A promised feast of football turned out more like a mixed serving of tapas as nervous stunted play took over from the stylish playmaking everyone had expected. Thirteen yellow cards and a sending off says it all but Spain have proved over the last two years to be easily the best team around. All the fine print will be forgotten tonight, the fire crackers and bangers are popping along with the corks here in Tenerife and the car horns will be blasting into the early hours.

Holland 0 , Spain 1
Spain started strongly with Villa pushing to break his country’s all time scoring record. Xavi was busy too with a floated free kick that Ramos bravely got a head too but Stekelenburg turned it aside. Holland seemed overawed but Kuyt decided to try his luck after Busquets lost the ball in midfield, nice idea but no power to threaten Casillas in goal. the best chance of the half fell to Ramos, he looked odds on from the right only to see Heitinga clear his shot.
The game became ragged with both sides failing to produce their trademark passing style and the tackles became loose and niggly as English ref Howard Webb gave his yellow cards an airing. The ref didn’t have a clear view of the worst challenge, De Jong went in on Alonso with his foot high and studded him in the chest, it should have been a sending off. Sneijder looked dangerous from free kicks but Casillas was equal to him, the keeper was caught napping though when he miss judged a back pass and failed to stop it going out for a corner. Robben and Sneijder both tested the Spain defence down the right and the lively Pedro managed to shake off four markers before shooting wide of the goal. Robben nearly sneaked in just before the break with a low shot that was heading for the corner of the net before Casillas got a hand to it.

The second half was little better, Puyol opened with a good header down that fell just behind the feet of Capdevila in a great scoring position. Sneijder broke for Holland but Ramos made a vital tackle to stop him in his tracks. Robben was looking threatening and had the clearest chance going one on one with Casillas but waiting too long and Casillas stuck a foot out to deny him. Navas had come on for Pedro and he breathed some life into Spain but Villa was not on finishing form. Ramos was unmarked when he had a free header but sent it over the bar. Extra time was calling Iniesta looked on for goal but a perfect tackle by Sneijder cleared the danger.
So extra time and Zavi and Heitinga clashed in the Holland penalty area but despitr claims for a spot kick, ref Webb said no. Van Bronkhorst in his final game showed his defensive qualities with a supreme tackle on Iniesta and a deflection of a Navas shot before going off to begin his retirement. Fabregas could have nicked the lead, this time it was the Dutch keeper to the rescue saving with his legs.
Villa gave way for Torres at the start of the final 15 minutes in a last throw of the dice. There was always going to be at least one sending off and Heitinga was the man for Holland for pulling back Iniesta but Fabregas wasted the free kick putting it over the bar. Robben, already on a yellow could have gone off as well for dissent after putting the ball in the net after being called offside. Iniesta saved us the lottery of penalties nipping in from a Fabregas pass and hooking the ball into the Holland net with just 2 minutes left on the clock. The hero was nearly burried under an avalanche of bodies as the Spain bench emptied and started to celebrate.

In 1974 I was so enthralled by  Holland’s  football I painted my Subbuteo team in their colours, but despite their sublime skills then and in 1978 they never became World Champions, Maybe now things may change. Most of San Telmo in Los Cristianos, Tenerife  was invaded by the colourful Dutch army again tonight and they will be back for more.

Uruguay 2, Holland 3

You expect some class in the World Cup semis and it shone through in this game with two well matched sides having to work hard to beat well drilled defences. Sneijder was first to catch the eye, breaking down the right and drilling in a firm cross, Uruguay keeper Muslera punched at it and knocked the ball onto Kuyt who put it over the bar. Kuyt set up Robben a few minutes later but he was blocked out at the post. Uruguay were missing the suspended Suarez but had other threats, Cavani did well on the left flank but his pass found Forlan offside. The Dutch turned back the clock to the shoot on sight sides of 1974 and 1978 as captain Van Bronkhorst hit a stonking long range goal after 17 minutes that brushed the goalies fingers.

It got a bit lively on the half hour when Uruguays Caceres made an ambitious scissor kick that caught De Zeeuw in the face. Sneijder ran over to discuss the error of his ways with him as he pushed him over and picked up a booking along with the instigator. Caceres didn’t let it ruffle him, making a strong and timely tackle on Robben in his penalty area. Cavani was coming more into the game for the South Americans but their main man levelled with a brilliant goal. Forlan picked up a long clearance 35 yards away from the blues goal and unleahed a howling curling shot that made a fool of Stekelenburg whose hand wasn’t enough to stop the goal.

