The greatest show on earth is starting to take shape. Here is a brief round-up from South Africa of the matches from the previous three days – as goals continued to be a problem for many, due to the over-cautious approach from most teams. However, yesterday brought one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, as the European Champions were dethroned by hard-working Switzerland.
Monday 14th June: Holland 2-0 Denmark
A cataclysmic own goal from Simon Poulsen set Holland on their way to an opening victory in Soccer City, Johannesburg. Following a tight first-half, the own goal gave the Dutch, lacking their usual fluency the lead 52 seconds into the restart. Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt settled the outcome, tapping home from close range, after Eljero Ella’s effort rebounded off the post with four minutes left.
Japan caused the first surprise of the finals so far, beating a lazy Cameroon outfit in a dour encounter. The match was settled by CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, slamming home on 38 minutes after poor defending from the Africans in Bloemfontein.
Monday 14th June: Italy 1-1 Paraguay
World champions Italy made a pathetic and traditional poor start to their defence, struggling to a 1-1 draw in Group F’s opener. South Americans Paraguay took the lead when Antolin Alcaraz powered a header past the despairing Gianluigi Buffon before half-time. Marcello Lippi’s men recovered to earn a share of the spoils, when Danielle De Rossi poked home from a scrambled corner, benefiting from a glaring error by Paraguay shot stopper Justo Villar.
Tuesday 15th June: New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia
Another tight game, saw the All Blacks earn their first ever World Cup point in dramatic circumstances in Rustenberg. Winston Reid headed in the leveller in the third minute of injury time, punishing Slovakia for sitting back and holding onto the 1-0 lead, given by Robert Vittek’s coolly placed effort on 50 minutes.
Tuesday 15th June: Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal
One of the most hotly anticipated group encounters turned into an absolute dire match, as two evenly-matched teams cancelled each other out in Port Elizabeth. Cristiano Ronaldo came closest for the Portuguese, whacking the woodwork on five minutes with a rasping thirty-yard drive.
Tuesday 15th June: Brazil 2-1 North Korea
In a game they were expected to wipe the floor with their opponents, the stylish Brazilians laboured to a 2-1 win at Ellis Park. They had to wait until Maicon’s 55th minute beautiful strike from an almost impossible angle. Elano sealed the result, placing Robinho’s masterful pass into the net. The North Koreans deserved a goal for their valiant efforts and earned it through a super strike from Ji-Yun-Nam.
Chile opened their World Cup account with an impressive performance in Nelspruit. Jean Beausejour’s strike ten minutes before the interval proved to be the difference in one of the most one-sided encounters so far. Marcelo Bielsa’s side spurned a host of opportunities which suggested that the South Americans are a force to be reckoned with.
Wednesday 16th June: Spain 0-1 Switzerland
European champions Spain were humbled by a hard-working Swiss outfit in Durban, and now face an almighty struggle to get out of Group H. Despite crisp passing and neat build-up, the Spanish failed to take advantage of their possession and lost the match to a scrappy effort on the hour mark, put away by ex-Manchester City player Gelson Fernandes.
Wednesday 16th June: South Africa 0-3 Uruguay
Diego Forlan produced a masterclass, as Uruguay well and truly silenced the South African fans in Pretoria last night. The in-form Atletico Madrid ace, destroyer of Liverpool and Fulham and in Europa League this season scored twice, and set-up a third for Alvaro Pereira. South African goalkeeper Itumenleng Khune was red-carded for a professional foul on Luis Suarez, as the hosts now face a huge battle to survive in their own tournament.
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