Uruguay were the only non-European team to make it to the final four.

With nothing to lose anymore, as both teams lost their semi-final matches, fans of an attacking game had everything to hope for.

When Fernando Muslera could only deflect Bastian Schweinsteiger's long range shot, in the 18th minute, Thomas Müller ran into the penalty area to follow up and score his fifth goal of the tournament.

Ten minutes later, Diego Perez stole the ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger and moved the ball upfield; where Luis Suarez fed Edinson Cavani for Uruguay's equaliser.

Suarez and Cacau had close misses for Uruguay and Germany in the first-half, as both teams left the pitch with honours even.

Half-time: 1:1

Uruguay started the second-half by giving Germany a taste of their own Medikament with some swift passing and clean striking of the ball around the penalty area; Egidio Arevalo pulling the ball back, for Diego Forlan to crack in with his weaker, right foot - just six minutes after the re-start.

Five minutes later, Germany were level as Fernando Muslera missed Jerome Boateng's cross and the ball hit the side of Marcell Jansen's face on its way into the goal.

Eight minutes from time, a sloppy corner bounced around the Uruguay area before Sami Khedira could nod the ball into the back of the net.

Not a spectacular goal, not a contender for goal of the tournament, but a fifth goal in an otherwise meaningless game before the main event tomorrow evening.

Congratulations to both Uruguay and Germany for making a game of it. Over the course of the tournament Germany probably deserved their medal although Uruguay came so close to levelling the score; when Diego Forlan's free-kick hit the crossbar in the last action of the game.

Uruguay 2 Germany 3

Out of four South American teams in the quarter finals, Uruguay was the only one still looking for a place in the final.

Holland took the lead through a wonderful strike by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst but Uruguay levelled the score with an impressive curler from Diego Forlan, five minutes before the break.

That's pretty much what the first-half was about, two teams cancelling each other; even with the quality of their individual goals. Maybe Maarten Stekelenburg could have put a hand on Forlan's shot but there was some influential swerve on the ball.

Half-time: 1:1

Bert van Marwijk looked to make a more attacking change after the break; bringing on Rafael van der Vaart in place of Demy De Zeeuw.

It took a while to pay off, as Holland started to look frustrated with themselves and Uruguay appeared the more relaxed.

After Maarten Stekelenburg knocked a Diego Forlan free-kick away, Holland woke up with two goals in three minutes; thanks to Wesley Sneijder's deflected shot and Arjen Robben's header.

From a game that started to look like it had penalties written all over it, to one that almost looked like a walkover; the change happened faster than Ravshan Irmatov could flip a coin.

Once Diego Forlan was substituted, with six minutes still to play, one sensed that Oscar Tabarez felt there was no way back.

The Uruguay players had other ideas though when they earned a free-kick in injury time. With no Diego Forlan on the pitch, the ball was played low to Maxi Pereira who scored to give the game a tense final few minutes.

Uruguay couldn't get the equaliser they needed so Holland booked their place in a World Cup Final for the first time in 32 years.

Uruguay 2 Holland 3

The last African team in the 2010 World Cup Finals hoped to become the first to reach the semi-finals.

The first twenty minutes belonged to Uruguay; Diego Forlan's set pieces and the nervous Ghana defence. It wasn't until Richard Kingson tipped the ball over the bar from Luis Suarez, in the 27th minute, that Ghana really woke up.

Then, from a corner in the 29th minute, Ghana kept the pressure on. Kwadwo Asamoah dropped back a little, Kevin-Prince Boateng moved up alongside Asamoah Gyan and Ghana started to look more promising.

With two minutes added on, Ghana pushed forward a final time before the break.

There didn't really seem much urgency in their movement, as Asamoah Gyan helped the ball along; into the path of Sulley Muntari. Fernando Muslera was seen moving one way, so Muntari sent the ball the other.

Half-time: 0:1

Ten minutes into the second-half, Diego Forlan's direct free-kick brought Uruguay back into the game. Richard Kingson didn't really give himself much of a chance when he started to move; especially when Jabulani had an extra move itself.

Asamoah Gyan almost put Ghana back in front, but Muslera was down quick to keep the ball out.

Twenty minutes from time, Uruguay probably put together of their best moves; Kingson saving from Suarez.

Uruguay looked fresher towards the end of normal time; Ghana just seemed to be hanging on.

Not only were Ghana the third African team to reach the quarter-finals, they also became the third African team to take their quarter-final match into extra-time.

Uruguay probably should have had a penalty in the first period of extra-time, but Pantsil was lucky to get away with sticking his foot out.

With both teams visibly tired, the Dutch players must be licking their lips.

Stephen Appiah missed the chance to avoid the penalty shoot-out by trying to control the ball instead of just throwing his head at it.

