A superb strike from Arjen Robben

A superb strike from Arjen Robben and a late Wesley Sneijder goal gave Netherlands a deserved if somewhat underwhelming victory over Slovakia to seal their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Robben capped his first start of the finals in South Africa by collecting a pass from Sneijder before running at the Slovakia defence and then firing a superb low drive into the net from 25 yards.
Sneijder stroked home a pull-back from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt to essentially seal the game for the Dutch, with Robert Vittek firing home a consolation penalty with the very last kick of the match.
It gave Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk and his side a deserved victory, but one they rarely had to be at their best to secure against opponents that worked hard but lacked the composure to capitalise on the few chances that fell their way.

In reaching the last 16 and eliminating Italy via a 3-2 group win over the holders, Slovakia have achieved their goal in their first World Cup since splitting from Czechoslovakia in 1993.
With a quarter-final tie against either Brazil or Chile to come, the Dutch will have to up their game if they are to fulfil their own aim.
Van Marwijk's men have a 100% record in South Africa - matching their impressive achievement in winning all their qualification games for the tournament - and have now gone a Dutch record 23 games unbeaten, but there remains discontent amongst the Oranje Army, who feel their side are not winning with sufficient style. What England would give for such concerns.
Such gripes, whilst arguably trivial in a successful side, are valid as the current Netherlands side are not the aesthetically pleasing product of generations past.
They do not compare to the revered teams from 1974 and 1978, nor even are they as fluent as that which was eliminated from the European Championships at the quarter-final stage in 2008.
This Dutch have traded in their total game for dependent football, with an efficiently pragmatic, rigid structure functioning largely to feed a supremely talented and liberated front three of Sneijder, Robben and Robin van Persie.
This trio are capable of hurting the world's best and Slovakia - ranked 34 in the world - were unable to cope with their pace and movement.
All three had efforts on goal during the first half, and while Van Persie planted a poor header wide and Sneijder shot straight at Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha from an angle, Robben ruthlessly exposed Slovakia's defensive fallibility to score in the 18th minute.
Sneijder floated a superb, raking pass to release the Bayern Munich man, who controlled, ran on, cut inside and then finished with aplomb into the bottom corner. It was the only moment of true quality in the first 45 minutes.
Robben was again in the thick of the action early in the second half, collecting the ball on the left and drawing a good full-stretch save from Mucha with a curling effort before appearing on the right and pulling back for Sneijder to shoot, but again the Slovakia keeper saved, this time with his face.
Slovakia offered little threat in the first half, but twice in a space of two second-half minutes they threatened to draw level.
Miroslav Stoch took a leaf out of Robben's book by cutting inside onto his right foot and shooting but Netherlands keeper Maarten Stekelenburg tipped over.
Seconds later Marek Hamsik toe-poked forward for Vittek, who showed none of the composure he demonstrated to score twice against Italy by firing straight at Stekelenburg.
With six minutes remaining, Sneijder made amends for his earlier miss, this time receiving a pull-back from Kuyt, after Mucha had missed the initial pass to the Liverpool player, and slotting home into a largely empty net.
Slovakia's final touch in this World Cup was a positive one as Vittek stroked home a penalty for his fourth and final goal of the tournament after Stekelenburg had tripped the striker.

Netherlands	2-1	Slovakia	FT
Robben, 18 Sneijder, 84	(HT 1-0)	Vittek (pen), 90+4
Team
Netherlands 01 Stekelenburg 02 Van Der Wiel 03 Heitinga 04 Mathijsen 05 Van Bronckhorst 06 Van Bommel 08 De Jong 10 Sneijder (20 Afellay, 90+2) 07 Kuyt 09 Van Persie (21 Huntelaar, 80) 11 Robben (17 Elia, 71)		Slovakia 01 Mucha 02 Pekarik 03 Skrtel 05 Zabavnik (14 Jakubko, 87) 07 Weiss 15 Stoch 16 Durica 17 Hamsik (10 Sapara, 87) 19 Kucka 11 Vittek 18 Jendrisek (20 Kopunek, 71 )
16 Vorm, 22 Boschker, 12 Boulahrouz, 13 Ooijer, 15 Braafheid, 14 De Zeeuw, 18 Schaars, 20 Afellay, 23 Van der Vaart, 17 Elia, 19 Babel, 21 Huntelaar		Substitutes: 12 Pernis, 23 Kuciak, 04 Cech, 21 Salata, 22 Petras, 08 Kozak, 10 Sapara, 20 Kopunek, 09 Sestak, 13 Holosko, 14 Jakubko
Venue: Durban Referee: A Undiano Mallenco Attendance: 61,962

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Beat defending champion Italy, Slovakia escape

Reigning champions Italy were sensationally knocked out of the World Cup by a Slovakia side that clinched a place in the last 16 with victory in a match of incredible drama and tension.

In arguably the best game of the tournament so far, Robert Vittek scored a goal in each half to seemingly end the Azzurri's hopes of defending the trophy they won in Germany four years ago.
But Antonio Di Natale pulled it back to 2-1 with nine minutes remaining, leaving the Italians needing to score again to claim the point that would have seen them scrape through from Group F.

And they thought it had come through substitute Fabio Quagliarella, only for the offside flag to agonisingly deny them.
Italy's hopes of advancing were then seemingly extinguished once and for all when Slovakia substitute Kamil Kopunek exploited defensive hesitation, running onto a throw-in before lifting the ball brilliantly beyond advancing goalkeeper Federico Marchetti with one minute of normal time remaining.
Even then, there was time for Quagliarella to score with a superb injury-time strike and Simone Pepe to scuff a far-post volley as Italy staged a last-ditch attempt to remain in the finals in South Africa.
The win sees Slovakia claim second place behind group winners Paraguay - and ensures the campaign is already a resounding success for coach Vladimir Weiss and his team.
But the 2010 World Cup will be remembered as a disaster for opposite number Marcelo Lippi as his team finish bottom of their group having failed to qualify from the opening stage of the competition for the first time since 1974. Lippi, who guided them to glory in 2006, sees his second spell as coach end in dramatic defeat.
Italy drew with Paraguay and New Zealand before losing to Slovakia, who are ranked 34th in the world, and could have no complaints about the result at Ellis Park after their opponents approached the game with more craft and invention.
The Azzurri conceded just twice in their triumphant campaign four years ago but their central defensive pairing of veteran Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini were opened up numerous times.
Napoli's Marek Hamsik should really have scored for Slovakia after six minutes when he found himself completely unmarked 16 yards from goal, only to mis-cue his volley.
However, there was much to admire in the precision of Slovakia's opening goal after Daniele De Rossi's awful pass gifted possession to Juraj Kucka.
Sparta Prague forward Kucka quickly assessed the situation before playing a superb disguised pass to Vittek, whose accurate low strike from the edge of the area eluded Marchetti.
Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta fired wide from a tight angle in reply, while Riccardo Montolivo thrashed a shot over the crossbar in the final attack of a very frustrating opening half for his side.
It could have been an even worse first 45 minutes for the Azzurri as skipper Cannavaro, playing what turned out to be his final game for his country, was perhaps fortunate to escape a booking for a lunge on Hamsik minutes after he had received a caution.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi had seen enough and brought on Christian Maggio and Quagliarella for Domenicio Criscito and Gennaro Gattuso at the break.
And after only 10 minutes of the second half, he played his final card by introducing AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo, so important in 2006, but unable to play any part in their first two matches because of a calf injury.
Italy were effectively playing with a front four, although Pepe and Quagliarella dropped back from their wide positions when Slovakia were in possession.
The tactical switch undoubtedly opened up the game and shortly after Martin Skrtel's sensational, if slightly fortunate, goal-line clearance after a firm strike from Quagliarella, Slovakia doubled their lead.
Chiellini headed a corner clear but as he looked around to adjust his position the alert Vittek made a near-post run that allowed him to steal a march on the Italian and convert Hamsik's low cross.
The contest was by now an end-to-end encounter, and it became heated with some ugly scenes following Di Natale's close-range goal.
Slovakia keeper Jan Mucha tussled with Quagliarella as they both tried to retrieve the ball from the back of the net and after Kucka came to his team-mate's defence, both the Italian and Mucha ended up on the floor.
The goal gave Italy renewed hope but they could not pull themselves level in a thrilling finish which ended with the final whistle which prompted mass celebrations among the Slovakia players.

