Highlights Copa America 2015 Final: Chile vs Argentina 4-1

Copa America Highlights: Uruguay 1 Paraguay 1 & Argentina 1 Jamaica 0

Argentina defeated Jamaica 1-0 securing first place in its Copa America group. Striker Gonzalo Higuain scored an 11th-minute winner for the title favorites, which had already secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the South American tournament.

Uruguay failed to convert a host of chances as they were held by Paraguay, but a 1-1 draw was enough to see them into the quarterfinals of the Copa America.

Highlights: Brazil 2 Argentina 0

Highlights: Italy 2 Netherlands 0, France 1 Spain 0, Argentina 4 Germany 2 & England 1 Norway 0

Italy 2 Netherlands 0

France 1 Spain 0

Argentina 4 Germany 2

England 1 Norway 0

Highlights: Argentina 0 (4) - (2) 0 Netherlands

Argentina are just 90 minutes away from lifting the World Cup in the Maracana after they edged past the Netherlands on penalties in Wednesday's semifinal at the Arena Corinthians. After an uneventful and goalless 120 minutes, the match went to a penalty shootout in Sao Paulo.

Argentina did not miss once and Sergio Romero saved from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder, meaning Alejandro Sabella's team clinched the showdown 4-2.

Argentina will now face Germany in Sunday's World Cup final at the Maracana -- the spiritual home of their fierce rivals Brazil, who were brutally knocked out by Germany on Tuesday night.

The last time the Argentines made it through to the final in 1990, they lost to the Germans. They also met in the 1986 final, which Argentina won. Germany will take encouragement from watching this performance from Sabella's side.

Germany, who battered Brazil 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, will take encouragement from watching this performance from Sabella's side.

Lionel Messi scored one of the penalty kicks, but he was otherwise quiet and Argentina failed to impress all night.

Louis van Gaal did well to snuff out Messi during normal time, but his team were also devoid of ideas in attack.

Van Gaal will now take charge of the Netherlands in Saturday's third-place play-off against the hosts before flying to England to take over at Manchester United.

The Dutchman may regret deciding against bringing on Tim Krul, who saved two penalties against Costa Rica in the previous round, as Jasper Cillessen was easily beaten from 12 yards.

After a mad opening half an hour in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, both teams started cautiously on a cold night.

Messi drilled a low free-kick right at Cillessen and Ezequiel Garay headed just over for Argentina, but nothing else of note happened in the first period.

After the break, Argentina briefly upped the tempo. Vlaar blocked Messi as he advanced towards goal and substitute Daryl Janmaat denied Gonzalo Higuain.

Nigel de Jong, a surprise starter, was struggling to keep up with the game and he came off for Jordy Klasie with 28 minutes left.

Lucas Biglia and Janmaat both needed treatment after sliding into each other in a nasty challenge that made Argentina coach Sabella wince on the touchline.

There was no inkling of a goal until the final minute of normal time when Enzo Perez dashed down the right and delivered a pinpoint low cross to Higuain, who turned the ball inches wide.

The Argentina fans who saw the net ripple thought they had finally seen a goal, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

That proved to be Higuain's last contribution as he was replaced by Sergio Aguero. Sabella also threw on Rodrigo Palacio to boost his attack.

A few errant tackles started flying in as the game became sloppy. Martin Demichelis, already on a booking, took out Robben but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

All of a sudden the Netherlands were presented with a chance to win the game.

Sneijder glanced a diagonal pass into the path of Robben, but luckily for Argentina, Mascherano came to the rescue and the game went to extra time.

In the 98th minute, the Netherlands mustered their first shot on target, an effort from Robben that flew into Romero's hands.

In his final substitution, Van Gaal brought Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on for Robin van Persie, meaning Krul would not be allowed on for the inevitable penalty shootout.

Cillessen jangled the nerves of the Netherlands fans when he performed an audacious turn to wriggle away from the advancing Aguero at the start of the second half of extra time.

Sabella was incensed with Palacio when he tried -- and failed -- to head over Cillessen from 10 yards in the dying minutes of extra time.

Dirk Kuyt fluffed a good chance at the other end and the match went to penalties.

Romero saved straight away from Vlaar. Messi, Garay and Aguero found the net while Romero saved to his right from Sneijder.

Dirk Kuyt slotted the Netherlands' fourth penalty away, but Maxi Rodriguez then beat Cillessen to send Argentina through to the final.

Preview: Argentina vs Netherlands

Argentina vs. Netherlands 

Kickoff: 1.30 am Sri Lankan Time

Stadium: Corinthians, Sao Paulo

 Entering Wednesday's semifinal, Argentina has a chance to return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990, having already surpassed the quarterfinals stage where its campaign was halted in three of the last four tournaments. It will face the Netherlands, whom it famously dispatched in the 1978 finals, 3-1.

The winner will take on Germany, who destroyed Brazil 7-1 on Tuesday.

Netherlands striker Robin van Persie may miss the World Cup semi-final after struggling with a stomach complaint.

But midfielder Nigel de Jong could feature after recovering from a groin injury, which was expected to rule him out for the rest of the tournament.

Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is out because of a thigh injury but may return in his country's final match.

Striker Sergio Aguero is available after a thigh problem and left-back Marcos Rojo will return after a ban.

Dutch injury doubts Ron Vlaar and Leroy Fer took part in full training on Tuesday, but Van Persie trained away from his team-mates.

In a 1-0 win over Belgium, Argentina showed its defensive mettle by impeding chance after chance against all of Belgium's weapons. It wasn't so much keeper Sergio Romero as it was the back four, including central defenders Ezequiel Garay and Martin Demichelis, who served as the wall in front of Romero. It's equally as important to note that Argentina's eighth-minute goal scorer wasn't Lionel Messi. Instead it was Gonzalo Higuain who struck first, signifying that while the team may be built around Messi, it can survive without his scoring brilliance (at least for one day). 

Van Gaal seems to be putting on a personal showcase of his tactical genius at this World Cup that must have Manchester United fans rubbing their hands with glee.

His game-changing decisions have been the difference as they have struggled to match their stunning start to the tournament with that incredible win over Spain.

Few would have predicted they would be one game away from reaching a second successive final, but Van Gaal's unorthodox and inspired decision to bring on goalkeeper Tim Krul for the penalty shootout with Costa Rica increased his reputation as football's master tactician.

Argentina will certainly be without Angel Di Maria (leads his team with 25 shots), who injured his right thigh in the first half against Belgium. Di Maria's absence leaves Messi even more vulnerable to ceaseless man-marking from the Dutch side. Striker Sergio Aguero should return from an injury to his thigh, and perhaps we might see Maxi Rodriguez in place of Di Maria, but needless to say, this puts more pressure on Messi to elude defenders, attack in tight areas, and faciliate.

Goals were scored at a feverish pace during the group stages, while teams have shored up leaky backlines thus far in the elimination rounds (save for, of course, Brazil's abomination on Tuesday). Even though Wednesday's match features the sublime talents of Messi and Robben, don't expect anything other than a one-goal difference, either way. Argentina must also be wary of some late Dutch magic as it's fostered three comeback wins thus far in the World Cup.

Highlights: Argentina 1 Belgium 0

Argentina booked their place in the World Cup semifinals after a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Brasilia.

Argentina were ahead after only eight minutes, Gonzalo Higuain smashing home on the turn as the ball bounced up on the edge of the area, and proceeded to dominate the first half.

The Napoli striker should have added to his tally early in the second half when, after going clean through on goal, he saw his shot clip the top of the crossbar.

The Red Devils tried to force an equaliser but, other than a couple of aerial opportunities, struggled to create clear chances for much of the game.

Romelu Lukaku looked to have made space in the area deep into injury time but they could not take advantage as Alejandro Sabella's side progressed.

Preview & Predicted Lineup: Argentina vs Belgium

Argentina vs Belgium

Saturday, July 5, 2014 

Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

Kick-off: 9.30 pm Sri Lankan Time 

Between them, Argentina and Belgium have almost as much attacking depth as every other side in the quarterfinals combined. From Lionel Messi to Eden Hazard, both sides have an embarrassment of riches up top, making it even more disappointing that these teams have failed to entertain in Brazil so far. They've both turned out abject and impotent performances, and have made it this far through individual brilliance and brute force, respectively.

Hopefully things will be a little more exciting when these sides face off over a place in the semifinals on Saturday. If their attacks finally click into place, we'll no doubt see a game filled with goals. If they don't, we could see another penalty shootout.

Argentina are without left-back Marcos Rojo after he was yellow-carded, for the second time, in the win over Switzerland in the previous round.

Jose Basanta is his expected replacement.

Sergio Agüero is still out but has returned to training annd could be available if Argentina reach the semi-finals.

Belgium's Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen could be available and may replace Daniel van Buyten or Jan Vertonghen.

Vincent Kompany is fit but Mousa Dembélé is nursing a thigh problem and remains a doubt.

The big question is whether Romelu Lukaku or Divock Origi will start in attack.

Lukaku made a change when he was introduced in the previous round against the United States.

Both teams have disappointed and, many believe, are due big performances, which makes this a potentially fascinating contest.

With Lionel Messi, Argentina can win the World Cup for the first time since 1986 having reached their fourth quarter-final in five tournaments, but having got no further in the previous three.

Belgium are in their 12th finals but only their second quarter-final, and will believe they can sniff the last four for the first time since 1986.

Highlights: Argentina 1 Switzerland 0

Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute as Argentina scraped past Switzerland and booked their place in the World Cup quarterfinals.

In a first half of few chances, Josip Drmic spurned the clearest opening after he was put through by Xherdan Shaqiri only to see his attempted lob easily gathered by goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The second half brought a marked improvement, and Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio had to make smart saves from Marcos Rojo, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi as Alejandro Sabella's side sought to seize control, but the match went to extra time.

Fatigue was evident from that point on but Benaglio continued to impress, making strong saves from Ezequiel Garay and Di Maria, until the Real Madrid man slotted home in the dying moments from Messi's assist.

Blerim Dzemaili hit the post in injury time and then diverted the ball wide when it bounced back off his leg as Argentina held on to progress.

Preview: Argentina vs Switzerland

Argentina vs Switzerland

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 

Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Kick-off: 9.30 pm Sri Lankan Time
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).

Lionel Messi has thus far provided a most convincing response to heavy pressure for a memorable performance on the World Cup stage. Now he will surely be hoping that a few more of his teammates can do likewise. In his third World Cup, Messi has for the first time matched the extraordinary heights he has reached regularly with Barcelona that made him a four-time World Player of the Year. With four of Argentina’s six goals in the group stage, he has emphatically carried his country’s hopes for a first World Cup since the Diego-Maradona-inspired triumph in 1986. 

While Argentina will be looking for more Messi heroics, their opponents will be hoping that the man dubbed the “Alpine Messi” can inspire a famous upset. Xherdan Shaqiri is already in his second World Cup at the age of just 22, and last Wednesday made a big statement of his long-known talent with a hat-trick in the 3-0 dismissal of Switzerland. It was the first match in which the Bayern Munich man was handed a central role behind a strike from the start and he flourished.

With other exciting young players like Granit Xhaka and Josip Drmic also making positive impressions thus far, Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side certainly have plenty going for them in attack. The problem has been at the back. A shambolic 5-2 defeat to France in which they trailed 5-0 until late was a chastening experience for an inexperienced team with high expectations.

Argentina miss Sergio Agüero so Ezequiel Lavezzi will deputise again in a three-man attack.

Switzerland, last in the quarter-finals in 1954 - when they hosted the tournament - are without Steve von Bergen, injured against France, and Mario Gavranovic, who suffered a serious knee injury in training on Saturday.

There can be no doutbing who the favourites are.

In six previous meetings Argentina have scored 14 goals including three last time out, in 2012, when Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win.

In theory it should also be a clean game; both sides have collected just one yellow card so far.

It may not be one-sided but with Messi present there can be only one winner.

Argentina (Possible, 4-3-3): Romero; Garay, Zabaleta, Rojo, Fernandez; Gago, Di Maria, Mascherano; Lavezzi, Higuain, Messi.

Switzerland (Possible, 4-4-2): Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Rodriguez, Djourou, Schaer; Inler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Behrami; Mehmedi, Drmic.

Preview & Predicted Lineups: Nigeria vs Argentina

Argentina and Nigeria are ready to settle Group F’s top spot as the Albiceleste would just need a draw to win the table whereas the same result would mathematically help the Nigerians qualify ahead of Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Albiceleste has been criticized for their lack of goals and for relying too much on Lionel Messi’s inspiration, with the star scoring two of their three goals in the tournament.

Coach Alejandro Sabella has come in for criticism for tinkering too much with his side’s tactics and formation, failing to get the best out of the attacking talent in the Argentina squad. 

However, there is a feeling within the camp that Argentina will step up the quality of their football once the knockout phase begins.

A determined Nigeria know that a draw will help them qualify in second place and a win will send them to the top but manager Stephen Keshi is dealing with the injuries of defender Godfrey Oboabona, defensive midfielder Reuben Gabriel and Chelsea’s Victor Moses – this means that last week’s scorer, and Stoke City forward, Peter Odemwingie could start again.

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Argentina 3 (Higuain, Di Maria, Echiejile og) Nigeria 1 (Obasi), International Friendly, September 2011

Nigeria 4 (Uche 2, Obinna, Amunike) Argentina 1 (Boselli), International Friendly, June 2011

Argentina 1 (Heinze) Nigeria 0, World Cup, June 2010

STATS:

Both sides have faced each other three times at the World Cup where Argentina won every match.

Argentina striker Lionel Messi scored his third World Cup goal last week. The Barcelona star failed to score a single goal in five matches at the last competition.

The Albiceleste have won 11 of their last 14 World Cup group stage matches and lost only one.

Nigeria’s win against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week marked the nation’s first World Cup victory since 1998. In between, the Super Eagles lost six of their last nine matches. 

Predicted line-ups:

Nigeria: Enyeama; Efe, Omeruo, Yobo, Oshaniwa; Onazi, Mikel; Babatunde, Musa, Odemwingie; Emenike.

Victor Moses, Godfrey Oboabona and Reuben Gabriel are all doubts for Wednesday’s game.

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo; Mascherano, Gago, Di Maria; Messi, Aguero, Higuain.

Match Report & Highlights: Argentina 1 Iran 0

Lionel Messi scored an injury-time winner to deny Iran a point as Argentina won 1-0 to make it six points from two matches in Group F.

The Argentines, who won their first match 2-1 against Bosnia-Herzegovina, had been tipped to win comfortably against Iran on Saturday, but Messi and his teammates were frustrated by their opponents and on a different day might have even endured a shock loss.

Argentina dominated possession during the first half but struggled to create clear goalscoring opportunities. After Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain both saw shots saved by Alireza Haghighi, Ezequiel Garay spurned a great chance as he headed over.

Up the other end, Iran came close to stunning their opponents just before half-time when Jalal Hosseini met a corner inside the six-yard box only to see his header flash off target.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero was called into action early in the second half as Reza Ghoochannejhad headed goalwards from Pejman Montazeri's cross, only to see the effort palmed away.

Ashkan Dejagah then had a penalty claim turned down by referee Milorad Mazic, after Pablo Zabaleta slid in for the ball in the box, before the winger forced Romero into a fine save, as the tipped a header over the bar.

Ghoochannejhad had one last chance to claim a memorable win after he broke clear in the final moments only to see his effort saved by Romero.

But, in the first minute of injury-time, Messi worked his magic. The Barcelona forward curled home beautifully with his left foot from outside of the box to clinch a dramatic victory.

Match Report & Highlights: Argentina 2 Bosnia 1

It was a winning start for Argentina but their victory was not convincing even before a late Bosnia reply from Vedad Ibisevic. This was a scratchy, scrappy performance that raised far more questions than it answered against a disciplined and technically adept Bosnia side who were undone first by a moment of misfortune three minutes in to their first World Cup and then, as they tired in the second half, by a moment of brilliance from Lionel Messi.

As expected, Argentina switched to a 5-3-2 from the 4-3-3 they used for much of qualifying, with Gonzalo Higuaín being replaced by Hugo Campagnaro. Higuaín was not fully fit which, with Rodrigo Palacio out with a calf injury, perhaps in part explained why Alejandro Sabella had made the change. But it still seemed baffling, particularly given that Bosnia, having used a 4-4-2 through most of qualifying, had spent their warm-up games preparing to use the 4-2-3-1 they did ultimately deploy. Sabella was a devotee of 5-3-2 when he led Estudiantes to the title and the Copa Libertadores but the danger of using three central defenders against a lone centre-forward is that, with two spare men, one is left redundant. Sabella had only heightened the sense of mystery by saying his selection was not to do with how he expected Bosnia to line up but “more with other things, but I can’t say what publicly”, prompting rumours about cliques and splits in the squad.

Thoughts of unease, though, were swiftly banished by an incident that had little to do with tactics. Messi floated in a free-kick from the left, Marcos Rojo flicked it on and the ball cannoned in off the unfortunate Sead Kolasinac. Before this tournament, the last Bosnian to kick a ball at a World Cup had been Faruk Hadzibegic, playing for Yugoslavia, who missed a decisive penalty in the shoot-out – against Argentina – at the end of the 1990 quarter-final. Given everything Bosnia has been through in the 24 years since, it seemed desperately cruel that the next decisive intervention, just three minutes into their World Cup debut as an independent nation, should be an own-goal.

Thereafter, though, the game settled into the shape the formations suggested it might, a pattern familiar to anybody who saw much of Sabella’s Estudiantes, with Bosnia controlling possession but struggling to find gaps in a packed Argentinian rearguard. When a chance did come, it was with a ball over the top from Zvjezdan Misimovic to Miralem Pjanic that Sergio Romero was only just off his line quickly enough to smother. Even that took a finely weighted pass and an awkward stretching first touch from two very fine technicians.

Argentina were solid rather than spectacular, which is Sabella’s way, but it still felt rather anti-climactic given both the potential of their forward line and the narrative of the tournament so far. Messi had the sort of game he has had a lot recently. It would be wrong to say he was peripheral in the first half, for Messi is never peripheral, his every touch shimmering with menace, but he certainly was not as dominant as he can be at his best, the attentions of Muhamed Besic forcing him to drop deep, which left Sergio Agüero at times rather isolated.

The 21-year-old Besic, who in 2010 replaced Pjanic as the youngest player to represent Bosnia, had a fine game, both screening his defence and distributing sensibly. He often played the short pass to Pjanic, but occasionally looking long to Senad Lulic on the left flank. He was offloaded by Hamburg to Ferencvaros in 2012 after an incident that led to the manager Thorsten Fink grabbing him by the throat. The suggestion is that he has tamed the more turbulent part of his personality since then and certainly his performance was one of impressive maturity.

After going behind, Bosnia had the better of it for an hour but as Misimovic’s legs went, so did their threat. There was one long-range Javier Mascherano shot that was beaten away by Asmir Begovic but that aside, the threat came from Bosnia. Much of it came in a general sense that they might be about to create something rather than anything more tangible – credit, perhaps, to the solidity of Argentina’s defending – but Senad Lulic forced a fine save form Romero with a low header from a right-wing corner four minutes before the break.

Sabella was worried enough to make two changes at half-time, Higuaín and Fernando Gago coming on for Campagnaro and Maxi Rodríguez as he reverted to 4-3-3. Still there was little fluidity. When Messi whipped a free-kick over 20 minutes into the second half, the largelyArgentinian crowd booed. A minute later, though, he scored, cutting in-field on to his left foot and firing a shot in off the post from the edge of the box for his second World Cup goal – eight years less a day after his first. It was needed, with the substitute Vedad Ibisevic squeezing a shot through Romero with five minutes remaining to cause Argentina late anxiety.

Both Messi and Argentina will have to be far sharper if they are to return to the Maracanã in four weeks for the final. For now, perhaps, the most important thing is that both Messi and his country are off the mark.

Match Preview: Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro

Kick-off: 03.30 am Sri Lankan Time

Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador).

Argentina will hope that Lionel Messi can start with a bang and claim his first goal in the finals for eight years.

Messi’s last World Cup goal was on his debut in the competition in Germany in 2006 when Argentina beat Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 and he came off the bench to net the last goal.

Bosnia, meanwhile, must make a couple of decisions.

In the centre of defence either Ermin Bicakcic or Toni Sunjic will partner Emir Spahic.

And in midfield, either Zvjezdan Misimovic or Sejad Salihovic will sit behind Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko.

Lionel Messi gets the first chance to stake a claim that he is better than Cristiano Ronaldo as Argentina look to win the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Bosnia scored 30 goals in their qualifying group, taking top place on goal difference ahead of Greece.

And in a group also including Nigeria and Iran, they will be confident of making the last 16, even if they lose in Rio.

 Bosnia coach Safet Susic was once a forward who scored 21 goals in 54 internationals for the former Yugoslavia - including a hat-trick in a 4-2 friendly win over Argentina in Belgrade in 1979.

Argentina (Possible, 4-3-3): Romero; Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain, Aguero.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Possible, 4-4-2): Begovic; Mujdza, Spahic, Bicakcic, Kolasinac; Hajrovic, Besic, Pjanic, Misimovic; Lulic, Dzeko.

Netherlands - Team to lose 3 World Cup finals

Netherlands is the only team in the World Cup to qualify for 3 finals and lose all 3. Details about their all 3 final defeats here

1974 World Cup finals vs Germany 

West Germany was led by Franz Beckenbauer, while the Dutch had their star Johan Cruyff, and their Total Football system which had dazzled the competition. The start of the match was delayed as the ground staff at the stadium had removed the corner flags for the tournament's closing ceremony (which preceded the final) but then forgot to put them back. With just a minute gone on the clock, following a solo run, Cruijff was brought down by Uli Hoeneß in the German penalty area, and the Dutch took the lead from the ensuing penalty by Johan Neeskens before any German player had even touched the ball. West Germany struggled to recover, but they were awarded a penalty of their own in the 25th minute after Bernd Hölzenbein was fouled within the Dutch area. Paul Breitner took responsibility for the kick, and scored. These two penalties were the first to be awarded in a World Cup Final. West Germany now pushed for a winner, which eventually came in the 43rd minute through Gerd Müller. It turned out to be Müller's last ever goal for the West German team, as he retired from international football after the tournament. As the teams walked off the pitch at half-time, Cruyff was booked for arguing with the referee.

The second half saw chances for both sides. Müller thought he had scored when he put the ball in the net, only to be denied by the linesman flagging for offside. In the 85th minute, Hölzenbein fell to ground in the Dutch penalty area again, but referee Taylor did not believe it was a foul. When the final whistle went, West Germany were crowned world champions for 1974, in addition to their European title from 1972. This was the only case of the reigning European champions winning the World Cup until Spain accomplished the feat in 2010, although France have also held both trophies at the same time by winning the 1998 World Cup followed by Euro 2000.

The Brazilian João Havelange (former FIFA President from 1974 to 1998) made an unfounded claim that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed so that England and Germany would win respectively

1978 World Cup finals vs Argentina

 The match was contested by hosts Argentina and the Netherlands. The match was won by the Argentines in extra time by a score of 3–1. Mario Kempes, who finished as the tournament's top scorer, was named the man of the match. The Netherlands lost their second World Cup final in a row, both times to the host nation, after losing to West Germany in 1974.

The final is mired in some controversy as the Dutch accused the Argentines of using stalling tactics to delay the match. The host team came out late and questioned the legality of a plaster cast on René van de Kerkhof's wrist, which the Dutch claimed allowed tension to build in front of a hostile Buenos Airescrowd.The Netherlands refused to attend the post-match ceremonies after the match ended.

2010 World Cup finals vs Spain

The final was played on 11 July 2010 at Soccer City, Johannesburg. Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0, after an extra time goal by Andrés Iniesta.

The match had the most yellow cards awarded in a World Cup final, more than doubling the previous record for a final, set when Argentina and West Germany shared six cards in 1986.^[8] Fourteen yellow cards were awarded (nine of which to the Netherlands), and John Heitinga of the Netherlands was sent off for a second yellow. One yellow card was for Nigel de Jong's studs-up kick to the chest of Xabi Alonso during the first half, for which Rob Hughes of the New York Times, among others, believed the referee should have given a red card.The referee, Howard Webb, later said after reviewing the foul that it should have been a red card, but that his view during play was partially obstructed.

The Netherlands had several chances to score, most notably in the 60th minute when Arjen Robben was released by Wesley Sneijder putting him one-on-one with Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas, but Casillas pushed the shot wide with an outstretched leg. Meanwhile, for Spain, Sergio Ramos missed a free header from a corner kick when he was unmarked. Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst was substituted in the 105th minute by Edson Braafheid; Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who had come on as a substitute in the 99th minute for Nigel de Jong, took over as captain for the last 15 minutes. From the 109th minute on the Dutch played with 10 men due to Heitinga's second yellow card. With a penalty shootout seeming inevitable, Jesús Navas sprinted into opposing territory and began a series of passes that led to Iniesta finally breaking the deadlock four minutes before the end of extra time, scoring with a right footed half-volleyed shot low to the goalkeeper's right after receiving a pass fromCesc Fàbregas on the right of the penalty area.

Just before the goal was scored, the Dutch team had a free kick that hit the wall (apparently taking a deflection off Fàbregas) before going out. Despite the deflection, which should have given possession and a corner kick to the Dutch, a goal kick was given to Spain, starting the play that led to the goal. The Dutch, however, momentarily had possession of the ball near the Spanish penalty area in between the goal kick and Iniesta's goal. Joris Mathijsen was yellow-carded for his strong protests to the referee after the goal, and other Dutch players criticised Webb for this decision after the match.

Source:  Wikipedia

Highlights: England vs Honduras, Spain vs El Salvador, Argentina vs Slovenia and Belgium vs Tunisia

England 0 Honduras 0 

England could not find a way past 10-man Honduras and their final warm-up before the World Cup ended goalless. 

Spain 2 El Salvador 0

David Villa scored twice and Cesc Fabregas missed a penalty as Spain defeated El Salvador in their final World Cup warm-up game.

Argentina 2 Slovenia 0

Argentina easily beat Slovenia 2-0 in their last World Cup warm-up match with goals from Ricardo Alvarez and Lionel Messi on Saturday.

Belgium 1 Tunisia 0

Dries Mertens scored in the 89th minute as Belgium clinched a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in their final warm-up game for the World Cup on Saturday.

Highlights: Ecuador vs England, Netherlands vs Wales, Argentina vs Trinidad, Italy vs Luxembourg and Uruguay vs Slovenia

Ecuador vs England 2-2 All goals 

Valencia and Sterling Red Card incident 

Netherlands 2 Wales 0

Argentina 3 Trinidad 0

Italy 1 Luxembourg 1

Uruguay 2 Slovenia 0