World Cup News
Spain win World Cup 2010
Spain have won the World Cup for the first time in their history after Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over Holland in Johannesburg.
Iniesta scored the dramatic winner, 27 minutes into extra time, to claim Spain's biggest ever sporting achievement.
In a fiery game which always looked destined for extra time, English referee Howard Webb issued 13 bookings, while Holland's Johnny Heitinga saw red in the second half of extra time after receiving a second booking.
The victory sees Spain become only the third nation to hold the European and world football crowns at the same time, two years on from their European Championships success in Vienna.
The result continues a history of Dutch failure on football's greatest stage, having also been losing finalists in 1974 and 1978.
Iniesta's winner was met with scenes of joy in Madrid, where over 200,000 fans gathered to watch the match on a big screen in the city centre.
Despite starting the tournament as hot favourites, Spain made a terrible start to their campaign, losing their opening match to Switzerland, in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
However, the Spanish grew stronger as the tournament progressed, impressing fans with their unrivalled passing game and strong defence.
They conceded just two goals throughout the tournament and reached the final thanks to impressive victories over Portugal, Paraguay, Germany in the knockout stage.
Fixtures
World Cup 2010
Win Only
Spain 8/13
Holland 11/8
Group A
Team Pld Pts
Uruguay 3 7
Mexico 3 4
South Africa 3 4
France 3 1
Group B
Team Pld Pts
Argentina 3 9
South Korea 3 4
Greece 3 3
Nigeria 3 1
Group C
Team Pld Pts
USA 3 5
England 3 5
Slovenia 3 4
Algeria 3 1
Group D
Team Pld Pts
Germany 3 6
Ghana 3 4
Australia 3 4
Serbia 3 3
Group E
Team Pld Pts
Holland 3 9
Japan 3 6
Denmark 3 3
Cameroon 3 0
Group F
Team Pld Pts
Paraguay 3 5
Slovakia 3 4
New Zealand 3 3
Italy 3 2
Group G
Team Pld Pts
Brazil 3 7
Portugal 3 5
Ivory Coast 3 4
Korea DPR 3 0
Group H
Team Pld Pts
Spain 3 6
Chile 3 6
Switzerland 3 4
Honduras 3 1
Results
Sunday 11 July Final Johannesburg
Holland 0 - 1 Spain
Saturday 10 July
Uruguay 2 - 3 Germany
Wednesday 7 July
Germany 0 - 1 Spain
Tuesday 6 July
Uruguay 2 - 3 Holland
Saturday 3 July
Argentina 0 - 4 Germany
Paraguay 0 - 1 Spain
Friday 2 July
Holland 2 - 1 Brazil
Uruguay 1 - 1 Ghana
Uruguay Win on penalties
Tuesday 29 June
Paraguay 0 - 0 Japan
Paraguay Won 5 - 3 on penalties
Spain 1 - 0 Portugal
Monday 28 June
Holland 2 - 1 Slovakia
Brazil 3 - 0 Chile
Sunday 27 June
Germany 4 - 1 England
Argentina 3 - 1 Mexico
Saturday 26 June
Uruguay 2 - 1 South Korea
USA 1 - 2 Ghana
Friday 25 June
Group G
Portugal 0 - 0 Brazil
Group G
Korea DPR 0 - 3 Ivory Coast
Group H
Switzerland 0 - 0 Honduras
Group H
Chile 1 - 2 Spain
Thursday 24 June
Group F
Paraguay 0 - 0 New Zealand
Group F
Slovakia 3 - 2 Italy
Group E
Denmark 1 - 3 Japan
Group E
Cameroon 1 - 2 Holland
Wednesday 23 June
Group C
Slovenia 0 - 1 England
Group C
USA 1 - 0 Algeria
Group D
Australia 2 - 1 Serbia
Group D
Ghana 0 - 1 Germany
Tuesday 22 June
Group A
Mexico 0 - 1 Uruguay
Group A
France 1 - 2 South Africa
Group B
Nigeria 2 - 2 South Korea
Group B
Greece 0 - 2 Argentina
Monday 21 June
Group G
Portugal 7 - 0 Korea DPR
Group H
Chile 1 - 0 Switzerland
Group H
Spain 2 - 0 Honduras
Sunday 20 June
Group F
Slovakia 0 - 2 Paraguay
Group F
Italy 1 - 1 New Zealand
Group G
Brazil 3 - 1 Ivory Coast
Saturday 19 June
Group E
Holland 1 - 0 Japan
Sneijder 53
Group D
Ghana 1 - 1 Australia
Gyan 25(pen) Holman 11 Kewell s/o 24
Group E
Cameroon 1 - 2 Denmark
Eto'o 10 Bendtner 33 Rommedahl 61
Friday 18 June
Group D
Germany 0 - 1 Serbia
Klose s/o 37 Jovanovic 38
Group C
Slovenia 2 - 2 USA
Birsa 13 Donovan 48 Bradley 82
Ljubijankic 42
Group C
England 0 - 0 Algeria
Thursday 17 June Group B
Argentina 4 - 1 South Korea
Park 16(og) Higuain 33,76,80 Lee 45
Group B
Greece 2 - 1 Nigeria
Salpigidis 44 Torosidis 71 Uche K 16 Kaita s/o 33
Group A
France 0 - 2 Mexico
Wed 16 June Group H
Honduras 0 - 1 Chile
Beausejour 34
Group H
Spain 0 - 1 Switzerland
Fernandes 52
Group A
South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay
Khune s/o 76 Forlan 24,80 (pen) Pereira 90
Tue 15 june Group F
New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia
Reid, 90+3 Vittek, 50
Group G
Ivory Coast 0 - 0 Portugal
Group G
Brazil 2-1 North Korea
Mon 14 June Group E
Holland 2 - 0 Denmark
Agger 46(og) Kuyt 85
Group E
Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon
Honda 39
Group F
Italy 1 Paraguay 1
Sun 13 June Group C
Algeria 0 - 1 Slovenia
Ghezzal s/o 73 Koren 79
Group D
Serbia 0 - 1 Ghana
Lukovic s/o 74 Gyan 84(pen)
Group D
Germany 4 - 0 Australia
Podolski 8 Klose 27 Muller 68 Cacau 70 Cahill s/o 56
Sat 12 June Group B
Argentina 1 Nigeria 0
Heinze 6
South Korea 2 Greece 0
Lee 7 Park 52
Group C
England 1 USA 1
Gerrard 4 Dempsey 40
Fri 11 June Group A
South Africa 1 Mexico 1
Tshabalala 55 Marquez 79
Uruguay 0 France 0
Lodeiro s/o 81
Gabriel Heinze has urged Diego Maradona not to make a snap
decision on his future as Argentina boss.
In the immediate aftermath of the 4-0 hammering by Germany
in the World Cup quarter-final in Cape Town, Maradona
indicated he was likely to end his controversial reign.
After struggling to make it through qualifying, Argentina quickly
established themselves as one of the favourites in South Africa,
only to succumb to a rampant German side at the Green Point
Stadium and send a nation into mourning.
But Heinze insists progress has been made and while Maradona has never been far from the headlines, the former Manchester United star insists his legendary coach must think carefully before stepping down.
The Dutch don't scare: Netherlands 2 Denmark 0
I'll tell you something for nothing; while we predicted the win, which is seven correct results out of nine now, we are a little disappointed with the performance from the Netherlands. They didn't really look the side we had expected.
The first goal was an own goal, scored moments after the second half resumed by Simon Poulsen and the second was scored after the ball came off the post, from probably the best chance the Dutch had in the whole game, and landed at the feet of Dirk Kuyt in the last five minutes.
You could argue that they were not pushed or threatened and it is valid and I hope that as the games get harder for them they will get better, but if it doesn't they won't go very far and certainly not where the 16 million people back home want them to go.
South Africa midfielder Teko Modise admitted his side suffered from early nerves on Fridat but was satisfied overall with the 1-1 draw against Mexico in the 2010 World Cup opener.
The clash in Johannesburg saw the hosts struggle initially, before they managed to come away with a point.
