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Germany's Miroslav Klose (R) scores a goal as Argentina's Nicolas Burdisso (4) and goalkeeper Sergio Romero watch during a 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match at Green Point stadium in Cape Town July 3, 2010. |
The lopsided result was a marked contrast from 2006, when Germany won a penalty shootout following a tense 1-1 draw. That game ended in a brawl after the shootout, but this time Maradona and the Argentina players simply walked off the field with their shoulders slumped.
Most of Africa, meanwhile, was still trying to get over Ghana's loss against Uruguay on Friday, after the last African country in the tournament missed a penalty in the final seconds of extra time before losing a shootout.
Ghana was on the verge of becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals, but Asamoah Gyan sent his spot kick onto the crossbar after Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had swatted away Dominic Adiyiah's goal-bound header with both hands. After the 1-1 draw, the South Americans won 4-2 on penalties.
In a statement, South Africa's governing African National Congress said it was impressed by Ghana's performance, saying it proved Africans were capable of playing at the highest level.
"We are also very confident that the lessons learnt from this tournament will put Africa in a better position for the next World Cup in Brazil," said the ANC, which had urged South Africans to support Ghana after South Africa became the first host nation eliminated in group play.
Away from the pitch, Colombian authorities have found a World Cup trophy made out of cocaine.
Airports anti-drug chief Col. Jose Piedrahita says the 36-centimeter-high (14-inch-high) statue was found during a routine security check by anti-drug agents on Friday in a mail warehouse at Bogota's international airport.
Piedrahita said Saturday that laboratory tests confirmed the cup was made of 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of cocaine mixed with acetone or gasoline to make it moldable.
Also late on Friday, American socialite Paris Hilton had to appear in court in Port Elizabeth after being arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana following the Brazil-Netherlands game. The court dropped the charges against Hilton after her co-accused, Jennifer Rovero, "acknowledged to be in possession of cannabis, and pleaded guilty," said Brig. Sally De Beer, a spokeswoman for South African police.
Rovero, 31, from New York, was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 rand ($130) or 30 days imprisonment, De Beer said.
A publicist for Hilton said the incident was a "misunderstanding."
