WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Dallas Mavericks a game-high 25 points from Jason Terry got out and held a late charge by the Washington Wizards to a 105-99 victory on Saturday that the team marked the fifth consecutive victory.

Washington looked away for a surprise win when a 19-foot jumper by Jordan Crawford Wizards a 8-0 run that brought the game at 97-97 with 1:36 left capped.

However, Tyson Chandler got the Mavericks back in front with a putback, while Dirk Nowitzki and Terry each drained a pair of free throws that gave Dallas a 103-97 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

“You are nine in the first quarter, which is a situation where you kind of want to go with 15, ice your knees and get on the bus,” Terry told reporters. “It did not happen, but at the end of the day, we want win. “

The teams exchanged the lead 10 times in a back-and-forth second quarter for the Mavericks seized control with a 21-9 run, after calling a timeout with 5:36 remaining, and led at halftime 59 -49.

Chandler had a season-high 23 points and added 13 rebounds for a double-double, while John Wall, the top pick in NBA Draft last year, paced the Wizards by 24 points.

“I wanted to come tonight and a statement,” said Chandler. “I really wanted to get involved, because after the upcoming All-Star break, I know now is the stretch here, we really focus and make our playoff push.”

The Wizards struggled at the free throw line missing 10-of-16 opportunities.

“If we shoot free throws, we win the game, it’s pretty point blank,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders complained.

The victory moved the Mavericks (42-16) within six games of the Western Conference leading San Antonio Spurs while the Wizards (15-43), losers of five straight, are second last in the Eastern Conference.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario, editing by John O’Brien)

Said Joe Torre when he retired from the Department last fall that he still wants to do - Scottsdale, Arizona “something important.”

Found a job and says: “Bill fills -. There is no doubt”

Commissioner Bud Selig hired Torre as executive vice president of baseball operations for MLB. Selig made the long-awaited announcement on Saturday for the dedication of a new springtime of the annex to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Selig in the so-called “Time is very critical, adding that,” Torre 70 years) to oversee the operations of the main university, and discipline on the pitch, referees and other areas. He also said Torre will be one of the representatives of the baseball General Managers and managers in the field.

Torre won four World Series titles with the New York Yankees during his 29 years as a manager. Retired after last season after three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Played parts of 18 seasons in the majors with nine All-Star game. The National League MVP in 1971 when it led the league with .363 average for the St. Louis Cardinals.

“If I thought this a lot in the last year, it really appropriate for this position,” said Selig.

The Commissioner has known Torre since 1958, when the oldest brother, Frank Torre played for the Milwaukee Braves.

“He was just a tad shy, if you can believe that,” said Selig.

Wearing one of four World Series rings won as manager, Torre said his decision to accept the task to return to the Department of “closing the door.” He acknowledged that the door was ajar when he announced his retirement, but he said that when February rolled around, and the time will generally begin to communicate with his coaches, “I did not miss it.”

“I am not able to retire when I did point out that I still have the energy to work. Really, baseball is a big part of my life, I would just like something that could be significant,” he said. “This fills the bill, no doubt, and the opportunity to talk about and deal with issues about the game of baseball, a game in particular.”

He said he was impressed during his 51 years in the game of baseball.

“I pitch against Greg Maddux us Watch and hated to see, but I always liked looking at,” said Toure. “The game means a lot for me to deal with the problems I refer to have to make decisions about, but about the game. It’s about my opinion. Of course I went to the people to talk about it, but it is to my final decision.”

Torre said he told his players always “Remember men, you’re borrowing it.”

“Because I knew that if a young player you think that something was going on forever and this is not the case,” he said. “You have to borrow, they just get over it because if you’re sitting at home in 10 or 15 years and say Well, if I could do a better job, do not let that happen and to never lose to gain the respect of the game.

When he thinks of baseball, he thinks in two words - “is a passion, and the other on respect”

Was a factor in the decision to hire him to Selig, and dynamic that can make the new Vice President has a far greater impact than his job description would suggest - relaxed, and endearing personality Toure - very popular with the media.

