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World Cup 2010: grand teams that have light up the world

BRAZIL 1970

Rivelino, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostao and Pele in his showiness. Defeat champions England, won every game in style and ending with the demolition of Italy and that wonderful team goal from Carlo Alberto.

Grandness rating 10/10

GERMANY 1974

Germany’s splendid side of Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller are right up there in the pantheon, if only for their final downing of Johan Cruyff and his incredible Dutch side, the world still remembers total package of the orange far more lovingly.

Grandness rating 8/10

ARGENTINA 1978

Has home benefit counted for more at a World Cup (other than 1966, observably)? Could not beat Brazil and lost to Italy, but carried on a ton of tickertape, advantageous kick-off times, a impressionable Peru and the encouragement of Mario Kempes, they were very unforgettable.

Grandness rating 7/10

ITALY 1982

Junior, Falcao, Socrates, and co was wondrous but Italy’s dazzling competence and Paolo Rossi’s deadly finishing make them one of the best champions in the world cup 1982.

Grandness rating 8/10

ARGENTINA 1986

It is so unmerited that a team’s performance should be so overshadowed, but Argentina did have all the think of a one-man show. Maradona’s hand of God and this was followed by his goals from paradise against Belgium and England. The last team to win without option to extra time or penalties.

Grandness rating 7/10

GERMANY 1990

Germany shone early on in Italy but, in a Cup of depressed quality, they needed penalties to beat England and then succeed against Argentina in the most suspicious, miserable final of all. Not grand.

Grandness rating 6/10

BRAZIL 1994

Brazil of Carlos Alberto Parreira went home after their fourth victory to an indifferent welcome. They had won but so had simplicity, personified in hard-hearted captain Dunga. One breathtaking win over Holland could not remove the memory of an dreadful final.

Grandness rating 6/10

FRANCE 1998

A marvellous French side, with Zinedine Zidane at his boasting finest, but the suspicion remained that they might not have crushed Brazil if the Ronaldo implosion had not happened. Well, how grand can a team be with Stephane Guivarc’h as their organized?

Grandness rating 7/10

BRAZIL 2002

Most likely the undervalue squad of all, the only crime for the three Rs – Ronaldinho, Ronando and Rivaldo – was not to have anybody to beat. England, Turkey, Belgium and a ordinary Germany in the knockout stages.

Grandness rating 8/10

ITALY 2006

Italy of 2006 always did seem a fairly colourless lot, apart from one outstanding win over Germany in the semi-finals. We will always memorize Zidane ahead of Fabio Cannavaro.

Grandness rating 6/10

Paraguay succeed in penalties

Paraguay beat Japan 5-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in their history on June 29, 2010.

Vuvuzela vs Dog: Dog Wins!!!

Match preview: Holland vs Slovakia

Round of 16
Holland vs Slovakia
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Mon June 28, 3pm BST

Holland is the only European country at the World Cup to be entering the knockout rounds with an untarnished record during the group phase.
Slovakia are overjoyed just to have reached the last 16 for the 1st time but showed against Italy they will not be overcome against higher profile opposition.
They have a very solid spike to their team, with striker Robert Vittel who was the joint top scorer after the group matches and goalkeeper Jan Mucha, both enjoying an terrific tournament.

They said
Bert van Marwijk: “This is a challenger we must not underestimate. We cannot be relaxed. That period of carelessness in opposition to Cameroon we had, we cannot afford that again."
Wladimir Weiss: “For our young nation and for our football, this is a very vital moment. We’ve a probability to come out of the shadows of ice hockey, the number one sport in the land. The nation is rising up and it’s lovely the people believe in us.”

Teams
Holland (4-2-3-1): 1 Stekelenburg; 4 Mathijsen, 12 Boulahrouz, 3 Heitinga, 5 Van Bronckhorst; 8 De Jong, 6 Van Bommel; 10 Sneijder, 7 Kuyt, 11 Robben; 9 Van Persie
Slovakia (4-4-2): 1 Mucha; 16 Durica, 2 Pekarik, 3 Skrtel, 5 Zabavnik; 17 Hamsik, 19 Kucka, 6 Strba, 15 Stoch; 18 Jendrisek, 11 Vittek

Referee: TBC

Match preview: Chile vs Brazil

Round of 16

Chile vs Brazil
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Mon June 28, 7.30pm BST

Chile welcomes back holding playmaker Matias Fernandez and midfielder Carlos Carmona after suspension.

Brazil is advanced by the come back of Kaka, back from suspension, to replace Julio Baptista.

They said

Marcelo Bielsa: “This newest version retains all the creative footballing aspects of this country (Brazil) - to which they have added violence and strength. We will do the impossible to make sure that things don't come to an end too quickly for us.”

Dunga: “The players passed a harsh test against Ivory Coast. They showed a lot of adulthood because they got hit from the beginning to the end and never hit back.”

Teams

Chile (3-3-1-3): Bravo; Fuentes Suazo, Vidal; Contreras, Carmona, Isla; Fernandez; Gonzalez, Sanchez, Beausejour.

Brazil (4-4-2): Cesar; Juan, Maicon, Lucio, Bastos; Gilberto Silva, Elano, Melo, Kaka; Luis Fabiano, Robinho.

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Previous Meetings

Played: 65

Wins Chile 7, Draws 12, Brazil 46

WC: Chile 0, Draws 0, Brazil 2

WCQ: Chile 0, Draws 2, 1Brazil 7

Last Five Meetings

2007: Brazil 4 Chile 2
2007: Brazil 3 Chile 0
2007: Brazil 6 Chile 1
2010: Chile 0 Brazil 3
2010: Brazil 4 Chile 2

Match preview: Argentina vs Mexico

Round of 16

Argentina vs Mexico
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Sunday June 27 2010, 7.30 BST

Diego Maradona: “With the likes of Dos Santos and Marquez, Mexico have quite a number of players who have us worried”.

Javier Aguirre: “This could be a nice chance to take revenge for what happened four years ago".

Teams

Argentina (4-3-1-2): 22 Romero; 13 Samuel, 4 Burdisso, 2 Demichelis, 6 Heinze; 14 Mascherano, 8 Veron, 7 Di Maria; 10 Messi; 9 Higuain, 11 Tevez,
Mexico (4-3-3-l): 1 Perez; 4 Marquez, 5 Osorio, 3 Salcido, 2 Rodriguez, 16 Juarez, 7 Barrera, 6 Torrado; 9 Franco, 16 Guardado, 17 Giovani

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Previous meetings

Played: 25 Argentina wins 9, Draws 12, Mexico wins 4

1930: Argentina 6 Mexico 3
1956: Mexico 0 Argentina 0
1960: Mexico 0 Argentina 2
1960: Mexico 2 Argentina 3
1962: Argentina 1 Mexico 0
1967: Mexico 2 Argentina 1
1973: Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1984: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1984: Argentina 1 Mexico 1
1985: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1985: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1990: Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1991: Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1993: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1993: Argentina 2 Mexico 1
1999: Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1999: Mexico 2 Argentina 2
2000: Mexico 0 Argentina 2
2003: Mexico 0 Argentina 1
2004: Argentina 0 Mexico 1
2005: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
2005: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
2006: Argentina 1 Mexico 1
2007: Mexico 0 Argentina 3
2008: Mexico 1 Argentina 4

World Cup 2010: North Korea vs Côte d’Ivoire Goals and Highlights

North Korea vs Côte d’Ivoire Goals and Highlights

Match preview: Denmark vs Japan

Group E

Denmark vs Japan
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 7.30pm BST

The World Cup fates of Denmark and Japan could twist on whether Nicklas Bendtner Danish striker is fit. Denmark makes once change with Per Kroldrup replacing the suspended Simon Kjaer.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada is expecting him to play and has been drilling his players on how to shut down the Arsenal striker. Takeshi Okada is expected to name the same starting line-up for the third consecutive match.

They said

Takeshi Okada: “It would be perfect if we can overcome the opponent by 10 goals. But it won't be that simple. I think it's going to be a very fierce, close game.”

Martin Olsen: "It's a crucial game and expectantly the first final for us. We know what to do. But it is hard to score goals nowadays when you play defensive teams."

Teams

Denmark (4-2-3-1): Sorensen; Agger, Jacobsen, Kroldup, S Poulsen; Jorgensen, C Poulsen; Gronkjaer, Rommedahl, Tomasson; Bendtner

Japan (4-1-4-1): Kawashima; Komano, Nagatomo, Tanaka, Nakazawa; Abe; Hasebe, Endo, Okubo, Matsui; Honda

Referee: J Damon (South Africa)