After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

FIFA World Cup day 6: Spain shocker,South Africa on the brink and Chile celebrates

Gelson Fernandes goal leaves Spain looking over the precipice

Switzerland 1-0 Spain. The biggest shock of the tournament so far when Switzerland defeated Spain 1-0. Spain dominated the play. The Swiss coached by former Bayern Munich Coach Oliver Hitzfeld, soaked up the pressure and then scored the game's single goal on a break by when Gelson Fernandes followed up on Eren Derdiyok's surging run. Spanish goalkeeper Iker Cassilas will feel he could have done better on the initial shot.

While one would still expect Spain to qualify, first place in the group is definitely up for grabs and a Spanish failure to qualify is within the realm of possibility, in the (still unlikely) event that Chile were to take another point from Spain.

Man of the Match

Eren Derdiyok

 

Uruguay 3-0 South Africa

Uruguay had a dominating performance against South Africa. Diego Forlan was the star of the game and South Africa were unable to recover from his early goal. South Africa's fate was sealed by a penalty and the (harsh) sending off of their goalkeeper late in the second half. Replays later showed that on the play leading to the penalty the Urugayan player was offside. Given their poor goal difference South Africa's only slim hope of qualifying is to defeat France in their next game and hope for draws in the games between France and Mexico and Mexico and Uruguay.

Man of the Match

Diego Forlan

 

Chile 1-0 Honduras

In the early game Chile completely domninated Honduras, but for all their dominance they could only manage a single goal, (and that one a little lucky) a fact which must concern them going forward.

Man of the Match

Mauricio Isla

Player of the Day

DS: Diego Forlan

Goal of the day

DS: Gelson FERNANDES goal for Switzerland against Spain. Perhaps the 2nd ugliest goal of the tournament, but the most significant so far.

More in The Beautiful Game

Homeless World Cup Parade

Video of the Homeless World Cup players opening parade. More videos can be found at http://www.homelessworldcup.org/news/

Homeless World Cup draw deconstructed

Team Canada seen relaxing with coconuts on the beach in Rio. But things get more serious on Monday. The draw for the tournament was held Saturday. Canada will be in tough against Ireland and Mexico, b

Homeless World Cup: Coach's Report Day 1 by Alan Bates

Team Canada Coach Alan Bates sent this report directly from Brazil on day 1 of the team's journey...
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.