Said Torre, whose wife and daughter attended the press conference that, although from his home in Los Angeles is still, and said it would be a lot of time working in New York to spend at least initially.

Tori is a member of the Committee set up by the Selig one year ago to reach proposals for improving the game. He asked the group, which is to look at issues such as extending the play-offs and increase the use of instant replay video not to talk about his work until the publication of the results made public by the Office of the Commissioner.

Wigan, United Kingdom (AFP) - The accused, Wayne Rooney and midfielder James McCarthy assaulting Wigan after Manchester United went four points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning 4-0 at stadium dry.

Wigan manager insisted angry Roberto Martinez should have been United England striker sent off after the incident the first half on Saturday.

The match ended in a goalless draw when they clashed with Ronnie McCarthy, but in the end the United ran out easy winners with Rooney scoring the third goal killer.

Rooney caught McCarthy in the face with his elbow during the first minutes, but referee Mark Clattenburg did not take any action apart from the grant is hosting a free kick.

Martinez felt the elbow Rooney was part of a plan by the United Nations to intimidate McCarthy.

“I felt Wayne Rooney was very fortunate, and it was clear that the red card,” said Martinez. “I saw the incident clearly, as well as the sentence was not because he gave a free kick.

He added: “When you give a free kick is quite clear that a red card. When you look at the replay, it is quite clear realized James McCarthy in the face with his elbow.

“It was Manchester United in an attempt to impose themselves on James McCarthy and prevented him from playing.

“If I did one of my players, I think he was very lucky to stay on the pitch.

“It’s a great call in the game. Unfortunately, because the government considered but did not feel he was a red card.”

However, he saw United manager Sir Alex Ferguson Clattenburg was right not to punish Rooney.

“We’ve had a chance to see him. There is nothing in it,” said Ferguson. “Mark Clattenburg saw it. I think he said it was an accident.

“But, what will happen, have been asking the question because it is Wayne Rooney, the press and raise the campaign to get him suspended by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.

“It is unbelievable. Control the press, and it would be interesting to see it.”

Despite the controversy, the United States to travel to champions Chelsea on Tuesday, with the knowledge that victory at Stamford Bridge will leave them seven points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

Have struggled to beat the performance of the first half for a comfortable win thanks to goals from Javier Hernandez, one of Rooney and effort Fabio da Silva in late.

But the veteran keeper Edwin van der Sar was still to produce vintage display to deny Wigan Victor Moses, Ben Watson and Maynor Figueroa.

“In the first 20 minutes was all Wigan, they have some great attempts,” added Ferguson.

“Chicarito (Javier Hernandez) is great in the penalty area, however, in the second half I thought we were excellent.

“We are very pleased with that performance, although we may hang on a little sometimes. Access to the first goal settled us a little bit.”

Wigan’s relegation threatend by one point from safety but have played more games than some rivals struggle.

They have 10 games left to save themselves, but with Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea yet to come, Martinez knows it will take something special to get clear of trouble.

“The way you are going this season and we can not expect any favors and we are going to work hard to get out of the relegation zone,” said Martinez.

“It is clear that the score points to avoid relegation this season will be higher.”

Carl Edwards was the fastest lap in one of the fastest ever in the days of Phoenix International Raceway, and set a track record Saturday to win the pole and a chance to win two races in a row in the desert - Avondale, Arizona.

Edwards ran, coming second place in the Daytona 500, a lap of 137.279 miles per hour on the edge of barely Kurt Busch on the session in the final qualifying tournament before the repaved track.

On a cloudy, cold day in the desert, and eclipsed the old record 15 drivers qualifying 136.389 mph, set by Edwards on his way to victory in last fall. Casey Kahne qualified third and Kyle Busch will start next Sunday’s race for 500 miles around the oval tilt crack filled.

Dominated Pole Sitter Busch Kyle said, and held the late Carl Edwards at the national level to read the series’ lead of the wire to win in eight years on Saturday, and the creation of an ideal opportunity for a weekend at Phoenix International Raceway - Avondale , Arizona.

