Netherlands deal with Slovakia 2-1

The Netherlands are a great side, while they've never won a World Cup,  they've certainly made their mark on the tournament in the past. Introducing the calm and patient style of play, "total football", which relies on keeping the ball away from the opponent with fluid and intelligent movement, they really made history. Now, they've probably got one of the greatest attacking teams in their history, and while they have often had factions in the team, if they can all get along in South Africa, they're gonna be a team to watch.

Robben scoring the first goal for the Netherlands

Netherlands - Slovakia 


Robben marked his return against Slovakia, his pace and positional sense provides width and another dimension of play for the team, and just 18 minutes in, he put his name on the score-sheet. A quick counter-attack all starting from Sneijder's brilliant ball for Robben to chase allowed the Bayern Munich player to cut in and finish across into the bottom corner. After this, chances were sparse and the Netherlands went into halftime with the lead thanks to Robben.

But the beginning of the second half had a flurry of chances which were all parried by the two keepers. In the 50th Robben was looking for his second with a low shot, but Mucha managed to get his fingers to tip it around the post. Then just seconds later the Dutch square the ball to Van Persie who is wide open in front of goal, but his shot is saved by Mucha's face. Then in the 67th minute Slovakia push forward and Stoch has his shot from just inside the box tipped just over the bar from Stekelenburg. A minute later Slovakia get an even better chance, Vittek beats the offside trap only to shoot a central (but powerful) shot which Stekelenburg does well to save.

Vittek earning Slovakia their penalty with a touch of acting

The second goal came in the 84th, the Netherlands catch Slovakia sleeping with a quick free kick, Kuyt rounds the keeper and squares the ball to Sneijder for the Inter Milan player to slot home. Slovakia pull one back in the fourth minute of extra time, Vittek was brought down by Stekelenburg and the referee gives the Dutch keeper a yellow and awards a penalty. Vittek steps up to take it and slots it home, while the Slovakian players rush to grab the ball hoping to get an equalizer, the referee blows for the end of the game.

Italy eliminated as Paraguay and Slovakia go through

The World Cup champions were eliminated, a strong showing from Slovakia and bad play from the Italians ended up with them finishing bottom of the group. In the other match, New Zealand were able to hold Paraguay to a draw, giving them the third spot of the group after three draws.

Here's how group F stands:

Paraguay            (5)
Slovakia             (4)
New Zealand     (3)
Italy                   (2)

Quagliarella crying with Cannavaro
consoling him

Slovakia - Italy

Robert Vittek gave Slovakia an early lead after some a bad pass by Daniele De Rossi, the Slovakian finished cooly in front of Marchetti. Vittek's second goal came in the second half after a good cross from Marek Hamsik which Vittek just tucked away. Moments after the goal Quagliarella came very close to a goal but Martin Skrtel managed to clear the Napoli striker's volley on the goal line.

The Azzurri managed to pick themselves up when Antonio Di Natale pulled one back for them from a rebound off of Quagliarella's shot after the Napoli striker was 1 on 1. At 2-1, they knew they only needed a second goal since Paraguay and New Zealand were locked at 0-0. Italy thought they made it when Quagliarella shoved the ball in the clear goal but his goal was disallowed for offside. Moments later they received a decisive punch: Kamil Kopunek lifted the ball over goalkeeper Marchetti into the gaping goal to make it 3-1. Quagliarella did manage to reduce the deficit for Italy with a beautiful chip from outside the box, but it wasn't enough for Italy. 

Paraguay - New Zealand

Clear-cut chances were few and far between throughout the game, and Paraguay captain Denis Caniza's long-range efforts in the opening half-hour were as close as anyone could seem to get early on in the match. New Zealand, who could have advanced with a victory, never got a good look at target and didn't manage a shot on goal against Justo Villar in the entire game.

Paraguay's best chance came in the 62nd minute when Cristian Riveros had a header from close-range turned away by New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston, who did well in the second half to keep Paraguay off the score sheet. He also had to be alert in the 76th minute as substitute Edgar Benítez had a shot saved, and Paston did well to touch away the rebound before Lucas Barrios could get on the end of it. It ended 0-0 with Paraguay going through to the next stages.

Paraguay dominate Slovakia and Italy draw 1-1 with New Zealand

We have seen the world champions be stumped not once, but twice. First against Paraguay, and now against New Zealand, Italy are just unable to find a win. But Paraguay go on to take the lead in the group after defeating Slovakia 2-0.

