itsbeautifuloutside

Honduras v Switzerland

Manaus, 25th June 2014

Introduction

I did a double take when researching this match. 'Honduras coach: Luis Suarez' it said. Fortunately it is a different bloke. I knew a little bit about Honduras as a few of their squad play/played in the UK. I did not like the physical style of their 0-0 warm up match against England in Miami - a result that looks less impressive now than it did then. I always look out for the Swiss. The Swiss pay my pension and own my football club. On paper, this is the best squad they’ve had since the 90s when managed by a certain Roy Hodgson. If they were to live up to their FIFA ranking of 6th, they needed to win convincingly in Manaus and progress to the knock-out stages.

Match Report

A look down the Swiss squad list demonstrates that this mature country is happy to welcome immigrants who can bring much needed (in this case football) skills to improve their performance. They have a few home-based players but most now ply their trade in the Bundesliga or Serie A. We are not talking top class players but fit, well coached guys who want to do well for their coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, who turned down another 2 years and will retire after WC 2014. They needed to be fit. It was 26C and 88% humidity at kick off, conditions that suited Honduras rather than Europeans. In 2010 these sides also met in a sterile 0-0 draw in South Africa, a result that saw both eliminated. At kick off in Manaus, in theory at least, all options remained open.

Honduras settled well and enjoyed early possession. Their passing didn’t create much, indeed it was the Swiss who got the first shot away when Drmic crossed and Shaqiri should have scored. The keeper saved and the follow up was blocked. Fans had turned out in large numbers for this last tie in Manaus but I wondered what sort of match they might see as the awful pitch was already cutting up badly. In fact, the players coped admirably and as the game went on it did not seem to impair their efforts.

On 6 minutes Switzerland took the lead. The ball was worked down the wing to Lichsteiner. The Juventus man is another of those full backs that look happier being wingers. He fed Shaqiri who was backing him up. Shaqiri cut inside, level with the edge of the box and unleashed a sumptuous curling shot that went beyond Valladares’ despairing dive and into the top corner. 1-0 and the pundits were comparing the goal with those of Tim Cahill and Messi.

In these early stages Honduras showed some ambition and tried to press forward. Before their 5-2 tonking by France, the Swiss had conceded very few goals in the past couple of years (how else could they have risen to #6 on the FIFA list?) Here they looked to have recovered some composure at the back and Schaer and the impressive Rodriguez (linked with Liverpool of course) limited them to long range shots – one of the Garcias (don’t ask me which) missed their best chance.

Both sides were ready to put a foot in and break up play. Benaglio needed to get up high to claim a Honduras free kick lofted towards Costly. Honduras were primarily targeting Shaqiri who was brought down by Figueroa on 15 mins. Xhaka was presented with a decent shooting opportunity but his free kick hit the wall and went for a corner which Fernandez overhit.

The next foul on Shaqiri saw him rubbing his arm for a couple of minutes but on 20 the lively Drmic again fed him but this time he fired wide. Whether prompted by the conditions and/or the scoreline Switzerland seemed to be taking a breather. They sat too deep and welcomed Honduras forward. A horribly sliced clearance gave away a corner. The ball came in towards Beckeles who swung a boot and missed the far post. On 24 mins another lofted cross put Djourou under pressure but Bengston relieved it by fouling him.

The middle period saw possession squandered by both sides. The camera panned round the crowd, settling of a number of Swiss cheese hats – a first for Manaus I’d guess. Shortly after the half hour, Switzerland roused themselves. Inler fired a ball downfield, Drmic slipped his marker and broke down the left. He was all alone but had the nous to wait for Shaqiri to join him before delivering the perfect pass into his stride. Good hit – 2-0.

The sides were trading attacks – it was almost end-to-end for a while but as the match progressed Honduras’ increasing frustration was matched by the amount of fouls they were prepared to commit. Switzerland won a number of useful free kicks but made nothing of them. Xhaka and Shaqiri might both have done better. On 39 minutes Carlo Costly limped off, replaced by Jerry Palacios, Wilson’s big brother. Honduras then stepped up and forced a corner. Benaglio was injured punching the cross away. During the time he was being treated other players took a welcome drinks break. Drmic might have increased the lead before half-time but fired straight at the keeper.

