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Spain is for the first time in its history, the new World Cup champions, after beating the Netherlands 1-0, with a goal scored by Iniesta only three minutes before the end of extra-time, when many thought the game would go into a penalty shoot-out.
Before the game started, Soccer City stadium erupted into light and music for the World Cup closing ceremony, with singers performing a medley of local music from urban hip-hop to cappella chorals. Colombian superstar Shakira performed her song Waka Waka, the tournament’s official anthem, with local band Freshlyground, as well as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African cappella act.
Former president Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça Machel got a standing ovation from a 95.000 strong crowd when they were wheeled into the stadium in a golf car, in a brief appearance at Soccer City.
A goal from Sami Khedira, at 82 minutes, gave Germany a third place berth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 3-2 victory over Uruguay, giving Paul the Octopus another correct prediction, his seventh in a row.
The “Mannschaft” started the game with a lead, but were overtaken by the “Celestes”, only to recover again, winning the third place game of a World Cup for the fourth time (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010), with Uruguay’s Forlan and Germany’s Muller contributing to the result and are now tied with Spaniard Villa and Dutchman Sneijder as top scorers (five goals).
Although they failed to win a forth title (1954, 1974 and 1990) Germany won its ninth meeting in 10 games against Uruguay who was also a WC winner in 1930 and 1950 and had already been defeated by the Germans in another match for third place, in México 1970.
Paul, the world famous “psychic” octopus, has made his predictions for this weekend’s two last games of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. For Saturday’s third place game he predicts Germany to beat Uruguay, while Sunday’s final goes to Spain over the Netherlands.
The eight-legged oracle, with an unblemished record in picking winners, has become a World Cup sensation by correctly predicting all the six games Germany has played so far in this World Cup, chose his country of residence Germany on Friday, during an event carried live on national television with two reporters doing commentary and in the presence of dozens of foreign media.
Some German fans were very bitter after Paul predicted Germany’s loss against Spain in the semi-final game and threatening to turn him into sushi, making the art of predicting football games a dangerous job for the English-born clairvoyant cephalopod.
Spain beat slightly favorite Germany 1-0 today at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban and became the second finalist of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The current champions of Europe played better than Germany and won the match with a goal from defender Puyol.
Spain played an excellent game, having most of the ball possession, conceding very few occasions of danger and hardly any mistakes against Germany, who just couldn’t get into their attacking football thanks to Spain’s control of the midfield.
Composed primarily of players from Barcelona, the Spanish team started well on the field and had some opportunities in the first forty five minutes, with two clear goal scoring chances by Villa and Puyol, while the Germans only bothered Casillas with a shot from outside the area. Still, the first half ended tied at zero.
In the second half, the game was much of the same music. Spain dominated the midfield and was creating successive goal scoring chances, but it seemed they could not pass the tall German defense. That changed at 73 minutes when Puyol, one of the smallest players in this game, beat the tall German defenders to open the score board, following a corner by man of the match Xavi.
Holland stamped their passport to the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, by winning the first semi-final against Uruguay by 3-2 in Cape Town tonight. Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder and Robben scored the goals of the “Clockwork Orange” while Forlan and Maxi Pereira scored for the “Celestes”
More than three decades after the legendary Johan Cruyff generation and the “Total Football” devised by Rinus Michaels, Holland returns to a World Cup final.
Coach Bert Van Marwijk and his Orange team won every game in South Africa, adding this game to a string of 25 games without losing.
Germany stormed into the semi-finals of the World Championship by convincingly thrashing Argentina 4-0 in a game where Maradona’s team was unable to capitalize on the talent of Messi, Higuain, Di María and Tevez.
Klose scores in Germany-Argentina game
After just three minutes, the Germans took an early lead when a cross into the area, found Muller free of any marking and headed to the bottom of the goal. Sergio Romero, the Argentine goalkeeper, had major responsibilities in this goal, since he was badly positioned.
Argentina was slow to react, but when freed from the shackles of the German defensive tried through various shots, to beat Neuer. Di María was one of the most active, but rarely did the South American team create real danger.
Germany defended well, had a solid midfield and calmly waited for the right moment. In the second half they struck the fatal blow to the passionate but ineffective Argentina team when Klose scored at 68 minutes making it 2-0.
The Netherlands today defeated Brazil by 2-1 and qualified for the semi-finals, where they will face Uruguay, winners of their game against Ghana in a penalty shoot-out that will be played July 6th.
Brazilian player in despair against Netherlands
Holland avenged their elimination in 1994 and 1998 by Brazil after being down early, but the “Clockwork Orange” had a magnificent turnaround in the second half with the “precious help” from Felipe Melo who was sent off and was the author of an own goal that helped the Netherlands advance to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Brazil, the five times world champions, scored first by Robinho, with just nine minutes on the clock, after a lovely through ball by Felipe Melo, who was to be expelled at 72 minutes.
The second half showed a more determined Dutch team and at 52 minutes Wesley Sneijder made a dangerous cross into the box where Júlio César the Brazilian keeper tried to sock the ball away but Felipe Melo made an own goal.
Paraguay beat Japan and reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time, after 120 minutes of football and a penalty shoot-out. The South American squad will now meet Spain, who won the other round of 16 match.
Cardozo celebrates goal as Paraguay beat Japan
The Paraguayans have a lot to improve if they want to beat the Spanish team. The Japanese who were the last Asian team to leave South Africa, did so with their heads held high, leaving only teams from Europe, South America and Ghana.
The first half was worthy of a game between two teams ranked 31 and 45 by FIFA. The game was badly played, especially on the technical side, with too many failed passes. For the first time in history, one of these teams would reach the quarter-finals, but it was difficult to believe how it was possible.
The first half had only two goal scoring chances for each side. After 20 minutes of yawning, Lucas Barrios ran into the area, broke free of two Japanese defenders, but his shot hit Kawashima, the goalkeeper. A minute later Japan hit the crossbar after a great shot from Matsui.
There was hope that the game would open up, but shots from Roque Santa Cruz and Honda missed the target. Fans from both sides had no reason to jump for joy on their chairs.
