WORLD CUP 2010 South Africa

A nailbiting match between Uruguay and Ghana. The teams were so equal. At full time the score was still 1 - 1 with a goal from Sulley Muntari(Ghana) and one from Diego Forlan(Uruguay). The score was the same after extra time and then Uruguay won the goal shoot out! This game could have so easily have gone to Ghana, that my heart really goes out to them. Their player, Gyan, was just crying and crying after the match. Ghana was Africa's last hope of having a team in the semi-finals. The support they had from the mostly South African crowd was amazing! But Uruguay won it fair and square. And Diego Forlan really is one class player.

Uruguay 2
Ghana 1

Qualifier for semi-final:
Uruguay

I was just now able to watch the Neth /Braz match and was so pleased. It was intense. I don't think Netherlands has ever won a World Cup, (I have to look this up), they are on there way now but I know they haven't beaten Brazil since the 70's. I can only imagine the celebration they are having back home.

I am sorry hear about Ghana being out. I was routing for them. I am glad to hear it was a good match though. Very interesting....

Yes, the Netherlands are on their way! They never won a World Cup and I read that they were runners-up in 1974 and 1978. Now they have to face Uruguay in the semi-finals. Back in 1930 and 1950 Uruguay won the World Cup!

Wow, very much looking forward to today's matches:

Argentina vs Germany
Paraguay vs Spain

Go Argentina, Go!!!

How's that thing with Paris Hilton getting arrested for smoking dagga (marijauna). Right in the stadium.

Oh Paris, who do you think you are? You're just arrived in South Africa and all ready you have to make the headlines in all the South African newspapers!

Routing for Uruguay and Argentina. I'll get to see the matches on this morning which will be nice for a change instead of having to record them. Can't wait!

What a stunningly good game by Germany. Razor-sharp soccer. Germany really deserved this win over Argentina. Argentina tried and tried, but it's all over for them. I feel sorry for their passionate coach, Diego Maradona. This is not his fault. His players just couldn't cut it. Where was the world's best player, Lionel Messi? And Higuian and Tevez? The Germans kept them all at bay. I actually couldn't believe what I saw. 'Please cry for me, Argentina!' I expected so much more from them. Great goals by Muller and Friedlich and 2 goals by Miroslav Klose!

Germany 4
Argentina 0

Qualifier for semi-finals:

Germany

Added bonus: I saw my film star hero, Leonardo diCaprio in the Cape Town Stadium watching the Argentina / Germany match. By the way, I know he's got a German mother. And I saw German chanchelor Angel Merkel, Mick Jagger and our own Charlize Theron. And of course, sexy Michael Ballack!

I backed South Africa, then Portugal, then Brazil, then Ghana and then Argentina. All are out now! But still looking forward to backing Spain tonight!

Espana

I think the 2 teams performances were very equal. It was like they were in some kind of deadlock the whole time. Yellow cards on both sides led to penalty kicks for both sides. Goalkeeper Casillas stopped the penalty kick attempt from the Paraguayans and Villar stopped the penalty kick attempt from the Spanish. Now that is real good goalkeeping! I think this game could have gone any way. But David Villa scored in the 83rd minute for Spain! Paraguay can be very proud of how good they played against the favourites to win World Cup 2010. Spain, you won, but you can do much better than this.

Spain 1
Paraguay 0

Qualifier for semi-final:

Spain

So now we have 3 European teams and 1 South American team in the semi-finals:

Uruguay vs Netherlands

Germany vs Spain

Let's get some comments. I'm backing Spain now. Who are you backing now?

So Paris Hilton and friend, Jennifer Rovero, appeared in the court for World Cup offences. Rovero pleaded guilty on possession of marijuana and paid a fine of R1000. Charges were dropped against Hilton. Rovero must leave South Africa within 14 days and pay a repatriation guarantee of R10 000! Apperiantly, she's also not allowed to visit SA again! And I guess Paris can go on doing anything she like, just like always!

Robbers entered the hotel room of some Australian tourists, tied them up and took all their possessions. But before they left, they asked the tourists if they are enjoying the World Cup! The one Aussie said yes and then asked if he can at least have his sim card back. The robbers gave it to him and left in harmony!

I hope the gorgeous Spaniard Rafael Nadal's win on Wimbledon is a good omen for the Spanish soccer team to win the World Cup 2010!

