Holland won all their games in qualifying, and should the Dutch win on Sunday, they’ll equal the record created by the famous Brazilian World Cup winning team of 1970 that also won all of its qualifying games. Like the Oranje, Spain also cruised through qualifying, but La Furia Roja have already been beaten once at this World Cup- by Switzerland in their very first game.

Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel will return from suspension for the Dutch. Germany made the mistake of giving too much respect to Spain and Holland coach Bert van Marwijk will not want his charges to make the same mistake. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque chose not to start with Fernando Torres in the semifinal against Germany and the Liverpool star could again find himself on the bench on Sunday. Torres has not scored a single goal, but his strike partner David Villa has five, and is in contention for the Golden Boot award along with Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who also has five goals to his credit.

Holland captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who scored an absolute stunner against Uruguay, will earn his 106th and final cap for the Netherlands this Sunday.

And on a parting note, Paul the Octopus says that Spain will become world champions on Sunday.

All five of Paraguay’s players converted their spot kicks while Japan, with the sole exception of Jubilo Iwata defender Yuiichi Komano, were also on target with their penalties. However Komano’s miss gave Paraguay a 5-3 win in the shootout and allowed Gerardo Martino’s men set up a quarterfinal meeting with Spain in Johannesburg.

Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in their Round of 16. Barcelona striker David Villa struck the winner shortly after the hour mark, converting Xavi’s clever back flick on the second attempt. However the match was marred by a late piece of alleged playacting from Spain’s Joan Capdevila that saw Portugal’s Ricardo Costa receive his marching orders. Liverpool’s Fernando Torres had another disappointing World Cup night and was hauled off in favour of Fernando Llorente just before Spain scored their opening goal.

Spain and Paraguay will now be bidding to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time. And for the neutrals, the dream of a Brazil-Spain final on July 11 still remains alive.

Spain’s group at the World Cup looks straight forward- Honduras and Switzerland, with all due respect to them, should not pose major problems for Vicente del Bosque’s side. Chile could be a tricky proposition given how they played in South American qualifying, but one has to back Spain to top the group with ease.

The first major test for Spain comes at the Round of 16 stage- where they could either meet Iberian neighbours Portugal or even worse, five time champions Brazil. It is at this stage that they stumbled four years ago against France.

Should they progress to the last eight, they’ll probably meet Italy (going by form and rankings here for the results of the other fixtures), with a potential semifinal against either Argentina or Germany in Durban.

The main problem for coach Del Bosque are the injuries being carried by the likes of Iniesta, Xavi and Fernando Torres. Should Spain have a fully fit starting XI, few will bet against them going all the way this summer.

Chelsea are currently leading the Red Devils by a point and both sides need victories from their tricky away clashes. Chelsea will be in good spirits after beating Stoke City 7-0 at Stamford Bridge in their last Premier League outing and will be confident of maximum points.

Liverpool will be looking to recover from their Europa League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Thursday with a victory over the Blues. The Reds have to win in order to stay in the race for fourth spot.

Confidence will be high at United after their crucial 3-1 victory over Tottenham last weekend. United could also welcome back star striker Wayne Rooney for their vital clash at Sunderland.

It’s also a crucial weekend in the fight for fourth place. It’s tight in the race for Champions League qualification. Manchester City host Aston Villa on Saturday with just a point between the pair. Villa are one point above City but Roberto Mancini’s side have a game in-hand.

Fourth place Tottenham play midtable Bolton at White Hart Lane. Spurs are currently fourth on goal difference and a win would put the North London side in pole position for the last Champions League spot.

Bayern took the lead in the 26^th minute. Striker Ivica Olic fired home after good work by Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben. Brazilian defender Cris received a yellow card for a good tackle and received a second yellow card for sarcastically applauding the referee’s decision.

Olic scored his second in the 67^th minute after being put in superbly by Hamit Altintop. Olic completed his hat-trick in the 77^th minute as he headed past Hugo Lloris in the Lyon goal. Bayern will face Italian champions Inter in the final.

The Italian champions lost 1-0 at Barcelona but beat the Spanish champions 3-2 on aggregate. Inter set out to be a strong defensive unit and performed well. In the 28^th minute midfielder Thiago Motta received a straight red card for pushing Sergio Busquets in the face. It was a harsh decision.

Inter were fantastic in defence. However Barca found a way past the stubborn defence in the 84^th minute. Centre-back Gerard Pique pulled off a superb turn past Julio Cesar and an Inter defender before firing into an empty net.

Barca thought they had won the tie in the dying minutes as Bojan broke free in the penalty area and fired past Julio Cesar. However the referee disallowed the goal as Yaya Toure was adjudged to have handed the ball to find the young striker. Ten-men Inter held on and are now favourites to win the trophy.

