European domination After previously dominating the tournament I suggested that the last four in South Africa might not contain any South American teams but when Ghana's Asamoah Gyan hit the bar from the penalty spot with the last kick of extra-time it put a knife through every African's dreams and lifted the Uruguayan's for the shoot out.

Incredibly Gyan stepped up again and dispatched his spot-kick but the experienced Abreu, who has played for 17 clubs, did 'a Di Canio' and clipped the ball into the middle of the net and over the sprawling 'keeper. What an amazing finish to a match.

I didn't take the the bet for all the South American teams to go home but I did do Holland and Germany in a double and the two European nations wrestled power back from the South Americans to dominate in their games against Brazil and Argentina.

Ever since 1974 I have had a soft spot for the Le Oranje and they put paid to the favourites and five-time winners on Friday. Then yesterday the Germans exhibited a devastating display of counter-attacking football. The Polish born Miroslav Klose, one of five non-German born players in their squad, is now just one away from Ronaldo's all-time world cup goalscoring record.

In a game of less excitement Spain beat Paraguay and their semi against Germany should be a titanic battle of some of the best passing and movement we have seen in the competition. Light years away from what we saw in the English games.  ¶ 07:46