Brazil 0, Portugal 0
In a match that pitted two of the world's most explosive offenses against each other, the day’s marquee match ended up providing little in terms of fireworks, though not for lack of trying. Portugal needed at least a draw to move out of the group stage, while Brazil’s Kaka missed the match due to a red card given to him in the previous game. The match was not short on chances, though. Brazilian striker Nilmar had a shot deflected to the post, while Portugal’s Raul Meireles was denied by goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Brazil and Portugal will move on to face the runner-up and winner of Group H, respectively.
Ivory Coast 3, North Korea 0
Knowing they needed a big win, and some big luck, the Ivory Coast delivered, shelling the North Koreans to a tune of three goals to none. Yaya Toure, Koffi Romaric N’Dri and Salomon Kalou all scored for the Elephants, though their fate was ultimately out of their hands, as Portugal tied Brazil to eliminate the Ivory Coast. Ghana is now the only African nation left in the World Cup. North Korea leaves South Africa disappointed; they did not manage a single win and only scored one goal while allowing 12.
Spain 2, Chile 1
Spain won their group for the third consecutive World Cup thanks to the strikes by David Villa and Andres Ineista. Villa's goal game in the 24th minute as Chilean keeper Claduio Bravo moved out of the box on a bad clear. Ineista added another in the 37th with Chile down to 10 men after being ejected for his second yellow card. Chile made it a match when Rodrigo Millar cut the lead to one in the 47th. It was not enough as Spain ran out the clock to ensure the victory. Though they lost the match Chile will accompany them out of group play.
Switzerland 0, Honduras 0
The Swiss needed a win to move on but could not get on the board against Honduras eliminating both of them. They needed at least a two goal win to lock up a spot in elimination play but Honduras proved more resilient than expected and denied the Swiss, who played lazily until the last half of the game. Honduras almost stole the game on a shot from a wide-open Edgar Alvarez but was stopped on a one handed save from Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio.
Standings
Group A
Uruguay
(2-0-1, 7 points, 4 goals, 0 goals against)
Mexico (1-1-1, 4 points, 3
goals, 2 goals against)
South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 5
goals against)
France (0-2-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 4 goals against)
Group
B
Argentina (3-0-0, 9 points, 7 goals, 1 goal against)
South
Korea (1-1-1, 4 points, 5 goals, 6 goals against)
Greece (1-2-0, 3
points, 2 goals, 5 goals against)
Nigeria (0-2-1, 1 point, 3 goals, 5
goals against)
Group C
USA (1-0-2, 5 points,
4 goals, 3 goals against)
England (1-0-2, 5 points, 2 goals, 1 goal
against)
Slovenia (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 3 goals against)
Algeria
(0-2-1, 1 point, 0 goals, 2 goals against)
Group D
Germany
(2-1-0, 6 points, 5 goals, 1 goal against)
Ghana (1-1-1, 4 points, 2
goals, 2 goals against)
Australia (1-1-1, 4 points, 3 goals, 6 goals
against)
Serbia (1-2-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 3 goals against)
Group
E
Netherlands (2-0-0, 6 points, 3 goals, 0 goals against)
Japan
(1-1-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Denmark (1-1-0, 3 points, 2
goals, 3 goals against)
Cameroon (0-2-0, 0 points, 1 goal, 3 goals
against)
Group F
Paraguay (1-0-2, 5 points, 3
goals, 1 goal against)
Slovakia (1-1-1, 4 points, 4 goals, 5 goals
against)
New Zealand (0-0-3, 3 points, 2 goals, 2 goals against)
Italy
(0-1-2, 2 points, 4 goals, 5 goals against)
Group G
Brazil
(2-0-1, 7 points, 5 goals, 2 goals against)
Portugal (1-0-2, 5
points, 7 goals, 0 goals against)
Ivory Coast (1-1-1, 4 points, 4 goals,
3 goals against)
North Korea (0-3-0, 0 points, 1 goal, 12 goals
against)
Group H
Chile (2-0-0, 6 points, 2
goals, 0 goals against)
Spain (1-1-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 1 goal
against)
Switzerland (1-1-1, 4 points, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Honduras
(0-2-1, 1 point, 0 goals, 3 goals against)
Coming Up: Brazil and Portugal move on to face the runner up and winner of Group H respectively. The Group H winner will be decided in the day's final group matches starting at 2:30 p.m.,
with Switzerland-Honduras and Chile-Spain the two matchups.
Here's
the complete World Cup schedule.
