World Cup 2010 Photo Gallery

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Mun In-guk streaks away from Gilberto Silva

Brazil's Maicon and North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun find themselves heading in very different directions

While Brazil coach Dunga delivers contradictory instructions to his players

North Korea midfielder Mun In-guk launches himself over the sliding challenge of Michel Bastos

Divine intervention: Robinho makes a plea to a higher power as Brazil are frustrated early on by a resilient North Korean side

North Korea striker Jong Tae-se holds off the towering Lucio


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[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Guess who: Luis Fabiano remained a hidden force throughout the first half

Play acting: Kaka lays spread eagled on the Ellis Park turf

Michel Bastos keeps up a Brazilian left back tradition by adopting free kick duty

Maicon's cross cum shot swerves emphatically goalwards

Curve ball: Maicon will have no complaints about the Jabulani match ball after watching his strike swerve between goalkeeper and post

Robinho rushes to congratulate team mate Maicon whose emphatic goal gave Brazil a long awaited lead


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[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Maicon welcomes the adulation from the crowd

Elano's controlled finish beats the despairing dive of Ri Myong-won for Brazil's second

Elano is delighted with his goal that doubled Brazil's advantage

Historic strike: Ji Yun-nam capitalises on some Brazilian hesitancy in defence to register a shock goal for North Korea

Moment savoured: a magical moment for North Korean football as Ji Yun-nam celebrates his goal against World Cup giants Brazil


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[Guile]

Optimistic: One Chile fan is already dreaming of seeing his side lift the trophy on July 11

The Chile team pose for a team photo before kick-off against Honduras

Honduras prepare for their first World Cup match since 1982

Chile's Matias Fernandez attempts to open the scoring against Chile from a free-kick

Alexis Sanchez (left) battles for the ball with Honduras' defender Emilio Izaguirre


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[Guile]

Chile's striker Alexis Sanchez skips past Wilson Palacios

1-0 : Jean Beausejour opens the scoring for Chile with a deflected shot

Chile's goal raises hope of securing a first win in 14 World Cup games...

...cue celebration among the Chile team

Down, but not out: Honduras' striker Carlos Pavon takes a tumble to the turf during the first half


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[Guile]

Honduras' Wilson Palacios battles for the ball with Chile's Alexis Sanchez

Chile's Gonzalo Jara, left, and Honduras' George Welcome fight for the ball

Last ditch: Honduras' goalkeeper Noel Valladares prepares to block the ball

Chile's players celebrate at the full time whistle after recording their first World Cup win in 14 matches


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[Guile]

The favourites: Spain, in their traditional rojo and azul, look ready to take up the mantle of World Cup favourites.

The Switzerland team line up knowing the task that faces them.

Aerial assault: both Sergio Busquets (l) and Pirmin Schwegler struggle to get contact on the ball, as the stubbled Xabi Alonso looks on.

Two playmakers collide as Switzerland's Gokhan Inler (l) tries to nick the ball from Spanish dribble wizard Andres Iniesta.

A watchful eye: bookmakers' favourite for the golden boot, David Villa (l), escapes the attention of Philippe Senderos.

David Silva (l) battles for the ball with Stephane Grichting, as the Swiss attempt to give Spain as little room as possible.


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[Guile]

Midfield battle: both Xavi (l) and Gokhan Inler tussle for the ball.

Marksman David Villa (r) escapes the attention of Lazio defender Stephane Lichtsteiner but doesn't make the chance pay.

Right back Sergio Ramos lets fly with his left from just inside the area, but the ball goes wide in a half dominated by Spain.

Striker David Villa fails to escape Stephane Lichtsteiner's attentions.

Full Gelson: the former Manchester City midfielder cannot believe he's been given this time in the Spanish penalty area.

Shocker: a prone Gerard Pique (r) cannot stop Gelson Fernandes from tapping in and giving Switzerland an unlikely 1-0 lead.


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[Guile]

Dejected: as Fernades wheels away, the Spanish inquisition will begin.

Gelson Fernandes is joined by Tranquillo Barnetta in celebrating the Swiss opener.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque tries to rescue his side's prospects by bringing on Fernando Torres (r) and Jesus Navas.

Xabi Alonso's first-time drive smashes against the crossbar with the goalkeeper absolutely beaten.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas can only hope Gerard Pique gets the ball away after the ball rebounds off the post from Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok's strike.

Famous win: the Switzerland side milk the applause from the crowd, with Gokhan Inler leading the way.

Uphill struggle: ... while Fernando Torres and Spain now face quite a task to make it through to the last sixteen of the World Cup.


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[Yuan Shao]

The South African side get ready for another monumental occasion in their careers.

Teko Modise falls to the ground after Uruguay hard man Jorge Fucile has disposed of him.

Heads I win: Diego Lugano (l) clears a ball in the air despite pressure from South Africa striker Katlego Mphela.

A chase for the ball between Uruguay's Edinson Cavani (r) and Steven Pienaar is on.

Diego Forlan fails to get the ball beyond the South African wall.

Yellow for the yellow shirt: the referee flashes South Africa playmaker Steven Pienaar a yellow card after he breaks from the wall too quickly.


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[Yuan Shao]

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan fires a shot towards goal...

Deflection: ... the ball takes a deflection off Aaron Mokoena...

Dipping: ... and then flies over Khune, under the crossbar, and into the net.

