A senior play gets injured and the replacement fills in admirably. What happens when the senior player returns? If it’s the Australian cricket team, no matter how great the performance the senior player will automatically win back his spot.

The shocking quarterfinal defeats of Argentina and Brazil have dealt a crushing blow to businesses in South Africa. Hotels, restaurants, betting houses, bars and taxi drivers have been taken aback by the sudden dip in flow of income as fans from the Latin American powerhouses — two the best-supported teams at the World Cup — are now heading home.

Dutch defender John Heitinga will be firmly in the spotlight here on Tuesday in the World Cup semifinal as he is assigned the task of neutralising the Uruguayans’ most potent threat Diego Forlan.

“Other countries have their history, Uruguay has its football,” Ondino Viera, Uruguay’s manager at the 1966 World Cup, said. Football is more than a game for Uruguay, who are the least populous nation in the semifinal mix.

Rooney, then Ronaldo and now Messi.

One of the defining aspects of the 19th World Cup has been the critical role played by midfielders in the success of their teams.

The race for the Golden Boot for the highest number of goals has gathered pace along with the battle to seal a place in the final of the World Cup.

Argentina head home on Sunday with their World Cup dream in tatters and coach Diego Maradona lamenting the toughest day of his life as he considers whether to quit.

This World Cup has been a great leveller. The most watched sporting event on the earth has brought stars down from the stratosphere and elevated unknown players to a pedestal.

Europe is back. A majestic Germany hammered Diego Maradona’s Argentina 4-0 here on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the World Cup.
Inspired by a cracking team performance, Germany tore Argentina’s chaotic defence into pieces. Miroslav Klose took his all-time World Cup tally to 14 after scoring a brace.