Bayern’s influential winger Franck Ribery will miss the clash as well Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan. Bayern also have further problems with midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk out with a virus and Daniel Van Buyten, Martin Demichelis and Diego Contento all doubtful through knocks.

Bayern were in complete control of the first leg but the second leg in France could prove a completely different story. The French side have declared that they will have more attacking intent in the second leg.

The second semi-final takes place on Wednesday as Italian champions Inter travel to European champions Barcelona with a 3-1 lead. The Italian’s put in a superb display at the San Siro in the first leg but will have to play just as well to deny the majestic Spanish side.

Barcelona will be without influential defender Carles Puyol who is suspended. Argentinian defender Gabriel Milito should replace the captain and come up against older brother Diego Milito, who players upfront for the Italian side. Inter will be without the suspended Dejan Stankovic.

Veteran Welshman Ryan Giggs showed all his experience to slot the ball past Heurelho Gomes in the Tottenham goal. The visitors hit back in the 70th minute as defender Ledley King powered a header past Edwin van der Sar in the United goal. United pushed forward and with nine minutes left they got their reward.

Portuguese winger Nani chipped in a superb effort to send the Old Trafford crowd wild. United made sure of maximum points in the 85th minute Wilson Palacios bringing Nani down in the penalty area. Giggs stepped up and scored his brace from the penalty spot. United have gone two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Elsewhere West Ham clinched a vital 3-2 victory over Wigan at Upton Park. The Hammers took the lead through Ilan before an own goal from Jonathan Spector levelled the game for the visitors. The home side regained the lead just before half-time through Radoslav Kovac.

The visitors equalised in the 52nd minute through a Hugo Rodallega strike. However in the 77th minute Scott Parker scored a fantastic long range effort after a superb run. The victory took West Ham six points clear of third from bottom Hull, who have vastly inferior goal difference.

The visitors are currently two points ahead of fifth place Manchester City in the race for the last Champions League place. Three points is vital for both sides and the game could help decide many of the important issues in the Premier League this season.

Third place Arsenal and Manchester City meet in the late kick-off at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal now look out of the title race but won’t roll over easy against the Citizens. Manchester City know a victory could take them above Spurs into fourth place, depending on the result at Old Trafford.

At the other end of the table West Ham host fellow strugglers Wigan at Upton Park hoping to move clear of the relegation zone. A victory could take the Hammers six points clear of the relegation zone with just two games remaining.

The team who are hoping to catch West Ham are Hull City who host Sunderland at the KC Stadium. Hull City have to win to have any hope of staying in the Premier League. Burnley play Liverpool at Turf Moor on Sunday. Depending on results elsewhere they could be relegated if they lose.

Brazilian full-back Maxwell was allowed far too much room down the flank and pulled the ball across the box which evaded Ibrahimovic but found Pedro who slotted home with the coolest of finishes. Inter were level on the half hour mark. Samuel Eto’o’s mishit cross found Diego Milito in the area the Argentinian then found midfielder Wesley Sneijder unmarked and the Dutchman had the composure to fire low past Victor Valdes in the Barca goal.

Inter were ahead just after half-time. Brazilian full-back Maicon made a typically powerfully forward run, picked up the ball from Milito and poked past Valdes . Barca captain Carlos Puyol then picked up a yellow card which means he will miss the second leg next week.

Inter extended their lead just beyond the hour mark. Eto’0 crossed from the right and found Sneijder completely unmarked, the midfielders headed was awful but it fell for Milito who bundled the ball home from close range. Barca had two seemingly decent claims for penalties turned down and Inter defender Walter Samuel cleared a Gerard Pique effort off the line. Inter held on for what could be a crucial lead going into the second leg next Wednesday at the Nou Camp.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat at fourth place Tottenham. The home side took the lead on 15 minutes from the penalty spot through Jermain Defoe. Tottenham doubled their lead just before half-time through Gareth Bale.

It got even worse for the visitors as captain John Terry received a red card for two bookable offences in the 69^th minute. Chelsea scored a consolation goal in injury-time through a typical Frank Lampard strike.

Burnley hindered their chances of Premier League survival by losing 2-1 at Sunderland. The Mackems took the lead halfway through the first half through Fraizer Campbell. Sunderland doubled their lead through a simple Darren Bent effort before half-time.

Burnley got a consolation goal through a good effort from striker Steven Thompson. Burnley are now four points away from Premier League safety. Hull and Birmingham drew 0-0 at St Andrews. Both sides struggled to make an attacking impact. The result leaves Hull three points behind 17^th place West Ham and safety.