Master and apprentice see Spain through
Ukraine undo the damage
Swiss don’t miss as Saudi suffer
—– A genuine World Cup shock seems on the cards as Spain struggle to peg back a Tunisia lead until a three goal salvo soothes Luis Aragones’ team in to the next round with their final group game still to come.
Joahar Mnari gives Tunisia an early advantage then they continue to frustrate their highly-rated opposition.
The breakthrough comes in the 71st minute when, after coming on as a half-time sub, Raul nets his first goal since October.
After the vastly experienced striker turns the tide, it’s the young pretender Fernando Torres who wins the game with two goals. It takes his tournament tally to three, so making the Atletico Madrid marksman Germany 2006’s leading scorer.
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—– Having lost their first World Cup finals game 0-4 to Spain, Ukraine turn their fortunes on their head with an easy 4-0 win against Saudi Arabia in Hamburg.
Stunned by the first day performance, Ukraine are quickly off the mark with a goal from Andriy Rusol after only four minutes.
Sergei Rebrov makes it two before the break then captain Andriy Shevchenko adds a third soon after the re-start.
The hard-working Maxim Kalinichenko deservedly makes it four just before the end to complete the country’s first-ever win at the World Cup finals.
Ukraine coach, the legendary Oleg Blokhin, gets a bit carried away: “It’s a little bit like Cinderella. The pumpkin turned into a beautiful coach and the other animals turned into wonderful horses.
“That’s what happened to us. We knew it was a decisive match for us and we turned things around.”
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—– Switzerland win their first game at the World Cup finals since USA ‘94 with a 2-0 success against troubled Togo at Dortmund.
Togo’s players have threatened to boycott the game due to their on-going pay dispute but, although defeat confirms their elimination, the Hawks leaves their problems off the pitch and put up a spirited display.
The Swiss now need to avoid defeat in the final group against South Korea to progress in to the knockout stages.
Alexandre Frei makes it 1-0 but they have to wait until two minutes from time before Tranquillo Barnetta makes it safe.
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