DAY 6 REVIEW

As all the teams have now played their first group game, we had our first real shock in the 2010 World Cup. And what a shock it was. European champions Spain, fancied by many to permanently lose their underachievers tag on the world stage, sensationally lost to Switzerland in their opening Group H match. No one thought the Swiss, as well-organised and disciplined as they are by coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, sprang a major surprise in Durban, For the most part, Spain dominated in terms of possession and chances, but Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and David Villa all missed or were denied by Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio. Despite key defender Phillipe Senderos going off after 35 minutes, Switzerland stood firm. And after 52 minutes, they took the lead with their first real attack. For all Spain's intricate passing and movement, A huge goal kick from Benaglio found its way through to Eren Derdiyok, and as the striker tangled with PIque and keeper Iker Casillas, the ball broke to Gelsen Fernandes, and the former Manchester City midfielder was left with the easy task of tapping into an empty net. This rattled the Spanish, and coach Vincent del Bosque, who summoned Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas from the bench. After Andres Iniesta and Torres went close, Xabi Alonso almost broke the crossbar with a ferocious long-range shot. But Derdiyok almost clinched the win when he danced through the defence and hit the post, and despite a Spanish onslaught in the last ten minutes, Switzerland held firm. This is not terminal for Spanish hopes, but it was a massive shock. And if they do recover and finish second in their group, the chances are they will set up a mouthwatering second round tie against Brazil.

Group H was opened in the first game off the day in Nelspruit - and it was also the first game of the 2010 World Cup at this provincial venue, when Chile took on Honduras. And you will be hard pressed to find a more one-sided 1-0 victory. WIthout some inspired goalkeeping, last ditch defending and wasteful finishing, then Honduras would have been put out of their misery a long time before the final whistle. But this Chile team lived up to the pre-tournament billing - fast, inventive and willing to play football, they are a breath of fresh air in this World Cup. In true Marcelo Bielsa fashion, his team lined up in a 3-3-1-3 formation. It didn't work with Argentina in 2002, but on this evidence, it looks like he might have decidedly more success with their South American neighbours, as they clinched their first World Cup win since hosting the tournament in 1962. In playmaker Alexis Sanchez particularly, they seem to have a real star of the future. And if reports of interest from Real Madrid are to be believed, they could do a lot worse (and have). The build up play was intricate, and after a couple of long range shots from Jorge Valdivia and and Arturo Vidal, they took the lead after 34 minutes. After some fine inter-play between Sanchez and Mauricio Isla, the latter crossed for Beausejour, who missed the ball but was fortuitously credited with the goal after the Honduran defender sliding in behind him slid the ball into the Chile winger, and into the net. Before half-time, the South Americans should have had a penalty, as Sanchez again found space on the right of the penalty area, cut inside and unleashed a goalbound shot that smacked into the hand of Maynot Figueroa. To be fair to the Wigan defender, without his ability and courage, this could have been an avalanche. Honduras had a penalty claim waved away just after half-time, but the game soon returned to type. Just after the hour mark, Sanchez showed great footwork and composure to dance through the defence but let himself down with the finish, and minutes later, Walter Ponce had a chance with the goal gaping, but his header was somehow saved by the sprawling Noel Valladares. Chile just couldn't get the second goal, but Honduras never looked like equalising. Substitute Mark Gonzalez missed three times from long range in a matter of minutes, but it mattered not. They will face tougher tests, but Chile certainly made a lasting impression.

