Fans of attacking soccer should have a treat today. First we've got Portugal-Brazil, with Portugal coming off a 7-goal performance against North Korea, and Brazil. ...being Brazil.
But the one I really care about - and the one with more at stake - comes at 11:30 when Chile plays Spain in what could be the most entertaining match of the first round. Chile has been one of the most impressive teams of the first round, leading Group H after a pair of 1-0 wins and in position to be the surprising group winner. Spain, the pre-tournament co-favorite, recovered from a shocking loss to Switzerland in the opening match to beat Honduras. Spain and Switzerland are tied, so it's possible that the team considered the best in the world coming into the tournament might not even make it out of group play. Italy. France. Spain? Can you imagine?
The game will feature two of the top offensive teams in the tournament. Chile,which can win the group with a tie but is not likely to play for one, has been on non-stop attack since the plane set down in South Africa a few weeks ago. Spain has some of the top offensive players in the world. What more could you ask for?
Chile will be at a disadvantage as midfielders Carlos Carmona and Mattias Fernandez are both out on yellow-card suspensions, not a good thing against a Spanish team with some of the top midfielders in the world, including Andres Iniesta, who missed the Honduras game with injury.
Two keys for Chile:
1. Can the three-man defensive line continue to hold up against a team as good as Spain? Chile's defense has been surprisingly solid, recovering quickly on counterattacks and somehow preventing even a single goal despite always being left without a lot of midfield help. But Spain is a lot better than Switzerland and Honduras, so we'll see if coach Marcello Bielsa adds a defensive midfielder to the mix.
2. Can Humberto Suazo, the team's top scorer and the leading goal scorer in South American qualifying, be a factor? Suazo missed Chile's first game while recovering from injury and was off his game completely against Switzerland, being subbed out early in the second half. Chile needs Suazo to be a threat in this game and beyond to make a serious run.
So, what happens? Both teams are desperate for points. Spain needs three, Chile one. I think Spain comes out strong and Fernando Torres scores on a counterattack early on. Chile answers close to halftime and the teams end the half tied.
Chile comes out strong in the second half and takes a lead on a goal by Alexis Sanchez, who so far may be the player of the tournament. It looks good for Chile, but in the last minutes, Spain breaks through with a goal and the game ends in a 2-2 tie. Luckily for Spain, Switzerland is upset by Honduras and both of the Red teams move on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment