World Cup 2010: Pictures of the decisive games in Groups E and F

Italy, the World Champions in case you'd forgotten, face Slovakia with their qualification for the knock-out stages in peril. Only a victory will guarantee them a place in the last 16 ...
Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

But goals in either half from Robert Vittek give the Slovaks a 2-0 lead with just 17 minutes remaining, leaving the Italians on the brink of a shock exit
Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Antonio Di Natale grabs a dramatic goal for Italy to make it 2-1. A scuffle inside the net then follows, forcing referee Howard Webb to split up Fabio Quagliarella and several irate Slovakian players
Photograph: Claudio Villa/ Grazia Neri/Getty Images

Soon after, Quagliarella nips in at the far post to score the equaliser ... or so he thinks! The linesman lifts his flag and rules it offside. But it's a bad call – the goal should've stood
Photograph: Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters

Italy are desperate; the Slovakians are equally desperate to cling on to their lead. As it stands, Slovakia will top the group and Italy will finish bottom. But a goal will change everything
Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images

A goal for Italy, we meant. But Kamil Kopunek puts Slovakia 3-1 up with only a minute remaining
Photograph: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

Italy are out! Even Quagliarella's injury time strike can't save them. It ends 3-2. It's been an absorbing contest – the best of the tournament thus far
Photograph: Claudio Villa/ Grazia Neri/Getty Images

Fabio Cannavaro wipes away the tears as he leaves the pitch. This could well be his last match. What a stinker
Photograph: Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Both Paraguay and New Zealand are still in contention for qualification ... the Kiwis need a win to cap what has already been a remarkable tournament for them; Paraguay need only a draw
Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Nelson Valdez dribbles between a swarm of New Zealand players
Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But neither side can find a breakthrough in Polokwane and it ends 0-0
Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

The Paraguayans are thrilled
Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

The New Zealand players are pretty delighted too ... so much so that Simon Elliott and Ryan Nelsen have stripped down to their pants. They might be out of the competition, but they've finished above Italy. If that's not justification for getting naked, what is?
Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

It's all to play for in Rustenberg, not only are both teams in with a chance of qualifying for the next round but it's also the red and white round of the face painting championship. It's a great start by the Japanese with some classic flag on the cheek action even generously incorporating the Danish flag. This is supported by some fantastic work on the outfit front, whatever that padded white thing is meant to be
Photograph: Jeff Mitchell/FIFA via Getty Images

A solid reply by the Danes who also have a bit of body paint spelling action going on too
Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Keisuke Honda opens the scoring in the 17th minute, and in some style too. It's possibly the best free-kick of the tournament so far, Honda's 30 yards out on the right and clips the ball over the wall. it's straight and true with a bit of power on which gives Sorensen no chance, especially after he took a half step to the his left before he saw the flight of the ball
Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Anything you can do I can do better, think Yasuhito Endo. Well, it isn't better but it runs it a very close second. Endo curls the ball beautifully over the wall and into the far corner of the net. Denmark now have it all to do as they have to score three times but they do have an hour in which to do it
Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images

It's nearly a hat-trick of free kicks when Yasuhito Endo overhits one from miles out which obviously Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen wasn't expecting and he just gets a touch to it to flick it onto the cross bar Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

Nine minutes to go and Denmark pull one back from the penalty spot. Daniel Agger goes down in the box rather heavily after a light challenge from Makoto Hasebe. Jon Dahl Tomasson steps up to take the penalty which he puts to the keeper's right but Eiji Kawashima guesses correctly and parries it. Unfortunately for him, the ball rebounds back in front of goal where Tomasson is waiting to nick the ball into the net. It should be a frantic last nine minutes as the Danes try and score again
Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Alas they can't. But Japan can, as Okazaki wraps things up two minutes from time with a tap into an empty net following some nice build-up play. The final whistle goes and it's all too much for Daniel Agger. Denmark are on their way home
Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Japan are through to the next round where they will face Paraguay. These Japanese fans are loving it
Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

There's only pride to play for in Cape Town, as Cameroon are already on their way out of the tournament and their opponents, Netherlands, are through to the next round. Having said that, a victory would give the Dutch a 100% record and they would top the group, which means facing Slovakia rather Paraguay in the last 16
Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

The game gets off to a lively start. Cameroon's Jean Makoun gets to the ball just before Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has a chance to punch, but doesn't score
Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

After going close on a few occasions the Netherlands take the lead after 36 minutes courtesy of Robin Van Persie. It's a tidy goal by the Arsenal striker who gallops down the right, plays a one-two and then shoots back across the goal, through the legs of Souleymanou
Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Joris Mathijsenn is so impressed by Nigel de Jong's attempt at an overhead kick, he gives him an impromptu round of applause
Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Cameroon have a chance to get back in the game mid-way through the second half when a Geremi free-kick hits the arm of Van Der Vaart as he jumps block the shot. Penalty. Samuel Eto'o steps up to take it and blasts it to the keeper's right. Stekelenburg guesses correctly but the shot is powerful enough to evade his dive and level the scores
Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

'Get up you big jessie. Who do you think you are..Kader Keita?'
Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPA

Maybe Referee Quinteros would change his mind if he got a knee to the head, like Rafael van der Vaart
Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA

With seven minutes to go, Huntelaar puts the result beyond doubt when he slots home following a smart Dutch move. Sneijder sprays a pass over the top with the outside of his boot and Robben leaves Song for dead as he sprints off in chase. Robben cuts inside from a wide position and goes around Song, who has finally caught up, before unleashing a lovely curling shot that beats Souleymanou in the Cameroon goal. Unfortunately for the Dutch winger, the ball smacks against an upright, but luckily Huntelaar is waiting and strokes the ball into the empty net from 12 yards.
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Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA