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.

Message To My English Twatterers

Dear English twatters,

I'm Scottish & will never ever support the english football team in any of their endeavours. If you are offended by this, there is an unfollow button so you know the drill. I will feel bad if you choose to unfollow but it's your choice I guess.

Thank you for your time

@subzero77

To the fridge and beyond

World Cup Day 13 - Final games in group C & D

Group C

Slovenia 0 England 1 (Defoe 23)

Slovenia should have drawn the game they had plenty chances. Jermain Defoe scored the winning goal. The english finish second in the group.

USA 1 (Donovan 91) Algeria 0 (Yahia sent off 93)

USA and Algeria both had plenty chances to win several matches. In the second half Algeria tired, USA kept pressing and pressing. They eventually got the break through in the 91st minute when Landon Donovan struck the jabulani home from close range. Two mintues later the Algerian captain Yahia was sent off for a second bookable offence. The US finish top of the group on 5 points.

Group D

Germany 1 (Oezil 60) Ghana 0

The first half was to and fro as both sides had chances to take the lead. It was a wonder how it was still 0-0 at half time. In the 2nd half it was much of the same but in the 6oth minute Germany took the lead through an outstanding shot from outside the edge of the area by the Germans creator in chief Mesut Ozil. The Werder Bremen playmaker was brilliant and deserved the goal.

The Germans finish top of the group & Ghana finish in second even though they lost.

Serbia 1 (Pantelic 84) Australia 2 (Cahill 69, Holman 73)

In the 69th minute Tim Cahill scored with a flying header into the corner of the goal to put the Aussies 1-0 up. Minutes later Brett Holman collected the jabulani 25 yards from goal. He smacked his shot past the Serbian keeper. That was the Aussies two nil up and pushing for more but the Serbians grabbed a goal to extinguish any chance of them going through. Zoran Tosic hit a shot from range which cause Schwarzer to make an error which allowed Marko Pantelic to tap in the rebound into the Australian goal. Pantelic had two great chances to give the Serbians the goal that would have put them through but was caught offside both times.

Both sides go out of the competition at the first hurdle.

World Cup Day 12 - Final games in group A & B

Group A

Mexico 0 Uruguay 1 (Suarez 44)

Both teams came to win to came. Luis Suarez's header from a Cavani cross just before half time put Uruguay 1-0 up, top of the table & through to the next round. Mexico go through even though they lost.

France 1 (Gourcuff sent off 26, Malouda 79) South Africa 2 (Khumalo 20, Mphela 37)

South Africa took the lead after a corner was swung in and Lloris got nowhere near punching it. It was put in the net by Khumalo. In the 26th minute Gourcuff was sent off after elbowing the South African player. Mphela bungled in a cross to put them 2-0 up. In the 2nd half South Africa had many chances but a combination of Lloris, the post & poor finishing saved France. After good work from Ribery on the wing he put the ball across and Malouda tapped into an empty net. Finished 2-1, both sides go out but South Africa with more pride than France.

Group B

Nigeria 2 (Uche 12, Yakubu penalty 69) South Korea 2 (Lee Chung-Soo 38, Park Chu-Young 49)

Nigeria were the better side in the first half & played some good football. Chidi Odiah got down the Nigerian right and crossed for Uche got ahead of Cha Du-Ri. He was able to steer his shot into the net. Ki Sung-Yeung whipped in the free-kick and Lee Jung-Soo at the back post to put it in the net. Just after the break South Korea took the lead from a free kick. 20 yards out, left of centre, Park Chu-Young curled it into the far corner past the arm of Enyeama. Kim Nam-Il gave away a penalty with his challenge on Obasi. Yakubu sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. Martins & Yakubu had great chances to give the Nigerians the win but failed epically.

Argentina 2 (Demichelis 77, Palermo 89) Greece 0

Greece parked the bus for basically the whole match & Argentina could not find a way through until the 75th minute. Corner swung in, Demichelis reacted well and at the second attempt he thumped the ball into the net. Messi played a one-two and raced past a couple of players before his ferocious shot was saved, the ball came back out and Palermo side-footed home. Greece were awful & so glad they have been knocked out.

World Cup Day 11

Portugal 7 (Raul Meireles 29, Simao 53, Almeida 56, Tiago 60 & 89, Liedson 81, Ronaldo 87) North Korea 0

In the 7th minute a corner was swung in the Korean keeper came out & got nowhere near it. Ricardo Carvalho got his head on it but could only see it come back of the post. Hong Yong-Jo lashes a shot from an angle in the area and the keeper parries it but Mun In-Guk could only head over the rebound. Good play from Portugal with the jabulani being played into Raul Meireles who made the run from deep & he only had to put the ball past Myong-Guk Ri.

Portugal doubled their lead after the break. Good passing play from them and all Simao had to do was keep his shot low past the keeper. 3 minutes later Portugal made it three. Fabio Coentrao got down the wing and played a cross in Hugo Almeida all on his own steered his header past Myong-Guk Ri. Tiago made it four after good work from an anonymous Ronaldo played the ball across & he just side footed it into the net. Liedson made six only 4 minutes after coming on. An attempted clearance from Ri Kwang-Chon, the jabulani rolled up over him and with a one timer Liedson slammed it in the goal. Ronaldo got his goal after he got the luck of the bounce and was able to put the jabulani into the net. Two minutes later the seventh and final goal went in. The cross in from Coentrao was met by Tiago who guided his header comfortably past the keeper into the far corner.

If you had only seen the first half you wouldn't have predicted a 7-0 score line to Portugal at the end. The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea played well & gave their all but the Portuguese quality shone in the end.

Switzerland 0 (Behrami Sent Off 30) Chile 1 (Gonzalez 75)

Chile were the better side throughout the first half. The ref was card happy but when Valon Behrami swung an arm at Vidal he got it right & sent him off. Chile had chances upon chances through the game. In the first ten minutes they had two efforts from outside the area which Benaglio was equal to on both accounts. Chile continued to press after the break but couldn't break through until the 75th minute when and Estaban Paredes cross got to Mark Gonzalez at the back stick who headed it down in the net. Chile pressed and pressed but couldn't convert their chances. Eren Derdiyok had a chance late to square the game for the Swiss but could only drag his shot wide. A deserved win for Chile but take nothing away from the Swiss they tried their damnedest to get a point.

Spain 2 (Villa 17, 51, Missed penalty 61) Honduras 0

David Villa struck the crossbar early on after brilliant effort but got his goal when he came in from the wing went past three Hondurans and curled his shot into the top corner, 1-0 on 17 minutes. Spain were dominated throughout & should have won by more. In the 2nd half, Spain started slowly but Villa had a shot from just outside the area, it took a deflection off a defender and looped in over the keeper. Jesus Navas was brought down in the box on 61 & Villa had a chance to grab his hat trick but could only side foot his penalty past the post. He had another chance to make it three but his shot was blocked. Cesc Fabregas also had a chance after coming only on seconds before. He went round the keeper but his shot was cleared from the goal by Chavez.

Upcoming Fixtures:-

Brazil vs Portugal - Friday 25th 3:00pm

Ivory Coast vs North Korea - Friday 25th 3:00pm

Spain vs Chile - Friday 25th 7:30pm

Switzerland vs Honduras - Friday 25th 7:30pm

World Cup Day 10

Slovakia 0 Paraguay 2 (Vera 27, Riveros 86)

There was only one team trying to win this game Paraguay & they won it comfortably. They took the lead after good play and a deep run from Vera, who run into the box and hit his first time shot with the outside of his boot. It curled passed the keeper, who had no chance with the shot. The Slovak's were looking for a draw until they conceded. They sat back at the start of the 2nd half and looked to hit the Paraguayans on the break but that didn't manifest. Paraguay sealed the game four minutes from time after Riveros powered his shot past Mucha.

Italy 1 (Iaquinta pen 29) New Zealand 1 (Smeltz 7)

Today the Kiwi's achieved the greatest result in New Zealand footballing history. Smeltz put the jabulani past the goalie after a whipped in freekick on 7 mintues. After that it was all Italy and they got the chance to equalise from the sport after Tommy Smith brought down Daniele De Rossi. Vicenzo Iaquinta stepped up and put the jabulani passed Paston in the All Whites goal. Italy were the better side throughout the game after going 1-0 down. They couldn't score and New Zealand picked up a deserved point.

Brazil 3 ( Luis Fabiano 25, 50, Elano 62, Kaka Sent Off 88) Ivory Coast 1 (Drogba 79)

Brazil took the lead when good work from Kaka then his ball through allowed Luis Fabiano smack the jabulani home from an awkward angle. Brazil doubled their lead five minutes into the 2nd half. Luis Fabiano clipped the jabulani over one defender then another then smacked a powerful shot into Barry's goal. Kaka got more and more into the game and created Brazil's third. Kaka ran at Kolo Toure and beat him then crossed into the box for Elano to side foot home. A great run from Gervinho who laid off the jabulani to Yaya Toure who knocked the jabulani into the box and all Didier Drogba had to do was steer his header into the net. Kaka was sent off two minutes from time after Kadar Keita feigned injury. The referee didn't see it happen nor did the linesman. It was an injustice of the highest order.

Upcoming Fixtures:-

Slovakia vs Italy - Thursday 24th 3:00pm

Paraguay vs New Zealand - Thursday 24th 3:00pm

Brazil vs Portugal - Friday 25th 3:00pm

Ivory Coast vs North Korea - Friday 25th 3:00pm

World Cup Day 9

Holland 1 (Sneijder 53) Japan 0

Holland have had more possession but Japan have pressed them well. Japan at the end of the half started to create a few chances. No real chances of any note for any team. Holland took the points through a Wesley Sneijder effort from outside the area which the keeper could not deal with it. Holland are now through after picking up 6 points out of 6.

Ghana 1 (Gyan pen 25) Australia 1 (Holman 11, Kewell Sent Off 24)

Australia started well and took a deserved lead. through Brett Holman who put the jabulani past Kingson after he parried a freekick towards him. Gyan put Ghana back on level terms after he put a penalty easily past Schwarzer. That was after Harry Kewell handled on the line & was sent off. Ghana never pressed their numerical advantage home & will see it as an opportunity missed.

Cameroon 1 (Eto 10) Denmark 2 (Bendtner 33, Rommedahl 61)

The game started well, a lax pass from Christian Poulsen allowed Achille Emana to pass to Samuel Eto who took a couple of touches and slammed the ball home. The Danish were back on level terms on 33. When a ball over the top was inch perfect for Dennis Rommedahl who crossed for Bendtner, who slid the jabulani home. Both sides had chances before the break to take the lead due to errors from their opponents. Both sides were pushing for the go ahead goal. It came for the Danish on 61. When Assou-Ekotto pushed and was out of position. Makoun dropped back to fill the gap but was beaten by Rommedahl with the ball and he was able to curl it in the net. The result puts Denmark on 3 points with one game to play. As for Cameroon this result coupled with the fact Japan beat them in the first game makes them the first team eliminated from the World Cup. They play Holland, who are already through, in their final game. Denmark play Japan, the winner of which goes through to the last 16.

Upcoming Fixtures:-

Holland vs Cameroon - Thursday 24th 7:30pm

Japan vs Denmark - Thursday 24th 7:30pm

Ghana vs Germany - Wednesday 23th 7:30pm

Australia vs Serbia - Wednesday 23th 7:30pm