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Match Day 11 > Monday 19Jun06

Match 30: TOGO v. SWITZERLAND

Booking: CLAP!

Good match after all of Sunday’s disappointments .. .. SUI came out and was more precise early on but TOG was always a threat with their hustle & athleticism .. .. Makes you wonder about 2010 .. .. If any of the African nations, even NIGERIA or SOUTH AFRICA – If they get their act together, demand a decent Federation with consistency and a first-rate backroom technical staff (ala someone like HIDDINK), then the semi-finals would be within their grasp, especially on home soil .. ..

SUI struck first with the PRETTIEST GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT THUS FAR! After a cross from the Left-channel, BARNETTA headed back into the middle of the box right unto the foot of FREI who just re-directed in .. .. Even I could have scored from that pass .. .. They then added another pretty score late to cement the three points .. ..

TOG deserved better with KADER again threatening every time he came forward .. .. ADEBAYOR deserved a PK call in the first half to no avail .. ..

TOG MoM: None

SUI MoM: #16 TRANQUILLO BARNETTA is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous midfielders in the tournament . … SUI has not lost, or allowed a goal thus far and BARNETTA makes sure the MF is secure and then comes forward like he did today .. .. He flew into the box to head-on a cross to FREI for his easy goal .. .. He then took one for himself when making another run into the Right-Box, got on top of his shot and fired it home into the far, left-hand corner .. .. SWEET .. .. This kid can play on any flank and even as a full-back .. .. Committed, as well .. .. He refused to leave his hometown club (St. Gallen) for a big-money transfer to Germany until he finished his apprenticeship at a Fabric and Bed Linen Manufacturer .. ..

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Match 32: SAUDI ARABIA v. UKRAINE

Booking: CLAP!

UKR confirmed ESP’s form in their first match by smacking KSA early and often .. .. The atmosphere in the KSA camp had be down after the death of one of the player’s mother, but the early goals did nothing to help .. ..

They easily could have been up 4-0 at the half except KSA cleared a header off the line and UKR missed at least 3 open shots in the box with nobody around except the GK .. .. Final goal was very flattering to KSA who could have easily given up 8 Goals .. .. 

KSA was poor and often miscleared in their zone directly to a UKR player .. ..

KSA MoM: None

UKR MoM: Russian-born, but naturalized Ukranian #11 SERHIY REBROV – Since scoring was inevitable v. KSA, REBROV had the prettiest goal .. .. He took the ball 40 yards from goal and fired a right-footed knuckler that was heading for the middle of goal when it took off down and to the right and left the GK on the ground watching in amazement .. .. Made his National debut v. USA in 1992 .. .. Spent five tough years in England where he didn’t settle but has had a rejuvenation since returning home .. ..

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Match 31: SPAIN v. TUNISIA

Booking: CLAP!

What a great Monday of matches, compared to Sunday .. .. TUN got their token goal early but ESP created their normal bags of chances .. .. They finally got cracking in the second half with three quality scores .. ..

TUN conceded the whole pitch except the final third but ESP is too cutting and talented to allow them to create on their own terms and TUN paid for that .. ..

ESP did what they wanted and TORRES again showed what a quality goal-getter he is with his brace .. ..

ESP MoM: #9 FERNANDO TORRES has been considered Spain’s version of Thierry Henry (FRA) and is coming into his own on the biggest stage .. .. ‘El Nino’ got Spain on the scoreboard when he made a center > left run, took a terrific long thru-ball from FABREGAS and toe-poked it home right-footed over the GK .. .. He then drew the PK that he converted as he slotted home under the GK’s armpit .. .. 

TUN MoM: #12 JAOUHAR MNARI did get the match rolling and gave TUN a glimmer of hope .. .. His first shot in the middle of the box was saved by the GK and MNARI then followed up and first-timed the rebound in .. ..