For the third successive World Cup Germany found itself in a medal position - silver in Japan, bronze in their own country and now bronze again in South Africa.

They were, however, made to fight for it by a Uruguayan team that emulated its 1970 forebears by making the semi-finals and losing the third-place play-off to the Germans. By scoring the first Thomas...Read More >>

Once more it was not a great World Cup final - there hasn't been one for 24 years - but at least the best team won. Spain's first World Cup was settled by one of the few outstanding figures in South Africa to actually shine in the tournament - Andres Iniesta. Spain became the third country after West Germany and...Read More >>

Spain reached their first World Cup final much more smoothly than anyone travelling to the Moses Madiba Stadium would have thought. The key was their domination of midfield with Sergio Busquets, whom many had considered below the standards Spain required, finally proving his worth. Once more Spain were unable to turn their overwhelming superiority in possession into goals, although once...Read More >>

Holland made their way to their third World Cup final and their first for 32 years with an efficient rather than domineering performance over South America’s last remaining nation to ensure that for the first time a European team would win the World Cup outside its own continent. Perhaps it was a reaction to their victory over Brazil but, apart...Read More >>

Everyone – probably even the Paraguay manager, Gerardo Martino - expected Spain to go through. Nobody, however, could have foreseen that the pre-tournament favourites would have put up such a fight. Oscar Cardozo’s breakdown at the end confirmed what everybody at Ellis Park knew. Had the Benfica striker scored from his penalty, Spain might have cracked. In the end, they had...Read More >>

This was a spectacular example of how teamwork can demolish a side of talented individuals. Diego Maradona’s side was taken apart piece by piece by Joachim Low’s wonderfully-fluid and wonderfully-drilled side. Just as they had done against England, Germany targeted the weak links, in this case full-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Heinze, and once Thomas Muller put them ahead, Argentina seldom looked...Read More >>

Nobody watching the first half at the Nelson Mandela Stadium could have predicted what was to follow. The Dutch manager, Bert van Marwijk, said his defence that lost Joris Mathijsen in the warm-up had been so overrun that they were fortunate to be only one goal down at the interval. Nevertheless, they attacked so well against a Brazilian side that was reluctant...Read More >>

Ghana came within one penalty kick of becoming the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final. In the last seconds of a compelling match, Luis Suarez handled on the line and was sent off, allowing Asamoah Gyan to take Ghana through with what surely would have been the last kick of the game. He struck the post and Ghana...Read More >>

Carlos Queiroz is something of a spin doctor, taking his Portugal side out of the World Cup with the remark that their fans had come to admire the “brilliance” of their play. In midfield they were sometimes lovely to watch but the cold fact remains that they only ever scored against North Korea and when Cristiano Ronaldo left Green Point Stadium...Read More >>

The first match of this World Cup to be decided on a penalty shoot-out was just about the most forgettable. Whoever won at the Loftus Versfeld would make a World Cup final for the first time in their history. The pressure told and when Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo drove in the winning penalty his manager, Gerardo Martino, burst into tears. Neither...Read More >>

Just when everyone was talking about how Brazil would bore their way to the final, they produced their most complete performance of the tournament, featuring a superb midfield display from Gilberto Silva and Danny Alves. Chile, deprived of their first-choice central defenders, were exposed by the first goal, headed home from a set-piece by Juan, and then by the brilliance of...Read More >>

This was the game that saw the belated arrival of Arjen Robben, starting a World Cup match for the first time in South Africa, and scoring a beautifully-worked goal after 18 minutes. When they meet Brazil in the quarter-finals, the odds are likely to favour the Selecao but with Robben in this kind of form, nobody will want to write off...Read More >>

Once more a match turned on a refereeing error, when after Mexico had made a bright start at Soccer City, Carlos Tevez’s opening goal, which looked a yard offside, was allowed to stand. Mexico, who had just seen Carlos Salcido strike the bar from 40 yards, were completely unhinged by the decision, conceded a second when Ricardo Osorio passed straight to...Read More >>

This was not just a defeat by Germany, this was England’s heaviest reverse in any World Cup and drew the curtain down on their worst World Cup of modern times. Yes, they were denied what should have been an equaliser when Frank Lampard’s chip struck the crossbar and bounced back from a yard over the goal-line and yes they played quite well...Read More >>

When Asamoah Gyan kept his balance and shot home one of the goals of the World Cup, the applause could be heard the length of Africa. It was vital for this competition’s credibility that one of the continent’s nations emulated Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 by reaching the quarter-finals and this Ghana did. The Black Stars, who took the lead early through Kevin...Read More >>

Argentina may be more fancied to win the tournament, Chile are more exciting and Brazil have more supporters but there is no South American team playing quite as well as Uruguay, a nation of 3.5 million that has made no sort of impact in a World Cup since 1970. Having conceded early when Jung Sung-ryong went for a teasing, low cross from Diego Forlan and...Read More >>

