Germany 0-1 Spain
2010 FIFA World Cup
7 July 2010

Spain would move into their first ever FIFA World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Germany. The score was the same as the 2008 Euro Final but this time it was Carlos Puyol who would score the winning goal.

The opening match didn’t have many chances for either side as the Germans were compact and Spain couldn’t convert their possession into any goals.

In the second half, the match would open up a bit as both teams looked for a goal. Spain had more possession throughout the match and would start to get some decent chances as the match continued. Finally, in the 73rd minute, Spain would grab the lead with a header from Puyol from a corner kick. It was a great header as Puyol ran from the edge of the box and connected to give Spain a 1-0 lead.

Germany was unable to make a comeback in the final minutes and will once again play for third place. Spain will face the Netherlands in the final on Sunday. Neither team has won the World Cup before and its the first final ever for Spain.

Germany Spain Goal Videos

Carlos Puyol scores with a header from a corner kick in the 73rd minute to give Spain the lead

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Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands
2010 FIFA World Cup
6 July 2010

The Netherlands would advance to the final of the World Cup with a 3-2 win over South American side Uruguay.

It was a match where the Dutch controlled most of the play and would break it open in the second half. The opening half had two goals with Holland’s Giovanni Van Bronckhorst scoring in the 18th minute on a fantastic long range shot and a free kick from Uruguay’s Diego Forlan in the 41st minute.

In the second half, the Dutch took control of the match with two goals in a three minute span. Wesley Sneijder would score in the 70th minute and Arjen Robben added another in the 73rd minute with a great header. The score was 3-1 but Uruguay would make it interesting in stoppage time. Maxi Pereira would score in stoppage time as Uruguay cut the lead to 3-2 but that’s as close as it would get.

The Dutch will now play the winner of Spain/Germany in the final while Uruguay will place the loser in the third place match.

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands Goal Videos

All Goals (Bronckhorst 18′, Forlan 41′, Sneijder 70′, Robben 73′, Pereira 90′)

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Paraguay 0-1 Spain
2010 FIFA World Cup
3 July 2010

Spain would control most of the play and would edge Paraguay with a late second half goal to move into the semifinals.

It was another match where Spain had a lot of possession but had trouble converting that into goals. Paraguay did do a good job during the match of putting pressure on the Europeans and making it tough. The first half was a bit uneventful but the second half would have a lot of drama.

Both sides would get penalties within a few minutes of each other and fail to convert both. The first was for Paraguay and saved by Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas while Spain would then have a penalty waived off (due to players being in the box before it was taken) and then the re-kick saved.

Eventually, Spain would start to get some decent chances late and would score. Andres Iniesta would sent a pass to Pedro who sent a shot off the post where it fell to David Villa. The striker would score with a shot off the far post. Spain would hold on for the 1-0 win and now has a match against Germany in the semifinals.

Paraguay 0-1 Spain Goal Videos

David Villa gives Spain the lead in the 83rd minute (0-1).

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Argentina 0-4 Germany
2010 FIFA World Cup
3 July 2010

Germany would eliminate Argentina for the second straight World Cup with a convincing and dominating 4-0 victory.

Unlike 2006, it was not a close match and the Germans exploited the South Americans who showed vulnerabilities in their defense. Argentina was not really tested in their previous matches but the Germans came into the match with lots of confidence.

They would strike first in the third minute as Thomas Muller was unmarked and headed a cross into the back of the net. The match would remain 0-1 until the second half when Germany would score three goals to guarantee their place in the semifinals. Miroslav Klose would score two goals and Arne Friedrich added the other to make it 0-4 at the final whistle.

The win was well deserved for Germany who were organized, strong defensively, and outplayed their opponents. They will now face the winner of Paraguay v Spain in the semifinals. For Argentina, they have another disappointing tournament despite having a very talented squad.

Argentina 0-4 Germany Goal Videos

All Goals (Muller 3′, Klose 68′, Friedrich 74′, Klose 89′)

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Uruguay 1-1 (4-2) Ghana
2010 FIFA World Cup
2 July 2010

Ghana would once again go into extra time in the knockout stage but this time were eliminated on penalty kicks by Uruguay.

Ghana would take the lead late in the first half as Sulley Muntari scored in the 45th minute on a long range shot. It was a mistake from the goalkeeper who leaned the wrong direction and couldn’t get back to cover the near post. Uruguay would come back in the second half as Diego Forlan scored on a free kick from just outside the box. The goal came in the 55th minute and tied it at 1-1.

Neither side would score in the rest of the second half as it would go into extra time. The first extra time was scoreless while the second would end very dramatically. Ghana would get a penalty kick in the 120th minute as Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take it. He would miss it and the match ended up going to penalty kicks.

In the penalty kicks, both sides converted their first two rounds. Uruguay would then make their next two out of three while Ghana missed their next two which ended the match. It will be a disappointing loss for Ghana who had a chance while Uruguay are back in the semifinals for the first time since 1970.

Uruguay 1-1 Ghana Goal Videos

All Goals (Muntari 45′, Forlan 55′)

Penalty Kicks

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Netherlands 2-1 Brazil
2010 FIFA World Cup
2 July 2010

The Dutch would come from behind to advance into the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Brazil.

It started out poorly for the Europeans as Brazil looked much better in the first half. They would grab a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute with a Robinho goal. It was a long through ball from the middle of the pitch and very poor defense. Robinho received the pass and then finished inside the box. Despite having chances and the better of play for the rest of the first half, Brazil couldn’t extend their lead.

In the second half, the Dutch would get a break and then eventually take control of the match. In the 53rd minute, a cross was sent in the box as Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar came to play it but instead it deflected off Felipe Melo and into the back of the net. It was a poor play from Cesar who was late and collided with his defender. The score was now 1-1 and the Dutch would take the lead about 15 minutes later. Off a corner kick, Wesley Sneijder would head the ball into the back of the net to put his side ahead.

The Netherlands would hold onto their 2-1 lead and move into the semifinals. For a second consecutive World Cup, Brazil is knocked out in the quarterfinals despite being one of the favorites.

Netherlands 2-1 Brazil Goal Videos

All Goals (Robinho 10′, Felipe Melo own goal 53′, Sneijder 68′)

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Spain 1-0 Portugal
2010 FIFA World Cup
29 June 2010

Spain would fail to convert several chances but a second half goal from David Villa moved them into the quarterfinals.

The Spanish had much more possession and chances including eight shots on goal in the match. Portugal’s defense did well to keep the match scoreless until the second half when thing started to open up. A great combination of passing among the Spanish players resulted in the Villa goal. It was in the 63rd minute and his initial shot was blocked before he fired in the rebound off the crossbar.

It was Villa’s 4th goal of the tournament and was enough to put the Spanish into the quarterfinals. Portugal didn’t have many chances in the match and it was a disappointing World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo. The frustration for the Portuguese showed late in the match as Ricardo Costa was given a red card in the 89th minute.

Spain will now face Paraguay in the quarterfinals and still remain one of the favorites to win the tournament.

Spain 1-0 Portugal Goal Videos

David Villa scores a goal after some great passing in the 63rd minute to give Spain a 1-0 lead.

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Paraguay 0-0 (5-3) Japan
2010 FIFA World Cup
29 June 2010

It would go down to a penalty shoot-out in the penultimate round of 16 match as Paraguay edged Japan.

The match didn’t have many chances during the first 90 minutes or extra time as both teams were a bit cautious. Paraguay had more possession but Japan were able to produce some decent chances. As the remained scoreless into extra time, both teams took few chances and seemed content to let it go to penalty kicks.

In the penalty kicks, both sides would convert their first round and their second round. It was 2-2 until Uruguay’s Cristian Riveros made it 3-2 which put the pressure back on Japan. Yuichi Komano stepped up to take it but would miss it as it bounced off the crossbar. That would prove to be the difference as Uruguay converted their final two kicks to win 5-3.

The win gives Paraguay its first trip to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in the country’s history and the winner of Spain or Portugal in that round. For Japan, it’s a tough loss but they are a team on the rise as well as the entire AFC region.

Paraguay 0-0 (5-3) Japan Goal Videos

Penalty Shoot-out

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