Soccer Updates can now tell you it’s official, Germany play England on Sunday for a place in the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup 2010. A great half volley outside the box from M. Özil in the 60th minute was enough to put Germany through to the last 16 as the Group D Winners and worthy winners they were as Germany looked a tight outfit and a hard team to beat in this match. The Germans march on but will the English be able to stop them, Sunday will tell the story.

In the other match Australia beat Serbia 2 goals to one to deny Serbia that second spot so Ghana go into the last 16 where they will play the U.S.A on Saturday. Australia went 2-0 up with goals from T. Cahill in the 69th minute and B. Holman in the 73rd. Serbias hopes were raised with a late goal from M. Pantelic in the 84th minute and when they scored a minute later it was celebration time until the referee blew for offside in a really tight decision. So Serbia and Australia both go home but we at Soccer Updates thank them for some great soccer.

World Cup Today »

	Slovenia - England 10:00AM US/Eastern (04:00PM South Africa local)
	USA - Algeria 10:00AM US/Eastern (04:00PM South Africa local)
	Ghana - Germany 02:30PM US/Eastern (08:30PM South Africa local)
	Australia - Serbia 02:30PM US/Eastern (08:30PM South Africa local)

Soccer Updates knew that Argentina were through to the next round but any of the other 3 could make the last 16 and it looked like Nigeria would make it as they went ahead in the 12th minute goal by K. Uche. Just before half-time J. Lee popped in to make it 1-1 and when C. Park made it 2-1 in the 49th minute things were looking good for Korea. A. Yakubu made it 2-2 with a penalty in the 69th minute but Korea held on bravely and as Greece got beat 2-0 Korea go marching into the last 16.

Meanwhile soccer updates just couldn’t believe the tactics of Greece, you need to win so what do you do, you play 10 people back in defence, totally crazy. Argentina faced a brick wall as Messi was man marked and even though Greece knew they wouldn’t qualify they still kept 10 men back as if it was a result to draw 0-0 with Argentina but go out, totally pathetic. Luckily in the 77th minute M. Demichelis hit a shot in the area, it hit his team mate rebounded back to him and M. Demichelis smacked it hard and high into the roof of the net. In the 85th minute little Messi beat two players and hit a stunning shot onto the post. Maradonna brought on the 36 year old M. Palermo and when he slid a lovely shot past the keepper in the 89th minute both Maradonna and soccer updates let out a roar. Greece should hang their heads in shame and we at soccer updates can only say good riddance. So in the last 16 Argentina now play Mexico and Korea play Uruguay, this World Cup 2010 is now starting to get better.

Today saw the final 2 matches in Group A and soccer updates just had a funny feeling that France would be spending the rest of June on a bus tour around Paris. But who was going to win Group A and who was going to qualify, we all thought Uruguay and Mexico but that was until South Africa went 2-0 up against France with goals from B. Khumalo in the 20th minute and K. Mphela in the 37th minute. Y. Gourcuff got sent off in the 26th minute and when Uruguay went 1-0 up against Mexico with a 43rd minute goal from L. Suarez the South African crowd began to think that just maybe if they could score and Uruguay could score another they would get a miracle and get into the last 16, alas a French goal in the 70th minute by F. Malouda spoilt that dream, typical French spoiling things.

So soccer updates can tell you that Uruguay and Mexico have qualified from Group A and it’s looking very likely that Mexico will be playing Argentina in a repeat of the knockout stage 4 years ago when Argentina beat Mexico. But bad luck on South Africa and as my Old Gran used to say watch out because what goes around comes around and for the cheating French it did, does soccer updates feel sorry for France, hell no. !!

Soccer Updates like everyone else enjoyed the Portugal match and to think it was only 1-0 at half-time thanks to a goal from R. Meireles in the 29th minute. Soccer Updates wants to know exactly what the Portugal manager gave them to drink during the break because I want some. The poor Koreans looked liked rabbits in the headlights as Portugal went on to bombard Korea in what looked like shooting in practice for Portugal. Simao in the 53rd minute, H. Almeida just 3 minutes later, Tiago just 4 minutes after that and soccer updates were thinking will we see a 10-0 world cup match. Liedson made it 5-0 in the 81st minute and in the 88th minute C. Ronaldo scored a cheeky little goal as a pass hit the back of his neck, Ronaldo flicked it onto his head, down to his feet and wham in it went for 6-0 and as Ronaldo looked to the bench the legend Eusebio gave him the thumbs up sign. Tiago made it 7-0 in the 89th minute and we at soccer updates like you can’t wait for the Brazil vs Portugal match to see who tops this Group.

In the second match of the day soccer updates watched a dull affair as the Swiss tried to increase their record of not conceding a goal in the world cup and it looked like 0-0 until M. Gonzalez spoiled their record with a 75th minute goal. Spain and the Swiss are both now on 3 points each going into the final match but who will reach that elusive last 16, we will have to wait and see.

And what a great end to our world cup matches with Spain hitting their best free flowing soccer style again and no way was this Honduras side going to stop the Spanish Armada setting sail. I actually didn’t recognise Torres when he came out with his hair cut and back to black, we thought it was his younger brother but tonight proved one thing to soccer updates, David Villa is by far a better striker than Torres. D. Villa scored a fantastic goal where he turned and just roofed it into the net to put Spain ahead in the 17th minute and it was D. Villa that made it 2-0 in the 51st minute. Torres was substituted near the end and he was not a happy bunny but it was his own fault as he missed at least 2 clear chances. Soccer Updates thought D. Villa was going to get a hat-trick as he stepped up to take a penalty in the 62nd minute but he missed. Now Spain face Chile and Switzerland play Honduras. Chile look home and hosed on 6 points but who will get the other spot with both Spain and the Swiss on 3 points a piece, we at soccer updates feel Switzerland have the easier match so will Spain be going home, watch this space.