Game # 24 - Italy vs Costa Rica

Well, that was not the result that I expected at all! Costa Rica really are turning out to be the surprise package of the tournament. Even more surprising, they really deserved to win this game. They shared the shots/shots on goal stat with Italy and got slight more corners. The Italians did dominate possession but much of that was in their own half. Where it really counted, Costa Rica were the better team in attack and particularly in the last third of the pitch. The only goal of the game was scored just before half time and Italy looked so shocked that it was hard to see them recover. Balotelli, Pirlo and Cassano (once he got subbed on) tried hard but it was not their day. Stunning result that sees Costa Rica definitely through, England definitely out and Italy/Uruguay left to tussle it out in the next match. At least their fate is in their own hands. If it is a draw, Italy will go through on superior goal difference so Uruguay simply have to win to go through. Should be a great game.

Game # 25 - Switzerland vs France

This is was a great game - exciting attacking football from both teams though France proved absolutely lethal in front of goal, winning 5-2. They were 3-0 up at the break and 5 up at the 73rd minute mark. To Switzerland's absolute credit, they didn't give up even at that margin and manged to pull back 2 goals but it was never going to be enough to win the game. It did mean that France are definitely through to the next round and Switzerland stays in the mix.

Game # 26 - Honduras vs Ecuador

This was another one of those games where both teams had lost their first games and so both had to win to keep any hope of going through. It was a fairly frantic start for both teams but it was Honduras who managed to get the first goal, half an hour in. They only kept that lead for a matter of a few minutes as Ecuador equalized through a great goal from Costly. It stayed like that until the end of the half. The second started in the same fashion with Ecuador applying strong pressure and it paid off with another goal from Costly. The remaining half hour or so was a bit ugly at times with the ref struggling to keep the lid on the tempers on both teams. Honduras tried hard but had no luck and so went down 1-2.

Honduras are eliminated and Ecuador stay in the mix. It will be difficult for them though because they will probably have to beat France to be 100% sure of going through, given that Switzerland is likely to to beat Honduras in the finale game.