Casillas saved a penalty from Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo and made a crucial double block at the end of Spain’s 1-0 win to thwart attempted equalizers by Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz.

“Casillas has been extraordinary. He made two magnificent stops and he certainly contributed to our success,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told reporters after the match.

Striker David Villa’s goal with seven minutes remaining at Ellis Park sent Spain through to a last four clash with Germany, who thrashed Argentina 4-0 earlier in the day.

Casillas’s 59th-minute penalty save had, however, crucially kept the scores at 0-0 when a goal would have been a big blow to a Spanish side that had the bulk of possession but could not find a way through a well-organized Paraguay defense.

Casillas said after the game that reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina had told him which way to dive, suggesting Cardozo would not go the same way as he did in the penalty shootout with Japan.

“The match was enough to give you a heart attack. A lot of thanks go to Reina who told me which way he was going to shoot,” he said.

Spain’s team and bench rushed onto the field and mobbed Casillas at the end of the game.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino echoed Del Bosque’s comments on the Real Madrid keeper, saying Spain’s captain played a key role in his side’s defeat.

“Undoubtedly he has been decisive,” he said.

(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)

The Dutch face the South Americans in the last four at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday as favorites to reach the final of the world’s biggest soccer tournament.

Van Marwijk said there was always a risk of losing focus after a surprise win, especially against a big team like Brazil.

“I think the next game is a very dangerous game. This is the moment that I have already talked about for two years,” he told a press briefing following a training session in Johannesburg.

“When you beat Brazil and you are in the last four of the World Cup then there is a next game coming and the next game is Uruguay. They are fighters and we have to be very focused.”

Uruguay beat Ghana, the last African side in the World Cup, on Friday after a penalty shootout to reach their first semi-final in 40 years but will be without striker Luis Suarez, who was sent off for handling the ball on the line.

STAYING FOCUSED

Van Marwijk said losing Suarez would not significantly weaken Uruguay because they have good replacements.

The Dutch were also not thinking about a possible final and did not care at this stage who the opponents might be, should they beat Uruguay.

“I don’t think that way. When you want to be world champions you have to win every game,” he said, adding that looking too far ahead was risky.

“The message to the team is to keep concentrating day-by-day, match-by-match and that is what we are going to do.”

Dutch striker Robin van Persie was taken to hospital for a scan on an arm injury, while defender Joris Mathijsen was also in hospital to check on a knee problem.

Both players did not train on Saturday, with the session only for those who did not play a full match against Brazil.

Van Marwijk said the injury to Van Persie, who played 85 minutes on Friday, was not serious and his form had improved.

“I think Robin played better against Brazil in the last game so I have a lot of confidence in Robin van Persie,” he said.

Van Persie reacted angrily when he was replaced 10 minutes before the end of the 2-1 win against Slovakia in the first knockout round, remonstrating with the coach.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

A relatively trouble-free competition, dispelling earlier fears criminals would target visitors, have helped lure more soccer fans, particularly from South America.

“The numbers already indicate that the numbers of people coming to this country are far higher than anybody thought,” Gordhan told reporters at the Soccer City stadium that will host the final match on July 11.

“At one stage we were talking about 300 and something thousand and then down to 250,000 and probably we’re closer to the 500,000 figure now. In June alone, there were about 200,000 people that came in … that’s where the revenue would come in.”

South Africa had originally expected about 450,000 foreigners but a global downturn and media reports abroad about high violent crime rates had seen ticket sales outside the country, and that estimate, fall sharply.

WELL ATTENDED

However, fans have largely been safe, with no major incidents of violent crime and games over the past three weeks have been well attended.

Gordhan said it was encouraging to see more South American visitors, which was not traditionally a source of tourists to South Africa. Four teams from South America, including soccer powerhouses Brazil and Argentina, are in the quarter-finals.

The extra fans could lead to a higher boost to the economy than the government’s estimate of 0.4 percentage points added to economic growth this year.

“Again in a month or two I’ll be able to give more accurate data,” he said. “Clearly people are coming into South Africa in large numbers, they are spending money in substantial amounts as well.”

Gordhan said the tournament had helped create about 130,000 jobs, mostly in construction leading up to the event.