Here's how Group F stands after these two results:

Paraguay            (4)
Italy                    (2)
New Zealand     (2)
Slovakia             (1)

Italy - New Zealand


A match which the reigning World Cup champions really would've wanted to win, but instead, they put themselves in a bad position just 7 minutes in conceding from a free kick. A flick from a New Zealand head and Cannavaro's poor defending let Smeltz lightly tap it past Federico Marchetti, Italy's second goal-keeper.

After the goal, Italy began to wake up as they dominated possession, keeping the ball but creating few chances. Montolivo hit the inside of the post around the half hour mark with a long range bouncing effort, and just a minute later Italy get themselves a penalty.

It was Smith, tugging on De Rossi's shirt as the Italian was about to finish a cross which led to the penalty against New Zealand, a relatively harsh decision, but fair in retrospect as the Guatemalan referee was fair and uptight about the rules. Iaquinta stepped up to take the penalty and with the inside of his foot drove it into the net to give Italy an important equalizer.

While Italy continued to dominate possession throughout the first and second half, they created few concrete chances, most of them attributed to long range strikes. Montolivo again tested the truly magnificent Paston in New Zealand's goal along with Camoranesi whose shot would've been the perfect top corner goal if it hadn't been saved.

The kiwis scared Italy late in the second half with substitute Wood who was able to get around Cannavaro and lash his shot just wide of the post, which could've been an epic winner for New Zealand.  But in the end, New Zealand held onto the draw as Italy were unable to find the winner, which leaves the world champions in a precarious position in their upcoming game against Slovakia.

Slovakia - Paraguay


A 2-0 win for Paraguay which takes them almost to the round of 16, instead a Slovakia side which will be very disappointed with their performance as they were only able to register one shot on goal. Paraguay found the goal in the 27th minute with Lucas Barrios providing a through ball for Enrique Vera to finish with a curling shot with the outside right boot.

Paraguay went on to truly dominate but they found the second goal only four minutes from the end of the 90 minutes, bad defending from Slovakia allowed Riveros to strike true with his left foot. A straight and direct shot which gave Paraguay a definitive win. Slovakia were able to get their first shot on target in stoppage time, Vittek rifled a great shot which Villar dealt with well as he kept the clean sheet for Paraguay's win.

Slovakia and New Zealand draw along with Ivory Coast and Portugal

Two draws which leave their groups open and very undecided, while they could be considered as just more disappointing results for this tournament, hopefully the Brazil - DPR Korea match will be exciting and scintillating.

Reid's equalizer for New Zealand

New Zealand - Slovakia 


After Italy's draw with Paraguay yesterday (if you want a full break-down on that match you can also check this out), New Zealand and Slovakia had the feeling that if they could grab a win, it would be monumental. They could've taken first place in the group over the world champions, invigorating their country as they tried to get through the group stages. Sadly this didn't happen, but what did happen was an exciting 1-1 draw between the two.

The first goal was a header by Vittek for Slovakia, a well worked goal which put the Slovakians in front, they were overjoyed to score as the entire team celebrated together their speculative three points. Slovakia were neat and tidy with their passing, but New Zealand eventually found the equalizer deep into stoppage time. Another header from a good cross gave New Zealand an epic draw, Reid was the hero as he took off his shirt and wildly ran as everyone of the All-whites cheered. Group F now has everyone in the exact same position with one point, one goal for, and one goal against.

Ronaldo being fouled outside the box, but he didn't get the free kick....

Ivory Coast - Portugal


This was a highly anticipated, not to say that people were let down by it, but it ended in a bit of a disappointing 0-0 draw, with Didier Drogba starting from the bench because of his broken/fractured (I'm not sure...) elbow. But even though we were missing probably the best African player, we saw the world's most expensive player strut his stuff. Cristiano Ronaldo right from the beginning was electrifying, in the 11th minute he rocketed a shot onto the post, warning the Ivory Coast of things to come.

Ronaldo and Demel having a shouting contest
which earned them both yellow cards

Even if there was a super-Ronaldo on the field, the Ivory Coast worked more as a team, while Portugal wanted to thread everything through Ronaldo, the Ivory Coast were building confidence as they worked together. Young Gervinho was very dangerous on the left as he often dribbled well, followed by shots for the Ivorians, certainly one to watch Gervinho who plays for Lille. While Cristiano Ronaldo dived often and effectively, he also didn't get a free kick he wanted from right outside the box because of his notorious reputation. Instead, he decided to almost pick a fight with Demel, which earned both of them yellow cards as they swore at each other.

Didier Drogba came on in the 66th and pumped up the African crowd with just his presence, and in the dying minutes of the match, Drogba missed a great chance right in front of Portugal keeper Eduardo. Overall a rather entertaining match, but without goals, and while we can expect Brazil to score five or six  against DPR Korea (full match report will be on SWU), this World Cup continues to disappoint just a little bit.