Matchday 6

Chile-Honduras (1-0)

The minnows from CONCACAF battled, but couldn’t hang with a lively Chilean team. Look for Alexis Sanchez to have a breakout World Cup as he looked dashing in this match and Chile really should have made it upwards of 4 or 5 to zero.

In other news, two thumbs up to the stadium in Nelspruit. It not only looks fantastic, but the pitch was wonderful along with the look from television that the fans were so close to the pitch. Impressive stuff from the stadium that is proving difficult for fans to get to.

Swizterland-Spain (1-0)

So, you thought Spain’s game against the US in the 2009 Confed Cup was a mirrage? Think again. Switzerland copied the USA’s blueprint for that match to the end. Spain are similar to Barcelona (well, duh since they make up half the squad) in the sense that they can pass you to sleep, but it only takes one lapse to break through.

If you can keep a clean sheet, which the Swiss have now done for 5 straight World Cup games, you’re always going to be in it. Even more impressive for the Swiss considering Senderos went off injured and Behrami and Frei were out injured.

This group has just been knocked wide open, especially considering how impressive the Chile looked in the morning match.

South Africa-Uruguay (0-3)

Tears all around here in Pretoria. Deep down, I knew that Bafana Bafana didn’t have the quality to match the others in the group, but I thought that the crowd and the environment would put them over the edge. Four years of preparation went down the drain in 90 minutes in a poor performance against the potent South Americans.

Uruguay have put themselves in a good position to go deep in the tournament as they should top the group and play the runners up from Group B, which is a weak team no matter who comes out.

The red card was debatable, but it didn’t look like South Africa would have gotten a goal anyway, but the goal difference absolutely kills them. After the penalty, the stadium emptied and went silent.

Steven Pienaar wasn’t allowed to play in his normal position in the midfield and played as a withdrawn stiker, which just didn’t allow him to flourish unfortunately. Teko Modise has had an absolute howler of a World Cup which is shocking for a player that is a hero here.

Being at the match, this was a very somber occasion for South Africa and I am truly sad for the country. Hopefully they can bounce back and trash the pathetic French and leave the World Cup with their pride in tact.

Takeaway from Matchday 6: Group H looks like it will go to goal difference. South Africa still lack a true center forward and will struggle until they find one. Look for Uruguay to be quaterfinalists.