[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The U9 Boys from Boca Raton, FL

By Nubia Rose, publisher, May 08, 2011

Team Boca White Gets Second Place on The Palm Beach Cup 2011 Tournament

Rampant Germany oust Argentina

Germany are through to the semi-finals after producing another masterful performance to beat Argentina 4-0 at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium. Diego Maradona’s Albiceleste came into this match with high hopes of avenging their quarter-final defeat in 2006 but they ultimately had no answer to a slick, powerful German side who will now face either Spain or Paraguay in the last four.

Games as eagerly-anticipated as this one often disappoint, but this particular encounter took just three minutes to catch fire as Joachim Low’s side snatched an early advantage. Bastian Schweinsteiger provided the assist with a superbly judged inswinging free-kick, and with Sergio Romero caught in no man’s land, Thomas Muller applied the slightest of headed touches to flick the ball into the net. It was Germany’s 200th FIFA World Cup™ goal, their fastest in 32 years and the quickest so far at South Africa 2010. The only downside for Low’s side was that it left Argentina with 87 minutes to respond.

However, it was the Germans who continued to carve out the better chances, with Miroslav Klose – winning his 100th cap – firing wastefully over from the edge of the box after some outstanding, unselfish set-up play from Muller. Argentina attempted to grab a foothold, with Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain creating decent shooting positions, but on each occasion Manuel Neuer proved equal to their goal-bound efforts. For more . please got www.fifa.com

__________________________________________________________________

Germany-Argentina Preview 

Quarter-final opponents back in 2006, Argentina and Germany are ready to cross swords again in Cape Town on Saturday. Up for grabs is a place in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. With five world titles between them, La Albiceleste and Die Nationalmannschaft are two of the world’s most successful national outfits. Expectation is high ahead of their latest duel, especially with both sides in such vibrant form and memories of Germany’s tense penalty shoot-out triumph four years ago still fresh.

The match
Argentina-Germany, Cape Town, 3 July, 16.00

Argentina have been in flawless form to date, winning all three of their group games before disposing of Mexico in the Round of 16. Much-questioned before the tournament, coach Diego Maradona seems to have identified his best line-up, one that naturally includes Lionel Messi, a mere bit-part player at Germany 2006. The Argentinians can also take heart from their 1-0 defeat of the Germans in a March friendly in Munich, the only goal of the game coming from Gonzalo Higuain, who has been in scintillating form in South Africa.

In the last eight for an amazing 15th time in a row, Germany won Group D despite a surprise reverse against Serbia. Impressive against both Australia and Ghana, Joachim Low’s side turned on the power against England in the last round, swamping them 4-1 in a superb display of attacking football. These two giants of the world game have met five times before in the competition’s history. The Germans hold sway with three victories to Argentina’s solitary win in the Mexico 1986 Final. The other game, a group match at England 1966, ended in a goalless draw.

For more go to www.fifa.com

__________________________________________________________________

Paraguay-Spain preview

Paraguay and Spain might share the same language but they have entirely different approaches to playing football. While the South Americans have made stoic defence one of their hallmarks, the reigning European champions are committed to a possession-based, attacking game. Those contrasting approaches will be set in even clearer focus when the two sides meet in Johannesburg on Saturday evening. The reward for the winners is a place in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The team that comes out on top will be making history. In the last eight for the fifth time, Spain have never reached the semi-finals, although they did finish fourth at Brazil 1950 when the Trophy was decided by a four-team final group phase. As for La Albirroja they ave already broken new ground and are intent on venturing further.

The match
Paraguay-Spain, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 3 July, 20.30

__________________________________________________________________

Getty Images

Brazil Defeats Chile

Brazil completed a hat-trick of victories over Chile at the FIFA World Cup™ by beating their South American rivals 3-0 to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands.

Dunga’s side took control of the Round of 16 contest with two goals in quick succession in the last ten minutes of the first half through Juan and Luis Fabiano. Robinho added the third to inflict further punishment on the Chileans who may have ended a 48-year wait for a FIFA World Cup win in South Africa but evidently have not worked out how to better their old nemesis.

Brazil defeated Chile in the 1962 semi-finals and at this same stage of the 1998 tournament in France, scoring four goals in each game. They also beat La Roja home and away in qualifying for South Africa and even in the goalless opening 33 minutes at Ellis Park, there was scant evidence of a different outcome. Although Chile, playing in all white, had a larger share of possession in the opening quarter-hour, Brazil carried the greater goal threat from the off.

 For more please go to www.fifa.com      

___________________________________________________________________

Brasil despidió a Chile sin despeinarse en el choque sudamericano de octavos de final