The Fall of a Titan

Images by El Universo

The Netherlands eliminated yesterday the great favorite and five times champion Brazil with a 2 - 1 victory in Port Elizabeth for the quarterfinals in this 2010 FIFA World Cup. With this result, this kills Brazil's dream to become champion for a sixth time until they will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. This result was the consequence of Dunga's conservative and pragmatic soccer that they have been practicing ever since he was designated as coach of the Brazilian team. Throughout the tournament, Brazil's victories silenced the many critics of Dunga, as well as legendary players Socrates and Pelé, because they were criticizing the way Dunga was not exhibiting the game that the Brazilians were practicing the 'joga bonito' prior to Dunga's designation that led to the obtaining of the World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002. Most of the Brazilian players coached by Dunga was led by the discipline gained through this process of four years, giving the team an image that Dunga wanted a style of game that gave the Brazilian players as an attacking team rather than to see it as an artistic style.

With the Brazilians, it seemed as a revenge of the elimination for the second consecutive time, after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where they were eliminated by France. Dunga's team was on front of the scoreboard with an effective shot from Manchester City's Robinho, but the match was turned around after Felipe Melo scored with an own goal for the Netherlands, after a magnificent free kick from Inter's Wesley Sneijder, who after scored the second goal that sentenced the Dutch victory for the first time since 1974. Brazil's elimination and failure was due to the fact that it was a team full of defenders, where the team lacked the offensive creativity needed where they needed only one man to create danger and that was Kaká, who he never recoved the level gained in 2007. Brazil played good sometimes, but unfortunately the spark was not there with the South American team. In the first half, Brazil achieved his great game and showed much superiority over the Netherlands, with a sure and confident Felipe Melo and Robinho showing effectiveness and danger along with a much active Kaká.

The first Dutch goal was due to an own goal by Bazilian Felipe Melo, this is the first time that Brazil receives an own goal in the South American team.

Uruguay's South American Pride

Images by El Universo

Yesterday, approximately 84,000 people in the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, and millions around the world witnessed the dramatic and epic definition of penalty kicks that gave Uruguay the pass to semifinals of this 2010 FIFA World Cup. This intense match, Uruguay defeated Ghana in penalty kicks 4 - 2, after a draw as full time 1 - 1 and after Ghana's national team missed penalty shot kick at the last minute by the end of the second extra time. With this result, Uruguay will now face the Netherlands, who won with much effectiveness against Brazil. For the first time in 40 years, the Uruguayan national is in the semifinals. The key play of this match was the missed penalty shot that Asamoah Gyan executed, but it was missed after the ball hitting the upper post.

The big consequence for the Uruguayans payed hard after striker Luis Suarez threw the ball out with the hands over the goal line, after the potent header from Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah, but unfortunately Suarez received a red card and possibly miss the next matches if Uruguay advances further in this tournament. Suarez is Uruguay's top scorer with three goals in this tournament so far, making Suarez one of the World Cup's lethal strikers. The tears and disappointment was mainly for Ghana because of the missed penalty shot, which could have given the African team hope for the continent for a place in the semifinals. With Uruguay's greatest achievement in this tournament, their luck has grown after being the last team to qualify for the World Cup, is still alive in this tournament in the semifinals playing against the Netherlands. Their luck has also grown during the penalty kicks where Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved two of Ghana's penalty shots, and Sebastian 'El Loco' Abreu, kicking with effectiveness the ball to shoot Uruguay's last penalty shot, thus advancing to the next round.

Before the penalty shots and the added extra time, in the first half, Ghana's Sulley Muntari scored by the end with a long shot that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera reacted late and couldn't prevent the ball from going into the net. Then, at the second half Uruguay outgrew Ghana, with Uruguay's Diego Forlan's goal after a free kick, Uruguay became dangerous. On Tuesday, Uruguay will face the Netherlands, who surprisively eliminated Brazil with a 2 - 1 victory. If Uruguay wins over the Netherlands, it will be the first time the South American advances to the final since 1950.

Brazil vs. Netherlands: Classic Titans

Images by El Universo

Brazil and the Netherlands will host the opening match of the quartefinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a much anticipated final that will have much to talk about with the days to come. Both teams have so much in common, but with different qualities that wit their respective techniques in their way of playing is in the way to conserve the result as much as possible to put either team in the semifinals. Both teams seem to emphasize in their techniques offensively and defensively but has much technique when it comes to the dynamic velocity, solid defense in the back, and the lethal counterattacks, that can exhibit the good soccer plays to the audience to see the level demonstrated to the thousands of fans that will witness the greatest game ever played. We do not know much of the starting lineups from both teams until an hour before the match. Brazil will have the hard task to getting together mentally and psychologically for this decisive match that will put either teams as the four best teams in the world, given that Elano, Julio Baptista and Felipe Melo and injured and Ramires, due to suspension he will not play in this match.