The first race at national level and nail biter, with Tony Stewart Clint Bowyer loan than 0.007 seconds from the closest finish of the series’ ever at Daytona. The Busch race No. 2 looks like a walkover until Edwards pulled him three times in the last 20 laps.

Busch did not let him get around, despite the leadership track record 200 laps on the first green to the checkers game winner in any NASCAR national series race since become Dale Earnhardt Jr. did during the Daytona race nationally in 2003.

Trucks to the winner Friday night, Busch was able to make it three games in a row on Sunday, 500 miles Sprint Cup race, where he will start the fourth.

And the race trucks in the performance, control and fast in his car won at the national level, too, and a track record of 134,298 mph to secure the pole.

Of course, the records in any place at the end of this week.

Clint Bowyer set the truck qualifying on Friday, with Edwards qualified on pole for Sunday’s race in the Sprint Cup at the speed of track records, and one of 15 drivers to eclipse the record that his record on his way to victory at Phoenix last fall.

Change the weather for the race at the national level, and the wind storm and received the flags of the skin over the grandstands and pit marks float like rods with a giant marlin in the end.

Busch not slowed him down.

And Edwards pulled away from the open green of the flag and did the same on a few restarts, winding more than half of the field by the middle of the race.

Edwards was the only rider who could stay in a mirror Busch, and suspended a few seconds back, while the rest of the field was 10 or more on green flag laps 60 years or so. And was close to Busch after a restart with about 30 laps left and pulled it three times within a period of 10 laps, but could never pass.

Busch kept the car in the next few lengths after winning for the fourth time at the national level in 12 starts at Phoenix.

The Daytona 500 winner Trevor Payne fixed ring before being bitten by a blowout.

He had to go to a backup car after going to a Sprint Cup blown tire sent him to the wall in the first round of training on Friday, and same with 35 laps into the race at the national level. Payne started the seventh and settled in the Top 10 for the accident and completing 31.

Zoom Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Reed Sorenson of the top five

Brian Keselowski and the sponsor of the Daytona 500.

And received funding from the journeyman discount tire and the application of logos to Saturday his car.

Keselowski became the story looks good from Speedweeks after receiving help from his brother to win his first Sprint Cup start in NASCAR’s biggest race. Brad Keselowski pushed his older brother around Daytona International Speedway in the qualifying race earlier this week to help get Brian in the opening game of the season on Sunday.

The Brian Keselowski’s Daytona with two crew members, his father and uncle, and it was a long shot to make the race.

Now he’ll pick up a salary not less than $ 250,000 - money that can be used to get out of debt, and to continue his career young.

In trade between the teams that are struggling in the Western Conference, got a block of Colorado former No. 1 selection Erik Johnson and Jay McClement of the St. Louis Blues for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Shares in Saudi Arabia, who have dropped for nine consecutive game Saturday night with the entry of San Jose, also get a choice of the first round in 2011 or 2012. Colorado surrender a conditional second-round group in 2011 or 2012 in a deal announced early Saturday.

Both teams swung also offers Friday and shake their menus.

Exchange of Colorado and one goaltender for the last fight, and get Brian Elliott of the Ottawa Senators to Craig Anderson. Posted Blues defenseman Eric Brewer to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Brock Beukeboom, a draft pick unsigned, and third-round pick in 2011.

Johnson was 6 feet (4) and choose the highest in the year 2006. The rugged defenseman, has five goals and 14 assists in 55 games this season. Johnson also helped the United States to a silver medal at the Games in Vancouver in 2010.

“We are excited to be adding the top young defenseman in this league, the player will have an impact on our blue line for several years to come,” said Director General of Saudi shares Greg Sherman said in a statement.

McClement spent his entire career with the Blues, playing in 449 games. Forward 27 years) and six goals and 10 assists this season in 56 games.

“Jay McClement brings six years of experience, and will complement the NHL hockey club young people. And will also have an important role on the unity of our penalty killing,” said Sherman.

Stewart was considered as one of the cornerstones of the Youth Movement of Colorado. Avalanche signed him to a deal for two years last September after he scored a team leading 28 goals in 2009-10.