Having begun heroically against Spain, Switzerland’s World Cup fizzled out in the Free State Stadium in a match in which their shortcomings in attack were exposed by a Honduran team that had it been more composed in front of goal might have achieved their first victory in a World Cup. Hakan Yakin’s introduction by manager, Ottmar Hitzfeld, threatened a breakthrough...Read More >>

David Villa’s spectacular, opportunistic goal and a wonderfully-taken strike by Andres Iniesta calmed the nerves that would have accompanied the European champions to the Loftus Versfeld and it was Chile who appeared the far more agitated team. The dismissal of Marco Estrada in the aftermath of Iniesta’s goal and suspensions mean they will face Brazil without their first-choice centre-halves. Spain...Read More >>

Ivory Coast performed exactly as might have been expected. They drew against Portugal, lost to Brazil and beat North Korea but not by enough to qualify on goal difference. They needed to score nine times to go through at Portugal’s expense but managed only three. “Our World Cup is over but we can be proud of what we achieved,” said...Read More >>

When the draw was made, this looked like being an epic clash but Portugal’s 7-0 massacre of North Korea meant that, effectively, both teams were already through and what developed was a disappointing card-strewn encounter in which neither side really impressed. Portugal, who have yet to concede a goal in the tournament or find the net against the two better...Read More >>

Had Australia played like this from the start, they rather than Ghana might have qualified for the knockout stages in South Africa. Instead, in the words of their coach, Pim Verbeek, they were “killed” by the opening 4-0 defeat by Germany. With Tim Cahill restored to lead the Socceroos, Australia looked an infinitely better proposition and was with a trademark header that they took the...Read More >>

Germany as they had expected to, topped Group D but England’s lack of goals ensured they would have a rather harder task of making the quarter-finals than they might have expected. Joachim Low’s side was indebted to a wonderful piece of opportunistic shooting from Mesut Ozil and some fine defending from Philip Lahm to see them through against a Ghana side who also qualified despite not...Read More >>

London Donovan’s reaction in being handed the man-of-the-match award for the stoppage-time goal that ensured the United States would top Group C on goals scored was to break down in tears. It was a hugely emotional night played out in front of former president Bill Clinton and the United States just about deserved their victory. Algeria who finished last in the group and who failed...Read More >>

Finally, but not without a few changes, England produced a performance of substance. Fabio Capello resisted the temptation to drop John Terry after the former England captain had criticised his tactics and selection policy and the Chelsea skipper rewarded his loyalty with a fine performance against a limited Slovenian attack. Once Jermain Defoe, preferred to Emile Heskey struck, the result was never really in question and...Read More >>

After all that was said about them in qualification, Argentina topped their group with maximum points and a combined scoreline of 7-1, resting seven members of the side that overcame South Korea. Mexico, whom they meet in the last 16, will almost certainly possess more ambition than Greece, whose chief ambition seemed to be to stop Lionel Messi from playing. Man-marked relentlessly by Avraam Papastathopoulos, Messi...Read More >>

Nigeria left the World Cup but they are likely to win any prize given for the miss of the tournament when Yakubu somehow contrived to shot wide from three yards out when presented with a glaringly empty net. That summed up Nigeria’s time in South Africa. They took the lead against Greece and South Korea but in both matches squandered opportunities to kill the game...Read More >>

South Africa left the tournament early as many predicted but they left it gloriously. Two goals to the good against a demoralised French side reduced to 10 men it appeared Bafana Bafana had a real chance of going through on goal difference. But then in a rare moment of cohesion, Franck Ribery burst through and his cross for Florent Malouda snuffed out thoughts of the...Read More >>

The cynics suggested that since a draw would have suited both sides, that is precisely what the Royal Bafokeng would see. Not so, Uruguay ensured they would avoid a meeting with their great and dangerous enemy, Argentina with a goal from Luis Suarez two minutes before the interval. Uruguay qualified for the round of 16 without so much as conceding a goal and will fancy...Read More >>

New Zealand’s second taste of the World Cup finished rather better than their first. In 1982 they had come home pointless; here they returned without having lost a game and having finished above Italy. However, left in the air was the tantalising feeling that they could have even qualified. Shane Smeltz and Chris Wood both had chances against a strangely lacklustre Paraguay side and one goal...Read More >>

Like Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002, the holders exited the World Cup at the first available opportunity, although they went out in one of the most astonishing matches this tournament can have seen. Slovakia, who seemingly had the stuffing knocked out of them by New Zealand and Paraguay, suddenly produced some wonderful one-touch football, taking a two-goal lead through Robert Vittek before finally Italy produced...Read More >>

