The last two days gave us the first games featuring some of the competitions hot favourites, but the story of over the two days was mostly focused on good results for the other teams in each match. Portugal and Brazil looked a little less than at their best, though both secured at least a point, but it was Spain’s result which generated the biggest shock!
World Cup Game 12 – New Zealand 1 vs. 1 Slovakia
Game 12 took us to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, where minnows New Zealand took on a confident Slovakian side hoping to secure all three points in a hard group F involving defending champions Italy and South Americans Paraguay.
It was the All Whites who made the better start to the match, causing trouble in the Slovakian defence with some excellent play from New Zealand strikers Chris Killen and Rory Fallon. Slovakia however showed there strength to get back into the game and in the 50th minute Robert Vittek headed in a poorly defended Sestak cross to make it 1 nil.
As the game came to an end in a poor 90 minute display from both sides, it looked more than likely that Slovakia would take all three points, however it would be New Zealand who would have the last word when in the dying minutes of the game defender Winston Reid met a Shane Smeltz cross to give the All Whites there first point at a World Cup finals.
World Cup Game 13 –Ivory Coast 0 vs. 0 Portugal
Both Portugal and the Ivory Coast played out a hard fought draw in the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth, as this group G encounter lacked little in quality and ambition from both sides It was the Portuguese who came closest in the first half of the game, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s 35yard long range effort cannoned off the woodwork leaving the Ivory Coast keeper beaten.
Eriksson’s Ivory Coast side tried to respond in the second half with two quick fire snap shots of there own, but both failed to work Portuguese keeper Eduardo falling wide of the target on both occasions. The Elephants then brought on Didier Drogba late into the second half wearing a protective cast on his arm after his suspected break, but even the world class Chelsea striker could not find a winner and in the end the game played out to a goalless draw.
World Cup Game 14 –Brazil 2 vs. 1 Korea DPR
Brazil started off there World Cup finals campaign with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Asian opponents North Korea in Johannesburg, in a game which many believe Brazil would win, it was the North Koreans that impressed making it very difficult for the Brazilians to break down with some excellent defensive displays in the first half.
The class, skill and pressure of the Brazilians grew in the second half and they finally broke the deadlock when Brazil defender Maicon jinxed the Korean keeper by shooting from a tight angle. The second goal of the game came from Elano as the former Manchester City man side-footed home a perfectly weighted Robinho through ball to send the Brazilian top of the group. North Korea did pull one back however it was little to late and Brazil held onto the win.
World Cup Game 15 –South Africa 0 vs. 3 Uruguay
Diego Forlan was the main difference between the two sides in Pretoria, as his double and a late Pereira strike sent Uruguay within touching distance of the next knockout round. South Africa were very poor throughout the 90 minutes rarely threatening and leaving there chances of making the next round very slim with a win over France next week essential.
Not even the high levels of noise for the Vuvuzelas could inspire South Africa onto a comeback, and matters got worse for the Bafana Bafana when goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was sent off in the 76 minute for bringing down Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, where Forlan converter from the spot making it 2 -0 and leaving no way back for the home nation.
World Cup Game 16 – Honduras 0 vs. 1 Chile
Chile secured there first World Cup victory since 1962 with a well taken Jean Beausejour goal in the 38th minute. Honduras struggled to make an impact in this game and it wasn’t until the 17th minute that striker Carlos Pavon had there first shot which was dragged wide. Chile however dominated possession, but a host of chances and poor finishing in front of goal was the difference between the sides as the South American’s failed to take advantage.
Despite Honduras’s woeful display on the pitch, the nation did create history when Jerry Palacios brother of Wilson and Johnny came on as a substitute, to make Honduras the first ever team to feature three brothers in a World Cup squad.
World Cup Game 17 –Spain 0 vs. 1 Switzerland
A valiant performance from Ottmar Hitzfeld’s Switzerland ensured all three points in a match dominated by reigning European Champions Spain. Claimed to be the shock of the tournament, the Spanish started off this Group H encounter with both Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas left on the bench, a bold decision taken by coach Vicente del Bosque.
As Spain dominated possession with there slick passing game, it was a 25yard strike from Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso that took the European champions closest to breaking the deadlock crashing the ball off the underside of the bar to deny them a deserved lead. Switzerland tried to get back into the game, but failed to keep the ball until poor defending from Spain allowed Gelson Fernandes to pounce onto a mistake and send the Swiss joint top of the group.