Argentina 0-4 Germany

Germany tore Argentina apart to book their place in the semi-finals and, for now at least, end Diego Maradona's dream of winning the World Cup as coach to go with his victory as captain in 1986.

Inspired by Bastian Schweinsteiger and two-goal hero Miroslav Klose, Joachim Loew's side scored four times for the third game at this tournament in what was a devastating attacking display.

Klose found the net only three times in the Bundesliga all season in a miserable campaign for Bayern Munich but he has now beaten that tally at this tournament, as well as moving to within a goal of Ronaldo, who with 15 goals, is the all-time highest scorer at World Cup finals.

After Thomas Mueller's early header, Germany coped with everything Argentina could throw at them before finishing off Maradona's men with a lethal late burst.

Following Brazil's self-destruction against the Dutch on Friday, Germany became the latest European team to see off a highly fancied South American side, and they move into the last four looking in good shape to become world champions for the first time since 1990.

At times this win was reminiscent of the way Germany had ripped through England's backline in the second round a week ago, with Argentina caught out by their speed and incisiveness on the counter-attack as they chased the game.

The only cloud on Germany's horizon is that the impressive Mueller picked up a booking that means he will miss the last-four clash with Paraguay or Spain, but Loew still has much to savour from this match.

Mueller opened the scoring after only three minutes when Schweinsteiger swung in a free-kick from the left and he escaped the Argentina defence to beat Sergio Romero with a downward header that the keeper got a leg to but could not keep out.

Klose, who also won his 100th cap for Germany, should have made it 2-0 when Mueller broke into the area down the right and squared for him in front of goal. But he fired wastefully over, not that it appeared to matter much at that point.

With Lionel Messi finding it difficult to impose himself on the game thanks to the close attention of Schweinsteiger, Argentina's response was largely limited to shots from distance.

They did improve as half-time approached and Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain both forced Manuel Neuer into low saves, but Germany continued to threaten on the break.

Only after the interval did Argentina manage a spell of sustained pressure, and they threatened almost immediately when Di Maria let fly from outside the box and saw the ball fizz narrowly wide.

For a good 20 minutes, Maradona's men dominated possession and Carlos Tevez had a shot blocked superbly blocked by Per Mertesacker while Germany keeper Neuer was kept busy as shots peppered his goal.

But, after wave after wave of Argentina attacks had been frustrated, Loew's side hit back with a lethal sucker-punch to seal victory with two near-identical goals in quick succession.

First, Podolski burst into the box down the left and squared to give Klose the easiest of tap-ins to make it 2-0, with the striker walking the ball over the line.

Then, with Argentina still rocking, Schweinsteiger weaved his way down the same flank and crossed for Arne Freidrich to bundle the ball in at the near post.

The game was up for the South American side, and neither the jaded Messi on the pitch nor Maradona off it could lift them for any sort of belated response.

Fittingly, the final word went to Klose, who volleyed home Germany's fourth from Mesut Oezil's cross in the last minute - his 14th World Cup goal - after the imperious Schweinsteiger had brought the ball forward again.bbc online.

Germany vs Spain Live Streams and TV Channels

Date/Time: Jul 7, 2010
2:30pm US/Eastern
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Durban, Durban

Germany vs Spain Live Streams and TV Channels
Country Channels
Andorra TF1 (HD, 3D)
Angola Televisao Publica de Angola
Argentina DirecTV Latin America (HD)
Australia SBS One Australia (HD, 3D)
Brazil ESPN HD Brasil (HD), ESPN Brasil (HD)
Canada Societe Radio-Canada (HD, 3D), CBC Sports Live Streaming, CBC (HD, 3D), CBC Bold (HD), Telelatino
Cape Verde Televisao de Cabo Verde
Central African Republic Tele Centrafrique
Chile TVN Online, DirecTV Latin America (HD)
Congo Television Nationale Congolaise
Ecuador DirecTV Latin America (HD)
France TF1 (HD, 3D)
French Guiana TF1 (HD, 3D)
French Polynesia TF1 (HD, 3D)
Ghana Metro TV, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, TV3 Ghana
Honduras Televicentro Honduras
India ESPN Star Sports
International FIFA.com
Italy Sky Italia (HD, 3D)
Ivory Coast Radiodiffusion Television Ivorienne
Japan SKY PerfecTV (HD, 3D)
Middle East Al Jazeera Sports (HD, 3D)
Monaco TF1 (HD, 3D)
Mozambique Televisao de Mocambique
Paraguay Canal 9 Paraguay
Peru Andina de Television (HD)
Senegal Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise
Singapore Starhub (HD), MioTV Singtel (HD)
Slovenia Radiotelevizija Slovenija (HD)
Spain TeleCinco Espana
Thailand Thai TV3, Bangkok Broadcasting TV
UK TalkSport Radio
Uruguay DirecTV Latin America (HD)
USA Univision (HD), ESPN (HD), ESPN3.com USA, ESPN 3D USA (HD, 3D), Univision Futbol (HD), ESPN Radio
Venezuela Meridiano Television

World Cup 2010: First semifinal; Uruguay vs Netherlands Live

Date/Time: Jul 6, 2010
2:30pm US/Eastern
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Green Point, Cape Town

Uruguay vs Netherlands Live Streams and TV Channels
Country Channels
Andorra TF1 (HD, 3D)
Angola Televisao Publica de Angola
Argentina DirecTV Latin America (HD)
Australia SBS One Australia (HD, 3D)
Brazil ESPN HD Brasil (HD), ESPN Brasil (HD)
Canada Societe Radio-Canada (HD, 3D), CBC Sports Live Streaming, CBC (HD, 3D), CBC Bold (HD), Telelatino
Cape Verde Televisao de Cabo Verde
Central African Republic Tele Centrafrique
Chile TVN Online, DirecTV Latin America (HD)
Congo Television Nationale Congolaise
Ecuador DirecTV Latin America (HD)
France TF1 (HD, 3D)
French Guiana TF1 (HD, 3D)
French Polynesia TF1 (HD, 3D)
Ghana Metro TV, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, TV3 Ghana
Honduras Televicentro Honduras
India ESPN Star Sports
International FIFA.com
Italy Sky Italia (HD, 3D)
Ivory Coast Radiodiffusion Television Ivorienne
Japan SKY PerfecTV (HD, 3D)
Middle East Al Jazeera Sports (HD, 3D)
Monaco TF1 (HD, 3D)
Mozambique Televisao de Mocambique
Paraguay Canal 9 Paraguay
Peru Andina de Television (HD)
Senegal Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise
Singapore Starhub (HD), MioTV Singtel (HD)
Slovenia Radiotelevizija Slovenija (HD)
Spain Cuatro (HD)
Thailand Thai TV3, Bangkok Broadcasting TV
UK TalkSport Radio
Uruguay DirecTV Latin America (HD)
USA Univision (HD), ESPN (HD), ESPN3.com USA, ESPN 3D USA (HD, 3D), Univision Futbol (HD), ESPN Radio
Venezuela Meridiano Television

Anelka back in London after World Cup expulsion

Mon, Jun 21st, 2010 2:38 pm BdST
London, June 21 (bdnews24.com/AFP) – France's star striker Nicolas Anelka arrived back in London Monday, an AFP photographer said, after being sent home from the World Cup following a foul-mouthed rant at coach Raymond Domenech.

Anelka, who plays for English Premier League champions Chelsea, arrived back at London's Heathrow airport after flying back from the tournament in South Africa.

His departure has prompted mutiny within the French squad, with players refusing to train Sunday and issuing a statement saying they were opposed to the decision after details of the bust-up were published in sports daily L'Equipe.

"We regret the incident at half-time of the France v Mexico match, but we regret even more the divulging of an event which was only the squad's business and was part and parcel of the life of a top-level team," the players said.

bdnews24.com/pks/1440h

Spain confident defeat will spark reaction

South Africa, June 20 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Spain are optimistic that a shock 1-0 defeat by Switzerland in their Group H opener will stun the European champions into action for their second match against Honduras on Monday.

"The loss helps to show you that there are no easy matches, that every team at a World Cup will make it hard for you," defender Raul Albiol told a news conference on Saturday.

