Match 16: Spain-Switzerland (16 June) Match Thread [R]

That sounds to me like the Swiss deserve the 3 points. YMMV.

 

Yes, because they played their tactic better than Spain did theirs.

Spain's not finding any imagination in attack, and their defense has been pretty darned shaky.

 

78' 0-1 #22 Jesús Navas rips a hard shot from box top mid-right, aiming around a defender-as-screen to curl inside the left post -- not enough curl. #1 Benaglio saw it, and I think if it was on-frame, his dive was sufficient to touch anything inside the post.

 

Nice! Almost got another there.

The Swiss counter-attack has got the Spaniards on their heels.

 

At the end of the match they could have judges hold up cards (10, 9.8, 9.9 etc.). Points count for half and goals the other half.

 

seriously what is beautiful now? except spain playing as underdogs ...

 

Which is something it would not have been if Switzerland had tried to pretend they were Brazil.

 

Swiss corner.

 

I am no Spain supporter by any means, however, they have clearly had the best of play and more chances than the Swiss. To say the Swiss deserve the win is clearly disingenuous.

That said, if SUI does go on and win, they will have stolen nothing.

 

Great tackle by Lichtsteiner (sp?)

 

All attack versus all defense, kinda reminds me of the Brazil game yesterday...

 

Only 6 more minutes plus injury time.

COME ON SWISS!

 

Seems that the forwards are playing back too far and then the leading forward has no one to pass to once the ball play has gone up field

 

What a great tackle!

Spain is showing a lack of mental ability here. You can have great players and wonderful moves, that may be enough in other tournaments.

The WC finals is all about mental toughness and intelligence, though.

 

look they can't even control the ball anymore ...

 

An underdog stealing 3 points from one of the favorites to win the entire thing.

That's a thing of beauty IMO.

 

For sentimental reasons I want Switzerland to win but I put Spain as the winner (4-0 ) at the office pool and I"m the only real soccer fan!!!!

 

I disagree. The team that deserves the win is the one who hits the back of the net more times than the other.

Having more chances doesn't mean a damn thing if you can't manage to score.

 

You don't need lots of goals - if games were averaging around 3 goals a game it would be a lot better. The last World Cup had 2.3 goals a game, the second lowest ever. This one has 1.6 so far. That's just horrible.

 

Spain really doesn't have any imagination in the final third.

 

To me, this has been a team of 11 players versus 11 disorganized superstars.

 

Another dive by spain.

 

I disagree. Tactics-wise, they shut the Spaniards' game down, and they succeeded in counter-attacking.

The Swiss earned their victory if they manage it. Specially if they can keep a more desperate Spain at bay for a few more minutes.