didier Drogba and Jong Tae Se (Asian Wayne Rooney). Cote d'Ivoire were unlucky as they were again in a tough group, but aside from the footballing lesson they received from Brazil, they acquitted themselves pretty well. Korea DPR gave Brazil a run for their money in their opening match but were left battered and bruised after crushing defeats to Portugal and Cote d'Ivoire.

Spain were caught out by Switzerland, handing the advantage to Chile who exploited it to the full. However, the European champions had enough quality about them to revive their chances and by winning their remaining group matches, they eventually topped the group (on better goal difference vis-a-vis Chile) and set up a mouth-watering clash with Iberian neighbours, Portugal in last 16. Likwise, Chile will face their territorial rivals, Brazil, while Switzerland could not build on their early success and crashed out due to lack of goals. Honduras, like Cameroon, became the whipping boys of the group.

During the 1970s, football in South Africa was a "black man's sport", with cricket and rugby the domineering games. Despite the lack of encouragement, three men, Keith Broad, Smiley Moosa and Vusi "General" Lamola were three footballers whose skills were the stuff of legends. More about them will be revealed in an eagerly anticipated broadcast on July 4, but I found a preview on Youtube, embedded below:

Here is the official website link: http://www.theteamthatneverplayed.com

The last day of the group stage saw the concluding matches of Groups G and H, with the much-awaited clash between Portugal and Brazil the highlight of the day:

When the draw for the groups and fixtures was made in Cape Town on 4 December 2009, no other match drew as much attention as this one, since both nations have intertwining histories and similar styles of play. Portugal have been even dubbed "the Brazilians of Europe" on occasion for their attacking, devil-may-care-about-defence mode of playing football. Brazil, for their part, had stayed faithful to their 32-year tradition by booking a spot in last 16 with a game to spare, but that still didn't prevent their coach Dunga from declaring an intention to go one-up over their former colonial masters. Given such a background, a tight match was to be expected, but one lacking imagination and initiative was not. Brazil had the early possession and asked few uncomfortable questions at the Europeans' defence, but Portugal, for whom captain Ronaldo ploughed a lonely furrow up front, also had some gilt-edged chances and one particular move had the Brazilian center-back Juan committing a blatant handball and getting booked in the process. In fact, the first half saw a flurry of cautions (7 in all, 4 to Portugal and 3 to Brazil), with Pepe planting his studs in Felipe Melo's achilles heel and Melo returning the favor by ferociously battering Pepe to the ground. Both coaches must have appealed to their teams to go easy on the tackles in the 2nd half and though goals were at a premium, the 2nd half saw a bit more football than rugby but with a 0-0 stalemate, both teams were happy with the scoreline as it meant Cote d'Ivoire (for the 2nd time in as many World Cups) were eliminated from a very tough group.

With Portugal's 7-0 demolition of Korea DPR, the task was cut out for Les Elephants to win by a big margin against the Asians. They almost had a chance within the first minute, but the Korea DPR goalkeeper made a great save. Despite that, the Ivorians raced to a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes, only for the goals to dry up after that. Chances went abegging and try as much as they could, they could not bridge the enormous gap in the goal difference Portugal enjoyed. In any case, that would not have made a difference as Portugal and Brazil fought a goalless draw in Durban, ensuring that Africa lost their 4 representative for the last 16 stage. It remains to be seen whether talisman Didier Drogba will be appearing in Brazil 2014 (assuming Cote d'Ivoire qualify) since he's already 32.

Just like England in Group C and Italy in Group F, Spain were expected to sail through Group H. And just like England and the defending champions, the European champions were staring at an early exit two matches down in the group stage. However, history was on their side, since Chile have never won against the Spanish. History repeated in Pretoria as in-form hitman Villa with a stunning 40-yard left-foot strike and Barcelona magician Andres Iniesta (returning after picking up a knock in the shock defeat to the Swiss) put Spain 2-0 in the first half. Chile were down to 10 men just before half-time with the referee ruling Estrada (who was booked earlier) to have clipped Torres' heels deliberately in the move that led to Iniesta's goal. The South Americans had their chances too, with Mark Gonzalez blazing one over after being teed up by Jean Beausejour but they got only one goal back through Rodrigo Millar soon after the 2nd half started. Chile had to avoid a big defeat to qualify, but with Spain looking ominous, they endured some awfully tense moments and had to wait till the completion of the last league game between Switzerland and Honduras.