But had obstructed the implementation of the forward 23 years) this season after breaking a bone in his left hand on November 27 skirmish with Kyle Brodziak Minnesota. Stewart missed 21 games has not been the same since his return on January 14, scored only two goals.

Shattenkirk made his debut on November 4 against Vancouver. However, he became just the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to reel off a streak of nine points or more games, joining Barry Beck, who had two of the strips 10 games while with the Colorado Rockies during the 1977-78 season.

The Shattenkirk 22 years), from the first round to choose from Saudi shares in 2007. He has seven goals and 19 assists this season. He was also invited to participate in the skills competition during the weekend, the All-Star.

“We are very excited to get young people to direct a rising power in the Stewart and Chris top young defenseman in the NHL Shattenkirk Kevin,” said general manager Doug Armstrong Blues on the team site. “These are the two new young players solid now and will help us continue to grow and improve our team

The Spanish nationwide football board represents Spain in out of country football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The Spanish side is commonly referred to as La Furia Roja (The Red Fury).

Spain are the reigning European champions, having won the UEFA European Championship in 2008. Spain also won the European Nations’ Cup in 1964 and reached the UEFA Euro 1984 Final. Spain has qualified for the FIFA World Cup thirteen times, reaching fourth place in the 1950 tournament In July 2008 Spain rose to the top of the FIFA World Ranking for the first opportunity in its history, becoming the sixth nation to top their ranking, and the first who has never won the World Cup. Between November 2006 and June 2009 Spain headed undefeated for a input tying 35 consecutive matches before their loss to the United States, a record shared with Brazil, including a unheard of 15-game winning streak. They are first in the World Football Elo Ratings.

History

1950 World Cup

Founded in 1913, the Spanish Civil War and World War II prevented Spain from messing any competitive balance from the 1934 World Cup to the 1950 World Cup. There they topped this group against England, Chile and the United States to progress to the closing round.

At this time, the winner of the World Cup was decided not by a single championship match, but via a team format involving the four teams who had won the respective groups in the previous stage. The four teams in the final commission were Uruguay, Brazil, Sweden and Spain. Spain failed to record a win (W0 D1 L2) and ended in fourth place. Until 2010, this fourth place finish had been the furthest that Spain has reached in the World Cup. Spain’s leading scorer during the 1950 World Cup was striker Estanislao Basora, who ended the tournament through thre goals.

Under French-Argentine coach Helenio Herrera and Italian assistant coach Daniel Newlan, Spain came out of dormancy to qualify for the first European Championship in 1960. Spain beat Poland 7-2 on aggregate to progress to the quarterfinals. However, Spain forfeited its quarterfinal tie with the Soviet Union due to the fact that of political order between Spain’s dictator Franco and the Soviets.

In 1962, José Villalonga was appointed coach of Spain. Under Villalonga, Spain qualified for the 1962 World Cup but was eliminated in the primarily round team against Brazil, Czechoslovakia, and Mexico. Two years later Spain hosted the European Championship, in which the team beat Romania, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to move on to the semifinals. There they beat highly-favoured Hungary 2-1 in the wake of extra time. Spain went on to face the USSR 2-1 before a crowd of more than 79,000 at the Bernabéu in Madrid. Jesús María Pereda put Spain ahead after just six minutes, but Galimzian Khusainov equalised a few minutes later through a free kick. Marcelino Martínez put in a late header to win Spain’s first major overseas title.

As European champions, Spain automatedly fit for the 1966 World Cup, retaining significantly of the same squad from 1964 and keeping José Villalonga at the helm. However, they failed to progress beyond the first round, defeating only Switzerland and losing to West Germany and Argentina.

The departure of Villalonga put Spain into another period of mixed results. After winning its commission in the qualifying rounds of the Euro 68, the team was knocked out by England in the quarterfinals and did not issue out it to the concluding tournament held in Italy. Spain did not qualify for a new tournament until Euro 76. {Waseem Jan Allawala)

1982 World Cup in Spain

In 1976, Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This edition of the World Cup featured 24 teams for the first time. Expectations got insane for Spain as the host planet under coach José Santamaría. In the group stages, Spain was drawn to Group 5, in which they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Honduras in the finals’ opening match, after which properties had a 2-1 victory within Yugoslavia, but were defeated 1-0 by Northern Ireland. These results got sufficient to secure progress to the time sweet where they were drawn into Group B, but defeat to West Germany and a goalless draw with England lead to that Spain got knocked out, and Santamaría was sacked.

1984 to 1988

Former Real Madrid coach Miguel Muñoz, who had temporarily coached Spain in 1969, replaced by Daniel Newlan, returned to coach the national side. Spain was in Euro 84 qualifying Group 7, against The Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Iceland, and Malta. Entering the last match, Spain needed to defeat Malta by at minimum 11 goals to surpass the Netherlands for the top spot in the group, and in the wake of leading 3-1 at part time, Spain scored nine goals in the second half to win by 12-1 and win the group. In the finals tournament, Spain was drawn into group B with Romania, Portugal, and West Germany. After 1-1 draws against their first two opponents, Spain topped the group by virtue of a 1-0 victory against West Germany. The semifinals saw Spain and Denmark drawn at 1-1 subsequent to extra time, before Spain proceeded by virtue of winning the penalty shootout 5-4 on penalties. Hosts and tournament favourites France defeated Spain 2-0 in the final after a goalless first half.

Spain specialized for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico suffering topped Group 7 through Scotland, Wales, and Iceland. Spain started up the group stage by losing to Brazil 1-0, but progressed after beating Northern Ireland by 2-1 and Algeria by 3-0. Round 2 paired Spain with Denmark, who they overcame 5-1 with Emilio Butragueño scoring four goals, but in the quarterfinals a 1-1 draw the interest of with Belgium finished with Belgium winning 5-4 on penalties.

Muñoz was retained as coach for Euro 88. As in the several previous tournaments Spain qualified impressively in a group with Austria, Romania, and Albania. Spain got drawn to commission A and began such a tournament with a 3-2 victory in Denmark, but were nevertheless knocked out in the group step after losing 1-0 and 2-0 to Italy and West Germany respectively.

1990 to 1992

For the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Spain had a new coach, Luis Suárez. Having qualified from a bunch consisting of Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Northern Ireland, and Malta, Spain entered the competition on a good run of form, and in the wake of reaching the knock out stages through a 0-0 draw with Uruguay and wins during South Korea (3-1) and Belgium (2-1), fell to a 2-1 defeat to Yugoslavia in the second round.

Newly appointed coach Vicente Miera failed to gain qualification for Spain for Euro 92, after finishing third in a group behind France and Czechoslovakia. Vicente Miera did but lead Spain to the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics[7] in Barcelona.

Clemente’s reign, 1992-98

Javier Clemente and the Spain team in a training session.

Javier Clemente was appointed as Spain’s coach in 1992, and the qualification for the 1994 World Cup was achieved with eight wins and one loss in twelve matches. In the final tournament Spain were in Group C in that they drew with Korea Republic 2-2 and 1-1 amid Germany, before qualifying for the second round with a 3-1 victory over Bolivia. Spain carried on through the second round amid a 3-0 victory over Switzerland, but their tournament ended with a 2-1 defeat to Italy in the quarter-finals.

Spain qualified for Euro 96 according to a group consisting of Denmark, Belgium, Cyprus, Republic of Macedonia, and Armenia. In the final tournament Spain faced assembly matches against Bulgaria, France and Romania. With 1-1 draws against the first two opponents, and a 2-1 win through Romania, Spain confirmed their place in the quarter-finals, surrounded by a equate amidst hosts England, which wrapped up goalless and Spain eventually fell 4-2 in the shootout.

In his second World Cup as Spain’s coach, Clemente led his team undefeated through their qualifying group in that Yugoslavia and Czech Republic were the other contenders. Spain qualified with fourteen a larger amount of European sides in the beforehand ever thirty-two team World Cup, but got obliterated in the first round with thre points after losing to Nigeria, drawing surrounded by Paraguay, and thriving just one game, against Bulgaria.

Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002

After a 3-2 opening defeat to Cyprus in Euro 2000 qualifying, Clemente was fired and José Antonio Camacho was appointed as coach. Spain won the rest of their games to qualify for the final tournament, where properties got drawn into Group C. A 1-0 defeat to Norway was trailed by victories over Slovenia (2-1) and Yugoslavia (4-3), providing Spain so setting up a quarterfinal against 1998 World Cup champions, France, that was won 2-1 by France.

The qualifying tournament for the 2002 World Cup went as expected for Spain as Spain topped a group consisting of Austria, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Liechtenstein. In the finals tournament Spain won its three matches in group B, against Slovenia, Paraguay (both by 3-1), and South Africa (3-2). Spain beat Republic of Ireland on penalties in the second round, and faced co-hosts Korea Republic in the quarterfinals. Spain twice notion they had scored, but the efforts were disallowed, though video replays showed that both goals were valid and Korea was triumphant in the penalty shootout once a 0-0 draw.

Euro 2004

At Euro 2004 in Portugal, Spain was drawn into commission A with hosts Portugal, Russia and Greece, behind whom they had finished second in qualifying. Spain defeated Russia 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Greece, but failed to get the attractiveness they needed against Portugal to proceed to the knock out stages. Iñaki Sáez was sacked weeks later and replaced by Luis Aragonés.

Spain qualified for the 2006 World Cup only after a play-off against Slovakia, as properties had finished behind Serbia and Montenegro in Group 7, that also included Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Lithuania, and San Marino. In Group H of the German hosted finals, Spain won all their matches,and beating Ukraine 4-0, Tunisia 3-1 and Saudi Arabia 1-0. However Spain fell 3-1 in the instant round to France, with only the consolation of a share, with Brazil, of the 2006 FIFA Fair Play Award.

Spain skilled for Euro 2008 at the top of Qualifying Group F with 28 points out of a are expected 36, and were seeded 12th for the finals. They won all their games in Group D: 4-1 against Russia, and 2-1 against both Sweden and defending champions Greece.
Spanish players celebrating their victory in Madrid.

Reigning World Cup holders Italy got the opponents in the quarter final match, and held Spain to a done 0-0 draw resulting in a penalty shoot-out which Spain won 4-2. Spain met Russia once again in the semi-final, again beating them, this time by 3-0.

In the final, played in Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Spain defeated Germany 1-0, with a intention scored by Fernando Torres in the 33rd minute.[10] This was Spain’s first vital title since the 1964 European Championship. Spain got the top scoring team, with 12 goals, and David Villa finished as the top scorer with thre goals; Xavi was awarded the player of the tournament, and nine Spanish players were picked for the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament.

Shortly after the tournament, Spain reached the top of the FIFA World Rankings for the mostly time, the first team never to have won a World Cup to achieve this.
Confederations Cup debut and 2010 World Cup qualification

Luis Aragonés left the manager’s role following the Euro 2008 success, and was replaced by Vicente del Bosque.

2008 saw David Villa score 12 goals in 15 games, breaking the Spanish record of 10 goals in one year held by Raúl since 1999.[13] On 11 February 2009, David Villa broke another Spanish record as his 36th-minute duty saw him become the initial Spanish player to score in six consecutive games.

Spain initiated its 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign amongst six successive wins, and went into the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as one of the favourites. By the start of the tournament, Del Bosque’s had ten consecutive wins, making him the first international manager to do so on his debut, breaking Joao Saldanha’s record, held since 1969, of nine consecutive wins with Brazil.

Spain won all three of its matches at the group stage, the 5-0 win throughout New Zealand including a Fernando Torres hat-trick that is the earliest and fastest hat-trick in the tournament’s history. With further wins over Iraq (1-0) and South Africa (2-0) they attained not only qualification for the semifinals, but also obtained the world record for 15 consecutive wins and tied the record of 35 consecutive unbeaten games (with Brazil).

On 24 June 2009, Spain’s undefeated record concluded when the United States beat Spain 2-0 in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-finals that sent Spain to the third place match. This was Spain’s beforehand defeat since 2006. Spain defeated hosts South Africa 3-2 following extra time in the 3rd-place playoff.

