thinks began well for spain, xavier lonso scoring a penalty. that was as good as it got. at half-time robin van percy levelled the score and the netherlands scored another four goals, humiliating spain 5-1. spain next plays chile, beating a cuttsy -- gutsy australian team. the chileans were up, and the sokk ruse put in a performance to be proud of tim cahill scoring for the third conservative world cup. they couldn't get an equalizer, chile completing a 3-1 win. the other game was a group a clash, mexico beating cameroon 1-0. >>> and you can follow the sports and current affairs news on the website at aljazeera.com. the story we are covering on the front page is the afghan presidential run-off election. more on that after be get it. stay with us here on al jazeera. forgiven for thinking it's 2004 again. maps of iraq, escalating warfare and fleeing civilians. now the grand ayatollah is calling up for armies to protect it's shrines. iraq at its brink is the inside story.