World Cup 2010 South Africa

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Martino awaits FIFA apology after Paraguay crash out

JOHANNESBURG: -- Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said he was expecting an apology from FIFA after seeing his side have a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside in his side's 1-0 quarter-final defeat Saturday to Spain.

Nelson Valdez found the net for Paraguay in the 41st minute at Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium Saturday, but linesman Carlos Pastrana from Honduras incorrectly raised his flag.

"We feel fine because FIFA will apologise tomorrow and everything will be alright," Martino said sarcastically, in reference to FIFA president Joseph Blatter's apology to Mexico and England after they were the victims of poor refereeing decisions in the Round of 16.

"Say thank you to FIFA for apologising to us."

David Villa netted the all-important goal for Spain in the 83rd minute but apart from Valdez's strike, Paraguay also had a goal disallowed while Iker Casillas saved Oscar Cardozo's effort for Paraguay and denied Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz late on.

The European champions missed a penalty of their own when Xabi Alonso had to retake his spot-kick.

"We weren't lucky, it wasn't our night," said Martino, who felt disappointed despite leading Paraguay to the last eight of a World Cup for the first time in the South American country's history.

"Making history was trying to be there in the last week of the world cup," he said.

"Instead Spain are in the semi-finals but I think we could have been there too."

-- The Nation 2010-07-04

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World Cup semi-final result: Netherlands beat Uruguay 3 - 2

Cape Town - Result of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final match between Uruguay and the Netherlands:

Uruguay 2 Netherlands 3

Forlan, 41st, Van Bronckhorst, 18th

M. Pereira 90th+2 Sneijder, 70th

Robben, 73rd

The Netherlands will meet the winner of tonight's semi-final match between Germany and Spain.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Spain beat Germany to reach first World Cup final

Durban - Reigning European champions Spain reached their first World Cup final on Wednesday by defeating Germany 1-0 at Durban Stadium thanks to Carles Puyol's second half goal.

Puyol scored in the 73rd minute as Spain set up an all-European final with the Netherlands on Sunday. One of those teams will become the first European nation to win a World Cup outside of Europe.

For the second straight World Cup, the three-time world champions Germany will play in the third place game, facing Uruguay on Saturday

-- The Nation 2010-07-08

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Germany beats Uruguay 3-2 to take third place

Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Germany defeated Uruguay 3-2 on Saturday to clinch third place in the World Cup.

Midfielder Sami Khedira headed home the winner eight minutes from time in front of a crowd of 36,250 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Germany opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Thomas Mueller coolly taped in the ball from eight metres after Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera parried a shot from captain Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Uruguay equalized nine minutes later when Diego Perez dispossessed Schweinsteiger on the half-way line and passed to Luis Suarez, who set up Edinson Cavani to steer the ball home from inside the area.

Striker Diego Forlan volleyed home his fifth goal of the tournament on 51 minutes to put the South Americans ahead, but a header by Germany's Marcel Jansen levelled the scores five minutes later.

Khedira's winner in the 82nd minute meant that Germany finished third for the second World Cup in a row after narrowly failing to reach the final both in South Africa and on home soil four years ago.

-- The Nation 2010-07-11

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Spain win seals perfect eight for 'psychic' octopus

Salty soothsayer Paul, the "psychic" octopus, finished World Cup with flawless record as Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in final leaves him with 8 perfect predictions

-- TNA 2010-07-12