This has been a disastrous World Cup for Africa and not a very good one for Europe. While France and Italy have crashed out and England have stumbled, Holland have moved smoothly through the gears with each performance slightly better than the last. This victory against a Cameroon side that was only too ready to wave the white flag, featured two gorgeously worked goals from...Read More >>

Before this game the Denmark manager, Morten Olsen, said he did not even consider the possibility of losing to Japan. He will be regretting those words and the Danish FA might be regretting giving him a new two-year contract. Defensively Denmark were a shambles, with Thomas Sorensen as fallible as he had been heroic against Cameroon. Japan, whose manager, Takeshi Okada, came in for fierce...Read More >>

After a frustrating opening against North Korea, Brazil looked like World Champions at Soccer City and as Sven-Goran Eriksson remarked: “If you beat Brazil you must be almost perfect, especially when Luis Fabiano is coming at you like a train, it is very difficult.” The match was scarred by Kaka’s dismissal after Abdul Keita having been nudged on the shoulder...Read More >>

If Italy’s opening draw, against Paraguay, had given ammunition to Marcello Lippi’s critics, then this embarrassment of a display was a machine gun aimed at the Italy coach.

Frankly, the world champions were fortunate to escape with a draw since the penalty awarded for the mildest of tugs on Daniele de Rossi’s shirt looked harsh. By then Italy were already a goal down as, having talked about New...Read More >>

Even before the knockout stages begin, it seems a fair bet that this World Cup will be won, like all the others staged outside Europe by a South American team, who have yet to lose a match in South Africa.

It may not be Paraguay but after this efficient victory over a dreadfully pedestrian Slovakian side, they will  certainly be appearing in the round of 16. Slovakia,...Read More >>

The front cover of the Fifa brochure for this World Cup has a photograph of Nelson Mandela under the slogan “A time for Africa”. African teams have made a dreadful fist of this tournament, although Cameroon, who aimed 23 shots at Thomas Sorensen’s goal, should have taken something from this game.

As it was, they became the first team to be eliminated. Intervention from the players and the...Read More >>

The draw between Slovenia and the United States should have given England the ideal platform from which to snatch control of this group. Instead, they produced one of their worst performances of any World Cup. Wayne Rooney, who has not scored since Manchester United's elimination from the Champions League in March, looked lost and clashed angrily with England supporters who...Read More >>

Two goals to the good at half time, the smallest nation in this World Cup should have sealed qualification for the knockout phase for the first time following goals from Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic. 

However, the resilience of this American team was never better demonstrated in a frantic second half in which they might have snatched victory had Maurice Edu's...Read More >>

Germany missing a penalty must be one of the stories of this World Cup but Lukas Podolski's weak effort was easily dealt with once Nemanja Vidic became the second Serbian defender to give away a handball in successive matches. Milan Jonanovic, who is Rafael Benitez's parting gift to Liverpool scored the decisive goal once Miroslav Klose had, somewhat harshly, been...Read More >>

A result that will have spread laughter across Ireland and gloom from Marseilles to Calais. Everything that was suspected about Raymond Domenech's team came true in Polokwane - which means ‘place of refuge' but which came to be France's tomb in this World Cup. Domenech brought back Florent Malouda, who was left out of the goalless draw with Uruguay but...Read More >>

The 19th match of this tournament was the first that saw a team come from behind to win. This was remarkable enough but the fact that the team was Greece was in its way even more shocking. They had not picked up a point in Euro 2008 and looked a fair bet to do the same in South Africa. And...Read More >>

Those who study the English Premier League might recognise the style of football adopted by Diego Maradona's Argentina - it resembles the Newcastle side forged by Kevin Keegan in the 1990s; committed to attack at all costs but vulnerable defensively. 

The South Koreans probably did not deserve to be battered 4-1. Argentina's first was an own goal and,...Read More >>

It was the night that the vuvuzelas went quiet. For all the support that gathered at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and for all the passion they inspired across South Africa, Bafana Bafana were completely unable to raise their game when it mattered. Uruguay, who had been no more than moderately efficient against France, outplayed them with considerable ease to record only their second World Cup win...Read More >>

When Gelson Fernandes played for Manchester City, not many in the crowd knew he was Swiss. Well, after the goal that finally set the 2010 World Cup alight, they do now. Switzerland had never before beaten Spain but, under the direction of the great Ottmar Hitzfeld, they were far from lucky; defending with magnificent organisation and even striking the post.

Spain had enormous amounts of possession and...Read More >>

This may have been Chile’s first win in a World Cup finals since they finished third in 1962, but their coach, the perfectionist Argentine, Marcelo Bielsa, was somewhat disappointed. If qualification from Group H is decided on goal difference – and after the shock in Durban this is more likely – then a 1-0 win over Honduras might not count for very much. Honduras, with Carlos...Read More >>

They had come to Ellis Park en masse to witness what was supposed to be a ringing demonstration of Brazilian flair but saw instead why Dunga has attracted so much venom in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and why no team in this tournament  - not New Zealand, not Japan and not North Korea - can be truly written off.

