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.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The Netherlands clinically ended Slovakia’s giantkilling run at the World Cup on Monday with a goal in each half to join Germany as the second European team in the quarter-finals.

The Dutch were dominant throughout and tiny Slovakia rarely came close to repeating their shock elimination of holders Italy last week, although Robert Vittek scored a consolation penalty just before the whistle.

JOHANNESBURG, June 28 (Reuters) – Slovakia face the mighty
Dutch on Monday hoping to sustain their giantkilling run and
join Germany and Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals,
while England wallow in shame after a humiliating exit.

The Slovaks will have to produce the same kind of form that
knocked out holders Italy in the biggest shock of the group
stage if they are to pull off another miracle against a Dutch
team with a perfect record so far.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Germany thrashed England and Argentina subdued a tough Mexico side on Sunday to storm into the World Cup quarter-finals in matches both marred by controversial refereeing decisions.

Germany, superior in speed, tactics and skill, tore apart pedestrian rivals England 4-1, while Argentina had to work harder to defeat Mexico 3-1.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Slovakia face the mighty Dutch on Monday hoping to keep their giantkilling run alive and join Germany and Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Having already accounted for holders Italy in the group stage, the World Cup debutants will need to be at their very best in Durban against a Netherlands team that have a perfect record so far.

JOHANNESBURG, June 28 (Reuters) – Slovakia face the mighty
Dutch on Monday hoping to keep their giantkilling run alive and
join Germany and Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Having already accounted for holders Italy in the group
stage, the World Cup debutants will need to be at their very
best in Durban against a Netherlands team that have a perfect
record so far.

JOHANNESBURG, June 27 (Reuters) – Germany thrashed England
and Argentina subdued a tough Mexico side on Sunday to storm
into the World Cup quarter-finals in matches both marred by
controversial refereeing decisions.

Germany, superior in speed, tactics and skill, tore apart
pedestrian rivals England 4-1, while Argentina had to work
harder to defeat Mexico 3-1.
The first refereeing blunder came in the opening match when
Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda ruled out a Frank Lampard shot
that had clearly crossed the goal line and would have put
England level 2-2, before Germany took them apart in the second
half.

JOHANNESBURG, June 26 (Reuters) – Ghana carries Africa’s
last hopes as the World Cup starts its nerve-racking knockout
stage on Saturday and Chileans rioted to celebrate their part in
a formidable Latin American charge at the tournament.

Ghana meet the United States who will try to stifle Africa’s
last chance in the first World Cup on their continent and take
revenge for 2006 when they were eliminated by the Black Stars.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Portugal joined Brazil in the last 16 of the World Cup with a scrappy goalless draw on Friday after the early exit of holders Italy plunged them into the same kind of self doubt as European neighbours France.

Ivory Coast became the fifth of six Africans at the tournament finals to be eliminated despite scoring a convincing 3-0 victory over North Korea. They would have needed a giant score to get through — and for Portugal to lose — but showed no sign of that despite weak opposition from the Asians.