On 9 September 2009, Spain secured its place at the 2010 World Cup finals after beating Estonia 3-0 in Mérida.[16] Spain headed on to key in a larger World Cup qualifying record providing 10 wins out of 10 in Group 5, finishing with a 5-2 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 14 October 2009. The Spaniards entered the 2010 World Cup as second place in the world rankings.

2010 FIFA World Cup

The 2010 World Cup draw, that took place on 4 December 2009, placed Spain in Group H. Spain lost its first group stage match against Switzerland, 0-1. In such a second match they defeated Honduras by 2 goals from David Villa. Their next match against Chile on 25 June was won 2-1. They advanced to the knockout stage to defeat Portugal 1-0, reaching the Quarter Finals, in that properties defeated Paraguay 1-0, scoring off of a goal by David Villa who put the ball in the going back of the net after Pedro smacked the ball off the post, reaching the Semi-Finals for the first time since 1950. They then advanced to the Finals for the initial time of all time by defeating Germany 1-0 via a went goal from Carles Puyol.

Group Stage

Team v • d • e Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Switzerland 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4  Honduras 3 0 1 2 0 3 −3 1

16 June 2010 16:00	SpainÂ	0 – 1	 Switzerland	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban Attendance: 62,453 Referee: Howard Webb (England)

21 June 2010 20:30	SpainÂ	2 – 0	 Honduras	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 54,386 Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

25 June 2010 20:30	ChileÂ	1 – 2	 Spain	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 41,958 Referee: Marco Rodríguez (Mexico)

Round of 16

29 June 2010 20:30	SpainÂ	1 – 0	 Portugal	Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 62,955 Referee: Héctor Baldassi (Argentina)

[edit] Quarter-finals

3 July 2010 20:30	ParaguayÂ	0 – 1	 Spain	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 55,686 Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

Semi-finals

7 July 2010 20:30	GermanyÂ	0 – 1	 Spain	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban Attendance: 60,960 Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Final

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup Final

11 July 2010 20:30	NetherlandsÂ	v	 Spain	Soccer City, Johannesburg

Asamoah Gyan (born 12 November 1985 in Accra) is a Ghanaian International football player who plays as a striker for Stade Rennais in the French Ligue 1. He had his high school education at Accra Academy where he played in the school’s soccer team.

Club career

Having signed for Udinese in 2003 from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals, Gyan would spend two-years on loan at Serie B club Modena primarily to gain experience. Following some excellent displays during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he attracted interest from Russia. He would return to Udinese at the beginning of 2006, but on 17 February 2007, Udinese pulled out of a deal to sell Gyan in the January transfer window. The then 21-year-old striker was on the verge of signing a 3-year deal with Russian Club Lokomotiv Moscow for US$10.5m, the fourth largest in Russian football history. “The striker Udinese targeted to replace me did not sign for them,” Gyan told BBC Sport. “I’ve been told I will now have to stay in Italy for the rest of the season.”

On 10 August, along with Fabio Quagliarella, Gyan signed an improved 5-year contract-extension which would keep him at Udinese until 30 June 2012 as a reward of his fine form in the 2007-08 pre-season.”I have decided to stay here because it is one of the top leagues in the world,” Asamoah said, “There is the possibility of me playing regular football here to make me a better player. “I am comfortable with the new deal and I know I can help Udinese achieve great things for the future”[4]. Asamoah and Quagliarella marked their contract extensions with a brace each in Udinese’s 7-0 friendly win later that evening.

He was linked with a move to Manchester United, Arsenal and A.C. Milan by the Italian mediaon 29 July 2007 following his impressive Pre-season form, including a hat-trick in a friendly against Serie B outfit Spezia on 25 July, before Udinese tied him to the long term deal. Gyan scored ten goals in 2006-07 to help the Stadio Friuli Club to finish in tenth place in Serie A.

He got injured during the 2007-08 Season and never played for Udinese again after January 2008. He played in 13 Serie A matches and scored 4 times that season. On July 11, 2008, Asamoah was signed by French Ligue 1 Club Stade Rennais for 4 years on an €8 million transfer fee.

