ITALIANS OUT

The latest big shocker at the Fifa World Cup South Africa 2010, has the four-time, defending Champion Italians going home after losing to Slovakia 3-1. TWO uncharacteristic lapses in the Italian Catenaccio defensive system led to goals by Robert Vittek in the 25th, and 73rd minute which put the Slovaks up 2-0, then Antonio Di Natale scored in 81st. Then, as Di Natale tried to get the ball back into play, Slovak keeper Jan Mucha punched him during a scuffle, and was lucky to get off with a yellow. Then, in the 89th, The Italian keeper missed a through ball, which allowed Kopunek to apply the coup de grace. Italy did score in stoppage, but it was not enough.

SHOCKER!!!

The first major upset of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa happened this afternoon in Durban, as 24th-ranked Switzerland defeated 2nd-ranked Spain
1-0. After a loss to the USA last year in the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, one could be excused for thinking that the European Champion Spainiards do not like South Africa very much.

This score is even more shocking, considering the fact that the Spainiards outshot the Swiss by a huge margin. All in all, a brilliant performance by the Swiss.

World Cup First Weekend-"Hand Of Clod", Greece was not the word, Socceroos blown out & more

The first weekend of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa is over, and there have been some major developments....

South Africa-Mexico-The host nation led off the tournament with a 1-1 draw vs the Mexicans, which left the home crowd more than happy.

Uruguay-France-The Uruguayans played a very dour, defensive match, as they held the French to a goaless draw.

South Korea-Greece-The South Koreans held the Greeks down, as they scored a 2-nil victory.

Argentina-Nigeria-Diego Maradona made a successful World Cup debut as coach, as the Argentines won 1-nil.

USA-England-The much advertised match in Rustenberg featured what the News Of The World called the "Hand Of Clod" goal(a reference to the infamous 1986 Maradona "Hand Of God" goal, where he scored a goal with his hand, and the refreees missed it) as Robert Green fumbled Clint Dempsey's shot, and it went into his own net, and the match ended 1-1, which was appropriate considering the run of the play was relatively even.

Slovenia-Algeria-The Slovenians scored their only goal of the match in the 79th minute, as Koren scored on an assist from Jokic, against the Algerians, who were playing with 10 men after Ghezzal Abdel was red-carded in the 73rd.

Ghana-Serbia-The Serbs, like the Algerians, had to play short after Lukovic was red-carded in the 74th, then lost the match when defender Kuzmanovic tried to make like an american football pass reciever in his penalty area. Gyan scored on the ensuing penalty, to give the Ghanans an upset 1-0 victory.

Uruguayan defense holds French to draw

In the opening Group A match of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, a stifling Uruguayan defense overcame playing with only 10 men to hold the 1998 champion France to a Nil-nil draw.

Everytime French star Franck Ribery touched the ball, the uruguayans collapsed all over him, which kept the French attack stifled. Unfortunately, such dour defensive football plays into the stereotypes many older Americans have about world football, which is why they don't watch. This goaless draw is certain to increase the pressure on embattled French coach Raymond Domenech, who is not guaranteed a job after the tournament.

Game 3-The Flyers are still alive

Game three brought the first OT game of these finals, the Flyers needed it, and Claude Giroux made sure they got it 4-3.

This game was the best game of the finals so far, as the teams found a happy medium between the wide-open, no defense game one, and the ultra-defensive game two.