But the most important benefit of the World Cup was the legacy it would leave, especially the improved image portrayed to the world that may attract more tourists in future and the new infrastructure that will serve its people for generations.

“Today South Africa is on the map … we have developed a reputation of a country that can deliver,” he said.

South Africa’s national government spent just under 34 billion rand ($4.40 billion) over the past six years to prepare for the tournament, with more than 13 billion rand on improving public transport alone.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

The top scorer at the 1966 Cup also urged the media and public not to be too hard on England’s Wayne Rooney and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who he said had tried but failed to reach their full potential in South Africa.

Eusebio and Germany’s Gerd Mueller, Golden Boot winner at the 1970 World Cup, picked Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, Spain’s David Villa and Thomas Mueller of Germany to fight it out for the 2010 top scorer award.

But for Eusebio, Messi is the star.

“I have no doubt that this little player who happens to be Argentinean, Messi, will be the best player of this tournament,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

FIFA World Player of the Year Messi is still waiting for his first goal in the competition but has played brilliantly, coming close repeatedly and setting up his teammates while helping his country canter through to the quarter-finals.

A rejuvenated Argentina, after a poor qualifying campaign, face Germany in the last eight on Friday. The Golden Boot is awarded to the top goalscorer while the Golden Ball goes to the best player.

BRAZIL TO WIN

Eusebio picked Brazil to win their sixth trophy, but was less sure which team would challenge them in the final, and shied away from criticizing compatriot Ronaldo for a less than convincing tournament.

“Unfortunately for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo did not do very well in this championship, but I am not going to condemn him for that,” he said.

“I have also played in the past and I can understand players are in good or bad form.”

Portugal lost to Spain in the second round, with Ronaldo, World Player of the Year in 2008, scoring just one goal which came during the team’s 7-0 rout of North Korea.

However, Eusebio said his country were unlucky not to made it through to the quarter-finals.

“I believe Portugal played very well, we were beaten by Spain, by 1-0, and a very doubtful goal,” he said.

Villa scored the winner for Spain, which some Portuguese players said should have been disallowed for offside.

Eusebio also defended Brazil’s Kaka for being sent off against Ivory Coast for a second yellow card after allegedly elbowing Abdelkader Keita, saying he fell foul of the antics of other players and a “sleeping” linesman.

“I know Kaka very well, he is a true professional … in this particular case I saw Kaka being provoked by the other player, I didn’t see him touch the other player,” he said.

“What I believe also is that maybe the linesman shouldn’t fall asleep.”

(Editing by Michael Holden)

The top scorer at the 1966 Cup also urged the media and
public not to be too hard on England’s Wayne Rooney and
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who he said had tried but failed
to reach their full potential in South Africa.
Eusebio and Germany’s Gerd Mueller, Golden Boot winner at
the 1970 World Cup, picked Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain,
Spain’s David Villa and Thomas Mueller of Germany to fight it
out for the 2010 top scorer award.

But for Eusebio, Messi is the star.

“I have no doubt that this little player who happens to be
Argentinean, Messi, will be the best player of this tournament,”
he told reporters in Johannesburg.

FIFA World Player of the Year Messi is still waiting for his
first goal in the competition but has played brilliantly, coming
close repeatedly and setting up his teammates while helping his
country canter through to the quarter-finals.

A rejuvenated Argentina, after a poor qualifying campaign,
face Germany in the last eight on Friday. The Golden Boot is
awarded to the top goalscorer while the Golden Ball goes to the
best player.

BRAZIL TO WIN

Eusebio picked Brazil to win their sixth trophy, but was
less sure which team would challenge them in the final, and
shied away from criticising compatriot Ronaldo for a less than
convincing tournament.

“Unfortunately for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo did not do
very well in this championship, but I am not going to condemn
him for that,” he said.

“I have also played in the past and I can understand players
are in good or bad form.”

Portugal lost to Spain in the second round, with Ronaldo,
World Player of the Year in 2008, scoring just one goal which
came during the team’s 7-0 rout of North Korea.

However, Eusebio said his country were unlucky not to made
it through to the quarter-finals.

