<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>(</strong><strong>Results</strong>: Uruguay 1-0 Mexico, South Africa 2 - 1 France, Argentina 2- 0 Greece, South Korea 2- 2 Nigeria<strong>)</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Day 12 proved to be yet another interesting and exciting day, after the comparatively dull first week in South Africa. The World Cup has reached the stage where groups are being decided, teams are becoming officially eliminated, and match-ups are being set for the Round of 16. This is where the rubber meets the road and there is no margin for error. The day kicked off with a dubious situation in Group A; if the game between Mexico and Uruguay had ended in a draw, both the teams would have qualified, leaving the game between South Africa and France a dead rubber. Also, since Argentina had already topped Group B, no team in Group A would have wanted to finish second and face the Argentines, who are in scintillating form at the moment.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Group B had its own share of drama, as Nigeria, Greece and South Korea had equal opportunities to qualify for the next round. Greece unfortunately had a date with Argentina, and therefore their contention was arguably nullified before the day began.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">With so much excitement in the atmosphere, Day 12 simply had to be a gala day for the football fans.</p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Hero of the day: Team South Africa</strong></em></span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bafana Bafana were outstanding in their win over France. The South Africans played well above expectations in one of the tougher groups in the tournament, missing out only on goal difference. While they will take no further part in this event, the joy of that opening night, the quality of their counter attacking football, the stunning goal scored against Mexico and this win over France will live long in the memory of every South African.</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/france-south-africa/image/9183476?term=south+africa+team" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 2px;" title="France vs South Africa" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9183476/france-south-africa/france-south-africa.jpg?size=500&imageId=9183476" border="0" alt="June 22, 2010 - Bloemfontein, South Africa - epa02216577 South Africa national soccer team players (top row, L-R) Bongani Khumalo, Katlego Mphela, goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs, Macbeth Sibaya, Thanduyise Khuboni, Aaron Mokoena, (front row, L-R) Anele Ngcongca, Tsepo Masilela, Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala, pose, during the FIFA World Cup 2010 group A preliminary round match between France and South Africa at the Free State stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, 22 June 2010." width="500" height="354" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><em>Bafana Bafana will have their heads held high.</em></div> <h4><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong><strong>Villain of the day</strong> : FIFA</strong></em></span></h4> <div style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/sports-news-february-2009/image/3847900?term=FIFA+logo" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none; margin: 2px;" title="Sports News - February 04, 2009" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/3847900/sports-news-february-2009/sports-news-february-2009.jpg?size=234&imageId=3847900" border="0" alt="04262386 date 04 02 2009 Copyright imago Ulmer Team photo FIFA World Cup during the Declaration of interest for The World Cup 2018 and 2022 PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSUI Vdig horizontal premiumd Close Detail Cup Trophy World Cup World Cup trophy emblem Emblem Association logo Union emblem Presentation 2009 Press call Declaration of interest for The World Cup 2018 and 2022 Zurich Football World Cup men Team Single Rand motive Objects Photo via Newscom" width="117" height="83" /></a></div> <script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script>FIFA gets this award for their obstinate refusal to replay the France vs Ireland qualifier, after the infamous hand of frog episode. France have brought nothing to this tournament but disgrace to football, and the performances of the players conveyed their feelings deep down knowing they had no right to be there. Anelka's episode with the coach and then later the French players refusing to participate in the pre-match practice session was shameful. Ireland would have surely bought passion, tenacity, wonderful fans and a will to win.<em><strong> </strong></em> <h4><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>"My Elbow Strongest" Man of the day: Yoann Gourcuff (France)</strong></em></span></h4> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/fifa-world-cup-2010-soccer/image/9182624?term=south+africa+v+france" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 2px;" title="FIFA World Cup 2010 Soccer: France v South Africa JUN 22" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9182624/fifa-world-cup-2010-soccer/fifa-world-cup-2010-soccer.jpg?size=500&imageId=9182624" border="0" alt="France's Yoann Gourcuff elbows South Africa's MacBeth Sibaya and gets sent off..FIFA World Cup 2010 Group A..France v South Africa..22nd June, 2010." width="500" height="422" /></a></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ouch! </em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">They call him Zizou's successor, and he thought if he can't play like the great man, he can at least take a red card in the last outing of France's world cup campaign. So he elbowed South African defender McBeth Sibaya and knocked him out for a good five minutes on the ground ,proving that he is en-route to becoming the next Zidane, even if the traits he's developing are of the great man's alter ego.</p> <h4><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Torturer of the day: Lionel Messi (Argentina)</strong></em></span></h4> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9186219?term=messi" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 2px;" title="Sports News - June 22, 2010" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9186219/sports-news-june-2010/sports-news-june-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9186219" border="0" alt="June 22, 2010 - 06074335 date 22 06 2010 Copyright imago GEPA Pictures Football FIFA World Cup 2010 GRE vs ARG Polokwane 22 Jun 10 Football FIFA World Cup 2010 Country game Greece vs Argentina Picture shows Lionel Messi ARG PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUTxSUIxITA Football men World Cup National team international match Polokwane Single Vdig 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd." width="500" height="342" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><em>Itching for a goal</em>!</div> <script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <p style="text-align: justify;">He wont score, but he'll continue to send shivers down opposition defenders and raise expectations of a <em>Messi-merizing</em> goal to his fans. The kind of form he is in has started bothering the oppositions; a failure to score in each game will add to his frustration, and Argentina's subsequent opponents will fear his wrath for his goal-lust. Amongst the fans though, the torture of not being able to see the <em>"Messiah"</em> celebrate the glory is getting too much to handle.</p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong><strong>Goal of the day</strong> : Park Chu-young(South Korea)</strong></em></span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;">South Korea mesmerized everyone back in 1986 with their skillful long range shooting ability, and the tradition continued in South Africa. Park Chu-Young curled in a stunner from a full 25 yards to gain a point against Nigeria and seal his team's passage to the round of 16.</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-nigeria-south/image/9186049?term=Park+young+nigeria" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 2px;" title="Football - Nigeria v South Korea FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9186049/football-nigeria-south/football-nigeria-south.jpg?size=500&imageId=9186049" border="0" alt="June 22, 2010 - South Africa - Football - Nigeria v South Korea FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 - Group B - Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa - 22/6/10..Jung Soo Lee (R) celebrates with Chu Young Park after scoring the first goal for South Korea." width="500" height="335" /></a></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Park Chu-Young's(10) free kick left Nigeria dumbfounded and eventually marked the exit for Super Eagles.</em></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Quote of the day: A French Fan</strong></span></em></h4> <blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">"This has been a disaster off the field and on. It can't get worse. We are happy that he is going, his head should have been cut off long before."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">- Guillotines come to mind as a French fan celebrates the end of France coach Raymond Domenech's reign.</p> </blockquote> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>"Please Ignore The <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">Team</span>" of the Day: France</strong></em></span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;">No, There's nothing you'll get to read here about France. They don't deserve it. They are not even a team. As simple as that.</p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Trivia of the Day</strong></em></span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;">South Africa became the first host nation ever to not qualify for the second round of the World Cup. But Bafana Bafana gained a great reputation, grabbing a great point against highly rated Mexico in the opener before putting France to the sword yesterday.</p>