FIFA World Cup 2010 Match Facts For the Quarter Finals
Over the next two days the quarter final stage of the tournament will be taking place, the following are some key facts for those games.
In the first quarter final Brazil will take on Netherlands at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Dutch have barely scored more than two goals in one of their previous twenty seven World Cup matches. The last two time the Dutch made it past the second round of the tournament, they faced Brazil, they were defeated by the Brazilians and hence eliminated both those times. Wesley Sneijder has scored an astonishing four goals in his last six international appearances for the country. Twenty of the last twenty three goals that Netherlands have scored have been from open play.
Brazil have managed to only let four goals get past them in the last eleven matches that they have played. Luis Fabiano has netted thirteen goals in thirteen appearances for the Brazilian national team. Juan’s goal against Chile, was Brazil’s first goal from a set piece at the World Cup since Ronaldinhos free kick against England goal keeper David Seamman way back in 2002. Out of the previous three meetings between these two teams, Brazil have won twice and Netherlands have only won once.
The next match on the same day, is going to take place between Uruguay and Ghana. Uruguay are now on a six match unbeaten run. Uruguay have made the quarter finals for the first time since 1970. Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan have both managed to net three goals at the tournament so far. Suarez has managed to score fifty five goals in sixty one appearances for his club and country this season so far. And Gyan is only the second player from Africa to have scored four goals at the World Cup. Ghana are now only the third African side to make it to the quarter finals. All three of Forlans goal so far have come against African sides.
Argentina will take on Germany for the early kick off on Saturday. In their last meeting Argentina defeated Germany one goal to nil. In the World Cup however the last time these teams met, in 2006, Germany won on penalties. Germany have scored only four goals in their last six quarter final matches. Higuain has scored five goals in his five appearances for Argentina under Maradona. Argentina have won all nine matches that they have played in 2010 so far. Germany have only failed to score off one of the last eighteen penalties that they have taken so far at the World Cup.
The last quarter final will take place between Paraguay and Spain. These teams have met three times in the past, two of those matches have been draws and Spain won the other match. Paraguay will be playing in their first every quarter final match at the World Cup. Spain have never managed to win a quarter final match. The Spanish are currently unbeaten in their last five matches against teams from South America. Paraguay have only managed to win two of their thirteen matches against European sides. Roque Santa Cruz last scored for Paraguay eight years ago. Xavi created up to eight goal scoring chances for his team, that’s the most any one has created in a single game at the World Cup so far.
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