Group H: Spain finishes on top, Chile advances, Honduras salvages a point
By AVI CREDITOR
After an eye-opening detriment to Switzerland in a initial compare of a World Cup run, Spain is right where most suspicion it would be.
David Villa as well as Andres Iniesta scored in a victory over 10-man Chile, as well as La Furia Roja claimed a top spot in Group H as well as a date opposite adjacent country Portugal in a Round of 16. Chile, whose detriment finished CONMEBOL's unbeaten streak, also competent for a next stage, finishing two points transparent of Switzerland. La Roja's prize? A date with Brazil.
Switzerland had a possibility to have things interesting but couldn't break Honduras' invulnerability in a scoreless draw. The CONCACAF side earned a initial point of a World Cup as well as exited a tournament with rather of a moral victory.
Here's a short summation of a final group-stage games, along with Group H's Best XI:
SPAIN 2, CHILE 1
Villa scored probably a weirdest idea of a World Cup to date, Iniesta combined an additional prior to halftime as well as Spain jumped all over Chile early to claim Group H's top spot.
Spain opened a scoring in a 24th notation when Xabi Alonso played a prolonged round down a left for Fernando Torres. Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo came off his line as well as out of a box to slidetackle a round divided usually to flog it right to Villa. The Barcelona striker ran onto a round in walk as well as calmly curled a 45-yard shot from a sideline in to a dull net to ease Spain, that got off to a bold start.
Iniesta, creation his lapse to a lineup, took a pass from Villa as well as slid home a shot from a top of a chastisement area 13 mins after to double a lead. Making matters worse for Chile, Marco Estrada picked up his second yellow labe! l on a b uild-up to a goal, withdrawal La Roja shorthanded a rest of a way.
Halftime surrogate Rodrigo Millar got a idea back for a Chileans, distinguished an 18-yard shot that deflected off of Gerard Pique as well as withdrawal a flat-footed Iker Casillas destroyed in goal. The idea eased a pressure on Chile, as it forced Switzerland to win by a two-goal margin if it were going to take a knockout-stage spot.
Here's a highlight of Villa's absurd goal:
HONDURAS 0, SWITZERLAND 0
Needing a win to have any hope of advancing, a Swiss couldn't break yet on Los Catrachos as well as staid for a disappointing, scoreless draw.
The Swiss' chances of reaching a impressive person theatre seemed good when Spain jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Chile. At that point, they needed only a 1-0 victory to stick on Spain in a impressive person stage.
Nobody wearing red could hide one past Honduras keeper Noel Valladares, though, as a Swiss bent out.
Eren Derdiyok's wayward header in a 14th notation as well as Blaise N'Kufo's chances in a 42nd as well as 43rd mins were Switzerland's best hopes to get on a board.
Switzerland keeper Diego Benaglio, who was shining throughout a group stage, came up with a save of a compare when he denied Edgar Alvarez in a 71st minute, that at a time kept Ottmar Hitzfeld's side alive.
GROUP H FINAL TABLE
1. Spain...............6 points, +2 Goal Differential
2. Chile................6 points, +1 GD
3. Switzerland.....4 points, 0 GD
4. Honduras.......1 point, -3 GD
SBI'S GROUP H BEST XI
----Beausejour---Villa----Sanchez------
--Xavi---------Gonzalez---------Iniesta--
--Lichtsteiner--Pique--Demel--Ramos--
------------------Benaglio-----------------
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What do we think about a Group G/Group H matchups? Do we think Spain will ! beat Por tugal? Do we think Chile can give Brazil a hard time? How do we assess Honduras' World Cup run?
Share your thoughts below.
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