England and Mexico haunted anew

It is only fans not footballers, we are told, who worry about history. Yet it was hard not to sense the ghosts of the past at both the Free State Stadium and Soccer City as Germany and Argentina inflicted further punishment on familiar adversaries in today's Round of 16 contests to set up a Cape Town quarter-final.

Any meeting of Germany and England comes weighted with memories of past encounters and there was an unwelcome feeling of déjà vu for Fabio Capello's side in Bloemfontein. England won the countries' 1966 FIFA World Cup™ Final confrontation but Germany have been paying them back ever since. To Mexico 1970, Italy 1990 and UEFA EURO 96, we can now add South Africa 2010 after a last-16 contest that brought England's heaviest defeat on the world stage.

The match had been billed as Germany's youth versus England's experience – and the former won hands down. England had no answer to the speed and slick passing of Joachim Low's team, as evidenced by Thomas Muller's second-half double, which concluded lightning counter-attacks as Germany achieved their biggest victory over their old foes. While England must reconsider how to beat the game's traditional giants in knockout competition on the world stage – something they have still not done without home advantage – Mexico's conundrum tonight is how to get beyond the last 16.Only when hosting the FIFA World Cup have they managed that feat and, like England, El Tri had a familiar sinking feeling in succumbing to Argentina, just as they had done at this same stage in 2006. Unlike that closely fought contest, which Argentina won after extra time, this one was firmly in the grip of Diego Maradona's men by half-time as they led 2-0. Carlos Tevez then struck the day's most spectacular goal before youngster Javier Hernandez gave Mexico a glimmer of hope for the future with a fine consolation effort.

Lionel Messi may have yet to score but his team-mate Gonzalo Higuain claimed the outright lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot by scoring Argentina's second goal at Soccer City, his fourth of the competition. Moreover, La Albiceleste moved top of the team scoring table with ten goals – one more than the Germans. That statistic augurs well for the sides' forthcoming encounter on Saturday, which fittingly offers a rematch of their Berlin quarter-final in 2006, won by Germany on penalties after a goalless draw. Argentina will want revenge but, as England can tell them, exorcising ghosts is not always easy when the Germans are around.

Results
Germany 4-1 England
Argentina 3-1 Mexico

Goal of the day
Argentina 3-0 Mexico, Carlos Tevez, 52 mins: Collecting the ball some five yards outside the D, the Argentina forward sought in vain to jink between two green shirts. The ball bounced back off a defender, however, and where Tevez failed with finesse, he succeeded with brute force, smashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner of Oscar Bravo's goal.

One to remember
One moment Gabriel Heinze was in the warm embrace of his Argentina team-mates, as they huddled together to celebrate a first-half goal, the next he was walking face first into a television camera. If that brought a whole new meaning to getting close to the action thankfully no damage was done as Heinze recovered from the bang to his head to make two vital contributions as Mexico sought a way back in the second half. After clearing one Pablo Barrera effort off the goalline he then got that same head in the way of a Barrera cross to deny the waiting Rafael Marquez.

Quote of the day
"I want to dedicate this win to my friend Valentino Rossi who has not been well," Argentina coach Maradona spares a thought for the Italian Moto GP rider who is recovering from a compound fracture of his right leg.

The stat
15 – Germany marched into the last eight for the 15th successive FIFA World Cup after beating England. Fifteen is also the number of goals recorded in the Round of 16 so far - the first four games producing the same total accumulated by all eight games in 2006. Source Read more......

Livewire Tevez riding high Carlos Tevez of Argentina celebrates scoring during the 2010

In the space of three short months Argentina’s Carlos Tevez has gone from fringe player to one of the stars of a side sweeping all before them in South Africa.

In his journey from the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Fuerte Apache to English club Manchester City, Carlos Tevez has had to battle every inch of the way, frequently overcoming adversity to shine in one of the world’s top leagues. Those selfsame fighting qualities have also stood him in good stead on the international stage, and are helping him perform with distinction at South Africa 2010.

“It’s impossible to leave him out of the starting line-up boys,” said national coach Diego Maradona on the eve of the opening game with Nigeria, answering the media’s queries about Tevez’s inclusion. “What do you want me to do? He’s playing so well. He’s in electric form at the moment.” Four games later and El Apache has answered all the doubters, scoring twice against Mexico on Sunday evening to add further weight to Maradona’s argument.“I’m better prepared than ever for this tournament and fortunately the results are there for everyone to see,” he said after helping sink the Mexicans at Soccer City. “I’ve shown I’m not dead.”

Tevez’s two-goal salvo caps quite a turnaround in his fortunes and comes just three months after admitting his form was not good enough to warrant a place in the national side.

The Manchester City forward sent his team into the lead against the Mexicans, heading home at the end of a move he had started with Lionel Messi, and then all but settling the game seven minutes into the second half with a spectacular strike from outside the area.

“I needed a game like that,” he said after being named the Budweiser Man of the Match. “Diego [Maradona] told me he wanted me to play more as a forward and to not drop deep like a midfielder, but tracking back is something that comes naturally to me.”

As well as his brace, Tevez also ran tirelessly for his side and linked up well with his team-mates before being substituted by Juan Sebastian Veron. It was a change he did not appear to enjoy making: “I shouldn’t have pulled a face when I came off but nobody likes being substituted when they’re playing well. That said, I’d like to make my apologies public now: my team-mates shouldn’t have to see me looking annoyed.”

