THE FINAL

NETHERLANDS vs. SPAIN 2-1 (1-0)

Venue: Soccer City - Johannesburg

Weather: Cloudy

Attendance: 83,561

The most anticipated match of the competition brought together two European countries, that definitely proved themselves to be the most powerful national teams of the tournament, Netherlands and Spain.

Stekelenburg vs. Casillas (GK)

Van der Wiel vs. Ramos (DR)

Heitinga vs. Puyol (DC)

Mathijsen vs. Pique (DC)

Van Bronckhorst vs. Capdevilla (DL)

Van Bommel vs. Sergio (DMC)

De Yong vs. Alonso (DMC)

Sneijder vs. Xavi (MC)

Robben vs. Iniesta (AMC)

Kuyt vs. Pedro (AMC)

Van Persie vs. David Villa (ST)

Both Van Marwijk and Del Bosque went for an identical tactical display, both hoping for a creative spark from their offensive players that could make the difference. Ad they weren't wrong. The Netherlands put themselves one up when Robben's genius cross from the right met the head of Kuyt, leaving Iker with no other chance that to watch the ball as it went in off the underside of the bar. 1-0. That was the half time score and people start wondering is Paul the octopus' finally lost his intuition or if it it Torres that could save the lucky guesser?

It was indeed Torres that finally managed to equalize with 20 minutes to go but it wasn't a moment to last as Wesley Sneijder though about challenging Van Bronckhorst wonder goal from the semifinal with Uruguay. Same place, same foot, but far more cheers after the ball reached the net, after taking a deflection from Iker's right hand. 2-1 and Spain couldn't do anything more to change that. THE WORLD CUP GOES TO AMSTERDAM!

MoM. Wesley Sneijder

Last 4 - Matchday 6

Germany vs. Spain 7-5 p.s.o. (1-0 at halftime, 2-2 a.e.t.)

Both coaches had big decisions to make as they prepared for a re-run of the Euro 2008 final. For Germany, who will replace the suspended Thomas Mueller? For Spain, will they keep faith with Fernando Torres?
This was a real heavyweight clash and those selection decisions could have been the key. This looked like the tightest game so far, but German efficiency wasn't enough for Spanish style, who have done more attacking than anyone in this tournament according with the statistics.
It was a great night for football fans all over the world and after 90 minutes it was a draw. In the first half the germans took the lead after a great header from Miroslav Klose (german striker is now first along brazilian striker Ronaldo on the list of FIFA World Cup goalscorers). Spain scored the equalizer through David Villa, then the germans took the lead again and Iniesta settled for a draw in the last minutes of the game. The game decided after penalties and Cassilas was the hero of the night after two penalty saves. Spain are in the final and will face the Netherlands for the World Cup title.

MoM: Iker Casillas

Semifinals - Matchday 6

Uruguay vs. Netherlands 0-2 (0-1)

Uruguay took on the role of outsiders in the last four, after Luis Suarez's last-minute handball against Ghana helped deny Africa a first-ever semifinalist. Uruguay was the first time in the last 4 at a world championship since 1970.

The Netherlands were the only side left in South Africa with a 100 percent winning record, the Dutch had also won its last 13 competitive matches. The team looked good and prooved it's mental strength after conceding an early goal from Brazil. But coach Bert van Marwijk reminded his players of the 1992 European Championships, when Holland beat Germany 3-1 in the quarterfinals, only to lose on penalties to outsiders Denmark in the semifinals.

The South Americans' missing list was quite worrying with Suarez suspended for one game after his handball against Ghana, Jorge Fusile also suspended and captain Diego Lugano injured. The Netherlands were less worried from this point of view, with Demy de Zeeuw and Khalid Boulahrouz replacing the suspended Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel.

Uruguay looked tired after the long quarter final and Holland dominated them from the begining of the match. The Dutch also scored in the first half, through Robin van Persie, after a wonderfull race on his final after 32 years and will face the winner from the clash between Spain and Germany for the world cup title.right side. Urugay tried harder after half time, but the Dutch scored again after a great counter attack finalized by Kuyt with a well placed header. This it, the Dutch are in the final after 32 years.

