Match day 9 is over, let's look at all the action from today.
Costa Rica 1 - Italy 0
Drawn in a group with Italy, Uruguay and England, the relative
minnows of Costa Rica were predicted by many to just be there to make up the
numbers.
However, after a shocking 3-1 over Uruguay, Los Ticos have gone
one better today and knocked off the four time World Champion Italians
1-0.
Using quick incisive passing and movement, while denying Pirlo any
space to stage Italy's attacks, this wasn't a typical smash and grab win for a
small side. Costa Rica genuinely outplayed Italy and were full value for their
win.
After an up down couple of years at club level, Bryan Ruiz was
brilliant again today and his headed goal just before half time was just reward
for his terrific play.
Despite coming close on several occasions after the break, Italy
never got going and not face a crunch match against Uruguay to determine who
will join Costa Rica in the Round of 16. England in the meantime are eliminated
by virtue of this result.
Switzerland 2-5 France
In a score line harking back to the days of Just Fontaine and
Raymond Kopa, when they starred for France at the 1958 World Cup, the French
proved that their beating of Honduras was no fluke as they powered past the
young Swiss side.
Five goals from five different players, including one for the red
hot Karim Benzema fired France to the top of their group and marked them out as
a team to beat in this engaging tournament.
Besides Benzema, who also saw a first half penalty saved, Olivier
Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, and Moussa Sissoko also found the net
for the French.
There must be something in the air at the Arena Fonte Nova, in
Salvador as the three most lopsided matches of the tournament have all taken
place there. This result follows on the heels of the Netherlands 5-1 mauling of
Spain and Portugal's 4-0 capitulation to Germany at the same venue.
One concern for France will be the laxness in their defense that
allowed the Swiss to score two late conciliation goals through Blerim Dzemaili
and Granit Xhaka.
Honduras 1 - Ecuador 2
Not since 1982 had Central America's Honduras found the net at the
World Cup Finals. Granted they had to wait 28 years between tournament
appearances, going scoreless in South Africa at the 2010 Finals was a big
disappointment for the Hondurans and not something they wanted to replicate in
Brazil.
In the 31st minute, veteran striker Carlo Costly finally sent the
Honduran fans into dreamland with a terrific goal to vault his team into the
lead.
Unbowed, the South American's took only three minutes to equalize
though, as Enner Valencia reacted quickest as a blocked shot sent the ball
skidding across the Honduran box and he knocked it in at the back post.
Honduras reacted and nearly equalized before the half, but
correctly had a goal chalked off for offside.
After the break, Ecuador came out with renewed vigor and
eventually found their break through, by that man Enner Valencia again.
Watching Manchester United fans were probably left wondering if they could swap
their Valencia, Antonio, for compatriot Enner at that point.
Despite their efforts to get back into it, there was no further
goal for Honduras as they crashed to a defeat.
Ecuador now takes on France, still in with a chance to progress to
the Round of 16, but they will need to rely on Honduras getting a result
against Switzerland as well.
Match-day 9 - Staff Picks
Pedro: Italy
1-0 Costa Rica, Switzerland 1-2 France, Ecuador 1-0 Honduras
Kon: Italy 3-0
Costa Rica, Switzerland 0-1 France, Ecuador 2-1 Honduras
Iain: Italy 1-0
Costa Rica, Switzerland 2-2 France, Ecuador 2-0 Honduras
Kon got the
Ecuador game right, he was the only real winner today
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