Revenge on the menu?
Carlitos is one of the survivors from the team that was knocked out by the host nation at Germany 2006. Yet with Argentina through to a quarter-final rematch with the Germans, his main objective now is not to gain revenge on the three-time champions but to get more time on the pitch than he enjoyed four years ago.

“I give absolutely everything for this jersey and I run my socks off on the pitch just to keep my place,” added the man of the moment. “This is the best form I’ve ever been in for the national side and I hope to keep this going for a long time yet. It’s going to be a great game against the Germans but we shouldn’t be looking on it as a chance for revenge. We need to take it easy and learn from the mistakes we made in 2006.”

In cementing his position as the ideal partner for Lionel Messi in the Albiceleste attack, Tevez has also earned the admiration of his team-mates. “He can win you a game in a single move,” said central defender Nicolas Burdisso, while Mexico keeper Oscar Perez had cause to regret the Argentinian livewire’s hand in events in Johannesburg: “He finished the game off with a tremendous goal.”

All in all not a bad night’s work for the kid from the back streets of Buenos Aires. Source Read more......

Confident Maradona looks to Germany

Fresh from his side's 3-1 win over Mexico in the Round of 16, Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he will pick the right players to beat Germany in Saturday's FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final. A double from Argentina's Carlos Tevez, plus Gonzalo Higuain's fourth of the tournament, sealed the win while Mexico scored a consolation goal by Javier Hernandez.

Maradona is confident his side will now beat Germany, who crushed England 4-1. "We will take stock of our situation, then we will try and put together the best team to showcase our talents against Germany," he said."It will be the team to give us the guarantee to overcome Germany. We know Germany are a different team to the side we faced in Mexico. They are stronger, but we will field the right players to beat them."

Despite struggling to qualify for South Africa, Maradona's side have now picked up their fourth straight FIFA World Cup win and the former midfield maestro said he would dearly love to face the Germans himself.

"I feel like pulling on the jersey and playing myself, it is beautiful to be involved with this group of players, I feel proud to share these moments with them," he said. "They said I had no idea about how to coach, but suddenly I am winning matches and I am still the same guy." source Read more......

Slovakia and Chile eye upsets

Chile and Slovakia will be driven by the shared desire to spring an upset when they tackle respective rivals Brazil and the Netherlands in the Round of 16 on Monday.

Both the Brazilians and Dutch enjoy a worldwide reputation for spectacular play, but arguably no team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has been more attractive going forward, not to mention more resolutely attack-minded, than Chile. That said, Marcelo Bielsa's men will be put to a gruelling test by their fellow South Americans, whose strength and serenity particularly caught the eye during the group stage. The current Brazil line-up may not yet stand comparison with some of their sparkling predecessors, but their results have been no less convincing.

The Netherlands are gracing South Africa with players every bit as gifted as previous vintages and they hope to break new ground by lifting the Trophy for the first time. Bert van Marwijk's troops have gone an impressive 22 matches without defeat and now find themselves just four games away from football’s ultimate prize, but they will need to be wary of a fearless Slovakia side, who so memorably disposed of holders Italy 3-2.The matches
Netherlands-Slovakia, Durban, 16.00
Brazil-Chile, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 20.30

The big game
Brazil-Chile
This all-South American showdown speaks volumes for the success CONMEBOL sides have enjoyed in South Africa, though it will be Brazil feeling the more confident thanks to their 46 victories in their 65 previous meetings between the countries. The five-time world champions' coach Dunga has altered his team's style of play without compromising their winning mentality, giving them an almost European feel characterised by power and efficiency. That transformation owes much to the fact that 20 of his 23 players ply their club trade on the Old Continent, yet there have still been characteristic Brazilian flourishes, flowing from the likes of Maicon, Elano and Luis Fabiano.

The rich seam of talent continues to run deep and Dunga was even able to do without Kaka, Elano and Robinho for the goalless draw against Portugal. Brazil give the impression of a steamroller that is gathering momentum and will be difficult to stop, particularly since Chile coach Bielsa will need to turn to youth after the 2-1 loss to Spain left him with three players suspended. Centre-back duo Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce will be notable absentees, but South Africa 2010 has hardly been devoid of upsets thus far.

In focus
Favourites (NED) v Underdogs (SV
Independent since 1993, Slovakia may have taken a while to emerge from the shadow cast by the former Czechoslovakia, but there can be no disputing their steady progress. Fourth in their qualifying section ahead of France 1998, third on the road to Korea/Japan 2002 and second four years ago, they continued their upward trajectory by sealing top spot for South Africa 2010 thanks to a team built on sturdy foundations. Forwards Stanislav Sestak of Bochum and Robert Vittek of Ankaragucu – the latter scorer of a double against Italy – are the brightest lights in the side along with Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik and Liverpool stopper Martin Skrtel, and having disposed of La Nazionale they must turn their attentions to another European powerhouse. Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk boasts a squad brimming with star quality and has succeeded in getting those gifted individuals to play as a unit, giving the likes of Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben unshakable belief that they can go all the way. Slovakia, on the other hand, have exceeded expectations and have nothing to lose.

What they said
"I’d compare this generation with the one that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998. Back then I was happy with that result, but this time I’d be very disappointed to finish second,” Phillip Cocu, Netherlands assistant coach. Source Read more......