Holland looked nervous at the start of the second half, Van Bronkhorst cleared off his goal line and they seemed vulnerable. Forlan was always a menace, his free kick had the keeper frantically beating the shot away. there was a touch of controversy about the Dutch goal that broke the deadlock, Sneijder curled his shot in as Van Persie stepped over the ball while trying to get back from a marginally offside position, a slight deflection from Pereira fooled the keeper and gave Holland the lead. There was no doubt about the third goal, Kuyt on the left put in a perfect cross to the head of Robben who nodded it into the net. Holland relaxed a little now but Uruguay made them sweat in injury time when Pereira cut in and stroked his shot around Kuyt and past the badly sighted Stekelenburg, but it was not enough to save the gallant Uruguay. Now where’s that little paintbrush and the tin of orange Humbrol.

The odds are tumbling, the reputations are crumbling and this World Cup continues to be the most unpredictable for years.

Holland 2, Brazil 1

This game was so set up for Brazil to triumph but nothing should be taken for granted and stupid basic errors proved to be their undoing. Even in the warm up the odds seemed stacked against Holland, centre back Mathijsen was injured and Ooijer was drafted in, the new recruit and partner Heitinga had a torrid start. Robinho has clawed back some of his tarnished reputation so far and he continued, exploiting the wide open Dutch defence, latching onto a long pass from Melo to score after 10 minutes. Kuyt tested Cesar in the Brazil goal but he coped well with that low shot and a Sneijder free kick.

Brazil looked tight in defence and started the second half in a comfortable position, but then they hit the self destruct button. Sneijder whipped in a cross from the right that hung in the air, Cesar and Melo couldn’t decide whose ball it was and as they collided the ball flew into the net off Melo’s head. Kaka could have put Brazil back in front after a poor clearance but he put the ball wide. Time for another defensive lapse, Robben flicked on a corner and the Brazil defence was all over the place  leaving Sneijder to head it into the net. Things got worse when Melo completed a bad day at the office by stamping on a grounded Robben, a clear sending off. The Dutch couldn’t believe his stupidity and tucked in to play out the remains of the game for a famous victory.

Uruguay 1,  Ghana 1 (Uruguay win 4-2 on pens)

What a cracker of a game. Uruguay looked the only side in it for the first 30 minutes and then a corner for Ghana and a Vorsa header just over the bar lit the fuse for the Africans and they were fizzing. Forland was everywhere early on, first setting up  Fernandez and then forcing a corner with a raid down the left and sending the ball into Cavani whose shot was scrambled clear. Once Ghana had started they were impressive, Gyan led the line superbly and Muntari scored a belter. back to goal he turned into space and unleashed a curling shot that was unstoppable.

It was that other great forward Forlan who levelled the scores 10 minutes into the second half, his long range free kick deviated in the air before settling in the Ghana net. Suarez had his moments including a point blank save by Kingson when one on one. Both teams looked a little tired as the game went into extra time but then they dug deep and came again. Gyan wasted the best chance in the first extra 15 minutes and headed over again just inside the second phase. Forlan tried to do too much on his own when Suarez was free and at the other end Prince was deied by a two fisted save. Both sides battled and were a credit to the game but as the minutes ticked away there was late drama. The ball pinged around in the Uruguay gola area and Suarez used his hands to clear a goal bound shot, he got a red card and Ghana a gilt edged chance. Gyan stepped up and blasted the ball but it bounced off the bar and out.

It was all so cruel but thats football and Ghana two poorly taken penalties from Mensa and Adiah were easily saved handing the semi final place to Uruguay.

It was business as usual today at the World Cup, England were just a memory as Holland and Brazil marched on.

Holland 2, Slovakia 1

They are a very economical side the Dutch, always just doing enough to get through, you keep hoping there may be more of the old sexy football to come. Arjen Robben finally started a game for the orange army and soon made his mark. Sneijder welcomed him with a perfect pass and Robben ran at the Slovakian defence and unleashed a 25 yard drive low into  the goal. The dynamic duo were joined by Van Persie, although he could only put a weak header wide he contributed much to the offfensice threat.

In the second half the Slovakians continued to be outshone but at least Stoch tested Dutch keeper Stekelenburg who tipped it over and Vittek had a go but put his shot straight at the keeper. Sneijder ensured the win with a neat finish from a Kuyt cutback. It took Slovakia until injury time to find the net, and that was via the penalty spot, Vittek was brought down in a scramble of bodies but got up to grab the consolation.

