Paraguay 0 New Zealand 0

DEFENDER Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina’s multi-talented strikeforce had failed as they scored the goals to break Greece’s resilience and end their World Cup hopes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last night.

Greece 0 Argentina 2

ARGENTINA coach Diego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he might rest Lionel Messi for today’s final Group B clash against Greece, insisting it would be a “sin” to deprive the public of seeing the best player on the planet.

Lionel Messi is not letting his goalscoring drought affect him as long as Argentina continue to win at the World Cup.

France striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from the World Cup after after refusing to apologise for his half-time rant at coach Raymond Domenech.

France striker Nicolas Anelka launched an astonishing verbal attack on coach Raymond Domenech at half-time of Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico, according to reports.

THE Republic of Ireland may not be in South Africa but supporters of the Boys in Green will have savoured France’s defeat to Mexico last night, a result that leaves Raymond Domenech’s side staring at the prospect of saying an early ‘au revoir’ to the 2010 World Cup.

France 0 Mexico 2

France coach Raymond Domenech has told his players they are the only ones who can spark their World Cup campaign into life.

Defiant South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira urged his side not to let their heads drop as they seek to bounce back from last night’s potentially costly 3-0 World Cup defeat to Uruguay in Pretoria.

FIFA have rejected a request from France to call up a new goalkeeper after Cedric Carrasso suffered a thigh muscle injury in training on Monday.

France’s World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet has questioned whether the current squad is good enough to play themselves into contention.

Half the World Cup venues are now under police control after the local organising committee confirmed the force had stepped in at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg following strike action by workers for a private security firm.

ALGERIA coach Rabah Saadane refused to blame goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi for the blunder which handed Slovenia their first points at a World Cup with a 1-0 Group C win in Polokwane yesterday.

MARK HUGHES is determined to talk about players that have already been signed by Manchester City, rather than John Terry.

Delegates of South Africa’s governing African National Congress cast their votes today for the next party president after a bitter contest.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress today opened its conference in Polokwane to elect a new president amid bitter divisions between incumbent Thabo Mbeki and his deputy Jacob Zuma.

Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle against apartheid rule and went on to become South Africa’s first democratically-elected president, celebrated his birthday today at a belated party attended by thousands of excited children.