LAST SIXTEEN REVIEW

Brazil stated their claim for a sixth World Cup as they cruised past the fancied Chileans and into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win.

The Samba Kings put their South American cousins to the sword with three top quality goals while their other near neighbours Argentina also impressed with a 3-1 demolition of Mexico.

Elsewhere England were taken apart, in typically efficient style, by the old enemy and Uruguay sent the South Koreans packing thanks mostly to Luis Suarez, while Ghana kept African dreams alive. Japan departed by the most painful method of all - penalties - while Spain and the Netherlands did just enough to progress.

PERFORMANCE OF THE ROUND
Germany 4 - 1 England

It was billed as the tie of the round and for one set of fans it fulfilled all expectations as Germany destroyed England with a devastating 4-1 victory.

SHOCK OF THE ROUND
Lampard's goal that never was.

Germany started much the brighter and with assistance from a woeful English defence raced into a two goal lead. However after pulling one back through the head of Matthew Upson it appeared the Three Lions had clawed themselves back into the game when a looping effort from Frank Lampard clipped the bar and bounced at least six feet over the goal line before heading back up, hitting the bar and bouncing back down on the line.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer then showed everyone his uncanny Roy Carroll impression, grabbing the ball and launching it up field, more in hope than expectation, and suddenly the English players, fans and commentators realized the Uruguayan officials had failed to spot a certain goal. Lampard was gutted, Rooney was stunned and England never recovered. For Germany it was some long awaited sweet revenge for '66.

On the line? You cannot be serious!

GOAL OF THE ROUND

"...he's got an angle HEERRRE!"

South Korea had battled their way back into the game after Luis Suarez opportunistic eighth minute opener for Uruguay and were more than deserving of taking the South Americans into extra time.

However it wasn't to be for the Asian side as that man Suarez showed just why he scored 49 goals for Ajax last season. Picking up the ball at the side of the box he uses his quick feet to work a yard of space knocking the ball back towards the edge of the area before wrapping his foot around the ball and curling it a good mile around the despairing 'keeper and in off the post. Glorious.
Uruguay 2-1 South Korea

Simão | MySpace Video

PLAYER OF THE ROUND

Asamoah Gyan, Ghana
Perhaps something of a controversial choice but the Ghanaian's third goal of the tournament against the USA sent the whole of Africa into wild celebrations and his outstanding effort in the lone striker role was essentially what pulled Ghana into the quarter finals.

He ran tirelessly and never shirked a tackle against the big American backline even after getting kicked in the chest. While all and sundry were expecting the Americans to finally break African hearts as the game went into extra time, Gyan continued to chase every ball before finally getting his reward when he latched onto a hopeful long ball and fired past the on-rushing Tim Howard. Great effort, great finish, great performance.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger's showing Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard how to marshal the midfield, David Villa putting Torres in his place after being left in the shade at Euro 2008 and finally the Brazilians, who just make it look oh so easy.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS MONDAY 28 JUNE

Holland v Slovakia

Slovakia have surprised a few people to have got through their group, especially after going into their last group match against Italy with only one point. The Dutch have been in cruise control so far, but I think they'll have a difficult afternoon.

MATCH PREDICTION: Holland 2-1 Slovakia

Brazil v Chile

Chile had Spain rattled for the first 20 minutes last Friday and will be good enough to give Brazil a tough game. It's difficult to see anything beyond a victory for the Samba Stars though.

MATCH PREDICTION: Brazil 1-0 Chile

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS FRIDAY 25 JULY

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Portugal 1-1 Brazil

Brazil will want to top Group G and even though they will probably rest some players, there won't be any slip-ups here. A draw will satisfy both teams' requirements, and therefore it's a logical outcome.

North Korea 2-2 Ivory Coast

I always expected the North Koreans to get a point somewhere, and this is their last chance. Apparently their footware was the problem against Portugal, which is a shame because their spirited display against Brazil should be an abiding memory of this World Cup. An entertaining draw to end with here.

Chile 1-1 Spain

Spain are going to have a hell of a scare today but my gut tells me they will sneak through. The other result will go their way and get them off the hook. Group H on this last day has 'squeaky bum time' written all over it.

Switzerland 0-1 Honduras

The Central American outfit are too good to exit this tournament with nothing and will win here, causing the Swiss much anguish at a failed opportunity when they see the result in the other game.

PORTUGAL FIND THEIR FORM TO PUT SEVEN PAST NORTH KOREA

A rampant Portugal side dispatched North Korea from the World Cup with a ruthless second half display this afternoon.

Carlos Queiroz's men led by just one goal at half time as the plucky North Koreans did their best to take something from the fixture.

After the interval Portugal looked like a changed side and Cristiano Ronaldo finally found some space to make things happen.

Portugal got their second in the 53rd minute and that was the signal for the floodgates to not just open, but collapse, as the Koreans shipped a further five goals on their way out of the tournament.

After the Ivory Coast's loss to Brazil last night Portugal were well aware their qualification from the group could come down to goal difference and that showed in the second half of the game.

Despite the Europeans taking a 23rd minute lead through Raul Meireles, North Korea put in an impressive effort, forcing Portugese 'keeper Eduardo into a couple of good stops.

However after the break every changed with the North Koreans appearing unable to continue their tiring running to chase the ball down that gave them such a respectable start to the tournament against Brazil.

Two goals in three minutes from Simao and Hugo Almeida put the game beyond the Koreans with less than an hour played. When former Chelsea midfielder Tiago added a fourth on the hour mark fans were left wandering how many.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar with a magnificent effort before substitue Liedson capitalised on a defence error to fire home with his first touch of the game. Ronaldo finally got his goal two minutes from time after a fortunate deflection off his own head allowed him to tap into an empty net and Tiago grabbed his second to complete the rout just 60 seconds later.

With a nine goal and three point advantage over Ivory Coast it will take a stunning turn of events in the last round of group games for Portugal not to qualify for the last sixteen but when you're playing Brazil, anything can happen.

KAKA CONTROVERSY MARS SAMBA KINGS VICTORY

Brazil's qualification for the knockout stages was cast under a dark cloud as Kaka was controversially sent off late on in their 3-1 victory over the Ivroy Coast.

Luis Fabiano opened the scoring in the first half with a fantastic finish from a tight angle, powerfully finding the top corner after latching onto Kaka's through ball.

The first moment of controversy came with Fabiano's second when he twice appeared to handle the ball in the build up to what was otherwise a sublime individual goal.

Brazil added a third when Kaka again supplied a perfect ball for Elano to tap home, Didier Drogba then pulled one back for the African side before the Brazilian playmaker was controversially sent off for a second bookable offence.

A good performance from the five times World Champions saw them cruise past Sven-Goran Eriksson's Ivory Coast side without ever having to find top gear. However two classy goals from Luis Fabiano and a tap in from Elano are simply the side story to the most controversial moment of the tournament so far.

After receiving a first yellow card for a petty argument with Barcelona star Yaya Toure over a disputed free-kick, just three minutes later Kaka was shown a second yellow and a red one to go with it. An off-the-ball incident picked up by none of the commentators on TV or radio had left substitute Kader Keita on the ground and sparked a furious reaction from his teammates.

With Kaka appearing to flee the scene of the crime the attentions turned to the TV replays as the officials attempted to restore order on the pitch. Replays showed Kaka had, perhaps intentionally, blocked off Keita's run but the minimal contact brought out an exceptional reaction from the winger.

Whilst Keita writhed in 'agony', clutching his face and rolling on the floor, the referee, despite not seeing the incident, decided Kaka was to blame and duly trotted across the pitch to give the Real Madrid star his marching orders.

The incident reeks of irony for Brazil and those who can remember as far back as the 2002 World Cup will remember why. Rivaldo's disgraceful theatrics when a ball was kicked at him with a little extra sauce in a match against Turkey saw his opponents undeservedly reduced to ten men as the shocked Hakan Unsal was sent from the pitch.

Rivaldo was clearly struck on the knee and yet threw himself to the floor clutching his face. The Brazilian legend was fined for his actions but refused to apologize, saying, "I'm calm about the punishment, and I am not sorry about anything. I was both the victim and the person who got fined."

Ironically for the Ivory Coast Keita's theatrics mean that their qualification rivals Portugal will face a notably weakened Brazil side at arguably the most crucial stage of the tournament.


Rivaldo's dive against Turkey. (2002 World Cup)

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS SUNDAY 20 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Slovakia 1-2 Paraguay

Paraguay have an excellent chance to win Group F and avoid a possible clash with Holland in the first knock-out round. They'll sneak this one.

Italy 3-0 New Zealand

The World Champions will take a big step to Round 2 with a routine victory here.

Brazil 1-1 Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast impressed me in the their first game and I think they can get something from this. I've backed them to get out of Group G.

BIG NAMES FLATTER TO DECIEVE AS FIRST ROUND OF FIXTURES DRAWS TO A CLOSE

So with just twenty minutes or so left until South Africa play their second game of the tournament we have little time left to reflect on the opening round of fixtures, although maybe we shouldn't look back for too long.

It's not much to look at after all, most of the talk has been about the lack of action and excitement. With just two games containing more than two goals and Germany the only team to bag more than a brace, the competition has been somewhat bereft of world class football.

Some blame the ball, some blame the altitude, most blame the Vuvuzelas. But as far as I can see it's been a case of the big boys not playing well and the underdogs giving all they've got. The biggest surprise undoubtedly came in the final match of the first round of fixtures as Gelson Fernandes converted the ugliest goal in World Cup history to help his Swiss friends secure a shock victory over bookies favourites Spain.

Previously France, England, Portugal and Italy had all failed to win their opening games while Brazil and Argentina had looked unimpressive in victory. It was the unfancied Germans who stole the show with their four-nil demolition of Australia.

However the series of results has provided one of the most open World Cups in recent history with nobody written off as possible qualifiers for the last sixteen. In fact underdogs such as South Korea, Slovenia and Japan could secure qualification for the knockout stages with victory in their second games. While lowly New Zealand and North Korea put up spirited performances against Slovakia and Brazil respectively to prove there are no easy games at the World Cup.

Perhaps there's one thing that we always fail to remember about football; It's totally unpredictable. But we'll never stop trying to predict it.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS TUESDAY JUNE 15

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

New Zealand 1-4 Slovakia

Goals will in abundance in this one, and Slovakia will get their campaign off to a flyer.

Ivory Coast 3-1 Portugal

This is a fascinating one, and I think both teams will go for broke. They both know Brazil await them, so yes, they could play out a bore draw but an early goal will set the scene for an entertaining game. The tournament needs another big performance from an African team and I think it'll happen here.

Brazil 1-1 North Korea

OK, at least you can't accuse us of making boring predictions! I just have a feeling in the old bones about this one. The easiest games on paper can often be the hardest ones on the pitch. North Korea to get the world talking with no mention of Great Leaders or nuclear arms.

NANI OUT AS WORLD CUP CURSE STRIKES AGAIN

Manchester United and Portugal winger Nani is the latest player to fall victim to an emerging World Cup curse, after being ruled out of the showpiece event.

Portugal confirmed the news in a team statement saying, "After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup."

The 23 year-old suffered a shoulder injury in training on Friday and tests have confirmed he will not be fit for the tournament.

England skipper Rio Ferdinand has already been ruled out of the World Cup while Côte d'Ivoire captain Didier Drogba is touch and go after suffering a broken arm in a warm-up game against Japan. The African nations have suffered badly with injuries with Drogba's club mates John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien having been ruled out of action for Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

The fitness of Dutch winger Arjen Robben remains a major concern for Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk after the Bayern Munich winger limped out of his side's 6-1 win over Hungary last week.

However it is better news for Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios who has been passed fit to play, as has Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Initial fears that both would be unable to make the tournament have proven unfounded.

SELECTION HEADACHES

There's no denying it, we may be thirty days from the start of the tournament but South Africa 2010 is well and truly in full swing.

With squads being announced left, right and centre there is talking point after talking point arising from all corners of the globe and believe it or not there's the odd metatarsal raising it's ugly head, or toe as the case may be.

It seems that South Africa will be a World Cup that will make new international superstars rather than showcasing the ones we are already familiar with. Maradona kicked things off by giving Argentina fans something of a head scratcher as he left out not one, not two, but three big names in his provisional squad.

The legend has left the trio of Javier Zanetti, Fernando Gago and Esteban Cambiasso without a seat on the plane to South Africa. In an apparent catching trend Ronaldinho has been omitted by the Brazilians, Ruud van Nistelrooy overlooked by the Dutch, Luca Toni and Francesco Totti ignored by the Azzuri and Patrick Vieira left out of the France squad.

That crazy Raymond Domenech has also left out Arsenal's Samir Nasri and decided that Real Madrid's £30 million striker Karim Benzema is not one of the top eight French strikers with the twenty-two year old told to take a holiday somewhere other than South Africa this summer.

In other news, Mexico have named just five midfielders in a thirty man squad and New Zealand have selected two men who don't have clubs.

On the home front it's somewhat less surprising that there is no Michael Owen in the England squad and for injury reasons David Beckham has also missed out. However don't think Fabio Capello has it all that easy, since naming Rio Ferdinand the new England captain the Manchester United defender has struggled to string two games together while there are strong whispers that John Terry has done his metatarsal (that's a toe to us simpletons).

The first choice replacement is Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King, a man who has such injury problems that he doesn't train for the Premier League outfit, but admittedly it doesn't seem to effect his performances on the pitch. King was an integral part of Spurs successful charge to fourth place this season and you'd bet your house on him to put his career on the line for the cause.

Other backups in the centre back position are the untried Michael Dawson, the uninspiring Matty Upson and the un-retired Jamie Carragher all of whom would have to string together an immediate understanding to give England some leadership at the back.

When is this tournament over? I've already got a headache.

PLAYER FOCUS: ROBINHO

Without a doubt one of the most naturally gifted Brazilian goalscorers of his generation, Róbson de Souza, known to his friends as Robinho, has never been far from the headlines.

At the age of just 15 he was singled out by none other than Pele himself as the successor to the great man's crown. A heavy burden to carry you might think, but Robinho was to take it all in his stride. At the age of just 17 the youngster led his hometown team, Santos, to their first league title since Pele himself wore the Santos shirt some twenty years previous.

Some 60 goals and another league title later and Europe's elite started to take notice of the emerging star. It was that most illustrious of clubs that eventually secured a deal, Spanish giants Real Madrid. A fee of 24 million Euros took the twenty-year-old to Spain and kick-started another chapter in his career.

A tumultuous time of injuries and disagreements saw Robinho's first team appearances restricted at Real and, despite his talent, it was clear that after three seasons in Spain his future lay elsewhere.

With Chelsea the expected destination a summer of transfer shenanigans took place in 2008 with the London club keen to get a good deal on a player that Real wanted to sell. With the deal expected to go down until deadline day 'The Blues' were prepared to bide their time; it turned out that the Brazilian, however, was not.

Meanwhile in Manchester, the Citizens were keen on signing a striker to demonstrate their new found wealth and announce themselves on the world stage. Their target was Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov, but when neighbours Manchester United poached the Bulgarian from under their noses the City executives frantically scoured the globe for a fitting alternative.

Within minutes a deal was done to sign Robinho and with Chelsea caught on their heels Robinho duly made his desired move to England and became the most expensive player in British football, at a cost of £32.5million.

As if it were fate his debut came against none other than Chelsea. The Brazilian didn't disappoint as he curled home a free-kick to put the Citizens ahead. The Londoners ran out eventual winners but Robinho had done his job and showcased his ability to the Premier League.

However, just like at Madrid, it would once again turn sour. An influx of strikers at Eastlands saw a stuttering Robinho drop down the pecking order and, what with it being a World Cup year, the inevitable happened, he left.

In search of first team football to enhance his international chances he returned on loan to his boyhood club, Santos. The twenty-six-year-old once again announced himself in style, scoring a backheel goal late in his debut against Sáo Pauloto secure a tense victory for the Peixe.

This summer Robinho will be looking to add to his 71 caps and will have to be on top form to help his country through the Group of Death that contains Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast side, along with minnows North Korea.

All you can say is that when the pressure is on, Robinho tends to deliver.


Apologies for the poor video quality

SPAIN TOP RANKINGS AS ENGLAND CLIMB AGAIN

The announcement of the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings has seen European Champions Spain retain top spot ahead of Brazil and the Netherlands.

The top three remain unchanged for the fifth successive month, since November 2009, but the rest of the top ten saw some considerable action this month.

Former World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has seen his Portugal side move up two places to fourth at the expense of defending World Champions Italy and three-time winners Germany who both drop a place to fifth and sixth respectively.

Meanwhile Fabio Capello's England climbed the rankings for the second successive month as they jumped one place to seventh with France dropping down to eighth.

Croatia re-entered the top ten just behind Argentina who are unmoved in ninth, while Australia have now broken into the top twenty after moving up four places to 19th.

This summer's hosts South Africa, have fallen seven places to 88th.

This month's biggest gainers were Senegal who climbed an impressive 22 places to 72nd whilst the biggest losers were Guam who fell 14 places to 196.

Full FIFA World Rankings here.