Italy target Ireland & Australia at RWC 2011 World Cup Centre 2011

Italy's coach Nick Mallet says that he is aiming for Italy to reach their first ever Rugby World cup Quarter final next year in New Zealand.

English born but generally considered to be South African Mallet coached the Springboks to 17 record equaling victories in 1998 is well respected in the rugby world cup but faces a stiff challenge as Italy have never made it out of the group stages.

Italy have been making progress under Mallet and are no longer considered "easy beats" in the Six Nations.

Mallett's predecessor Pierre Berbizier started the Italian surge and his Italy team threatened Scotland in the last Rugby world cup but failed to beat the Scots and were knocked out of the world cup.

Italy have been pooled at the 2011 Rugby World cup with Australia and Ireland which makes Mallet's task even more daunting.

"After three years of work I know the players and the ambience well," he told RTE from the team's pre-season training base in Valle d'Aosta.

"I think it is very important that Benetton (Treviso) and Viadana (Aironi) have been accepted into the Magners League because it will allow many players to play at a higher level, the fruits of which will be seen in several years."

Despite the Italian resurgence Italy have not yet taken a TriNations scalp but they will play three internationals against Southern Hemisphere opposition in November.

One of those November Internationals will be against Australia, on November 20 in Florence. They will also play Argentina, on the 13th of November in Verona, and finish with a clash against Fiji, in Modena on the 27th of November.

Two years ago not long after Mallet took over they lost to both Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islanders but last year they beat Samoa and lost New Zealand and South Africa.

"The Argentina match will give us the chance to get revenge for our last defeat against them, then there will be the excellent Australians and finally Fiji, who are just ahead of us in the world rankings," added Mallett.

"These will be crucial matches in the build-up to the World Cup."

Spain reaches semis after tense clash World Cup Centre

Spain has edged out Paraguay 1-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals at Ellis Park after both teams missed a penalty in the second half.

David Villa netted the winner on 83 minutes after a mostly static encounter as the Paraguayans looked to shut out Spain's passing game.

Paraguay's tail was up when Oscar Cardozo was hauled down in the box by Gerard Pique on 56 minutes, but Iker Casillas jumped to his left to save well.

A minute later, fortunes were reversed when David Villa broke into the box but went down very easily under the attentions of Antolin Alcaraz.

Drama ensued when Xabi Alonso stepped up to convert the penalty, but an encroachment by Spanish players running into the box meant it had to be retaken, and 'keeper Justo Villar dived left to save and keep out the ensuing rebounds.

But the game changed with Cesc Fabregas's introduction, subbed in for the out-of-sorts Fernando Torres, and combining with Andres Iniesta, proceeded to create the vital opening for Spain's winner.

Iniesta ran at the centre of Paraguay's backline, jinking past three defenders before feeding Pedro on the left, but the midfielder's shot cannoned off the post.

The rebound found Villa, who took a touch before firing the ball home, taking a touch off both posts before nestling into the back of the net.

Paraguay chased the game late on as Lucas Barrios charged down the flank and shot on sight, but Roque Santa Cruz's shot off the rebound was brilliantly pawed away by Casillas.


Static opening

Just 50 seconds into the game's opening period, Jonathan Santana had a chance for Paraguay but could only hit a tame shot at Casillas.

The attentions were firmly on the Spanish stopper who was nearly caught in possession as Nelson Valdez raced onto his attempted clearance to deflect it behind the line.

But the game opened up for Spain as Xavi found Villa on the byline, but the forward's cross inside the box was cut out.

Xavi then went for the spectacular with a spin-and-shoot, but his audacious volley dipped just over the crossbar.

Torres was having a wretched time on the right flank and the out-of-form striker was not able to create any headway in the attacking third.

He dinked a ball past his marker and looked for Villa in the box, but his cross floated harmlessly out of play.

Paraguay thought it was 1-0 to the good when Cardozo buried his shot from a deep cross, but was flagged offside. Replays suggest he was marginally behind the line.

Valdez ended the half with a barnstorming run with Carles Puyol struggling to contain him, but the forward's shot was blasted well over.

Spain: 1 (D Villa 83')

Paraguay: 0

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World Cup 2010: Joachim Loew hails 'incredible' Germany win over Argentina

Germany coach Joachim Loew hailed his side's "incredible" performance after seeing them defeat Argentina 4-0 to progress to the World Cup semi-finals.

Loew's side stunned the pre-tournament favourites with goals from midfielder Thomas Mueller, defender Arne Friedrich and two for striker Miroslav Klose.

"We really turned in an incredible showing," said Loew, whose side will now either face Spain or Paraguay.

"Scoring four goals against Argentina you have to say that that was class."

Germany took the lead as early as the third minute and managed to keep their opponent's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain quiet throughout.

And it was Germany's ability to limit the threat of world and European player of the year Messi that particularly pleased Loew.

"We closed down Messi very well - without resorting to fouls, so that was great," said Loew.

Germany led 1-0 at half-time but sealed victory with three second-half goals, proving as much as an attacking force as their star-studded opponents.

"We really stepped on the gas in the second half and played a liberated style of attacking football," added Loew.

"I have been proud of my team for a long time, not only today. We played some really great football in the second-half and the team has shown the will of champions.

"This result and the amount of goals we scored was almost unimaginable before the game."

The only blot on Germany's copybook was Mueller's first-half yellow card which sees him suspended for the semi-final.

"Everything went off superbly and to send Argentina packing 4-0, well, what can you say?," said Mueller.

"But we did it as a team and I can't pick out any individuals. We all pulled together for this and it's just great.

"It's insane to beat Argentina 4-0. It's hard to find the words for a result like that."

Man-of-the-match Bastian Schweinsteiger added: "That gives you goose bumps seeing the way people are celebrating at home.

"We may have to play Spain next - they're the best team in the world, in my view. But we're good enough, we believe in ourselves."

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Ghana heartbroken as penalties rescue Uruguay World Cup Centre

Uruguay has eliminated Ghana from the World Cup and moved into the semi-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout win after both teams drew 1-1 at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Sebastien Abreu calmly netted the winning penalty after Uruguay almost lost the match at the death of extra-time when Luis Suarez was sent off for handballing on the line, but Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick that would have sent Ghana through.

Fernando Muslera came to the fore to save John Mensah and Dominic Adiyah's penalties and despite Maxi Pereira's miss over the bar, Uruguay held on to win the shootout 4-2 and deny Ghana the first World Cup semi-final berth for an African team.

It was heartbreak for Gyan who missed what would have been the winning penalty in extra-time after Suarez blatantly handballed on the line as Ghana laid siege to the Uruguay goal.

Ghana had a header hacked off the line first by Muslera, before firing the ball straight back to be cleared off the line again, only by Suarez's flailing hands.

The referee issued a straight red card for the same offence for which Harry Kewell was sent off, ironically against Ghana, as a tearful Suarez left the field having seemingly cost his side the match at the death.

But one more twist came when Gyan stepped up for the penalty, ready to send Ghana through to the semi-finals, only to smack the ball against the crossbar as Suarez's pain turned visibly to relief on the touchline.

It capped a huge spell of pressure applied by Ghana at the tail-end of extra-time after Gyan headed over Steven Appiah's right wing cross, before a long throw found Kevin Prince Boateng, whose header also missed.

Uruguay will now meet the Netherlands in the Cape Town semi-final.


End to end

The second half had earlier been an end-to-end affair with both sides exchanging spells of superiority.

On 55 minutes, Jorge Fucile, who copped a brusing in the first half, was bungled over outside the box as Ghana conceded a free kick.

It proved incisive for Uruguay as Diego Forlan lined up and struck a majestic free kick which swerved in the air past Richard Kingson.

Forlan's goal cancelled out Sulley Muntari's stunning opener, after the Inter Milan midfielder marked his first tournament start with a magnificent strike in first-half injury time.

Turning in midfield, Muntari bent the ball from 35 yards past the flatfooted Muslera to send the partisan crowd into ecstasy.

Having conceded the equaliser, Ghana kept its head up as Gyan collected Boateng's pass to fire at Muslera, who spilled his catch, but Muntari could not finish from the rebound.

Mensah hit a weak header behind which Forlan latched onto before whipping a cross to Suarez whose volley failed to hit the target.

Suarez was put through minutes later only to be denied by a reflex Kingson save before the forward again headed at the 'keeper from a Forlan free kick.


Kingson's barrier

Ghana had 'keeper Kingson to thank for keeping it in the game in the first half with a string of saves.

Suarez put Kingson to the test on 10 minutes before Forlan rifled a free kick from distance, forcing an uncertain punch sent skywards from the 'keeper.

Edinson Cavani put Forlan free through the middle, who arrowed a shot wide of goal before Suarez brought out another save from Kingson just a minute later.

But Ghana broke free from the siege when, on 29 minutes, Isaac Vorsah's header missed by a hair's breadth from a corner, before Boateng counter-attacked to set up Asamoah Gyan, who also shot wide.

Boateng dinked a ball into Gyan's path four minutes later but Muslera cut out the forward's run.

Uruguay had already lost captain Diego Lugano when he was forced to withdraw on 37 minutes before Jorge Fucile was knocked out cold when leaping for a header.

The full-back landed painfully on his head and required medical attention after landing motionless on the floor.

But more pain was to follow for Uruguay when, in added time, Sulley Muntari turned in centre midfield to hit a swerving shot past the wrong-footed Muslera from 35 yards.

Ghana: 1 (S Muntari 45'+2, PENS:A Gyan, S Appiah, J Mensah [miss], D Adiyah [miss])

Uruguay 1 (D Forlan 55', PENS: D Forlan, M Victorino, A Scotti, M Pereira [miss], S Abreu)

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Netherlands stuns Brazil in Cup quarterfinals World Cup Centre

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - Don’t call the Dutch underachievers anymore.

Not after the way the Netherlands rallied to upset five-time champion Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals Friday.

After waking themselves up at halftime, the title that has eluded the Dutch for all these years is now just two wins away.

“For 45 minutes we went full throttle,” said Wesley Sneijder. “We were rewarded.”

One of the shortest players on the field, Sneijder put the Netherlands ahead in the 68th minute on a header — a thrill so huge he ran to a TV camera, tapped the lens and stuck his face in for a close up.

“It just slipped through from my bald head and it was a great feeling,” Sneijder said.

He was in the middle of the post-game party, too, as his teammates swarmed him when the final whistle blew. John Heitinga picked up Sneijder and slung him over his shoulder as Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a Brazil shirt in hand, leaped up and rubbed Sneidjer’s closely shaved head.

The result was a case of role reversal for both sides.

The top-ranked team in the world and one of the most impressive squads in the tournament until Friday, Brazil lost its composure after falling behind and defender Felipe Melo was ejected in the 73rd minute for stomping on the leg of Arjen Robben.

The Dutch made the championship match in 1974 and ’78, lost both, and rarely have lived up to their talent in other World Cups. They did this time, helped by an own goal off the head of unfortunate Felipe Melo that brought them into a 1-1 tie in the 53rd.

“I’m devastated. It was hard to see the players crying back there,” Felipe Melo said after emerging from the locker room.

“I have to apologize to the Brazilian fans. I came here thinking about giving Brazil the title, but I’m a human being. Everybody can make mistakes.”

He was almost the hero.

Robinho gave the Brazilians the lead on Felipe Melo’s brilliant low pass up the middle of the field that the striker put home with a low shot.

But the second half presented the unusual sight of the Brazilians scrambling wildly to find an equalizer.

It never came.

Instead, it was the Oranje and their fans doing the dancing as Brazil’s players lay on the turf.

Brazil also lost in the quarterfinals four years ago, falling to France 1-0. Former team captain Dunga was hired to coach the team after that defeat, despite having no previous managerial experience.

“We didn’t expect this,” he said. “We know that any World Cup match is about 90 minutes. In the first half we were able to play better and we weren’t able to maintain that rhythm in the second half.”

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