Review: Day 11

Group G

     Korea DPR   0-7   Portugal



North Korea became the second team, after Cameroon, to exit the 2010 World Cup. The 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Portugal is obviously a disappointing way to bid adieu but once again they acquitted themselves quite well, despite what the scoreline suggests.

At half time the Koreans trailed to a sole Raul Meireles goal having matched their opponents play for play in the first half. A perfected weighted pass that found Meireles was what made the difference as both teams attacked and created half chances for themselves.

The people's Wyane Rooney, Jong Tae-Se led the line admirably for his country and his title as North Korea's best player has been justified over the past two game. The rest of his team mates showed a lot more attacking potential than they had against Brazil and they defended in numbers yet again. Everything changed in the second half however.

Once the second goal went in early in the second half the Koreans were dead and buried. Simao's well created goal knocked the life out of a previously energetic Korean team. They were tired from their endeavours thus far and paid the price.

Further goals from Hugo Almeida, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and two from Tiago Mendes sealed a 7-0 win that could even have been greater. In the final third the Portuguese showed a lot of pace and creativity and they were enjoying themselves in a way that was absent from their first game.

Changes had been made with Tiago, Simao, Miguel and Almeida coming in and everything came off for Carlos Queiros. For all their improvement Cristiano Ronaldo was still disappointing. He fell over needlessly and appeared to sulk when it was his team mates rather than himself who scored. He greeted his goal, the sixth, with a smile that was non-existent beforehand as his colleagues were in delirium. Ronaldo shot on sight with better options around him and his general theatrics were disrespectful to his own team and the opposition.

All round it was an impressive display, but whether it would be good enough to see them progress to the final stages is still open to debate.        

Group H

        Chile   1-0   Switzerland

Chile may be two from two and sitting pretty atop Group H but their place in the the last 16 is still very much in doubt. Even with six points guaranteed, defeat to Spain on Friday could conceivably leave them lying in third and going home.

Perform as they have so far though and it could be the pre tournament favourites who head home earlier than expected. Once again La Roja attacked from start to finish and saw just reward. Once again Alexis Sanchez impressed, as did Jean Beausejour when not straying offside and Humberto Suazo made a welcome return to the team having missed the opener with Honduras.

The single goal from Durban born substitute Mark Gonzalez was just about enough to dispose of the ten men of Switzerland, although they could have paid the price for wasteful finishing and bad decision making in the final third.

The sending off of Valon Behrami after half an hour saw the European team become even more defensive. Two flat banks of four sat in their own half for the following 50 minutes until it was finally breached and the Swiss were forced to move further up the pitch.

The Chilenos looked to be running out of ideas until Esteban Paredes broke the off side trap and crossed for Gonzalez to head home at the back post. The game opened up thereafter as the Swiss tactic of holding out for a draw was broken.

They nearly got the draw they wanted had Eren Derdiyok finished from 12 yards out. How he didn't is a mystery but it would have been unjust on a far superior Chile team who had done all the running all day. 

Chile nearly paid the price for their wasteful finishing in the last ten minutes. They countered so often than a second or third should have been scored but they nearly paid the ultimate price.

The Swiss showed that they can play a bit too when given the chance and that's what they'll have to do against Honduras. A victory in that game of any note should be enough to seem them through but it would be at the expense of one of the tournament's two most entertaining teams.    

         Honduras   0-2   Spain



Spain got their World Cup campaign back on track at Ellis Park in Johannesburg tonight, although they may live the rue the amount of chances they spurned as goal difference may prove to be a decisive factor come Friday night.

Two goals from David Villa, that brought his total to 40 in 60 caps, was enough to see off a committed but limited Honduran team. The Barcelona front man even missed a penalty that would have made him joint top scorer with Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina.

Spain were positive from the get go. They got the ball down and passed it around and waited for openings that were far more forthcoming than in Durban last Wednesday. Vicente del Bosque added greater width to the team than in that game with Switzerland as Jesus Navas started on the right ahead of David Silva. Fernando Torres also got a start as he continues to prove his fitness. The Liverpool centre forward got plenty of chances but lacked sharpness in front of goal.

The game was all Spain and a goal from Villa in either half secured a comfortable victory. The European champions will need to step up another gear if they are to win this tournament however.

 La furia roja came for the win and they got it but another one is required on Friday to make sure of progression. Neutral observers will expect the Swiss to beat Honduras so only a victory will do against Chile in what could be the game of the tournament so far as two of its most attacking teams meet in what is a pivotal clash.