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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta’s nerveless finish in extra time delivered a knockout blow to Netherlands in a bruising final to clinch a 1-0 win and their first World Cup triumph at the first African finals.

With a shootout looming, the peerless Iniesta controlled a ball from substitute Cesc Fabregas four minutes from time and found the coolness that had eluded forwards on both sides to fire the ball past the helpless Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Dutch, who ran fuming to referee Howard Webb convinced the goal was illegal on at least two counts, were already down to 10 men following John Heitinga’s red card seven minutes earlier and there was little realistic hope of a comeback.

Spain succeeded in keeping their opponents at arm’s length and their players wept with joy as they celebrated becoming the first European team to win the World Cup on another continent and the first to triumph after losing their opening game.

The United States made a dramatic comeback from two goals down at halftime to draw 2-2 with Slovenia and rescue their World Cup chances on Friday.

Slovenia took a surprise 2-0 lead by halfThe U.S were struggling to match-up in midfield with Birsa causing isolated U.S left-back Carlos Bocanegra all kinds of trouble but they went close to leveling in the 41st minute when Clint Dempsey crossed low to Landon Donovan but Miso Brecko slid in to clear.

But a minute later, the U.S were caught on the break, Milivoje Novakovic split open a flat back line with a superb through ball to Zlatan Ljubijankic who kept his cool and slotted past the advancing Howard.

FRANCE and hosts Bafana Bafana seem on their way out of the 2010 Fifa World Cup after they were crushed 2-0 by ruthless Mexico here last night.

The French could not deal with the Mexican three- pronged strike force and were totally out of their depth.

But the first-half’s pacy and pulsating momentum was expected because both teams were desperate to equal Uruguay at the top of Group A.

But to French coach Raymond Domenech’s probable dismay, the opening stages belonged to Mexico. By the 10th minute Mexico had created four gilt- edged goal scoring.

His rival Javier Aguire’s men were first stopped by the upright in the second minute after some nifty exchanges between Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos.

Johannesburg - From Friday, 28 May, 09h00, there will be around 90,000 additional tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ available for public sale across all 64 matches, including the Final, the Opening Game and the two Semi-Finals. Check Ticket availability by match as on 27 May 2010.

In total there are about 160,000 tickets still available for the public via the current sales channels (FIFA.com, Call Centre, Ticketing Centres, FNB Branches and Shoprite/Checkers). 34,000 of these tickets are available in category 4 (the most affordable for South African residents only), 28,000 in category 3, 23,000 in category 2 and 75,000 in category 1. “For the Final there are only about 800 tickets left, but for other matches it’s up to a few thousands”, explained FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

More than 260000 soccer enthusiasts who cannot attend World Cup games need not worry - they will be accommodated at 10 official "fan fests" around the country.

Entrance to these facilities will be free, and fans are encouraged to come early to enjoy the entertainment.

The venues, which will operate on match days, are:

Innesfree Park in northern Johannesburg can accommodate 20000. Close to both Alexandra township and the Sandton CBD, it will be open from 10am. Two park-and-ride facilities will be at Rautenbach Square in Wynberg and at the corner of 8th Avenue and Old Pretoria Main Road in Marlboro.

Johannesburg's second venue is the Elkah Stadium and Soweto Cricket Club, south of the city, which can accommodate 40000. It is next to the Thokoza Park station of the BRT system, and a park-and-ride facility will be available at the nearby Dlamini Multi-Purpose Centre.

Cape Town's party will be at the Grand Parade, which can accommodate 25000. It will be open for 12 hours from 11am. Signs will indicate the walkway from Hertzog Boulevard, and there will be park-and-ride facilities.

Johannesburg - The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC), represented by its Chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, welcomed Brazil’s Seleção as they arrived in the country this morning (27 May) at OR Tambo International Airport for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Johannesburg - The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC), represented by Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan and SAFA President, Kirsten Nematandani, welcomed Australia’s Socceroos as the first participating team in the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Australia landed at 18h35 this evening (26 May) at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

“We are pleased to welcome Australia as the first team to arrive in our country. We all know that the stadiums are all ready, everything is in place and now the teams are finally here. More importantly though, our people are ready. From now, we have to concentrate on the kickoff match in few days time,” said Jordaan.

And organisers slam naysayers who question success of event

The cloud of doubt over sales of World Cup tickets has lifted - and the organisers of the global football showcase have lashed out at those who questioned South Africa's ability to successfully host the tournament.

Announcing that two of the three million available tickets had been sold, Fifa and Local Organising Committee heavyweights also took the opportunity to slam the naysayers - who include international football players, officials and club managers.

Another positive sign is that South Africans - whom the LOC earlier this month said were slow at purchasing tickets - were responsible for 79% of the 1.2million applications for tickets in the third phase of sales, which ended on January 22.

Young soccer players in Pretoria got the chance to shake "the hand of God".

Diego Maradona dished out handshakes but not much else in a walkabout with aspiring soccer stars at the University of Pretoria's high-performance centre.

The Argentine football great, who is now his country's World Cup coach, is here on a scouting mission.

He will check out venues in Johannesburg and Polokwane, where Argentina are set to play in the first round of the tournament in June.

Now that an African country has won the right to host the World Cup, the next step is for one of the continent's best teams to win the trophy.

Whether or not that day will come on July 11 in South Africa is uncertain, but some certainly think the opportunity is there for the taking.

"When I say this people laugh, but I believe it," former Ghana great Abedi Pele said. "But here in Africa we will definitely have one team that will go far - and when I say go far, I mean as far as getting the trophy."

Including host South Africa, the continent will have six teams competing at the World Cup this year against traditional powers like Brazil, Italy and Germany. But not all Africans think Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Algeria can win this time around.