Jubilation: the Uruguay striker wheels away in celebration after putting his side 1-0 up against the hosts South Africa.

A tackle from Kagisho Dikgacoi (l) on Diego Godin is right in front of Massimo Busacca,
resulting in a yellow card for Dikgacoi and a suspension for their last game against France.

Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune gets a firm set of hands on the ball as Uruguay look for a second.


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[Yuan Shao]

The brush off: it's all too easy for Alvaro Pereira (r) as wriggles free and leaves Teko Modise on the floor.

Palermo striker Edinson Cavani (l) turns Tsepo Masilela all too easily.

Appeal: striker Luis Suarez (l), who isn't growing a white moustache but has had treatment for a cut lip,
goes down in the penalty box after a tackle by Bongani Khumalo.

Howzat?: not too fussed about how soft he looks, Luis Suarez voiciferously appeals for the penalty.

Diego Lugano fluffs his lines when he has a free header from six yards out.

Penalty: Itumeleng Khune catches Luis Suarez as he takes the ball past the South African goalkeeper,
leaving the referee no choice but to give a penalty and a red card.


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[Yuan Shao]

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The red card is shown to Khune, much to the disbelief and anguish of the South Africa squad.

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Bad dream: South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune wishes it was, as he's shown the red card -
his own World Cup, as well as South Africa's, could well be over.

Diego Forlan doubles Uruguay's lead and his own tally with a superbly taken penalty.

Two Diegos better than one: Diego Perez (l) joins in with goalscorer Diego Forlan in celebrating Uruguay's second.

Tap in: with little time left, South Africa are exposed at the back, allowing Alvaro Pereira to tap in Uruguay's third.

Icing on the cake: midfielder Alvaro Pereira wheels away after getting Uruguay a deserved third goal in stoppage time.

Picture perfect: ... Pereira is then mobbed by teammates, and teammates dressed as cameramen.

Picture tells a thousand words: the elated Uruguay camp is a stark contrast to the South Africa bench
- the nation are now facing becoming the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round.

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[Yue Ying]

Argentina fans get ready for the big kick-off.

A South Korea blowing the infamous horn. Will it bea victory horn, though?

Lionel Messi looking determined as the teams line up in the tunnel prior to the match.

Disaster: South Korea's Park Chu-Young. behind Carlos Tevez, scores an own goal to give Argentina the lead.

Lionel Messi celebrates with his Argentina team-mates after going 1-0 up.

Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero makes a save.


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[Yue Ying]

Gonzalo Higuain heads in Argentina's second goal to make it 2-0.

Gonzalo Higuain is delighted to have opened his World Cup account.

Gonzalo Higuain, left, is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Argentina's second goal.

Lee Chung-yong pulls one goal back for South Korea to make it 2-1.

Lee Chung-yong kisses his nation's badge after scoring for South Korea.

Sea of red: thousands of South korea fans gather in downtown Seoul to watch their team take on Argentina.


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[Yue Ying]

Kicking action: Argentina's Jonas Guttierez, left, put his head in where it hurts to compete for the ball with Yeom Ki-Hun.

Diego Maradona shows his frustration after his team miss a goalscoring opportunity.

Argentina's Gabriel Heinze, right, fights for the ball with South Korea's Park Chu-young.

Gonazalo Higuain has an easy tap in for his second goal and Argentina's third.

Hat-trick hero: Gonzalo Higuain proves the difference as his three goals helped Argentina to a 4-1 win.

Argentina celebrate Gonzalo Higuain's third goal making the score 4-1 to Argentina.


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[Yue Ying]

Nigeria and Greece take to the field for their crucial Group B match

Super Eagles: Nigeria line up before kick off

Greek team pose for the cameras ahead of kick off

Nigeria's Ikechukwu Uche, right, fights for the ball with Greece's Loukas Vyntra

Kalu Uche's free kick catches out Greece's goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas to give Nigeria the lead

Nigeria took an early lead thanks to Kalu Uche's free kick


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[Yue Ying]

Nigeria's Uche celebrates with players on the bench

Sani Kaita of Nigeria is shown a red card by referee Oscar Ruiz for his role in an off-the-ball incident

Dickson Etuhu of Nigeria (right) consoles team mate Sani Kaita as he walks off the pitch after being shown a red card

Goalbound: Dimitrios Salpingidis of Greece strikes the equaliser

Dimitris Salpigidis celebrates after scoring Greece's first ever World Cup goal, which made the score 1-1

Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama reacts after conceeding the equaliser


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[Yue Ying]

Dimitris Salpingidis continues Greek celebrations after scoring the equaliser

Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama reaches for the ball

Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama tips the ball wide

Greece's Vassilis Torosidis gives his side the lead after Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama fumbles the ball

Vassilis Torosidis taps the ball into an empty net

Greece's Vassilis Torosidis celebrates his goal

Greece's striker Dimitris Salpingidis leans on Nigeria's midfielder Lukman Haruna

Final whistle: Greece's players celebrate at full time after winning their first ever match at the World Cup


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[Yue Ying]

Supporters show their enthusiasm ahead of the crucial Group A clash

All smiles: French supporters enjoy the atmosphere in Polokwane

William Gallas looks on as the French team walk out to face Mexico

France pose for the cameras ahead of kick off

Starting XI: Mexico line up in Polokwane

Franco (left) and Gallas (right) challenge for the ball


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