2010 FIFA Worldcup: Dutch struggle back buries Brazil

The Netherlands came from at the back to break Brazilian hearts and take a huge step towards a third FIFA World Cup 2010 final appearance. Trailing at half-time to Robinho's early goal in Port Elizabeth, Bert van Marwijk's men drew level through Felipe Melo's own goal previous to Wesley Sneijder headed the winner with 22 minutes remaining. Brazil finished the game a man short after Felipe Melo's dismissal as, like in Germany four years ago, the South Americans, victorious since last October, saw their dream of a sixth world crown dismantled at the quarter-final stage.

For the Dutch, this was their fifth instantly win at these finals and leaves them one victory short of a first Final appearance since they finished runners-up twice in the 1970s. They will journey to Tuesday's Cape Town semi-final against Uruguay as favourites despite the suspensions of Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong. History will also be on their side too, given the winners of their three previous FIFA World Cup meetings with Brazil marched on to the Final each time.

World champion Italy eliminated, Slovakia advance

JOHANNESBURG: For the first time in World Cup history, both finalists of the previous champions failed to advance from the first round as reigning champions. Italy were eliminated from South Africa 2010 Thursday with a 2-3 loss against Slovakia, who used their first forever World Cup triumph to advance to the Round of 16.


Robert Vittek goaled in the 25th and 73rd minutes for a 2-0 lead at Ellis Park Stadium. Antonio Di Natale tried to pulled a goal back in the 81st minute. But Kamil Kopunek decided the match with his score in the 89th though Fabio Quagliarella made it 3-2 in the second minute of walk out time.Italy became just the fourth title-holder to fail to advance from the first stage following themselves in 1950, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002.The 2006 finalists France were eliminated before in the tournament from Group A. And Italy failed to make it long-ago the first round for the first time since 1974.

World Cup debuts Slovakia completed second in Group F with four points behind Paraguay, while mighty Italy were last with two points.In the Round of 16, Slovakia take on the Group E winners - most likely the Netherlands.

FIFA World Cup 2010 upComing Schedule

June 18
12.00am – France Vs Mexico – Polokwane
05.00pm – Germany Vs Serbia – Port Elizabeth
07.30pm – Slovenia Vs USA – Johannesburg (Ellis)
June 19
12.00am – England Vs Algeria – Cape Town
05.00pm – Netherlands Vs Japan – Durban
07.30pm – Ghana Vs Australia – Rustenburg
June 20
12.00am – Cameroon Vs Denmark – Pretoria
05.00pm – Slovakia Vs Paraguay – Bloemfontein
07.30pm – Italy Vs New Zealand – Nelspruit
June 21
12.00am – Brazil Vs Ivory Coast – Johannesburg (SC)
05.00pm – Portugal Vs North Korea – Cape Town
07.30pm – Chile Vs Switzerland – Port Elizabeth
June 22
12.00am – Spain Vs Honduras – Johannesburg (Ellis)
07.30pm – Mexico Vs Uruguay – Rustenburg
07.30pm – France Vs South Africa – Bloemfontein
June 23
12.00am – Nigeria Vs South Korea – Durban
12.00am – Greece Vs Argentina – Polokwane
07.30pm – Slovenia Vs England – Port Elizabeth
07.30pm – USA Vs Algeria – Pretoria
June 24
12.00am – Ghana Vs Germany – Johannesburg (SC)
12.00am – Australia Vs Serbia – Nelspruit
07.30am – Slovakia Vs Italy – Johannesburg (Ellis)
07.30am – Paraguay Vs New Zealand – Polokwane
June 25
12.00am – Denmark Vs Japan – Rustenburg
12.00am – Cameroon Vs Netherlands – Cape Town
07.30am – Portugal Vs Brazil – Durban
07.30am – North Korea Vs Ivory Coast – Nelspruit
June 26
12.00am – Chile Vs Spain – Pretoria
12.00am – Switzerland Vs Honduras – Bloemfontein
Second Round – ROUND OF 16
June 26
07.30pm – Group A winner Vs Group B 2nd place – Port Elizabeth
June 27
12.00am – Group C winner Vs Group D 2nd place – Rustenburg
07.30pm – Group D winner Vs Group C 2nd place – Bloemfontein
June 28
12.00am – Group B winner Vs Group A 2nd place – Johannesburg (SC)
07.30pm – Group E winner Vs Group F 2nd place – Durban
June 29
12.00am – Group G winner Vs Group H 2nd place – Johannesburg (Ellis)
07.30pm – Group F winner Vs Group E 2nd place – Pretoria
June 30
12.00am – Group H winner Vs Group G 2nd place – Cape Town
Quarter-finals
July 2
7.30pm – 1st Quarter-final – Port Elizabeth
July 3
12.00am – 2nd Quarter-final – Johannesburg (SC)
7.30pm – 3rd Quarter-final – Cape Town
July 4
12.00am – 4th Quarter-final – Johannesburg (Ellis)
Semi-finals
July 7
12.00am – 1st Semi-final – Cape Town
July 8
12.00am – 2nd Semi-final – Durban
Third Place (July 11)
12.00am – Semi-final losers – Port Elizabeth
Final (July 12)
12.00am – Semi-final winners – Johannesburg (SC)