Until they tired in the...Read More >>

With Brazil lurking in the shadows there was simply too much riding on this game for it to really ignite, although had Cristiano Ronaldo's shot not thundered against the post early in the first half, this might have ignited into a classic.

Ivory Coast's improbable manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, resisted the temptation to start with Didier Drogba, although when he was introduced the Chelsea striker almost created the breakthrough...Read More >>

The jubiliation on the face of New Zealand coach, Ricki Herbert, and the look of despair from his opposite number, Vladimir Weiss, told the story of this match. Winston Reid's last-minute equaliser not only gave New Zealand their first World Cup point - which is one more than Greece -, but they have dealt a major blow to whatever hopes Slovakia had of qualifying from this...Read More >>

Italy started their defence of the World Cup in rather better shape than most of their critics in the Italian media suspected. Given the draw between New Zealand and Slovakia the next afternoon in Rustenburg, these two sides will back themselves to make the knockout stages.

However, once more the goalkeepers were at the centre of the drama as first Gianluigi Buffon, one of three members of...Read More >>

This was unquestionably the first big shock of the World Cup. Japan had arrived at their opening match in a state of shambles; Cameroon looked quietly efficient and, given Ivory Coast’s group, looked the best bet to be the African team that progressed furthest in this competition. All the calculations were undone by a cross from Daisuke Matsui that Stephane Mbia should have cut out.

Instead, Keisuke Honda...Read More >>

If as everyone suggests, Holland are one of the favourites for the World Cup, then this was not an especially impressive start against a Denmark side that defended dreadfully and attacked sporadically. Handed an own-goal from Christian Poulsen, Holland, derprived of Arjen Robben, struggled to make any inroads until Bert van Marwijk replaced the ineffectual Rafael van der Vaart with Eljero Elia, although it was Dirk Kuyt...Read More >>

There was plenty of fresh German talent on display in the shape of Cacau and Weder Bremen’s young playmaker, Mesut Ozil but it was the old stagers, Lukas Poldolski and Miroslav Klose, who broke through against an Australian side that caved in completely following Tim Cahill’s overly harsh red card. Joachim Low was right to stick with Klose who had disappointed for Bayern Munich this season....Read More >>

A lot of people feared Serbia and quite a few thought Ghana without their inspiration, Michael Essie,n might struggle. As it was, should Serbia fail to beat Germany in Port Elizabeth, the dark horses will be out of the competition after two matches.

Ghana were very direct but until the former was sent off, Aleksander Lukovic and Nemanja Vidic succeeded at keeping them at bay. Zdravko...Read More >>

Robert Green is not the only goalkeeper to have endured a nightmare beginning to the World Cup. Algeria had Faouzi Chaouchi, who completely misjudged a routine shot from Robert Koren to give Slovenia three very unexpected points. Neither side deserved to win. Algeria packed their midfield, employed a lone striker and seldom threatened aggression while Slovenia looked simply ponderous.

Abdelkader Ghezza could stake a fair claim for...Read More >>

Even before the injury to Rio Ferdinand that cost them their captain and best centre-half, it seemed England’s defence and goalkeeper might be their biggest weakness. Robert Green’s glaring error as he somehow allowed  a soft Clint Dempsey shot to trickle through him was the most stunning image of the game; but if he is not world class, neither are his potential replacements, David  James and...Read More >>

If this was to be an indication of how the Argentina of Diego Maradona will approach the World Cup expect to be thrilled. El Diego unleashed a four man attack pivoted around Lionel Messi at a Nigerian defence critically short of match practice. He did not score, although but for some extraordinary heroics by the Nigerian keeper, Vincent Enyeama, he would have done.

Nevertheless, there...Read More >>

To those who thought that South Africa would mount the worst display of any host nation since France were knocked out of the opening rounds in 1934, Siphiwe Tshabalaba's stunning shot was a jaw-dropping reply. Had Katlego Mphela not struck the post late in the second half, then South Africa might have pulled off the victory that would have given them one foot in the second...Read More >>

Whoever lost this match was pretty certain to be thinking about return flights from South Africa and after this error-ridden display against a highly entertaining and efficient Korean side, flights between Johannesburg and Athens will be particularly closely studied.

Greece were loose defensively, inspid in attack, where Angelos Charisteas and Georgios Samaras were both substituted and Loukas Vyntra is unlikely to forget the error that presented Manchester...Read More >>

Raymond Domenech has overseen three major tournaments as manager of France and they have all begun with a goalless draw. In 2006, the French were able to recover from a dreadful start to reach the World Cup final while two years later a 0-0 draw with Romania was the shape of uninspiring things to come.

His controversial decision to omit Thierry Henry and Florent Malouda was only...Read More >>