Johannesburg — THE Brazilians have dazzled the opposition, the Spaniards have been absolutely brilliant, the hosts are still hanging in there -- thanks to the heroics of a New Zealand they believed only played rugby -- and the United States are celebrating the realisation of their American Dream.

The South Africans and the New Zealanders have finally made their peace -- almost a decade after a Kiwi delegate destroyed their 2006 World Cup dreams by exercising his right not to vote.

It took a heroic defensive performance from New Zealand, a protection of their goalline rather than their try line, for that peace to be made as they helped Bafana gatecrash into the semi-finals.

The super Pharaohs have gone home and, their critics will say, with their pants down -- that is if you believe all the rhetoric that has been coming from the South African media in recent days.

The world champions are also back home in good old Rome, for a date with the Pope, and for the next few days their football-mad media will be in frenzy wondering how their beloved team came so short and how their defence completed missed the point about Father's Day and donated everything to the Samba Boys.

New Zealand are also home but their shirts are still selling here as South Africa thanks them for holding Iraq, in that final game, that gave the hosts another life when all seemed lost.

B, the way, New Zealand celebrated their goalless draw against Iraq as if they had finally scored a goal at this tournament, let alone winning the group, even when the reality was that they ended bottom of the pile.

The Iraq players complained that most of the questions were about the events back home, the bombs, the war, the bullets etc but, for all their love to turn the attention to their game, they forgot their shooting boots in Baghdad and left without a goal to their credit.

The old boys are still running the show -- Kaka, Robinho, Xavi, Villa, Torres and, oh boy, Bafana have a new hero in Bernard Parker who scored the two goals that took them into the semi-finals.

As we wave goodbye to the group stages and welcome the business end of this competition, maybe it's time to look at some of the highlights that have kept us busy in the past week.

We will see that it has been a great competition, with good crowds that have improved with each day, and the organisers should feel really good about all this because Africa has done very well.

So what has been the story so far?

Now, with a little bit of help from the statistics from the Fifa Media Channel, we help you relive the story of the 2009 Confederations Cup to date.

Top scorers

Fernando Torres scored three goals, in 11 minutes, against New Zealand. But he did not score in the next two games and that allowed David Villa and Luis Fabiano, who struck twice against Italy, to catch up with him. Three goals for each of them.

If you think that's easy then just spare a thought about Iraq and New Zealand because they didn't get even one goal in three games. Where is Kaka? He has two and don't write him off. Bafana Bafana beware.

Shots on target

Smile South Africa because something rare has happened. One of your men is top of the charts and, in football, it doesn't happen always.

Yes, Bernard Parker leads the shots on target charts with 10 and he has two goals -- against New Zealand -- to show for that.

But let's give him credit and he has worked hard and that is why everyone appears to now want him to be part of his team here.

Villa, as you might have guessed, has seven shots on target. Well done Parker and, for the record, he is not a white man.

Don't be confused by his surname the way a certain McCarthy confused you when he burst onto the scene.

Assists

Now, this is not basketball but there are assists in football, too.

Left-back Joan Capdevila was rested by Spain against Bafana Bafana and, maybe, that was the reason the scoreline was 2-0 and not as we probably imagined.

He has been the creative force in this team and leads the charts with three, the same as Mohamed Aboutrika, who is now home.

Fabregas is in there with two, and do we see the Gunners smile?

Completed passes

Xavi has played in all the 15 matches that Spain have won in their record run.

He is the master of the midfield and it's no surprise that he leads the charts here with 229 completed passes.

Andreas Pirlo tried hard for the Italians and made 159 but his personal fortunes, just like those for his team, have not been helped by events in recent days.

AC Milan announced recently that they were willing to offload him.

Solo runs

Welcome to Robinho territory and that is why he leads with 12 and Kaka is not far off with nine.

Maicon is there with 10.

Now, with such a deadly combination, who would like to face them in the semi-finals of a major tournament.

Certainly not the Warriors. Maybe Bafana Bafana - because they have no option, really.

Completed crosses

Bring on Aboutrika, the Zidane of the Nile.

He leads here with nine, including that wonder cross that helped the other Zidan get the first goal for the Pharaohs.

Pity he is home now and can't improve his tally and that is good news for Landon Donavan who has seven.

The figures are still in single digits because a certain Mr Beckham is not here. Who said white men can't jump, or cross?

Tackles

Mohamed Shawky, Egypt's combative central midfielder, was a colossal figure throughout their South Africa 2009 campaign, but with the Pharaohs heading home, the hosts' Sibonsio Gaxa must be favourite to claim the title of top tackler.

The leaders: Shawky, Gaxa (both 9), Ali Kareem (7), Gilberto Silva, Hussein Rehema, Parker, DeMerit, Gomaa, Juan (all 6).

Saves

Tim Howard was so busy in USA's opening two matches that, even after sitting out their final Group B fixture against Egypt, he still comfortably tops the save count.

His three nearest rivals have all been eliminated, but with deputy Brad Guzan having kept a clean sheet against the Pharaohs, the greatest threat to Howard could come from within.

The leaders: Howard (17), El Hadary, Kassid (both 15), Moss (14).

Distance covered

The Americans monopolise the podium when it comes to South Africa 2009's hardest-working players, and Bob Bradley has particular reason to be proud of his son and star midfielder, who has covered an average of over 12 kilometres per match.

Incidentally, the best-placed Spaniard in these standings, Xavi, lies a lowly 37th, underlining the European champions' ability to let the ball do the work.

The Americans needed to work hard to be where they are today and the statistics tell their story.

The leaders: Bradley (36,426 metres), Dempsey (34,855), Donovan (34,263).

Top speed

Steven Pienaar, the hosts' star midfielder earned the tag of South Africa 2009's quickest player with a top speed of 31,66km/h, leaving him just ahead of Brazilian wingback Andre Santos. The leaders: Pienaar (31,66km/h), Andre Santos (31,60), Emad Mohammed (31,59)

Fouls suffered

Nashat Akram endured a frustrating tournament with Iraq and, with 13 fouls committed against him, he was also the most picked-upon player of the group phase.

The leaders: Akram (13), Killen (10), Busquets, Shawky (both 9).

Fouls committed

The tournament's joint-leading scorer, Luis Fabiano is also top of this less illustrious table, which is dominated, perhaps surprisingly, by midfielders and forwards.

The leaders: Luis Fabiano (9), Killen, Dikgachoi, Smeltz, Sibaya (all 8), Shawky, Zambrotta, Abbas (all 7).

Crime count

In what has been a generally well-disciplined tournament, only one player -- South Africa's Macbeth Sibaya -- collected two cautions during the group stage.

USA, meanwhile, will hope to keep all 11 men on the field when they face Spain, something they failed to do in their opening two fixtures.

The leaders: Clark, Kljestan, Al Muhamadi (1 red card), Sibaya (2 yellow cards).

Offside

Staying onside is clearly a skill Katlego Mashego has yet to master.

Despite playing just 47 minutes so far, the South Africa forward has been flagged offside six times - an average of once ever 7.8 minutes!

The leaders: Mashego (6), Luis Fabiano (4), Villa, Abdelghani, Zidan, Zahra (all 3).

Kaka and Robinho

They say Brazil has never lost when these two players are playing together.

Well, that says a lot about today's semi-final against Bafana Bafana.

Oh, let me not say much given that my good hosts, who have been excellent, could throw me on the first plane back to Harare -- and they are many of them -- for trying to create alarm and despondence, just hours before their big game against mighty Brazil.

Go for it Bafana. After all you are representing Africa.

Let's hear the vuvuzela -- even though Xabi Alonso believes they make an irritating sound.