Paraguay beat Japan on penalties to move into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday after the match had finished in a goalless stalemate after extra time.
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.
Fixtures, results, reports and images from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Fernando Torres has yet to spark into life at the World Cup although Spain's Euro 2008 hero has the ideal stage to rediscover his best form in Tuesday's last-16 clash with neighbours Portugal.
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is a serious doubt for the European champions' last-16 clash against neighbours Portugal after spraining an ankle in Friday's 2-1 win over Chile.
Old rivals England and Germany's second-round match will set World Cup betting records spurred by a wave of 'patriotic gambles' on the game, bookmakers said on Saturday.
Germany have got physical problems while England's are mainly in their heads as the two old foes prepare to land the first heavyweight knockout blow in the World Cup on Sunday.
The complete fixtures of the World Cup in SOuth Africa.
Keisuke Honda scored one goal and made another in a scintillating performance for Japan on Thursday but said he is not satisfied with guiding his team into the last 16 at the World Cup finals.
Father Time finally caught up with poor old Italy on Thursday when they were deposed as world champions after suffering a dramatic and shocking 3-2 defeat at the hands of World Cup debutants Slovakia.
Brazil meet Portugal in a mouth-watering finale to the World Cup group matches on Friday after holders Italy were knocked out in a humiliating defeat by tournament debutants Slovakia. The miserable display by Italy, four times world champions, followed the earlier shaming of 2006 losing finalists France, who like their European neighbours finished the first round at the bottom of their group.
Japan, needing only a draw with the Danes to reach the last 16, took a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to two direct free kicks, the first a spectacular long range effort from Keisuke Honda in the 17th minute, the second a curling shot from the edge of the box by Yasuhito Endo.
Live updates from the matches at the football World Cup in South Africa.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi took full responsibility for their humiliating World Cup group stage exit on Thursday, saying he had not trained the team well enough.
Defending world champions Italy were knocked out of the World Cup on Thursday when they lost 3-2 to Slovakia, for whom Robert Vittek scored twice.
Paraguay qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite being held to a goalless draw by a well-organised New Zealand in their Group F match on Thursday.
Oscar Tabarez is just happy to be at the World Cup after a marathon qualification process, the Uruguay coach said on Tuesday after his side beat Mexico 1-0 to make the last 16 as Group A winners.
Paraguay will look to a trio of sharpshooters to see them into the World Cup second round while New Zealand, surprise contenders for a place in the last 16, are hoping luck favours them at last, when the teams meet in their final group game on Thursday.
World champions Italy need a win against Slovakia on Thursday to ensure they stumble into the World Cup second round and all eyes will be on captain Fabio Cannavaro after mistakes in the first two matches led to goals.
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will step on to Centre Court on Monday to face Colombia's Alejandro Falla with the prospect of a record-equalling seventh men's title on his mind.
Paraguay will not settle for less than topping Group F ahead of world champions Italy following their victory over Slovakia on Sunday, striker Roque Santa Cruz said.
Brazil dented more African hopes in the World Cup on Sunday by outclassing Ivory Coast to sweep into the second round.
Defending champions Italy relied on a penalty conversion to save themselves from a famous upset as they were held to a remarkable 1-1 draw by rank outsiders New Zealand in a FIFA World Cup Group F match.
Get the latest updates from all the action in South Africa.
World champions Italy suffered an embarrassing 1-1 draw with underdogs New Zealand in their second World Cup Group F match on Sunday, a result which complicates their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.
Paraguay beat a lacklustre Slovakia 2-0 to move top of Group F on Sunday and close in on a World Cup second round place.
Paraguay aim to extend the South American dominance gripping the World Cup when they face Slovakia on Sunday looking for goals but are wary of being caught out on the counter-attack.
A lack of experience cost Slovakia the chance to lead their World Cup group and the last-minute equaliser they conceded against New Zealand means they will need to cause two big upsets to progress.
Defender Winston Reid was New Zealand's man of the moment. He headed the ball home in the dying seconds to earn the Kiwis a 1-1 draw with Slovakia and secure his country's first ever World Cup point in their Group F opener on Tuesday.
A last gasp goal by Winston Reid gave New Zealand a 1-1 draw with Slovakia in a World Cup Group F match on Tuesday.
When the World Cup draw sent both 2006 finalists to Cape Town for their first matches the locals were delighted but having seen Italy and France in action they could be forgiven for wondering what the fuss is about.
Holders Italy were gifted a goal and a lifeline in their 1-1 Group F draw with Paraguay on Monday where they again took their slow starter tag to extremes.
World champions Italy, traditional slow starters, began the defence of their World Cup title on Monday by coming from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in Group F.
Holders Italy, written off at home as no-hopers to retain their world title and traditionally slow starters, are in danger of being caught napping by in-form Paraguay in their Group F opener on Monday.
Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will quit the national side after the World Cup.
A look at the coaches in charge of the teams at the FIFA World Cup, starting in South Africa, on Friday.
Young Libertad striker Rodolfo Gamarra was a surprise inclusion in Paraguay's 23-man World Cup squad on Monday.
England failed to convince in a 2-1 victory over Japan in their final World Cup warm-up on Sunday and France were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in their penultimate match.
The surprise exclusion of Fabio Grosso from Italy's World Cup party has propelled left back Domenico Criscito into the limelight and placated critics demanding more youth in the Azzurri team. The fresh-faced 23-year-old looks just out of school with his shy smile, soft voice and boyish blonde hair.
Paraguay's preparations for next month's World Cup finals suffered a minor blow on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat by Ireland.
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