After a truly bright start against the Spanish, Switzerland faded inexplicably and became the last European casualty, paying the price for lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Captain and star striker Alexander Frei is no longer at his peak and having a rugged defence is no guarantee for qualification if the goals don't appear to be flowing in. There was a far-fetched possibility of Honduras even sneaking through to last 16 by soundly thrashing the Swiss but that was too much to be expected. With this match, the final pair of last 16 matches have been decided.

Day 14 saw the final group matches in Groups E and F:

The upset of the tournament for me. Slovakia were so average against Paraguay in their second group match that their progress from the group looked very bleak. But, they were super-motivated against the defending champions and try as they might (within the book and outside), the Italians were left second-best in an encounter that left many neutrals surprised and entertained in the same measure. Surprised because the famed Italian defence was slack and lethargic and entertained because Slovakia refused to give up even when Di Natale made it 2-1 nine minutes from time. Quagliarella looked to have it squared but much to the Italians' chagrin, the assistant referee ruled it out for offside, which though marginal, was the correct decision. Quagliarella refused to be denied a goal and scored one of the goal of the tournaments, a sweetly-timed chip shot that beat the exceptional Jan Mucha in goal for the Slovaks. Marcello Lippi took the blame for his side's early exit, but in all honesty, his players, especially the forward line, were woeful in all 3 matches. So much for the Italian newspapers calling it an easy group!

Having taken 4 points from 2 games, Paraguay would have been eliminated only if they lost to New Zealand today and there was a big win in the match between either Italy or Slovakia. Neither possibility occurred, ensuring that Paraguay retained their pole position in the group and Slovakia joined them in the last 16 with their tense win over the Italians, who suffered the ignominy of finishing last in the group. For their part, the Kiwis left with their heads held high, having drawn all 3 matches. I have a hunch that striker Shane Smeltz, who currently plays for Gold Coast United in the Australian A-league, will soon depart for a European club after the World Cup is over!

With the Dutch having sealed their qualification and Cameroon the first nation to exit this edition, this match had everything at stake for both Japan and Denmark. The Japanese needed only a draw to make it while Denmark needed a win to qualify. The Blue Samurai were rewarded for their approach in playing for a win, instead of a draw, thanks to terrific freekicks by Keisuki Honda and Yasuhito Endo and some wizardry by Honda (reminiscent of the famous Cryuff turn) to set up Shinji Okazaki for the 3rd goal. The Danes looked shocked after the defeat, but they were unable to prevent a highly motivated, well-drilled Japanese team from running away with the match. As group runners up, they now face Paraguay on 29 June at Tshwane/Pretoria.

This has been a World Cup to forget for the Indomitable Lions, as they finished on zero points from 3 games. The only silver lining was an individual record for Rigobert Song (uncle to Alex Song of Arsenal), who became the first African player to feature in 4 World Cup tournaments (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010). As for the Dutch, there was more than 1 reason to savor the win, as Arjen Robben made a successful return to action and almost scored an identical goal to the winner he let rip against Fiorentina in a Champions' League match earlier this year. This effort saw the ball rebound off the post and fall kindly to the AC Milan striker, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who finished with panache for the winner. As group winners, they now face Slovakia on 28 June at Durban.

So, here are the matches from the last 16 stage arising from Groups E and F:

The 4 matches of Day 13:

England were unbelievably dull in their first 2 matches, while Slovenia were sitting pretty with 4 points from the same number of games. England had to win their last match to have any chance of qualifying and in the face of mounting criticism back home and among the traveling journalists, they eventually scraped through. The players, fans and even Capello were delighted with the win, but with tougher opposition to come later, England will need to improve drastically to have any hopes of going far in this tournament. On the other hand, Slovenia are now in real danger of crashing out, which will become true if the USA either draw or win their match against Algeria.

The Americans counted themselves very unlucky to have been denied a thrilling win against Slovenia, but at 0-2 down, they would be happy with the point. As such, they had to win their last match against Algeria, in case Slovenia managed to draw their match. And win they did, thanks to Landon Donovan. This is the second match they have scored really late and it shows their never-give-up attitude. It also means that whoever they play will have to up their concentration levels. They were really unlucky to miss out on a last 16 spot 4 years ago, having been placed in a tough group with eventual champions Italy, Czech Republic and Ghana, but this time, they have been very determined to qualify.

Ghana have been the most impressive of the African contingent, with the youngest average age. Germany have the second youngest team and this contest was likely to be an entertaining affair. And so, it was, with both Germany and Ghana creating plenty of chances. Mezut Oezil missed an absolute easy picking in the 1st half when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he atoned for it with a fine finish on the hour mark, spanking a left-footed drive beyond Richard Kingson's outstretched arms. With this win, Germany top Group D and will face England in the last 16, who are the runners-up in Group C.

This was an epic thriller, with both teams in with a real chance of qualifying. Ultimately, Australia played spoilsport to Serbia's chances with 2 superb goals: a powerful header from Cahill and Brett Holman's long-range strike leaving Vladimir Stojkovic (hero against Germany) scrambling in vain. Serbia pulled a goal back in a pulsating finish to the game that saw controversy in the shape of a handball by Cahill. Serbia's elimination sees Ghana finish as Group D runners-up and will now face the USA in the last 16.

Here are the last 16 matches from Groups C and D:

The 4 matches of Day 12:

This match was of little significance to both teams, considering South Africa's underwhelming performances and France's implosion of epic proportions outside the pitch. The only thing worth fighting for in this match was to avoid meeting a rampaging Argentina in last 16 and Uruguay probably were better value for the win and finish as group toppers, leaving Mexico to face Argentina in a repeat of last 16 meeting in '06 (remember Maxi Rodriguez' stunning goal in extra time?). This was also the first of the final round of group matches, which always kick-off simultaneously to ensure concentration of the players on the match at hand and ward off any rumors of match fixing. So, while this was going on, South Africa, the gallant host nation, was dreaming one last fantasy to creep into last 16 by facing France.

As expected, a thoroughly distracted France had an almost complete overhaul of the playing 11, with captain Patrice Evra, Florent Malouda, Jeremy Toulalan (suspended), Sidney Govou, and Eric Abidal on the subs bench. Gourcuff made a return to the 11, and made an even hastier return to the showers by getting himself sent off for a high elbow. Then, France conceded soft goals, one from a set piece and the other from unbelievably chaotic defending. A miserable, demoralizing campaign by any standards. Radical changes are needed to infuse a fresh breath of life into the squad and while Zidane may declare that Gourcuff is the new direction for French football, I beg to differ. Too many egos within a team is sure to prove counter-productive. South Africa, the nation were left with mixed feelings and a profound feeling of regret at having drawn their opening encounter with Mexico. What might have been?

Nigeria have flattered to deceive at this World Cup and it wouldn't be really harsh to say that they have been the most disappointing of the African teams. Having lost both of their opening 2 matches, they needed a big win against a hardworking Korean side, but that was easier said than done. They did get an early goal, though, but Ayegbeni (suspiciously offside) and Martins missed absolute sitters in the 2nd half and they paid for their profligacy by crashing out. Korea also needed some luck in the shape of Greece-Argentina match result to go their way, but they were very industrious throughout. Their second goal, a sublime freekick, was a peach but they won't be receiving such gifts from tougher opposition later.

With qualification to last 16 assured, Diego Maradona sent a second-string squad onto the pitch at Peter Mokaba Stadium, with the world's premier player, Lionel Messi, donning the captain's armband. Despite the lack of stars like Higuain, Tevez, Mascherano, and the unsung Samuel, Argentina still carried plenty of firepower, too strong for Greece's liking. The only grey spot was last season's top scorer in Serie A and Champions' League, Diego Milito not creating any opportunities for himself. And to make matters worse for him, Martin Palermo, the much0-derided 36-year-old sub who had replaced him, ended up with a goal to his name a minute from time. Diego was seen prancing up and down whenever his team scored (or even came close to scoring). I really wonder if all that crazed passion is beneficial for his already storied health?

So, with Groups A and B finishing their pool encounters, this is the first set of last 16 matches that we have in store:

3 matches on day 11:

With Brazil's convincing win over Cote d'Ivoire on day 10, Portugal were gifted a golden opportunity to settle matters in their group and they did not disappoint. A smooth move involving Tiago and Meireles had eased Portuguese nerves on a torrential Cape Town evening and at half-time, one could be forgiven for thinking that an interesting 2nd half was in store. Nah, nothing of that sort happened as Portugal forward line ran riot, with Tiago helping himself to 2 goals while captain fantastic, Ronaldo scored his first since February 2009, albeit a comedy goal (as the ball looped over his neck and head and then dropped kindly for him to slot into a completely unguarded net). A goal difference of +7 now makes the task almost impossible for the Ivorians (with a goal difference of -2) and in all probability, Brazil will finish first and Portugal second in this group.

Chile rounded off a memorable last few days for South American football (and miserable for the Europeans) by scraping to another 1-0 win. Interestingly, all 5 South American countries are now the group leaders (Uruguay in group A, Argentina in group B, Paraguay in group F, Brazil in group G and Chile in group H). Meanwhile, I'm losing count of the red cards that have been issued in the tournament, with West Ham United's Valon Behrami receiving his marching orders for an elbow into Arturo Vidal. With 6 points, Chile have thrown the gauntlet to La Furia Roja. Will they win their match against Honduras?

The race for the Golden Boot is hotting up, with Villa joining the likes of Tiago, Elano, Luis Fabiano, Asamoah Gyan, Lee Jung Soo and Diego Forlan on 2 goals apiece (for the complete list, check this link). His first was spectacular, twisting the Honduran defence this way and that, but his second took a lucky deflection and wrong-footed the keeper horribly. Either way, he will take it as Fernando "El Nino" Torres is yet to hit top gear and the midfield is unable to convert the endless chances into goals. Despite the morale-boosting win, the Spanish will realize that the job is only half-done and will be dead keen to win their last match against the pace-setters, Chile. Honduras join Cameroon in the crashed-out corner.

Day 10 saw 3 matches:

Slovakia showed their inexperience in this match by putting up a substandard display that left most neutral spectators bored with the match. Paraguay, however, struck at critical times and took the match with them. Having drawn their opening match against the defending champions, Paraguay are now sitting pretty, at the top of Group F. Barring an exceptional shambolic performance against the Kiwis, the South Americans progress into the last 16 is virtually assured. They have a good shape about them and when Roque Santa Cruz recovers fully, their forward line will balance their rock-solid defence. Slovakia, on the other hand, will look to play for pride in their last match against the Italians, who are desperate to get 3 points under their belt. An amazing stat: Italy has not won a single match in 2010!

Well, well, well, the European super-powers are obviously gasping for breath. Shane Smeltz sent the Kiwis into dreamland when he slotted in from point-blank range, thanks to uncharacteristic bad defending by the Azzurri (especially El Capitano, Cannavaro) but their lead lasted all of 22 minutes. Tommy Smith was harshly adjudged to have pulled Daniele de Rossi's shirt in the box and while not exactly a clean challenge, de Rossi clearly bought it and did nothing to improve Italy's reputation in the dark arts. Despite that, the All Whites gave it all they got and almost escaped with 3 points when substitute Chris Wood missed an opportunity. Lippi's men are clearly missing some spark this time. Italy are fortunate to have been placed in an easy group and with Slovakia looking out of place, they will probably win their match against the debutants. Which, incredibly again, will be their first of 2010.

One of the genuine mouth-watering clashes of the tournament saw former Real Madrid teammates, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in the audience at the truly magnificent Soccer City stadium. And they probably were not disappointed, given the quality of the match: top-draw, with some sublime Brazilian skills matched by the Africans' drive, passion and lung-busting stamina. After a cagey opening, Luis Fabiano sped through the tiniest gap in the Ivorians defence and blasted home from a tight angle for his first goal, but his second was the one that set tongues wagging. At first glance, it looks like a marvelous solo effort but on close scrutiny, you can see that he uses his arm, not once, but twice when looping the ball over the shaky backline. The ref actually asks him if he used his arm for the goal but Fabiano pretends not to. The third was all Samba silk as Kaka rounded an erratic Kolo Toure before squaring the ball to Elano to sidefoot home. Shortly after, Elano limped off after a robust challenge while things got hot towards the fag end of the match, with several skirmishes peppering an otherwise good tempered match. Kaka was sent off for a farcical foul (shades of Rivaldo circa 2002 in Keita's Razzie-winning performance in clutching his face when Kaka blocked him in the chest). Drogba finally got on the scoring sheet but with this loss, the Elephants will need to win, and win big, against North Korea on 25 June.

When Charles Dickens wrote his novel on England and France on the brink of revolution, little did he realize that those 2 countries would face not dissimilar fates in the footballing version, albeit on the world stage. Both teams have completely failed to make an impact in South Africa, with France even sitting on zero under the goals scored column. The similarities do not end there, with England, despite having been placed in a relatively easier group, cutting pathetic figures against USA and Algeria and France looking equally clueless against Uruguay and Mexico. Their execrable performances haven't gone down well with the respective domestic media either. Some tabloids in England have hinted at a rift between the overpaid players and Capello, while the French papers have even called for no reaction to the demoralizing defeat against a vastly superior Mexican side, claiming Les Bleus did not deserve the attention. But, even that was nothing compared to what transpired today.

Nicolas Anelka, the French striker who started in both games, was substituted at half-time against Mexico and was not at all happy, letting his feelings known to the perennially under-fire coach, Raymond Domenech. Since he used rather colorful language, the authorities demanded he make a full apology to the boss, which he firmly refused. Following this, he was asked to leave the squad and return home. The whole sordid episode was apparently leaked to the press, much to the fury of current captain, Patrice Evra, who wanted the matter to be resolved confidentially. Rumors have it that he confronted fitness coach Robert Duverne, who almost came to blows with Evra. Evra and Domenech then had a closed door meeting on the bus, after the team had come to the training ground this morning. Following this, the squad decided not to train in support of their banished teammate and against the measures which the federation took to expel Anelka. Disgusted at the squad's decision, the federation's managing director, Jean-Louis Valentin who was in South Africa, flew back to France and resigned. The entire sequence of events has left senior officials in the federation back in France completely stunned and lost for words.

Meanwhile, Capello's job could be on the line if England fail to qualify for last 16. That seems a strange price to pay, considering he led the team to a very convincing qualification for the finals. The players are looking increasingly sour and bereft of ideas, while the goalkeeping conundrum never seems to go away, hardly Capello's fault, if you ask me. But, England's players are one of the highest paid in the world and while the world may marvel at their league and individual talents, they always come up with some lame performances on the international stage. Not since Bobby Robson coached England to a last 4 showing in 1990 have they looked genuinely convincing. If Capello goes indeed, it will reflect very poorly on the English FA, since they renewed his contract only less than a month ago.

Only time will tell if there is more to come in these pungent soap operas.

Marca is a Madrid-based newspaper, with a reputation of supporting Real Madrid and giving more emphasis to its news. If you are a Real hater, then, you might think that their match tracker is no big deal. However, it is a very pleasant surprise simply because it is so easy to use, with superb conception and slick execution. Here is a sample screenshot:

I've updated the template from one of pre-set options (floodlights) to this new football template created by Anshul Dudeja. I thought this was more appropriate and made few tweaks here and there. Thanks a lot, Anshul :)

Here is the link to download the template, if you want to.