The half ended with Switzerland content to pass the ball around. The Hondurans chased around prepared to kick anything they could get near. The big surprise was we reached half-time with no bookings. 2-0 and Switzerland looked comfortable.

Espinoza did not appear after the break, his left wing berth given to Marvin Chaves. He was to prove Honduras’ best player by a country mile. One wonders why he didn’t start. His first action however was in keeping with what had gone on before – he fouled Lichsteiner. Shaqiri then set up Inler who missed the target.

I was contemplating whether Honduras were even worse than England when they gave me powerful evidence to support that idea. Chaves was already starting to frighten Lichsteiner with his pace and on 49 he put in the sort of cross that even Sturridge might have tapped in. For some reason Bengtson felt it appropriate to dive and try to head it in. Rubbish! Honduras kept up the pressure. Garcia tried to find Palacios but Benaglio was quickly out to field the cross. Moments later Bengtson rounded the keeper but his shot was brilliantly hacked off the line by Rodriguez - he is going to Liverpool don’tcha know.

After 10 minutes rest, the Swiss moved upfield again. Lichsteiner fed in a corking cross for Mehmedi but the offside flag was raised. Shaqiri then put in Xhaka who turned into trouble. Next he set up Drmic who fired straight at the keeper. On 59 minutes Mehmedi set up Shaqiri whose shot was well saved by Valladares.

Honduras then earned a corner. The initial cross was cleared but when the ball was played back in Djourou tangled with Jerry Palacios in the box and the #9 went over. You have seen those given but not now, not by this referee. What Jerry does get is the games’ first yellow card for an innocuous trip on Schaer as he carried the ball out of defence. Claros then sent in a cross for Bengtson but Shaer tidied up. Honduras fed Chavez who earned a corner. With all this Honduras pressure it was almost inevitable what would happen next. Rodriguez sent Drmic scampering down the left. The striker beat his man then set up Shaqiri who tucked away his 3rd. It was the 50th hat-trick scored at World Cup finals and something for Manaus to remember when the circus moves on. At this point I realised my IBO Fantasy Team were having a fabulous day too.

The commentators seemed oblivious to 3-0 being a score that put Switzerland firmly ahead in the in the battle for second place in Group E. There were under 20 minutes left and 2 goals were needed, at least 1 for Ecuador in Rio, if things were going to change. The Swiss were more aware and soon replaced Drmic and Xhaka with Seferovic and Lang. Honduras still made the odd chance. Another corner came – and went – but as time ticked away the Swiss started to enjoy themselves. Inler, Mehmedi and Shaqiri were involved in a quite exquisite passing move but over-elaborated and ran the ball out.

On 80 the lively Chavez delivered another excellent cross. This was met firmly by the head of Bengtson drawing a very good save from Benaglio. But generally it was the Swiss dominating possession. Lang set up Mehmedi but he fired at the keeper. Then Inler hit a long shot which didn’t trouble Valladares. Another “goal of the tournament” attempt came to nought when Rodriguez was stopped in his tracks by a lino’s flag. Then Jerry missed the target at the other end.

Shaqiri came off with 4 minutes left. He was properly applauded for a fine evening’s work. The game got rather stretched as it moved into 3 minutes extra time. Honduras gamely sought a consolation goal but, despite the efforts of Chavez, it never came. The biggest excitement of the final moments came when Sepp Blatter appeared on the big screen and was roundly booed by all the fans. Good work!

Thus ended the last match at Manaus. I just hope the locals enjoyed their football as the chances of further games being played here are slim. Grass won’t grow in equatorial rainforests. Pitches had to be flown in from Sao Paulo to get these games on. We live in an increasingly crazy world.

Switzerland move on to Sao Paulo to face Argentina in the round of 16. Honduras don’t.

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