“I believe Portugal played very well, we were beaten by
Spain, by 1-0, and a very doubtful goal,” he said.

Villa scored the winner for Spain, which some Portuguese
players said should have been disallowed for offside.

Eusebio also defended Brazil’s Kaka for being sent off
against Ivory Coast for a second yellow card after allegedly
elbowing Abdelkader Keita, saying he fell foul of the antics of
other players and a “sleeping” linesman.

“I know Kaka very well, he is a true professional … in
this particular case I saw Kaka being provoked by the other
player, I didn’t see him touch the other player,” he said.

“What I believe also is that maybe the linesman shouldn’t
fall asleep.”
(Editing by Michael Holden)

The Dutch, despite winning all four games they have played in the tournament, have been criticised by fans and media for not showing their usual attacking flair.

Babel said the main focus was winning and the team’s lack of flair was more about their opponents than them. This should change in Friday’s game against free-scoring Brazil at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

“I think it is always difficult to play against teams that don’t want to play football, who are waiting for you,” Babel said a day after Netherlands beat Slovakia 2-1 in the last 16.

“We play our better games against teams that want to play football as well and, on Friday, Brazil is not going to wait so maybe we can play better than yesterday.”

An early strike by winger Arjen Robben, in his first start after injury, set Netherlands on their way and Wesley Sneijder slotted a second before a late consolation goal for Slovakia.

Netherlands topped Group E after wins against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

Babel said the team was not paying attention to critics.

“We don’t really take any interest in that kind of criticism. At the end when we win the tournament, nobody will talk about the style of football that we have been using.”

Coach Bert van Marwijk said five-time champions Brazil would be quick to punish any mistakes “so it’s really important to not lose the ball, let’s say, in the axis of the field.”

Brazil are also unbeaten so far in South Africa, crushing their first knockout round opponent Chile 3-0 on Monday.

(Reporting by Gordon Bell, Editing by Nigel Hunt)

Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the foreigners were denied entry because their names appeared on South Africa’s Visa and Entry Stop List, and lists of people to watch out for provided by Interpol and soccer governing body FIFA.

“The 613 foreign travellers were detected through South Africa’s movement-control system launched in May this year,” he said, without saying how many of those barred from entering the country were suspected soccer hooligans.

South Africa has deported or barred dozens of suspected hooligans from countries including England and Argentina during the World Cup that started on June 11, after asking other nations to help keep troublemakers out.

So far, games have gone ahead without any major incident.

The government has said it has systems in place to protect fans and that its intelligence units were cooperating with international agencies to ensure against any possible terrorist threat.

Zimbabwe police last week detained two Pakistani men attempting to enter South Africa, one of whom had an international arrest warrant out for him for terrorism, according to media reports.

Mamoepa said South African Home Affairs airline liaison officers in Dubai had prevented another two Pakistanis from boarding flights to the country after they were found to have fraudulent temporary resident permits.

More than 2.1 million foreign travellers had arrived in South Africa in June, 523,798 more than visited South Africa during the same month in 2009, he said.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

The Argentine-born coach was not pleased with Paraguay’s performance in a disappointing 0-0 draw against New Zealand that was enough to take them into the last 16.

They now face Japan in the second round on Tuesday.

“We were not very mobile and we were quite inaccurate,” he told reporters after the match. “We had a lot of problems in an area where we didn’t expect, and that was in attack.”

They were solid in defence though, conceding only one goal in three matches against Italy in the first game.

“I think Paraguay had an excellent aspect to the defensive part in the three matches, we were very good defensively,” Martino said.

Paraguay, ranked 31st in the world by FIFA, topped Group F but managed just one win against Slovakia and scored only three goals despite a trio of top-class strikers in Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez.

All three were on the field at the end of the New Zealand game and yet they failed to convert a number of opportunities.

RAISE GAME

Martino said the side would have to raise their game to get through to the quarter-finals.

Last 16 opponents Japan overpowered Denmark on Thursday, scoring three goals and have been transformed from the side that lost a series of friendlies leading into the tournament.

Santa Cruz said the players were not happy with their showing against New Zealand but the important thing was that they had made it through the group.

“Maybe today we had the feeling that we weren’t altogether happy with ourselves .. we had opportunities and we should have put them away,” he said.

