World Cup 2010: Spain feel under pressure - Del Bosque

Coach Vicente del Bosque admits Spain are feeling the weight of expectation after edging into the last 16 of the with a fractured 2-1 win over Chile.

World Cup favourites Spain face Portugal on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals in South Africa but have still to click in the tournament.

"There's a lot of pressure in the World Cup," said 59-year-old Del Bosque.

"We know what people expect in Spain and we're trying to give our all. Let's see what we achieve."

World Cup 2010: Italian FA calls for inquiry into 'structural crisis'

The Italian football association president Giancarlo Abete has called for serious analysis of what he called a "structural crisis" that led to the defending champions' dismal first-round elimination from the World Cup.

Italy's 3-2 loss to Slovakia yesterday marked the first time the Azzurri had exited the World Cup without winning a game, and the 2006 champions have not won at all in 2010.

"We all know the importance of football in our country and we've disappointed tens of millions of fans," Abete said today. "We have to be realists. These are the facts. We need to reflect on the structural crisis of Italian football."

World Cup 2010: Holland's Arjen Robben relieved to have recovered from injury

Happy days: Arjen Robben, right, celebrates with team-mates after Holland scored their third goal in the 3-1 win against Cameroon.  Photo: AP

The Bayern Munich player injured his hamstring in a World Cup warm-up match against Hungary and there was real doubt over whether he could play any part at all in Holland's campaign.

But after an intensive bout of treatment, he made his South African bow on Thursday and was instrumental in helping his side to a 2-1 win against Cameroon to maintain their 100 percent record.

England, USA made to sweat

England
Algeria
Slovenia
Yanks

It has become notorious, yet this headline in English tabloid The Sun summed up a widely-held view that the Three Lions would stroll through Group C. USA, too, greeted the draw with satisfaction, confident – if not quite as bullish as The Sun - that they would be strong enough to join Fabio Capello's side in the last 16. And, ultimately, both prevailed. But easy? It was anything but.

Paraguay seal top spot with Kiwi draw

Paraguay did what they had to do to top Group F with a scoreless draw with New Zealand in Polokwane on Thursday. The South Americans finished with five points, one ahead of Slovakia, who knocked out holders Italy in the group's other match, while the All Whites go out unbeaten after their third consecutive draw.

Chances were very few and far between in a contest between the naturally defensive New Zealanders and a Paraguay side who looked comfortable enough playing for the draw that would take them through.

Slovakia advance, eliminate Italy

Slovakia survived a late onslaught to beat Italy 3-2, reach the Round of 16 and eliminate their illustrious opponents. A Robert Vittek double and a stoppage-time lob from substitute Kamil Kopunek proved enough for Vladimir Weiss's team to advance as Group F runners-up, after late goals from Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella had ensured a dramatic conclusion to a thrilling contest in Johannesburg.

El Tri look to learn from past

Mexico will look to learn lessons from the past when they play Argentina in their second round match at the FIFA World Cup™ in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Mexico lost to Diego Maradona's two-times champions at the same stage of the last FIFA World Cup in Germany to an extra-time goal from Maxi Rodriguez and now have to try to work out a way of derailing this year's Argentine vintage, which swept through Group B.

Park focused solely on Uruguay

Park Ji-Sung is not looking beyond Saturday's game with Uruguay as Korea Republic bid to extend their historic run at the FIFA World Cup™.

The Taeguk Warriors cemented their place in the last 16 of a FIFA World Cup for the first time ever on foreign soil after a win and a draw sealed second in Group B.

Coach Huh Jung-Moo's target before the tournament was to reach the knock-out stage and with that achieved South Korea can now reassess their goals in South Africa.

Jermain Defoe leads England through to last 16 of World Cup

Jubilant Jermain Defoe celebrates after firing England into the last 16 of the World Cup yesterday.

Millions of fans breathed a sigh of relief as Mirror columnist Defoe scored the only goal in the nail-biting win over Slovenia.

Fabio Capello’s men now face old enemy Germany on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals. Beaming Defoe said after the game: “It was brilliant. I’m buzzing.”
John Terry (pic: Getty)

Capello danced with joy as England finally showed fighting spirit to beat Slovenia, then revealed his new secret weapon – beer.

World Cup Bet of the Day: Australia - Serbia

A spicy game awaits with two teams that need to win...

Group D remains wide open with both of these teams in with a shot of progressing to the last 16. The odds and form favour Serbia, while Australia must win and rely on some prayers to emulate their feat of four years ago.

Australia were thumped by Germany and looked to be on the first plane back down under. A morale-boosting point was earned against Ghana, where once again they had to play with ten men. This says more about the limitations of Ghana than Australia being any great shakes. This team lacks discipline and have already clocked up two red cards and 36 fouls so far. Victory is a must for the Socceroos but they will still need some fortune to smile on them to go through. 

Serbia let themselves down in the first game against Ghana, conceding a daft penalty to go down 1-0. They then promptly did the same thing against Germany but Lukas Podolski made a hash of the spot-kick and the Serbs grabbed the three points. Although it was a decent win Germany bossed long stages of the game, having more possession and shots. A win will guarantee their place in the last 16.

Australia Tips
Given their poor disciplinary record the Socceroos earning the first card at 2.35 is worth a flutter. The Aussies welcome back Tim Cahill and he is well priced at 4.0 to score at anytime. Brett Holman, who was immense against Ghana, is decent value at 4.33 to score at anytime.

JERMAIN DEFOE was today given the nod up front for England's vital World Cup clash with Slovenia.

The Tottenham striker will partner Wayne Rooney in attack as the Three Lions go in search of victory to progress to the knockout stages.

Anything less than three points is likely to send Fabio Capello's men packing from South Africa, although a high-scoring draw could still seal qualification depending on the result of the other Group C clash between USA and Algeria.

Aston Villa midfielder James Milner is also included on the right wing in Capello's starting XI. He replaces former Leeds team-mate Aaron Lennon, who drops to the bench.

At the back, Matthew Upson fills in for the suspended Jamie Carragher and David James keeps his place in goal after replacing Robert Green for the disappointing draw with Algeria.