Thursday June 19th

Group C

Colombia on course

Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1 (Brasilia)
A 2-1 win over Ivory Coast all but secured passage to the next round for Colombia. After a goalless first half, Cuardado brushed the crossbar from a tight angle in the 59th minute and 5 minutes later Colombia were ahead when James Rodriguez met a corner with a thumping header. In the 70th minute Ivory Coast were dispossessed in the middle of the field and Colombia broke through in a swift attack culminating in Juan Quintero slotting the ball past the keeper to double their lead. Three minutes later Gervinho skipped past 3 Colombians from the left and fired in to give the African side hope.

Group D

Suares double shatters England dreams

Uruguay 2 England 1 (Sao Paulo)

Two goals from Luis Suarz took England's destiny out of their own hands. Rooney headed the ball against the angle of the woodwork at the far post from a Gerrard in swinging free kick in the 31st minute, but in the 39th minute Cavani found Suarez who headed past Hart to give Uruguay the lead. In the 75th minute Johnson got into the box and sent the ball into the 6-yard area for Rooney to knock past Muslera in the Uruguay goal, but with 6 minutes remaining a long ball from Muslera skimmed of the head of Gerrard and reached Suarez who smacked it past Hart from a tight angle to give Uruguay the win.

Group C

Ten Greeks hold Japan

Japan 0 Greece 0 (Natal)

Greece and Japan shared the points to send Croatia through to the next round. Greek captain Katsouranis was dismissed for a second yellow in the 38th minute, but Japan failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Uchida's ball across goal in the 68th minute found Okubo who skied it at the back post wasting Japan's best chance of the night.