Posts Tagged ‘fifa world cup’

Spain beats Germany in 2010 FIFA World Cup

Spain today scripted history by qualifying for their maiden World Cup final since their first appearance 76 years ago with a 1-0 victory over three-time champions Germany to set up a summit clash against the Netherlands here today.

Central defender Carles Puyol scored the winner in the 73rd minute, heading home a corner in an absorbing semifinal which though lacked the spark in terms of goals and scoring chances, at the Mabhida Moses Stadium.

Spain’s best show in a World Cup before today had been a fourth-place finish in 1950 but at that time the champion team was decided after a final round league format.

Vicente Del Bosque’s ‘La Furia Roja’ side will now take on the Netherlands at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on July 11 in the grand finale which will saw a new World Cup winner being crowned.

2006 World Cup winner Italy crash out, Japan moves through to final 16

Paraguay secured top spot in Group F after playing out a stalemate Thursday with New Zealand, but the scoreless draw was the only dour affair in an eventful day of World Cup action.

In one of the tournament’s biggest shocks, 2006 champions Italy failed to move past the group stage after going down to Slovakia, while Japan graduated to the elimination round for the first time on foreign soil with an emphatic 3-1 win over Group E rivals Denmark.

The Netherlands cemented top spot in Group E by holding off a Cameroon side determined to salvage some pride before heading home. The Oranje will face Slovakia in the round of 16, while Japan and Paraguay will meet.

Paraguay 0, New Zealand 0

Paraguay and New Zealand played out a dismal goalless draw in Polokwane on Thursday, with the Kiwis needing a victory to ensure progression to the second round but never really looked like scoring. They nonetheless exit the World Cup unbeaten, having drawn all three group games against superior opposition.

In a pretty dire first half Paraguay threatened most when captain Denis Caniza got down the right flank, as he did in the 17th minute to fire an opportunistic volley from the edge of box that sailed well over. Two minutes later he drove in a long effort that veered off target, and in the 28th rifled in a 30-meter shot that landed on the top netting. Read more…

World Cup News : Japan overpowers Denmark to cruise into last 16

A pair of fabulous first-half free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo and a late strike from substitute Shinji Okazaki powered Japan to a 3-1 win over Denmark on Thursday and into the second round of the World Cup finals.

The Japanese needed only a point to secure their passage into the last 16 but an ultimately comfortable victory in their final Group E game means they join already qualified Netherlands in the last 16, where they will meet Group F winners Paraguay in Pretoria on June 29.

Takeshi Okada’s men wrapped up the group phase with six points, three behind the Netherlands, who won 2-1 against Cameroon.

Japan reached the knockout phase for the first time since the 2002 World Cup that the country co-hosted with South Korea.

“This was our first objective (to reach the second round) so I am relieved,” said coach Okada. “The players kept going until the end without losing their focus. I am proud to be with such a great bunch of players.”

Okada kept faith with the side that beat Cameroon 1-0 before losing to the Netherlands by the same scoreline in Durban on Saturday.

The Blue Samurai made a bright start and Daisuke Matsui went close to breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes but the Grenoble midfielder was denied as Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen blocked his flick after a dangerous ball into the box by Yoshito Okubo. Read more…

United States wants to face South Korea in World Cup quarterfinals — official

The United States wants to meet South Korea in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup tournament, a senior US official said Thursday, Joseph Westphal, undersecretary of the Army, made the remarks while congratulating South Korea for a 2-2 draw with Nigeria Tuesday to advance to the round of 16 in Group B, hoping the US team will meet South Korea in the quarterfinals.

“I congratulate the ambassador and the Korean people for a victory that moves in, though a tie, but moves in the next round of the World Cup,” Westphal told a gathering at the ceremony at the Pentagon to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, which falls on Friday. “Of course, the United States, we had a victory yesterday and moved us to the second round. So we will meet in there somewhere.”

South Korea faces Uruguay Saturday in the first round of the knockout match, and will meet the United States in the quarterfinals if the US team defeats Ghana.

It is the first time that South Korea advanced to the round of 16 on foreign soil, although they were semifinalists in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

FIFA World Cup match against Dutch retains high viewer rating in Japan

Japan’s World Cup match against the Netherlands on Saturday drew an average viewer rating over 43 percent in the coutnry, said a ratings agency on Monday.

According to Video Research Ltd., the first-round match in South Africa, broadcast live in a prime-time slot by TV Asahi, logged the average rating of 43.0 percent in the Kanto region centered on Tokyo and 43.5 percent in the Kansai region where Osaka is located.

Both regions reached a peak of viewer rating at 55+ percent when the final whistle blew to end the Netherlands’ 1-0 win.

The clash was the second of three Group E games for both sides.

Dutch side has reached the knockout stage with a group match remaining, while Japan still maintains hopes of going through with at least a draw.

Japan next face Denmark early Friday morning Japan time.

FIFA World Cup : Sneijder shoots down Japan to see Dutch through, Cameroon out

A second- half strike from Wesley Sneijder proved decisive as the Netherlands condemned Japan to a 1-0 defeat in Group E.

Japan defended valiantly for long stretches at Durban Stadium but had their resistance broken when Inter Milan star Sneijder struck on 53 minutes to make it two wins out of two and send Bert van Marwijk’s men into the last 16 with a game to spare.

The Dutch became the first team to reach the second round. Japan’s first defeat keeps them on three points and Takeshi Okada’s side now need a point against Denmark on Thursday in Rustenburg to advance.

Denmark 2, Cameroon 1

Cameroon became the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup as Denmark came back from a goal down in Pretoria.

A dreadful miss-pass by Christian Poulsen in front of goal allowed Samuel Eto’o to put the Indomitable Lions ahead in the 10th minute, but Nicklas Bendtner pulled one back in the 33rd minute before a solo effort by Dennis Rommedahl in the 61st gave the Danes the win.

Both sides set out for victory after losing their opening game and each created numerous chances in a thrilling match, but it was the Danes who were the most clinical in the end with Cameroon far too profligate in front of goal.

Ghana 1, Australia 1

Ghana went to the top of Group D, sharing the honors with 10-man Australia, who saw veteran striker Harry Kewell sent off in the first half in Rustenburg.

Australia had the perfect start as they sought to recover from their 4-0 drubbing by Germany in their opening match, with an error by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson from a free kick, allowing Brett Holman to poke home in the 11th minute.

But disaster struck 13 minutes later when Kewell was sent off for handball on the goal line and Asamoah Gyan converted from the spot.

Australia, though, coped admirably with being reduced to 10 men, and matched Ghana for attacking football for long periods as they looked for the win to put their World Cup campaign back on track.