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At the 2010 FIFA World Cup™,Germany's Manuel Neuer has pulled off the most saves of the four goalkeepers left,but the Schalke shot-stopper is only thinking about a clean sheet in Wednesday's semi-final.Having denied Argentina in Saturday's 4-0 rout in the quarter-finals,Neuer is hoping for another shut-out against Spain on Wednesday with a place in Sunday's Final at Johannesburg's Soccer City at stake.

Neuer has conceded just two goals so far at South Africa 2010,but saved 18 shots,more than Fernando Muslera of Uruguay,who has 15 saves,The Netherlands' Maarten Stekelenburg (13) and Spain captain Iker Casillas (10).Spanish media have even dubbed the 24-year-old from Gelsenkirchen the 'German Casillas'.

"I haven't heard that,but of course it's an honour to be compared to Casillas," said Neuer."He is an incredibly good goalkeeper who has enjoyed so much success in the past.But I like to play for a zero and it will be the same on Wednesday."

The goals Neuer let in came in the 1-0 group-stage defeat by Serbia and the 4-1 last-16 win over England and he says the credit for Germany's defensive miserliness must be shared with his defence."It is thanks to some outstanding defending that we have only conceded two goals in the tournament,we can be very happy with that," he said.

Real Madrid's Casillas has also only leaked two goals so far at this tournament and Neuer says the Germans will need a bit of arrogance in Durban on Wednesday."You have to show the opposition who's boss," said Neuer."If you manage that,you have already achieved a little something."

In this tournament so far,Neuer saved 18 shots,Casillas 10 shots...That tells me the nothing except that Spain don't allow their defence to be breached as often as the German side...It tells me that Germany when they have possesion are fantastic but when they don't...They don't know what to do,I have a good feeling for Spain.Neuer is talking a good game but I'll wait until Wednesday night before congratulating the goose egg.I think it will be 2-1 Germany with both goals in the first half and then a scary,tense second half with Spain fighting hard but only get one,late in the game.Netherlands and Germany will be in the Final in Soccer City.


Copyright 2010 by Manuel Lows,who is a sports fan,falls in love with juicy couture tracksuit.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is predicting a battle royal against the "fighters" of Uruguay in Tuesday's semi-final but believes his Dutch players have added some steel to their renowned brand of attractive football.

The Dutch are the clear favourites to make it to Sunday's Final,especially with Robin van Persie declared fit and the South Americans' striker Luis Suarez suspended following the handball that led to Ghana's exit from the FIFA World Cup?.

Like all the other successors to Rinus Michels,Van Marwijk has had to endure comparisons with the man who invented 'total football' for the Dutch,but he believes he has now added to the flair that they have always been famous for.

He said:"When I took over this job,my first goal was to teach the team to defend better.

"Because we haven't scored that many goals so far in this World Cup,people see it differently as they only associate attractive football with lots of goals.But we still play attractive football.

"Uruguay are a team of fighters.They battle and survive.That is why they have reached the semi-finals.We must certainly not underestimate them,otherwise things will go wrong for us."

Uruguay will also be without Jorge Fucile,one of the outstanding defenders of the tournament,but Van Marwijk is preaching a message of caution based on bitter memories of past opportunities that brilliant Dutch teams let slip.

Arsenal striker Van Persie,who has led the line for Holland without much reward in terms of goals,has been declared fit for the Cape Town match after injuring his left elbow against Brazil.

Uruguay will be without Suarez,Lucile,Lodeiro and Lugano,while the Netherlands will be without De Jong and Van der Wiel.Now that Van Persie has been declared healthy to play,the uruguayans are having to do without some of their more talented players in this critical match.

Dunga expressed that his tournament favourites' confidence is growing with every match after they eased to a 3-0 victory over Chile.As this,Brazil and the Netherlands will now meet in an intriguing-looking quarter-final at Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth on Friday.

That encounter will be the third time in the last five FIFA World Cups? that the two sides have met in the knockout phase.The Brazilians emerged victorious on the two previous occasions,winning 3-2 in the last eight at USA 1994 and 4-2 on penalties in the semi-finals of France 1998.

Dunga said:"We know there is always this expectation that Brazil will be the winners but being the favourite does not allow you to win the World Cup.Some people doubted that we would perform but as we go along that confidence is growing and growing and we hope to make it to the final."

Robinho,released on loan to Santos by Manchester City last season,insisted he would continue to put individual glory behind his team's achievement.He added: "I'm very happy with the goal and victory of my team and if I am able to be the best player and top scorer in the World Cup 2010,that will be fine but at the moment I'm concentrating my efforts on the team."

Kaka,on his return from suspension,also showed just why he is so important to Brazil but picked up a third caution of the tournament,from English referee Howard Webb.Dunga said he will raise the issue with the Real Madrid midfield star."It is a problem - I don't want Kaka to be out suspended," he said.

Dunga said the quarter-final would provide Brazil's toughest challenge so far."Holland have a great World Cup tradition and they are very similar to the South American teams so we have to be extremely careful," he said."We have to be prepared to deal with extremely technical,excellent players.They are a solid team."

