Europe back in control as final beckons (News Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jul 4, 2010, 11:56 GMT

Cape Town - At the end of the Round of 16 matches at the World Cup, Europe was looking at its worst-ever record, managing to bring just three countries through to the quarter-finals.

South America, on the other hand, were looking particularly strong as all but one of the five countries that had qualified for South Africa had managed to avoid being knocked out.

The only team that had to go home early was Chile, who were eliminated by Brazil in an all-South American tie.

In the quarter-finals the three European and four South American teams were joined by Ghana, who were the sole African team remaining in the competition.

But just as journalists were starting to write about the demise of the game in Europe and the re-emergence of South American football, beyond Brazil and Argentina, the tables were turned.

When the semi-finals kick off on Tuesday, three of the four South American teams that had participated in the quarter-finals will be watching from back home, as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay all lost their quarter-final matches.

The only team left from South America is Uruguay, which needed a second 'Hand of God' - as striker Luis Suarez called his deliberate handball in the last minute of extra time to deny Ghana victory.

Uruguay, who only qualified for South Africa after beating Costa Rica in a play-off, went on to win on penalties after Suarez had been sent off and Asamoah Gyan blasted the penalty awarded in the last minute against the crossbar and into the stands.

Pre-tournament favourites Brazil, who won the Confederations Cup last year and looked impressive in the first round, were beaten for the first time in 11 matches when they went down 2-1 to a Wesley Sneijder-inspired Netherlands.

It was the first time in 44 matches that Brazil lost a World Cup match outside Europe.

Argentina, also one of the favourites and one of just two teams to win all their group matches, were routed by a rampant German side that fully deserved their 4-0 victory.

Paraguay, on the other hand, were somewhat unlucky as they lost 1- 0 to a late David Villa goal in a match that saw Paraguay have a legitimate Nelson Valdez goal ruled offside. A second-half penalty that Spanish goalkeeper Iker Cassilas saved should also have been retaken as Spanish players had rushed into the area well before the shot was taken.

The semi-final line-up thus sees Uruguay take on the Netherlands and Germany face Spain in a rematch of the 2008 Euro final, which Spain won 1-0.

And while the first final since 1930 without European participation seemed on the cards just a few days ago, an all- European final now seems more likely.

Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen said his team were determined to reach the final even before arriving in South Africa. 'We did not come to the World Cup to play in the match for third place.

'We want to win the World Cup and I think that we stand a good chance.'

Argentina coach Diego Maradona, whose side were outplayed by Germany, had warned even before the quarter-final matches that Europe should not be written off.

'We'll never be bigger than Europe,' Maradona told FIFA.com.

Before the quarter-finals the general secretary of the sport's controlling body FIFA, Jerome Valcke, said that all the confederations were getting stronger. 'It shows that Europe is not as strong as in the past.'

Valcke said that despite the disappointing showing (at that stage), Europe was not in immediate danger of losing spots for the 2014 World Cup. But the final allocation by FIFA will be done in 2011.

Netherlands, Germany and Spain have surely now ensured that Europe is not in any danger of losing their dominant position in world football.