World Cup | featured news

Three-time champions Germany finished third for the second successive World Cup after coming from behind to defeat Uruguay 3-2 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday night.

Germany and Uruguay will hope to salvage some pride in their third-place playoff match on Saturday after devastating semi-final defeats earlier this week.

The World Cup will have a new winner on Sunday after Spain beat Germany 1-0 to set up a mouthwatering clash with the Netherlands.

The Spanish team reached the semifinals for the first time by beating Paraguay, 1-0, on a late goal by David Villa, the tournament’s leading scorer.

Ironclad defense helps Germany not only prevail 4-0 in a wide-open game that was full of attacking play by both teams, but remain on course to win a fourth title since its last victory 20 years ago.

Irresistible force met immovable object in the World Cup quarterfinals in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.

Victories - and defeats - don't come any tougher than this. Not the shot kicked away at the goal line. Not the block ruled a handball an instant later as extra time ticked to a close. Not the subsequent penalty kick that sure-footed Asamoah Gyan sent bouncing straight up off the crossbar.

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.

David Villa was Spain's hero yet again as his goal helped them past Portugal and claim the last spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Paraguay are through to the quarter-finals after beating Japan 5-3 in the 2010 World Cup's first penalty shootout.

Brazil turned on the style to defeat their South American rivals Chile 3-0 on Monday and set up a World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.