England gave their supporters and their coach, Fabio Capello, reason to celebrate again when their 1:0 victory over Slovenia at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay stadium saw them advancing to the next round. English goal scorer Jermain Defoe was elected FIFA Man of the Match. This time there were no fans “looking for the bathroom” and ending up having angry words with David Beckham. 

USA 1:0 Algeria 

USA sent Algeria back home with a goal in injury time by FIFA Man of the Match, Landon Donovan, to advance to the next round. They will now face Africa’s great hope for the tournament Ghana. 

Ghana 0:1 Germany

In an exciting, closely played game a goal by FIFA Man of the Match, Mesut Oezil, saw Germany edge their way past Ghana to the top of Group D but both teams advance to the next round. 

Australia 2:1 Serbia 

Despite a 2:1 win over Serbia, the Socceroos are on their way home this morning after they were knocked out of the tournament on goal difference. The Australian goal scorers were Tim Cahill and Brett Holman.

• Slovenia 0:1 England (Group C)
• USA 1:0 Algeria (Group C)
• Ghana 0:1 Germany (Group D)  
• Australia 2:1 Serbia (Group D)  

Uruguay beat Mexico at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg to ensure their position at the top of Group A. The only goal of the match was scored by FIFA Man of the Match Luis Suarez. Both teams advance to the next round.

France 1:2 South Africa 

A brave effort by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana was not enough to keep them in the tournament but they played themselves back into the hearts of their supporters. The South Africans had their home crowd at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium on their feet as Bongani Khumalo and Fifa Man of the Match Katlego Mpela each scored a goal. A goal by Florent Malouda could not save the French team from exiting the tournament after a disastrous campaign remembered for spectacular in-fighting and mediocre performances on the field. Both teams now exit Group A. 

Nigeria 2:2  Korean Republic

Even though they drew their game with the Korean Republic, Nigeria’s Super Eagles crashed out of the tournament at the bottom of Group B. Nigeria’s goals at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium were scored by Kalu Uche and Yakuba Ayegbeni and those for Korea by Lee Jung Soo and Park Chu Young. Park Ji Sung was elected as the FIFA Man of the Match. 

Greece 0:2  Argentina

Argentina’s flamboyant coach, Diego Maradona, could not contain his joy as his team won a convincing victory over Greece to advance to the next round. Argentina’s goals were scored by Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo and their teammate Lionel Messi was elected as FIFA Man of the Match.

• Mexico 0:1 Uruguay, (Group A)
• France 1:2 South Africa, (Group A)
• Nigeria 2:2 Korea Republic, (Group B)
• Greece 0:2 Argentina, (Group B)

Chile 1:0 Switzerland

After a goal by FIFA Man of the Match, Mark Gonzalez, Chile beat Switzerland by one goal at a sunny Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. Switzerland had to finish the game with ten men.

Spain 2:0 Honduras

Spain got its campaign back on track by beating Honduras 2:0 at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium. Both goals were scored by Fifa Man of the Match, David Villa.

• Portugal 7:0 Korea DPR, (Group G)
• Chile 1:0 Switzerland, (Group H)
• Spain 2:0 Honduras, (Group H)

At Bloemfontein’s Free State stadium, an organized Paraguay claimed their first victory of the tournament against Slovakia with 2 goals to none. The winning goals were scored by FIFA man of the match Enrique Vera and Christian Riveros. 

Italy 1:1 New Zealand

In one of the biggest upsets in the tournament so far, defending world champions Italy was held to a draw (1:1) by New Zealand’s All Whites at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Goals were scored by Vincenzo Iaquinta for Italy and Shane Smeltz for New Zealand. Italian midfielder Daniele de Rossi was elected FIFA Man of the Match. 

Brazil 3:1 Côte D’Ivoire 

Despite a brave goal by Didier Drogba, the Côte D’Ivoire’s Elephants lost their much-anticipated game against Brazil with 3 goals to 1. Two of Brazil’s goals were scored by FIFA man of the match Luis Fabiano and one by Elano. With this victory Brazil has booked its place in the next round with Côte D’Ivoire, one of Africa’s hopeful teams, trailing behind with only one point to its name.

• Slovakia 0:2 Paraguay, (Group F)
• Italy 1:1 New Zealand, (Group F)
• Brazil 3:1 Côte D’Ivoire, (Group G)

One of the early favorites to in the tournament, the Netherlands continued their good match form and won 1:0 against Japan in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Dutch goal scorer, Wesley Snijder, was elected FIFA Man of the Match. The Dutch team, followed enthusiastically by their orange-clad fans, has not yet conceded a goal in the tournament and end the week at the top of Group E.

Ghana 1:1 Australia

Africa’s hopes for the 2010 FIFA World Cup remained alive when Ghana and Australia drew their game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Ghana remains at the top of the Group D. Australia had to finish the game with a 10 man squad after Harry Kewell was sent off. The Australian goal was scored by Brett Holman and the one for Ghana by FIFA Man of the Match Asamoah Gyan.

Cameroon 1:2 Denmark

Cameroon crashed out of the tournament with a second consecutive loss after conceding two goals to Denmark at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Not even a goal by the highly acclaimed Samuel Eto’o could save the Lions from making an early exit. Denmark’s goals were scored by FIFA Man of the Match Daniel Agger and Dennis Rommedahl.