The day finished on an incredibly sour note, and it is hoped this will not effect on the rest of the World Cup. South Africa will have their work cut out in qualifying for the second round after losing 3-0 against Uruguay. Despite a rousing atmosphere in Pretoria, South Africa can have no complaints, as Uruguay were far superior. The South Americans brought in Edison Caveni to make a three man attack, partnering Luis Suarez with Diego Forlan playing in a more withdrawn, attacking midfield role. And the Atletico Madrid striker was the difference. Suarez squandered three good chances, Caveni twice in similarly good positions while centre-back Diego Lugano missed a good headed opportunity. But Forlan was not so wasteful. He gave the twice World Cup winners the lead after 25 minutes, picking up the ball midway inside the South African half, and as Aaron Mokoena backed off, he fired in, via a deflection, from 30 yards. And for all South Africa tried, the hosts couldn't get back into the match, and Siphiwe Tshabalala didn't quite have his radar honed like he did against Mexico. With 15 minutes remaining, came the defining point of the match, and possibly South Africa's World Cup tournament. And it was certainly a contentious decision, especially for the hosts' coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. Forlan's scuffed shot hit Caveni on his way through to Suarez, and it is hard to say whether this put the Ajax striker in an offside position. But the flag stayed down, and Suarez knocked the ball past the keeper Itumeleng Khune, but away from goal. He was brought down, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. To ass insult to injury, Khune was harshly sent off, despite Suarez going away from goal. His understudy Moneeb Josephs was comfortably beaten from the penalty, with Forlan showing coolness under pressure despite there being a considerable wait while Josephs replaced Steven Pieenar. Pretoria was silent for the first time of the day, and Uruguay put a gloss on the scoreline deep into stoppage time, when Forlan played a gorgeous cross-field pass to Suarez, who controlled and lofted the ball over Josephs for Alvaro Perreira to head home. This comfortable win puts Uruguay in a great position to win the group, South Africa, on the other hand, look like becoming the first hosts to fail to progress from the group stages, And that really would quieten the vuvuzelas.


GOAL OF THE DAY - Diego Forlan.

It may have taken a slight deflection of Aaron Mokoena, but Forlan's first goal summed him up nicely - a player bang in form and full of confidence, and looking to shoot at every opportunity. So when he got the ball a little over 30 yards out, there was only one option he was going to take. The goal was also significant in silencing the partisan South African crowd, which the Atletico Madrid striker did permanently with his penalty ten minutes from time.

PLAYER OF THE DAY - Alexis Sanchez.

The prodigious Udinese playmaker really looked the part on his World Cup debut, and more performances like this will have the big boys sniffing around even more than they already are. He followed in the footsteps of fellow youngsters Mesut Ozil and Eljero Elia who have also impressed. He may not have scored, but he was integral in most of Chile's fast, vibrant, attacking play, and with a bit more luck would have found himself on the scoresheet. It will be interesting to see how he fares against better organised and disciplined teams such as Spain and Switzerland.

GAFFE OF THE DAY - Iker Casillas and Gerard Pique.

For all their pretty play, the European champions were undone by a huge goal kick, but it was eminently preventable. Players of the quality of Casillas and Pique should not have been so confused by the bouncing ball, but they didn't know whether they were coming or going, allowing Eren Derdiyok to make a nuisance of himself and Gelsen Fernandes to pick up the pieces. And now they have a real mountain to climb.

MOMENT OF THE DAY - Spain defeated

Only real option really. Everyone was waxing lyrical about ths talented Spanish team - how the likes of Cesc Fabregas could only get on the bench, and how they were going to end their World Cup hoodoo. With Brazil failing to totally impress the day before, many thought the World Cup woulod really come alive with a dominant Spanish display. The tournament did come alive, but for entirely different reasons, as we witnessed one of the greatest World Cup upsets in recent years. Even the Swiss players could scarcely believe it when the final whistle was blown!

WORLD CUP HISTORY

World Cup history has been made in South Africa at the 2010 tournament - for the first time ever, three brothers are in the same World Cup squad. Wilson Palacios, the Honduras and Tottenham Hotspur star, is joined in the squad by older brother Jerry, a fellow midfielder, and younger brother Johnny, a defender.

FANTASY TEAM

Swiss defender Phillipe Senderos would have got me plenty of points., If he hadn't been substituted after 35 minutes! Star striker Fernando Torres got himself just the one point for coming on as a second half substitue, but Uruguay striker Luis Suarez redeemed himself, setting up two goals and bagging himself eight points.