Noone remembers who was third and fourth in the World Cup so let me tell you, Germany came third and Uruguay fourth. What do you mean that’s not in depth enough! Well to be fair it was a cracking game and deserves plenty of credit.

Uruguay 2, Germany 3

Maybe Mueller was the difference between Germany winning or losing to Spain, he was back for this game and showed what a force he is. Muslera in the South Americans goal had a mare of a night starting with the germany opener after 19 minutes. Schweinsteiger unleashed a shot from over 35 yards and the keeper spilled it leaving the alert Mueller to race in and net the rebound. Germany should have punished Uruguay and given the dodgy keeper more to worry about but they sat back and paid the price. Perez did well to rob the ball off Schweinsteiger in midfield and set off Forlan, his ball to Cavani was perfect and popped into the net to level the scores.  Suarez was back for Uruguay and causing lots of damage and even the heavy rain couldn’t dampen the Uruguayan spirit. Forlan had a great chance on the stroke of half time when a corner came flying in with his name on it but he shot over the bar.

The striker made up for his miss in the second half when he struck a great volley after good work from Arevalo. Germany were struggling to get back into the game but got a gift when Boateng put a tempting cross in and Jansen rose above the static defence to head a goal as the keeper flapped. That put new life into Germany as they pushed for the winner. Kiessling came on as sub and had a couple of decent chances but Khedira won the match with another header after Ozil had turned on the style. Even then Uruguay could have taken it to extra time with Forlan hitting the crossbar with the last action of injury time.

Everything stopped for Spain’s vital semi final game tonight. In Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the Beach Boys even put their concert back an hour to allow fans to see the game on giant screens. Now the car horns are blaring and the parties have started. Maybe they will win the final on Sunday  “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”

Germany 0 , Spain 1

Two notable striking changes before the game, Torres was dropped by Spain and Tenerife born Pedro replaced him while Germany’s suspended Mueller gave way for Trochowski. Pedro made an instant impression with a run down the left that was halted by Lahm. The new boy followed up with a tempting ball to Villa that was smothered by oncoming keeper Neuer. Spain were stroking the ball around but couldn’t find the end product, Germany sat back and soaked it up like their teams of old. Iniesta set up Puyol with a well drilled pass across the goal but he couldn’t make his diving header count as it sailed over the bar.

Germany started to be more adventurous, Trochowski let go a long shot that Casillas turned away with his finger tips and Ozil caused problems down the left flank. Pedro was relishing his first start for Spain and forced a corner but it came to nothing, much of Spains work was just a bit too intricate and Villa was well bottled up by the German defence. The half ended with a penalty appeal from Germany, Ozil ran through into the box and went down after brushing with Ramos. The ref didn’t blow for anything so the last few minutes drained away.

Pedro was a livewire again as the second half started, his showed all his trickery on the right before setting up Alonso but his finish wasn’t quite good enough. One of the best passing moves of the game came from Capdevila to Xavi and Pedro who forced a save. Germany looked subdued but managed a break from Podolski that Piquet did well to clear. The chances kept coming for Spain, Ramos missed twice and just when it looked like they might regret the spawned chances Puyol came to the rescue. Iniesta buzzed around at trhe byline and forced a corner, Zavi fired over an outswinging cross and Puyol drifted in and rose high to head the ball powerfully into the net.

Germany woke up and were forced to finally push forward, substitute Kroos looked lively and from his free kick Klose had a sniff but Casillas made a clean catch. Villa having a quiet game by his standards was through on the Germany defence but Friedrich made a strong tackle. Spain took a big gamble and brought on Torres for Villa, Pedro should have gifted him a goal but tried to go it alone. As the clock ticked down Torres had a good chance but Friedrich was there again and the whistle signalled a first World Cup final for Spain.

The future is now for Germany, their emerging young side was seen as one for the Euros in two years and the World Cup in four. Well look out they are impatient.

Argentina 0, Germany 4

There was no council notice, no early call, the demolition crew started from the kick off. Sweinsteiger may be a writer’s nightmare but what a player. His floated free kick after three minutes found Mueller who headed down past the flailing leg of keeper Romero. Mueller set up Klose soon after but his shot couldn’t find the target. Messi couldn’t get into the game, Sweinsteiger had him in his pocket and Argentina were out marked and out fought.

The  half time mauling from Maradona seemed to wake Argentina up and they produced something nearer their best play.  Di Maria let fly from just outside the box and saw the ball go wide, Tevez took on Messi’s creative mantle and forced good saves out of Neuer. The Germans soaked it all up and then sprung forward, Podolski raided down the left and squared for Klose who had the easiest of finishes for a 2-0 lead. That man Sweinsteiger got in on the act also choosing the left channel before laying the ball on for Freidrich. Ozil was having a quiet game by his standards but put in a telling cross to give Klose a last minute goal to complete the rout.

Paraguay 0, Spain 1

Maybe Paraguay are not the flashiest team but they have steel and quick forwards and they were straight at Spain from the off. Santana warmed Casillas’ hands in the first minute and a wild free kick from Morel should have been a lot closer. Torres again looked sluggish and Paraguay wouldn’t let Spain settle on the ball to play their crisp passing game. Alcaraz couldn’t quite connect with a free header from a smart free kick as Spain struggled to throw off the chains. Xavi had a quick witted attempt, turning and firing in a long shot that went over the Paraguay goal and a Capdevila free kick at the other end was cooled down as it took a deflection for a soft pick up from Villar. The South Americans finished the side stronger, Valdez put the ball in the Spain net but was just offside and then he curled a shot just wide before the break.

Again Spain toiled in the second half, Torres was off again, this time for Fabregas and on the hour the game exploded into life. Piquet held Cardozo and wouldn’t let go of his arm, a clear penalty for Paraguay but Cardozo hit it softly and Casillas saved. Villa broke away and Alcaraz clattered him down in the other box to give Spain an instant spot kick reply. Alonso despatched the ball into the net but the ref made him take it again and this time Villar saved. Spain used that to spur them on, Iniesta and Fabregas made a great incisive raid that Villar ended. It was looking like extra time but Iniesta conjured up a late attack, sub Pedro could only hit the post from his pass but Villa was on hand to score off the inside of the post. Spain were through but it was hard going.

FIFA’s stone age, stone wall mentality over video technology was exposed to the world today with match changing decisions shown to be wrong, with FIFA shackled by their own rules and unable to do the sensible thing. 

The beaches were half empty here in Tenerife and hopes were high but the England players had learnt nothing from the previous games. It’s a good young Germany side, playing decent football, good luck to them.

Germany 4, England 1

Ozil made his presence felt in the first minute as he broke with Podolsky down the left, Upson and Barry just about dealt with that but there was worse to come. Ozil then popped up on the right and tore Cole apart before James cleared with his legs. Either Terry, Upson or both must have some hygiene problems because they couldn’t put enough distance between themselves. Rooney was playing deep again and looked to be back in depressed mood. Barry did manage a good shot that Neuer smothered.

Germany’s first goal was a gift, a long goal kick down the middle and Klose strolled between Upson and Terry to give James nothing to do but bawl at his defence. Klose could have quickly added another goal, again James was alert and used his feet well. The second goal was another example of poor defending, Muller put a good ball in and Podolski had plenty of time to tuck it in the net. England were reeling but they hit back with Gerards tempting cross met perfectly by Upsons leaping header. Then came that moment of high controversy, Lampard produced a great shot that clearly went well over the line, but the ref waved for no goal. Everyone in the stadium could see it was a goal, the watching Mick Jagger knew it, even Stevie Wonder would have known it.

Coming out for the second half seething and fired up, England still had a chance, Neuer look dodgy in goal and Lampard had him well beaten with a free kick that hit the bar. Rooney set up Defoe but Neuer just managed to deny him. Germany had plenty more to offer especially on the break, Lampards free kick was swallowed by the defensive wall  and they were off up field, the England defence were on holiday and Schweinsteiger’s fine pass to Mueller gave him time to finish with ease. Then from another break Barry was skinned at the half way line by Ozil who casually crossed for Mueller to round off the rout.

Argentina 3, Mexico 1

Both teams set off at an electric pace Salcido of Mexico hit the crossbar and De Santos shot narrowly wide. Argentina soon came into the game with Messi dazzling again with his skills beating three players before his shot was plucked from under the bar by Perez. Then the moment of controversy, Messi unlocked the Mexico defence but his shot was blocked by the keeper, he reacted well and chipped the rebound to Tevez who scored from an offside position, the goalie and linesman gave the goal. As the Mexicans complained the giant stadium screen showed the replay and everyone could see the proof-it was offside, but the officials couldn’t change their decision. Argentina were boosted by that and turned the screw. Osorio casually passed the ball into space in front of his Mexican defence and Hiquain nipped in and scored a simple goal.

Mexico never gave up and came out for the second half ready to give it their all. Argentina had other ideas and Tevez put the game beyond reach with a top corner torpedo from long range. Still Mexico pushed forward, Salcido fored from range tsting the keeper and Hernandez headed over from a corner. Then Hernandez got his reward  from the edge of the goal area, dragging the ball wide and picking his spot perfectly to make it 3-1. Messi could have added another for Argentina at the death but Perez pulled off a super save.

Argentina march on and the fireworks are already popping here in Tenerife among the large South American community.

The Beautiful Game turned sour for many fans as poor performances and petulant players turned the World Cup groups inside out. It looks like a nail biting wait to see who misses out on the knock out stages.

England 0, Algeria 0

By the end even the commentators and studio panel were at a loss to put a positive spin on this woeful England display. Heskey nearly had a dream start as Algeria’s replacement goalie Mbolhi back pedalled to just grab his shot. At the other end David James got the nod and made a good early tip over and spared Carraghers blushes as his hacked clearance flew back at goal. It was 30 minutes until Gerrard fired in the first decent England shot, Lampard was not far behind with a strong blast but then it settled back into sloppy passing and a general lack of effort.

The second half had to be better but wasn’t, Heskey lumbered around, Rooney seemd to be in a major sulk, and Carragher got booked for a clumsy block, that will keep him out of the Slovenia game. A John Terry pass nearly got him in trouble – this time on the pitch, James mopped up his casual back prod. Defoe and Crouch came on for Heskey and Barry but the downbeat mood remained. Rooney ended a personal nightmare by complaining to the camera as he trudged off, about booing England fans.

Germany 0, Serbia 1

After turning on the style in their first game, Germany showed they are not machines by losing to Serbia and even missing a penalty. The referee will come under fire for sending off Klose after 34 minutes for the second weak yellow but the normal clinical finishing of the Germans was missing today. Jovanovic got what proved to be the decisive goal just after the sending off, Zigic, soon to feature for Birmingham City headed down the ball and Jovanovic caught it perfectly on the volley.

Podolski looked much less potent than in his first game and after missing a few sitters he capped it off by hitting a soft penalty, for a Vidic handball, straight at the keeper. That ensured no way back for the mighty Germans and split the group wide open.

Slovenia 2, USA 2

Noone expected this to be a thriller but both sides, and the ref, played a part in the twists and turns. Slovenia took control of the game in the first half roaring into the lead with Birsa belting a long shop opener and Ljubijankic beating the offside trap to make it 2-0.

The USA charged back in the second half and showed lots of character. Just after the break Donovan went on a run down the right and ended by flashing the ball in at the post. Bradley tied the score after 82 minutes. Late on Edu seemed to have given the USA the win as a mass of players reinacted Come Dancing in the goal area but the referee ruled it out for a USA foul, a crazy decision.

Waking with a slight hangover, I hoped that goal had been a bad dream but no, even the Tenerife daily papers were rubbing it in. Oh well at least it was hot and sunny.

Serbia – 0, Ghana – 1

The Sebians were well fancied but  a combination of missed chances early on and a stupid hand ball held them back. It was pretty even for most of the game, Ghana were the latest African nation to have a quality keeper, Richard Kingson made a couple of great tip overs.

Lukovic took an early bath after 74 minutes with a second yellow card and his departure  inspired Ghana. Gyan went close and a few mintes later he converted a penalty after Kuzmanovic commited a blatant hand ball. Ghana savoured their win, they might be the suprise packet.

Algeria – 0, Slovenia – 1

England fans were looking for encouraging weaknesses in their other two opponents but they both looked useful. Long range efforts seemed the order of the day as they edged towards a scoreless draw. Ghezzal came and went pretty quickly for Algeria, getting two speedy yellow cards and was back in the dressing room before breaking sweat. Slovenia took their chance with a bending low shot from Koren late on that eluded the Algeria keeper-

Germany – 4, Australia – 0

The Australian defence didn’t have much idea what they were didgeridooing and the German machine rolled all over them. Podolski opened the scoring with a piledriver shot and as Swarzer rushed out to try to claim the ball Klose nutted it into the net. The last thing Australia needed was a joke sending off but they got one, Tim Cahill went in for a challenge and caught his opponent with his knee, it was a yellow at most but the ref gave him a straight red and he was waltzing like matilda straight to the dressing room.

Germany could have made double figures but missed some sitters, Mueller added a third and Cacau completed the rout, it was an ominous warning to the other hopefuls in the competition.