This was the first day for games in Group E and the first time I heard the phrase “group of life”. How insulting is that? I can understand “group of death”. You’re saying that these teams are all so good that only two can make it out and it’s a shame to not see all of these teams in the knockout stage. When you call a group “the group of life”? Why not just say “the weak group full of teams that are just lucky to be here”?
Ecuador vs. Switzerland
The only person I knew on the field was Velencia from Manchester United but the guy who scored was another Velencia. So, I was lost.
And who plays for Switzerland? I honestly don’t know. Maybe guys from the Bundesliga? But good for Switzerland to keep the trend of teams coming back from one nil down to win 2-1.
France vs. Honduras
When they called this group the group of life, I guess they didn’t take into account France. France looked unstoppable during their first game. Granted they were gifted a red card from Wilson Palacios (Wilson, I’ll always love you for your time at Spurs under Harry Redknapp) but they still looked strong. Karim Benzema was robbed of a hat trick, I think. His shot hit the post and bounced off the keeper into the back of the net but his intention was to score, right? That counts!
We’ll see how France does once they’re out of the group of life.
Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzigovina
Oh yeah, Argentina! Remember those two-time World Cup champions featuring arguably the best soccer player in the world? I honestly didn’t. The scoring opened with an own goal but Lionel Messi provided a reminder of why he’s the best. The second Argentina goal was a thing of beauty. Vedad Ibisevic’s late goal through the legs of Sergio Romero proved to be too little to late. Argentina is, well, Argentina.
9 Goals
Enner Velencia – No, not that Velencia, the other one. Nice header of a free kick crossed into the box.
Admir Mehmedi – Header off the corner to equalize.
Haris Seferovic – This one must have hurt badly. Goals at the death are hard to take but it was a great run and a great finish.
Karim Benzema – Converted a penalty kick.
Noel Valladares (But really it was Karim Benzema) – Shot from Benzema bounced off the post and off the keeper for an own goal.
Karim Benzema – Strong shot to finish off the Hondurans.
Sead Kolasinac – Own goal. Not much else to say about it.
Lionel Messi – I’m just amazed at the way this guys moves. If a cartoonist drew him, he’d have that Tazmanian devil blur for legs. This goal was great but it was just his opener.
Vedad Ibisevic – A late goal through the legs of the keeper, keeping it respectable for Bosnia.
