Worst. Day. Yet. - Day 15 Round-Up

So, the final day of group games left us with a sense of 'loss', I guess...

The penultimate group to play were Group G, with a game between North Korea and Ivory Coast, and a mouth-watering tie between Brazil and Portugal. It was going to be a good game... No it wasn't. It was a 0-0, bore draw, and I nearly slit my wrists. It was poor. The game between North Korea and Ivory Coast was the best of the lot. Yaya Toure put the ball in the Korean net after 14 minutes, with Romaric doubling the lead after 20 minutes. Salomon Kalou put a goal in with 10 minutes to go, to finish the game 3-0, but it wasn't enough for the Ivory Coast, and Brazil went through as group winners, with Portugal runners-up. To watch the 'highlights' of the Brazil-Portugal game, click here, and for the North Korea-Ivory Coast game, click here.

So after that debacle, we expected a treat from Group H to really top off the group stages. We had Chile vs. Spain, and Switzlerand vs. Honduras, with a goal from both Chile and Switzlerand knocking European champions Spain out the tournament. It was all poised so nicely. We had another bore draw from Switzlerland and Honduras, and it meant everything was down to the other game. Spain took the lead through a stunning goal from David Villa - the best of the tournament so far, in my opinion. Andres Iniesta then doubled the lead, and then sent Spain through. Chile pulled one back through Rodrigo Millar, but it wasn't enough, but it did still however send both teams through - Spain as winners, and Chile as runners-up. To see the highlights of the Chile vs. Spain game, click here, and for the Switzerland vs. Honduras game, click here.

Knockout Games
Brazil vs. Chile
Spain vs. Portugal

10 in 3?! - Day 11 Round-Up

Well there's something we weren't expecting!

Lunchtime kick off was Portugal vs. Korea DPR, and bloody hell, what a game. Raul Meireles started the scoring after some beautiful build-up, and the teams went in for half time at 1-0. We didn't expect the second half though. Simao with a belter; Hugo Almeida with a tricky finish; Tiago with a thump. 4-0, within 15 minutes of the restart. Liedson headed one in with 10 minutes to go, and Cristiano Ronaldo broke his two-year duck for an international goal with 3 to go. Tiago then topped things off in extra time by scoring Portugal's seventh. 7-0. The North Koreans aren't going home to a warm reception.... To watch the highlights, click here.

Next up were Chile vs. Switzlerland, and if you like your football aggressive, then this was the game for you. The first half had Valon Behrami sent off - after two consecutive elbows. And he protested his innocence. Plank. But it was truly Chile's game, and they look a really good package this time around. It was with 15 minutes to go that Mark Gonzalez scored the only goal, thanks to a brilliant cross and a header down. It means Chile can go through with a point against Spain on Friday. Fancy watching the highlights? Click here.

The last game of Day 11 was Spain vs. Honduras, and on paper, it was a walkover. And it was. David Villa put the Spaniards ahead with probably one of the best games of the tournament so far - a jink in from the wing, tickling it round the defenders and putting it straight in the net. Just beautiful. He then scored a second in the 50th minute, but later missed a penalty by a good foot, and missed out on his hat trick. Spain looked really good, but Fernando Torres looks a waste of space... Click here to see the highlights.

And We Start Again... - Day 6 Round-Up

Today was the day we got to see the last of the 32 teams for the first time, and also began the second games. And it was a bit of a shocker.

The lunchtime job today was Honduras vs. Chile, and it was quite a straight-forward affair. With 20 shots throughout the game, Chile were the stronger team, but Honduras did have some very dangerous attacks. It was Jean Beausejour's shot that gave Chile their first World Cup win since 1962, and it remained that way till full time. Quite a poor match, but hey, better than some of the stuff we've seen so far. If you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Next up was Spain vs. Switzerland, and it was looking to be a big walkover. Oh how wrong we were. Even with 67% of the possession, Spain were the second best, and after Gelson Fernandes 52nd minute goal, Switzerland won 1-0. How? We may not ever know, but it really throws Spain's plan off. The Swiss also caused 18 fouls - with only 4 yellow cards. Weird.... For the highlights, click here.

