Final Score - WC2010 Group G, North Korea vs Cote d'Ivoire

Friday 25th June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelsruit - Att. 34,763
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

LINEUPS:
North Korea (451): RM Guk, NS Choi, Nam, Jin, RJ Il (AC Hyok 80'), Chon (Kim Kyong Il 61'), Jo, Hak, Se, PN Choi, MI Guk (PS Hyok 9')

Cote d'Ivoire (433): Barry, Demel, Tiene, K Toure, Zokora, Y Toure, Eboue (Romaric 66'), Tiote, Drogba (Boka 89'), Gervinho, Dindane (Keita 75')

This match almost started in explosive fashion when  Pak Nam Choi attempted an audacious lob straight at the kickoff that was only just wide. The one change for this match was Nam Song Choi starting in defence for the injured Cha Jong Hyok but they had another injury concern inside the opening ten minutes; Mun In Guk forced to leave on a stretcher. With the Ivory Coast unable to find a way through it was North Korea who had the next shot on goal with An Yong Hak skillfully carving a path through the defence before substitute Pak Sung Hyok shot straight down the goalie's throat.

The second half began with a frustrated Drogba earning a yellow card but just not long afterwards Cote d'Ivoire took the lead through Gervinho. Guy Demel was allowed to manoeuvre out from his own half and deep into the North Korean's before finding Dindane with a great feed. His shot was saved from ten yeards out but Gervinho followed up for the goal.

After the goal the leading team grew in confidence with chances for Yaya Toure and Gervinho saved by Ri Myong Guk. A late chance for North Korea would have given them a chance of an historic win but Boubacar Barry was equal to the challenge posed by Kim Kyong Il's long range shot.

North Korea 0 - 1 Cote d'Ivoire
Goalscorers:
CIV Gervinho 51'

Discipline:
CIV Drogba 46'
CIV Dindane 57'

Man of the Match:
CIV Gervinho

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	3	2	0	1	3	1	+2	6
Portugal	3	1	2	0	1	0	+1	5
Cote d'Ivoire	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	4
North Korea	3	0	1	2	0	3	-3	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group D, Australia vs Serbia

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit - Att. 37,836
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

LINEUPS:
Australia (451): Federici, Wilkshire (Milligan 71'), Beauchamp, Neill, Moore, Valari, Holman (Bresciano 81'), Cahill, Kennedy (Rukavytsya 45'), Culina, Emerton
Serbia (433): Isailovic, Ivanovic, Kolarov, Vidic (Rukavina 64'), Lukovic, Ninkovic, Stankovic (Kacar 79'), Kuzmanovic, Zigic, Pantelic, Krasic (Petrovic 57')

Both teams had two changes to their lineups including starts for goalkeepers Adam Federici and Bojan Isailovic. The other player swaps - Beauchamp for Carney and Pantelic for Jovanovic - were needed cover for suspensions.

Serbia were able to end on a high note despite a straight red to Milos Ninkovic in the 54th minute, leading to an Australian penalty that tied the game 1-1. It all started when the big bodies of Emerton and Vidic came together with the Aussie winning the ball and starting the play that led to Jason Culina being fouled from behind. The resulting penalty dispatched by Culina was almost saved by Isailovic and sent the match into several minutes of niggling tackles and substitutions,

The Serbians had taken the lead only five minutes in when Krasic's cross was put away by Nikola Zigic, and it was this striker who scored his third of the World Cup just after the hour mark when Ivanovic this time angled the good feed for him to finish on.

Prior to the red card and penalty Serbia were enjoying their lions share of scoring chances but Lukovic, Zigic and Pantolic were all foiled by Federici. For the Australians it was tough going but they did have a last minute chance to equalise through substitute Mark Bresciano whose header was well saved.

Australia 1 - 2 Serbia
Goalscorers:
SRB Zigic 5' (2)
AUS Culina 55'
SRB Zigic 62' (3)

Discipline:
AUS Kennedy 45'
SRB Ninkovic 54'  (off)
SRB Petrovic 58'
AUS Emerton 71'

Man of the Match:
SRB Nikola Zigic

GROUP D
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Ghana	3	2	1	0	3	0	+3	7
Germany	3	1	2	0	6	2	+4	5
Serbia	3	1	1	1	4	5	-5	4
Australia	3	0	0	3	1	7	-6	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, Italy vs New Zealand

Sunday 20th June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit - Att. 38,229
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

LINEUPS:
Italy (451): Marchetti, Zambrotta, Criscito, Cannavaro, Chiellini (Pirlo 45'), De Rossi (Gatusso 61'), Montolivo, Marchisio, Gilardino (Pazzini 84'), Iaquinta, Pepe
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Barron 90'), Vicelich (Clapham 74'), Fallon, Smeltz, Killen (Brockie 43')

New Zealand sit atop Group F after another impressive performance earned them a draw against Italy. The Italians started the more dangerous with Gilardino sending his 13th minute header goalbound but for a backtracking defender clearing the ball off the line. A long period of stalemate followed, eventually broken up by Smeltz getting onto the end of a Fallon ball, forcing a good save out of Marchetti. Chris Killen was a first half substitute for New Zealand but an update later in the day reported that his injury was not severe and he would return for the final group game. Chiellini was also taken off at the interval for precautionary reason.

After halftime it was the All Whites that dictated the early play as they split open the Italian defense; Marchetti again on his toes stopping Fallon. As time ran down Italy had more of the possession which led to chances for Iaquinta (head over) and Marchisio (saved), but they nearly stole all three points in an audacious chip from Pepe who very nearly caught Paston off guard.

Italy 0 - 0 New Zealand
Goalscorers:
None

Discipline:
NZL Smeltz 51'

Man of the Match:
NZL Ryan Nelson

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	1	0	+1	4
Slovakia	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1	3
Italy	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Paragauy	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group H, Honduras vs Chile

Wednesday 16th June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Att: 32,664
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

LINEUPS:
Honduras (451): Valladares, Mendoza, Izaguine, Chavez, Figueroa, Palacios, Guevara, Nunez (Thomas 85'), Suazo (Welcome 63'), Espinoza, Alvarez (Turcios 63')
Chile (433): Bravo, Jara, Vidal, Ponce, Medel, Carmona, Isla (Tello 85'), Valdivia, Suazo (Paredes 72'), Beausejour, Sanchez (Gonzalez 56')

A feisty encounter kept Mr Maillet busy as he gave out seven yellow cards, two of which terminated Arturo Vidal's game in stoppage time two minutes before his side would steal all three points with ten men. The first half was full of hard tackling, resulting in bookings for both sides, making it hard for either side to keep possession. So, Honduras' Amado Guevara took the initiative and, after intercepting a poor pass, ran from his own half dodging tackles as he went before curling the ball into the area. Claudio Bravo was helpless in his goal and could only watch the ball go in off Waldo Ponce for an own goal.

Chile were quick to pick themselves up, controlling much of the second half, but before the interval Isla found himself in space deciding to try his luck from range. The shot beat Valladares but skimmed the outside of the post. After the restart Honduras were very much on the back foot and only good goalkeeping prevented Suaso and Jara from equalising. Isla was pulling the strings for Chile and he first pulled back for Gonzalez to shoot on target before finding himself alone on goal shooting through the hands of Valladeres for a 1-1 scoreline.

The game seemed to die after that, neither side interested in risking what they already had, but there was still late drama to come. Vidal's first booking came in stoppage time of the first half and his second, that would see the defender miss Chile's next game against Switzerland, again came after the forty-five minutes were up. Honduras were quick to give up the ball where Valdivia and Carmona played it between themselves until an opening for substitute Esteban Paredes presented itself and he finished low past the keeper for a 2-1 shock win.

Honduras 1 - 2 Chile
Goalscorers:
HON Ponce (Own Goal) 16'
CHI Isla 78'
CHI Paredes 90'

Discipline:
CHI Beausejour 10'
CHI Jara 13'
HON Guevera 16'
HON Suazo 23'
CHI Vidal 45'
HON Palacios 68'
CHI Vidal 90' (Off)

Man of the Match:
HON Sergio Mendoza

GROUP H
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Chile	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Switzerland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Honduras	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0