Final Score - WC2010 Second Round, England vs Germany

Saturday 26th June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg - Att. 40,510
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

LINEUPS:
England (442): James, Johnson, Dawson, Terry, Upson, Barry, Lampard (J Cole 45' (Wright-Phillips 70')), Milner, Rooney, Defoe (Crouch 45'), Gerrard
Germany (451): Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Friedrich, Mertesacher, Kroos (Trochowski 67'), Oezil, Khedira, Klose (Kiessling 86'), Podolski (Aogo 79'), Mueller

Both sides started with a player missing through suspension; Schweinstiger for the Germans and Ashley Cole for England. Germany hit the ground running in this match with a constant barrage starting in the very first minute when Oezil headed the ball onto the post. Podolski, Mueller and Klose either had shots blocked by a desperate England or, in the case of Podolski, flat out made a mess of it. After ten minutes of this the wall finally broke when Mesut Oezil got onto a ball off a corner kick to make it 1-0.

The first half continued to be fully controlled by Germany but their plan became one of keeping possession. They did create another great chance when Jerome Boateng run onto Mertesacker's through ball but his shot was easy pickings for David James. The England goalkeeper was busy again at the start of the second half, but he must have been happier dealing with the crosses Germany kept sending in rather than another barrage.

England were unable to threaten Manuel Neuer in his goal but with only one goal in it anything could happen. So it was with a sigh of relief for the German fans that they finally turned it on again in the dying minutes. Thomas Mueller sent his shot into the roof of the net as England again failed to deal with a corner, and substitute Stefan Kiessling then followed that up with a goal of his own after he was setup by Oezil. The victors will play Argentina in the last eight.

England 0 - 3 Germany
Goalscorers:
GER Oezil 13'
GER Mueller 86'
GER Kiessling 88'

Discipline:
GER Kroos 7'
GER Oezil 31'
ENG Terry 66'
ENG Milner 78'

Man of the Match:
GER Per Mertesacher

Final Score - WC2010 Group E, Denmark vs Japan

Thursday 24th June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg - Att. 27,967
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

LINEUPS:
Denmark (451): Sorensen, Jacobsen, Poulsen, Agger, Kjaer, Gronkjaer (Beckmann 81'), Joregensen (Kvist 62'), Tomasson, Bendtner (Enevoldsen 53'), Kahlenberg, Rommendahl
Japan (433): Kawashima, Komano, Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Tanaka, Abe, Endo (Nakamura 62'), Hasebe, Honda, Okubo, Matsui (Okazaki 79')

A dismal first half thankfully had an end to it with both sides scoreless as neither team could manufacture a quality cross with very limited opportunities to put a ball into the box. Denmark made a change before the match, Pouslen's suspension allowed Gronkjaer to take his place in midfield but it was the Japanese midfielders that controlled much of the game.

The second half was much more enjoyable to watch and the first goal was not long in coming. Just seven minutes after the restart Honda's cross found Okubo who headed the ball into the corner. Shortly after they feel behind Denmark then threatened the goal with Enevoldsen, just on from the bench, shooting too close to the keeper after Kjaer's run and defense-splitting pass gave him a great look at goal.

The next goal then cemented Japan's place into the second round and sunk Denmark's chances of progressing further. Keisuke Honda did all the work himself by intercepting the ball, running past defenders and thundering his shot past a helpless Sorensen.

Denmark 0 - 2 Japan
Goalscorers:
JPN Okubo 52'
JPN Honda 68'

Discipline:
JPN Okubo 47'

Man of the Match:
Yoshito Okubo

GROUP E
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Japan	3	1	2	0	3	1	+2	5
Netherlands	2	1	1	0	4	0	+4	4
Denmark	3	1	0	2	2	7	-5	3
Cameroon	2	0	1	1	2	3	-1	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, Mexico vs Uruguay

Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg - Att. 33,425
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

LINEUPS:
Mexico (442): O Perez, Osorio (Aguillar 65'), Salcido, Rodriguez, Moreno (Castro 45'), Marquez, Juarez, Torrado, Franco, Dos Santos (Hernandez 56'), Guardado
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Scotti, Lugano, Gonzalez, Arevalo (Gorgano 76'), A Pereira, D Perez, Suarez, Forlan, Cavani (Abreu 68')

While Uruguay had both Fucile and Victorino suspended, it was not until this final group game that Mexico had any kind of disciplinary problems picking up four bookings in their 2-0 loss. It was Mexico who generated the first chance when Guillermo Franco shot from a tight angle forcing a save out of Muslera. The rest of the match was largely dictated by Uruguay with their trickery leading to some mistimed tackles and set piece opportunities. After Guardado scythed down an all but clear Arevalo the deadlock was broken by Luis Suarez ripping the ball up and over the wall.

Suarez had a second free kick eight minutes later that he thundered through a poor defensive wall leaving Oscar Perez no chance in his goal. The first half ended on a sour note when Egidio Arevalo was again brought down hard leading to a booking for Salcido but also the victim for retaliation.

Uruguay continued to control the pace of the game in the second half but were in no hurry to press the attack. Mexico were wasteful when they did gain possession, Hernandez coming closest by shooting wide in the final ten minutes.

Mexico 0 - 2 Uruguay
Goalscorers:
URU Suarez 29'
URU Suarez 37'


Discipline:
URU Cavani 26'
MEX Guardado 28'
MEX Marquez 28'
MEX Salcido 45'
URU Arevalo 45'
MEX Osorio 57'

Man of the Match:
URU Luis Suarez

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	3	3	0	0	6	1	+5	9
Mexico	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
France	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1
South Africa	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group D, Ghana vs Australia

Saturday 19th June 2010, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg - Att. 34,812
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

LINEUPS
Ghana (451): Kingson, Pantsil, Sarpei, John Mensah, Johnathon Mensah, Annan, Asamoah, Tagoe (Muntari 56'), Gyan, Prince-Boateng (Adiyiah 75'), Ayew
Australia (451): Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Carney, Neill, Moore (Vidosic 67'), Valeri, Holman, Cahill, Kennedy (Garcia 67'), Culina, Emerton (Kewell 83')

Australia were again denied by some good goalkeeping while they contributed to their own downfall by giving away another penalty. Ghana had a good break in the thrity-sixth minute where Ayew put in Asamoah Gyan who felt contact from behind and hit the deck leading to Mr Rosetti pointing straight to the spot. Gyan himself placed the penalty into the bottom corner for his second goal in as many games.

The first half had seen both sides exchange chances to score first with Andre Ayew forcing Schwarzer to leap and save under his bar. At the other end Joshua Kennedy was denied in spectacular fashion by Kingson, and Holman blasting one over the bar from ten yards out. The second half continued in a similer vein as Wilkshire could not equalise thanks to another good save and Ghana failed to finish off Australia thanks to more saves; Prince-Boateng and Muntari hitting the target.

Ghana 1 - 0 Australia
Goalscorers:
GHA Gyan 36'

Discipline:
GHA John Mensah 19'
AUS Carney 40'

Man of the Match:
GHA John Pantsil

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

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, New Zealand vs Slovakia

Tuesday 15th June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg. Att: 23,871
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

LINEUPS:
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Brown 78'), Vicelich, Fallon (Wood 61'), Smeltz (Brockie (69'), Killen
Slovakia (451): Mucha, Pekarik, Zabavnik, Skrtel, Durica, Strba (Kozak 71'), Weiss (Sapara 85'), Hamsik, Vittek, Jendrisek (Kucka 55'), Stoch

This game of two halves revolved around five minutes early in the second half when Marek Hamsik picked up two yellow cards and was given his marching orders. Throughout the first forty-five minutes his Slovakian side was controlling the game and generating chances. Mark Paston was sharp however, smartly stopping a pair of Vladimir Weiss shots.

After the sending off Slovakia had to reshuffle their midfield who dictated so much of the earlier play allowing the All Whites to finally get on the front foot. Yet they had to wait until the final ten minutes for real goalscoring opportunities when first Vicelich and then Wood had their shots saved and deflected.

With the referee checking his watch ready to blow for the match New Zealand won a corner. Leo Bertos, who was the lone spark in their midfield, received the ball on a short play and crossed it hard through the goalmouth where substitute Jeremy Brockie was standing on the far post to score and give his side an historic first ever World Cup win and putting them on top of Group F.

New Zealand 1 - 0 Slovakia
Goalscorers:
NZL Brockie 90'

Discipline:
SVK Hamsik 48'
SVK Hamsik 53' (Off)

Man of the Match:
NZL Leo Bertos

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

Final Score - WC2010 Group C, England vs USA

Saturday 12th June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg. Att: 38,646
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)

LINEUPS:
England (442): James, Johnson, A Cole (Carragher 72'), Terry, Upson, Barry, Lampard, Milner (Lennon 62'), Rooney, Defoe (Crouch 83'), Gerard
United States (442): Howard, Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Demerit, Onyewu (Clark 65'), Bradley, Edu (Beasley 74'), Donovan, Altidore, Findley, Dempsey (Buddle 84')

Group C started with a bang as both teams came to win. After Rooney shot England's first chance down the keepers' throat the ball was cleared down the other end where Landon Donovan beat Barry in the air, giving Michael Bradley all the space he needed to pick out Jozy Altidore in the box who finished with aplomb and a 1-0 USA lead.

Neither midfield really got into the game as the match quickly transitioned from defence to attack, especially from England as they would generate several wasteful chances to go into halftime a goal down. A pedestrian fifteen minutes passed after the restart and England finally found a way through. Steven Gerard with a neat trick on the edge of the box gave him time and space to hammer past Tim Howard.

Both defences then pulled their socks up and almost smothered the game but a game-changing substitution and a big miss were still to come. Jermaine Defoe was taken off in the 83rd minute after a poor showing by his standards where he looked quite sluggish at times and his one chance in the first half was scuffed wide of goal. His replacement was Peter Crouch and his height was instantly called into play as, in the first action after he came on, the big man headed goalward fellow substitute Lennon's cross after John Terry had sent the winger away down the touchline.

The game was winding down but, in the final minute of the game, the United States kept pressing and generated the chance the were looking for. Findley and Buddle combined with backheels and flicks to find a wide open Altidore in the six yard box, but David James was quick to react giving the American no space to shot at. With the ball rebounding off the goalies body there was a wide open net for Landon Donovan to aim at but his shot hit the top of the crossbar and flew out of play.

England 2 - 1 United States
Goalscorers:
USA Altidore 10'
ENG Gerard 72'
ENG Crouch 83'

Discipline:
ENG Upson 23'
USA Dempsey 43'

Man of the Match:
ENG Steven Gerrard

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
Slovenia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Algeria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
United States	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0