Last game of the day was South Africa vs. Uruguay - first game where we've already seen the two teams. Teams looked good from the start, but very evenly matched, so I for one, thought we may very well be in for a draw. Diego Forlan looked to have finished that idea with an absolute thunderbolt in the first half to make it 1-0 Uruguay, and it proved that the uproar over the World Cup ball doesn't always end in mishaps. Second half was a little more open, but with Luis Suarez diving everywhere, things began to swing to Uruguay, and Itumeleng Khune, the South African keeper, was sent off, and Forlan then converted the penalty to make it 2-0. It was in fact the 5th red card of the tournament - and seeing as we've had 17 games, that's quite a few. The game finished with Alvaro Pareira heading in a third, but if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Just cross everything that we have more games and more goals like what we've had today.

Group H - Chile

I like that flag too - plain and simple.

Chile are my underdog team. I can see them qualifying in the group they've got. Pace and energy is bubbling over from the team, and they look good in friendlies. But can they match it in South Africa?

Capital City: Santiago
Captain: Claudio Bravo
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Star Man: Alexis Sanchez - 21 years old, and playing for his future in South Africa. Very speedy, but having played for Udinese, he could very well be putting himself in the shop window this time around.
Group Games: Honduras (16th June); Switzerland (21st June); Spain (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: I have pinned my hopes on Chile. Can see them qualifying. 2nd in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders: Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina)

Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jean Beausejour (America)

Forwards: Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)

Group H - Honduras

The small team are probably better known for their war than their football team. They have, however, qualified for teh World Cup for the second time, the first being in 1982.

They are talking of getting into the second round, and yes, their squad could handle it, but with other teams better than them this time around, I very much doubt it will happen.

Capital City: Tegucigalpa
Captain: Amando Guevara
Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Star Man: Wilson Palacios - the big man from Tottenham has really worked wonders this season, and looks good for a decent World Cup. With several million eyes on him, he'll want to prove why Spurs are in the Champions League next season.
Group Games: Chile (16th June); Spain (21st June); Switzerland (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: I'm sorry Hondurans, but I just don't see it happening. 4th in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia) 

Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Oscar Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen), Osman Chavez (Platense) 

Midfielders: Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur), Hendry Thomas (Wigan), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia) 

Forwards: David Suazo (Genoa), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Group H - Switzerland

Thats a cracking flag int it?!

The Swiss reached the second round in 2006, but I just can't see it. They've got a trickygroup, and they are a team who are made up on fringe players. Yes, they'll have a crack, but it will be tough.

They do, however, have a big hunger to do well, and that was proved in qualification. So let's see how they go.

Capital City: Bern
Captain: Alexander Frei
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Star Man: Valon Behrami - the West Ham midfielder missed the majority of last season, but is still his country's talisman. He could guarantee big wins if he plays to the best of his ability. 
Group Games: Spain (16th June); Chile (21st June); Honduras (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: It will be tough, but I just don't see it. 3rd in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys) 

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Mario Eggimann (Hannover), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria) 

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (Basle), Gelson Fernandes (St. Etienne), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria) 

Forwards: Alex Frei (Basle), Blaise Nkufo (Twente), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Marco Streller (Basle)

Group H - Spain

The current European champions have finally shaken off their 'underachiever' tag, and are now actually winning things. Many people see Spain absolutely walking the tournament, and yes, absed on their squad, they will, but things don't always go that easily.

There are plenty of egos in this team, all of whom believe they are the best player in the squad. We can all live in hope that they all clash, and they go out relatively early. I don't like Spain you see.

Capital City: Madrid
Captain: Iker Casillas
Manager: Vicente del Bosque
Star Man: Xavi - he's one of those players that keeps quiet on the scene, but every club in the world would put them in their starting line-up. His passing is the best in the world - in 2008, his pass succession rate was 89%. He'll lead the team and decide how well they do. 
Group Games: Switzerland (16th June); Honduras (21st June); Chile (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: Will absolutely pummel all teams in their group. Should go most of the way, but I can see semi hearbreak. 1st in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona) 

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 

Midfielders: Xabier Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javier Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) 

Forwards: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia)