World Cup 2010 Day 18

Netherlands 2 Slovakia 1 (Round of 16)

Loads of vitality
Added to frugality,
Dutch seem to have the winning mentality.
Bags of ability,
Allied to stability,
Lifting the Cup has become a possibility.
Slovaks plugged away,
Fears were shrugged away.
Dutch broke speedily,
Robben eyed it beadily,
Cut back inside and rifled home greedily.
One nil the Dutch,
Thank you very much.
No negativity,
Plenty of activity,
Sneijder in particular full of creativity.
Slovaks tarrying
Dutch were harrying,
Keeper practising punching and parrying.
Dirk Kuyt crossed it,
Sneijder bossed it,
Two nil the Dutch now
Thank you very much now,
Knocking it around with a sure first touch now.
Robben diving,
Slovaks striving,
Doing much more than merely surviving.
Van Persie called off,
Tactically hauled off,
Not very happy and slowly crawled off.
Slovaks marauded
Penalty awarded
Dogged persistence finally rewarded.
Happy supporters
Taking the waters,
Lock up your daughters
Cos the Dutch are in the quarters.

Brazil 3 Chile 0 (Round of 16)

People were suggesting that Chile looked slick,
Could cause a lot of problems if the top players click.
Suarez, they said, would go in for the kill,
That won’t be the case, said the boys from Brazil.

Corner came across and the jostling began,
The Chilean defenders got tight on their man.
Juan leapt highest in a well-rehearsed drill,
Pick that one out, said the boys from Brazil.

A swift passing move found Kaka in space,
Slipped the ball through with a smile on his face.
Fabiano jinked around the keeper with skill.
That makes it two, said the boys from Brazil.

Ramirez drove on, beating one, two and three,
Laid the ball off to Robinho with glee.
Smacked it first time to make it three nil.
Game, set and match, said the boys from Brazil.

Still Chile pressed, looking sharp up front,
But Lucio and Ramirez both bore the brunt.
Chile had to swallow the bitterest pill,
You’re not there yet, said the boys from Brazil.