Still enjoying the games I get to watch Eljay and your posts. The Spanish players are very talented. I didn't know the Dutch were quite to rough but I enjoyed watching that game from beginning to end.

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I chuckled at the exchange between the Aussie and the robbers. Sheesh! Life is stranger than fiction at times.

I'm terribly sorry Paris arrived in your country and got away with a crime.

I'm enjoying the games!

Yes! Rafael Nadal will be coming to South Africa to see the semi-final between Spain and Germany! Apperiantly he's a great soccer lover! And he says he's one of the Spanish team's greatest supporters.

Today I read in the newspaper that Fifa gives 135 million Rand to each of the 4 semi-finalist countries. The loser in the final (second in the competition) gets 148 million Rand and the winner of the World Cup gets 196 million Rand! Sport has changed so much over the years. Where are the days of proudly playing for the honour of your country? And that was payment enough...

Ghana's team (The Black Stars) made the inhabitants of Africa very proud of them. They really played brilliantly and it was sad to see them leave. But that's the ups and downs of sport. Anyway. They met Mr Nelson Mandela at his home. They conveyed their sympathy to him for the loss of his great-granddaughter in a car crash. The accident happened the day before the World Cup started. So ironic. If it wasn't for Nelson Mandela, we probably wouldn't have been able to host this wonderful event.

Yay to my German boys!
I feel the Ghana team was robbed with that handball on the goal line. It should have been a goal, and they would have been through.

I'm frustrated to say I missed the Ghana game but I was 'pulling' for them. i think they did well and the continent can be proud of them for going this far. Here in Eastern Canada the Ghanaians (sp) were very proud of their boys.

The President of Nigeria wanted to ban his country's team from taking part in international soccer for 2 years, because they didn't play well enough to his liking.... Well, this idiotic idea was crunched by Fifa! Fifa threatened to ban them as a member and the Nigerians are back in world soccer!

A South African husband and wife entered a competition to win tickets to the World Cup final on sunday. They had to prove that they really deserved these tickets. So they did the following: They dived into the crocodile-invested Crocodile River near Nelspruit and swam across it! Luckily they both made it without being attacked...Wow...

Eight extra flights landed yesterday at Cape Town International Airport to bring soccer fans to the last World Cup game being played in the mother city, Cape Town, tonight. These flights are from all over the world: Amsterdam, Seychelles, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, Dar es Salaam, Addis Abeba, Nairobi and Mumbay. I am amazed at how well our country is handling this World Cup!

The excitement for the first semi-final here in Cape Town is very high. I saw a lot of Dutch flags on cars also. Apparently it's again going to be a cold and wet night. I don't know yet who I favour, but very much looking forward to see who makes the final. May the best team win!

Semi - Final no 1.

Uruguay vs Netherlands

'Die Kaap is weer Hollands!' That is a very old Afrikaans/Dutch saying which means: 'The Cape is Dutch again!'. This means something like: 'Everything is alright again!' I don't know exactly why it means this, but obviously it originated back in the days when the Dutch colonized the Cape. And the game was in Cape Town tonight!

Well, what a great, entertaining game we saw. First class soccer from both sides. Very equal first half. In the second half the Netherlands just played better together as a team than Uruguay. Five beautiful goals. Diego Forlan and Pereira scored for Uruguay. Diego Forlan is definitely one of the great heroes of this World Cup! Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored for the Netherlands. Dirk Kuyt brilliantly set Arjen Robben's header goal up for him!

Netherlands 3
Uruguay 2


Playing for World Cup 3rd place:

Uruguay


Playing in World Cup final:

Netherlands

Oh my...being a Dutch supporter is not good for my nerves; especially the last 10 minutes of the game today were nerve-wrecking. But they did it, they reached the World Cup final! It is still hard to comprehend...

Yesterday afternoon in Cape Town, before the match, the Dutch Embassy had lots and lots of oranges to sell. The whole area in front of the Embassy was orange. You payed for them, but instead received a little medal. The oranges are now going to be distributed to children in poor settlements. And the money received by the public will go to a fund to help and support childrens' soccer development in these poor settlements. Thank you very much to the Dutch Embassy for their contribution to charities in South Africa!

Eljay, when is the final being played?

I can't wait for tonight's game in Durban. I am definitely rooting for Spain as they have never won a World Cup ever. But on the other hand, may the best team win!

Semi - Final no.2

Germany vs Spain