1. Giovanni van Bronckhorst – Uruguay 2 Holland 3 f ever there was a goal to spark a drab semi-final into life, then this was it. As with every good Dutch move, the strike itself was preceded by a slick exchange of passes, before van Bronckhorst let fly from 40 yards with a strike so pure not even Luis Suarez could have kept it out. 2. Fabio Quagliarella – Slovakia 3 Italy 2 There was not much for Italy to shout about in South Africa, as the reigning champions made an ignominious exit in the group stages. And unfortunately Fabio Quagliarella's exquisite chip from outside the penalty area proved to be nothing more than a late consolation, not only in their 3-2 defeat to Slovakia, but the tournament as a whole. 3. David Villa – Spain 2 Honduras 0 After a shock opening-game defeat to Switzerland, when Spain's profligacy contributed as much to their downfall as their shambolic defending, Vicente del Bosque's side were looking to get back on track against Honduras. And it took just 17 minutes for David Villa to calm fraying nerves when he picked up the ball on the left flank, wove inside two bemused defenders before jinking past another, Osman Chávez, and firing high into the corner. 4. Carlos Tévez – Argentina 3 Mexico 1 Carlos Tévez has not struggled for goals this season, but few will have been as memorable as his strike against Mexico. With Argentina 2-0 ahead and in control, Tévez ended the game as a contest when he unleashed a searing shot past Oscar Perez from 25 yards after his initial through ball rebounded invitingly into his path. 5. Yasuhito Endo – Denmark 1 Japan 3 Despite the kerfuffle surrounding the Jabulani ball before the World Cup, goals direct from free-kicks have been at a premium in South Africa. Yet Japan scored two within the space of 13 minutes during their decisive group game with Denmark. The first, from Keisuke Honda, was good, but Endo's was sublime; curling the ball around the wall and past Thomas Sorensen. 6. Siphiwe Tshabalala – South Africa 1 Mexico 1 For much of the first half in Johannesburg, South Africa could not string two passes together, let alone score. But shortly after half time South Africa broke the shackles with a counter-attacking goal of such searing quality that it will be etched forever in folklore here. Kagisho Dikgacoi was the architect, delivering a defence-splitting diagonal ball which has not be bettered in the entire tournament to set up the devastating left foot strike from Tshabalala. 7. Luis Suarez – Uruguay 2 South Korea 1 Suarez's World Cup is destined to forever be remembered for his infamous handball against Ghana. However, while the Ajax hitman may not have endeared himself to the African continent, his goals may well have engineered himself a move away from the Eredivisie. The best of the lot being his late winner against Japan, when he cut inside Cho Yong Hyung before curling his winner outside Sung-Ryong Jung’s outstretched hand and inside the post. 8. Mesut Ozil – Ghana 0 Germany 1 Another player to have enhanced his reputation no end over the past month is Ozil, whose clever passing and intelligent movement has bewitched defences. The young playmaker masterminded Germany's 4-1 destruction of England, but his side may not have even made the knockout stages were it not Ozil's fabulous winner against Ghana, when he unleashed a stunning left-footed half volley past Richard Kingston. 9. Enrique Vera – Slovakia 0 Paraguay 2 With their strikers firing blanks, Gerardo Martino looked to his midfield for goals against Slovakia, and Vera responded in style – scoring a goal with the classiest of finishes. With Paraguay struggling to break down an obdurate Slovak defence, Lucas Barrios slipped a carefully-weighted through ball to Vera, who then steered the ball beyond Jan Mucha with a delightful outside-of-the-boot flick. 10. Kevin-Prince Boateng – USA 1 Ghana 2 Boateng only became eligible to represent Ghana on May 12 – choosing them over the land of his birth, Germany – but he seemed intent on making up for lost time in South Africa. The midfielder was the instigator of Ghana's best moments and capped off his finals with a fine opening goal against the USA, skipping past Jay DeMerit after robbing Ricardo Clark and firing low past a stranded Tim Howard.

Top 10 goals of the tournament

Forlan, the Atletico Madrid striker, scored five goals, including two outstanding strikes against South Africa and Germany, as Uruguay exceeded expectations to reach the semi-finals and then lose the third-place play-off 3-2 to Germany. Forlan finished in a four-way tie with Thomas Muller, Wesley Sneijder and David Villa for the Golden Boot with five goals - an award Muller took on a tie-break thanks to having more assists.

