Holland Ecstatic, move to Finals after 32 years!

This is the first time in 32 years that Netherlands has entered into the World Cup finals. It was an inevitable win against Uruguay whom they literally thrashed with a 3-2 win. It was Sneijder’s day as he scored his 5th World Cup goal and the other scores of the team included Giovannin, as well as Robben.

It was definitely a tough fight, but the Dutch seemed to have overcome all matters that were complicated to move on to the finals. Sneijder said “It was a tough fight and towards the end we complicated matters. Sunday we play in the World Cup finals. I have to get used to it.”

In the 18th minute of the game against Uruguay Van Bronckhorst scored the first goal for his team with a 35 meter yard shot. However Uruguay wasn’t to give up so early and the first equalizer was scored by Forlan who was still sore from his thigh injury.

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands (Highlights)

The Dutch then got into attacking mode after half time and then the other two goals were scored by Sneijder and Robben. Although Uruguay scored in the injury time, it was not good enough to help them win. They finally succumbed to the Dutch aggressive which completely put them under pressure.

After their win the Dutch team then got back to the field and celebrated with a lot of cheer and dance along with around 1000 oranje clad fans who cheered them up further more with a lot of beating of the drums. The chanting was rhythmic and a complete celebration especially when the fans kept up their teams spirit by shouting out loud “Holland! Holland! Holland!”

The Dutch can’t seem to get over the fact that they have won the game and proceeded to the finals. According to Robben, “Unbelievable, if you win the final, you make yourself immortal, at least in our country.”

The Dutch will now be meeting the skillful Spanish players in the finals that take place on Sunday.. The World Cup has almost come to an end, and it has been quiet an eventful one, with a lot of frustration, ups and downs, cheer and YES EMOTIONS!

Netherlands vs Uruguay Match Preview

With the fixture of such a great match in the semi finals of the world cup, a Netherlands vs Uruguay Match Preview is indispensable. The match is to be held on the 6th of July at the new Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. Though it’s not really a match that anybody expected, it surely is just as high profiled as any other match would have been.

Both the teams have shown quite a performance in the world cup so far. The Netherlands is on a roll following their last performance against the Brazilians; even after trailing by a goal they fought back in the second half to clinch a 2-1 victory against the Samba Boys. The accomplishment has boosted the team’s confidence considerably as Robben puts it “We’re in the last four and we know we’re capable of reaching the Final”. But all this confidence has not made them reckless, as their coach Bert Van Marwijk is very wary of their next match and says “We’ve already seen a lot of Uruguay, It will be a very dangerous match”.

The Netherlands v/s Uruguay Match Preview will elaborate about the mindset of the Uruguayan team for their challenging match against the ‘Oranje’ team as well. Uruguay entered the semis by defeating the last African contender Ghana. The match against the black stars was a very close one going into extra-time and then ended in penalty shoot outs. In the process Luis Suarez’s hand-ball proved oddly decisive for the Ghanaians, he received a red card and will not be able to play in his next match against the Dutch. La Celeste team is fighting hard to revive their glory years which are but a fading memory for the world, the last time the men in blue managed to clear the round of sixteen was in 1970 in Mexico.

The Dutch have faced tougher challenges in the world cup till now; Uruguay on the other hand has yet to face the toughest teams of the world cup, having faced a challenge only in the form of Korea and Ghana since group stages.

Expected outcome:
The Dutch team is considered to be a stronger team with veterans such as Arjen Robben on their side. Uruguay has only just managed to win in their last 2 matches and now that Suarez is out for this match it would be quite a challenge for the last South American team to move into the final says our Netherlands vs Uruguay Match Preview

Will Germany live up to the Octopus’s prediction or will Argentina Spark

Germany meet Argentina today in the quarter finals game that speaks of rivalry where only the weak will perish and the strong will go ahead to taste sweet success. This is not the first time that the two rivals meet. They have met several times and the first instance that sparked off the every famous rivalry was in 1986 were Argentina beat Germany to win the World Cup title.

Thereafter they met again in 1990 where the Germans thrashed the South Americans. They met again in the same stage in 2006 and Klinsmann’s side got the better off them as Argentina lost 2-4 in a penalty shoot out. Messi was kept on bench since Jose Pekerman was over cautious not to let him play. The games ended in a brawl were the Argentine’s were angry with the Germans since Estenan’s spot kick was saved by Jens Lehmann.

Although the two teams are now coached by different coaches, the rivalry seems to be a sacred thing between the two teams and both have the burning desire to win and get their hands on these years World Cup. Both teams are favorites to win the World Cup this year, and it seems like only the stronger and more skillful one will prevail. The South Americans won the Cup twice in 1978 and 1986. Germany on the other hand has lifted the World Cup thrice in 1954, 1974 and 1990.

Diego Maradona the Argentine coach has only revenge on his mind, he bought in the World Cup for his county in 1986 with the much controversial Hand of God, but although he was part of the 1990 finals their team lost! In an interview on Friday he said, “The players are thinking about going into the pitch, in getting their revenge.” He said that his team was confident and had all the skills to counter play against the German threat. The team is even more confident after they beat up England 4-1 in the squad of 16.

Germany have reasons to win, this win will make it their fourth title. With their chancellor Angela Merkel in the stands they will make sure that they not only beat Argentina but will also take home the cup. Although the team has a lot of young guns they have the skill and the expertise that every good winning team should have. They too defeated England 4-1 in the second round in the group matches and are even slicker and tighter as a team to win.

But if you want to go by the octopus’s prediction then you know who you have to support

Is this where Rooney will shine or will the Germans stop him too?

It will be a big day for the Germans and the England team as they meet today in their knockout match. Although Britain has really not shone in their games so far, there is nothing that is keeping them back and they could just about overturn the Germans.

In their previous two games, England’s Wayne Rooney was almost like someone not there in the team. Moreover there was a lot of upheaval in the team between the players and the coach. Hopefully all of that should have settled down. Capello made an excellent choice by bringing in James Milner and even Jermaine Defoe who added some pace to the goals.

Germany will play their defense with their players like Philipp Lahm who will meet English defender John Terry will bring some excellent and exciting midfield game. Other defenders in the English team like Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and Steven Gerrard have the skill and the ability to take on the German defenders like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller. Their front line too is equally strong with Lukas Podolski and Klose. The English team also has their frontline answer in players like Rooney and Defoe.

It seems like a man to man game, however with Joe Cole everything could change, and it could even be a stage that Rooney has been looking for so that he could finally come out with his enigmatic game. Although he hasn’t been lucky enough to score a goal in any of the 3 group matches, he could still turn around his country’s fortune for the better.

The organization masters Germany also have an answer to Wayne Rooney. With Philip Lahm the German army could infact give a tough fight and could very well take over the game!

Mexico Feel Haunted With Messi’s Capabilities

A great match today and it’s worth every money you put on it. Although Mexico is another strong team, their only fear is that an early goal by the Argentine Lionel Messi could spoil their chances the second time for getting into the World Cup. They had met four years ago and even then Mexico was defeated by the irreplaceable Argentina.

Argentina had won in 2006, 2-1 after they entered into extra time, and Mexico had to settle for looking for a place in the quarterfinals against England and Germany. Messi and Rafael Marquez who are mates at the Barcelona club will be playing face to face today. Marquez said, “We know its difficult to get the ball off him, he’s so quick and can change direction or pace at any time.” He also said, “Argentina has the best player in the world.”

Of the three times that Mexico met Argentina, Argentina and most importantly Messi has never lost. Infact they’ve won by some superb margins. And although Messi is still to get off his scoring mark started, we are sure that he will lend his magic to his brilliant team. Diego Maradona has even compared his impact with Messi and said “I came to the team’s aid when they needed me” this was a suggestion that Messi would do the same for his team as well.

The Argentineans have been playing an excellent attacking game and they will continue to do the same against Mexico with whom they will continue their three man attack. If you talk about their defense then Argentina are a bit lacking on that front.

Marquez said, “Defensively, they are not the best, they have a great attack but their weakness is on the flanks. We must plan the game properly to play our best.” Coach Rafael Marquez will be looking to use his 4-3-3 format and will also look to Rafael Marquez’s defense to marshal his team to victory.

Defense, Power and Attack in the Uruguay, South Korea 1st Knockout Game

The first knock out stage match is to be played between Uruguay and South Korea in Port Elizabeth today. The awaited matches are now on, and it only takes us a step closer to the World Cup when we soon discover who will reign as World Champions for the next four years.

Mexico 0-1 Uruguay (Highlights)

Both South Korea and Ghana will be determined enough to make their mark in this super 16 squad knockout phase. Although not many except for a few are placing their bets that either of the two teams will get even close to the finals. However it has been clearly noticed that both teams are in their best forms. And although none thought them to be first round fodder, they clearly have shown some remarkable game and surprised us all.

The 2010 World Cup is already a bit different with two of the most expected teams to reach the finals like France and Italy going back home after failing in their group matches. So don’t be surprised if you find lesser known teams getting into the semis. That’s a far cry for now though, and now it’s only likely that we have to wait who wins in the first game of the knockout phase.

Uruguay has never reached the last eight ever since 1970 when they were semifinalists. South Korea on the other hand although have been World Cup regulars have only advanced once out of their group matches. The Koreans are generally known for playing down their chances however Coach Hun Jung-moo said that his team were hungry now and were looking beyond the second round.

The South Korean performance has been marvelous and even matches their passing flair, bullish rhetoric, confident breaks and some great fitness. You probably would have noticed that glaring fragility in the back after they scored their 6 goals in the group matches.

Uruguay are the favorites to win this game and after their two wins and a draw in the group matches that got them to the top spot in their group. This was the first time after 1950 that they reached the top spot in a group match, and it looks like they will stick on to their winning formation with striker Diego Forlan, forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani and this could possible shake the South Korean defense.

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