Then Gyan couldn't get the better of Andrés Scotti; Kevin-Prince Boateng headed wide and then drama of all dramas as Luis Suarez was sent off for handling the ball on the line in the 120th minute and the normally assured Asamoah Gyan crashed the penalty onto the crossbar.

Now to the real penalties.

Penalties:

Uruguay went first.

1:0 Diego Forlan - Calmly struck.
1:1 Asamoah Gyan - Courageously went first and scored.
2:1 Mauricio Victorino - Blasted into the roof of the net.
2:2 Stephen Appiah - Scored just above the keeper's gloves.
3:2 Andrés Scotti - Hesitated but low and through the middle.
3:2 John Mensah - No run up. Easily saved.
3:2 Maxi Pereira - Shoots miles over.
3:2 Dominic Adiyiah - Saved.
4:2 Sebastian Abreu - Cool customer scored light and easy.

Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 After Extra Time (4:2 pens)

The South Koreans are a busy, fit side. Uruguay looked to calm them down and hope to catch them out at the back.

As was expected, South Korea charged forward at the start and exposed themselves at the back; Diego Forlan crossing low for Luis Suarez at the far post to knock the ball in, after Jung Sung-Ryong tried to dive to cut out the cross and didn't reach it.

Once in the lead, Uruguay were content to sit deeper and let South Korea come at them.

South Korea went in at the break thinking what might have been had Park Chu-Young's free-kick not hit the post in the fourth minute.

Park Chu-Young's free-kick just before half-time hit the wall, and Cha Du-Ri fired the rebound high.

Half-time: 1:0

South Korea came out in the second-half with Lee Young-Pyo getting more forward on the left; his low cross turned out for a corner.

South Korea continued to put the pressure on Uruguay, Park Ji-Sung's header quite comfortable for Fernando Muslera though.

Eventually the continued pressure paid off as a free-kick from the left was headed up in the air. As Muslera left his line, Lee Chung-Yong beat Edinson Cavani to the header and equalised for South Korea.

Lee Chung-Yong almost added a second a couple of minutes later.

Ten minutes from time, an Uruguayan corner was poorly dealt with by the South Korean defenders; giving Luis Suarez the chance to curl the ball in off the post from the outside left side of the penalty area.

Uruguay 2 South Korea 1

As we now start looking at all the World Cup teams for a second time, we can start to see the real winners and losers.

Bafana Bafana might have tried to intimidate Uruguay by singing in the tunnel but unfortuantely for them it was Diego Forlan who rang the tunes on the pitch; scoring two and having a major part in the third goal, as the boys were crushed by men.

Uruguay made a more positive start after their poor display against France in the first game while Siphiwe Tshabalala was a little ambitious with a couple of early attempts in Pretoria.

Having seen plenty of shots float sky high, Itumeleng Khune was a little shocked to watch Diego Forlan's 24th minute strike actually dip under the bar; although it did take a slight deflection off Aaron Mokoena.

Half-time: 0:1

With Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez running the show for Uruguay, South Africa needed to change something if they wanted to stay at the party.

Bafana Bafana came to life, with twenty minutes to go, after appealing to the crowd to give them more noise.

Unfortunately, when Luis Suarez sped into the South Africa penalty area, Khune caught the striker with his left foot. Massimo Busacca took a while going for his pocket; Khune backed off, fearing the worse - red card.

Diego Forlan had to wait an age while the reserve goalkeeper made himself ready, but the former Manchester United striker kept his cool and all but ended South Africa's hopes of getting out of the group stage. The hosts will need to beat France and have other results go their way.

Diego Forlan then played a part in Uruguay's third goal, in the final seconds of time added on; crossing the ball to Luis Suarez, who switched it back to Alvaro Pereira on the goal-line.

South Africa 0 Uruguay 3

The first ever winners of the World Cup met the scorers of the first ever World Cup Finals goal - that was Uruguay 1930, this is now; South Africa 2010.

France and Uruguay have a history of nil-nil draws, so why should we have expected anything else in Cape Town?

If there were problems in the French camp it didn't show on the pitch in the opening minutes of the match against Uruguay; as swift passing and confident movement almost enabled Sidney Govou to snatch the lead for France.

And that was really the best chance of the first forty-five minutes.

Sadly, for most of the second-half neither team had much to offer; even the feeble French chorus of 'Allez les Bleus' could hardly be heard above the vuvuzela drone.

Only with fifteen minutes to go did the teams realise that winning the game might be something to aim for.

But then Uruguay substitute, Nicolas Lodeiro, collected his second yellow card in less than twenty minutes on the pitch and reduced his team to ten men.

France tried to add fresh attacking options while Uruguay sought to hold on to the one point.

But the minutes ticked away and Thierry Henry's free-kick was headed away in the final seconds.

Uruguay 0 France 0