Off the Field
Hit it and hope seemed to be the best tactic for long-range shots with the Jabulani World Cup ball, with forwards and goalkeepers alike expressing concern at what they saw as its strange and unpredictable flight.
From the blare of the first vuvuzela on June 11 until Monday morning's final whistle, the first World Cup in Africa was a resounding success on and off the pitch.
Paul the oracle octopus was given a replica of the World Cup on Monday as a reward for his perfect eight-for-eight record in picking matches as bettors worldwide collected their winnings based on his selections.
Bomb blasts ripped through two bars packed with soccer fans watching the World Cup final in Uganda's capital overnight, killing 64 people and signalling a possible Somali Islamist link, police said on Monday.
More than 100 million China-made condoms were exported to South Africa before the World Cup kickoff, Beijing-based Legal Evening News reported.
Nelson Mandela attended the opening of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands, thrilling fans and capping South Africa's pride in staging a successful tournament.
A fan ran onto the field and tried to grab the World Cup trophy on Sunday, moments before the Spain and Netherlands players were due to walk out at Soccer City for the tournament's final match.
A woman passes a sign for soccer widows outside a beauty parlour in London July 7, 2010.
Eight percent of Russians believe their national team will win the World Cup, despite the fact that it never qualified for the tournament, an independent poll has showed.
Netherlands' Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima clap before the start of the 2010 World Cup semi-final soccer match between Netherlands and Uruguay at Green Point stadium in Cape Town July 6, 2010.
Semifinals Fixtures
| July 7 |
|
July 8 |
|
Top Scorers
|
Player |
Team |
Goals |
David Villa | ESP | 5 |
| Sneijder | NED | 5 | |||
| Diego Forlan |
URU |
5 | |||
| Mueller |
GER |
5 | |||
|
Vittek |
SVK | 4 | |||
|
Klose |
GER |
4 |
|||
|
Higuain |
ARG |
4 |
|||
|
Asamoah Gyan |
GHA |
3 | |||
| Donovan | USA | 3 | |||
| Luis Suarez | URU | 3 | Fabiano | BRA | 3 |
URU 2 - 3 NED 
GER 0 - 1 ESP 