World Cup 2010

Slovakia caused a major upset when they beat Italy 3-2 in a `group F match on Thursday to send the defending world champions crashing out of the World Cup. Robert Vittek scored a brace and Kamil Kopunek the third, while Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella scored two late goals for Italy.

With Paraguay and New Zealand playing to a goalless draw in the other Group F match in Polokwane the result meant that Paraguay and Slovakia finished at the top of Group F to go through to the Last 16.

Namibian fans who won tickets to the World Cup through FNB Namibia’s World Cup competition have had fantastic experiences.

Anton Coetzee and his son Stephaan attended the match between Portugal and North Korea in Cape Town on June 21 and had a fantastic experience.

“It was absolutely awesome. I haven’t experienced something like this before. The atmosphere was fantastic and I’m still too excited to put it into words,” he told Namibia Sport.

England and Germany both recorded 1-0 victories in their final group matches on Wednesday to book a date in the second round of the FIFA World Cup.

England beat Slovenia through a goal by Jermaine Defoe on 23m in a Group C match, while Germany beat Ghana through a goal by Mehmut Oezil on 60m in a Group D match.

In another Group C match between the United States and Algeria, Landon Donovan scored a dramatic injury time winner to put the United States into the last 16.

South Africa gave an inspired performance to beat France 2-1 in their final Group A match in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, but it was not enough to see them through to the second round of the tournament.

Uruguay won Group A after beating Mexico 1-0 in Rustenburg, but although Mexico lost, they still beat South Africa on goal difference and will now join Uruguay in the second round of the competition.

South Africa attacked from the start and it soon paid dividends as Bongani Khumalo headed in a centre into the box on 19m.

Portugal gave a scintillating display to thrash North Korea 7-0 in Cape Town on Monday.

Despite the wet and rainy conditions, a huge crowd of 63 000 people turned up to watch the match and Portugal did not disappoint.

North Korea provided stiff opposition in the first half and even had some chances of their own, with captain Hong Yong Jo coming close on a few occasions.

But Raul Meireles opened the scoring midway through the first half when he slammed home a great throughball by Tiago.

After the break Portugal tore North Korea’s defence to shreds with their constant attacks.

Brazil turned on the style to beat the Ivory Coast 3-1 at Soccer City on Sunday evening to qualify for the second round of the World Cup.

Luis Fabiano scored a brace and Elano one goal, while Didier Drogba scored a late consolation goal for the Ivory Coast.

It was a fine performance by Brazil, although the match was marred by foul play towards the end that saw Brazilain golden boy Kaka being sent off.

Fabiano gave Brazil the lead on 25m when he ran onto a throughball by Kaka and shot high into the net.

Holland became the second team after Argentina to qualify for the second round of the 2010 World Cup after they beat Japan 1-0 in a Group E match on Saturday. Midfielder Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal of the match shortly after halftime to put Holland at the top of Group E with a maximum six points from two matches.

In a tactical game of few chances, Japan defended well to keep Holland at bay until the 53rd minute when Sneijder pounced onto a clearance to rifle a 25m shot into the net.

Serbia pulled off a dramatic 1-0 victory against Germany in Port Elizabeth on Friday to leave Group D wide open.

German striker Miroslav Klose was red carded on 36m after picking up two yellow cards and Serbia immediately capitalised as Milan Jovanovic scored two minutes later when he volleyed in a header by Nikola Zigic.

Germany came back with a vengeance as a shot by Sami Khedira hit the post just before the break.

Argentina looked in ominous form as they beat South Korea 4-1 in Johannesburg on Thursday to book their place in the second round. Striker Gonzalo Higuain scored the first hattrick of the tournament, but it was the brilliant play of Carlos Teves and Lionel Messi that cut South Korea’s defence to shreds.

Argentina took the lead on 17m when Messi whipped in a freekick that was headed into his own net by South Korea’s Chu Young Park.

Teves came close with a scorching freekick that skimmed the upright before Higuain made it 2-0 when he headed in from close on 33m.

Uruguay broke South African hearts on Wednesday night with a 3-0 victory in Pretoria, which virtually ensured that the hosts will not proceed to the knockout phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Two goals by Diego Forlan and one by Alvaro Perreira took Uruguay to the top of the Group A log, while South Africa dropped down to the bottom.

Diego Forlan opened Uruguay’s account with a great long range strike on 24m that took a deflection off Aaron Mokoena and looped high into the net.