Brazil 3, Chile 0

I was expecting a little more from Chile but faced with Brazil, it’s like standing between two big blokes in the gents and finding you just cant go. Lucio was well through for Brazil when brought down by Contreras but no penalty was given. Never mind, a few minutes laterMaicon, not just a brilliant full back, floared in a corner for Juan to head into the goal. Then the best move of the game saw Robinho carve Chile open, lay off to Kaka, and his pass found Fabiano perfectly placed to score the second.

Brazil have added a steel to their flair and crushed the life out of Chile giving them few chances. In the second half, born again Robinho added a well taken goal from the edge of the area after 59 minutes and Brazil coasted after that.

The drama is coming thick and fast as the big names crash out of  the  World Cup. Italy were the latest scalp as Slovakia made them an offer they couldn’t refute. Japan came of age with some cracking football and Paraguay sneaked through almost unnoticed. The Dutch fans were out again in force and full orange warpaint in downtown Los Cristianos, Tenerife and the English are licking their lips ahead of the Germany clash.

Slovakia – 3, Italy – 2

Slovakia made sure that Italy didn’t recover from their poor opening games and despite a grandstand finish Marcello Lippi saw his reigning champions sign out. Hamsik made a mess of an early chance for Slovakia but Kucka was sharp after 25 minutes pouncing on a sloppy De Rossi pass and setting up Vittek for the opening goal.

Italy went further behind in the second half  Hamsik put in a low cross for Vittek  to score again. Then Italy woke up and started to chase the game, Di Natale pulled one back and there was a bit of a scrap in the back of the goal. Quagliarella thought he had levelled but his effort was ruled offside and Slovakia restored their two goal cushion as Kopunek took advantage of some poor Italian defending. Quagliarella found the net in injury time and amazingly it could have been 3-3 if Pepe had got a clean strike on his late late attempt.

Paraguay 0, New Zealand 0

It was too tall an order for the All Whites but they had a go and return to New Zealand with plenty of stories to tell. The whole game produced few scoring chances with most of those coming from Paraguay in the second half. Santa Cruz tested Paston with a hot 25 yard shot and Benitez and Rivero alsokept the keeper busy. Paraguay captain Caniza can’t hit a barn door these days and his two on target shots hardly tickled Pastons hands.

Denmark 1, Japan 3

There are going to be a lot of football agents knocking on Japans door, this was a fine performance of good tactics, hard work and loads of skill. Honda is an emerging star his 35 yard screamer of a free kick caught Sorenson off guard with his defensive wall all over the place. there was better to come from another free kick, Endo shaped up and bent a Beckham like shot past the lead footed keeper for a well deserved 2-0 lead. Denmark were pretty poor, Bendtner has a big reputation but he did little to justify it with a weak performance up front.

Therre was some joy for the Danes in the second half when Tomasson scored from the penalty spot but even that was unconvincing as Kawashima saved the initial shot and his follow up only just went inside the post. Honda showed some more of his skills jinking around two defenders to square the ball to Okazaki to make the end score 3-1, Japan are a team to watch.

Cameroon 1, Holland 2

The Dutch still haven’t fit top form, Cameroon, the first team knocked out, gave them a tough time in this game. Van der Vaart was guilty of some glaring misses early in the game including a blast wide after Sneijder had set him up and a free kick hit straight at the keeper. The opener though was quality, Van Persie made a great run laid the ball off to Vaart who returned it with a deft touch for Van Persi to score.

Cameroon drew level in the second half after a Geremi free kick hit the arm of Van der Vaart and Eto’o converted the penalty. Holland were under pressure but counter attacked and Robben struck a post with his shot but Huntelaar was on hand to net the rebound.

As the St George flags droop rejectedly outside Tenerife bars, other nations are pushing on towards the next stage, but are the referees starting to lose their grip?

Ghana 1, Australia 1

Australians wouldn’t give a 4 X for most World Cup referees, in 2006 they were hard done by and it’s happening again. Hopes were high with Harry Kewell in the line up and after 11 minutes they were ahead via a Holman free kick that caught the keeper out with a squirming bounce. The joy was short lived when a Mensah shot hit Kewell on the arm, the referee ruled that it was a deliberate hand ball and sent the former Liverpool player off. Gyan stepped up and converted the penalty to level the score.

The Aussies showed great character to come back fighting in the second half, Chipperfield saw his header clear the bar and Wilkshire  forced a good save out of Kingson. Ghana couldn’t turn the screw despite a late assault that featured Mensah heading over and Abeyie bringing a one handed save from Schwarzer.

Cameroon 1, Denmark 2

And so we say farewell to the African Lions of Cameroon. Despite taking an early lead through Samuel Etoo, pouncing on a defensive howler from Poulson. The Danes responded well and a defence splitting pass from Kjaer opened it up for Bendtner to nip in and equalise aftet just 15 minutes. Denmark grew stronger with poor marking the order of the day on both sides. Tomasson had his goal bound shot blocked by Song but at the other end Etoo picked up a loose ball only to strike it against the post.

The winning goal came 15 minutes into the second half and was a worthy one. Rommedahl made a clever run down the right and cut in to beat the keeper and score. Webo and Makoun wasted late chances for Cameroon but at least in this game they gave a good account of themselves.

Japan 0, Holland 1

Still not firing on all cylinders, Holland ground out their second win, although Japan kept snapping at them all game. Kuyt and Van der Vaart explored the wings for Holland and Sneijder saw an early shot go over the bar. Matsui controlled much of the game for Japan but their end product let them down.

Into the second hald and Holland grabbed the decisive goal, Sneijder smashed in a curling shot after 52 minutes but the Dutch sat back a little after that. Nakamura was denied by a hooked clearance from Van Persie and Nagatomo made a confident penalty appeal after De Jong floored him. Holland did just enough and look a good bet for the quarter finals.

Sexy football was back today at the Chill Out Bar in Los Cristianos as Dutch fans crammed in to see Holland turn on the syle. Staff and fans joined in the celebrations by showing the colours, even the food came with a hint of orange dressing to brighten up a slightly dull Tenerife day.

Holland  2, Denmark  0

This was a lot easier than the scoreline suggests but the Danes showed a dogged English style resistance as both keepers proved their worth. Arjen Robben wasn’t able to take his place in the Holland line up but they are hoping he will return later in the tournament – a scarey thought for opposition defences.

Denmark started well but Holland grew as the game went on and with Sneijder looking a threat they were unlucky to go in all square. The orange army had barely settled in their seats before the break through came just after the restart. Poulsen tried to head the ball clear when under pressure but it hit Liverpools  Daniel Agger and flew into the goal. Sorensen had to work hard to deny a second but just before the end Elia burst through only to see his shot clip off the post, Dirk Kuyt was on hand to tap it in to ensure a good victory.

Japan 1, Cameroon 0

What was up with the African Lions, no bite, no spirit and their best player Samuel Eto’o was wasted playing out wide, maybe they should have included CD Tenerife player Daniel Kome in the squad. As it was a tidy well organised Japan did just enought to win. Honda was their driving force and given the freedom of the pitch he gladly fired in a winner after 39 minutes.

Italy 1, Paraguay 1

Well we learned something tonight, the dreaded vuvuzelas aren’t even silenced by the rain. It was hammering it down and South Africa seemed more like South Manchester. Italy are notorious slow starters and looked awful for the first hour, Paraguay made the most of it and shortly before half time Alcarez got a strong header on a free kick to make it 1-0.

 Eventually Italy woke up and tried to play some football but it needed another dodgy keeper to let them back in. Paraguays Villar leapt up like a second rate Superman and completely missed the ball leaving De Rossi to equalise. must do better Italy if you want to keep the crown.

I don’t think I have ever seen a more frantic and possibly reckless programme of warm up friendlies for the World Cup. The Chill Out restaurant bar by the tunnel that links the Los Cristianos beaches is a hot bed of Dutch support but a packed crowd experienced mixed fortunes yesterday afternoon.

On the plus side Holland crushed Hungary 6-1 in Amsterdam, but it came at a price. Former Arsenal star Arjen Robben scored twice in the second half but then the Bayern Munich player got carried off with an injured hamstring and is doubtful for the World Cup. We have already seen England’s Rio Ferdinand depart with a training injury and Didier Drogba fell awkwardly in a Ivory Coast friendly and has a possible broken arm, that could be the end of his World cup dream.

Never mind, the future is still orange as far as the regulars at Chill Out are concerned and after a hot noisy game they have only a short run across the beach to cool off in the sea – it’s a great life in Tenerife.