Tournament's Best Player: Diego Forlan

Holland have twice in recent times suffered heartbreaking exits at the hands of the five-times winners, going out at the quarter-final stage in 1994 and then in the semis four years later after a penalty shoot-out. But there is a growing confidence in the Dutch camp that they can get past Dunga's men and stake their own claim on a trophy they have never won despite several near misses. The two sides meet at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in the last eight on Friday, and skipper Van Bronckhorst is confident the tables will be turned. He said: "We want to win the game, that's obvious. Obviously, the games in the past haven't gone our way, but we want to win the World Cup, and that means we have to beat Brazil. "We are confident, but we are playing against a great team. Football is played for 90 minutes or even longer and we will go out tomorrow and do everything we can to win the game. "We are a tight group. This team has been together for four or six years now and we know what the strengths of all the players are. "It's always good to go out on to the pitch with a team you can trust. We go into every game to win it and fight for each other, and everybody has to believe we can win this match. "The game against Brazil is a big game, but we are confident and we will go out on to the pitch tomorrow to win." Holland's progress to the quarter-finals has been little short of serene as they emerged from a group also including Japan, Denmark and Cameroon with a 100 per cent record before beating Slovakia far more comprehensively than the 2-1 scoreline suggests in the last 16. However, there is a feeling there is more to come, and Van Bronckhorst agrees...

Holland's Giovanni van Bronckhorst ready to break Brazil hoodoo

Nicolas Anelka's alleged foul-mouthed outburst at coach Raymond Domenech has seen him sent home from the World Cup but the Frenchman is not the first to face such punishment. Nicolas Anelka: World Cup 2010 Nicolas Anelka became the latest World Cup evictee after allegedly telling France coach Raymond Domenech to "go screw yourself, dirty son of a whore" in the dressing room at half time during their 2-0 loss to Mexico after the coach had criticised his first-half performance. Graham Poll: World Cup 2006 England's premier referee had been tipped to officiate the World Cup final before a series of blunders saw him sent home after the group stages. The most high profile of which came during Australia's crucial match against Croatia where Poll infamously awarded Josip Simunic three yellow cards before dismissing the player. Poll continued to referee in the Premier League and Champions League but never officiated at a major international tournament again and since announcing his full retirement from the game has made regular media appearances. Roy Keane: World Cup 2002 Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane received his marching orders after a heated disagreement with manager Mick McCarthy in Japan. The Manchester United midfielder criticised the team's training facilities and preparations for the tournament leading to the fall out and subsequent dismissal. Keane returned home, choosing to walk his dog rather than watch his countryman. Upon McCarthy's departure as Ireland boss Keane was recalled to the squad by Brian Kerr before retiring from international football in 2006. Faustino Asprilla: World Cup 1998 Faustino Asprilla's reaction to being substituted during Colombia's game against Romania saw him head home early from France. The former Newcastle striker, nicknamed 'the octopus' for his agile frame, criticised his coach live on radio and was sent packing. Asprilla retired from international football in 2001 at the ag of 32. Diego Maradona: World Cup 1994 Having created a storm in 1986 with the illegal use of his 'Hand of God' to score against England, it was the illegal use of a banned substance, ephedrine that resulted in Diego Maradona being sent home. A wild eyed celebration against Greece prompted officials to subject the Argentinian to a post match doping test which he subsequently failed. Maradona returned to Argentina to make a further 30 appearances for Boca Juniors before turning his attention to management and was appointed national team coach in 2008. Pablo Larios: World Cup 1982 It was off field antics of the extra marital variety that resulted in Pablo Larios being dismissed. The revelation that the Frenchman was having an affair with the wife of team-mate Michel Platini rocked the French camp and Larios was given the axe. Willie Johnston: World Cup 1978 Scottish left winger Willie Johnston was prone to controversy during a 21 year career but it wasn't mooning the opposition's substitutes' bench, swigging beer handed to him from the crowd before taking a corner nor stamping on the throat of John McMaster, resulting in the Aberdeen player needing the 'kiss of life', that enters Johnston into the hall of World Cup shame. The former Rangers and West Bromwich Albion player tested positive for a banned substance after Scotland's opening game against Peru and was never to play international again. Ernest Jean-Joseph: World Cup 1974 Haiti's Ernest Jean-Joseph made World Cup history by becoming the first player to fail a doping test. Not only was the he relieved of his playing duties but subjected to a brutal beating by Haiti team officials before heading home.