I'm excited to see the Netherlands vs.Brazil match.The previous games were amazing.I root for another Brazil's victory.Dunga is right.Brazil is improving every game.


Copyright 2010 by Manuel Lows,who is a sports fan,fond of coach bags.

Teams always need some players who are endowed with technical brilliance and the ability to turn a match on its head with a single stroke of genius.

Take John Pantsil for example.Just a week ago,the Fulham stopper departed on a stretcher in stoppage time at the end of the 1-1 draw with Australia,blood pouring from his lip.Four days later he was back,patched up and raring to go as the Black Stars went down narrowly 1-0 to Germany.In an exclusive interview with FIFA,Ghana's central defender looked ahead to the impending Round of 16 tie with USA,spoke of his friendship with American forward Clint Dempsey,and reflected on the match between the two countries four years ago at Germany 2006.

Paintsil is such a great guy and an amazing defender.I love when he runs around the pitch with the flag,it's so patriotic.I wish him and the Black Stars the absolute best.



Copyright 2010 by Manuel Lows,who is a sports fan,works in .

Landon Donovan was moments from reliving his worst football heartache when he scored the most important goal of his life to send the United States into the knockout rounds.

The 28-year-old midfielder has battled divorce,unconvincing stints in Europe and first-round disappointment at the 2006 FIFA World Cup but netted the defining goal of his career in stoppage time on Wednesday to snatch a 1-0 victory over Algeria.

"I have been through a lot in the last four years," Donovan said,breaking into tears."I'm so glad it culminated in this way.It makes me believe in the good in this world.When you try to do things the right way it's nice to get rewarded."

The US spent 90 minutes trying in vain to crack the Desert Foxes before Donovan led a counter-attack by flicking a pass to Jozy Altidore,then running onto an unguarded rebound to slide the ball home in the early seconds of injury time.

"The guys in the back did an unbelievable job of stopping counter after counter to give us a chance so we could get it," Donovan said."A lot of us broke.I wanted to make a good touch forward.I chose Jozy and Clint [Dempsey] did a good job to get in front of the goalie and it just bounced there.Time kind of stopped.You can't miss from there."

A draw would have sent the Americans home early once again but victory allowed the US squad to finish top of Group C,edging England on goals scored,and book a Saturday match in the round of 16 at Rustenburg.

What a great team effort USA!!Never giving up even when a goal is denied.So many individual strong contributions with Donovan managing to rebound the ball into the net.Thoroughly deserved win.Good luck going forward.Can't relax now!Not that I'm much into this type of game,I'm predicting the Netherlands reach the finals.Since 1974 loss to Germany and 1978 loss to Argentina in the finals,I'm sure they are due to reach the finals.Better yet USA vs.Netherlands.Hell of a long shot.

Copyright 2010 by Manuel Lows,who is a sports fan,fond of coach shoes

Charged with breaking down a packed Honduran defence,Spain coach Vicente del Bosque opted to exploit the wide areas to help his team secure a vital first victory in Group H at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa?.As a result,Fernando Torres was deployed as a central striker,with David Villa and Jesus Navas flanking him on either side.

And it was via a mazy Villa run and finish,starting from his left-lying position,that the first goal came,with Sevilla youngster Navas also creating plenty of danger from the opposite wing.Thus,while it had been Spain's left flank which looked the stronger at the FIFA Confederations Cup last year,the European champions now also have a handy attacking outlet on the right.

"Navas gave a great deal of depth to our play," said Torres after the game.Navas added: "I've very happy with my contribution,but what mattered was the win.We may have missed a lot of chances but you've got to focus on the positives - we won the game."

Indeed,as Navas suggested,Spain's control of possession and constant attacking threat should perhaps have resulted in more than a 2-0 success."I don't think that we've had a good game.We ought to have won by more goals and I'm not totally happy," said La Roja coach Del Bosque.

Honduras was amateur at best.I mean they had no shots on target ALL game.Spain was playing like it was a training session and if they would've finished their chances it could have been ugly for the catruchas.No heart,no passion,no defense,certainly no offense,no skills,no team work,nothing from Honduras.Shame on them.It is clear that I am a Spain fan,yet a lot of the choices done by Del Bosque today were bad.Again we repeat ourselves,you can't force Xavi Hernandiz to play in that position,he was slow because of it,and the Spanish counter ability was with it.Torres should have not been switched,instead he should've been supported with David Silva from the start,and Villa position is forward.Navas didn't have any help from Ramos.Pedro is always better than Sergio.Sergio doesn't work will with Xavi.We didn't also see Xavi Alonso that much today.

Now most people think that the players in the spanish side dream of winning the WC like all other countries.Spain will never win a WC because playing for their country is not 1st choice,playing for there Clubs eg.barcelona,madrid is still no.1.You can see it especialy this morning game..no comunication & no supporting eachother when missed chances happen.I can see still the country divided as the rivalry between clubs..They have a great team & play the best football but the country & players still divided into there clubs....