The quarter finals are well and truly here ... and unlike the UEFA Champions League, which seemed to take forever, the World Cup is buzzing past like a speeding vuvuzela! Here are the matches you have to look forward to, as well as some highlights from the reporters and public. Everyone's got an opinion ... today we check out some of them!
World Cup quarter finals match: Argentina vs Germany
Argentina: 2.2 - 2.38
Germany: 3.0 - 3.4
The statistics are in Argentina's favour for this match. Will the big blondies finally be knocked out of the competition? The Aussies and English would certainly be glad to see that ... but the odds tell us that it will be a close call.
World Cup quarter finals match: Paraguay vs Spain
Paraguay: 8.0 - 9.0
Spain: 1.46 - 1.53
These two teams have met only three times before, with Spain winning one encounter and two draws. Commenters are reminding us to remember that the Netherlands beat Brazil ... so this could actually be a nice little earner for those will to put a bit down on Paraguay! Spain has not lost to South American opposition in the World Cup since 1986. Will this be a record-making match?
Reporter's Cup
There's been some pretty interesting sideshows at the World Cup over the past couple of days! Pot, Paris Hilton, and pending retirements - here are the gory details.
- Javier Aguirre has quit as the coach of Mexico's national team, after Argentina ousted the Mexicans in the round of 16. It's the fifth successive time that Mexico has made it to the Round of 16, but not past it.
- Arjen Robben's 'clever corner routine' didn't go down too well ... he's being advised to either not attempt that sort of thing, or at least get it right!
- Paris Hilton was arrested outside Nelson Mandela Stadium for possession of marijuana. Bummer, dudette.
Who'll win the 2010 World Cup?
How long is a piece of string? We don't really know the answer to either question ... but we do know who the bookies reckon will win World Cup 2010. Since we missed out a few :
Argentina 4.50 - 4.75
Germany 6.25 - 7.0
Holland 3.0 - 3.25
Paraguay 41.0 - 56.0
Spain 3.25 - 3.25
Uruguay 9.0 - 13.0
Tweeter's Cup
You can certainly not dispute that soccer stirs the emotions, both for the shirt-headed, screaming, crying players and coaches ... and the fans! We get to experience the fans' emotions I writing though, through the (black?!) magic of Twitter:
--- MerinBenjamin: Felipe Melo shouldn't have lost it.. #World cup not the same without ma Brazil now :( :(
-- MayhemtheMC: Ghana & Brazil Lost today :( disappointed #world cup
Jul 2, 2010 10:53 PM GMT
--- jasaretta: This habit of choreographed dancing after a goal at the #world cup really needs to stop.
--- DeganeS: GYAN! what a miss #world cup #gha #uru SUAREZ what a gesture! he took one for the team, anyone would have done the same thing in situation
--- emjaymaxwell: It's a shame that all the good teams are being sent home #world cup