MADRID: Spain was awash with the red and gold national colours and exhuberant fans were gathering in blistering heat in outdoor "fan parks" as the country geared up for its first ever appearance in a World Cup final Sunday."The day of our dreams has arrived," said the sports newspaper

PORT ELIZABETH: Injured Mirsolav Klose was forced to surrender his pursuit of World Cup goal-scoring history on Saturday, but record-holder Ronaldo still praised the German striker`s achievements.The 32-year-old Klose missed the 3-2 win over Uruguay which gave his country third place the

PORT ELIZABETH: Oscar Tabarez would like to continue as Uruguay coach after guiding them to fourth place at the World Cup - their best finish in 40 years.The 63-year-old - in his second spell as coach after taking them to the last 16 at the 1990 finals - is out of contract but admitted

CAPE TOWN: A newly discovered flower has been named after South Africa`s infamous vuvuzela to honour the country`s hosting of the first World Cup in Africa.The plant`s colourful, flared yellow flowers and their "massed, synchronous appearance" had appropriate associations with the raucous

THE HAGUE: Virtually the whole of the 16.5million population of the Netherlands were gearing up for a huge nationwide party amid enormous anticipation of the Oranje winning the World Cup for the first time when they face European champions Spain in Johannesburg later on Sunday.However,

JOHANNESBURG: Nelson Mandela has not yet decided whether he will attend the World Cup final being held in South Africa, his grandson told AFP on Sunday, just hours before the closing ceremony.Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, who speaks on behalf of the family, said the night-time match could

ERASMIA: Both coach Joachim Loew and his squad are to receive Germany`s top honours after winning `the hearts and minds` of fans by finishing third at the World Cup, it was revealed on Sunday.Newly-elected German president Christian Wulff visited the team, just before they left their

ERASMIA: Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Sunday Germany`s rising stars have the potential to become future World Cup winners after finishing third at the World Cup finals."We have come even closer to the top five teams in the world, there is a bit of a tear in my eye thinking of

BRISTOL:  Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza hailed his players` perseverance after they won for the first time in 2010 with a maiden victory over England here on Saturday. The Tigers beat England by five runs in thrilling fashion to win the second one-day international and so end a

PORT ELIZABETH: Germany coach Joachim Loew insisted on Saturday that there have been no talks over a new contract which would keep him at the helm of the team he led to third place at the World Cup. "There have been no negotiations for the moment. I need calm and time to go over things

PORT ELIZABETH: Joachim Loew hailed Germany`s spirit after they came from behind to defeat Uruguay 3-2 in a thrilling game on Saturday and secure third place at the World Cup. "In the second half, when we were forced to dig deep, we saw the mental strength the team had to resist and then

PORT ELIZABETH: Sami Khedira`s 82nd-minute header earned Germany a 3-2 victory in a rousing and rain-soaked World Cup third-place play-off match here on Saturday. The Stuttgart midfielder rose to nod the ball beyond Fernando Muslera after Uruguay failed to clear a late corner, while

BRISTOL: Bangladesh won for the first time in 21 matches and enjoyed their first victory over England in any format with a stunning five-run success in the second one-day international here on Saturday. They defended a seemingly below par total of 236 to bowl England out for 231 with

SREBRENICA: FIFA has rejected a demand to mark the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre before the World Cup final, a non-governmental group said Saturday.   Bosnia`s branch of the Germany-based Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) had called on FIFA to hold a minute`s silence

PRETORIA: Olympics chief Jacques Rogge Saturday said South Africa had made the continent proud by hosting the World Cup on the eve of the final between the Netherlands and Spain.   "It is something that will be remembered for a very long time. It will make all Africa proud and the

CAPE TOWN: A British journalist accused of harbouring a World Cup fan who entered the England team`s locker-room paid a fine for fiddling a hotel register, a court heard Saturday.   British tabloid newspaper journalist Simon Wright paid a nearly 100 dollar fine after pleading guilty to

JOHANNESBURG: Colombian superstar Shakira said Saturday that following the World Cup in South Africa has made her "a football fanatic."   "I really never in my life imagined that I would go straight to the sports section in the newspaper," she told journalists ahead of Sunday`s final.

AMBON: One Indonesian was killed and two wounded in World Cup-related violence as rival sets of fans clashed Saturday, police said Saturday.   Violence broke out between two groups of villagers on Maluku island and several houses were set on fire.   It was not immediately clear

JOHANNESBURG: Every World Cup final is like a walk on the precipice of history.An abyss of despondency awaits the team that slips, joy unconfined for the one that retains its footing, and never has the gulf between the two outcomes been as great as it will be at the conclusion of Spain`s

BRASILIA: Former Brazil coach Dunga insisted on Friday that he was not responsible for the team`s disappointing World Cup, which ended in quarter-final elimination.Dunga, who was sacked on his return to the country, is also adamant that his players did all they could to win a sixth World