Slovakia	3-2	Italy	FT
Vittek, 25, 73 Kopunek, 89	(HT 1-0)	Di Natale, 81 Quagliarella, 90+2
Team
Slovakia 01 Mucha 02 Pekarik 03 Skrtel 05 Zabavnik 06 Strba (20 Kopunek, 86) 15 Stoch 16 Durica 17 Hamsik 19 Kucka 11 Vittek 18 Jendrisek (22 Petras, 90+4)		Italy 12 Marchetti 03 Criscito (02 Maggio, 46) 04 Chiellini 05 Cannavaro 19 Zambrotta 06 De Rossi 07 Pepe 08 Gattuso (18 Quagliarella, 46 ) 22 Montolivo (21 Pirlo, 56) 09 Iaquinta 10 >Di Natale
12 Pernis, 23 Kuciak, 04 Cech, 21 Salata, 22 Petras, 07 Weiss, 08 Kozak, 10 Sapara, 20 Kopunek, 09 Sestak, 13 Holosko, 14 Jakubko		Substitutes: 01 Buffon, 14 De Sanctis, 13 Bocchetti, 23 Bonucci, 02 Maggio, 15 Marchisio, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Palombo, 21 Pirlo, 11 Gilardino, 18 Quagliarella, 20 Pazzini
Venue: Ellis Park Referee: Howard Webb Attendance: 53,412

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Enrique Vera of Paraguay opportunities

Paraguay took a big step towards a place in the last 16 with a stylish victory over a sluggish Slovakia that lifted them to the top of Group F.

A fine goal by Enrique Vera, curled in with the outside of his boot, gave the South Americans the lead and Carlos Riveros made the game safe with a brilliant late strike.

With a final group match against unfancied New Zealand to come, they must now be confident of reaching the knockout stages.

For Slovakia, their inability to raise their game has left them facing an early exit - particularly as they end their group fixtures against reigning champions Italy.

Two draws in the opening matches had left the group finely poised and Paraguay took the chance to assume control by deservedly clinching their first win.

It was achieved by a textbook execution of a high-pressing game and by maximising the attacking options from their 4-3-3 formation.

The interchanges between the frontline of Nelson Valdez, Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz - particularly in the first half - caused Slovakia all manner of problems.

And once again in this World Cup, it was a case of the latin brand of short, sharp passing and excellent movement dominating the more rigid European style.

For the first half an hour, Paraguay attacked at will - a deflected Santa Cruz shot brought a fine save from Jan Mucha, Paulo da Silva was inches away from a teasing cross and Cristian Riveros fired in a low shot from outside the box.

Exquisite interplay between Vera and Barrios saw the latter shoot just over before Valdez also fizzed an effort too high.

The breakthrough came on 27 minutes when a sublime Barrios pass split the defence and Vera curled the ball into the corner of the goal with the outside of the boot.

Only then did Slovakia stir and finally created a chance when a corner found Kornel Salata unmarked but he headed over the bar.

Paraguay immediately hit back and almost doubled their advantage after sloppy Slovakian defending let in Santa Cruz, whose low shot was kept out by the foot of keeper Mucha.

After the break, the Paraguayans appeared to play within themselves - sometimes a dangerous policy with such a slender lead to defend.

But Slovakia's lack of invention, flair and creativity was apparent as still they failed to exert any sustained pressure, a Stanislav Sestak cross that evaded Robert Vittek summing up the ineffectiveness of their play.

By contrast, when Paraguay broke from their policy of containment, they came within inches of extending their lead as Santa Cruz delivered an accurate centre and Vera sent his downward header narrowly past the upright.

Much had been expected of Slovakia playmaker Marek Hamsik but the Napoli man was desperately disappointing throughout and he was unable to inspire his team-mates.

Hamsik and his side were unable to find any cohesion and they were finally put out of their misery when Riveros smashed in a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

And while Paraguay have virtually secured their passage out of the group - they need only a point from their final match against New Zealand - Slovakia's failure to get out of first gear has put them on the brink of elimination.

Slovakia	0-2	Paraguay	FT
	(HT 0-1)	Vera, 27 Riveros, 86
Team
Slovakia 01 Mucha 02 Pekarik 03 Skrtel 21 Salata (Stoch, 83) 06 Strba 07 Weiss 08 Kozak 16 Durica 17 Hamsik 09 Sestak (Holosko, 70) 11 Vittek		Paraguay 01 Villar 03 Morel 14 Da Silva 21 Alcaraz 06 Bonet 13 Vera (Barreto, 87) 15 V Caceres 16 Riveros 09 Santa Cruz 18 Valdez (Torres, 68) 19 Barrios (Cardozo, 82)
12 Pernis, 23 Kuciak, 04 Cech, 05 Zabavnik, 22 Petras, 10 Sapara, 15 Stoch, 19 Kucka, 20 Kopunek, 13 Holosko, 14 Jakubko, 18 Jendrisek		Substitutes: 12 Barreto, 22 Bobadilla, 02 Veron, 04 Caniza, 05 J Caceres, 17 Torres, 08 Barreto, 11 Santana, 20 Ortigoza, 07 Cardozo, 10 Benitez, 23 Gamarra
Venue: Free State stadium Referee: E Maillet Attendance: 26,643

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