World Cup Roundup Day 6: The Day The Vuvuzelas Stopped
A glorious first half strike put Uruguay ahead and then a late penalty kick, hit with some venom and precision, all but sentenced South Africa to the ignominy of being the first host nation not to qualify for the knockout rounds.
As Uruguay celebrated that second goal, the vuvzelas briefly fell quiet, allowing the few cheers and yells from the players to ring eerily through the stadium.
Uruguay showed it could defend tenaciously in a 0-0 draw with France, and in the match against the hosts, Uruguay showed it could attack as well. Palermo's silky striker, Edison Cavani, joined Forlan and Luis Suarez in a three-pronged forward line. The more adventurous look paid off in a tidy 3-0 win which should be enough to see Uruguay through to the knockout rounds.
That was the day's third game, however. Four nations played their first match of the tournament prior to that in a pair of games which will please Italian club Udinese.
First, Chile provided one of the most spellbinding and captivating attacking performances yet in this World Cup in a 1-0 win over Honduras. The squad fired off 22 shots, many of them created by Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez. The 21-year-old enthralled with his direct attitude and individual skill on the ball.
The only goal, however, was assisted by Udine fullback Mauricio Isla thanks to an overlap picked out by the cerebral Matias Fernandez. Jean Beausejour bundled it home, with the team lacking the clinical finishing of unfit Humberto Suazo.
Spain, relied on by so many to save the tournament, couldn't even save itself. A staunch Switzerland side, captained by Udinese battler Gokhan Inler, hassled and fouled and niggled its way to a 1-0 win, providing the biggest upset of the tournament by far.
On any other day, Spain would have won. La Furia Roja fired 16 shots off target (a World Cup record) and sent 60 crosses into the box, a high for the 2010 edition. But Swizerland held out for a clean sheet, which ties Italy's World Cup record of five consecutive clean sheets.
Even the winning goal was fortunate. Future Seattle Sounder Blaize Nkufo pulled down a goal kick and slipped the ball through to Eden Derdiyok, who surged into the box. Iker Casillas rushed out and even got the ball, but fate apparently smiles on neutrality because it fell to Gelson Fernandes. Two thwacks at it (and one to the head of Gerard Pique to draw blood) finally put the ball in the back of the net for perhaps the most fortuitous goal you'll ever see.
Not that the Swiss mind. This is the World Cup. The only thing that matters is the points.
Goal Of The Day
Who else? Diego Forlan's first strike was gorgeous, even if it did take a deflection. The Atletico Madrid striker's run from midfield looked like it drifted too far left, but then Forlan opened his body and unleashed from way out in the middle of no where. The ball sailed over the South African defense and then dipped drastically in behind Itumeleng Khune, nicking a bit of paint off the crossbeam on the way down.
The goal marked only the third scored outside the box in this World Cup, the first of course being Clint Dempsey's drive which Robert Green safely deposited into the back of the net. Slovenia's Robert Koren nabbed the second.
Performance Of The Day
Inler was good, never allowing Xavi a moment alone on the ball and using his fouls to disrupt the Spanish flow. Forlan was better, scoring twice and proving the attacking menace that broke South African hearts. But Mati Fernandes was the best.
The Sporting Lisbon silkily strung together the most powerful attacking display this side of Germany's 4-0 thrashing of Australia. Pinpoint set piece delivery complimented his tidy passing game. Sanchez will reap all the plaudits for a more visible game, but Fernandes pulled all the strings through the middle.
The best example of Matigol's contribution was on Chile's lone goal. With others available, Fernandes slipped a clever diagonal ball through the Honduran defense to Isla. Then it was merely the matter of a pullback and a deflection into the net.
Most Shocking Event
Switzerland's win. We might not see a bigger upset for the rest of the tournament.
Referee Report Card
If referees are capable of these perfectly satisfactory performances, why was this year's UEFA Champions League so poorly officiated? A few minor quibbles this way and that, but no referee has made a blatantly incorrect decision this World Cup.
Switzerland's Massimo Busacca even got the sending off of Khune right. As the last man in a goal-scoring opportunity, the law mandates that Khune must receive a red card and a penalty kick be awarded, which is exactly what Busacca did. Of course, many disagree with the rule, pointing out that a yellow should suffice if the challenge isn't vicious, but referees just implement the rules, not make them.
Quote Of The Day
"The way I have been playing for Arsenal, don't you think I should be [in South Africa with the England squad]? I do. For sure," Sol Cambell told ESPN as his way of announcing his progressing insanity to the world. "I can understand if Capello was thinking 'this guy is for England's past' but then he went back for a couple of players who had retired from international football. I was really, really hurt to be totally overlooked without even having an opportunity."
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