World Cup Day 25: World Cup Final - Holland vs Spain

Holland 0 Spain 1 (Iniesta 116)

World Cup Final: The Key Points

5 mins - Sergio Ramos header from a Xavi free kick which was saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.

12 mins - David Villa shot goes into the side netting.

29 mins - Nigel De Jong booked for stamp on Xabi Alonso's chest. He should have been sent off.

44 mins - Arjen Robben shot saved by Iker Casillas

Half-Time: 0-0 - Both Nigel De Jong & Mark Van Bommel should have been sent off.

62 mins - A wonderful Wesley Sneijder through ball allowed Robben a run on goal but effort was brilliantly saved by the feet of Casillas.

70 mins - Villa had a chance at the back post after a mistake by Johnny Heitinga but he was able to recover and block Villa's attempt.

77 mins - Sergio Ramos headed an effort way over when he was unmarked from a corner.

83 mins - Robben got through again but this time Casillas came out to smother him.

Full-Time 0-0

95 mins - After a lovely pass from Andres Iniesta allowed Cesc Fabregas to run into the box but his shot was saved by Stekelenburg.

Extra Time: Half-Time: 0-0

110 mins - Johnny Heitinga sent off for a second bookable offence after pulling back Iniesta.

116 mins - Fernando Torres clipped a cross into the box. It was partially cleared but Fabregas picked it up and he found Iniesta in the area, he steadied himself before volleying past Stekelenburg.

Full Time Of Extra Time: 0-1

FIFA WORLD CUP WINNERS 2010: SPAIN

World Cup Final Preview - Spain

Holland vs Spain - Kickoff 7:30pm on BBC1 & ITV1

Road To The Final

Group Stage:-

Wednesday 16th June - 0:1 Switzerland (LOSS)

Monday 21th June - 2:0 Honduras (WIN)

Friday 25th June - 2:1 Chile (WIN)

Round Of 16:-

Tuesday 29th June - 1:0 Portugal (WIN)

Quarter-Final:-

Saturday 3rd July - 1:0 Paraguay (WIN)

Semi-Final:-

Wednesday 7th July - 1:0 Germany (WIN)

World Cup Final Preview - Holland

Holland vs Spain - Kickoff 7:30pm on BBC1 & ITV1

Road To The Final

Group Stage:-

Monday 14th June - 2:0 Denmark (WIN)

Saturday 19th June - 1:0 Japan (WIN)

Thursday 24th June - 2:1 Cameroon (WIN)

Round Of 16:-

Monday 28th June - 2:1 Slovakia (WIN)

Quarter-Final:-

Friday 2nd July - 2:1 Brazil (WIN)

Semi-Final:-

Tuesday 6th July - 3:2 Uruguay (WIN)

World Cup Day 24 - Germany vs Uruguay

Uruguay 2 (Cavani 28, Forlan 51) Germany 3 (Muller 18, Jansen 56, Khedira 82)

Germany started well and should have been ahead after ten minutes when Arne Friedrich hit the crossbar after Germany corner. The Germans went ahead on eighteen minutes when Thomas Muller put the rebound into the net after a long range from Bastian Schweinsteiger was parried into the middle of the goal by Fernando Muslera. With Germany in control, it looked like Uruguay were going to need something special to get back into the match. On twenty eight minutes the Uruguayan's equalised. A mistake by Schweinsteiger allowed Diego Perez to pick up the jabulani and pass to Diego Forlan who in turn found Edison Cavani. He was able to run into the box and slide his shot past Hans Jorge-Butt in the German goal. That was 1-1 and game on. In the fifteen minutes before half time Uruguay were the better side as Schweinsteiger and the rest of the German team looked to be dwelling on his mistake. Luis Suarez had a chance to make it 2-1 before half time but he dragged his shot wide.

It ended 1-1 at half time, both sides trying to win the match and both looking dangerous & dominating periods.

Six minutes into the second half and Uruguay were ahead. Forlan hit a volley into the ground & into the net. That was after good play from Egidio Arevalo who crossed into the edge of the box for Forlan to make it 2-1 and put Uruguay in control. A ball into the Uruguayan box from Jerome Boateng caused all sorts of problems. Muslera came out to punch the ball but did not get anywhere near it. That allowed the cross to get to Marcell Jansen who with the side of his face put Germany back on level terms, 2-2 after fifty six minutes.

Stefan Kiessling had an effort saved by Muslera on seventy six minutes. As both sides pressed for a winner spaces began to appear. Germany regained the lead on eighty two mintues, when a whipped corner from Mesut Ozil popped up & enabled Sami Khedira to loop his header over Muslera and into the goal. Two minutes from time Kiessling had a wonderful chance to make it 4-2 but side footed his effort way over the bar. With the last kick of the game Uruguay had a chance to make it 3-3 but Forlan's freekick came back off the crossbar.

World Cup Day 23 - Germany vs Spain

Germany 0 Spain 1 (Puyol 73)

Spain kept the ball well throughout and tired Germany out. The best chance of the first half fell to Carlos Puyol who headed over from a few yards out after a driven cross from Andres Iniesta on 14 minutes.

Spain continued to keep the jabulani and put Germany under pressure. The pressure finally told on 73 minutes when a Xavi corner was met by the head of Puyol who rocketed his past Manuel Neuer in the German goal. Spain had chances to wrap the game up with Pedro and Fernando Torres but neither could find a finish.

Spain go through to the final on Sunday and will play the Netherlands.

World Cup Day 22 - Uruguay vs Holland

Uruguay 2 (Forlan 41, D.Perriera 92) Holland 3 (Van Bronckhorst 16, Sneijder 70, Robben 73)

The game lacked quality until a stunning strike from Gio Van Bronckhorst put the Dutch 1-0 infront. From 35 yards out he struck the jabulani and it when right across Fernando Muslera's goal. He got fingertips to it but the strike was so good nothing was gonna stop it. Went in off the post and that was 1-0 to Holland after 18 minutes. There wasn't much happening and it looked like the Dutch would go into the break 1-0 up. That was until Diego Forlan came up with a moment of magic. He created space for himself 35 yards from goal with the help of Edinson Cavani and curled his effort past Maarten Stekelenburg who could only get a hand to the ball but it wasn't enough to keep it out. That made it 1-1 at half time.

After the break the game again became cat and mouse as neither team was pressing the matter. A Wesley Sneijder shot from the edge of the box which deflected off Maxi Pereira which headed towards goal. Robin Van Persie threw a leg at the ball but didn't get a touch on it, that looked to have put Muslera off as he couldn't get near it. As it ended up going in at the far post. That was 2-1 on 70 minutes. Three minutes later Arjen Robben put the Netherlands 3-1 up. A Dirk Kuyt cross into the box came to Robben whose brilliant header which went in off the near post leaving Muslera with no chance.

As it looked like the Dutch were going to run away with it. Uruguay were able to pull a goal back deep into injury time. A Walter Gargano freekick came to Maxi Pereira who curl his shot into the Dutch goal with his second touch. That made it a nervous last couple of minutes for Holland but they survived and will play in the World Cup final on Sunday.

World Cup Semi Finals Confirmed

SEMI FINALS

Uruguay vs Holland - Tuesday 6th July Kickoff 7:30pm on ITV1

Germany vs Spain - Wednesday 7th July Kickoff 7:30pm on BBC1

World Cup Day 21 - Paraguay vs Spain

Paraguay 0 Spain 1 (Villa 82)

The first half Paraguay pressed Spain high up the pitch and never allowed Spain to get into a passing rhythm. The past Spanish chance went to Xavi who volleyed it over and Paraguay had a goal disallowed for offside.

The game burst into life with 2 penalties in 2 minutes. The first of which went to Paraguay on 57 minutes after Gerard Pique brought down Oscar Cardozo. He stepped up to take the spot kick and it was saved by Iker Casillas. Spain broke and went up the other end and were awarded a penalty themselves. David Villa was through on goal and brought down by Antolin Alcaraz. Xabi Alonso stepped up and scored but the referee made him retake it for encroachment. Second time, Xabi Alonso went the other way and Justo Villar made the save. The game was starting to get stretched and as Spain were picking up the pace, Paraguay were tiring after working so hard to press.

On 82 minutes Spain went ahead. Andres Iniesta showed super feet and played in Pedro whose effort struck the post. It came back to Villa, his shot hit the far post then the other post and went in. That made it one nil. There was one last chance for Paraguay which came to Roque Santa Cruz but his shot was saved by Casillas.

World Cup Day 21 - Argentina vs Germany

Argentina 0 Germany 4 (Muller 3, Klose 67, 89, Friedrich 74)

Germany took the lead within 3 minutes. A wonderfully floated freekick in from Bastian Schweinsteiger which was met by the slightest of touches from Thomas Muller his Bayern Munich team mate which helped it beat Sergio Romero in the Argentine goal. 1-0 to Germany. The Germans were in full control of the first 15-20 minutes causing Argentina all sorts of problems. Then Argentina came slowly back into it. On 23 minutes Lionel Messi played a lovely pass into the Germany box but Carlos Tevez couldn't get there ahead of Manuel Neuer. It could and probably should have been 2-0 when Muller got down the wing and played it into Miroslav Klose who could only sky his shot way over. The Argentinians had a goal disallowed on 37 because 4 players were in an offside position. At the break it was 1-0 to Germany but it could easily have been more.

Argentina started the better in the second half and had a few chances but nothing that was clear cut. Then on 68 minutes Germany went 2 goals ahead. Muller found a pass to Lukas Podolski who played a perfect pass along the six yard box where Miroslav Klose tapped the jabulani home. Germany went further ahead on 74 minutes after a great run by Schweinsteiger on the wing he got into the box and was able to find Arne Friedrich with the pass who toe poked it home for his first goal for Germany. Germany grabbed a fourth a minute from time to seal the game and confound Argentina's misery. The German's broke with pace as Podolski sent Mesut Ozil away, his floated cross came perfectly for Klose to volley past Romero. That was 4-0 and Germany will take some beating.

World Cup Day 20 - Uruguay vs Ghana

Uruguay 1 (Forlan 55, Suarez sent off 120) Ghana 1 (Muntari 45+2)

The game was punctuated by the referees whistle in the 1st half. Both teams had chances to take the lead but in injury time Ghana took the lead. Sulley Muntari picked the jabulani up in the Uruguay half and he struck a 35 yard shot which curl past Fernando Muslera whose positioning was all wrong.

10 minutes into the 2nd half, Diego Forlan brought Uruguay back into the game with a stunning freekick which sailed past Richard Kingson. There were chances for both sides but neither could find the killer touch and they were both tiring. The game ended 1-1, so we moved to extra time.

Both sides were still very tired and that's how the first half of extra time went along. Neither really looked like scoring. Asamoah Gyan, Stephan Appiah and Kevin-Prince Boateng all had chances in the 2nd half of extra time to win it for Ghana. The last minute was when the drama came to the boil. A Ghanian corner was glanced on and Muslera couldn't clear it. Dominic Adiyiah had a shot which was blocked by Luis Suarez on the line, before Adiyiah's next effort was batted away by Suarez. Suarez was sent off and Ghana had a penalty to win the game deep into injury time at the end of the 2nd half of extra time. Gyan stepped up and struck his thunderous effort against the crossbar.

We went on to penalties and so the drama continued. The first 5 penalties were scored until Ghana's John Mensah's penalty was saved by Muslera. Maxi Pereira smacked his effort way over for Uruguay which brought Ghana back into the game. Adiyiah's penalty was saved by Muslera down to the right. That left Sebastian Abreu knowing that if he scored Uruguay would go into the semi finals of the World Cup. He duly obliged by chipping his penalty right down the middle, sending the Uruguayan fans, players and staff mad.

World Cup Day 20 - Holland vs Brazil

Holland 2 (Felipe Melo Own Goal 53, Sneijder 68) Brazil 1 (Robinho 10, Felipe Melo Sent Off 73)

Robinho put Brazil ahead on 10 minutes after a lovely through ball by Felipe Melo and he side footed it past Maarten Stekelenburg. At half time their only looked like one time winning this match and it wasn't Holland.

Holland didn't look like scoring until they got a freekick. It was worked to Wesley Sneijder who curled in a cross. Julio Cesar came out to punch but couldn't get near it. That was because Felipe Melo attacked the jabulani which came of his head and ended in the net. Arjen Robben curled in a corner which Dirk Kuyt flicked on at the near post and Sneijder was there in the middle of the box to head home on 68 minutes to make it 2-1 to the Dutch. Minutes later Felipe Melo's day was compounded went he was sent off for a stamp on Robben.

Holland were able to hang on as Brazil could not fashion a chance to equalise. Brazil go out at the quarter-final stage for the second World Cup running. Holland go through to semi-finals for the first time since 1998. They will play the winners of Uruguay vs Ghana this coming Tuesday.

My World Cup Awards: So Far

Two days break from the World Cup. We restart from the quarter finals on Friday afternoon. So we take a rest from the consecutive 19 days of football. Here's my awards so far:-

Worst Team Performance: Greece vs South Korea or France vs Uruguay

Best Goal(s): Tshabalala vs Mexico, Suarez vs South Korea, Quagliarella vs Slovakia

Best Team Performance: Germany vs Australia

Worst Miss: Yakubu vs South Korea

Worst Player(s) Of The Tournament: Wayne Rooney (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Best Player(s) Of The Tournament: Diego Forlan (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Keisuke Honda (Japan), Mesut Ozil (Germany)

Biggest Flops (Team): France, Italy, England

Worst Game(s): England vs Algeria, Brazil vs Portugal, Uruguay vs France, England vs USA

Best Supporters: Japan, Chile, Mexico

World Cup Quarter Finals Confirmed

Holland vs Brazil - 2 July 3:00pm on ITV1

Uruguay vs Ghana - 2 July 7:30pm on ITV1

Argentina vs Germany - 3 July 3:00pm on BBC1

Paraguay vs Spain - 3 July 7:30pm on BBC1

World Cup Day 19 - Portugal vs Spain

PREVIEW: Portugal vs Spain Kick Off 7:30pm on BBC1

Portugal finished second in group G on 5 points. Two 0-0 draws against Ivory Coast & Brazil were supplemented by a 7-0 thrashing of North Korea. Tiago is their top scorer with 2 goals.

Spain qualified for the 2nd round by topping group H with 6 points. After a shock 1-0 defeat at the feet of Switzerland they got back on track with wins against Honduras & Chile. New Barcelona signing David Villa is the Spanish top scorer with 3 goals.

Spain 1 (Villa 63) Portugal 0 (R.Costa sent off 89)

Spain started the game well David Villa and Fernando Torres worked Eduardo in the Portguese goal early in the first half. Tiago and Hugo Almeida had chances for the Portuguese later in the half but couldn't convert.

Spain were the better side throughout and when Villa scored it was fully deserved. Lovely passing from with Andres Iniesta acting as the hub allowed Xavi to flick the jabulani through to Villa. His first effort was saved by the Portugal keeper but his second chance was hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down into the goal. Fernando Llorente had a heading opportunity just before Villa scored but he could only direct his header at Eduardo.

Portugal had to come out and play now but couldn't fashion any sort of chances as they never had the jabulani. Cristiano Ronaldo was terrible, a complete non-event. With a minute left of normal time Ricardo Costa was sent off for an suspected elbow on Joan Capdevila. Spain go through to face Paraguay in the quarter finals.

World Cup Day 19 - Paraguay vs Japan

PREVIEW: Paraguay vs Japan Kick Off 3:00pm on ITV1

Paraguay finished top of group F on 5 points. A win against Slovakia was sandwiched in between draws against Italy & New Zealand. Alcarez, Vera and Riveros are their joint top scorers with one each.

Japan qualified for the round of 16 from group E on 6 points. They beat Cameroon and Denmark but were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Holland. Keisuke Honda is Japan's top scorer with 2.

Paraguay 0 Japan 0 After Extra Time (Paraguay win 5-3 on pens

Both sides were feeling the tension as neither of them wanted to make mistakes. So it was a match of few chances . No clear cute chances. In extra time it opened up but no one could find that killer pass or shot. Paraguay won 5-3 on penalties Oscar Cardozo scored the winning penalty.

World Cup Day 18 - Brazil vs Chile

PREVIEW:- Brazil vs Chile - Kick off 7:30pm on ITV1

Brazil won group G finishing on 7 points after wins against North Korea and Ivory Coast. They finished the group with a 0-0 bore draw against Portugal. Elano and Luis Fabiano are their joint top scorers for Brazil with 2 each.

Chile finished 2nd in group H on 6 points. They started well by beating Honduras and Switzerland but ended the group stages with defeat to Spain. Rodrigo Millar, Mark Gonzalez & Jose Beausejour are Chile's joint top scorers on 1 goal each.

Brazil 3 (Juan 34,Luis Fabiano 38,Robinho 59) Chile 0

Brazil and Chile were fairly even till the 34th minute. That was when a Maicon corner found Juan who powered his header past Bravo in the Chile goal. Then 4 minutes Brazil went 2-0 up. Luis Fabiano rounded the keeper and put the jabulani in the net. That was after a Brazil got down the wing with Robinho who played in Kaka. He then played a tremendous controlled pass to Fabiano who did the rest.

Chile started well and were looking likely to create a chance to grab a goal but 15 minutes Brazil wrapped up the game and made it safe. A great run from the half way line from Ramires allowed Robinho who was able to curl his shot past the Chilean keeper from inside the box. That made it 3-0 and comfortable for them. That allowed Dunga to bring off Kaka, Robinho & Luis Fabiano to save them for the quarter-final.

World Cup Day 18 - Holland vs Slovakia

Netherlands 2 (Robben 18, Sneijder 84) Slovakia 0

Arjen Robben got on to a ball over the top as the Dutch broke forward. Robben cut inside and powered his low effort into the bottom corner. The first half the Dutch were comfortable and never really looked threatened.

Robben & Gregory Van Der Wiel had chances to put the Dutch further ahead after half time but couldn't convert. Robert Vittek went close for Slovakia on 68 minutes but had his effort saved by Maarten Stekelenburg. Vittek had another chance on 79 minutes but couldn't direct his shot on goal. Jan Mucha came out to beat Dirk Kuyt to a quick free-kick but missed the jabulani. Kuyt was able to square it to Wesley Sneijder who had the simple task of side footing the jabulani into an empty goal. That made it 2-0 to Netherlands. There was one last chance for Slovakia to grab a goal. Martin Jakubko was brough down by Stekelenburg in the box with 30 seconds to go. Vittek stepped up and comfortably put the jabulani to the Dutch keeper's right hand side. It finished 2-1 to the Dutch.

World Cup Day 17 - Argentina vs Mexico

PREVIEW:- Argentina vs Mexico - Kick off 7:30pm on BBC1

Argentina finished top of Group B with 9 points. They beat Nigeria, South Korea and Greece to qualify easily. Gonzalo Higuain is their top scorer with 3 goals.

Mexico finished 2nd in Group A. A draw in their first game against South Africa was followed by a 2-0 win against World Cup 2006 runners up France. Despite being beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in the last group game they went through on goal difference. Rafael Marquez, Javier Hernandez & Cuauhtemoc Blanco are joint top scorers with 1 a piece.

Argentina 3 (Tevez 25,52, Higuain 33) Mexico 1 (Hernandez 71)

Argentina go through to the last 8 after a comfortable 3-1 win. Mexico started well but went behind to a goal that should never have been. Lionel Messi slid Carlos Tevez clear but the Mexico keeper came out to smother the jabulani came back to Messi who chipped it goalwards but Tevez headed it in. The Mexican players protested to the officials after a replay was shown on the big screen in the stadium but the goal remained. That shook the Mexicans and not long after it was 2-0. Ricardo Osorio played a loose ball across defence without looking, and played in Gonzalo Higuain,who rounded Oscar Perez in the Mexican goal before slotting home. That was the half time score. The Mexicans still enraged by the goal that never was caused a kerfuffle before heading down the tunnel.

Mexico again started the second half well but within seven minutes of the restart they were 3-0 down. The jabulani broke to Tevez on the edge of the box and he struck an unstoppable thundering strike into the top corner. Javier Hernandez came alive in the box with a quick turn and smashed the jabulani into the roof of the onion bag on 71 minutes but that was as good as it got for Mexico. It wasn't Messi's greatest game but in injury he had a run on goal and his curled effort on was saved by Perez.

World Cup Day 17 - Germany vs England

PREVIEW:- Germany vs England - Kick Off 3:00pm on BBC

Germany finished top of Group D to qualify for the knockout stage with 6 points. A 4-0 demolition of the Australia in their first game put them in pole postion to qualify. That was before they were beaten 1-0 by Serbia. A goal from Mesut Ozil gave them a 1-0 against Ghana to help them qualify. Germany have 5 players on one goal a piece.

England went through 2nd in Group C with 5 points. After scrapping draws against USA & Algeria. They beat Slovenia narrowly 1-0 in their final game. Steven Gerrard and Jermain Defoe are their joint top scorers with 1 goal each.

Germany 4 (Klose 20, Podolski 32, Mueller 67,70) England 1 (Upson 37)

Mezut Ozil had an early chance to open the scoring but David James saved in the English goal. Along ball from Manuel Neuer only needed a touch from Miroslav Klose who put it under James on 20 minutes to put Germany 1-0 up. Klose could have put the Germans 2-0 on 31 minutes but James was able to save again.A minute later Lukas Podolski put them 2-0 up with his shot in off the post from and angle. That was after Klose came down the wing, his pass was flicked on by Thomas Mueller it came to Podolski who had an age to make it 2. A short corner from England came to Steven Gerrard who put a cross in and Matthew Upson cushioned his header into the net. A minute later it should have been 2-2 after Frank Lampard smashed an effort against the crossbar and bounced over the line but the goal was not given. Half time 2-1 to the Germans, it could have been 4-0 Germany or 2-2.

Lampard rocketed a freekick against the crossbar on 52 minutes. Thomas Mueller ran in on goal but put his effort wide after 56 minutes. Germany restored their 2 goal lead after a quick German break allowed Bastian Schweinsteiger to play in Meuller who directed his shot past James, that was 3-1 after 67 minutes. England were hit on the break for Germany's fourth. A pass over the top put Gareth Barry and Mesut Ozil in race but Ozil was far too pacey for Barry, Ozil ran half the length of the pitch, got into the box and passed to Meuller who had an easy task to side foot the jabulani home. Steven Gerrard had a chance on 81 minutes but his effort was saved by Neuer.

The final score was 4-1 to Germany but that could have been the half time score. England played well after they got a goal back but they have failed to live up to the hype once again. Germany's young stars were brilliant and deserved their victory. Had they not won the World Cup would have been worse off.

World Cup Day 16 - USA vs Ghana

PREVIEW:- USA vs Ghana - Kick Off 7:30pm on ITV1

USA qualified for the 2nd round finishing top of Group C with 5 points. They had a score draw in their first game with England. Then they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Slovenia. Landon Donovan grabbed a late winner against Algeria to put them through & top the group. Their top scorer & captain is Landon Donovan with 2 goals.

Ghana qualified for the 2nd round finishing second in Group D with 4 points. A late penalty gave them a 1-0 win against Serbia. They drew 1-1 with Australia in their second game. Although they lost 1-0 to Germany in their final game they went through on goal difference. Asamoah Gyan is the Ghana top scorer with 2 goals.

USA 1 (Donovan penalty 62) Ghana 2 (Boateng 5, Gyan 93) - After Extra Time

Ghana were the better side in the first half, there were three clear cut chances. Two of them fell to Ghana & one to the US. Kevin Prince Boateng put Ghana ahead after 5 minutes when Ricardo Clark in the US midfield. Which came to Boateng who ran in on goal and slotted past Tim Howard in goal. Robbie Findlay had an effort on goal saved by Richard Kingson's foot. Kwadwo Asamoah had a chance 2 mins later but his shot was smothered by Howard. Half time 1-0 to Ghana.

The US picked up in the second half. They started to pass the jabulani better and find space. Their play was rewarded when they got a chance from the spot to equalise. That was after Jonathan Mensah fouled Clint Dempsey in the box. Landon Donovan stepped up and side footed the jabulani in off the post the net. Both sides looked cautious to make a mistake. It finished 1-1 at full time.

Extra time started with a goal. A long ball from Andre Ayew was gathered by Asamoah Gyan and with his second touch smashed the jabulani over Howard into the net. The goal gave a Ghana a lift and they started to play with more confidence also controlling the game.

The Americans never really created any clear cut chances to equalise. The game finished 2-1 and Ghana march on.

World Cup Day 16 - Uruguay vs South Korea

PREVIEW:- Uruguay vs South Korea - Kick Off 3:00pm on ITV1

Uruguay qualified for the round of 16 by finishing top of Group A on 7 points. They got a scoreless draw against France in their 1st game. That was followed up with wins over World Cup hosts South Africa & Mexico. Athletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is their top scorer with 2.

South Korea qualified for the round of 16 by finishing runners up in Group B with 4 points. They started off with a comfortable 2-0 win over Greece. Then they were defeated by Argentina 4-1. They needed a result in their final game against Nigeria to qualify & they got a 2-2 draw. South Korea's top scorer is Lee Chung-Soo with 2 goals.

Uruguay 2 (Luis Suarez 8, 80) South Korea 1 (Lee Chung-Yong 68)

Park Chu-Young hit the post with a curling free kick on five minutes. Against the run of play Luis Suarez put Uruguay in front. That was after a cross from Forlan had eluded the Korean defenders and goalkeeper. All that Suarez was left to do was side foot a controlled effort into the empty net from an angle. Both sides had chances later on in the half but couldn't convert.

South Korea started the 2nd half well. They had chances to equalise but failed. They got the goal their play deserved. A free-kick put into the box was headed into the air by a Uruguayan defender which came down to Lee Chung-Yong who got his head on it and steered it into an empty goal.

With 20 minutes left in the game it looked as though we were going to get extra time until Luis Suarez came up thrumps for Uruguay. With 10 minutes to go a Uruguayan corner came to Luis Suarez who produced a fantastic curling shot from the edge of the box which went in off the upright. That was the match winning goal which sent Uruguay to the quarter finals for the first time since 1970. South Korea will rue a handful of missed chances that would have put them ahead or brought them back into the game.

World Cup - 2nd Round Participants Confirmed

Uruguay vs South Korea - 26th June 3:00pm on ITV1

USA vs Ghana - 26th June 7:30pm on ITV1

Germany vs England - 27th June 3:00pm on BBC1

Argentina vs Mexico - 27th June 7:30pm on BBC1

Holland vs Slovakia - 28th June 3:00pm on BBC1

Brazil vs Chile - 28th June 7:30pm on ITV1

Paraguay vs Japan - 29th June 3:00pm on ITV1

Portugal vs Spain - 29th June 7:30pm on BBC1

World Cup Day 15 - Final games in group G & H

Group G

Portugal 0 Brazil 0

Shameful, Disgraceful, Awful, Terrible, Rubbish, Pitiful, Disgusting, Poor, Dreadful, Lacklustre, Uneventful, Boring, Turgid, Lousy, Hopeless, Painful to watch just some of the words I will use to describe this match. It should be erased from people's memory & no one should ever mention it again.

North Korea 0 Ivory Coast 3 (Yaya Toure 14, Romaric 20, Kalou 82)

Ivory Coast started the game well & had a Didier Drogba goal ruled offside. In the 14th minute they took the lead when Yaya Toure curled in his shot from just inside the area. Romaric sent a cross over which went all the through to clip the outside of the far post that was in the 16th minute. Romaric doubled the lead in the 20th minute for the elephants when he headed into an empty net after Drogba thundered and effort against the crossbar which bounced down invitingly for Romaric. After 37 minutes, Gervinho drilled a shot which clipped the outside of the post. At half time the Ivorians could & should have been 4 or 5 in front instead of only 2.

Arthur Boka sent over a cross into the Korean box which was touched into the net by Salomon Kalou on 82. Aruna Dindane thought he had made it 4 after putting the jabulani in from a Drogba free kick but was adjudged correctly offside.

Group H

All the teams in the group can still got through. Here's a list of who can go through & how:-

Chile will go through if they win or draw against Spain

Spain will go through if they win & Switzerland don't win.

Switzerland will go through if they win & there is a winner between Spain & Chile

Honduras will go through if they beat Switzerland and Chile beat Spain. They also need a five goal swing.

Switzerland 0 Honduras 0

Not a great game, Honduras were playing for the draw. Switzerland could not find a way through, Derdiyok had one of they're better chances to score but failed to convert. Both teams go out at the first stage.

Spain 2 (Villa 24, Iniesta 37) Chile 1 (Millar 47, Estrada sent off 38)

With Chile playing the better football Spain scored against the run of play. Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo came out of his goal to clear a ball over the top with Fernando Torres threatening but it only went as far as David Villa who curled it first time into the empty goal. The goal gave Spain confidence & allowed them to open up. Andres Iniesta ran onto Villa's cut-back and side-footed his finish into the corner. Chile's night was made more difficult when Marco Estrada was sent off on 38 minutes. Estrada was sent off, for clipping Torres's heels in the build-up to Spain's 2nd goal. It was adjudged by the referee to be worthy of a second booking. That was half time, Spain two up & Chile down to 10 men.

Just after half time Rodrigo Millar, with his first touch, collected the jabulani on the edge of the box. His effort on goal took a deflection off Gerard Pique and ended up in the onion bag.

World Cup Day 14 - Final games in group E & F

Group F

PREVIEW: All the teams in the group can still got through. Here's a list of who can go through & how:-

Paraguay will go through if they beat or draw with New Zealand

New Zealand will go through if they beat Paraguay & Italy lose

Italy will go through if they better New Zealand's result

Slovakia will go through if they beat Italy & New Zealand don't win against Paraguay

New Zealand 0 Paraguay 0

Not a great game at all, the first half was bad. Paraguay picked it up in the 2nd half and had plenty of free kicks to grab a winner. Paraguay finish top of the group while New Zealand finish 3rd on 3 points & go home without being defeated.

Slovakia 3 (Vittek 25, 73 Kopunek 89) Italy 2 (Di Natale 81, Quagliarella 92)

Slovakia were the better side in the 1st half and took the lead on 25 minutes when Daniele De Rossi's misplaced pass fell to Marek Hamsik who slipped in Robert Vittek who slid his effort past Marchetti in the Italian goal.

Italy made 2 changes at half time then minutes into the 2nd half Andrea Pirlo was brought by Marcelo Lippi. Italy were starting to get chaces and maybe equalise but that was not in the script.

A Slovakian corner which was cleared was put back into the box by Hamsik, Vittek stole a march on Chiellini and put the jabulani in at the near post. Just as it looked like Slovakia were away and clear the were pegged back. A parried shot by Mucha was slid home by Antonio Di Natale. Italy were back in it. Minutes later Fabio Quagliarella thought he had equalised for the Italians but he was offside by the slightest of margins.

Slovakia went back two ahead a minute from time. After a smart throw in and the slow thinking Italian defence was their achilles. As Kamil Kopunek stole in on his World Cup debut and with his first touch chipped the ball over Marchetti. That made it 3-1 with not long to go.

The match had yet another twist as from outside the are Quagliarella who was calm, cool and collected chip the jabulani over Mucha in the Slovak goal from outside the area. Simone Pepe had a chance to level it late on but couldn't sort his feet out.

Group E

PREVIEW: With Holland already through they only need a point to win the group. It's between Japan & Denmark for the other qualifying spot. Here's how they can do it:-

Japan will go through if they draw or beat Denmark

Denmark will go through if they win against Japan

Japan 3 (Honda 17, Endo 30, Okazaki 87) Denmark (Tomasson 81)

Japan were by far the better side in the first half and two fantastic free kicks gave them a 2-0 lead at half time. Keisuke Honda lined up the free kick 30 yards out and proceeded to hit it over the wall, it dipped into the far corner of Sorenson's net. Yasuhito Endo made it two with his curled right-footed shot round the wall and into the corner of Sorenson's goal.

Jon Dahl Tomasson was able to pull a goal back for the Danes, he tucked home the rebound after his penalty was saved.

Honda's wonderful foot work got him in the box and put in Shinji Okazaki who rolled the jabulani into the empty net.

Cameroon 1 (Eto'o penalty 65) Holland 2 (Van Persie 36, Huntelaar 83)

This game really meant nothing but it was Holland who had more chances and they took the lead when Robin Van Persie got into the box after one-two with Rafael Van Der Vaart, he was able to slot the shot past the keeper. Samuel Eto'o equalised from the spot after Van Der Vaart had his arm up in the wall for a Cameroon freekick. Seven minutes from time, Klaas Jan Huntelaar struck the ball into an empty net from an awkward angle. That was after Arjen Robben cut inside and thumped his shot against the post.