Argentina 0-4 Germany, Paraguay 0-1 Spain
Netherlands 2 – 0 Brazil, Uruguay 1 – 1 Ghana
Uruguay won penalty shootout 4-2
Superbu Updated
The last two quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ could hardly have been more diametrically opposed, with Germany’s comfortable 4-0 victory over Argentina contrasting with Spain’s nervy 1-0 reverse of Paraguay. The two triumphant sides will now meet at Durban Stadium on Wednesday in a rematch of the UEFA EURO 2008 final, which the Iberians won.
Die Nationalelf will be hopeful of reversing that result this time around, after shining again against La Albiceleste at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. Joachim Low must have studied videos of Inter Milan’s 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in last season’s UEFA Champions League semi-finals, because his defenders never stopped harrying Lionel Messi and barely allowed the diminutive genius a touch of the ball. Without their tricky No10 running the show, Argentina’s probing came to little and they left themselves cruelly exposed to German counter-attacks.
Low’s men gave another stunning demonstration of attacking football and by the end of it Miroslav Klose had scored twice, putting him level with compatriot Gerd Muller as the second-most prolific player in FIFA World Cup history on 14 goals. He now needs just one more strike to move alongside Brazil’s Ronaldo at the top of the all-time scoring chart.
Attentions switched to Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium in the evening for a tense encounter between Spain and a valiant Paraguay team that gave the European champions plenty of problems.Los Guaraníes had shipped only one goal all tournament prior to this quarter-final and they held firm until the 83rd minute, when La Roja finally opened the doors to their first FIFA World Cup last-four berth since 1950. The irrepressible David Villa made the difference once again to edge ahead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot on five strikes.
It could all have been so different, though, had Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo buried his penalty in the 59th minute. As it was, his attempt was saved by Iker Casillas and Spain won a spot-kick almost immediately at the other end, only for goalkeeper Justo Villar to deny Xabi Alonso. It was the first time since Argentina’s 6-3 win over Mexico in 1930 that both teams managed to miss a penalty in the same FIFA World Cup game.
Fridays Quarter final Results
Netherlands vs Brazil:
Netherlands 2 / 1 Final score
Goals by:
- D Robinho for Brazil at 9 minutes 21 seconds
- Unfortunate own goal by D Felipe Melo of Brazil for Netherlands at 52 minutes, 25 seconds
- W Sneijder for Netherlands at 67 minutes 27 seconds
Uruguay vs Ghana:
Uruguay 1/1, won penalty shootout 4-2
Semi-finals
06 July Uruguay v Holland 20:30 Green Point Stadium
07 July Germany vs Spain 20:30 Moses Mabhida Stadium
10 July Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 20:30 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
@ Puma:
Hahaha you must watch my plans for this final week in the SWC. If GBS approves it we will have great fun.
My German blood is diluted to almost non existence but i have a namesake in that team so i will shout for my long lost brother. :LOL:
Whatever happens , one can see the quality of the soccer and it is scary if you think back how South Africa lags behind this.
@ superBul:Super, SA will get there. We need to have a coach for at least 4 years and not swop and change all the time. Also our players need to be playing in Europe like plenty of the South Americans do.
Pity we can’t play more often against the teams in Europe or South America. Playing against stronger sides will always strengthen our game.
We will be better in the next world cup Super. I have no doubt we will get there and will play better.
Still proud of Bafana for beating France and Ghana for getting to the quarter finals. Actually Ghana should have been in the semi but for cheating Uruguay they are out.
Soccer should change that rule. If you stop a goal with your hand it should count as a penalty goal, knowing without a doubt it would be a goal. Not having to take a damn penalty for for something that should have been a goal. Just award the goal, like we do in rugby giving a penalty try if we know it would be a try.
Anyhow wish our soccer team could play more against top teams. That is the only way to get better. The very reason our rugby is so strong is cause of the Super14 where we play the best in the world. That is why European and South American soccer is so strong. But we will get there.
@ Puma:
this Soccer fever grabbed you my friend. SA soccer is what Africa is. We fight amongst ourself all the time. So forgive me if i do not share your optimism.
I will be a dog fight to appoint the next coach and then the undermining starts.
Did you see this week 2 of the successful players in 1996 was sacked. Ag man i read a lot about the infighting in SA soccer , so let us hope they can sort it out. Maybe Danny Jordaan showed that you can survive the infighting.
On the other hand the only reason why he survived is the insistence of Sepp Blater that he must stay or else.
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