Nicolas Anelka joins disgraced hall of shame

Robert Koren's late goal gave Slovenia victory over 10-man Algeria in their opening World Cup game in Polokwane to send them top of Group C. The former West Brom midfielder's dipping 20-yard drive slipped through the grasp of Algeria keeper Faouzi Chaouchi and into the corner of the net to give the European side their first ever World Cup finals win. The goal came just seven minutes after Desert Foxes substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal had seen red for two bookable offences as what had until then been a truly dire encounter came briefly to life. In the 72 minutes prior to Ghezzal's dismissal, for a needless handball, two limited sides were only able to fashion a handful of chances between them, the best of which Algeria defender Rafik Halliche headed wide from a corner. With group favourites England having drawn 1-1 with their perceived closest rivals USA yesterday, Algeria and Slovenia knew a victory here would send them top and raise their hopes of achieving an unexpected place in the last 16. This tantalising prospect made for two anxious, edgy teams and an error-strewn encounter, characterised by the regular relinquishing of possession by both sides. At their best Algeria are a capable outfit, as arch-rivals and qualifying play-off victims Egypt will testify, and the Desert Foxes looked arguably the sharper, aiming to exploit the pace and ability of Karim Ziani and Nader Belhadj. The early signs were promising when Belhadj drew a good save from Slovenian keeper Samir Handanovic with a curling 25-yard free-kick in the third minute but this turned out to be the only effort on goal in the opening quarter of the match. It was not until the 36th minute that either side fashioned anything further of meaning. Ziani's well-taken corner was met by Halliche, who had found space amongst a crowd of players in the box, but he failed to make full contact with his header and the ball flew past the far post with Handanovic stranded. Slovenia's only previous World Cup appearance came in Japan and South Korea in 2002, during which they failed to claim a single point and scored only twice. Prior to Koren's decisive strike, the closest they came to adding to their tally was a 20 yard shot from Valter Birsa, which drew a fine one-handed save from Chaouchi just before half time, and an Andraz Kirm 10-yard shot from an angle early in the second half which the Algerian keeper also saved. Algerian substitute Ghezzal's presence on the pitch was short but eventful. In 15 minutes he produced two headers which failed to find the target and picked up two bookings - the first for shirt pulling, the second a needless handball when trying to provide another header on goal - which resulted in his side playing the final 15 minutes of the match with 10 men. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Algeria were presented with a glorious chance to score minutes later as Handanovic's pass out to defender Marko Suler was intercepted by Ziani but his first touch was too heavy and the keeper was able to gather at his feet. Slovenia's next attack proved decisive as Chaouchi badly misjudged the flight of Koren's speculative, dipping effort and allowed it to pass him and find the corner of the net. While not a good game for a neutral, it will make for heartening viewing to England and their fans who will fancy their chances of securing positive results against both these sides. Algeria: Chaouchi, Bougherra, Belhadj, Yahia Captain, Halliche, Lacen, Ziani, Yebda, Foued Kadir (Guedioura, 82), Djebbour (Ghezzal, 58), Matmour (Saifi, 80) Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Koren Captain, Kirm, Radosavljevic(Komac, 87), Birsa (Pecnik, 84), Novakovic, Dedic (Ljubijankic, 52)

Algeria Vs. Slovenia (0 - 1)

Fernando Torres marked his return from injury with a goal as Spain routed Poland 6-0 in their last World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday, but the European champions were left with doubts over Andres Iniesta after the playmaker came off early. Iniesta provided the pass for David Villa's opener before starting the move which led to David Silva's 14th-minute goal. He came off in the 39th with an apparent leg problem. Xabi Alonso scored in the 51st before setting up Cesc Fabregas seven minutes later in the Arsenal midfielder's second game back from a fractured leg. Torres, who came on for David Villa after 66 minutes for his first appearance since having knee surgery in April, guided Pedro Rodriguez's pass home in the 76th before Pedro scored in the 81st. Spain, who have won their last eleven games, go into the tournament in South Africa as favourites, although their optimism might be tempered by the injury scare to Iniesta. The midfielder asked to be substituted just before the break after complaining of a thigh muscle problem.

Spain 6 Poland 0: match report

USA forward Donovan believes his successful spell on loan to Everton from the Los Angeles Galaxy last season has given him confidence for the meeting with Fabio Capello's side at the World Cup. But he concedes the USA could play to their maximum potential and still be beaten because of the quality in the England squad...

Landon Donovan: USA have nothing to fear