DAY 15 REVIEW

A low key draw between Brazil and their former colonial masters Portugal saw both teams qualify comfortably for the last 16, but both will know tougher tests lie ahead, especially for Carlos Quieroz's men - European champions and Iberian neighbours Spain await on Tuesday. Even a defeat would have seen Portugal easily qualify, as Ivory Coast could only defeat North Korea 3-0, but Portugal's desire to gain the point that would make 100% sure of their progress restricted any free-flowing football from taking place. Brazil were the more adventurous team, as Portugal too often left Cristiano Ronaldo isolated up front, and Lucio dealt with him with comparative ease. Brazil looked like they had much more firepower at the other end, as the in-form Luis Fabiano was partnered by Nilmar, and they combined just after the half hour for the game's best chance. Fabiano crossed from the right, and the Villarreal striker seemed certain to score, only for Portugal keeper Eduardo to produce a stunning reflex save onto the crossbar from inside the six yard box. Fabiano headed another good opportunity wide, but that was as good as it got in terms of chances until injury time, when Brazil substitute Ramires broke from midfield and fired in a shot which was deflected towards the goal, only for Eduardo to adjust his body and execute another good save. This ensured Portugal progress as one of only two teams not to have conceded a goal in South Africa so far (the other being Uruguay). You get the feeling David Villa and Fernando Torres will have something to say about that record. For Brazil, they have a meeting with South American rivals Chile to look forward to on Monday in what looks like an intriguing contest.

Ivory Coast ended their tournament on a high with a comfortable 3-0 win over North Korea, but despite two early goals, they never looked like scoring the avalanche of goals which were needed for them to progress, and Sven Goran Eriksson's team will again rue being drawn in a devilishly difficult group, as they were in 2006. The Ivorians set the tone from the first minute, when Kader Keita brought a good save out of Korean keeper Ri Myong-Guk, and the Asians appeared to still be shell-shocked from their second-half demolition at the hands of Portugal on Monday. Didier Drogba had a header ruled out for a marginal offside decision in the first ten minutes as the Africans cranked up the pressure, but they didn't have to wait long to take the lead, as Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure sidefooted home from the edge of the penalty area. Just six minutes later, and it was 2-0. Drogba controlled a long ball expertly, before smashing a fierce volley against the underside of the crossbar, and the alert Romaric headed into the empty net from the rebound. It was still one way traffic, but the goals just did not flow, as the Ivorians spurned chance after chance after chance. Surprisingly Drogba was one of the most culpable as he missed a couple of gilt-edged chances, but Gervinho and substitute Salomon Kalou were also not without blame. North Korea failed to really threaten, but after Jong Tae-Se saw their best effort blocked by Kolo Toure, Arthur Boka raced up the left, and his cross was easily dispatced by Kalou with seven minutes remaining. There was still time for fellow substitute Aruna DIndane to have a goal ruled out for offside, but by then, it was too little, far too late. The Elephants may regret not taking the game to a struggling Portugal side more in their opening game.

The final games in Group H brought the group stages to an end, and gives us the opportunity to look forward to what will be some exhilarating knock out football. And it was a triumph for football, as both Spain and Chile went through following an absorbing contest in which the European champions were given a scare by an impressive Chile, who played for over half the match with ten men. The indiscipline of the South Americans got the better of them, and Gary Medel and Marco Estrada will now miss their second round meeting with Brazil. Both sides started brightly, with Fernando Torres spurning two presentable chances for Spain, suggesting he is still not fully recovered from injury, before a clever one-two between Jean Beausejour and Jorge Valdivia almost set Mark Gonzalez away for Chile. Chile were on the front foot, so when Spain took the lead, it was firmly against the run of play. Gerard Pique overhit a through ball intended for Torres, but Chile's keeper and captain Claudio Bravo beat him to the ball and slid the ball clear. However, David Villa, waiting near the left touchline, didn't even hesitate in taking aim and firing the ball into the net from about 45 yards with his weaker left foot. That strike moved him level with Gonzalo Higuain and Robert Vittek as the tournament's joint top scorer. The impressive Jean Beasejour tested Iker Casillas before Spain doubled their lead with a quite brilliant goal. Andres Iniesta won possession just over the halfway, and played a quick one-two with Torres, another one with Villa, before stroking the ball past Bravo from the edge of the area. The biggest flashpoint of the match happened in the build up to the goal - Chile midfielder Estrada was giving an extremely harsh second yellow card for running across the back of Torres and clipping the heels of the Liverpool man.

Switzerland only have themselves to blame for failing to qualify, after a goalless draw with Honduras, and it seems more than nine days ago that they sensationally defeated European champions Spain in their opening match. But their brand of football is not pretty, and it was the same old story - stoic in defence, inept in attack, and this was to prove their downfall. Despite their need to win the game, there was no attempt to commit bodies forward, and attacking moves often ended with ambitious long range strikes or broke down outside the penalty area. All the Swiss had to show for their first half efforts was a half chance for Blaise N'Kufo and a tame long range effort from Tanquillo Barnetta. With news that Spain were winning 2-0 and a win was needed, coach Ottmar Hitzveld finally made an attacking substitution, withdrawing defensive midfielder Gelson Fernanades to be replaced by playmaker Hakan Yakin. There was no discernible difference, however, and if anything, it seemed more likely that Honduras would snatch an unlikely win as Switzerland committed more men to the attack. David Suazo headed wide when well placed, before Edgar Alvarez brought an excellent save out of Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio. At the other end, Noel Valladares, but his saves from Yakin, Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok were saves he would expect to make. In a mirror of Italy's desperation yesterday, a barely fit Alexander Frei was brought on for the final 20 minutes, but for all their bluster, there was no breakthrough, and Switzerland were left to rue a campaign which had started in such spectacular fashion, but ended so disappointingly. This seemed to spur Chile on further, and Bielsa made a double substitution at half-time to try and drag his team back into the match. One of those changes, Rodrgio Millar, pulled one back two minutes into the second half, with a deflected shot off Pique which looped over Casillas, but chances were at a premium from there on in, as news of Switzerland's tame draw with Honduras ensured both teams could celebrate at the end.


PLAYER OF THE DAY - David Villa.

Another sumptuous performance from a player bang in form. Barcelona's new signing scored an equisite opportunists goal, and helped lay on the second for Andres Iniesta. He will be difficult to stop in this form, and if his strike partner Fernando Torres can recover his form, then they will be an awesome proposition up front. Portugal in the second round, whose defence is yet to be breached, should be a harder prospect on the other hand.

GOAL OF THE DAY - Andres Iniesta.

A classic Spain goal. When they are on song, they pass the ball better than any other country on the planet, and this was displayed in the build up to their winning goal. Lovely interchanges between Iniesta and Torres, and then the Barcelona schemer with his new teammate Villa, resulted in Iniesta doing what Chile have often failed to do with their enterprising football in this World Cup - putting a lovely finishing touch to the move, stroking the ball into the bottom corner.

GAFFE OF THE DAY - Switzerland.

A win by two goals over a poor Honduran side would have said Switzerland through, but this never looked like happen as Ottmar Hitzeld's side, bereft of ideas and invention, slunk meekly out of the tournament. This was always going to be their downfall, as it proved in the 2006 World Cup, but the second round encounters of Brazil against Chile and Spain against Portugal are definintely better for the tournament as a spectacle.

FANTASY TEAM

Fernando Torres again failed to find the net, playing second fiddle to striker partner David Villa, while David Silva and Mark Gonzalez also added limited contributions.