FRANS STEYN has been ruled out of next week’s Tri Nations encounter against New Zealand in Johannesburg due to injury.

New Zealand scrum-half Jimmy Cowan has been passed fit to travel with the All Blacks squad for their Tri Nations clash with South Africa a week on Saturday.

New Zealand 20 Australia 10

CESC FABREGAS dedicated his World Cup triumph to Arsenal — but his future with the north London giants remains shrouded in mystery.

Cesc Fabregas dedicated his World Cup triumph to Arsenal – but his future with the north London giants remains shrouded in mystery.

Arjen Robben has claimed Howard Webb was not up to the job of handling the World Cup final.

The wife of English referee Howard Webb said she had “every confidence” in her husband after he set a new World Cup final record by handing out 14 yellow cards and one red as Spain clinched their first victory in the global showpiece.

A PITCH invader tried to steal the World Cup just minutes before last night’s final kick-off at Soccer City, Johannesburg.

YOSSI BENAYOUN has singled out Rafael Benitez as the reason he left Liverpool for Premier League rivals Chelsea, accusing the Spaniard of trying to break him and treating him with a lack of respect.

Xavi has admitted Spain need to find their killer touch if they are to win the World Cup tomorrow.

ONLY one thing is certain tomorrow when Spain face the Netherlands in the World Cup final, there will be a new name on the trophy by the time the last firework goes off at Soccer City and South Africa 2010 comes to an emotional close.

The first Englishman to make it to the World Cup final since 1974 will take to the pitch on Sunday in the form of Yorkshire-born referee Howard Webb.

ENGLAND’s Howard Webb will be the referee for Sunday’s World Cup final.

AT long last Spain, the great underachievers of world football, are through to their first World Cup final.

SO we will have new world champions for the first time on Sunday, when Spain meet the Netherlands in Soccer City, but will we have a world-class game?

Diego Maradona described Argentina's humiliation at the hands of Germany as the toughest day of his life.

FIFA today refused to even defend their opposition to goal-line technology despite British Prime Minister David Cameron adding his voice to calls for a review.

URUGUAY coach Oscar Tabarez has told his players to hold on to their World Cup dreams after seeing them book their place in the quarter-finals.

GHANA are hoping to ride an historic African wave all the way to the World Cup final.

Ghana 0 Germany 1

CHARGES against two Dutch women accused of an “ambush marketing” stunt at a World Cup match were dropped yesterday.

Charges against two Dutch women accused of an “ambush marketing” stunt at a World Cup match were dropped today.

KAKA was controversially sent off as a double from Luis Fabiano and an Elano strike helped Brazil ease to victory in their battle with the Ivory Coast at Soccer City.

Brazil 3 Ivory Coast 1

Argentina 4 South Korea 1

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.

Holland 2 Denmark 0

SOUTH KOREA coach Huh Jung-moo has told his players not to be afraid of Argentina as they attempt to prolong their stay at the World Cup.

World Cup Group A

South Africa 1 Mexico 1

South Africa 0 Mexico 0

The 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup was today opened by a spectacular ceremony in Johannesburg, albeit in front of a less than capacity Soccer City.

Nelson Mandela will not attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup today following the death of his great granddaughter in a car accident last night, the South African organising committee have confirmed.

South Africa is ready to stage a "Ferrari" of a World Cup as today's big kick-off approaches.

CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA has warned his South Africa side of the threat posed by what he describes as “the most daring team” at the World Cup ahead of their showdown with Mexico at Soccer City today.

IT WON’T be easy at first, it won’t be painless; but when South Africa and Mexico kick off the 2010 World Cup Finals at Soccer City here in Johannesburg today, you can still be sure that the colour, vibrancy and sheer excitement of Africa’s first ever finals will sweep all the way to Dublin.

FIFA CLAIM its ticketing policy is the right one, insisting that sales or distribution of tickets should “never” be done at a stadium on a matchday to avoid scenes like the one at the Makhulong Stadium on Sunday.

ARGENTINA striker Carlos Tevez threw down the challenge to World Cup favourites Spain and Brazil last night by declaring: “I’m ready” – even though he may not play in their opening game.

FABIO CAPELLO has provided England with the perfect World Cup boost by committing his future to the team until after Euro 2012.

JAPAN have confirmed they will rival England, South Africa and Italy for the right to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Japan have confirmed they will rival England, South Africa and Italy for the right to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.