Galatasaray's midfielder Elano's situation complicates Dunga's plan, this injury will possibly leave Elano completely out of the World Cup. Dunga now has to put into plan the polifunctional player, given that he substituted Elano in the match against Chile, but it gives them a certain rythm for the team to work. There has been many questions surrounding the Brazilian national team's ability to beat the Deutsch, due to the fact that Dunga's team has been irregular in previous games, but key players like Kaká, Luis Fabiano, and Robinho to give them a certain hope to score and to advance to the next round. The Netherlands gained with much authority their victory over the Danish, Japanese, Camerouns and the Slovakians. But the Netherlands spark hasn't appeared yet, it has been shown sometimes throughout this tournament in South Africa.

Deutsch coach Bert van Marwijk has all their players' focus in this match, but the main preoccupation for the Brazilians is the physical state of Bayern Munich striker, Arjen Robben. Added to this stress is Inter's midfielder Wesley Sneijder given that he is teammates with much of the Brazilian national team like Maicon, Lucio and Julio. With much attention and effectiveness that the Brazilians have shown in this tournament, they surely will succeed and advance to the next round.

America's Cup South Africa 2010?

Images by El Universo

The South American soccer style of playing has been dominating for most of this 2010 FIFA World Cup, first ever held in an African continent, but four teams from South America are in the round of the eight best teams in the world, reaching the quarterfinals with much passion and drama. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay celebrate their stance in the quartefinals of the World Cup that completely is dominated by South America, but it has become like the Copa America, only that three European teams are invited plus Ghana, the only African team alive in this tournament. While the superpower teams from Europe like Italy, France and England are at home watching the World Cup, due to the fact that these teams were eliminated. The South American continent has flourished dramatically in this tournament. What has happened throughout all these years in marking a history of epic proportions? What is the secret of success in this tournament? Is it coincidence or is it luck?

There are several thoughts and ideas that led to this ponderous theory, the South American qualifiers consists of 10 teams going against each other without separating them into groups like Europe does, grows a competitive nature in this continent that leads South American players play overseas and play in the most powerful leagues in the world. One example is Internazionale de Milano, because with this team managed to win the UEFA Champions League without any Italian players, making the foreign players grow their strategic tactics with their respective national teams. What I think is that South America, as a whole, is the big winner of this World Cup and without a doubt there will be a South American country lifting the prestigious Cup in the World. Four out these South American teams are in the quarterfinals, and they have a possibility to pass through the semifinals and have their minds in the final playing on July 11 in the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Uruguay will face Ghana and Brazil will face the Netherlands. If either South American team wins their respective matches, they will face in the semifinals.

In the other series, Argentina will face the all powerful Germany and the winner of this match will face either Spain or Paraguay. There is a possibility that there will be semifinals with a South American taste with Argentina - Paraguay and Brazil - Uruguay but that is if all the South American teams win their respective matches. The South American analysis in this World Cup is amazing given that all these teams have either beaten or tied their respective matches throughout this tournament. All the South American teams have an excellent role in this tournament except for Chile and Mexico, eliminated by Brazil and Argentina respectively. The Argentinians have won all their matches with wins over Nigeria, South Korea, Greece and Mexico. Brazil reached 7 points winning their group with win over North Korea, Ivory Coast and Chile, and a tie with Portugal.

Uruguay showed the hardest task of going through Group A, with win over host nation South Africa and Mexico and a tie with France. Paraguay is the most talked about in this World Cup, given that the South American team tied with Italy, in the opening of their Group F. Paraguay's victory over Slovakia gave the 'albiroja' team much tranquility shown that the draw with New Zealand gave them the pass to the round of 16 leaving Italy out of the tournament. The match against Japan caused great impression because Japan was favorite to go through the next round, but it was the penalty shots that gave them the luck that they needed to stay alive in this tournament.