"The favourites are not winning," he added, in reference to defeats for France and Germany against Mexico and Serbia respectively and England's surprise draw with unfancied Algeria.

"If you look at past World Cups, we have often seen teams that start off losing go on to win the final."

Coach Vicente del Bosque was criticised by his predecessor Luis Aragones, among others, for fielding a cautious 4-5-1 formation against the Swiss.

He may switch to a more ambitious 4-4-2 lineup on Monday, with fit-again Fernando Torres partnering strike partner David Villa up front.

Spain dominated possession against the Swiss but failed to take their chances and suffered only their second defeat in 3-1/2 years following a 2-0 loss to the United States at the Confederations Cup in South Africa last June.

That defeat deprived them of a place in the final against Brazil but if they finish second in Group H they could play the five-times champions in the last 16.

MINIMAL CHANGES

Del Bosque, who is not known for making sweeping tactical changes, told As newspaper on Saturday if there were alterations to the starting 11 against Honduras they would be minimal.

"We have to reestablish ourselves, gain confidence and believe in what has given us so much success in the past," the 59-year-old said.

"We expect (Honduras) to close ranks but, on the other hand, they have to open up at some point and those spaces are what we have to take advantage of," he added.

"This team has had fabulous runs of form and now we are going for six wins. This is the message I have been sending to the players. There is no point in looking back only forwards."

"The positive side of this setback is that it's better to fail at the start than at the end," he added.

He may have been thinking of the 2006 World Cup in Germany when Spain won all three of their group matches, including a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine in their first game, before losing to eventual runners-up France in the second round.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda expects the wounded Spanish to come out fighting but said if his players work together they can cause another upset that would leave Spain's hopes of winning a first World Cup in tatters.

"These games (the Switzerland defeat) happen, just like they lost to the United States a year ago," Rueda said on Friday.

"They're the strongest squad in the world but we don't fear any one player," he added.

"Collectively they are strong but if we work together we can overcome them. If we don't think we can win we may as well not play."

bdnews24.com/pks/1500h

World Cup 2010: Portugal thrash North Korea 7-0

Cape Town, June 21 (bdnews24.com/AFP) – Portugal thrashed North Korea 7-0 in their World Cup Group G match to end the Koreans hopes of reaching the second round.

Goals by Raul Meireles, Simao, Tiago - who got a double - Hugo Almeida, Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo, his first international goal for nearly two years, gave the Portuguese a huge boost in their quest for reaching the last 16.

Ivory Coast - who have a point from their first two matches - must beat North Korea by a large margin on Friday and hope already qualified five-time champions Brazil inflict a heavy defeat on the Portuguese.

bdnews24.com/lg/1937h

World Cup 2010: Olsen unhappy with Denmark performance

Denmark coach Morten Olsen says his team must rid their game of the errors which blighted their entertaining 2-1 victory over Cameroon in Pretoria.

Samuel Eto'o gave Cameroon the lead after a bad Christian Poulsen error but Nicklas Bendtner and Dennis Rommedahl goals gave Denmark a vital victory.

"We made too many elementary mistakes and I can't allow that," said Olsen.

"We must correct that. I wasn't happy but they fought heroically. Some didn't play well but they fought."

Olsen said a lack of match fitness from some his key players was to blame for a performance marred by losses in concentration and elementary errors,. bbc online.

"We had Nicklas Bendtner, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Daniel Jensen on the pitch, and those players haven't played much," he said.

"But that's the way it is, that's why we had to fight so much. We had nothing more to offer.

"We have too many players who are injured or have been injured so in that respect it was a heroic physical effort, but if we want to progress in this tournament we have a lot to work on. We know that very well."

Olsen did take his team's will to win as a positive from one of the most entertaining games of the tournament so far.

"We actually didn't start very well, we had one good chance through Rommedahl and just after that we made an individual mistake and they scored," he said.

"But we showed spirit, we got back in the game, we showed that we wanted to win.

"We showed things that we don't want to do again, that's for sure, that we need to talk to the players about over the next couple of days.

"But we did have a number of chances. Compared to the game with Holland there were more chances.