World Cup Day 9: The Dark Horse Rises!

GROUP D

ITALY 0-1 COSTA RICA

Costa Rica was considered by critics to work in the World Cup as the goal difference collector for the "real" strong teams in the so called group of death. Reasons and excuses are numerous as to how Costa Rica beat Uruguay and Italy such as: Suarez was injured, Uruguay had a bad day. Italy just did not play well, Italy had no proper striker to finish the job, Chiellini does not work as center defender. The fact remains that Costa Rica hit not two but three birds with one stone; The booked a place in the round of 16, officially casted England out of the World Cup and has a great chance of playing against one of the weaker sides from the opposite group. The stone was scored by Ruiz a minute after Chiellini has obviously brought down a Costa Rica player in the box with placed header in Buffon's net.Italy's next match against Uruguay will be the decider regardless of the other match result. Since Italy has a one goal advantage over Uruguay then a draw is enough to qualify.

SWITZERLAND 2-5 FRANCE

An early injury in the match threw the swiss clock into chaos and conceded three goals in the first half by Mauidi, Giroud and Valbuena. Benzema failed to convert a penalty kick after the second goal making it a first in this competition. Changes were made in the Switzerland line-up in the second half and things started to look brighter. France on the other hand had no interest in stopping at three and displayed a quality performance scoring two more goals by Benzema and Sissoko who was exceptional on the backline right side during the match. It was too late but Switzerland exploited the French defensive weaknesses scoring two goals by Dzemaili and Xhaka in the last ten minutes. France is 99% qualified to the next round since they need to lose with a 6 goals difference against Ecuador in the last match. Switzerland qualification scenarios are pretty complicated and here it is as simple as possible:

1)      The goal difference in Switzerland win over Honduras must be 3 Goal difference more than Ecuador win over France.

2)      Switzerland could qualify with a 2 goal difference more than Ecuador win over France if they manage to score as many goals as Ecuador in the last match.

3)      A tie in all three criteria is possible if the goal difference is 2 more for Switzerland match but Ecuador score exactly one more goal than Switzerland in their win against France. Tied in points, GD and GS.

4)      Switzerland qualifies with any win if Ecuador draws or loses to France.

ECUADOR 2-1 HONDURAS

The wife and I sometimes and especially during the weekends agree on a match that I should not watch. Obviously I choose this match but I was very lucky that the plan did not go through and was able to watch a match of this caliber. Both teams are not as skilled as the big ones but the stakes were high. For Honduras, they were looking to record their first World Cup win in history while Ecuador wanted to get back into the group top challengers. The match was just another comeback but kept anyone watching breathless until the final whistle. Costly scored for Honduras while Valencia scored both goals for Ecuador.

Qualifying scenarios for Ecuador:

1)      Win with more than 5 goals difference against France regardless of the other match result.

2)      Win with 2 goal difference against France less than the other match goal difference if Switzerland wins.

3)      Win with any score if the other match is a draw

4)      Lose with no more than 3 goal difference if Honduras wins.

Qualifying scenarios for Honduras:

1)      Win with 4 goals difference or more provided Ecuador loses to France.

STANDINGS

Group A

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Brazil	2	1	1	-	3	1	+2	4
Mexico	2	1	1	-	1	0	+1	4
Croatia	2	1	-	1	4	1	+3	3
Cameron	2	-	-	2	0	5	-5	0

Group B

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Netherlands	2	2	-	-	8	3	+5	6
Chile	2	2	-	-	5	1	+4	6
Australia	2	-	-	2	3	6	-3	0
Spain	2	-	-	2	1	7	-6	0

Group C

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Colombia	2	2	-	-	5	1	+4	6
Ivory Coast	2	1	-	1	3	3	0	3
Japan	2	-	1	1	1	2	-1	1
Greece	2	-	1	1	0	3	-3	1

Group D

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Costa Rica	2	2	-	-	4	1	+3	6
Italy	2	1	-	1	2	2	0	3
Uruguay	2	1	-	1	3	4	-1	3
England	2	-	-	2	2	4	-2	0

Group E

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
France	2	2	-	-	8	2	+6	6
Ecuador	2	1	-	1	3	3	0	3
Switzerland	2	1	-	1	4	6	-2	3
Honduras	2	-	-	2	1	5	-4	0

Group F

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Argentina	1	1	-	-	2	1	+1	3
Nigeria	1	-	1	-	0	0	0	1
Iran	1	-	1	-	0	0	0	1
Bosnia-Herzegovina	1	-	-	1	1	2	-1	0

Group G

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Germany	1	1	-	-	4	0	+4	3
USA	1	1	-	-	2	1	+1	3
Ghana	1	-	-	1	1	2	-1	0
Portugal	1	-	-	1	0	4	-4	0

Group H

Team	Played	W	D	L	For	Against	GD	Points
Belgium	1	1	-	-	2	1	+1	3
Russia	1	-	1	-	1	1	0	1
Korea Republic	1	-	1	-	1	1	0	1
Algeria	1	-	-	1	1	2	-1	0

Golden Boot

Name	Team	Goals
Mueller	Germany	3
Robben	Netherlands	3
Van Persie	Netherlands	3
Benzema	France	3
Neymar	Brazil	2
Cahill	Australia	2
Mandzukic	Croatia	2
James	Colombia	2
Suarez	Uruguay	2
Peralta	Mexico	1
Alonso	Spain	1
De Vrij	Netherlands	1
Sanchez	Chile	1
Valdivia	Chile	1
Beausejour	Chile	1
Ruiz	Costa Rica	1
Armero	Colombia	1
Gutierrez	Colombia	1
Cavani	Uruguay	1
Campbell	Costa Rica	1
Duarte	Costa Rica	1
Urena	Costa Rica	1
Marchisio	Italy	1
Balotelli	Italy	1
Sturridge	England	1
Bony	Ivory Coast	1
Gervinho	Ivory Coast	1
Honda	Japan	1
Valencia	Ecuador	1
Mehmedi	Switzerland	1
Seferovic	Switzerland	1
Messi	Argentina	1
Ibisevic	Bosnia-Herzegovina	1
Hummels	Germany	1
Ayew	Ghana	1
Brooks	USA	1
Dempsey	USA	1
Feghouli	Algeria	1
Fellani	Belgium	1
Mertens	Belgium	1
K H Lee	Korea Republic	1
Kerzhakov	Russia	1
Jedinak	Australia	1
Memphis	Netherlands	1
Vargas	Chile	1
Aranguiz	Chile	1
Olic	Croatia	1
Perisic	Croatia	1
Quintero	Colombia	1
Rooney	England	1
Dzemaili	Switzerland	1
Xhaka	Switzerland	1
Matuidi	France	1
Giroud	France	1
Valbuena	France	1
Sissoko	France	1

Qualified Teams to the Round of 16 at the End of Day 7:

1)      Netherlands (Possible opponents: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia)

2)      Chile (Possible opponents: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia)

3)      Colombia (Possible opponents: Costa Rica, Italy, Uruguay)

4)      Costa Rica (Possible opponents: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece)

Teams Packing:

1)      Cameron (Group A)

2)      Spain (Group B)

3)      Australia (Group B)

4)      England (Group D)

Day 10 Matches:

Argentina vs Iran

Match Implications: Argentina win means qualification while a win for Iran complicates the group. A tie keeps Argentina chances of winning the group as high as possible.

Germany vs Ghana

Match Implications: Germany will look to book a place in the second round by winning this match provided the other match ends with a tie or an American win.

Nigeria vs Bosina-Herzegovina:

Match Implications: Both teams need to win in order to have a chance to qualify in the last round.