Villa's Goal, Farewell Cristiano Ronaldo

Images by El Universo

the Spanish national team qualified yesterday into the quarterfinals after beating Portugal with a 1 - 0 score in a match that could have defined both teams into the next round. Barcelona's David Villa scored the insolite goal for the Spanish, thus according to several angles he was offside, in which these situations have been happening already with England and Mexico. The Spanish suffered for at least an hour but it ended when Villa dramatically shot from a clear ball from Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo, Villa took advantage of that clearing shooting the ball with much potency and gave the Spanish team joy and tears that earn their victory. With this result, Villa puts Spain in the top eight teams in the world and now will face South American team Paraguay in Johannesburg, who beat Japan 5 - 3 in the penalty kicks. The match was for both teams, but both sides showed much precaution in their defense, even though Spain was dominating throughout the whole match trying to create ideas to penetrate through the Portuguese wall leaded by Ricardo Carvalho.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo unsettled the net guarded by Real Madrid's Iker Casillas sometimes, but mostly it went through Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol to reject the Portuguese out of the area. While time was running out, the Spanish team was losing the control and rythm of the game, with imprecise passes and kept losing momentum of the match, while the Portuguese went through all the places to beat the Spanish defense. In the second half, Hugo Almeida attempted a good shot from behind the area where Puyol cleared with his leg in the 52 minute. Spain's coach Vicente Del Bosque substituted Fernando Llorente with Fernando Torres, showing the Liverpool striker lack of physical form in this tournament lacking goal opportunities. With Llorente's entrance in the field, the Spanish team strenghten its offensive movements.

With the time, Andres Iniesta passed in the Portugese area, that's where Xavi Hernandez managed to touch the ball from behind and have David Villa's quick appearance shoot but then rejected by Eduardo, luckily Villa managed to shoot again and sentenced the match that leaded into victory over Portugal in the 63 minute. After the scoring goal, Spain was dominating for the rest of the match, lacking ideas for Portugal to at least time the game.

South American History in the Making

Images by El Universo

After 120 minutes without scoring any goals and not enough brightness, the penalty kicks was present before a thousand fans in Pretoria to witness Paraguay catapulting into the quartefinals for the first time in the history of the South American country. Paraguay beat Japan 5 - 3 in the definition of penalty kicks after the draw 0 - 0 that both teams showed during the first and second half as well the added extra time. Both teams lacked to show the advantage of the opportunities to score, one that it seemed very difficult to achieve from both sides. Japan's defender Yuichi Komano striked the ball in the net post, in the third penalty shot from Japan, which permitted Paraguayan player Oscar Cardozo to finish and sentence the team into the quarterfinals. With this result, Paraguay will now face the difficult task against Spain, which beat Portugal with a single goal from Barcelona's David Villa.

Paraguay played with much heart and determination, but it lacked the opportunities of scoring a single goal, it was more of mere soccer exploiting in the field than scoring, but all in all Paraguay was mostly the protagonist of the match. Both teams managed to take advantage to liquidate the game, but there were several occassions were both teams showed a higher power over each other playing them equally in their level. The best chance was in the 97 minute, when Nelson Haedo Valdez, attempted a long shot, but luckily Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima managed a great save from the Japanese to losing to the Paraguayans. Japan made several attacks, but in the 116 minute, there was a counterattack from the Asian nation, but at the last touch it dissolved due to the fact that most of the Paraguayans were to defend the net from the Japanese to score. Japan had a lack of precision when it came about attacking and shooting on targets.

Salvador Cabañas, did not play the World Cup due to the fact that the Paraguayan player suffered a shot in the head on January of this year, but the striker is present within the team which gives them full motivation into moving forward in this tournament. With Paraguay advancing to the quarterfinals, South America makes history to put 4 teams thus far in this tournament.

Brazil Waits for The Netherlands

Images by El Universo

Brazil is another unstopabble team that Chile could not managed to stop the greatness of the 'jogo bonito' of the Brazilians. With an effective offense, the Brazilians made the match as if it was a walk in the park with a score of 3 - 0 over Chile. Chile was erased from the field and seemed very erratic in all their lines, which they were hoped to win over to go through the next stage to face the Netherlands. Juan, Luis Fabiano, and Robinho sentenced the match, who controlled the team coached by Dunga from all their lines from start to finish, while Chile seemed that they were in the clouds from having a fantastic group stage. Brazil ratified their dominance over Chile in World Cups in three matches, back in 1962 and 1998.

Dunga's team qualified to the quarterfinals without any problems but an effectiveness that reached to win the Group of Death with Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. The game opened the score with Juan's fantastic header in the 35 minute. Three minutes later, Luis Fabiano scored the second goal after beating Chile's Claudio Bravo in the first South American duel in this 2010 FIFA World Cup. The third goal was scored by Manchester City's Robinho in the 59 minute with a nice shot from the left hand side of the goalkeeper. With this defeat, Chile is the first South American team to leave South Africa, where all five teams initially qualified to the 2010 FIFA World Cup round of 16, where just three move forward to the quarterfinals, awaiting Paraguay - Japan duel.

