<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>(Results:</strong> Slovenia 0-1 England, Algeria 0-1 USA, Ghana 0-1 Germany, Australia 2-1 Serbia<strong>)</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">It was a day of <em>just</em> <em>one goal</em> as England, USA and Germany scored a solitary goal each, though under different circumstances, to progress to the knock-out round. Such was the mystique surrounding this scoreline that Ghana advanced even after losing to the Germans, thereby giving some respite to the African continent. Here are the noteworthy moments of the day...</p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;">Hand (anovic) of the day: Samir Handanovic (Slovenia) </span></em></strong> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hand of a novice? No, it's Handanovic."]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/slovenia-england/image/9190477?term=handanovic" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0px initial initial;" title="Slovenia vs England" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9190477/slovenia-england/slovenia-england.jpg?size=500&imageId=9190477" border="0" alt="June 23, 2010 - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - epa02217893 Slovenia's goalkeeper Samir Handanovic (L) grabs the ball in front of England forward Jermain Defoe during the FIFA World Cup 2010 group C preliminary round match between Slovenia and England at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 23 June 2010." width="300" height="371" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Before and after Defoe's goal, nothing could escape the hands of the Slovenian keeper, as he kept his team in the hunt for the knockout stage. Milner, Gerrard, Terry and Rooney saw their attempts being brilliantly saved by Handanovic and if it was not for him, the scoreline would have given England a massive ego-trip.</span> </span><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></em></strong></p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;">Goal of the day: Mesut Ozil (Germany)</span></em></strong> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Ozil - The new poster-boy of German football "]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-ghana-germany/image/9194559?term=ozil" target="_blank"><img title="Football - Ghana v Germany FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9194559/football-ghana-germany/football-ghana-germany.jpg?size=500&imageId=9194559" border="0" alt="June 23, 2010 - South Africa - Football - Ghana v Germany FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 - Group D - Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - 23/6/10..Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring the first goal for Germany with Bastian Schweinsteiger (L." width="500" height="366" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">After his first match for Germany in South Africa'10, fans wanted their clubs to sign him. After the crucial goal against Ghana that ensured German presence in the knockout round, he became a household name. The World Cup is often a platform for the young and talented players to showcase their potential; Mesut Ozil is doing just that and much more - he is winning hearts. Calmness, technique and creativity, which were the key ingredients of his left-footed strike, make him a very special player. </span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> African respite of the day: Ghana Football Team</span></em></strong></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Finally a Wavin' Flag!"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/soccer-2010-world-cup/image/9195045?term=ghana+germany" target="_blank"><img title="Soccer 2010 - World Cup - Germany Beat Ghana 1-0" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9195045/soccer-2010-world-cup/soccer-2010-world-cup.jpg?size=500&imageId=9195045" border="0" alt="June 23, 2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa - John Paintsil of Ghana celebrates after the final whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2010 group D match between Ghana and Germany at the Soccer City Stadium. Photo: Ronald Wittek dpa." width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">With the World Cup being held in Africa for the very first time, it would have been extremely disheartening for the entire continent, if none of their teams had advanced to the next round. Despite losing to Germany, Ghana made it to the knockout round, and this will keep the African spirit intact. An African team's success is very important to the overall success of the tournament; the better Ghana does from here on, the better</span> would be the atmosphere and crowd support in South Africa. The Black Stars will now face USA, and should back themselves to reach the quarter-finals at least.</p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> Heartbreaker of the day: Landon Donovan (USA)</span></em></strong> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="It's was not England that showed Slovenia the door"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-united-states/image/9192124?term=donovan" target="_blank"><img title="Football - United States of America v Algeria FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9192124/football-united-states/football-united-states.jpg?size=500&imageId=9192124" border="0" alt="June 23, 2010 - South Africa - Football - United States of America v Algeria FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 - Group C - Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa - 23/6/10..USA's Landon Donovan celebrates scoring their first goal with Edson Buddle (R." width="500" height="328" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Slovenia lost to England, but would have still progressed if not for Landon Donovan dramatic 92' minute goal. The Americans were on their way out, but Donovan turned the tables in breath-taking fashion, showing Slovenians the door and relegating England to second place in the group , thereby setting up a high-profile clash between England and Germany.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> Brothers of the day: The Boatengs</span></em></strong></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Bonded by blood, separated by teams!"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/germany-jerome-boateng/image/9192574?term=boateng+brother" target="_blank"><img title="Germany's Jerome Boateng fights for the ball with Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng during their 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9192574/germany-jerome-boateng/germany-jerome-boateng.jpg?size=500&imageId=9192574" border="0" alt="Germany's Jerome Boateng (L) fights for the ball with Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng during their 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 23, 2010. Both players are brothers. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)" width="500" height="364" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Two brothers representing two different countries in a match against each other - it could have been an oxymoron, but after the match between Ghana and Germany, it no longer is. Jerome Boateng lined up for Germany at left-back, while the one-time most hated man in Germany Kevin Prince Boateng started for Ghana in the midfield; and they are indeed brothers!</p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"> Star of the day: The Three Lions</span></em></strong> <p style="text-align: center;">First this...</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2010/image/9194300?term=slovenia+england" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" title="Soccer: FIFA World Cup 2010 Slovenia vs England JUN 23" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9194300/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2010/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9194300" border="0" alt="An England banner..FIFA World Cup 2010 Group C..Slovenia v England..23rd June, 2010." width="500" height="470" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Then this...</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/steven-gerrard-england/image/9191487?term=slovenia+england" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" title="Steven Gerrard England World Cup 2010" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9191487/steven-gerrard-england/steven-gerrard-england.jpg?size=500&imageId=9191487" border="0" alt="Steven Gerrard (Captain) Celebrates after the final whistle England World Cup 2010 Slovenia V England (0-1) 23/06/10 Group C at the Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth Stadium FIFA World Cup 2010 Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="500" height="591" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Finally...</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9193244?term=slovenia+england" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" title="Sports News - June 23, 2010" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9193244/sports-news-june-2010/sports-news-june-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9193244" border="0" alt="June 23, 2010 - 06077742 date 23 06 2010 Copyright imago Color Sports Football 2010 FIFA World Cup Slovenia vs England England supporters AT The Nelson Mandela Bay Stage Port Elizabeth PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxPOLxUSAxONLY Football men World Cup National team international match Port Elizabeth Vdig 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd." width="500" height="344" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">After their first two games, the English stars got what they deserved. They were criticized and booed for the lack of intent shown on the pitch. The erstwhile captain was projected as a rebel after an interview wherein he had questioned the coach, whereas the present captain was dismissed as a man who does not command the respect of the dressing room.The stage was set for them to emulate the French, but what one does not realize is that it's not that simple.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Three Lions roared again - Milner delivered crosses that would've made even Beckham proud, Lampard and Gerrard finally rose to the occasion, the <em>rebel</em> was a monster in defense, and Defoe scored the most important goal of his career. It's time for the media to rest, and let the team focus on football. After all the Germans are waiting for them.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"></p> <p style="text-align: left;"></p>