Modise said: "We didn't start well. Many of us don't know what it's like to play in a World Cup.
"Now we know what it's all about, so I believe against Uruguay we will start much better and be a lot more relaxed."
The Orlando Pirates star was guilty of a crucial miss shortly after Siphiwe
Tshabalala's opener that could have killed off the game.
In the end it was not to be as a Rafael Marquez effort 11 minutes from time helped the Mexicans snatch a draw.
Modise added: "I needed to take that chance to help me personally.
"But right now it's all about the team and I think against Mexico I worked hard for the team and I'm proud of
South Korea give the Greeks a footballing lesson
It was a good game of
football but Greece
really didn't do enough
while South Korea
looked quite good and
could have had more
than
two. I'm not sure they will have enough in the latter stages of the
tournament, but they play the game the right way and they are full of
energy.
The goals came from Lee Jung-soo in the 7th minutes and ark
Ji-sung in the 52nd and while Greece did try towards the end, if you
could get a bet on them not winning a game in this World Cup after that performance, you should put your house payments on it.
In fact, if you could get a bet on them not scoring during the World Cup, that might be worth a little bet too.
There is still a chance for the Greeks as we haven't seen Argentina or Nigeria play yet but one of them will have to be really bad to give the Greeks hope, while South Korea will be very happy with the start. All attention will now move to Argentina versus Nigeria, kicking off in just over thirty minutes.
South Korea play Argentina next while Greece play Nigeria, with both matches happening on June 17th.
Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 thanks to early Heinze goal
We saw a little bit of the Messi magic we were all hoping for and if he continues the way he started this game he will shine at some stage during this tournament and if he gets better, Argentina really could do well.
Nigeria however will feel a little unlucky with the defeat - they played well, created chances and came close, but at the same time Argentina missed a couple and will wonder why they only got one goal.
That goal came from former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze in the 6th minute and after that there was chance after chance for both sides but none went in. Overall, a very entertaining match.
Argentina move into second place behind South Korea in the group b table and I wouldn't be surprised if those two teams were the teams that qualified from this group, based on the football I have seen today.
Germany provided a real signal of intent with a thrilling demolition of 10-man Australia to get their 2010 World Cup campaign off to a flying start.
Coming into the tournament without injured talisman Michael Ballack, doubts over the future of coach Joachim Loew and the second-youngest squad in the competition, many might have expected Germany to struggle in South Africa.
But if their effervescent display in Durban is anything to go by, the three-time champions could be real contenders for the title come 11 July.
Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose continued their remarkable scoring record at international level with a goal apiece to take their joint tally to 88, Thomas Mueller and Cacau added the gloss, while in playmaker Mesut Ozil they appear to have found a real superstar.
They were aided by the harsh dismissal of Australia's key man Tim Cahill, given a straight red card for a clumsy but hardly malevolent challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger on 55 minutes.
A terrible error by Robert Green cost England two points in their World Cup opener, as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the United States of America.
Steven Gerrard had the Three Lions in front early on, with the new skipper leading by example throughout.
However, the USA were level shortly before half-time when a tame effort from Clint Dempsey slipped through Green's grasp and into the back of the net.
The air of expectation around the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg was almost tangible prior to kick-off, while the omnipresent vuvuzelas added to the atmosphere once more.
England were the first to find their feet and they needed just four minutes to break the deadlock, with captain Gerrard handing them the perfect start when he burst onto a pass from Emile Heskey and steered low into the bottom corner.
Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi has taken the blame for Paraguay's goal in Cape Town.
The Azzurri battled back for a 1-1 draw in their opening game in Group F as De Rossi scored the leveller in the second period.
But the World Cup holders were given a fright when Paraguay when ahead on 39 minutes as Antolin Alcaraz headed in from a free-kick.
De Rossi concedes he let his side down by losing his marker, but was relieved his team-mates upped their game to secure what could be a vital point.
"We played well, were tough and allowed Paraguay very little. My mistake led to the goal, so everyone was angry," he said.
"We were going too deep defending the free-kicks, but he was my man and I was meant to be marking him. I definitely take the blame for that goal
