Game # 9 - Switzerland vs Ecuador

This was an almost-dream for Ecuador as they must have thought that they had a draw but sadly the Swiss managed an injury-time winner. Wasn't the best of games and the Swiss did little to dispel their dull World Cup reputation whilst Ecuador really did try to put life into the game. Sadly, they didn't get the result they might have hope for. Having said that, they did play well enough to hope that they might yet score some points in their next two games.

Game # 10 - France vs Honduras

Sadly this was the game at its worst - a grumpy spiteful game with one Honduran player sent off and 6 yellow cards handed out. At times there were more bodies on the ground than upright and the referee very nearly lost control, particularly after the Pogba/Palacios incident. Just add to that the very epitome of how NOT to use technology to review on-field decisions and it became an ugly, awkward mix. The scoreline was very flattering for the French (3-0) and I am sure that the Hondurans feel that it should have been 1-0 for all their effort. However, the French were harsh in front of goal and the Hondurans weren't. You don't win World Cup games by doing that.

Game # 11 - Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

This was a great game and Bosnia and Herzegovina did themselves proud by the quality of their play - and it wasn't a "hanging in by the skin of their teeth" thing either because they were in there throughout the game. Indeed, until Messi's brilliant goal, Bosnia and Herzegovina were looking like they were going to cause Argentina some major problems. Interestingly, although some of the fight went out of them, Bosnia and Herzegovina finally managed to score but it was too close to the end for them to capitalize on their goal. Still, as a result in their very first world Cup game ever, they should be proud. If they play like for the next two games, they may well take points from Iran and even Nigeria.