Must avoid Swiss neutrality joke

With the group stage over, can we all agree that Switzerland beating Spain 1-0 was the biggest upset?

It turns out that was the only bullet in the Swiss chamber as they couldn't beat take a point from Chile and most egregious, they couldn't beat Honduras.

Of course when you score one goal in three games, you're lucky to win a game let alone against one of the tournament favorites that has since found their game after that baffling stinker.

Switzerland

Best moment: Hmm real tough. Beating Spain. If the Spanish go on to win the 2010 World Cup, which is very possible, the Swiss will be in the Alps toasting their one defining moment in South Africa.

Worst moment: Falling behind two goals in goal differential. Tying Honduras. They couldn't get one goal so when Chile scored and forced Switzerland to score twice against Honduras in the second half, you knew it was time to pack up their skis.

Best result: The upset of Spain will go down in World Cup history, no question.

Worst result: Tying Honduras in such brutal fashion.

Final tally: 1 win, 1 tie, 1 loss. 1 goal scored, 1 allowed.

Best player: Goalkeeper Diego Bengalio who had two shutouts.

Worst player: This is analogous to an incomplete on the report card but I'll go with defender Philippe Senderos. He missed two matches with an injury (hence the incomplete) but since he plays for Everton, if he was healthy he should have been a leader for this team.

Spain and Chile move on, shitbums go home

Goal-scoring is way down in the 2010 World Cup but there's a great lesson to take away thus far: if you want to play defensive, pack 'em in soccer, don't pack a big bag because you won't make it out of the knockout stage.

Spain held on for the 2-1 win over Chile but both deservedly advanced to the round-of-16. Brazil plays Chile at 2:30 p.m. on Monday and Portugal meets Spain at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both matches are full of juicy possibilites.

Honduras and Switzerland tied 0-0 and frankly, that's what Shimer and I have been preaching. It's not just that we prefer offensive, creative soccer (who doesn't?), we simply want to see the best teams move on. It's very gratifying to see our words come true as the three most boring squads: Greece, Italy and Switzerland are all done.

Four minutes of useless added time

Switzerland and Honduras are still scoreless in the 92nd minute.

Danilo Turcos came on for Honduran forward David Suazo.

2-1 Spain in the 91st minute with two minutes of stoppage time.

Last Swiss sub and Honduran puts in part of my all-name team

Xherdan Shaqiri is in for Switzerland midfielder Benjamin Huggel.

Honduras inserted forward Georgie Welcome for Jerry Palacios.

That snoozefest is still 0-0 in the 84th minute.

Spain is up 2-1 in the 82nd minute.

Alonso out, Martinez in

Spain's second move was taking Xabi Alonso out for Javi Martinez.

Spain up 2-1 in the 74th minute.

0-0 Honduras-Switzerland in the 76th minute.

South American teams are unbeaten in the 2010 World Cup (10-0-4) and they've outscored opponents 21-4. Not too shabby.

Changes from the boring match

I can't watch the Switzerland-Honduras match since I can only imagine how dull it is.

However, I will faithfully update everything that's going on there. Switzerland replaced forward Blaise N'Kufo with Alexander Frei.

Honduras made their first move: forward Walter Martinez in for midfielder Ramon Nunez.

Still scoreless in the 73rd minute, nobody is going to score in this one. Deal with it.

Spain is up 2-1 in the 71st minute.

Sanchez out, Orellana in

Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez was subbed out for Fabian Orellana, their last change. Orellana is famous for scoring the game-winner in qualifying vs. Argentina, the first time Chile beat the Argentines.

2-1 Spain in the 67th minute.

0-0 Switzerland-Honduras in the 69th minute.

Suazo booked

Honduran forward David Suazo picked up a yellow card.

As of right now, the 2.1 goals per match average is the lowest in any World Cup.

2-1 Spain in the 62nd minute.

0-0 Switzerland-Honduras in the 64th minute.

Fabregas and his beard check in

One of our other favorites-Cesc Fabregas-just replaced Torres. It speaks to the depth and quality of Spain that possibly the best midfielder in the EPL comes off their bench.

Granted, he's coming back from an injury. He's also rocking a Dustin Pedroia-esque beard in his 52nd international appearance which is particularly impressive when you remember that he's only 23.

2-1 Spain in the 58th minute.

0-0 Switzerland-Spain in the 60th minute.

Millar scores vital goal for Chile

It didn't take long at all for Chile to pull one back in the second half.

Millar scored in the 47th minute, his shot was deflected by Pique into the net.

It's now 2-1 Spain in the 53rd minute.

Switzerland and Honduras are tied in the 56th minute and the Swiss need two goals since Chile got that one back. Good luck with that boys.

Second half begins

The second half has started with the Honduras-Switzerland match starting a few minutes earlier.

Spain subbed Rodrigo Millar in for Mark Gonzalez.

Swiss midfielder Hakan Yakan is on for Fernandes.

Switzerland defender Stephane Grichting took a nasty blow to his jaw and he's down with a possible concussion/jaw injury.

Last halftime of group play

It's halftime in South Africa with Spain leading 2-0 and Switzerland tied 0-0 with Honduras.

All the Swiss need is a goal (and a win) and they'll get through but I hope Chile hangs on because they're way more fun to watch.

Halftime stats:

Chile Spain
5(1) Shots (on Goal) 7(2)
16 Fouls 8
3 Corner Kicks 2
0 Offsides 0
36% Time of Possession 64%
2 Yellow Cards 0
1 Red Cards 0
0 Saves 1

Switzerland Honduras
6(1) Shots (on Goal) 2(0)
8 Fouls 8
2 Corner Kicks 0
1 Offsides 4
65% Time of Possession 35%
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
0 Saves 1

Iniesta makes it 2-0, Chile down to 10 men

After Torres was taken down by Chilean defender Arturo Vidal a few minutes ago, nothing was called but it hardly matters now as Spanish forward Andres Iniesta increased Spain's lead to 2-0 in the 37th minute.

It's been a chaotic last few minutes as right after Iniesta deposited the one-timer with his right foot into the far post, Estrada picked up his second yellow of the match.

He's gone and it's a shame because he clipped Torres' foot, nothing more.

Now Chile is down to 10 men and they trail 2-0 in the 41st minute. It's out of their hands since they're probably not going to score 3+ goals to beat Spain. They have to pray that Switzerland ties or loses to Honduras.

Speaking of which, that match is 0-0 in the 42nd minute. Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes has picked up a yellow card too.

last roundup for the group stage and Group H

It seems like only yesterday (or two weeks ago) that group play started but here we are: on the cusp of the the knockout stage.

Group H provides our final two matches with the especially intriguing Chile-Spain and Switzerland-Honduras. All four teams are alive although Honduras is a long shot since they don't have a point yet and a -3 goal differential.

For Spain and Chile, two legit teams, they both want to avoid Brazil which is who the runner-up will get. The Group H winner gets Portugal.

Starting 11's:
Chile Lineup
G
1Claudio Bravo
CD
3Waldo Ponce
CD-L
18Gonzalo Jara
CD-R
17Gary Medel
CM-L
8Arturo Vidal
CM-R
13Marco Estrada
LM
11Mark González
RM
4Mauricio Isla
F
10Jorge Valdivia
CF-L
15Jean Beausejour
CF-R
7Alexis Sánchez

Spain Lineup
G
1Iker Casillas
CD-L
5Carles Puyol
CD-R
3Gerard Piqué
LB
11Joan Capdevila
RB
15Sergio Ramos
CM
14Xabi Alonso
LM
16Sergio Busquets
RM
8Xavi
F
7David Villa
LF
9Fernando Torres
RF
6Andrés Iniesta

Switzerland Lineup
G
1Diego Benaglio
CD-L
13Stéphane Grichting
CD-R
5Steve von Bergen
LB
17Reto Ziegler
RB
2Stephan Lichtsteiner
CM-L
8Gökhan Inler
CM-R
6Benjamin Huggel
LM
16Gelson Fernandes
RM
7Tranquillo Barnetta
CF-L
10Blaise N'Kufo
CF-R
19Eren Derdiyok

Honduras Lineup
G
18Noel Valladares
CD-L
5Victor Bernárdez
CD-R
2Osman Chávez
LB
3Maynor Figueroa
RB
16Mauricio Sabillón
CM-L
6Hendry Thomas
CM-R
8Wilson Palacios
LM
7Ramón Núñez
RM
17Edgar Álvarez
F
11David Suazo
RCF
10Jerry Palacios

Torres has had two nice chances for Spain: a header that he couldn't square up and a shot that was deflected out for a corner. It would be nice to see our boy got on the board.

Spain and Chile is 0-0 in the 22nd minute and Chile has already picked up three yellow cards: by defenders Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce-who will both miss the next match-and midifielder Marco Estrada.

Switzerland and Hounduras is also scoreless in the 23rd minute and Honduras midfielder Hendry Thomas has a yellow card already.

Swiss shocker

Just as I started to dump on the 2010 World Cup (a little bit, don't get me wrong I'm still watching everything), the biggest upset of the tournament just happened.

Switzerland hung on for the 1-0 win over Spain, the favorites of Group H and along with Brazil the team that everyone is picking to win it all.

It was no fluke. Granted, the Swiss goal was a lucky bounce but you need those to win, especially when you're the huge underdog. Switzerland held the fort despite a flurry of chances from all the Spanish studs.

They almost added a second goal too. This kickstarts the tournament too, fittingly in the last opening match.

Chile plays Switzerland on Monday (10:00 a.m.) and Honduras meets Spain (2:30 p.m.) on Monday.

The second games begin with Uruguay-South Africa this afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

Five minutes of added time

And one scary stat for the Spanish: no team has ever won the World Cup after losing its opening match.

Navas just misses with bouncing volley

Navas nearly ties it with a sweet volley from outside the box. It's basically a shooting gallery right now for the Spanish.

1-0 Switzerland in the 80th minute.

Alonso rattles the crossbar, Swiss hit the post

In the 70th minute, Xavi Alonso took matters into his own hands and absolutely killed the ball but it want off the crossbar.

Spain is getting tons of chances now and it will be a miracle if Switzerland can hold on.

Holy shit: Switzerland forward Eren Derdiyok hits the post with a great move and shot.

1-0 Swiss in the 75th minute.

The one where Gelson Fernandes drops by

You are a liar if you say you saw that goal by Switzerland (in the 52nd minute) coming.

The Spanish have been dominating possession and the Swiss scored off a long kick by their goalkeeper Diego Benaglio then a 1-2 and dogged effort by midfieder Gelson Fernandes to scramble and put it in.

Spainish goalkeeper Ikea Casillas-one of the best-appeared to not want to use his hands for some reason as he came out feet-first. Uh you can use your hands dude.

1-0 Switzerland in the 63rd minute. This would be a shocking result if it holds. Getting serious know for Spain as Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas come in for Sergio Busquets and David Villa.

Oh wow, Iniesta just curled a shot wide.

Spain-Switzerland scoreless at the half

I'm sure glad I choose not to do a live blog of Spain-Switzerland, the last two teams to play in the 2010 World Cup.

Pique and Villa both had chances but neither of them could find the back of the net. Pique's shot was saved by Benaglio in the 24th minute and Villa had a slight breakaway but he tried to chip it across for a teammate rather than shoot it, bad choice.

This looks like the Brazil-North Korea match from yesterday, one team is much more talented so the other plays ultra-defensively. It makes for some really boring soccer and it's no coincidence that this is the ninth time out of the first 16 games that there has been no goals in the first half.

It didn't help Switzerland that defender Philippe Senderos was taken out with an injury in the first half.

These games need more goals, hopefully these strictly defensive teams get bounced so we can have more attacking soccer going forward. Enough of this crap.