JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Ghana carried the hopes of a continent in Africa’s first World Cup on Friday while Brazil’s coach Dunga said their quarter-final with the Netherlands could be one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.

While all of Africa got behind the Black Stars for their attempt to be the first Africans to reach the semi-finals when they face Uruguay on Friday, FIFA threatened to sanction Nigeria for political interference.

JOHANNESBURG, July 2 (Reuters) – Ghana carried the hopes of
a continent in Africa’s first World Cup on Friday while Brazil’s
coach Dunga said their quarter-final with the Netherlands could
be one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.

While all of Africa got behind the Black Stars for their
attempt to be the first Africans to reach the semi-finals when
they face Uruguay on Friday, FIFA threatened to sanction Nigeria
for political interference.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – World Cup shame had swift political repercussions on Wednesday when Nigeria’s president suspended the national team and France’s parliament held an inquest into their side’s dismal failure.

While the competition went into two rest days before the quarter-finals, a senior adviser to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he had suspended the side from international competition for two years following their poor performance in South Africa, where they went out in the first round.

JOHANNESBURG, June 30 (Reuters) – World Cup shame had swift
political repercussions on Wednesday when Nigeria’s president
suspended the national team and France’s parliament held an
inquest into their side’s dismal failure.

While the competition went into two rest days before the
quarter-finals, a senior adviser to Nigerian President Goodluck
Jonathan said he had suspended the side from international
competition for two years following their poor performance in
South Africa, where they went out in the first round.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Paraguay beat Japan in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals while FIFA reversed its resistance to considering goalline technology following two glaring refereeing mistakes.

Paraguay won the penalties 5-3 after the two sides fought a dull match to a goalless stalemate after extra time and will next meet the winner of Tuesday’s later match between Iberian neighbours Spain and Portugal.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – FIFA President Sepp Blatter promised on Tuesday to re-open the file on goalline technology, while warning the French government not to meddle with the running of the country’s Football Federation.

The head of soccer’s governing body, speaking ahead of matches between Japan and Paraguay and Spain and Portugal to settle the last two quarter-final berths, apologised for the mistakes that have blighted the World Cup and said it would be “nonsense” not to re-consider using technology.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – FIFA President Sepp Blatter promised on Tuesday to re-open the file on goalline technology, while warning the French government not to meddle with the running of the country’s Football Federation.

The head of soccer’s governing body, speaking ahead of matches between Japan and Paraguay and Spain and Portugal to settle the last two quarter-final berths, apologised for the mistakes that have blighted the World Cup and said it would be “nonsense” not to re-consider using technology.

JOHANNESBURG, June 29 (Reuters) – FIFA President Sepp
Blatter promised on Tuesday to re-open the file on goalline
technology, while warning the French government not to meddle
with the running of the country’s Football Federation.

The head of soccer’s governing body, speaking ahead of
matches between Japan and Paraguay and Spain and Portugal to
settle the last two quarter-final berths, apologised for the
mistakes that have blighted the World Cup and said it would be
“nonsense” not to re-consider using technology.

JOHANNESBURG, June 29 (Reuters) – Asia’s last survivors
Japan face Paraguay and Spain assault the so far impregnable
defence of Iberian neighbours Portugal on Tuesday as the last
two World Cup quarter-final berths are decided.

Japan, a vastly improved team compared to their form in the
qualification campaign, will want to turn on more of their
recent free flowing style and set-piece quality to beat Paraguay
– one of the less convincing Latin American sides.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The Netherlands clinically ended Slovakia’s giantkilling run at the World Cup on Monday while Brazil finally turned on the style to crush Chile and set up an enticing clash with the Dutch in the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands joined fellow Europeans Germany in the last eight with a 2-1 win over the Slovaks before Brazil switched on the Samba turbo power their fans had been waiting for to beat Chile 3-0, despite a spirited fight by the Latin American underdogs.