World Cup Day 11 – Spain win, Portugal win, Chile win

Posted by Kevin Breathnach on June 21, 2010 | 1 Comment

Ten goals in three games today. I blame the Jabulani!

Switzerland famously crashed out of the last World Cup without conceding a single goal, and in their first group match against Spain, they managed once more to keep a clean sheet. Despite the flair of the Chile national team, there weren’t many goals expected in the clash between the two sides today. In their 1-0 victory over the Swiss, Chile dirtied neutrality’s sheets for the first time in over nine hours of football.

David Villa scored both goals in Spain’s rather dull 2-0 win over Honduras. That leaves Spain on three points, needing a win against Chile to qualify. Despite having won their opening two games, Chile now look most likely to be knocked out of their group. Having only beaten minnows Honduras 1-0 in their opening group game, Chile will probably go out on goal difference. It’s a shame, since they play a much more attractive style of football than Switzerland, and if they qualify over them, they would be much more likely to go deeper into the tournament.

In the 1966 World Cup, North Korea took on Portugal. Incredibly, by half-time the mysterious North Korean team were 3-0 up. Eusebio put paid to any North Korean hopes, however, scoring four of the Portuguese five second-half goals. Today, the North Koreans struggled in front of goal. But not half as much as they struggled at the back. Though you wouldn’t know it to listen to Mick McCarthy’s incessant praise of the North Koreans, Portugal ran out 7-0 winners.

Meanwhile, news that North Korean premier Kim Jong-Il talks to players on invisible phones during the games is to go unchallenged by FIFA.

As England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson crashed out of the World Cup twice. First, to Brazil; next, to Portugal. Afterwards he became involved in a spate of progressively worse teams: Manchester City, Mexico and Notts County. But, come 2010, he finds himself back in the World Cup. Managing Ivory Coast, he hopes to move out of a group containing, er, Brazil and Portugal.

Such hopes were all but dashed today by Portugal’s impressive 7-0 win over North Korea, since with a goal difference of +7, Portugal now look out of the Ivorians’ reach. Don’t be surprised if you see Sven praising the indefatigable Kim Jong-Il as he is unveiled as the new North Korea manager sometime in early 2014.

Conclusions:

1. Never bet on there being under 6.5 goals in a North Korea vs Portugal game.
2. Don’t listen to Mick McCarthy. He’s in the pay of the North Koreans.
3. If at all possible, try to sell any sweepstake that has Honduras to win the competition. They’re still in it, but it ain’t lookin’ good for the Palacios family.

All comments welcome, love to hear everyone’s thoughts on all the World Cup action. Except you Mick: stay out.

Fancy a few football betting tips?

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