Chile's team has never beaten Brazil in World Cup appearances, making Brazil's dominance over the team coached by Argentina's Marcelo Bielsa.

Netherlands: Favorite to Win Cup

Images by El Universo

Arjen Robben became the man of the match yesterday, began in the starting lineup and scored a goal in the victory over Slovakia with a score of 2 - 1, which this result makes the Netherlands as a favorite to win the World Cup. The Netherlands qualified for the quarterfinals and will face the always difficult Brazil. Bayern Munich's striker Robben fought time over this tournament given that he was injured prior to the first game of the World Cup, but Robben overcame the worst and opened the scoreboard of 1 - 0 with a great shot from the longest shot from Inter's Wesley Sneijder and pass from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt that went through the net impossible for the Slovakian defense to save neither the goalkeeper. With this goal, Robben has proven to the world that he is the Netherlands' best man. At the last minute of the match, Slovakian Robert Vittek, scored the honorable penalty shot, reaching Vittek's fourth goal in the tournament reaching Gonzalo Higuain, who is still alive in the tournament with Argentina.

The Netherlands reached their fourth consecutive victory, after winning their group with three victories over Denmark, Japan and Cameroon and now winning over Slovakia, who eliminated the reigning champion Italy. Slovakia lacked many opportunities that not even captain Hamsik nor coach's son Weiss to score in the Netherlands' solid defense leaded by captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. Not even Sloakian striker, scorer of two goals against Italy, was disappeared in the first half. Now the Netherlands need their full attention, where they will face Brazil in the quarterfinals, where they eliminated Chile 3 - 0.

Argentina, Unstoppable

Images by El Universo

Argentina took advantage of the many mistakes that Mexico committed, with this the albiceleste team qualified for the quartefinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup playing against European superpower Germany. Carlos Tevez opened the scoreboard in the 26 minute, with a goal that on offside position, Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain widen the score a bit in the 33 minute. And yet again Tevez closed the final and definite thirs goal for the Argentinians and revelation Mexican striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez managed to score the honor goal for the losing team in the 71 minute. Argentina was unobjectionable, but they did not play good in this match for the South American team, starting controlling the ball in the beginning, but Mexico pressured throughout the minutes passing. The Argentine team could not respond in the beginning, but the long shot from the left hand side of the field Mexican defender Carlos Salcido and Andres Guardado attempted made the Argentine defense a little nervous but more or less effective, but the Mexicans were bound to score.

Argentina was much disconnected from Higuain and Tevez, suffered from the Mexicans with a quick response from Hernandez by shooting to the net, making Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero stood still when that happened. But Argentina arose from that and making Carlos Tevez score the first goal when he was in the offside position in the 26 minute, by a fantastic header from a short center from Messi. Then, a horrible mistake from Mexican defender Ricardo Osorio provoked the Argentinian striker to take advantage of the moment and managed to put the scoreboard of 2 - 0. In the 52 minute, Tevez shot one of the best goals of this current World Cup from outside the Mexican area, which sentenced the lead over Mexico with a 3 - 0 score. But the Argentinian defense gave out several surprises to the Mexican when Martin Demichelis went out in the area to mark Hernandez, which 'El Chicharito' managed to turn around with his body and shot to the net which had the Argentinians nervous until the final time.

Germany Wins and Qualify To the Quarterfinals

Images by El Universo

A powerful German national soccer team offensive squashed yesterday their eternal rival England, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, with an amazing score of 4 - 1, marked by controvery with England's goal annulled. With this result, the German team will now face Argentina, where they win against Mexico with another wide score of 3 - 1. Germany will now face Argentina in a match where thwy will fight to death for a place in the semifinals of the tournament. In this duel between two global superpowers, Germany and England, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski were ahead of the score of 2 - 0 over a pale England without any ideas and seemed very weak in the defense. As soon as the Germans were ahead of the score, England's Matthew Upson reedemed the team and scored the 2 - 1 with a great header making German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer impossible to save.

6 minutes later, Chelsea's player Frank Lampard shot a potent kick in the net where it beat the German net and it bounced in, but it was impossible for the players and the referees to see, but from different angles it was a goal, but unfortunately the referees annulled the goal impossible for the referees to see it. With the goal annulled, the English team was decaying, that the German attack took advantage of that and it went all out in the attack with an inspired Mesut Ozil and an aggressive Bastian Schweinsteiger, surprised with countless counterattacks that resulted in the scoring of Thomas Müller twice to sentence the match. Miroslav Klose opened the score at the 20 minute with a great play made from the German goalkeeper, shooting from three quarters of the field, Klose was in between England's defenders Upson and Terry and kicked with effectiveness to the net beating English goalkeeper David James. Podolski scored the second goal in the 32 minute, with an excellent pass from Müller inside the English area, while Matthew Upson honored the only English goal after a center from Steven Gerrard. England went all out for the tie in the second half, but with the goal annulled by Frank Lampard in the 52 minute, it seemed impossible to redeem itself, due to the fact that Thomas Müller scored the two goals that sentenced the game.