“I think we were not as patient as we should have been.”

Santa Cruz said a quarter-final berth would be a job well done for Paraguay but added that once they were there, anything was possible.

“We would have considered it a very good World Cup if we were to get to the quarter-finals, that for us is good enough and after that it is a dream,” he said.

“But we have the wherewithal to make it further.”

(Editing by Michael Holden)

The Argentine-born coach was not pleased with Paraguay’s
performance in a disappointing 0-0 draw against New Zealand that
was enough to take them into the last 16.

They now face Japan in the second round on Tuesday.

“We were not very mobile and we were quite inaccurate,” he
told reporters after the match. “We had a lot of problems in an
area where we didn’t expect, and that was in attack.”

They were solid in defence though, conceding only one goal
in three matches against Italy in the first game.

“I think Paraguay had an excellent aspect to the defensive
part in the three matches, we were very good defensively,”
Martino said.

Paraguay, ranked 31st in the world by FIFA, topped Group F
but managed just one win against Slovakia and scored only three
goals despite a trio of top-class strikers in Roque Santa Cruz,
Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez.

All three were on the field at the end of the New Zealand
game and yet they failed to convert a number of opportunities.

RAISE GAME

Martino said the side would have to raise their game to get
through to the quarter-finals.

Last 16 opponents Japan overpowered Denmark on Thursday,
scoring three goals and have been transformed from the side that
lost a series of friendlies leading into the tournament.

Santa Cruz said the players were not happy with their
showing against New Zealand but the important thing was that
they had made it through the group.

“Maybe today we had the feeling that we weren’t altogether
happy with ourselves .. we had opportunities and we should have
put them away,” he said.

“I think we were not as patient as we should have been.”

Santa Cruz said a quarter-final berth would be a job well
done for Paraguay but added that once they were there, anything
was possible.

“We would have considered it a very good World Cup if we
were to get to the quarter-finals, that for us is good enough
and after that it is a dream,” he said.

“But we have the wherewithal to make it further.”
(Editing by Michael Holden)

The All Whites, one of the lowest ranked sides in soccer’s biggest competition and with no big name players, ended the group stage unbeaten, after holding more accomplished teams, including world champions Italy, to draws.

“I think I need to probably pinch myself … we’ve finished in the top 24 in the world,” coach Ricki Herbert said after the final Group F match against Paraguay saw New Zealand finish third in the group on 3 points after three draws.

Most experts saw the side that has only one player from a major soccer league — captain Ryan Nelsen plays for England’s Blackburn Rovers — as the whipping boys of the group.

Herbert said there were great things to come from a young team, with most of the players likely to be around for the next World Cup in 2014 in Brazil.

“I think when you look at the team, 85 percent of it can go on to the 2014 programme and there are not a lot of sides that are in that position,” he said.

“The future looks extremely bright for this team.”

RUGBY-MAD

The hype generated from the tournament, which saw usually rugby-mad New Zealanders glued to screens watching their unheralded side, might also lead to a few more youngsters taking up soccer and spreading the selection pool.

A survey by Sport and Recreation New Zealand two years ago showed that only 5.5 percent of New Zealanders over 16 years of old had played soccer at least once in the previous year. The country’s total population is about 4.3 million people.

Many of the squad are still aged in their 20s with standout players Tommy Smith and Winston Reid only 20 and 22 respectively.

Those two helped form a solid defence alongside Nelsen that conceded only one goal from open play, against Slovakia. With a debatable penalty awarded to Italy, the team let in two goals in three games.

Herbert coaxed Smith back from England and persuaded Reid to play for New Zealand after the tall defender represented Denmark at under-19 and under-21 level.

The coach, who played in New Zealand’s only other World Cup in 1982 that ended in three heavy defeats, said the team raised their game and urged the world to take notice.

“I think right across the board players have really grown in stature. Everyone has played well and I can’t find anyone who has not contributed at the highest level.”

With neighbours Australia now competing in the Asia qualifiers, New Zealand have an easier path to the World Cup through the Oceania division and may well see many more tournaments.

However, opponents will be more wary of them in future.

(Editing by Michael Holden)