Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honduras. Show all posts
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Goalless draw sends Swiss out
Group H, 18:30 GMT, June 25, 2010
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Switzerland
0 - 0
Honduras
Man of the Match: Edgar Alvarez - In a game short of quality, there were no genuine standout players, but Alvarez was lively and direct for Honduras on the right wing and could easily have provided a winner for the underdogs.
Switzerland verdict: Having shown they could soak up the pressure and sneak a goal against Spain, the pressure was on to show they could take the game to the opposition in this must-win game, but they were far too negative and lacked any sort of cutting edge. They improved slightly when Hakan Yakin was introduced to provide a decent ball into the box, but they lacked quality options to convert them.
Honduras verdict: They were always going to be playing for pride but, playing on the counter-attack, they looked the better team for much of the night. Edgar Alvarez and Ramon Nunez threatened to cause problems and they attacked at pace, but a lack of belief and poor final balls meant they were unable to clinch a shock win.
Could do better: Blaise Nkufo - The veteran Switzerland striker has been a consistent performer for his country but he failed to deliver when it really mattered. He looked cumbersome throughout the game, wasting a decent opening in the first half and generally failing to provide a threat, although the same charge could be levelled at many of his team-mates.
Stat attack: This was the first 0-0 draw for Honduras in their World Cup history. It was the third for the Swiss, with two coming in 2006.
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Switzerland
0 - 0
Honduras
The dream is over for Switzerland in the World Cup after they failed to build on their superb victory against European champions Spain in their opening game.
Swiss Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld knew if his side achieved a two-goal win in this Group H match then they would progress to the second round, but they were toothless and had to settle for a point against Honduras, who are also going home after failing to find the target in the tournament.
Scoring Summary
Man of the Match: Edgar Alvarez
MATCH SUMMARY
Friday, June 25, 2010
Switzerland vs Honduras - Preview
Switzerland
v
Honduras
Group H, 18:30 GMT, June 25, 2010
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Honduras, meanwhile, have a number of players in elite leagues but have done little to defy suggestions they were among the weaker of the 32 teams to have reached the finals. Coach Reinaldo Rueda has signalled that he wants his team to win but also said they must emerge from the finals with dignity.
Switzerland player to watch: Diego Benaglio. Honduras are desperate to restore some pride in their final game, so the Swiss can expect more ambition from their opponents in the early stages at least. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Benaglio has been hugely impressive against attack-minded Spain and Chile so far and, if he can keep another clean sheet, Switzerland have a great opportunity to reach the second stage.
Honduras player to watch: David Suazo. This 30-year-old Inter Milan striker has spent over a decade playing in Italy but, since leaving Cagliari in 2007, he has struggled for goals and he spent 2010 on loan at Genoa. Injury problems have hindered his preparations for the tournament and he missed the opener against Chile with a leg problem, but he returned against Spain and, with 84 minutes under his belt in that game, Honduras will be desperate for Suazo to recover some form and give the country something to celebrate.Key Battle: Eren Derdiyok v Maynor Figueroa. With captain Alexander Frei still struggling for fitness, Derdiyok could lead the line for Switzerland ahead of him and veteran striker Blaise Nkufo. Derdiyok has a very poor goal-scoring record at international level, but the 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen man is strong and stands at 6' 3" and will be a nuisance at the least. Wigan left-back Figueroa, meanwhile, is known for attacking contributions in England but has been playing in the centre for his country, so he will need to stay focused.Trivia: Honduras squad members David Suazo and Hendry Thomas are cousins.Stats: In their previous meeting with a CONCACAF side at the World Cup, Switzerland drew 1-1 draw with USA in the '94 group stage.Odds: Switzerland (1.50), New Zealand (7.00) and a draw (4.20) are all available at Bet 365. You can get odds of 9.50 on a 3-0 win for Switzerland.Prediction: Switzerland are perhaps better at grinding out results than going on the attack, but Honduras have done little so far in South Africa. Goals may prove vital in the final reckoning, so a substantial Swiss win is on the cards.
v
Honduras
Group H, 18:30 GMT, June 25, 2010
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
After a humiliating home defeat to Luxembourg in qualification, Switzerland are still in with a strong chance of making the second round and dumping pre-tournament favourites Spain or Marcelo Bielsa's impressive Chile side out at the first hurdle.
The Swiss currently sit third in the group, level on three points with Spain but trailing by a goal, and they are two goals and three points behind Chile. However, with Spain and Chile having to take points - and goals - from each other, a 2-0 win will be enough to see Switzerland through.Honduras, meanwhile, have a number of players in elite leagues but have done little to defy suggestions they were among the weaker of the 32 teams to have reached the finals. Coach Reinaldo Rueda has signalled that he wants his team to win but also said they must emerge from the finals with dignity.
Team Stat Comparison
Competition Stats
Switzerland player to watch: Diego Benaglio. Honduras are desperate to restore some pride in their final game, so the Swiss can expect more ambition from their opponents in the early stages at least. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Benaglio has been hugely impressive against attack-minded Spain and Chile so far and, if he can keep another clean sheet, Switzerland have a great opportunity to reach the second stage.
Honduras player to watch: David Suazo. This 30-year-old Inter Milan striker has spent over a decade playing in Italy but, since leaving Cagliari in 2007, he has struggled for goals and he spent 2010 on loan at Genoa. Injury problems have hindered his preparations for the tournament and he missed the opener against Chile with a leg problem, but he returned against Spain and, with 84 minutes under his belt in that game, Honduras will be desperate for Suazo to recover some form and give the country something to celebrate.Key Battle: Eren Derdiyok v Maynor Figueroa. With captain Alexander Frei still struggling for fitness, Derdiyok could lead the line for Switzerland ahead of him and veteran striker Blaise Nkufo. Derdiyok has a very poor goal-scoring record at international level, but the 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen man is strong and stands at 6' 3" and will be a nuisance at the least. Wigan left-back Figueroa, meanwhile, is known for attacking contributions in England but has been playing in the centre for his country, so he will need to stay focused.Trivia: Honduras squad members David Suazo and Hendry Thomas are cousins.Stats: In their previous meeting with a CONCACAF side at the World Cup, Switzerland drew 1-1 draw with USA in the '94 group stage.Odds: Switzerland (1.50), New Zealand (7.00) and a draw (4.20) are all available at Bet 365. You can get odds of 9.50 on a 3-0 win for Switzerland.Prediction: Switzerland are perhaps better at grinding out results than going on the attack, but Honduras have done little so far in South Africa. Goals may prove vital in the final reckoning, so a substantial Swiss win is on the cards.
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