Müller scored in the 67 and 70 minute, in counterattacks very similar to each other from the left hand side, which made Müller effective from the right hand side to manage its effectiveness in goal. The first one was from a pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger and the second being from Mesut Oezil.

Ghana: Uruguay's Next Rival

Images by El Universo

Africa is still alive in this tournament, after Ghana defeated the United States with a score of 2 - 1 and assured a place in the quarterfinals, where they will play South American superpower Uruguay. Ghana defeated the United States with an amazing goal from Ghana's Asamoah Gyan during extra time and for the second consecutive time managed to eliminate the United States from the World Cup. Now, this time it will be the difficult task for Ghana because they are facing the major levels of teams now that they will face Uruguay, first time that qualifies to the quarterfinals since 1970 and two time champion of the World Cup. Ghana, leaded by coach Milovan Rajevac, is the third African country to advance to the quarterfinals, with being Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002. United States striker managed to tie the game after a foul against Clint Dempsey and sent the game to extra time, where it became a dramatic match made for a movie.

Kevin Prince Boateng opened the score with a high caliber goal in the 5 minute, in which Boateng caught it from the midfield and went up to the United States net and became a shadow amongst the American players and shoot a hard ball to save. Asamoah Gyan was the man to save the best for last, Ghana's forward received a long pass, winning the backs of Carlos Bocanegra and Jay Demerit, controlled the ball with his chest and shoot as hard as he can making the ball impossible to save for United States goalkeeper Tim Howard. This is Gyan's third goal, tying the leading scorer goals with Landon Donovan, leaving South Africa with three goals. Ghana's goalkeeper Richard Kingson became the man of the match, saving the USA team from scoring by Robbie Finley and Benny Feilhaber. Ghana has the hard task to give Africa full pride and giving a sense of hope for the continent to go far in the tournament and dream for the World Cup title.

Uruguay's Historic Pass to Quarterfinals

Images by El Universo

A new generations of Uruguayan players never expected this in a long time. But when all is said and done, the Uruguayan team has never expected to be one of the eight best teams in the world. Uruguay defeated 2 - 1 to South Korea and got a place in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1970, where they will face Ghana, the only hope for Africa in this tournament. Yesterday, Ghana defeated the United States in an difficult battle of epic proportions. Uruguay, champion of the world twice in 1930 and 1950, suffered with the pressure getting pressed by the South Koreans, during the second half, they couldn't control fully the match, the Uruguayans controlled from the defense and midfield but they never managed to penetrate through the Korean defense and widen the score. But, with two goals from Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, one in the two halfs of the match, gave the sweet victory of this historic Uruguayan team that has much amibition in advancing far in this tournament.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez vowed that this match was going to be difficult, and it came true. South Korea implored much physical dynamics conditions that harmed much of the Uruguayans to advance to the rival net. Most of the match was very moved from both sides looking to score many goals and to advance comfortably in this World Cup. One of the genius plays from South Korea was from midfielder, Park Chu-Young executed a dangerous free kick that almost opened the score for the asians, but the ball hit the left hand pole saved by Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. But, the Uruguayan wait was getting close and in the 8 minutes into the first half, Uruguay's offensive power came into action when Diego Forlan attempted a left hand center and left without danger to the Koreans, but when all was well Luis Suarez took advantage and managed to score from the right hand with the Korean defense left standing still.

But with Uruguay's goal awoke the Koreans, imposing the velocity of their midfielders, which compromised the Uruguayan defenders to apply alot of pressure into their rival. The South Korean goal came about a clearing from Uruguayan defender Jorge Fucile but it bounced still in the Uruguayan area that the Koreans managed to take advantage of it since the goalkeeper nor the defenders managed to reject the boal, but Lee Chung-Yong did a fantastic header to go through the net. This was the first goal against Uruguay in this tournament in which they haven't beem scoreless against thus far. The hardest thing for the Koreans was to tie the game, but they lacked ideas into penetrating through the Uruguayan defense. But, Uruguay took advantage of it and with pride and recuperate its identity of play with Luis Suarez finding much inspiration after a long shot and managed to put the final 2 - 1 score.