news of the world cup,fifa 2010,round of 16

Suarez double downs South Koreans

Luis Suarez struck twice as Uruguay beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Port Elizabeth to reach the FIFA World Cup, quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. The South Koreans pushed hard but Lee Chung-Yong's header in the second half was not enough with Suarez scoring both early and late on for the South Americans.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made one change to the team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in their final group match, with Diego Godin replacing Mauricio Victorino at the back. Back at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where his side beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game, Korea Republic coach Huh Jung-Moo made a notable change to his midfield, with winger Kim Jae-Sung making his first start in place of Yeom Ki-Hun.

The South Koreans got off to a bright start, with their captain Park Ji-Sung running through the middle of the park to the edge of the area only for Diego Lugano to cut out his attempted through-pass. Minutes later, they came desperately close to taking the lead, Park Chu-Young's curling free-kick from 20 yards smashing the left post as Fernando Muslera stood watching helplessly. Instead it was La Celeste who drew first blood in the eighth minute, when an unmarked Suarez, lurking on the right side of the area, turned the loose ball into an empty net after Jung Sung-Ryong had failed to deal with Diego Forlan's low cross from the left.

The Taeguk Warriors probed away, looking for holes in the stubborn Uruguay defence that had not conceded a goal in the first round. Park Ji-Sung surged down the left but saw his low cross blocked by a timely intervention, then Park Chu-Young tried his luck with an effort from 25 yards that went just wide of the left post. It was Cha Du-Ri's turn next but he saw his audacious shot from 30 yards sail just over the crossbar.

With the rain pouring down in the second half, Kim Jung-Woo almost paid for a sloppy pass across the back, with Suarez intercepting but failing to trouble Jung with a tame shot. At the other end, Lugano's attempted clearance from a Lee Jung-Soo cross fell into the path of Park Chu-Young, who fired a powerful volley over the bar. Park Ji-Sung then managed to connect with a Cha cross from the right, but Muslera did well to hold on to his header, jumping to his left.

South Korean coach Huh had no other option but to reinforce the attack, and brought striker Lee Dong-Gook on for Kim Jae-Sung on the hour mark. The Asian side finally broke through after 68 minutes, when Lugano's headed clearance from Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick fell to an unmarked Lee Chung-Yong, who headed home the equaliser from close range to finally end Muslera's lengthy unbeaten run. However, the Uruguayans fought back. Suarez saw his shot from an acute angle parried over by Jung, before the Ajax forward then miscued his header with only the keeper to beat. But the Uruguay No9 made no mistake when the ball came to his way on the edge of the box following a Forlan corner, sidestepping a white shirt and curling a spectacular shot in off the far post to make it 2-1.

The Koreans responded by bringing on another forward, Yeom Ki-Hun, for midfielder Ki, and within two minutes, Lee Dong-Gook spurned a glorious chance to equalise as the Jeonbuk Motors marksman saw his low shot half-stopped by Muslera before Lugano cleared the ball as it trickled slowly towards the net. With that, the South Koreans' final opportunity had passed as La Celeste held on to book their place in the last eight.

today matches ,of fifa 2010 worl cup-/ 2 round

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is about to enter its decisive phase with the start of the Round of 16 on Saturday.


Kicking off the knockout rounds are Uruguay and Korea Republic in the first of the day’s two ties. Back in the world elite after a 20-year absence and led by the inspired Diego Forlan, La Celeste were in flawless form in Group A. Collecting two wins and a draw, and scoring four goals and conceding none, they did much to alter their image as a solely combative, battling unit. The South Koreans meanwhile have played some lively, refreshing football and pose a significant threat to the in-form South Americans.


The evening game pits USA, Group C winners ahead of a much-fancied England side, and Ghana, who edged out Serbia in their pool and gave Germany a stiff examination before going down 1-0. This is the Americans’ fourth appearance in the last 16, a further shot in the arm for an increasingly popular sport Stateside, while the Black Stars are carrying the hopes of an entire continent as they seek to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.


The matches
Uruguay-Korea Republic, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 16.00 (local time)
USA-Ghana, Rustenburg, 20.30 (local time)


The big game
USA-Ghana
Urged on by the biggest support at South Africa 2010, the Stars and Stripes scrapped and fought their way out of the group phase, coming from behind against both England and Slovenia and snatching a last-gasp winner against the Algerians. Former national team youth coach Bob Bradley has drafted several untried youngsters into a well-oiled side that has fulfilled the promise it showed in reaching the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009.


Their Achilles heel remains the defence, which has stood firm against high balls but looks vulnerable when attacked at pace, a threat they can expect from the Ghanaians. CAF African Cup of Nations finalists back in January, the Black Stars have matched their performance at Germany 2006, drawing strength from a mobile and resourceful defence and a midfield unit that combines class and industry. In contrast to the Americans however, the sole African representatives have been underperforming up front, scoring just two goals so far, both from the penalty spot.


In focus
Diego Forlan v Park Ji-Sung


Uruguay’s potentially fascinating tie with the South Koreans features an intriguing sub-plot as the free-scoring Forlan and the hard-running Park put their goalscoring abilities to the test. The Uruguayan hit 17 goals during his less-than-prolific spell with Manchester United, where the South Korean is enjoying more success, scoring the same amount of goals and earning the Old Trafford faithful’s admiration with his work rate. Though their paths did not cross at the Theatre of Dreams, they should both prove key protagonists at Port Elizabeth Stadium.


What they said
“Defending well is not a crime, it’s a virtue,” Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach extols the benefits of a solid back-line.

fifa world cup 2010

Blunt Switzerland bow out

Bloemfontein proved to be the graveyard for Switzerland's FIFA World Cup™ hopes as their bid to reach the last 16 ended in a frustrating goalless draw with Honduras. While the Swiss would rue their impotence in front of goal, the Central Americans were guilty of missing a host of gilt-edged chances on the night, as the curtain came down on their South African experience.

All four sides in Group H could conceivably still have qualified heading into this clash at the Free State Stadium, although Honduras, still without a win or a goal, had a huge mountain to climb. In simple terms, both sides needed a win. A thoroughly uninspiring opening spell was, thankfully, brought to an end in the tenth minute when Switzerland, who entered the match still with a chance of finishing top of their group, began to take the initiative. A neat one-two between Gokhan Inler and Tranquillo Barnetta sliced open the Honduras defence but the latter could only drag his shot wide of the target.

The game had finally started to awake from its slumber and the Swiss No7, Barnetta, in for the suspended Valon Behrami, was playing a key role in that. Honduras, for their part, were lacking any real shape and when Reinaldo Rueda's side did attack, they were guilty of overplaying their passes, with their limited opportunities regularly fizzling out as quickly as they had begun.

Barnetta switched flanks on the half-hour to try his luck against Mauricio Sabillon, but still Switzerland were unable to make any headway. They did, at least, have chances to break the deadlock – Barnetta's cross found the feet of Derdiyok, but his half-hearted swing at the ball allowed the attack to be easily swallowed up by the Honduras defence. Then, two minutes from the break, Derdiyok was given the opportunity to make amends, this time turning provider, but Blaise Nkufo got it all wrong at the far post.

The second half thankfully heralded a more positive spell of play, and Honduras could have edged themselves in front after 53 minutes, when Edgar Alvarez dropped a delightful ball onto the head of David Suazo. But the bustling striker failed to find the target with what was arguably the best opportunity of the match. Derdiyok should have done better with a right-foot shot shortly after the hour, as the Swiss stepped things a gear, largely thanks to the half-time introduction of Hakan Yakin.

That said, it was Honduras who carved out the next real chance of the game when Suazo, breaking at pace, picked out Alvarez's forward burst, only for the Honduran's strike to be brilliantly tipped over by Diego Benaglio. Switzerland were leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack as they piled forward in numbers in search of the goal that would see them through to the last 16, and were thankful for some poor finishing on the part of the Central Americans, with Alvarez as guilty as anyone.

As the game opened up, twice substitute Alex Frei went close for the Swiss, while Stephan Lichsteiner was not far away with a fierce right-footed shot. Honduras, who could claim to have had the better chances in a frustrating second period, almost profited from some good work from Georgie Welcome in the dying minutes, but in the end neither side could break the deadlock before the final whistle sounded on their FIFA World Cup dreams.

friday-results-fifa world cup 2010

Brazil stalemate suits Portugal

The Brazilian carnival rolled into Durban on Friday, turning the sunny Indian Ocean coastal city into Copacabana beach for a day. However, the South Americans were unable to reward their vociferous support with goals, drawing 0-0 with Portugal – a result that takes both sides through to the Round of 16.

Brazil had the first chance of a cagey, stop-start first half with a long-distance effort from the tireless Dani Alves, featuring in place of the injured Elano on the right flank. But the Barcelona star hardly troubled Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo as his try trickled harmlessly wide of the post. He had another chance on the quarter-hour mark from a similar distance, with the keeper collecting easily.

Those efforts set the tone for much of what would follow. With Robinho on the bench and Kaka suspended, Brazil were reduced to trying their luck from long range as Juilio Baptista proved unable to get much going in the space behind strikers Nilmar and Luis Fabiano. Up the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo was ploughing a lone furrow in a defensive scheme set up by Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz. Fabio Coentrao was the most dangerous man on the park for the Portuguese, bursting up the left flank and delivering inch-perfect crosses that caused the Brazilian defence some concern in the opening period. Neither Tiago nor Ronaldo could take advantage of the best chances the Benfica wide man carved open, however.

The half-hour mark brought the clearest opening of a hard-fought first half, which produced seven yellow cards. A sneaky ball across the six-yard box from Luis Fabiano found Nilmar lurking at the back post. He rounded Ricardo Carvalho only to be denied by the upright from a tight angle. Seven minutes before the break Luis Fabiano then had a golden chance with a header from a similar position, but was unable to do justice to Dani Alves's cross.

Real Madrid ace Ronaldo, who got the biggest roar from the crowd at the start, began to get himself into some dangerous areas after the restart, forcing the Brazilian back line – captain Lucio in particular – into some last-ditch tackles. His deflected free-kick from distance in the 51st minute had the fans in yellow feeling a little nervous as Portugal began to look more positive in their approach. With substitute Simao pulling the strings, Queiroz's side nearly took the lead on the hour. Ronaldo broke free on the right of the area and when Lucio made the tackle, the ball fell for Raul Meireles, who could only manage to fire wide from close range.