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Blast From the Past – When Fernando Torres Actually Scored
Fernando Torres has been horrible this World Cup, not being able to find the net in five matches (four starts) for Spain so far. I’m not sure he’ll open today, he certainly doesn’t deserve to, but still, this is the man who delivered in the 2008 Euro final against Germany, Spain’s first and only title in over 40 years.
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Germany Crush Argentina en Route to Semi Final
Lionel Messi didn’t show up, again, for a big Argentina match, as Germany did to Maradona what they did to England a few days earlier, crushing the Albiceleste 4-0, never allowing Argentina any real threat on Neuer’s goal, with every piece of Low’s puzzle working perfectly, orchestrated by the fantastic Bastian Schweinsteiger, eliminating the second South American juggernaut side from the World Cup, ending the talks about Latin domination in South Africa.
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Netherlands – Brazil, Afterthoughts
After both teams have been criticized during the tournament for playing dull and un-imaginative football, far from the traditions both nations’ sides have shown in the past, Dunga’s “European” style didn’t work against a Netherlands team that have won every match during this tournament but have been far from impressive during those four wins.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 18
The Netherlands and Brazil cruised through the quarter finals, beating Slovakia and Chile, setting up for another classic quarter final in this World Cup with Argentina-Germany also to look forward to.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 17
Germany and Argentina advanced with some impressive displays but leave Mexico and England with bitter taste in their mouths after two huge mistakes by the referees, not seeing a Lampard goal and not seeing an offside when Tevez scored – Plus all the goals and best pics from today’s action.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 16
Ghana needed extra time to beat the United States, becoming only the third side from Africa to reach a World Cup quarter final, while Uruguay beat South Korea 2-1 (Suarez double) to make their first last 8 appearance since 1970, plus all the goals and best pics from today’s action.
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Luis Suarez Double Sends Uruguay to Quarter Finals
Luis Suarez’ brace, including a brilliant second, sends Uruguay into the quarter finals after a 2-1 win over South Korea, opening the 2010 World Cup knockout stage.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 15
Two weeks from the day we started, and we got us our last 16, with Brazil and Portugal boring us (and getting booed) in a 0-0 draw, while the Ivory Coast got their one win, just like in 2006, that doesn’t mean anything, joining North Korea (if no one defects) on the trip home. Meanwhile, in Group H, Spain avoided the meet with Brazil, getting Portugal instead, beating Chile 2-1 while trying to make us fall asleep in the final 20 minutes. Switzerland couldn’t get lucky like they did in the opening match vs Spain and were held to a 0-0 draw with Honduras, who got their first points in the tournament, but leave South Africa without scoring any goals.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 14
Awesome goals day, asItaly made like France and got knocked out of the World Cup by Slovakia (deserving) who joined Slovakia from Group F, facing the Netherlands who finished a perfect group stage by beating pointless Cameroon while Japan turned on the style, led by Honda, against Denmark, in their 3-2 win. All the goals and best pictures, as always.
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2010 World Cup Diary – Day 13
While John Isner and Nicolas Mahut are still in their (now) 3-day tennis marathon, England beat Slovenia, setting up a meeting with arch-rivals Germany and Landon Donovan scored an injury time winner, pitting the United States against Ghana in the next round, plus all the goals and best pics from today.