Did you miss highlights from the World Cup this weekend? Sure, you probably watched England take on Italy, but we're guessing there's a few matches you missed. Here at The18, we want to make sure you stay up-to-date on all things World Cup. Here's our recap of the action from Group C over the weekend.
Ivory Coast and Japan: 2-1 Ivory Coast
The backlash against Jurgen Klinsmann for leaving U.S. all-time leading goal scorer Landon Donovan off the World Cup 2014 squad has been massive (although, after the win versus Ghana, perhaps some of the pressure will ease up).
Take a breath U.S. fans, we made it. Now we can turn our focus to Portugal.
After an unreal start, which included a Clint Dempsey goal in the first 30 seconds, the USA really didn’t show much. Let’s cut to the chase and take a look at the American captain's goal which was the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history.
Don't worry.
You're not in the middle of a bank or train robbery. You haven't stepped onto the set of a Western movie remake. There hasn't been an outbreak of that SARS thing.
If you happen to see more than the normal amount of American Flag bandanas today (and by "normal amount" we do mean "zero") - you've just had the good fortune to cross paths with a member of the American Outlaws on a World Cup game day for the USMNT.
This was not the start Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were expecting. However, one thing is for sure: The 4-0 loss to Germany in the first game of Group G will go a long way in helping Ghana or the United States get to the knockout stage.
While Portugal started off well enough, a counter led by Cristiano Ronaldo yielded no results. The Real Madrid man had a rip from a tough angle, which was saved easily. Then disaster struck for Portugal.
With the great ones, the magicians, it only takes a moment. Momentum means nothing - only the moment.
For the first hour of the match, Bosnia-Herzegovina had kept Lionel Messi contained (no shots on goal in the first half). They had shaken off an unimaginably bad start to control play for the better part of the game.
And then, it happened.
Through the first 9 games of the 2014 World Cup, we have yet to see a tie. Switzerland helped contribute to that statistic by netting a dramatic 93rd-minute goal to lift them over Ecuador.
With France expected to win the group, most think Ecuador and Switzerland are the two teams vying for the last ticket to the knock out stage.
Ecuador opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on an Enner Valencia header:
The Azzurri hadn’t won an International fixture since September 2013 before last night’s Group D encounter, failing to despatch such titans of soccer as Luxembourg and Armenia in the build-up to this World Cup. And yet, cometh the hour, Pirlo and Co. produced a display of tactical nous and precision to beat a young, adventurous England side that caused the Italians no shortage of problems.
According to the FIFA rankings, Uruguay are currently the seventh best international team in the world. Not on the strength of their last display.
One-paced, unimaginative in attack, and showing all the security of a Target credit card against set pieces, Uruguay were torn apart by a Costa Rica team widely expected to be the Group D whipping boys. It’s now abundantly clear why Paul Dummett – the man whose tackle left Luis Suarez needing knee surgery – has received so much hate mail from Montevideo.
Missed the action on Match Day 2 of World Cup 2014? Not to worry. The18 has you covered. Here's a recap of the big moments from Friday, June 13th. An unlucky day indeed, if you happen to be a fan of Spain.
Spain-Netherlands