• Netherlands 1:0 Japan, (Group E)
• Ghana 1:1 Australia, (Group D)
• Cameroon 1:2  Denmark, (Group D)

Friday 18 June 2010

Germany 0:1 Serbia 

In a nightmarish game for the Germans, Serbia beat them 1:0 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. The Germans, who opened their World Cup campaign on a high note with a 4:0 victory over Australia, suffered several setbacks during the fixture. They had to play with a 10 man squad after Miroslav Klose was sent off with a red card and Lukas Podolski missed an all important equalizing penalty. Serbia’s goal scorer was Milan Jovanovic and the FIFA man of the match went to Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. 

Slovenia 2:2  USA 

Team USA once again showed their fighting spirit by drawing the game with Slovenia at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium. Slovenia’s two goals were scored by Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic but it was the USA’s Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley whose two goals, in a brilliant show of resilience, captured the imagination of the crowd. The game also caused one of the great referee-controversies of the tournament so far when a goal by Maurice Edu was disallowed – apparently for no clear reason. 

England 0:0 Algeria  

In a dismal performance that angered their fans and had their coach, Fabio Capello, exclaim that this was not the team he knew, England was held to a goalless draw by Algeria in Cape Town.  The game drew more excitement off the pitch and a complaint filed with FIFA when an angry fan breached security to storm into the English cloakroom and have angry words with David Beckham.

• Germany 0:1 Serbia (Group D)
• Slovenia 2:2 USA (Group C)
• England 0:0 Algeria  (Group C)

Thursday 17 June 2010

Mexico 2:0 France  

A determined Mexican team dashed French hopes to advance to the second round by scoring two goals to gain victory. FIFA Man of the match Javier Hernandez was the one goal scorer and Cuauhtemoc Blanco the other.

Greece 2:1 Nigeria 

Nigeria’s Black Eagles lost their second game in the tournament against Greece at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. As a consolation prize Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was elected FIFA man of the match. 

Argentina 4:1 Korean Republic 

In an exciting game that produced the first hat-trick of the tournament Argentinian coach, Diego Maradona’s team won a convincing victory over the team from the Korean Republic at Johannesburg’s Soccer City. FIFA Man of the match, Gonzalo Higuian scored 3 goals to become the first player to score a hat-trick during the tournament.

• Mexico 2:0 France (Group A) 
• Greece 2:1 Nigeria  (Group B)
• Argentina 4:1 Korea Republic (Group B)

Honduras 0:1 Chile

They waited more than 50 years to celebrate victory in a World Cup tournament game but Chile finally did it yesterday in the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit when a goal by Jean Beausejour handed them a victory over Honduras. Beausejour was also awarded the FIFA Man of the Match.

 Spain 0:1 Switzerland 

In the greatest upset of the tournament so far, Switzerland beat tournament favorites, Spain 1:0 in Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium. Gelson Fernandez kicked the winning goal and was elected FIFA man of the match.

• South Africa 0:3 Uruguay (Group A)
• Honduras 0:1 Chile (Group H)
• Spain 0:1 Switzerland (Group H)

With a last minute goal New Zealand’s All Whites drew their game with Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg 1:1. Goals were scored by FIFA Man of the Match, Robert Vittek, for Slovakia and Winston Reid for New Zealand. 

Côte D’Ivoire vs. Portgual

Côte D’Ivoire held Portgual to a goalless draw in a match played in pouring rain in Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. Portuguese superstar Christiano Ronaldo was awarded the FIFA Man of the Match but was also noted for his theatrics on the field. African player of the year, Didier Drogba, caused such excitement when he joined his team in the second half that for once the excited cheer of the crowd was louder than the choir of vuvuzelas. Drogba recently received surgery for a broken arm and wore a protective cast. 

Brazil vs. Korea DPR

Brazil beat the Koreans in a hard fought and exciting battle 2:1 at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. Goals were scored by Elano and FIFA Man of the Match Maicon.

• New Zealand 1:1 Slovakia (Group F) 
• Côte D’Ivoire 0:0 Portugal (Group G)
• Brazll 2:1 North Korea  DPR (Group G)

In the first game of the tournament played at Bloemfontein’s Free State stadium, Cameroon’s Lions suffered a shock 1:0 defeat against underdogs Japan who won a historic first game outside their own country. Goal scorer Keisuke Honda was awarded the FIFA man of the match.

Netherlands vs. Denmark

Supported by a sea of fans, all dressed in orange and prolifically blowing their vuvuzelas, Netherlands beat Denmark convincingly 2:0 at Johannesburg’s Soccer City. Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder was elected FIFA man of the match. 

Italy vs. Paraguay

Paraguay held the defending world champions to a 1:1 draw in a bitterly cold and rainy Cape Town Stadium. Paraguay defender, Parantolin Alcaraz, was awarded the FIFA man of the match.

• Japan 1:0 Cameroon (Group E)
• Netherlands 2:0 Denmark (Group E)
• Italy 1:1 Paraguay (Group F)

Sunday 13 June 2010: Ghana first African team to win World Cup match

The Black Stars made history as it became the first African team to win a World Cup finals match on African soil on Sunday. The Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty against Serbia to a  1-0 win at the opening game in Group D played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. 

• Ghana 1:0 Serbia (Group D)
• Slovenia 1:0 Algeria (Group C)
• Germany 4 :0 Australia (Group D)

Saturday 12 June 2010: Argentina beats Nigeria with early goal

• Argentina 1:0 Nigeria (Group B)
• Korea Republic 2:0 Greece (Group B)
• England 1:1 USA (Group C)

Friday 11 June 2010: South Africa draws in opening match against Mexico

• South Africa 1:1 Mexico (Group A)
• Uruguay 0:0 France (Group A)