MoM: Robin van Persie

Quarter Finals - Matchday 5

PARAGUAY vs. SPAIN 1-4 (0-2)

Surprise ahead! Paraguay will join Uruguay in the semis! Spain out! These were the predictions made by some inspired by the previous results in this stage of the World Cup. This so-called tipsters need to see behind the big names or the historical achievements and try to focus on football as played on the field solely.

0-1, 0-2, both Spanish goals happened so quickly that Paraguay defense could have still hoped for a clean sheet, just if the first 15 minutes could be ignored. They managed to keep hold on the game for the rest of the first half, but Villa's strike and Sergio Ramos' header will haunt them over the half time break. What happened in the 2nd half couldn't change the outcome but add to the show, Torres, followed by a late retaliation by Cardoso and a lovely finishing move by Llorente granted Spain the privilege to face the mighty Panzers.

MoM: Sergio Ramos

Quarter Finals - Matchday 5

ARGENTINA vs. GERMANY 0-1 (0-0)

Germany or Argentina, Bastian or Lionel, The Illusionist or The Spark, Europe or South America? The world has its eyes on Cape Town, the place where the big battle takes place. After a first quarter finals day in which Brazil and Ghana left the World Cup after two incredible matches, while Netherlands and Uruguay prepare themselves for a majestic clash in the semis, who will join who?

Maradona shook Loew's hand and the match got underway. First 20 minutes let us know that Jabulani can indeed be tamed by wizards and superheroes. What followed was a piece of football that deserves its place in the bookshelf next to the DVD with Pele's greatest moments and the Bible. No goal was harmed!

The second half rose the tempo and so the German-Polish Klose finally sneaked past Heinze to knock home a delicious looking cross from the German-Turkish Ozil. What followed was very predictable: tiny South Americans grabbing the ball and tying to pass through the gates of a huge Berlin looking wall. So not efficient! Kun's tears at the final didn't impress his father in law, who was far too busy to argue with each and everyone looking a bit like a referee. The Mannschaft did it and Europe marches forward to the final battle!

MoM: Neuer

Quarter Finals - Matchday 5

URUGUAY vs. GHANA 2-1 (2-0)

After today shock, Brazil being kicked out after showing everyone why North Korea had every reason to feel aggravated at not equalizing them in the group stage, Uruguay will try to wash the shame of a South American football that almost proved to be most efficient. On the other hand Ghana has the entire Black continent cheering for them and that could prove to be exactly what they need to advance.

Match started with the usual acoustic background brought to you by The Vuvuzela Hysteria. Nothing could stop the goal twins Forlan and Suarez, which seemed to settle the match straight from the first half, 2-0. Ghana remembered the ultimate goal in the football game and clawed one back early in the 2nd half, with a lucky deflection from Asamoah. That was the final score though, cries of lions and giraffes from all over Africa being heard after ref's last whistle. First semifinal has been decided: Uruguay vs. Netherlands. Who will the Vuvuzelas support from now on?

MoM: D. Forlan

Quarter Finals - Matchday 5

Netherlands vs. Brazil 7-6 p.s.o. (1-1 ht / 2-2 ft)

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hosted the clash between two pre-2010 FIFA World Cup favourites, the Netherlands and Brazil. These teams also met at the quarter - final and semi - final stages of the 1994 and 1998 World Cup editions and produced spectacular games. Brazil passed Netherlands each time and reached the final. Everyone was asking if Dunga's Seleção
will make it three in a row on Friday.

The game was full of passion and by the end of the first half each team managed to score once. Kaka scored first with a fine shot from over 18 yards and then Kuyt with a well placed header before the half time whistle. The second half had to goals also, one for every team. Luis Fabiano scored a goal after a mistake of the dutch defensive and then Robben came with the equalizer in the last two minutes of the game. In the extra time nothing happened, both teams being very cautious. In the end, the teams reached to the penalty shoot outs, where the Netherlands beat Brazil after a miss from Real Madrid's star, Kaka. That was it and the Dutch have now the strength to believe in their dream of winning the World Cup title.