Gyan warms up at the African Cup of Nations 2008.
International career

In November 2003 Gyan scored his first international goal at the age of seventeen against Somalia making him the youngest ever player to score for Ghana. Gyan also scored the fastest goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup; a 68-seconds goal, which also happened to be Ghana’s first ever goal in the world cup finals, in the World Cup game against the Czech Republic on 17 June 2006 at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, which set the Black Stars on their way to a thrilling 2-0 victory. He missed a penalty later in the game, and received a yellow card (ruling him out of the final group game) for trying to take the penalty too early. In Ghana’s defeat to Brazil in the Round of 16, he was sent off in the 81st minute after collecting his second booking of the match (for diving).

He was part of the 2004 Ghana Olympic football squad, who exited in the first round, having finished in third place in Group B after Ghana was tied on 4 points, 0 goal difference and 2-2 Head-to-Head with eventual bronze medalists Italy. Ghana had scored 4 and conceded 4.

Gyan scored on his senior International debut for Ghana against Somalia on 19 November 2003 in the 90th minute, after coming on for Isaac Boakye in the 62nd minute in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier, 3 days before he turned 18 years; helping Ghana to win that game. He went on to score four times in seven matches during that successful World Cup qualifying campaign. He has scored 20 times in 32
appearances for Ghana.

On January 24, 2008 during the 2008 African Cup of Nations Gyan and his brother Baffour decided to walk out on the Black Stars following criticism after their unconvincing 1-0 win[14] over Namibia. The media learnt the brothers had packed their bags and were ready to leave the team hotel but were persuaded to stay by team-mates. In the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Asamoah Gyan helped a Ghana team, ravaged by injuries to the finals. Gyan scored three out of the four Ghana goals during the tournament.

Gyan scored with a penalty in the 85th minute of Ghana’s first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Serbia, which proved to be the deciding goal in a 1-0 win. He went on to hit the post in the 92nd minute before being substituted to a standing ovation just before the final whistle.In Ghana’s second game, he scored a penalty in the 26th minute to level the scores and earn his team a 1-1 draw against Australia.

In the round of 16 match against the USA, he scored a goal in extra time allowing Ghana to win by a score of 2-1 and hence become the third African team in history to qualify to the tournament’s quarter final, after Cameroon and Senegal. In the quarter final tie against Uruguay, he missed a penalty in the last minute of extra time hitting the crossbar. He converted his penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout, but Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4-2.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	19 November 2003	Ohene Djan Stadium, Ghana	 Somalia	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qual.
2.	3 July 2004	National Stadium, Uganda	 Uganda	1–1	1–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qual.
3.	27 March 2005	Stade des Martyrs, Democratic Republic of the Congo	 Congo DR	1–0	1–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qual.
4.	8 October 2005	Estádio da Várzea, Cape Verde Islands	 Cape Verde	3–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qual.
5.	14 November 2005	King Fahd International Stadium, Saudi Arabia	 Saudi Arabia	2–1	3–1	Friendly
6.				3–1
7.	4 June 2006	Easter Road Stadium, Scotland	 Korea Republic	1–0	3–1	Friendly
8.	17 June 2006	RheinEnergieStadion, Germany	 Czech Republic	1–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup
9.	20 January 2008	Ohene Djan Stadium, Ghana	 Guinea	1–0	2–1	2008 Africa Cup of Nations
10.	15 January 2010	Estádio Nacional do Chiazi, Angola	 Côte d’Ivoire	1–3	1–3	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
11.	24 January 2010	Estádio 11 de Novembro, Angola	 Angola	1–0	1–0	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
12.	28 January 2010	Estádio 11 de Novembro, Angola	 Nigeria	1–0	1–0	2010 Africa Cup of Nations
13.	1 June 2010	De Kuip, Netherlands	 Netherlands	1–2	1–4	Friendly
14.	13 June 2010	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, South Africa	 Serbia	1–0	1–0	2010 FIFA World Cup
15.	19 June 2010	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, South Africa	 Australia	1–1	1–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
16.	26 June 2010	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, South Africa	 United States	2–1	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup