The cold snap that has swept across South Africa in the first week of the World Cup has killed nearly 500 African penguin chicks, South Africa’s national parks authority said.

It was billed as the match that would light up the World Cup but Ivory Coast and Portugal played out a tense goalless draw in the Port Elizabeth Stadium on Tuesday.
The Group G stalemate was almost broken by Cristiano Ronaldo who thumped a post in the first half and then by Didier Drogba who crossed instead of shooting with a late chance.

New Zealand scored deep into stoppage time to earn their first ever World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia on Tuesday.
A winning header from Slovak striker Robert Vittek in the 50th minute was matched by another successful header, this time from New Zealand’s Winston Reid, in the dying seconds of the match.

Reigning champions Italy needed a goalkeeping blunder to come back for a 1-1 draw with Paraguay despite dominating Monday’s opening Group F match in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium.

You either love them or you hate them and the vuvuzela is stirring up some impassioned debate on Facebook, YouTube and other sites online.
The one-metre long plastic trumpet is as essential an item to South African fans as getting decked out in the national colours or painting one’s face and they have been out in force in the opening days of the tournament.

Japan and Cameroon kick off their World Campaign with a Group E clash in Bloemfontein on Monday that pits Africa’s most successful team in the competition against an Asian side desperate to regain form after a woeful warm-up run.

Reigning champions Italy begin their title defence on Monday evening, in a Group F clash with a confident Paraguay that is fraught with danger.
The game in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium is the toughest test for the Italians in a group that also includes New Zealand and Slovakia. Qualification seems certain, b

Daniel Agger is aware that Denmark was simply not good enough in their two final warm-up matches for the World Cup, but said they will be ready for their opening Group E game against the Netherlands on Monday.

Ignacio González, the Uruguayan midfielder, has accused World Cup referees of favouring the tournaments big name players.
Uruguay had Nicolas Lodeiro sent off against France and Gonzalez said: “Here it is important to know that the match officials are also trying to make a name for themselves. Perhaps Lodeiro would not have been sent off if his name was Patrice Evra.”

Slovenia recorded their first ever World Cup finals victory to go to the top of Group C when they beat 10-men Algeria 1-0 on Sunday.
Algeria had substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal sent off in the 72nd minute and seven minutes later they conceded when Robert Koren hit a tame shot that bounced over an e