World Cup 2010 Photo Gallery

[Sun Jian]

Nicklas Bendtner does a good job of trapping an awkward ball

Simon Poulsen and Dirk Kuyt compete for a loose ball

Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg makes a spectacular looking save early in the second half

Denmark's Simon Pulsen gets his defensive headed clearance completely wrong and succeeds only in diverting the ball goalwards

Shock and awe: Thomas Sorenson can only watch as Simon Poulsen's misguided header drifts past him and into the net


​

 

[Sun Jian]

The Dutch revel in Simon Poulsen's misfortune with Robin van Persie receiving the plaudits for the assist.

Thomas Sorenson bravely halts the threatening progress of Robin van Persie

Wesley Sneijder jumps the shirt swapping gun by making a play for Simon Kjaer's mid way through the second half

Mark van Bommel and Christian Poulsen compete in an aerial battle

Eljero Elia maintains his composure to beat the onrushing Thomas Sorenson


​

 

[Sun Jian]

Dirk Kuyt finds himself in the right place at the right time to convert after Elia's effort rebounded off the post


<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=s1) -->​

<table class="image" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Daniel Agger cannot hide his disappointment as Holland celebrate their second goal

Lars Jacobsen seeks consolation in his own net as defeat beckons

Simon Poulsen goes some way to atoning for his earlier error with an acrobatic goal line clearance

Dirk Kuyt, kitted out in Liverpool team mate Daniel Agger's shirt, receives a warm welcome from coach Bert van Marwijk at the end of the game


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Terrifying: a couple of smurfs reveal themselves to be Japan fans ahead of their World Cup opener with Cameroon.

Japan pose for the obligatory squad shot knowing a victory would silence a large number of doubters.

Cameroon prepare: ... while Cameroon know a win will go a long way towards qualification.

Eyong Enoh (r) gives Daisuke Matsui the brush off, sending the Japanese midfielder to the slippery ground.

Playmaker Keisuke Honda (r) is held off by Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

​

<!-- google_ad_section_start(name=s2, weight=1.0) -->

Midfield battle: both sides struggle to impose their own individuality on the match with every ball being scrapped for.​

Japan is well-known for their love of professional wrestling, and Yuichi Komano expresses this by slamming Eric Choupo-Moting to the ground.

Souleymanou Hamidou is clattered into during a rare move into the Cameroon box.

A loving embrace is shared by Keisuke Honda (l) and Samuel Eto'o, with the latter slightly envious of Honda's golden locks.

Va-Va-Voom: the ball evades the entire Cameroon defence...

​

​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

With aplomb: ... but Keisuke Honda's left foot is probably Japan's most valuable asset at this tournament and it steers the ball into the net.

Flying high: the goalscorer is hoisted upon his teammates in jubilation.

Goalkeeper Elji Kawashima's expression of shock could derive from two things - his surprise that Cameroon have had a shot at goal,
or the fact that saving it was a lot easier than Rob Green made it look.

Don't try it at home: Marcus Tulio Tanaka completely disregards the age-old advice of not shutting your eyes when heading a ball.

Not content with a goal, Keisuke Honda (r) now wants Pierro Webo's shirt.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Big punch: goalkeeper Elji Kawashima gets the ball clear as teammate Marcus Tulio Tanaka takes a bang to the head.

Daisuke Matsui takes to the air above Benoit Assou-Ekotto in a very tight second half.

Eyes on the prize: a fiercely contested duel between Yuto Nagomoto and Eric Choupo-Moting sums up the workmanlike style of the contest.

Both teams can merely look on as Stephane Mbia rattles a 30 yard strike against the crossbar as Cameroon push for an equaliser.

Mbia's strike comes after Japan striker Shinji Okazaki has smashed the woodwork as well.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Eiji Kawashima makes a great stop from Pierre Webo in the dying moments of the game.

Off with a bang: joyous celebrations greet Japan's first World Cup win off home soil.

Dejected in defeat: after playing on the right wing for the majority of the match, Samuel Eto'o applauds his travelling support
knowing his side have a lot to do in order to qualify for the next stage.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

The skipper from 2006, Fabio Cannavaro, gives the ball an early wallop.

Forza vuvuzela: a fan takes in, and blasts out, the festivities before Italy begin their defence of the World Cup against Paraguay in Cape Town.

Full nelson: striker Nelson Valdez (r) successfully wins the ball with Gianluca Zambrotta a mere bystander.

Cristian Riveros (r) leaves a lasting impression on Riccardo Montolivo.

The hard man of the Italy midfield, Daniele De Rossi (l), strides forward away from Cristian Riveros.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Claudio Marchisio will be charged with providing Italy with some nice passing through the middle.

Gianluigi Buffon wishes he'd decided to wear long sleeves as the rain batters down in Cape Town.

Contested: it's not hard to tell which one is the rugged centre back, as Giorgio Chellini (l) revels in the aerial challenge with Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios.

Vicenzo Iaquinta (r) gets a boot in the thigh from Claudio Morel Rodriguez.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Escape from Alcaraz: Paraguay take the lead after Antolin Alcaraz nods past Gianluigi Buffon.

Married to the mob: scorer of Paraguay's opener Antolin Alcaraz is mobbed by team mate Nelson Valdez.

Enrique Vera evades the wrath of Domenico Criscito's tackle, as the second half gets into full swing.

Yeah I know: a very ambitious attempt of a bicycle kick from Italy midfielder Pepe is very reminiscent of a certain Nationwide World Cup advertisement.

The bossi: a goalkeeping howler from a corner allows Daniele De Rossi to tap in at the far post under pressure from Lucas Barrios.


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

De Rossi (2nd from r) may be on his way to the ground but he's put his side level against Paraguay.

Joy of six: goalscorer Daniele De Rossi wheels away after equalising for Italy.

Substitute Mauro Camoranesi is shown a yellow card by Mexican referee Benito Archundia in what has been an attritional contest.

Not this time: Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar ensures there's no repeat of his mistake which led to Italy's equaliser, despite attention from Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Fabio Cannavaro (r) and Roque Santa Cruz share an embrace at the end of their 1-1 draw.


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

New Zealand fans get behind their side in Rustenburg

Slovakian fans show their colours at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium

New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston ventures off his line to block the shot

New Zealand's Tony Lochhead challenges for the header

New Zealand striker Rory Fallon rises for the header

New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Pason clears the ball


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Goalbound: Slovakia striker Robert Vittek heads home to open the scoring

Robert Vittek's header puts Slovakia in front on 50 minutes

Robert Vittek starts the celebrations after scoring Slovakia's first ever World Cup goal

Players scramble in the New Zealand penalty box


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Slovakia's Roland Vittek vies with Winston Reid of New Zealand

Slovakia's defender Martin Skrtel (left) fights for the ball with New Zealand's striker Rory Fallon

Winston Reid scores a dramatic injury time equaliser for New Zealand

New Zealand's players celebrate their first goal of the 2010 World Cup

All smiles: the New Zealand team celebrate with supporters at the full time whistle, having claimed their first World Cup point


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Portugal XI: Carlos Queiroz' starting line up ahead of the game

Ivory Coast XI: Sven Goran Eriksson's players take to the field

Waiting game: Didier Drogba, passed fit before the game, takes his seat on the Ivory Coast bench

Cristiano Ronaldo forgets his vuvuzela

Cristiano gets his first taste of World Cup 2010 action against the Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran Eriksson settles down for another World Cup campaign


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Cristiano Ronaldo winds up to strike a free kick goalwards

Portuguese trio Pedro Mendes (L) Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul Meireles (R) paint
a picture of disbelief after the Portuguese captain's free kick cannoned off the post

Chelsea forward Saloman Kalou hurdles a challenge from Pedro Mendes

Portugal substitute Miguel Veloso takes decisive action to combat the deafening drone of vuvuzelas

Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself in the middle of a hostile Ivory Coast crowd

Substitute Didier Drogba cannot help but get involved by offering a word advice to team mate Guy Demel


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Liedson of Portugal plays the role of good samaritan for the struggling Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry

Cristiano plays the innocent card in front of referee Jorge Larrionda

Portsmouth striker Aruna Dindane gets that familiar sinking feeling as he takes an elaborate tumble against Portugal

Salmon Kalou: like a fish out of water Saloman Kalou throws his head at the ball

He's behind you: Ivory Coast captain Kolo Toure powers of deception work a treat as he leaves two Portugal players scratching their heads

Fallen elephant: Ivory Coast forward Gervinho shows his torment as the deadlock remains unbroken


​

 

[Yuan Shao]

Didier Drogba takes to the field in the puring rain to complete his recovery from a broken arm

Cristiano Ronaldo is forced to take evasive action to avoid a strong challenge from Yaya Toure

Paulo Ferreira and Bruno Alves pair up to close down the advancing Gervinho

Ivory Coast captain Kolo Toure receives some improvised treatment as the labours of World Cup football take their toll

Cristiano Ronaldo's spectacular effort fails to beat the Ivory Coast wall


<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=s1) -->​

<table class="image" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Friend or foe: two of the World Cup's brightest stars enjoy a cosy moment


​

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Brazil XI: Dunga's starting line up to face North Korea

North Korea XI: Kim Jong-hun's starting line up to face Brazil

Crying game: the national anthem proves to be all too much for North Korea striker Jong Tae-se

Robinho displays some silky skills early on against North Korea to evade two defenders

Brazil playmaker Kaka meanders his way through a North Korean defensive triangle


​